A Nagaland University-led study has documented the rich ethno-medicinal knowledge of the Sonowal Kachari tribe of Assam, offering important insights into traditional healthcare practices that are rapidly fading. The research focuses on 39 medicinal plant species and their uses, showing how indigenous herbal wisdom can support affordable healthcare and future pharmaceutical research.

The study is especially significant because it captures knowledge that has traditionally been passed down orally within the community. Researchers interviewed 180 elderly knowledge holders to build a detailed, quantitative record of the tribe’s plant-based remedies, creating one of the most systematic accounts of Sonowal Kachari herbal medicine so far.

Why the study matters
Herbal medicine remains a vital first line of care in many rural and resource-limited areas, where access to doctors, pharmacies and expensive treatment can be difficult. The findings show that the Sonowal Kachari community relies on both traditional remedies and allopathic medicine, suggesting that integrative healthcare models could help bridge local wisdom and modern medical systems.

Key medicinal plants
The study identified a wide range of useful plants, with leaves being the most commonly used plant part. Herbs formed the largest group of medicinal sources, followed by trees, climbers and shrubs. This diversity reflects the community’s deep understanding of local biodiversity and therapeutic plant use.

Some of the plants highlighted in related reporting include Houttuynia cordata for digestive and respiratory issues, Centella asiatica for memory and skin health, Leucas aspera for cold and sinus complaints, Paederia foetida for arthritis and gastrointestinal disorders, and Phyllanthus emblica for immunity and jaundice. Other familiar species such as neem, aloe vera, bael, brahmi and kalmegh also appear in the wider body of traditional medicine knowledge.

These repeated and consistent uses give the research a strong scientific starting point for laboratory validation and possible drug development.

Indigenous knowledge at risk
Prof. Jagadish Kumar Patnaik, Vice-Chancellor of Nagaland University, said the research highlights the immense value of indigenous wisdom in advancing low-cost healthcare and future drug discovery. He noted that documenting such knowledge preserves cultural heritage while opening new pathways for sustainable medical innovation.

Dr. Pramod Chandra Dihingia, an Assistant Professor at Nagaland University, said the study warns of a possible loss of important ethnobotanical knowledge as younger generations move away from traditional practices. He stressed the need for conservation frameworks that protect both indigenous knowledge and medicinal plant biodiversity.

This concern is widely relevant across India. As urbanisation and changing lifestyles reduce dependence on traditional healing, many communities risk losing oral knowledge that has been refined over generations.

Science and tradition together
The findings were published in the Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine, a peer-reviewed journal that connects traditional Ayurvedic knowledge with modern biomedical science. The paper was co-authored by researchers from Nagaland University and the Indian Council of Medical Research, Assam.

Prof. Prabhakar Sharma said the study goes beyond documentation by opening avenues for pharmacological research. According to him, several identified plants show promise for future drug development, and the work supports national priorities in affordable healthcare, biodiversity conservation and natural product-based therapeutics.

Future applications
Researchers say the study lays the groundwork for deeper interdisciplinary work, including bioactive compound screening, laboratory validation, clinical trials and community-led conservation strategies. It also supports equitable benefit-sharing with indigenous communities, which is essential when traditional knowledge enters formal research and commercial pipelines.

In practical terms, this could mean new plant-based formulations for common conditions, stronger support for rural healthcare and better conservation of medicinal biodiversity.

By bringing Sonowal Kachari herbal knowledge into the scientific spotlight, Nagaland University has shown how indigenous wisdom can shape the future of evidence-based medicine in India.

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