全 文 ：Studies on the Traditional Uses of Some Medicinal Shrubs
of Swat Kohistan , Pakistan
Muhammad HAMAYUN1
?
, Sumera Afzal KHAN2
(1 Department of Agronomy, Collegeof Agricultureand Life Sciences, Kyungpook National University, Republic of Korea;
2 Centreof Biotechnology, University of Peshawar, Pakistan)
Abstract: This paper is based on an ethnobotanical project carried out in the remote Hindukush mountain region of Swat
Kohistan . Most of the local people still relyonmedicinal plants for curing different diseases . However, thetraditional use
and pertinent knowledge of medicinal plantsareondeclinewith the introduction of allopathic drugs in the study area . Dur-
ing present study, an effort was made to document the traditional knowledge of some important medicinal shrubs of Swat
Kohistan . The traditional uses of 18 frequently used shrubs belonging to12 different familieswere thus documented . The
Kohistani people usethese medicinal shrubs for curingmultiple ailments and some of these are also exported to other parts
of Pakistan .
Key words: Ethnomedicine; Medicinal Shrubs; Swat Kohistan; Hindu-Kush mountains
CLC number : Q 948 Document Code : A Article ID : 0253 - 2700(2006)06 - 665 - 04
The traditional herbal medicine bequeathed from
generation to generation is rich in domestic recipes and
communal practice . Encompassing concepts and meth-
ods for the protection and restoration of health, tradi-
tional medicine has served as a fount of alternative
medicine, new pharmaceuticals, and healthcare prod-
ucts . The best known examples of traditional medi-
cine, differing in concept and protocol , are well-de-
veloped systems such as acupuncture, Unani system
and ayurvedic medicine that have been widely used to
conserve human health in China, Pakistan and India .
In developing countries, herbal medicine is still
themainstay of health care, using local traditions and
beliefs . According to World Health Organization
( WHO) , health is astateof complete physical , men-
tal , and social well being and not merely the absence
of disease or infirmity . It has been estimated that
about 20 000 plant species are used for medicinal pur-
poses throughout the world . According to WHO report
70% of the world population use medicinal plants for
curing diseases through their traditional practitioners .
In sub-continent, plantoriented drugs areused extens-
ively and fromavery long time . According to a survey
conducted by WHO, traditional healers treat 65% pa-
tients in Sri Lanka, 60% in Indonesia, 75% in Ne-
pal , 85% in Myanmar, 80% in India and 90% in
Bangladesh . In Pakistan, 60% of the population, es-
pecially in villages is getting health care by traditional
practitioners ( Hakims) , who prescribe herbal prepara-
tions (Haq, 1983) . The practice of traditional medi-
cine is alsowidespread in China, Japan and Thailand .
Swat Kohistan
Swat Kohistan compriseborders theNorthern Areas
of Gilgit and Chitral in the North, District Swat in the
South . Indus Kohistan in the east and upper parts of
District Dir and someparts of Chitral in theWest . The
population of Swat Kohistan is 31 029 and the area is
about 206 523 hectares (Anonymous, 1998) . Themin-
imumelevationof Swat Kohistan is 2 000 m at Kalam .
Kalamis themajor town and center of Swat Kohistan .
Naturehas been very generous to the region in its
endowments of towering invinciblepeaks, gigantic gla-
ciers and majestic streams, not tomention thesplendor
of its valleys, themeadows and high altitudeplateaus .
云 南 植 物 研 究 2006 , 28 (6) : 665～668
Acta Botanica Yunnanica

? ?Author for correspondence . E - mail : hamayun73@ gmail . com
Received date: 2005- 12- 26 , Accepted date: 2006- 03- 27
History of Swat Kohistan
The predecessors of the present Kohistani popula-
tion people are most likely the same as the Gawri , who
inhabited the lower more fertile parts of district Dir
from thedays of Alexander the Great . In 11th century
A . D . the forces of Mehmud of Ghazna conquered the
area and the indigenous population was thus forced to
flee to the remote and inhospitable upper mountains .
Local traditions confirmthat fromtheregroupsof Gawri
settlers crossed themountainpasses in toUtror, Kalam
and Ushu valleys which are now parts of District Swat,
while the rest remained in the upper Panjkoravalley of
District Dir .
During 14th century A .D . the Yousafzai tribe of
Pukhtoons attacked the lower parts of Swat and Dir dis-
tricts forcing the already resident Pukhtoons to flee to the
upper partsof Swat andPanjkoravalley . Under theinflu-
ence of thesenewimmigrants, Kohistanis convertedto Is-
lam, probably in 15th or 16th century ( Baart, 1997 ) .
As the new immigrants belong to HanfiaSchool of Islamic
law, subsequently the new converted kohistanis also be-
long to the same group of Sunni Muslims .
The Kohistanis enjoyed large degree of political
independence for many centuries . After independence
of India from British rule, the area came under the
ruleof Wali ( former ruler of Swat) in 1947 . At that
time swat was an autonomous state . The Wali ( com-
monly called Baachaa Sahib of Swat) built roads,
schools and hospitals in the area . During the reign of
Wali Sahib, the area witnessed great development like
other parts of Swat . The Kohistan area was finally in-
corporated with Pakistan in 1969 .
The residentsof Swat Kohistan still enjoy semi-in-
dependent status, as the Government is unable to exert
her direct and efficient control due to its remoteness
and partly becauseof local traditions and tribal system .
The administration does not enjoy enough influence and
authority in the area and the tribal traditions still take
precedenceover official Pakistani law .
Material and Methods
Theproject area was visited several times for collection of
data during the year 2002 - 2003 . During fieldwork, interviews
were conducted with the local inhabitants, selected informants,
theherbalists‘hakims’ ( local physicians of eastern system of
medicine) , pansaries (medicinal plants sellers in the local mar-
kets) . To identify themost attractive and frequently used medic-
inal plants for the indigenous community of Swat Kohistan, a
quantitative ethnopharmacological method was used (Friedman et
al . 1986) . Accordingto this method, the percentage of infor-
mants claiming the use of acertain plant for the samemajor pur-
pose, also known as its Fidelity Level (FL ) , was calculated for
each species . Thus, plants could be rated on the basis of their
relative efficiency, as they appear in the eyes of their consum-
ers . Since some plants that received high FL valueswere known
to only a fraction of the informants, an appropriate correction
factor was introduced . The Relative Popularity Level ( RPL) can
be calculated for each plant from the relationship between the
number of informantswhoknowof a certain plant andtheaverage
number of uses per plant .
Results
Present study revealed that 18 shrubby plant spe-
cies belonging to 12 families are utilized for ethnbotani-
cal purposes in Swat Kohistan . Most of these plants
areused for curingdifferent ailments in the study area .
Someof these plants are also exported to other parts of
the country and thus they play avital role in the socio-
economic conditions of the people living in Swat Ko-
histan .
Theseplant specieswith their respective families, lo-
cal names, part used and local uses aregiven in Table 1 .
Discussion
The primitive people of all ages had knowledgeof
medicinal plants that they acquire as a result of trail
and error . This knowledge is still alive and several
hundred species areused in herbal remedies in indige-
nous system of medicines, where the whole plant or
plant part or its extraction is used . The use of plants
for the existenceof human being is as old a practice as
thehuman race itself . The accumulation of knowledge
of plant use however coevolved with human civilization
through the experimental use of plants, generation af-
ter generation . Medicinal plants are widely used in
666 云 南 植 物 研 究 28 卷
Table 1 Traditional uses of medicinal plants in Swat-Kohistan
Plant material Part used Local uses
Berberidaceae
Berberis lycium Royle Rhizome and The rhizome is used locally for bodyand bones pain . Rhizomebark is used for curing stomachic,
[ Hez?Khawaray] rhizome bark strengthening sex organs and treatment of internal wounds . Thefruits are edible .
Berberisvulgaris L . Rhizome and Locally used as stomachic, intestinal colic, diuretic and expectorant . Also used for jaundice
[Toor kwarray] rhizome bark and liver disorders .
Buxaceae
Buxus wallichiana Baill . Whole plant, It is ant rheumatic, diaphoretic, purgative, poisonous and febrifuge . The stern is use for
[ Shamshad] leaves, stem toothbrush and is a remedy for toothache . Also used in makingwooden spoons and utensils .
Also used in naming i :. e ., Shamshad .
Fumariaceae
Corydalis govaniana Wall . Roots?flowers The fresh roots are crushed and the liquid obtained is applied to eyes for cleaning and improving
[Mamera] eyesight .
Rosaceae
Cotoneaster nummularia Whole plant It is used for thatching and sheltering roof , used as fuel wood . It is also used for fencing .
Fisch . et Mey . [ Karwara]
Rosa brunonii Lindl . Flowers, branches Ornamental , aromatic, used in fencing and hedges, Honey bee species . Used in naming
[Zangaley Gulab] i ?. e ., Gulab Khan .
Rosa webbiana Wall . Flowers, branches Ornamental , cultivated at the edge of fields as fencing and hedge plant, honeybee species .
ex Royle [ Palwari]
Sorbaria tomentosa (Lindl .) Inflorescence The inflorescenceof Sorbaria is mixed with mustard oil and applied on the skin of newly born
Rehder [Beree] babe to remove skin rashes and also applied to thewounds as anti septic agent .
Thymeliaceae
Daphne mucronata Royle Fruits, bark, Thefruits arepurgative . The bark and leaves areused as poultice for tumors and swellings .
[Laighonai] leaves, flowers The leaves are also poisonous for livestock . Thefruits are edible . Their poultice is used for
the treatment of rheumatism . They are also used as fuel wood . Flowers are ornamental .
Elaegnaceae
Elaeagnus parviflora Wall . Whole plant Locally used as fuel wood, fencing and hedge making . J uice of root is use for headache and
ex Royle [Ghanum rangai] heart burning . Thefruits are edible and cardiac stimulant .
Hippophaerhamnoides L . Wood, fruit Wood is used for fuel and fruits are edible .
[ Sibak Thaan]
Ephedraceae
Ephedra gerardiana Wall . Fruit and Leaves The plant is used for curing asthmatic bronchitis and rheumatism . The tinctureof Ephedra is
ex Stapf [Someni] a cardiac circulatory stimulant . The plant is also used for curing hay fever and cold .
Ephedra intermedia Schrenk Fruit and Leaves The plant is used for curing asthmatic bronchitis and rheumatism . The tinctureof Ephedra is
et C ].A . Mey [ Huma] a cardiac circulatory stimulant . The plant is also used for curing hay fever and cold .
Fabaceae
Indigofera heterantha Wall . Rhizome bark, The bark is peeled off fromtherhizome and crushed . It is then added to aglassof water and kept
ex Brand . [Ghoureja] shoots, branches for an hour . The water is used for relieving abdominal pain . Shoots serve as fodder for goats .
Young branches are twisted into ropes, also tied to make brooms for cleaning roofs and lawns .
Fuel wood, for thatching and fencing, wood ash is used for making snuff , honey bee species .
Oleaceae
Jasminumhumile L . Whole plant Root decoction is used for curing ringworms . I t is use for antibioses and skin disease .
[Ziar Rambail?Yasmin] Ornamental . Used in naming i C. e Rambail for male and Yasmin for female .
Rutaceae
Skimmia laureola (DC .) Sieb . Leaves Used in curing small pox . I t is believed that smoke from leaves purify air and repel evils .
& Zucc . ex Walp [ Namer] The leaves are dried and added to wheat flour . It is then given to livestock as anthelmintic .
Solanaceae
Withania somnifera (L .) Leaves fruits Leaves androotsareused as poultice toswellings, ulcersand carbuncles . Thefruit is diuretic .
Dunal . [ Kutilal] and roots The root is an aphrodisiac tonic, diuretic, narcotic and used in rheumatism .
Asteraceae
Xanthiumstrumarium L . Leaves Leaves are applied for curing skin diseases . Leaf decoction is also locally used for curing
[ Geshkay] malarial fever .
7666 期 Muhammad HAMAYUN et al : Studies on theTraditional Uses of Some Medicinal Shrubs . . .
household remedies and by practitioners of traditional
systems of medicines, particularly in the developing
world wherepublic health careservices arelimited . At
the same time, interest in traditional and contemporary
and alternativemedicine in industrialized countries has
grown rapidly . The people of Swat Kohistan, like
most other indigenous people depend upon plant re-
sources for their medicinal requirements and in this way
a traditional system of folk recipes has evolved in the
areaover a period of time . People use 138 plant spe-
cies for curingdifferent ailments andmore than 62% of
the local population is dependent on medicinal plants
for primary health care . People utilize different parts
of the plant for medicinal purposes . For instance, the
rhizomeof Berberis lycium is used locally for body and
bones pain . Rhizome bark is used for stomachache,
strengthening sex organs and broken bones . The rhi-
zomeis dried and then crushed to powder . The powder
is then mixed in a local sweet dish called Halwa .
Some times the rhizome powder is administered with
milk for giving relief in pains . Similarly, Hamayun et
al . (2003) reported that medicinal plants collected in
District Buner are used by the inhabitants to curevari-
ous ailments . They use the leaves decoction of Ajuga
bracteosa Wall . ex Bth . for the treatmentof jaundice,
hypertension and sore throat . Roots of Justicea ada-
thoda L . is used in rheumatism, pneumonia and
cough, while leaves are used as antiseptic, expecto-
rant, antispasmodic, and demulcent . Gum of Acacia
modesta Wall . is used as tonic and stimulant . The
leaves of Datura innoxia Mill . is used in toothache,
headache and epilepsy, the seeds are antipyretic, and
narcotic . Paeonia emodi is used in backache, drop-
sy, epilepsy, convulsions, hysteria and uterine dis-
eases . Similar reports were also documented by Shin-
wari et al . ( 2002) , Sadaqat ( 1995) and Ahmad et
al . (2004 ) for other parts of Pakistan .
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