The Ethnobotany of Chitral Valley, Pakistan With Particular Reference To Medicinal Plants
The Ethnobotany of Chitral Valley, Pakistan With Particular Reference To Medicinal Plants
The Ethnobotany of Chitral Valley, Pakistan With Particular Reference To Medicinal Plants
Abstract
An ethnobotanical survey was carried out to collect information regarding the various
indigenous uses, especially the medicinal plants in Chitral valley. A total of 83 taxa are reported as
being used locally for various purposes. Our results suggest that root is the major plant part used in
most of the recipes. Majority of the recipes are prepared in the form of decoction from freshly
collected plant parts. Mostly a single species is used and are mainly taken orally. All of these plants
are collected from the wild, 7 of which are reported as scarce locally. Unsustainable collection
methods, poor post harvest methods, soil erosion and intense deforestation are the main causes of
the depletion of local flora. As the Chitrali people still partly depend on medicinal plants for
majority of their ailments, therefore loss of these plant resources will, to a certain extent, hamper
the existing healthcare system in the area. Measures for the conservation of plant resources
especially medicinal plants of Chitral valley are urgently needed.
Introduction
The use of plants by man is dated back to the origin of life on earth. In the beginning
plant use was restricted to food, medicine and shelter but with the passage of time man
explored the potential of plants for a number of other purposes. Hence, their dependency
on plants increased both directly and indirectly. Wild plants have always been the matter
of high concern and have always been used for their potential of human well being (Ali et
al., 2003; Ali, 2003). With the passage of time wild plants were cleared from their
original habitat to replace the desired cultivated crops on large scale. This practice has
always been affected by the availability of plants in their natural habitat and the way
these resources are used by the local people are imperative. In developing countries
medicinal plants provide a real alternative for primary health care system (Buitron, 1999).
Due to the high cost of conventional allopathic medicine and inaccessibility of medicinal
health care facilities especially in rural areas, the locals are compelled to rely on
medicinal plants. According to an estimate between 35,000 and 70,000 plant species are
used in folk medicine worldwide (Lewington, 1990; Fransworth & Soejarto, 1991), since
comparability of foreign trade statistics is limited and compilation of the trade figures of
all botanicals is impossible (Lange, 2006). Products from hundreds of species are being
collected from remote forests and meadows and traded to international markets and
consumed (Olsen, 2005). These harvests provide an important source of income to huge
number of rural households.
About 70-80% of the world population use traditional medicine for curing their
illness and ailments (Fransworth & Soejarto, 1991; Pei, 2001). But this was estimated
about a decade ago. The percentage of people using traditional medicine decreased in
developed countries: 40-50% in Germany, 42% in the USA, 48% in Australia and 49% in
France (Titz, 2004). This might be due to the unavailability of medicinal plants in the
wild.
2010 HAIDAR ALI & MUHAMMAD QAISER
Chitral is located in the extreme north-east of N.W.F.P., parallel to the pan handle
shaped Wakhan corridor of Afghanistan. It is the largest district of the province with
14850 sq. km area, covering 20% of the provincial landscape. It lies within 350 15´ 06”
to 360 55´32” North and 710 11´ 32” to 730 51´ 34” East with a population of 3,20,000
(Anon., 1998).
It is bordered on the east by district Ghizer of Northern areas of Pakistan, on the
south by districts of Dir and Swat. Nooristan of Afghanistan lies across the border to the
West and on the north-west by the Wakhan corridor, which separates Pakistan and
Tajikistan (Fig.1). Three distinct mountain ranges surround the Chitral region, to the
north-west bordering Afghanistan is the Hindu Kush range, to the east-south is the Hindu
Raj range and in between there is Shandoor-Karakoram range.
Chitral’s main valley is 354 km long with a maximum width c. 4800 m. However, at
some places it is barely 180 m wide, while the side valleys are even narrower. Fan-
deposits may be found in open spaces along both the main and side valleys. These are the
places where most of the villages and cultivated fields are formed (Ali & Qaiser, 2006).
High mountain topography is the characteristic feature of Chitral, which is the only
cause of its isolated nature. Therefore the entry into Chitral is limited to only few passes
i.e., Lowari Pass and Shandoor Pass, which are at an altitude of 3300m and 3800m
respectively. But these passes are closed due to heavy snowfall for almost 6 months of
the year and the area is totally inaccessible during winter (Ali & Qaiser, 2005).
Elevation of the area varies from about 1070 m (about 3500 ft) in the extreme south
in Arandu to 7,690 m (25,230 ft) at the summit of Tirich Mir in the Hindu Kush. High
mountain and rough topography of the area have given rise to lot of narrow side valleys.
Erosion and glacial drift have contributed to fan-deposits along both the main and side
valleys. These fan deposits are the main areas of habitation by human, hence villages and
cultivated fields are found on these alluvial deposits (Ali & Qaiser, 2006).
ETHNOBOTANY OF CHITRAL VALLEY, PAKISTAN
Fig. 1. Location map of the study area showing the localities visited. 1. Lowari top, 2. Ziarat, 3. Arandu, 4. Drosh, 5. Madaklasht, 6. Birir, 7. Bomboret, 8. Joghore, 9.
Koghozi, 10. Goleen, 11. Chitral, 12. Chitral Gol, 13. Shoghore, 14. Garm Chashma, 15. Shah Sadin, 16. Arkari, 17. Agram Gol, 18. Kiyar, 19. Barum, 20. Charun, 21.
Booni, 22. Mastuj, 23. Laspur, 24. Shandoor, 25. Chumarkan, 26. Chuinch, 27. Brep, 28. Qaq lasht, 29. Shagram, 30. Bendok, 31. Rich Gol, 32. Shah Jinali, 33. Wasam,
34. Yarkhun Lasht, 35. Kankhoon, 36. Chikar, 37. Karambar An., 38. Shajinali An, 39. Khote lasht, 40. Shoghore.
2011
2012 HAIDAR ALI & MUHAMMAD QAISER
.38
B C
A
Fig. 2. Traditional agricultural tools and techniques are still commonly used in Chitral: A,
Agricultural land in Ayun-Chitral; B, Oxen are still used for threshing purposes; C, Traditional
ploughing is still used even in the lower Chitral.
Most of the land (72%) is either glaciated or covered with bare mountains and rocks.
Small patches of forests, alpine and pasture meadows cover only 24% and croplands
make only 1-2% of the total land in the district (Haserodt, 1996). Approximately
34% of the Chitral district lies above 4500 m (Kolb, 1994). About 686 km2 of Chitral
is covered by glaciers, which is about 10% of the total area of Chitral. There are
about 22 glaciers which are more than 10 km long including the longest Chianter
glacier, which is 32 km long, covering an area ca. 170 km2 (Gruber, 1977). In some
places, some glacier tongues extend down to 3200 m into the semi-arid valleys. In
the high glacier regions, precipitation may be as high as four times, whereas the
valley bottoms are dry and desert-like (Haserodt, 1989).
In Chitral the population is heterogeneous, with ethnic diversity inhabiting in
37 valleys. The Kalash people are “Kafir” i.e., non Muslims and their religion is
known as “Kalasha”. Tehsil Chitral has a majority of Khowar people and about
10,000 are Kalash people. Whereas, tehsils Drosh and Arandu of the lower Chitral
are inhabited by three communities i.e., Khowar, Gujars and Afghans (Shaw &
Shaw, 1993). In view of ethnic diversity, Chitral is a land of great contrast and
variability. Six ethnic groups reside in Chitral speaking 11 indigenous languages;
each ethnic group is distinct enough to hold its own culture and has their own
distinct way of plant resource use. Ethnobotanical use in Chitral is intricately
linked to local culture and it is as old as the history of the area.
ETHNOBOTANY OF CHITRAL VALLEY, PAKISTAN 2013
Materials and Methods
Comprehensive field studies were conducted throughout the Chitral valley. Starting
from May to the end of September, continuously for three years i.e., 2005-2007, 40
localities were studied thoroughly. These localities were selected as representatives of the
whole Chitral valley. The emphasis was given to the inaccessible and previously non-
visited localities during long excursions of 7-10 days campaign in these areas. These
excursions were conducted with the help of local guides and porters, using horses or
sometimes yaks for transportation of plants and plant pressers. The lower Chitral was
studied in May and June while upper Chitral was studied from July to the end of
September, because of the inaccessibility (snow bound area) and also the lack of
flowering period. Plant specimens were collected along with extensive field notes
including habit, habitat, life form, phenological status, abundance, GPS value and altitude
etc. Efforts were made to photograph habit including flowers, fruits and habitat of most
of the plant species. In each smaller valley local inhabitants were interviewed regarding
the local names and various indigenous uses. Importance was given to the educated or
elderly people especially women and village leaders, as their knowledge and experience
are considered as comparatively more authentic. For each plant, ethnobotanical
information was collected from people of different ages belonging to different ethnic
groups, because sometimes the information collected from different ethnic groups were
different from each other. It was emphasized to collect as much information as possible
so that the relatively most authentic and most reliable information could be screened by
tallying them with the information collected from the other ethnic groups. During the
interviews, semi-structured questionnaire was developed as per modification from Croom
(1983) and Lipp (1989). Audio visual recording devices were used to record the complete
interviews for future reference. Majority of the informants were uneducated and reluctant
to give information but with the passage of time they became used to it and gave
complete information regarding the complete recipe preparation and procedures. All the
collected plants are properly pressed, dried and mounted on standard herbarium sheets
and the voucher specimens are deposited at Karachi University Herbarium (KUH).
Specimens were identified with the help of pertinent Floras and confirmed with the
authentically identified specimens already present in the Karachi University Herbarium.
As all the specimens are collected by the first author, therefore, in voucher specimen only
the collection number is cited. The nomenclature is based on Flora of Pakistan (Nasir &
Ali, 1970-1979: Nasir & Ali, 1980-1989: Ali & Nasir, 1989-1992: Ali & Qaiser, 1993-
2009) and Flora Iranica (Rechinger 1957-2001) or as far as possible on more recent
available data on other taxonomic work. We have generally followed Boulos (1983) for
western medical terminology.
Results
Total of 83 taxa are recorded for their ethnobotanical uses, belonging to 78 genera
and 48 families. Of these, 13 are trees, 14 shrubs, 41 perennial herbs, 3 biennial herbs and
12 annual herbs.
According to three years field observations, 7 taxa viz., Aesculus indica, Allium
barszczewskii, Anthemis cotula, Bunium persicum, Delphinium nordhagenii, Ferula
narthex and Paeonia emodi are extensively exploited by the local people for their various
ethnobotanical uses. Due to over exploitation by the local people, a drastic decrease has
been observed in the population of these taxa in the wild. These taxa deserve special
attention on urgent basis, as their populations have alarmingly decreased in the wild.
2014 HAIDAR ALI & MUHAMMAD QAISER
Delphinium nordhagenii is endemic to Chitral (Riedl & Nasir, 1991) and Allium
barszczewskii has been collected only from Chitral in Pakistan (Nasir, 1975). These two
taxa are overexploited for their medicinal value. Unsustainable means of collection and
ignorance of the people regarding the rarity of these taxa are the main causes of depletion
of their population in the wild. Conservation measures should be adapted immediately to
protect these taxa from becoming extinct.
Pinus gerardiana is listed in the IUCN Red List 2008 (Anon., 2008) as Near
Threatened (NT). According to our observations the local people are ignorant of the
proper season and methods of seed collection and sometimes they damage the whole tree.
These unsustainable means of seed collection has directly decreased the rate of juvenile
growth.
According to our observations the far flung and remote villages, representing more
than 60% of the district’s populations, are still depending on wild plants for their various
needs. Particularly the local medicinal plants are exploited for the remedy of different
ailments. The local “Hakims” and “Tabibs” (local medical practitioners) usually
prescribe a useful drug plant or its part for the treatment of various diseases. These
“Hakims” and “Tabibs” never had formal education in medicine from any institute; rather
it was inherited from ancestors, passed down through generations.
ETHNOBOTANY OF CHITRAL VALLEY, PAKISTAN 2015
lower Chitral. According to the locals this plant had a very thick
population in lower Chitral some twenty years back, but its
ruthless cutting for fuel wood has locally threatened this plant.
2016 HAIDAR ALI & MUHAMMAD QAISER
Fig. 3. Anthemis cotula known as “Sherisht” is exploited for gastrointestinal disorders by the
local people. A drastic decrease has been observed in its population during the last three years of
field studies.
Ethnobotanical use: It is used as dyes for cloths. The roots and lower stem contain
dye, which is used for dying carpets made of wool. In ancient
times it was used for colouring cloths. The paste prepared by
boiling the roots in water is applied for boils and wound.
ETHNOBOTANY OF CHITRAL VALLEY, PAKISTAN 2017
Locality: Chikar Baroghill, 3503m
Vernacular name: Afsanteen
Part used: Flower head
Ethnobotanical use: The flowers are dried, powdered and used as anthelmintic.
2018 HAIDAR ALI & MUHAMMAD QAISER
Ethnobotanical use: Fruits of this plant are used locally for indigestion,
gastrointestinal disturbances and abdominal pain. Fruit is
collected mainly for commercial purposes as it fetches a
high price in the local market. Due to expansion in
agriculture, unrestricted collection and overgrazing, this
plant is rapidly disappearing from its natural habitat with
an alarming rate.
ETHNOBOTANY OF CHITRAL VALLEY, PAKISTAN 2019
Locality: Pasti Rabat ghari, 3728m
Vernacular name: Pelili mrach
Part used: Ripe fruits
Ethnobotanical use: The ripe fruits are eaten raw for its taste; they are also
used for eye infection. Juice is extracted from the ripe and
clean fruits and is applied for eye infections.
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ETHNOBOTANY OF CHITRAL VALLEY, PAKISTAN 2021
Ethnobotanical use: Used as hair tonic. Flowers and roots are powdered,
mixed with mustard oil and applied on hairs for 6-7
hours and then washed. This taxon is endemic to
Chitral and due to the unsustainable use by the locals a
drastic decrease has been observed in its population
during the course of study.
30. Botanical name: Eremurus stenophyllus (Boiss. & Buhse) Baker subsp.
stenophyllus
Family: Asphodelaceae
Habit: Perennial herb
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A
Fig. 4. Delphinium nordhagenii Wendelbo; A, habit; B, flower close up. (An important
medicinal plant-endemic to Chitral).
2024 HAIDAR ALI & MUHAMMAD QAISER
Fig. 5. A, Mr. Naik Zada, a local resident of Chowinch-Mastuj collected Ephedra intermedia
Schrenk & Meyer, commonly known as “Somani” for preparing snuff; B, fruiting.
ETHNOBOTANY OF CHITRAL VALLEY, PAKISTAN 2025
A B
Fig. 6. Ferula narthex: A, habitat; B, an incision is made in the stem and latex is collected and
sold in the market with a trade name “Hinj”. Local population is under tremendous pressure, due
to the unsustainable means of plant collection by the locals. (Mr. Abdul Hameed Khan; a local
informant in the foreground).
36. Botanical name: Gentianodes olivieri (Griseb.) Omer, Ali & Qaiser
Synonym: Gentiana olivieri Griseb.
Family: Gentianaceae
Habit: Perennial herb
Voucher specimen: 138
Locality: Bakamak hill Chitral, 2114m
Vernacular name: Nilkant
Part used: Root
Ethnobotanical use: Decoction of root is used for urinary tract infections, also
used for stomachic.
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ETHNOBOTANY OF CHITRAL VALLEY, PAKISTAN 2027
42. Botanical name: Linum perenne L.
Family: Linaceae
Habit: Perennial herb
Voucher specimen: 5989
Locality: Parsan ghari Molikhoo, 2722m
Vernacular name: Shetiki
Part used: Seeds
Ethnobotanical use: Seeds are ground and fried. Then a paste is prepared
which is used in urinary tract infections. Seeds are
chewed and kept for few minutes in between the jaws for
toothache. Also used for high blood pressure in various
preparations.
ETHNOBOTANY OF CHITRAL VALLEY, PAKISTAN 2029
Part used: Leaves and roots
Ethnobotanical use: Juice is extracted from fresh leaves and is used for
stomach troubles. Leaves are also used as vegetables.
Fresh leaves are crushed and used to stop bleeding from
wounds. Decoction of the root is anthelmintic.
2030 HAIDAR ALI & MUHAMMAD QAISER
ETHNOBOTANY OF CHITRAL VALLEY, PAKISTAN 2031
Locality: Ziarat Lowari Drosh, 3227m
Vernacular name: Mamekhi
Part used: Roots
Ethnobotanical use: Roots are used as tonic and analgesic. It is also used for
uterine diseases and as a blood purifier. Due to the high
price and demand of its roots, it is uprooted and sold in
the market. This practice has drastically decreased its
population in the wild.
2032 HAIDAR ALI & MUHAMMAD QAISER
ETHNOBOTANY OF CHITRAL VALLEY, PAKISTAN 2033
Fig. 7. Rheum spiciforme: a very rare plant of higher altitude, found only in Yarkhoon valley
upper Chitral.
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71. Botanical name: Seriphidium brevifolium (Wall. ex DC.) Ling & Y.R.Ling
Synonym: Artemisia brevifolia Wall. ex DC.
Family: Asteraceae
Habit: Shrub
Voucher specimen: 5061
Locality: Danespawee Yarkhoon, 2979m
Vernacular name: Shashgeen
Part used: Shoot
Ethnobotanical use: Shoot is used as broom, especially used at high altitude
like Yarkhoon lasht, Baroghill and Chikar etc., where
there is no availability of other grasses.
ETHNOBOTANY OF CHITRAL VALLEY, PAKISTAN 2035
Part used: Seeds
Ethnobotanical use: Seeds are powdered and a paste is prepared, which is
applied externally for stabbing pain. The paste is also
used for clearing facial pimples and against sunburn.
76. Botanical name: Thymus linearis Benth. subsp. linearis Jalas (Fig 8)
Family: Labiatae
Habit: Annual herb
Voucher specimen: 4101
Locality: Bakhtoli gol Lutkhoo, 3145m
Vernacular name: Sew
Part used: Whole plant
Ethnobotanical use: Whole plant is boiled in water and used for stomach
disorders. It is also considered as carminative and tonic.
Leaves are dried and are mixed in tea for its taste.
2036 HAIDAR ALI & MUHAMMAD QAISER
A
B A
Fig. 8. A, Mr. Shah Feroz demonstrates the indigenous uses of Thymus linnearis var. linearis in
Sosoon Kiyar valley Lutkhoo; B, close up of the flower.
Ethnobotanical use: Leaves are strongly aromatic. They are crushed and a
thick paste is produced, which is applied to scorpion
stings.
ETHNOBOTANY OF CHITRAL VALLEY, PAKISTAN 2037
Ethnobotanical use: Decoction of the plant is astringent and anthelmintic.
Leaves cause severe irritation which can be soothed by
rubbing leaves of Rumex. Young leaves are used as
potherb.
2038 HAIDAR ALI & MUHAMMAD QAISER
A
Fig. 9. Viola rupestris Schm.: A, habit; B, flower close up, locally known as
“Milkhon” is used for chest infection.
Discussion
It can be rightly assumed that the present day ethnobotanical pharmacology is as old
as man himself. Different medicinal plants have been in use from the time immemorial
(Lama et al., 2001; Pärtel et al., 2005). Rig Veda between 4500-1600 BC and Ayurveda
between 2500-600 BC are considered among the first compiled records of medicinal
plants in Indo-Pak (Ahmad, 2002). The prevalent system of traditional medicine traces its
origin to Greek medicine system, which was adopted by the Arabs, and spread to the
subcontinent and Europe (Iqbal & Hamayun, 2004). Whereas, Susruta Samhita (600 BC),
a Sanskrit text on surgery, mentioned the progress made during Buddhist period, where
medicinal plants were cultivated by qualified specialists (Ahmad, 2002; Raju, 2003).
Even in the present age of science and technology, in the developed countries people still
rely on traditional system of healthcare not only because of its low price, but also due to
very less side effects, as compared to the modern allopathic medicines (Khan, 2003).
That is why they are being used extensively world over especially in the third world
countries.
The people of the valley have been using plant resources for their various ailments
since time immemorial. The local people know the beneficial plants and preparation of
raw drugs through personal experience and ancestral prescription and long utility. In
addition, the costly allopathic medicines are out of reach of a common man.
Chitral is a remote area and remains cutoff from rest of the world for almost 6
months of the year due to heavy snowfall. Therefore, people of the valley are more
ETHNOBOTANY OF CHITRAL VALLEY, PAKISTAN 2039
dependants on plant resources as compared to other adjacent areas. It is recommended
that the local community should be educated regarding the importance, pre and post
harvest methods. In addition, they should also be trained regarding the cultivation of
these highly valuable medicinal plants on commercial basis, and thereafter their trade and
marketing. This will ultimately generate extra sources of income and will reduce pressure
on the extraction of these valuable medicinal plants.
In Chitral valley the use of plant resources is also a source of income, besides
fulfilling their various utilitarian needs. The plant collectors are often herders, shepherds
or other poor village dwellers of the population. Settlements of majority of the population
are subject to the seasonal changes in the valley. In winter they come down to the valley
bottoms due to the unavailability of fodder for their cattle, and at the onset of summer as
the snow melts and new plants start sprouting, they move towards the higher altitudes. In
upper Chitral, each Chitrali family has 2-3 houses located at different altitudes as they
keep on shifting from one house to the other throughout the year, subject to the seasonal
changes and availability of fodder for their cattle.
The local people are ignorant about the importance of these plants at global level.
Sometimes they collect plants in excess quantity and in most cases the whole plant is
uprooted. It is pertinent to mention that majority of the plant collectors in upper Chitral
are children. They don’t know about the proper methods and time of plant collection, as a
result most of their collection is useless. On the other hand they are ignorant about the
drying, storing or preserving techniques which ultimately leads to wastage of plant
resource.
During our excursion to Chitral Gol National Park, it was observed that about 94% of
the Ferula narthex plants were destroyed. Sometime they were cut just above the root for
collecting the latex. Chitral Gol is a protected area and all these destructive practices should
be stopped immediately, in order to ensure the survival of these valuable plant resources.
Acknowledgement
This paper is part of Ph.D. dissertation of the first author. Higher Education
Commission of Pakistan is acknowledged for financing the project.
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