DOI: 10.36347/sajp

Pages: 217-220

Nestled within the lush, mist-clad high ranges of Kerala's Idukki district lies a living library of medicinal wisdom, the Muthuvan tribe, whose name translates to "people of the mountains," have cultivated a profound symbiotic relationship with the Western Ghats, one of the world's most significant biodiversity hotspots. For centuries, isolated by choice and terrain, the Muthuvans have developed a sophisticated system of phytotherapy for various ailments which is intricately woven into their cultural fabric. This system, passed down orally through generations of healers, represents a priceless, yet vulnerable, repository of indigenous knowledge. The paper is an attempt to document the common plants used by Muthuvan community for treating various ailments and critical importance of preserving their knowledge for the future of both their community and global ethnomedicine.