Mountains, Myths, and Medicine: Ethnomedicinal Insights from Himalayan Tribal Communities

This systematic review examines the ethnomedicinal practices in various ecological zones of India, with aparticular focus on the Indian Himalayas, tropical and subtropical areas, and islands, to understand theintricate relationships among biodiversity, cultural traditions, and socio-economic factors. In areas such asUttarakhand and Ladakh, where sacred groves and community forests are crucial for biodiversityconservation, ethnomedicine is deeply connected to spiritual beliefs and traditional healing methods.However, the excessive harvesting of rare species like Picrorhiza kurroa and Nardostachys jatamansipresents serious sustainability concerns. Conversely, practices in Sathyamangalam and Mizoramshowcase the use of more easily accessible plants from the Euphorbiaceae and Zingiberaceae families,which are often cultivated in home gardens, but also underline the vulnerability of traditional knowledgedue to modernization and shifts among younger generations towards contemporary healthcare practices.The research further demonstrates a detailed regional variation in preparation techniques, withhigh-altitude areas preferring wild-harvested decoctions and pastes, while tropical regions exhibit agrowing trend towards bio-prospecting for scientific validation and commercialization. Despite thepromise of merging traditional knowledge with modern healthcare practices, the decline of thisknowledge—particularly among youth—remains a significant obstacle. Women, frequently the guardiansof medicinal plant wisdom, are increasingly confronted by societal changes, underscoring the importanceof gender-sensitive strategies in conservation initiatives.Although community-based conservation strategies in Uttarakhand and Ladakh prioritize biodiversityprotection, and regions like Sathyamangalam promote socio-economic empowerment through thecommercialization of traditional remedies, the paper contends that a more holistic approach—integratingecological, cultural, and socio-economic aspects—is vital for the sustainable future of these practices.This thorough analysis highlights the pressing need for strategies that not only safeguard the plants andmethodologies but also enable local communities to navigate modern challenges while maintaining thesignificance of ethnomedicine in both local and global healthcare systems.