Table 1 Orchids reported in traditional medicine and commercial trade in Nepal

Acampe praemorsa (Roxb.) Blatt. & McCann (syn. Acampe papillosa (Lindl.) Lindl.) Subedi 170

Parajivi, Rasna (Sanskrit)

Ra

Powder used in treating rheumatism and for cooling effect.

This study

Medicinal

Aerides multiflora Roxb. Kunwar 101

Parajivi, Thuur

Lf

Powder used in tonic preparation.

This study

Floricultural, medicinal

Aerides odorata Lour. Subedi 172

Parajivi

Lf

Paste of leaves used externally to treat wounds.

This study

Floricultural, medicinal

Brachycorythis obcordata (Lindl.) Summerh. Subedi 150

Gamdol

Tb

Powder mixed with milk and consumed as tonic.

[19]

Medicinal

Bulbophyllum careyanum (Hook.) Spreng. Subedi 220

Banharchul, Thuur, Parajivi

Lf, Pb

Fresh pulp of pseudobulbs externally applied to burns. Powder of leaves used with honey to induce abortions within 3 months of pregnancy and stimulate recovery from childbirth.

[10], This study

Medicinal

Bulbophyllum leopardinum (Wall.) Lindl. ex Wall. Subedi 221

Thuur, Parajivi

Lf, Pb

Fresh pulp or juice externally applied to burns.

This study

Medicinal

Bulbophyllum odoratissimum (Sm.) Lindl. ex Hook. f. Subedi 370

Thurjo

Ep

Powder used in treating tuberculosis, chronic inflammation and fractures.

[20]

Medicinal

Calanthe sylvatica (Thouars) Lindl. Subedi 153

Pakha phul

Fl

Juice applied to stop nosebleeds.

[11]

Floricultural, medicinal

Calanthe plantaginea Lindl. Kunwar 120

Ban aduwa

Rz

Dry powder consumed with milk as tonic and as aphrodisiac.

This study

Floricultural, medicinal

Calanthe puberula Lindl. Subedi 223

Ban aduwa

Rz

Dry powder consumed with milk as tonic and as aphrodisiac.

This study

Floricultural, medicinal

Coelogyne corymbosa Lindl. Subedi 375

Chadigava

Pb

Paste applied to the forehead to relieve headaches, fresh juice applied to burns as analgesic.

[7, 11, 21]

Floricultural, medicinal

Coelogyne cristata Lindl. Subedi 224

Chandigava, Bankera

Pb

Freshly collected paste or juice consumed to relieve headaches, fever and for indigestion. Pulp applied to burnt skin. Juice also applied to skin boils and wounded hooves of cattle.

[1, 10, 21, 22], This study

Floricultural, medicinal

Coelogyne fimbriata Lindl. Subedi 225

Jiwanti (Sanskrit)

Pb

Powder used in tonic preparation.

This study

Floricultural, medicinal

Coelogyne flaccida Lindl. Subedi 301

Chadigava

Pb

Paste applied externally or consumed to relieve frontal headaches. Juice taken for indigestion.

[7, 21]

Floricultural, medicinal

Coelogyne fuscescens Lindl. Subedi 312

Bankera

Pb

Paste applied externally or consumed to relieve headaches, fever and stomach ache. Paste applied externally on burns.

This study

Floricultural, medicinal

Coelogyne nitida (Wall. ex D.Don) Lindl. Subedi 226

Banlasun, Thuur

Pb

Paste consumed against headaches and fever. Paste applied externally on burns.

This study

Floricultural, medicinal

Coelogyne prolifera Lindl. Subedi 227

Thuur

Pb

Paste consumed against headaches and fever. Paste applied externally on burns.

[10]

Floricultural, medicinal

Coelogyne stricta (D.Don) Schltr. Subedi 314

Banpyaj

Pb

Paste applied externally against headaches and fever.

This study

Floricultural, medicinal

Crepidium acuminatum (D.Don) Szlach. (syn. Malaxis acuminata D. Don) Subedi 321

Gachno, Gavndamala

Ra, Pb

Powder of roots used against burning sensations, to treat fever and to stop bleeding.

This study

Medicinal

Cymbidium aloiflolium (L.) Sw. Subedi 228

Banharchul, Kamaru, Harjor

Ep

Dried powder used as tonic against diarrhea. Fresh paste applied externally over fractured or dislocated bones.

[10, 23]

Floricultural, medicinal

Cymbidium elegans Lindl. Kunwar 123

Thuur

Ra, Pb

Fresh juice of pseudobulb consumed to relieve fever. Boiled root juice fed to livestock suffering from cold.

[21, 22]

Floricultural, medicinal

Cymbidium iridioides D. Don Subedi 315

Thuur

Pb, Lf

Powder of pseudobulb consumed as tonic. Leaf juice applied externally to stimulate blood clotting in deep wounds.

[11], This study

Floricultural, medicinal

Cypripedium himalaicum Rolfe Kunwar 124

Khujukpa

Ep

Powder and juice consumed for urine retention, against kidney stones, heart disease, chest disorders and coughs.

[24]

Medicinal

Dactylorhiza hatagirea (D.Don) Soo Kunwar 103

Paanchaunle, Hatajadi

Tb

Paste consumed against fever. Powder used topically as hemostatic, or to heal fractures. Decoction consumed against intestinal pain. Tuber, eaten raw or as tonic, or mixed with honey or milk used as stimulant.

[7, 23]

Medicinal

Dendrobium amoenum Wall. ex Lindl. Subedi 400

Thuur

Pb

Fresh paste applied topically on burnt skin and dislocated bones.

This study

Medicinal

Dendrobium densiflorum Lindl. Subedi 316

Sungava

Pb

Fresh pulp applied to boils and pimples.

[21, 22]

Floricultural, medicinal

Dendrobium eriiflorum Griff. Kunwar 104

Thurjo

Pb

Paste mixed with wheat flour and applied on dislocated or fractured bones. Dried powder used as tonic.

This study

Floricultural, medicinal

Dendrobium heterocarpum Wall. ex Lindl. Subedi 317

Thuur

Pb

Paste mixed with wheat flour and applied on fractured or dislocated bones.

This study

Floricultural, medicinal

Dendrobium longicornu Lindl. Subedi 401

Kause

Ra, Pb

Juice of stems is consumed against fever. Boiled root fed to livestock suffering from coughs.

[7]

Floricultural, medicinal

Dendrobium transparens Wall. ex Lindl. Subedi 402

Parajivi, Thuur

Pb

Paste used on fractured or dislocated bones.

[10]

Floricultural, medicinal

Dienia cylindrostachya Lindl. (syn. Malaxis cylindrostachya (Lindl.) Kuntze) Kunwar 132

Pb

Powder used as tonic.

This study

Medicinal

Epipactis helleborine (L.) Crantz Kunwar 133

Ra

Juice consumed to cure insanity and gout.

[11]

Medicinal

Eria spicata (D.Don) Hand.-Mazz. Subedi 403

Parajivi

Pb

Powder consumed during stomach ache, paste applied externally against headaches.

[11]

Medicinal

Eulophia dabia (D.Don) Hochr. Kunwar 134

Hatti paila

Rz

Powder consumed against coughs and heart trouble, also used as tonic and appetizer.

[1, 11]

Medicinal

Eulophia spectabilis (Dennst.) Suresh (syn. Eulophia nuda Lindl.) Kunwar 135

Amarkand

Tb

Powder used against worm infestation, scrofula, blood disorders, bronchitis and as appetizer.

[11]

Medicinal

Flickingeria fugax (Rchb.f.) Seidenf. Kunwar 140

Jiwanti

Ep

Powder used as tonic against general debility and as stimulant.

This study

Medicinal

Flickingeria macraei (Lindl.) Seidenf. Subedi 319

Jiwanti

Ep

Paste used against snake bites, general debility, as stimulant and demulcent.

[1, 25]

Medicinal

Gastrodia elata Blume Subedi 421

Tb

Dried powder used as tonic and for treating headaches.

[11]

Medicinal

Gymnadenia orchidis Lindl. Kunwar 141

Tb

Powder used to treat gastric, urine and liver disorders.

[11]

Medicinal

Habenaria intermedia D.Don Subedi 422

Riddhi

Ra, Lf

Powder used for blood diseases.

[3]

Medicinal

Habenaria pectinata D.Don Kunwar 141

Seto musli

Tb, Lf

Leaf juice applied on snake bites. Tuber used against arthritis.

[3]

Medicinal

Luisia trichorrhiza (Hook.) Blume Subedi 320

Arjona

Lf

Paste applied externally to treat muscular pain.

[11]

Medicinal

Luisia tristis (G. Forst.) Hook.f. (syn Luisia zeylanica Lindl.) Subedi 423

Bori jhaar

Ep

Juice used for treating chronic wounds.

[11]

Medicinal

Malaxis muscifera (Lindl.) Kuntze Kunwar 142

Jivaka

Pb

Paste applied during diathesis, burning sensation, fever, on sores and as tonic.

This study

Medicinal

Otochilus albus Lindl. Subedi 370

Aankhle laharo

Ep

Powder used as tonic.

This study

Medicinal

Otochilus lancilabius Seidenf. Kunwar 107

Aankhle laharo

Ep

Paste applied to fractured and dislocated bones.

[6]

Medicinal

Papilionanthe teres (Roxb.) Schltr. Subedi 424

Harjor, Thurjo

Pb, Lf

Paste externally applied to treat dislocated bones.

[7]

Medicinal

Pholidota articulata Lindl. Subedi 368

Hadjor

Ep

Paste applied on fractured bones and consumed as tonic.

This study

Floricultural, medicinal

Pholidota imbricata Lindl. Subedi 367

Thurjo, Patharkera

Pb

Paste consumed to relieve fever and powder as tonic.

This study

Medicinal

Pholidota pallida Lindl. Subedi 369

Thurjo, Patharkera

Rh, Pb

Paste used to relieve fever, powder to induce sleep and to cure abdominal pain, juice used for navel pain.

This study

Floricultural, medicinal

Platanthera edgeworthii (Hook.f. ex Collett) R.K.Gupta (syn. Habenaria edgeworthii Hook.f. ex Collett) Kunwar 145

Riddhi

Rh, Lf

Powder or paste consumed to cure blood diseases and for cooling.

[3]

Medicinal

Pleione humilis (Sm.) D.Don Kunwar 108

Shaktigumba

Pb

Paste applied on cuts and wounds. Powder used as tonic.

[7, 21]

Floricultural, medicinal

Pleione praecox (Sm.) D.Don Kunwar 109

Shaktigumba

Pb

Dried powder consumed with milk as tonic and energizer. Paste externally applied on cuts and wounds.

[22], This study

Floricultural, medicinal

Rhynchostylis retusa (L.) Blume

Chadephuul, Dhogegava

Ep

Juice of roots applied to cuts and wounds. Leaf powder used to cure rheumatic diseases. Dried flowers as insect repellent and to induce vomiting.

[1, 7, 10, 22]

Floricultural, medicinal

Satyrium nepalense D.Don

Mishri, Thamni

Tb

Dried tubers consumed as tonic against dysentery. Juice consumed against fever and applied on cuts and wounds.

[7, 21]

Medicinal

Spiranthes sinensis (Pers.) Ames Subedi 451

Tb

Powder consumed against headaches as tonic and energizer.

[19, 26]

Medicinal

Thunia alba (Lindl.) Rchb.f.

Golaino

Ep

Paste used on fractured bones.

[25]

Medicinal

Vanda cristata Wall. ex Lindl. Subedi 201

Vhagute Phul, Thuur

Ra, Lf

Root paste applied to boils and to treat dislocated bones. Leaf powder used as expectorant, paste applied to cuts and wounds.

[7, 21]

Floricultural, medicinal

Vanda tessellata (Roxb.f.) Hook.ex G.Don (syn. Vanda roxburghii R.Br.) Subedi 467

Parajivi, Rasna

Ra, Lf

Root used as antidote for scorpion stings, and remedy of bronchitis and rheumatism. Paste of leavesused to treat fevers.

[3]

Floricultural, medicinal

Zeuxine strateumatica (L.) Schltr. Subedi 200

Kansjhar

Rt

Dry powder used as tonic.

This study

Medicinal