Mokokchung, March 10 (MExN): A research study aimed at documenting indigenous medicinal knowledge and traditional herbal practices in Tuensang District is currently being undertaken by Nohochem Sangtam, Head of Department of Environmental Science, Fazl Ali College, Mokokchung.
The study, titled “Scouting and documentation of local grassroots innovators and traditional herbal practices in Tuensang district, Nagaland,” is being conducted under the guidance of the National Innovation Foundation (NIF), an autonomous institution functioning under the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India.
The research primarily focuses on the documentation of indigenous medicinal knowledge, traditional herbal healing practices, and the identification of local grassroots innovators among tribal communities in Eastern Nagaland.
The study aims to record valuable traditional knowledge preserved by village elders, herbal practitioners, and local innovators who continue to rely on nature-based solutions for healthcare and livelihood, stated a DIPR report.
According to the project investigator, extensive field visits were conducted from January 2025 to March 2026 across several remote villages in Tuensang District. As the research progressed, the scope of the study was further extended to the newly created Noklak and Shamator districts, where additional field documentation and community interactions were carried out.
During these field surveys, the researcher interacted closely with traditional herbal practitioners, village elders, grassroots innovators, and community leaders to document the medicinal use of various plant species available in forests and surrounding ecosystems.
The research findings indicates that many rural communities in Eastern Nagaland continue to depend heavily on locally available medicinal plants and herbal remedies for treating common ailments such as fever, stomach disorders, wounds, infections, skin diseases, and other health-related conditions. Traditional knowledge relating to plant identification, preparation of herbal medicines, and treatment techniques still plays a crucial role in local healthcare systems, especially in remote villages where modern medical facilities are limited.
A significant aspect of the study also involved scouting and identifying local grassroots innovators and talented individuals who possess unique indigenous knowledge, traditional healing techniques, and innovative practices related to herbal medicine and natural resource utilization. The research identified several local innovators and knowledge holders whose ideas, practices, and traditional skills have strong potential for further development.
According to the researcher, these grassroots innovators require proper guidance, scientific support, and institutional collaboration so that their innovations and traditional practices can be refined and eventually brought into the public domain for sustainable livelihood opportunities, small-scale enterprises, and income generation in the future.
However, during the field study, several local herbal practitioners also expressed concern that many medicinal plants are gradually diminishing due to deforestation, environmental degradation, and changing climatic conditions. Irregular rainfall patterns and changing weather cycles have begun to affect the natural regeneration and availability of certain valuable herbs traditionally used for healing.
Despite these challenges, the research also revealed that a large number of medicinal plant species in the forests of Eastern Nagaland remain scientifically unexplored and undocumented. Many plants used by indigenous communities for generations are yet to be properly studied or validated by modern scientific institutions.
The researcher emphasized that the biodiversity-rich forests of Eastern Nagaland hold immense potential for ethnobotanical research, traditional medicine documentation, and future pharmaceutical exploration. Proper scientific documentation, conservation initiatives, and collaborative research efforts could contribute significantly to both sustainable healthcare systems and biodiversity conservation.
The study therefore recommends greater scientific intervention, systematic documentation, and stronger collaboration between local communities, academic institutions, and national research organizations. Such initiatives will help preserve indigenous knowledge systems while also ensuring that the medicinal and economic potential of local plant resources is recognized and protected for future generations.
The ongoing research under the National Innovation Foundation aims to build a comprehensive database of indigenous herbal practices, grassroots innovations and medicinal plant resources from Eastern Nagaland. Researchers believe that focused research efforts in this region will play a vital role in preserving indigenous wisdom, promoting grassroots innovation, and strengthening community-based knowledge systems for sustainable development.
