A study documenting traditional healing practices in Tripura has identified 67 plant species used by local practitioners in treating bone fractures, with researchers recording 34 traditional treatment methods based on ethnomedicinal knowledge gathered from healers across the state.
The findings are contained in a research chapter titled “Traditional Healing Practices in Tripura: Exploring Ethnomedicinal Plants Employed by Local Healers for Bone Fractures”, published in the 2026 book “Ecorestoration and Biodiversity Conservation”, edited by Debabrata Das and Pampi Ghosh. The study was conducted by researchers associated with the Regional Ayurveda Research Centre in Agartala and the Central Ayurveda Research Institute in Guwahati.
The researchers surveyed 122 traditional practitioners, of whom 32 were identified as specialists in traditional bone-fracture treatment. Their knowledge and practices formed the principal focus of the study. The survey was carried out between July 2022 and October 2023 under the initiative of the Regional Ayurveda Research Centre, Agartala, with support from the Tripura Forest Department. The research was originally undertaken under a project of the National Medicinal Plant Board.
According to the study, the 67 plant species recorded during the research belong to 56 genera and 37 families. The researchers said the findings provide documentation of plant-based practices used by traditional healers for managing bone fractures and could serve as baseline information for further investigation into the plants and their constituents.
Antidesma roxburghii emerged as the most frequently cited plant in the survey, with a relative frequency of citation of 0.406. It was followed by Litsea glutinosa at 0.218, while Cassia fistula and Cissus quadrangularis each recorded 0.156. The study also listed Vanilla planifolia and Tacca chantrieri at 0.125 each and Achyranthes aspera at 0.093.
The frequency data showed that Antidesma roxburghii was cited by 40.62 per cent of the practitioners, followed by Litsea glutinosa at 21.87 per cent. Cassia fistula and Cissus quadrangularis were each cited by 15.62 per cent, while Vanilla planifolia and Tacca chantrieri were each cited by 12.50 per cent. Achyranthes aspera was cited by 9.37 per cent of the respondents.
The research also examined which parts of plants were used by the traditional practitioners. Leaves accounted for the largest share, with parts of 41 of the recorded plants being used. Stem bark was reported for 10 plants, roots for six, stems for five, rhizomes for five and whole plants for five. Bulbs and shoots were used for two and one species respectively.
Among the 67 species, 40 were reported as wild, eight as cultivated and 19 as both cultivated and wild. In terms of plant habit, the researchers recorded 25 tree species, 14 herbs, 13 climbers, nine shrubs, four creepers, one grass, one fern and one woody climber.
The demographic profile of the 32 specialised practitioners showed that 29 were men and three were women. Twenty-two respondents belonged to the Scheduled Tribe category, seven were classified under the category described in the study as Forward caste and three under Minority. The practitioners ranged in age from 30 to 90 years.
The researchers also recorded differences in educational backgrounds. Nine of the practitioners were illiterate, 11 had primary-level education, six had secondary education, four had passed Madhyamik and two were graduates. The study reported a strong correlation between the age of respondents and their ethnobotanical knowledge.
The researchers collected information through semi-structured, open-ended interviews. Details concerning the practitioners’ age, place of practice, experience, learning methods, diseases treated, diagnostic approaches, and methods of storing and using plants were recorded. Plant specimens discussed by the practitioners were also collected for identification and preservation.
The study covered all eight districts of Tripura. The researchers said information was obtained from practitioners belonging to different communities, while local people, forest rangers and van mitras assisted the research team in identifying practitioners and reaching remote locations.
The researchers noted that traditional bone-setting practices continue to be followed in several parts of Tripura and that the knowledge associated with medicinal plants has been passed down through generations. They also pointed to concerns over the availability of some medicinal plants and noted that some traditional healers had begun cultivating such plants in home gardens.
The study, however, called for further scientific work rather than treating the documented traditional uses as established clinical treatments. Its authors said phytochemical, pharmacological and clinical assessments would be required to examine the medicinal properties of the plants and to evaluate the traditional uses scientifically.
The researchers concluded that documenting traditional knowledge could contribute to the conservation of medicinal plant resources in Tripura while providing baseline material for further research. They specifically identified Antidesma roxburghii as requiring phytochemical investigation, based on its high frequency of citation among the practitioners surveyed.
The research was supported by the National Medicinal Plants Board under the Ministry of AYUSH, while the authors also acknowledged cooperation from the Tripura Forest Department and the Plant Taxonomy and Biodiversity Laboratory of Tripura University.