AN ETHNOBOTANICAL STUDY IN BUDGAM DISTRICT OF KASHMIR VALLEY: AN ATTEMPT TO EXPLORE AND DOCUMENT TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE OF THE AREA

Man has used plants to alleviate suffering and disease since times immemorial. The present study attempts to explore and document the traditional knowledge of medicinal plants used to cure different diseases. Present study revealed that either whole plant or different plant parts are used to treat various diseases. During the present investigation it was also observed that some plant species are used to treat more than one disease; likewise more than one plant species is used to treat a particular disease. These plant species are used to treat 35 types of different diseases. The paper also discusses the ethno medicinal use of 24 plant species, their vernacular name and part/parts used to cure various diseases.