Plants used for natal healthcare in folk medicine of Kerala, India

523-527This paper deals with 66 preparations made out of 58 plant species specifically employed in prenatal (14), postnatal (23) and child healthcare (29) in folk medicine of Kerala. Details about preparation and administration of medicine, plant parts used, local names, dosages and status of occurrence of species - wild, naturalised, cultivated or marketed, are provided. An analysis of these, 58 plant species shows that 37 species (63%) are native and the rest 21 species (36%) are naturalised exotics. Of the 37 native species, 14 species occur wild and the rest 23 species are either cultivated or planted