title: Traditional use of medicinal plants among Kalasha, Ismaeli and Sunni groups in Chitral District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Pakistan.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The traditional use of medicinal plants for the treatment of human and livestock ailments is important to indigenous communities in the northern parts of Pakistan, and considered to be a valuable local biological and sociocultural heritage. The aim of this study was to obtain a detailed inventory of medicinal plant use and preparation among Kalasha, Ismaeli and Sunni groups.
  
  
  METHODS
  Semi-structured group and individual interviews were carried out with men and women of different age groups that identified themselves as being Kalasha, Ismaeli or Sunni. Interviews were followed up by field visits to collect herbarium vouchers and record in greater detail the exact methods of harvesting, preparation and use on medicinal plants.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 76 species were recorded for treatment of various diseases. The Kalasha, Ismaili and Sunni ethnic groups have similar medicinal floras, but show striking differences in plant use. Our comparative survey shows that out of all species reported in this study, only 13 species have been reported previously from Chitral District.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Indigenous knowledge of folk medicine is intricately linked to local culture, religion and history. Any short study can only scratch the surface of this intricate system, but provide an insight into the critical importance of medicinal plants for local livelihoods and the important role these play in health care systems. There is a great need to assess and properly manage the production potential of medicinal plants to ensure sustainable supply of these species for local use and subsistence trade.
authors.affiliation: Center for Plant Sciences and Biodiversity, University of Swat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Electronic address: hassan.botany@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Hassan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sher
authors.affiliation: William L. Brown Center, Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, USA. Electronic address: rainer.bussmann@mobot.org.
authors.forename: Rainer W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Bussmann
authors.affiliation: William L. Brown Center, Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, USA. Electronic address: robbie.hart@mobot.org.
authors.forename: Robbie
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hart
authors.affiliation: Department of Organismal Biology, Uppsala University, Sweden; Natural History Museum, University of Oslo, Norway. Electronic address: hugo.deboer@nhm.uio.no.
authors.forename: Hugo J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: de Boer
mesh_terms: D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D019448:Ethnobotany; D020834:Ethnopharmacology; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice / Q000208:ethnology; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008519:Medicine, Traditional; D010154:Pakistan; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000145:classification* / Q000254:growth & development; D012068:Religion and Medicine
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts
keywords: Ethnic groups; Indigenous knowledge; Ismaeli; Kalasha; Medicinal plants; Sunni; Traditional herbal practitioners