The paper deals with the ethno-botanical studies of medicinal plants of some selected Zanskar valleys covering four villages Rangdum, Padum, Muney and Raru. Zanskar is one of the remote, under developed, hilly region and least populated valley of Ladakh. Because of its cold climatic condition and in accessibilities, the valley is cut off from rest of the world most of the time. Though the valley looks barren and lifeless still it represents a treasure house of diversity of plants with high medicinal, aromatic value and other useful properties like food, fodder, fuel and ritual purposes. Predominant species of these area are: Meconopsis aculeate, Rhodiola tibetica, Rheum australe, Epilobium lantifolium, Artemisia dracanculus. These medicinal plants listed below are highly used to prepare medicine for curing various diseases in Sowa rigpa. Sowa rigpa, a Tibetan system of medicine practicing by the people of trans-Himalayan region from long years ago. Raw material of indigenous species is used for preparation of medicine. People have strong belief and faith on Tibetan system of medicine therefore we need to develop it for the present and future generation. | Medicinal plants biodiversity of some selected villages of Zanskar valley (Ladakh region)
