Table 1 Characteristics of medicinal plants used by the snake charmers

1

Acacia arabica (Lam.) willd.

Kikar

Fabaceae

T

Cough, jaundice, male fertility disorders

MDU 2601

W

PS

2

Achyranthes aspera L.

Ola kanta

Amaranthaceae

H

Snake bite, tooth ache

MDU 6001

W

PS

3

Acacia catechu (L.f.) Willd

Kher

Fabaceae

T

Mouth ulcers

MDU 2608

W

S

4

Aegle marmelos

(L.) Correa Ex. Schultz

Bael Patthar

Rutaceae

T

Abdomen disorders, diabetes

MDU 155630

W

PS

5

Allium cepa L.

Piyaz

Liliaceae

H

Fever, snake bite

MDU 6801

C

PS

6

Albizia lebbeck (L.) Benth.

Sirus

Fabaceae

T

Eye diseases, male fertility disorders, snake bite

MDU 2604

W

PS

7

Allium sativum L.

Lasan

Liliaceae

H

Microbial contaminations,

MDU 6802

C

PS

8

Aloe vera (L.) Burm.f.

Guarka-patha

Liliaceae

H

Abdomen disorders, piles

MDU 6803

C

S

9

Argemone mexicana L.

Kateli

Papaveraceae

H

Female sex disorders, eye diseases, mental disorders, skin diseases, tooth ache, wound healing

MDU 401

W

PS

10

Artemisia scoparia Waldst. & Kit.

Nagdman

Asteraceae

H

Snake bite

MDU 3802

W

S

11

Asparagus racemosus Willd.

Arra Kanta

Liliaceae

CL

Fever

MDU 6806

C

T

12

Azadirachta indica A. Juss

Neem

Meliaceae

T

Allergy, skin diseases, snake bite

MDU 1801

C

PS

13

Brassica campestris L.

Kali sarson

Brassicaceae

H

Abdomen disorders, allergy

MDU 507

C

PS

14

Barleria cristata L.

Kala bansa

Acanthaceae

S

Cough

MDU 5606

W

S

15

Butea monosperma (Lam.) Taub.

Dhak

Fabaceae

T

Snake bite

MDU 2404

W

S

16

Bryophyllum calycinum Salisb.

Pattarchat

Crassulaceae

S

Wound healing

MDU 12001

W

PS

17

Capparis aphylla Roth.

Kair

Capparidaceae

T

Piles

MDU 601

W

T

18

Cassia fistula L.

Amaltas

Fabaceae

T

Skin diseases, snake bite

MDU 2503

W

PS

19

Cassia obtusifolia L.

Sonmakhi

Fabaceae

S

Eye diseases

MDU 2518

W

D

20

Calotropis procera (Ait) R. Br.

Aak

Asclepiadaceae

S

Abdomen disorders, allergy, cough, fever, fistula, eye diseases, male fertility disorders, skin diseases, snake bite, wound healing

MDU 4602

W

S

21

Cannabis sativa L.

BhangBhang

Cannabinaceae

H

Mental disorders, snake bite

MDU 6501

C

S

22

Cassia occidentalis L.

Kasaundi

Fabaceae

S

Snake bite

MDU 2504

W

S

23

Citrullus colocynthis (L.) Schrad.

Gadumba

Cucurbitaceae

CL

Snake bite

MDU 3301

W

S

24

Cordia dichotoma Forst. L.

Lesua

Boraginaceae

T

Mouth ulcers

MDU 4801

W

S

25

Cocculus villosus DC.

Nagdun

Menispermaceae

CL

Fistula, snake bite

MDU 301

W

S

26

Curculigo capitulata Gaertn.

Kali musli

Liliaceae

H

Female sex disorders

MDU 6703

C

T

27

Curcuma longa L.

Haldi

Zingiberaceae

H

Female sex disorders, eye diseases, wound healing

MDU 8001

C

T

28

Cuscuta reflexa Roxb.

Amerbel

Convolvulaceae

CL

Fever,

MDU 5001

W

PS

29

Cyperus rotundus L.

Motha

Cyperaceae

H

Microbial contaminations

MDU 7001

W

PS

30

Datura metel L.

Dhatura

Solanaceae

S

Cough, male fertility disorders, mental disorders, respiratory problems

MDU 5103

W

S

31

Eclipta alba (L.) Hassk.

Bhringraj

Asteraceae

H

Snake bite

MDU 3803

W

S

32

Emblica officinalis Gaertn.

Amla

Euphorbiaceae

T

Eye diseases, jaundice

MDU 6203

C

PS

33

Eugenia jambolana Lam.

Jamun

Myrtaceae

T

Diabetes

MDU 2902

W

PS

34

Ficus benghalensis L.

Badd

Moraceae

T

Cough, diabetes fistula, jaundice, male fertility disorders, snake bite, tooth ache, wound healing

MDU 6401

W

PS

35

Gloriosa superba L.

Kalihari

Colchicaceae

CL

Snake bite

MDU 6813

C

T

36

Kyllinga monocephala Rottb

Safad Nirbashi

Cyperaceae

CR

Snake bite

MDU 7010

W

D

37

Leucas cephalotes Spreng

Goma

Lamiaceae

H

Snake bite

MDU 5802

W

PS

38

Mangifera indica L.

Aam

Anacardiaceae

T

Skin diseases

MDU 2301

W

PS

39

Melia azadirachta L

Bakain

Meliaceae

T

Microbial contaminations, piles

MDU 1802

C

S

40

Mesua ferrea L.

Nag kesar

Clusiaceae

T

Mental disorders

MDU 11001

C

T

41

Mimosa pudica L.

Chui-mui

Fabaceae

H

Diabetes

MDU 2605

W

PS

42

Momordica balsamina L.

Jangli kerala

Cucurbitaceae

CL

Snake bite

MDU 3314

W

PS

43

Momordica dioica Roxb. (Ex willd.)

Banj kerala

Cucurbitaceae

CL

Female sex disorders, male fertility disorders

MDU 3304

W

S

44

Ocimum basilicum L.

Marua

Lamiaceae

H

Fever,

MDU 5807

C

PS

45

Ocimum sanctum L.

Tulsi

Lamiaceae

H

Male fertility disorders, skin diseases, snake bite

MDU 5804

C

PS

46

Opuntia dillenii (Ker-Gawl.) Haw.

Nagphani

Cactaceae

S

Fistula

MDU 3401

W

PS

47

Oroxylum indicum (L.) Vent.

Aralu

Bignoniaceae

T

Respiratory problems

MDU 5306

W

S

48

Pedalium murex L.

Vilayati gokhru

Pedaliaceae

H

Male fertility disorders

MDU 5401

W

PS

49

Peperomia pellucida (L.) Kunth.

Panpatta

Piperaceae

H

Fistula

MDU 901

C

D

50

Punica granatum L.

Anar

Punicaceae

S

Female sex disorders, jaundice

MDU 3101

C

S

51

Raphanus sativus L.

Muli

Brassicaceae

H

Piles

MDU 503

C

PS

52

Solanum ferox L.

Lakshamana

Solanaceae

H

Female sex disorders

MDU 5115

W

T

53

Spilanthes acmella Murr.

Akarkara

Asteraceae

H

Cough

MDU 3808

C

S

54

Tinospora cordifolia (Willd.) Miers. ex. Hook. F. & Thoms

Giloy

Menispermaceae

CL

Fever, jaundice

MDU 302

C

T

55

Tribulus terrestris L.

Deshi gokhru

Zygophyllaceae

CL

Female sex disorders

MDU 1301

W

PS

56

Tylophora indica (Burma.L.) Merr.

Anta mul

Asclepiadaceae

CL

Female sex disorders

MDU 4612

W

PS

57

Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal

Aksin

Solanaceae

S

Cough

MDU 5111

W

S