Traditional Folk Medicines: In Treatment of Gastrointestinal Diseases at Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary, Odisha, India

Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary is situated in Balasore district, Odisha. There are scanty ethnomedicinal works carried in Kuldiha. ‘Santhal’ community is the major tribal population in the area. Gastrointestinal problem is a very common ailment in tribal societies. This gastrointestinal problem includes constipation, diarrhea, dysentery, dyspepsia, indigestion, stomach pain, flatulence, intestinal worm and jaundice. A total of 53 species of 47 genera 29 families were identified to be useful in treating gastrointestinal disorders. In majority of the species (27%) the medicines were obtained from the leaf. 61% are obtained from fruits, barks, roots and sometimes the whole plant is uprooted and used in the preparation of the drugs.