Folk Botany of Achyranthes aspera in Terai Belt of North Eastern U.P. Kumar Akhilesh, Tewari D.D., Pandey V.C. Post Graduate Department of Botany, M.L.K.P.G. College, Balrampur (U.P.). Abstract Achyranthes aspera is a local herb belonging to family Amaranthaceae growing wildly in wasteland areas and open field throughout the Devipatan Division of North-Eastern Uttar Pradesh, which comes under the terai region (foothills of Himalayas) of India. This herb is commonly known as Latzira, Chirchita and Lehchichira by local people. Informations regarding various uses of this plant were obtained from rural, tribal (Tharu), aborigionals (Nutt & Banjara) as well as from highly advanced communities of the society. Different parts of the plant are used as appetizer, abortifacient and contraceptive, in skin diseases, toothache, piles, scorpion and insect sting. Plant is also used as magicotherapeutic agent in fever, dysentry, to achieve easy delivery, to increase sexual power of man and to prevent from scorpian stings. Detail process of drug preparation, mode of administration doses and duration of treatment are also recorded. Top Keywords Folk-Botany, Achyranthes aspera, Ethnobotany. Top |