HERBAL MEDICINES AND TRIBALS: A REVIEW

India has ancient history of use of plants in the indigenous system of medicine (Ayurveda, Unani, Sidha) in the dates back over 5000 years. Ayurveda records over 8000 herbal remedies. India officially recognizes over 2500 plants as having medicinal value and it has been estimated that over 6000 plants are used in traditional folk and herbal medicines. It is a peculiarity of the tribal life is their holistic herbal medicines. Having lived in harmony with nature for centuries the tribes have identified various herbs which can heal a variety of diseases. This indigenous stream of herbal medicines get increased now-a days and more and more people not only belonging to tribal community but those from the outside civilized world approach the tribal medical expert to take the medicine