Medicinal plants have been used for centuries as an important source of primary healthcare, particularly among tribal and rural communities of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. The present study documents the traditional medicinal plants used for the treatment of common childhood diseases in different regions of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. Ethnobotanical information was collected through field surveys and interviews with traditional healers, elderly villagers, and local practitioners. A total of 31 medicinal plant species belonging to 25 families were recorded for the treatment of ailments such as fever, cold, cough, diarrhea, dysentery, intestinal worms, skin diseases, constipation, earache, asthma, rickets, chickenpox, and memory-related disorders in children. Different plant parts, including leaves, roots, rhizomes, bark, fruits, seeds, bulbs, and whole plants, were used in the preparation of herbal remedies. Leaves constituted the most frequently used plant part due to their easy availability and therapeutic value. The study highlights the significance of indigenous knowledge in providing affordable healthcare for children and emphasizes the need for scientific validation, conservation, and sustainable utilization of medicinal plant resources.

Keywords: Ethnomedicine, Medicinal plants, Childhood diseases, Traditional healthcare, Telangana, Indigenous knowledge