Herbs in the Traditional Healthcare System of North East India

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The traditional healthcare system of North East India encompasses a rich repository of medicinal herbs that have been utilized for centuries to address various health concerns. Traditional medicine practitioners, with their distinct diagnostic methods, often rely on attentive observation and tactile examination to discern health issues, devoid of modern diagnostic instruments. Remedies are prepared from fresh plant materials collected from nature and prescribed to patients, frequently in composite forms comprising multiple herbs or their parts. In this study, we focus on three notable herbs: Polygonum hydropiper, Coptis teeta, and Lasia spinosa. They have been traditionally used to alleviate pain, reduce swelling, and treat conditions such as arthritis and rheumatism. Also, they possess antimicrobial, antioxidant and antiinflammatory activities. These plants hold immense therapeutic potential and exhibit the invaluable wealth of traditional knowledge that continues to inform and enrich contemporary pharmaceutical endeavors.