Ethnomedical Practices Among the Rongmei Naga Tribes of Manipur, India

Ethnomedicine is defined as the totality of health, knowledge, values, beliefs, skills, and practices of members of society, including all the clinical and non-clinical activities that relate to their health (Foster and Anderson, 1978, Medical Anthropology). Ethnomedicinal plants are a vital aspect of the Rongmei Naga way of life, embodying a harmonious connection between humans and the natural world. The present study tries to explore the different ethnomedicinal plants used among the Rongmei Naga tribes of Manipur. For the present research, data were collected through fieldwork conducted among the Rongmei Naga Tribe living at Tarung village, Imphal- West District, Manipur, India. A total of 79 ethnomedicinal plants have been recorded, which are being used for treating various diseases among the Rongmei Naga tribes. The study revealed the extensive use of different plant life forms, including trees, shrubs, herbs, climbers, and understory plants. The Rongmei Naga community has very rich ethnomedicinal knowledge in the field of herbal medicine. The ethnomedicinal plants serve as a reliable and readily available resource when most secondary and tertiary health care centers are very far away from the village.