Herbal contact therapy practiced by the ethnic people of indo-nepal border of Pilibhit Tiger reserve (ptr), India

Indo-Nepal sub Himalayan International border region of Pilibhit Tiger Reserve is situated in the vicinity of forest of Pilibhit district of Rohilkhand division of Uttar Pradesh state of India. Study area is inhabited by Tharu tribal people. Tharu persons are well cultured and have deep faith in supernatural powers of certain wild plants which are associated with taboos, safety from evil powers and protection from different diseases. Various parts of plants like roots, stem, leaves, fruits, seeds etc. to cure different ailments through contact therapy are practices by the Tharus. This therapy is chiefly based on magico-religious beliefs. This belief may be due to certain alkaloids present in the particular plant part. In this manuscript 30 plant species have been enumerated as found used in contact or touch therapy practices by various ethnic and rural people of the study area.