Medicinal Plants in Kolli Hills

Vegetation

• The vegetation on Kolli hills is varied. Scrub forests cover the foothills and, as elevation increases, the scrub gives way to forests with both deciduous and coniferous trees. The dominant trees in the scrub forests are Euphorbia antiquorum and Limonia alata. Jasminum auriculatum is among the common climbers. The dry deciduous forest includes trees like Dalbergia lanceolaria and a number of shrubs. Each forested region has an herb layer with a variety of plants. An ethnobotanical survey conducted from 2007 to 2009 reported a total of 108 ethnomedicinal plants used for a variety of ailments. Of the 108 plants were 31 herbs, 26 big trees, three small trees and 17 shrubs.

Medicinal Preparations

• The local people of Kolli hills are the Tamil-speaking Malayalis. Members of the tribe use medicinal plants to treat a range of maladies, from colds and headaches to poisonous bites, and some other diseases. Those who live deep in the forested areas depend on these plants for their primary healthcare. Medicines are prepared from the plants and made into powders, pastes and juices. In some instances, fruits are also used as medicine. Leaves of Kolli hills plants are are most often used to treat disease. Wounds, skin diseases and headaches are treated both by applying the paste or powder externally, or by eating the plant. Generally, the tribal people use the fresh part of the plant to prepare medicine. If plants are not available fresh, in some cases dried parts are used.

Medicinal Uses

• Medicine men or women are most knowledgeable about the uses of the medicinal plants in Kolli hills. For example; the root of Abrus precatorius of the Fabaceae family is used to treat poisonous bites, while the leaf of the Achyranthes aspera is made into a paste to treat dog bites. The juice of Aegle marmelos leaves, known locally as vilvam, is used to treat diarrhea. The milk of Sarcostemma intermedium is used to induce vomiting in the case of poisoning, while the seeds of Senna occidentalis are used to treat diabetes. The leaf juice of Leucas aspera is used internally to treat asthma.

Conservation

• Grazing, mining, tree felling and chopping of tree limbs is common, and little of the Kolli hills area has been left undisturbed. Humans have impacted the biodiversity and the local people note that the medicinal plants dwindle in number. Due to the degradation of the habitat and interference by humans, opportunistic plants and weeds have taken over. The dominant undergrowth in the forests is now Lantana camara, an exotic weed. As a result, the forest department and the Foundation for Revitalisation of Local Health Traditions is trying to conserve the medicinal plants of Kolli Hills.