ETHNOBOTANICAL SURVEY OF TRADITIONAL MEDICINES FOR HEMORRHOID TREATMENT

Abstract

Hemorrhoids or piles is a type of gastrointestinal disorder in India where the required medication is
often not available or too expensive for local people. Other possibilities have to be investigated, like traditional
medication in the form of medicinal plants to control the symptoms of the disease. By visiting tribal zones of Bihar, a
big table was made, containing approx 90 species which all have a potential effect against hemorrhoids. Aegle
marmelos , Aloe vera , Cassia fistula , Commiphora mukul , Dalbergia sissoo, Eclipta alba, Emblica officinalis,
Ficus carica Linn, Ginkgo biloba, Linum usitatissimum L., Mangifera indica Linn, Momordica charantia,, Nauclea
latifolia,, Ocimum canum, Solanum melongena L., Strychnos Nux- vomica Linn.,Tinospora cordifolia, Syzygium
aromaticum and Moringa oleifera seem to be the most promising species for treatment. To solve the problem of
unaffordable medication, a closer look should be taken to the common food crops, approx 107 plant species were
applied to different patients among the tribals which have a possible effect against the hemorrhoid may be internal or
externally prolapsed High fibre food may reduce constipation and enhance the bowel movements. Having different
grades of piles either externally in the form of paste or internally as oral drug. The whole plant or its part either alone
or in combination are used for treatment. All these plants which have property of curing piles are mentioned here
along with the name of family, common vernacular name, botanical name, part used, different phytochemical(
alkaloids, saponin, tannin, particular acids etc) and their images also. Medicinal plants are extremely valuable for
health and material goods part of the biodiversity. The bioactive ingredients of these medicinally active plants are the
main chemical constituents of the medicine prepared from these plants.