Spices Biodiversity and Their Ethnomedicinal Uses by Tribal Community of Sikkim, India

Spices used by tribe as herbal ethno medicine to treat several common diseases such as fever, indigestion, diarrhea, dysentery, vomiting, asthma, heart diseases, headache, boils, leucoderma, bold disorders, piles and insect bites etc. were documented. High level of commercial use as ethnomedicinal practices adversely affect the physical, social and economic welfare of the tribal community of Sikkim. A survey (December 2012 to December 2013) reported data on fourteen spices belonging to twelve families identified from this region. Brief information about the scientific names with family, common names (English), plant part used, way of application of plant parts and their uses against diseases have been presented. Present study reveals that some species are important in primary healthcare system of tribal communities. This paper deals with the biodiversity of spices and their ethnomedicinal uses by the tribal communality for conservation and utilisation in Sikkim.