N.C. Shah’s scientific contributions

The herbal folk medicine in North India is commonly made available through the herbalists, elderly persons, sadhus (hermits), ojhas (village physicians practising witchcraft) and the traditional street vendors whether in the alpine region near the snows or in the arid region near the deserts. The Northern part of India constitutes four main broad regions: the Montane region; the sub-Montane region; the Northern plains; and the arid region. The very important herbal folk medicines which have been in vogue from ancient times in these regions, are discussed.