ETHNOMEDICINAL TREATMENT AGAINST SCIATICA BY THE PRIMITIVE AND VULNERABLE TRIBAL GROUPS OF VISAKHAPATNAM DT., ANDHRA PRADESH

Abstract

Present study yielded 10 ethnomedicinal plant species covering as many genera and families used to cure sciatica by the PVTGs of Visakhapatnam district. Habit-wise analysis showed the dominance of trees and climber with 4 species each followed by shrubs and herbs one species each. Four plant species and 10 practices were found to be new or less known. Phytochemical investigations are needed for further use. KEYWORDS Ethnomedicine, Sciatica, Primitive Tribal Groups, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh