An analytical ethnobotanical survey-study and its contribution to ‘Amchi System’ of Spiti valley, India

Amchi System’-A traditional healthcare system of Spiti valley

Abstract

This review paper provides an updated overview on the importance of the traditional healthcare system in tribal communities of the Spiti Valley (Himachal Pradesh) in the cold deserts of the Western Himalayas. Existing studies have justified a strong connection of tribals with nature as their livelihood depends on the resources from wild. In Spiti valley, the local health practitioners, known as ‘Amchi’, utilize native flora with therapeutic potential to treat a variety of ailments. The traditional repository of ancestral knowledge and practices as well as exploitation of Himalayan resources by emerging industrial sectors has been extensively documented. Consequently, the disappearance of wild flora has led to a decline in Amchi profession. This has drawn the global attention towards preserving and conserving indigenous communities' knowledge i.e., ITK. Hence, this review aims to compile the ethnobotanical vernacular database on the existing health-care system through a survey to present an updated overview of the current status of the Amchi system in Spiti Valley. The study also presents a comprehensive analysis of ethnobotanical approaches, including descriptive and qualitative databases, that serve as a foundation for further quantitative analysis, and it highlights awareness on the status and conservation of indigenous traditional knowledge (ITK) emphasizing its critical role in sustaining Himalayan health-care practices.