**2. Methodology**

Intensive ethnobotanical explorations were conducted in seven villages, namely Pushprajgarh, Jamunadadar, Bijora, Bhejari, Paladongari, Bendi and Karondapani of district Anuppur from January 2018 to January 2019. The method adopted for collection of data was interview with *Baiga* tribes, local medicine men (*Vaidyas*) and one to one discussion about therapeutic uses of local plants in the treatment of various diseases. A questionnaire was prepared to gather data for this purpose. The herbarium specimens were prepared by following the standard method [8]. Plants used by the tribal were identified with the help of Flora of Madhya Pradesh [9–11] and identification was confirmed by consulting the herbaria of Botanical Survey of India, Central Regional Circle, Allahabad (BSA). These voucher specimens are prepared and deposited in the herbarium of Department of Botany, Pt. S.N.S. Govt. Post Graduate College, Shahdol, Madhya Pradesh. The plants are arranged alphabetically according to their botanical name followed by family, local name and mode of administration for different diseases as given in the (**Table 1**).

**S.No. Botanical name Family Local name Uses** 1 *Abrus precatorius* L. Fabaceae Ghumchi Two spoonful of seed paste (red variety) is given orally once daily before breakfast for 3 days to cure menstrual disorder. 2 *Abutilon indicum* (L.) Sweet. Malvaceae Kanghi Leaves are boiled in coconut oil and the oil is externally applied on head once daily for one week to cure cold and scabies on the head. 3 *Acacia nilotica* (L.) Willd. ex Delile Mimosaceae Bamoor Fresh leaf paste (20 gm) is externally applied on anus daily in the morning after bath for 15 days to cure piles. 4 *Achyranthes aspera* L. Amaranthaceae Lathjira Root paste is externally applied on affected area immediately after scorpion sting. 5 *Alpinia calcarata* Roscoe Zingiberaceae Kulanjan Root in small pieces, chewed once in a day for 4 times to cure sore throat. 6 *Andrographis paniculata* (Burm. f.) Wall. ex Nees Acanthaceae Chirayta Decoction of the whole plant (15 ml) is given orally thrice in a day for 7 days to cure respiratory disorder. 7 *Asparagus racemosus* Willd. Liliaceae Satavar Fresh tuber juice (15 ml) mixed with a cup of cow's milk is given orally twice in a day for 10 days to cure haematuria. 8 *Azadirachta indica* A. Juss. Meliaceae Neem Leaf juice (10 ml) mixed with a cup of water is given orally once in a day before breakfast for 7 days to prevent miscarriage. 9 *Bauhinia variegata* L. Caesalpiniaceae Kachnar A spoonful of sun-dried flower bud powder mixed with a cup of water is given orally twice in a day for 21 days to cure piles. 10 *Boerhavia diffusa* L. Nyctaginaceae Punarnava Root decoction (10 ml) mixed with a cup of water is given thrice in a day for 7 days to cure jaundice. 11 *Bryonia laciniosa* L. Cucurbitaceae Shivlingi A teaspoonful crushed seed with a glass of water is given orally once in the morning before breakfast for 3 months to cure sterility in women. 12 *Buchanania lanzan* Spreng. Anacardiaceae Chironji Leaf juice (15 ml) mixed a cup of water taken twice in a day for 2 days to prevent dysentery. 13 *Butea monosperma* (Lam.) Taub. Fabaceae Chheula Flowers are boiled in water and the water is used to take bath for 3 days to cure mild fever among children.

*Medicinal Plants and Traditional Practices of Baiga Tribe in Amarkantak Region of Eastern… DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.97697*



*Medicinal Plants and Traditional Practices of Baiga Tribe in Amarkantak Region of Eastern… DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.97697*


**Table 1.**

*Ethnomedicinal uses of plants by* Baiga *tribe in Amarkantak region.*
