Traditional Approach to Cure Shingles Using Medicinal Plants in Eastern Nepal

Oral Collection and documentation of indigenous knowledge of local people have an important role in scientific research, biodiversity conservation, and the drug development process. A study was carried out to document the medicinal plants that have been used by the local folk healer to treat Shingles in Ilam district, Eastern Nepal. A renowned folk healer who was involved in curing Shingles for decades and 30 key informants were selected for the interview to know the methods of curing Shingles. Altogether six plants viz: Oroxylum indicum, Cynodon dactylon, Centella asiatica, Drymaria cordata, Sesamum indicum, and Lygodium japonicum were found to be used against the disease. The traditional method of preparing medicine from these plants was found to be highly effective. The finding provides a clue for further extensive lab-based research to isolate the specific compounds that are effective against the disease.