ETHNOBOTANICAL SURVEY OF PLANTS FROM NEELUM, AZAD JAMMU & KASHMIR, PAKISTAN

This study documents the ethnobotanical values of the most commonly used plants of the Neelum Valley, AJK, Pakistan and reports on the indigenous knowledge of different communities of the study area. A total 40 plant species belonging to 31 families were found to be valuable for medicinal, food, fodder/forage, fuel, timber, shelter and agricultural purposes. Local people used indigenous plants for their common day ailments. Plant species were used to treat various ailments: stomach (25%), diarrhea, cough, cold and rheumatism (16%), piles (12.5%), asthma (11%), diabetes, jaundice and toothaches (7.5%), liver and gastric problems (5%), small tumors, hepatitis and allergies (2.5%).