Use of Ethnomedicinal Plants by the People Living around Indus River

Table 2

Ethnomedicines of the study area.

Botanical name/voucher specimen number	Local name	Family	Habit/endemism	Status	Part used	Recipes	Dosage
Acacia modesta Wall.; KUH-309	Kikar	Mimosaceae	Tree/nonendemic	Cultivated	Bark	Bark is boiled in water and extracted juice is used orally for kidney pain.	Mostly 2 or 3 times a day.
Acacia nilotica (L.) Delile.; KUH-310	Kikar	Mimosaceae	Tree/nonendemic	Wild	Bark and flowers	Bark is boiled in water and the decoction is used dentally. Flowers are tied on affected area. Flowers are boiled in mustard oil; the oil is applied to head.	For dental purposes, it is used twice a day for 10 days, while for others it is used as needed.
Albizia lebbeck (L.) Benth. KUH-311	Sirsirin	Mimosaceae	Tree/nonendemic	Cultivated	Seeds	Seeds are ground to make powder and strained through fine cloth (having small pores). Equal quantities of the strained powder and sugar are mixed. This is an effective phytotherapy taken orally for asthma.	4 g of this mixed powder is used twice a day for a period of 40 days.
Allium cepa L. KUH-312	Piaz	Liliaceae	Herb/nonendemic	Cultivated	Bulb	Grind the bulb of onion and mix it with water and it is taken orally for vomiting.	One dose is enough for vomiting.
Allium sativum Linn.; KUH-313	Garlic	Liliaceae	Herb/nonendemic	Cultivated	Bulb and leaves	Bulb pieces are regularly used for high blood pressure. Leaves and bulb are chewed for vomiting.	As needed.
Aloe barbadensisMill.; KUH-314	Kunwar	Liliaceae	Herb/nonendemic	Wild/cultivated	Pulp of Leaves	Two leaves are made spineless and each one is divided length-wise into 2 or 3 slices. These slices of leaves along with common salt are given orally to the animals. Pulp is directly applied on burned skin.	Usually 3 doses are given each after 48 hours and also depend on disease severity.
Avena sativa L. KUH-315	Jou	Poaceae	Herb/nonendemic	Cultivated	Fruit	Partly ripen fruit is ground and mixed with some sugar and cold water to make syrup and is taken orally as laxative.	As needed.
Azadirachta indica (L.) A. Juss. KUH-316	Neem	Meliaceae	Tree/nonendemic	Wild/cultivated	Leaves	3 gm of leaves is crushed and mixed with water and common salt to make syrup and used orally for curing jaundice.	Two spoons of syrup are used in the morning after breakfast and in the evening before meal.
Beta vulgaris Linn. KUH-317	Chukandar	Chenopodiaceae	Herb/nonendemic	Cultivated	Root	Powder is used orally to treat diabetes.	As needed.
Calotropis procera. Ait. f., Hort. KUH-318	Akra	Asclepiadaceae	Shrub/nonendemic	Wild	Latex and flowers	Plant latex is applied externally on the region of snake bite and 5–8 flowers are used at a time with water for intestinal pain.	2-3 times daily for 5 days for intestinal pain.
Capparis desidua (Forsk.) Edgew.; KUH-319	Kareeta	Capparidaceae	Shrub/nonendemic	Wild	Fruit, Young shoots, and bark	Equal amounts of dried fruit and sugar are ground to make powder (safoof) and used orally for rheumatism. Young shoot is crushed and mixed with flour and given to animals. Bark is crushed and applied externally to the affected area for wound healing.	One teaspoon of powder is taken with a glass of water twice a day for a week for rheumatism.
Capsicum annum L. KUH-320	Green mirch	Solanaceae	Herb/nonendemic	Cultivated	Fruit	Fresh and unripe fruit is eaten for cancer.	As needed.
Caralluma tuberculata N; Brown. KUH-321	Chunga	Apocynaceae	Herb/nonendemic	Wild	Whole plant	Cook it as simple vegetable for diabetics control and also it is eaten directly for many purposes.	As needed.
Chenopodium album L. KUH-322	Bathu	Chenopodiaceae	Herb/nonendemic	Wild	Leaves and root.	Extract the juice from their leaves which is taken orally as a laxative. Dried leaves paste is used for urinary pain.	As needed.
Cicer arietinum Linn. KUH-323	Channa	Papilionaceae	Herb/nonendemic	Cultivated	Fruits and seeds	25 gm of seed coat (testa) of roasted grams is soaked in 250 g of water at night and crushed in the morning and strained. The strained water is taken orally. This phytotherapy is considered to be useful for constipation.	As needed.
Cichorium intybus L. KUH-324	Kasni	Asteraceae	Herb/	Wild	Whole plant	Fresh plants are boiled and sugar is added to decoction to form syrup and used orally for stomach.	Syrup used twice a day for a period as needed.
Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop. KUH-325	Leh	Asteraceae	Herb/nonendemic	Wild	Leaves	Extract of leaves used for abdominal pain of cattle.	As needed.
Citrullus colocynthis (L.). KUH-326	Karthuma	Cucurbitaceae	Herb/nonendemic	Wild	Fruit	Crush the dried fruit and make safoof and use it orally for constipation.	As needed.
Citrus medica Linn. KUH-327	Nimbo	Rutaceae	Tree/nonendemic	Cultivated	Fruits and leaves	Fruit extract is mixed with water, salt, and sugar and used orally to control blood pressure and vomiting. Fruit extract is mixed with honey and fresh milk to make its paste and applied on face for pimples.	For skin the paste is used at night for one month; for other purposes, it is used as needed.
Cleome brachycarpa Vahl. KUH-328	Gandi booti	Capparidaceae	Herb/nonendemic	Wild	Whole plant	Plants dried under shade are ground to make powder. The pure powder is used orally for abdominal pain.	As needed.
Convolvulus arvensis L. KUH-329	Wanvehri	Convolvulaceae	Herb/nonendemic	Wild	Whole plant	5 kg plants, dried under shade, are mixed with 12 liters of water at night to make syrup and used orally for skin diseases.	In the morning one cup of this water is used on empty stomach or is used thrice a day for a period as needed.
Cordia dichotoma Forster.f.; KUH-330	Lasora	Boraginaceae	Tree/nonendemic	Wild	Fruit	Eating of fruit, as needed, before meal is recommended for the treatment of masculine sexual weakness.	As needed.
Coriandrum sativum L. KUH-331	Dhania	Apiaceae	Herb/nonendemic	Cultivated	Leaves and fruits	About 50 g of dried fruit is boiled in one liter of water till half of the water is left. The decoction is used for asthma and cough. Fresh leaves are ground with mint to make powder and used orally for diuretic purposes.	Depends upon disease severity.
Cucumis sativus. Linn. KUH-332	Kheera	Cucurbitaceae	Herb/nonendemic	Cultivated	Fruits	During severe fever their pieces are rubbed on the sole of the feet and also good for digestion.	As required.
Cuscuta reflexa Roxb.; KUH-333	Loot booti	Convolvulaceae	Herb/nonendemic	Wild	Whole plant	Plants are dried and burnt. The ash is applied to the affected area.	As needed.
Cymbopogon jawarancusa; (Jones) Schult. KUH-334	Khawi	Poaceae	Herb/nonendemic	Wild	Root	Upper parts of the roots are boiled in water. The water is strained and is given orally to the children along with sugar for dyspepsia and typhoid.	2-3 times daily.
Daucus carota L. KUH-335	Gajar	Apiaceae	Herb/nonendemic	Cultivated	Root	Edible portion increases sight vision.	As needed.
Dalbergia sissoo Roxb.; KUH-336	Tali	Fabaceae	Tree/nonendemic	Cultivated	Leaves	70 g of young leaves of buds is crushed. One glass of water is added to it and strained. This is useful for piles, jaundice, and the feeling of hotness in sole of the feet.	The strained water is taken daily and continued for 10 days.
Datura metel L. KUH-337	Datura	Solanaceae	Herb/nonendemic	Wild	Whole plant	Roost their leaves and inhale their smoke for the treatment of asthma. Their seeds are used as expectorant, and do not eat it in excess amount; otherwise it will be lethal.	As needed.
Eruca sativa Mill. KUH-338	Usoo	Brassicaceae	Herb/nonendemic	Cultivated	Aerial parts	5 kg young branches along with leaves are boiled in 15 kg water and decoction is obtained. Then 5 kg millet flour is mixed with the decoction and is given orally to the horses.	As needed.
Eucalyptus camaldulensis  Dehnh. KUH-339	Safeda	Myrtaceae	Tree/non endemic	Cultivated	Leaf and bark	Tender shoot and young leaves are crushed and their smell gives temporary relief in cough.	As needed.
Eugenia jambolana Linn. KUH-340	Jaman	Myrtaceae	Tree/nonendemic	Cultivated	Bark and fruit	Dry the nonedible portion of their fruit and then grind it and take 1-2 spoons daily for 3 days; it will stop the severe stomach problems, and also this powder is used for the treatment of diabetics.	Twice a day.
Fagonia cretica L. KUH-341	Dhaman	Zygophyllaceae	Shrub/nonendemic	Wild	Whole plant	Plant is crushed and decoction is taken with water for piles and urinary infection.	1 teaspoon of powder is taken with bread thrice a day.
Ficus benghalensis L.; KUH-342	Bohir, bargad	Moraceae	Tree/nonendemic	Cultivated	Fruit	Fruit, dried under shade, is ground to form powder. This powder is used orally to treat abdominal pain.	Taken with water twice in day.
Ficus carica L. KUH-343	Anjeer	Moraceae	Tree/nonendemic	Cultivated	Fruit	2–4 figs (fruit) are soaked in water or milk at night and used in the morning on empty stomach. This is considered to be very effective for the treatment of piles. Fruit is used to remove kidney stone.	Used in the morning on empty stomach for 10 days.
Ficus religiosa L. KUH-344	Peepal	Moraceae	Tree/nonendemic	Cultivated	Fruit and bark	Burn the bark and make powder from this coal bark and take orally 5 grams of it with water for diarrhoea. Fruit is used for wound healing.	As needed.
Foeniculum vulgare Mill. KUH-345	Saunf	Apiaceae	Herb/nonendemic	Cultivated	Fruit	Equal quantities of fennel fruit, coriander fruit, and sugar are mixed and ground together to make powder and recommended as carminative. Fennel fruit, fresh mint leaves, and green tea are boiled used for vomiting.	The powder is used twice a day after meal as carminative and for vomiting and for menses pain the mixture is used twice a day.
Grewia asiatica L. KUH-346	Phalsa	Tiliaceae	Herb/nonendemic	Wild	Leaves, fruit, and bark	1 kg fruit is crushed with fingers in 1 liter of water and then strained. Sugar is added to the strained juice to make syrup. The syrup is taken orally for blood purifying, fever, and gastrointestinal disorders.	As needed.
Helianthus annuus L. KUH-347	Suraj mukhi	Asteraceae	Shrub/nonendemic	Cultivated	Seeds, leaves, and flowers	Leaves and seeds are crushed and used orally and dermally against fever and other purposes.	For 2 days.
Heliotropium europaeum L.KUH-348	Peepat Booti	Boraginaceae	Herb/nonendemic	Wild	Whole plant	The plant is crushed to make paste. The paste is applied as poultice to the affected area.	For 3 days.
Jasminum grandiflorum L. KUH-349	Cha mbeli	Oleaceae	Herb/nonendemic	Cultivated	Whole plant	Juice of whole plant is prepared and used orally against heart diseases and diabetes.	As needed.
Lawsonia inermis L. KUH-350	Mehndi	Lythraceae	Tree/nonendemic	Cultivated	Leaves	Leaves are crushed and paste is applied on soles and hairs.	As needed.
Momordica charantia Linn. KUH-351	Karela	Cucurbitaceae	Herb/ nonendemic	Cultivated	Leaf, flower, and fruits	Leaves are crushed and boiled and taken as tea; some salt is also mixed and used for skin diseases and blood purification. Fruit is used as vegetable and used for diabetics.	As needed.
Mentha viridis L. KUH-352	Podina	Lamiaceae	Herb/nonendemic	Cultivated	Leaves	Fresh leaves of mint,  niazbo, fennel fruit, and green tea are boiled and used orally for vomiting and stomach disorders	As needed.
Moringa oleifera La m. KUH-353	Sohanjna	Moringaceae	Tree/nonendemic	Cultivated	Whole plant	Cut their root and boil it in water and after that add milk to this water and drink it which breaks the kidney stone.	As needed.
Morus alba L. KUH-354	Toot	Moraceae	Tree/nonendemic	Cultivated	Fruit	Eat their fruits which provide the energy to the heart.	As needed.
Nannorrhops ritchieana Griff. KUH-355	Mazri	Palmae	Shrub/nonendemic	Wild/cultivated	Leaves	Mostly their leaves are boiled and then this juice is used orally for carminative and veterinary treatment.
Ocimum basilicum L. KUH-356	Niazbo	Lamiaceae	Herb/nonendemic	Cultivated	Seeds and leaves	Fresh leaves of mint, niazbo, fennel fruit, and green tea are boiled and used for gastrointestinal and respiratory infections.	As needed.
Oxalis corniculata L.KUH-357	Khatti boti	Oxalidaceae	Herb/nonendemic	Wild	Whole plant	Extract of whole plant is used orally for blood purification.	As needed.
Peganum harmala L.KUH-358	Harmal	Zygophyllaceae	Herb/nonendemic	Wild	Leaves and seeds	A small quantity of harmala seeds along with small quantity of table salt is taken with water for a few days as expectorant.	Dose depends on disease severity.
Phoenix dactylifera L. KUH-359	Khajoor	Palmae	Tree/nonendemic	Cultivated	Leaflets (spines)	The lowest leaflets (spines) of compound leaf are crushed and boiled. The strained water is taken orally for general pain.	As needed.
Plantago ovata Forsk. KUH-360	Ispaghula	Plantaginaceae	Shrub/nonendemic	Wild	Seeds	12 gm seeds are taken with milk at night for constipation. 12 gm seeds, sugar, and 1 glass of water are mixed and shaken well to cure jaundice.	Twice a day.
Polygonum barbatum L. KUH-361	Karaveera	Polygonaceae	Herb/nonendemic	Wild	Whole plant	Plants are crushed to form paste; the paste is used as poultice on the affected area daily for 3 days.	For a period of three days.
Portulaca oleracea L.; KUH-362	Lunrak	Portulacaceae	Herb/nonendemic	Wild	Seeds	Equal amounts of seeds of Portulaca, coriander, Argyreia speciosa, and table sugar are ground to make powder (safoof). It is an effective traditional phytotherapy used for night emission.	10 gm powder is taken with water twice a day.
Punica granatum L. KUH-363	Anar	Punicaceae	Tree/nonendemic	Cultivated	Fruit	Crush the dried fruit and mix this safoof with water and it is given orally to children.	Mostly twice a day.
Raphanus sativus L. KUH-364	Mooli	Brassicaceae	Herb/nonendemic	Cultivated	Roots and edible parts	Paste of root is formed and used for skin infections.	Two times a day.
Ricinus communis L. KUH-365	Hernoli	Euphorbiaceae	Shrub/nonendemic	Wild	Leaves and fruit	Heat the leaves and fruits and then they release the oil which is leaped on the desired place or organs where pain is felt.	As needed.
Rosa indica Lindl, Ros. Monogr.; KUH-366	Gulab	Rosaceae	Shrub/nonendemic	Cultivated	Flower	Fresh petals are mixed with sugar to make gulkand and kept in bottle and used for stomach disorders.	As needed.
Saccharum benghalensis Retz. KUH-367	Kana	Poaceae	Herb/nonendemic	Wild	Leaves	Ash of the leaves is mixed with water, and after an hour it will settle down in the bottom. The strained water is given to the animals suffering from “urine retention” disease.	As needed.
Salvadora oleoides Decne. KUH-368	Jal	Salvadoraceae	Tree/nonendemic	Wild	Fruit	250 gm of fruits is placed in a clayey pot and its mouth is closed in order to prevent the entrance of water in the pot. The pot is placed in a bucket of water for a night. The fruit is used in the morning on empty stomach. Eating of fruit of water melon before or after the eating of Salvadoran fruit is useful.	For one week.
Salvadora persica L. KUH-369	Peelu	Salvadoraceae	Shrub/nonendemic	Wild	Bark	Bark is boiled in water, taken as tea, and commonly used as a purifying agent.	As needed.
Solanum surattense Burm.f. KUH-370	Kandari	Solanaceae	Herb/nonendemic	Wild	Whole plant	The powder of dried fruits is taken with water for a period to treat piles. Fresh plants are boiled in 3 times more water. The water is filtered and mixed with sugar to form syrup and used for eczema and blood purification.	Syrup is used twice a day as needed for a period of for 2 months for treatment.
Solanum nigrum L. KUH-371	Makko	Solanaceae	Herb/nonendemic	Wild	Leaf and fruit	Ripe fruits are directly given orally for constipation; plant paste is formed and applied dermally for headaches and joint pain. Plant juice is used for dysentery and fever.	As needed.
Tamarix aphylla (L.) Karst. KUH-372	Khagal	Tamaricaceae	Shrub/nonendemic	Cultivated	Bark, leaves, and twigs	Ash of the leaves is mixed with water; after half an hour the water is strained (filtered) and boiled. After boiling, the water is evaporated and the salt is left behind. Then 1 gm salt is taken with Sharbat-e-Bazoori. It is a useful traditional phytotherapy for jaundice. Leaves are boiled in water. The water is strained and the hot leaves are tied on the affected area daily. This phytotherapy is used for the treatment of wound.	Twice a day for a period as needed for jaundice; for wound healing, it is used for one week.
Thuja occidentalis L. KUH-373	Thuja	Cupressaceae	Tree/nonendemic	Cultivated	Leaves	Boil their leaves in the water and then wash the mouth with this water; it provides rapid relief in dental pain. Fresh leaves are burned and their smoke decreases temperature in fever.	As needed.
Tribulus terrestris L. KUH-374	Bhakra, Gokhru	Zygophyllaceae	Herb/nonendemic	Wild	Fruit	The fruit is crushed and dried. Sugar, as needed, is mixed with the dried powder and is used orally for urinary infection.	Four times in a day for 3 months.
Viola stocksii Boiss. KUH-375	Makhanr booti	Violaceae	Herb/nonendemic	Wild	Whole plant	The whole plant, along with seeds, is ground to make powder and used for sexual purpose.	2 g powder is used with 1 teaspoon butter early in the morning on empty stomach as needed.
Withania coagulans (Stocks) Dunal. KUH-376	Akri	Solanaceae	Herb/nonendemic	Wild	Fruit	Five to six dried fruits are soaked in 2-3 cups of water at night; in the morning the soaked fruits are squeezed and the water is strained and used for blood purification. One dried fruit is kept in teeth keeping pain. Five to six fruits are taken with water like tablet for abdominal pain.	One cup of water is used on empty stomach for blood purification. And for other purposes, it depends upon disease severity.
Zea mays Linn. KUH-377	Makkai	Poaceae	Herb/nonendemic	Cultivated	Fruit	Dry fruit is crushed and made into flour which is used for digestion.	As needed.
Ziziphus jujuba Mill. KUH-378	Ber	Rhamnaceae	Tree/nonendemic	Wild/cultivated	Leaves and fruits	Eat their fruit which is helpful in treatment of diarrhoea as well as in blood purification. Paste of leaves is used for hair growth.	As needed.