Investigations were carried out to access the heterogeneity of medicinal plants in the remote tehsil (Karnah) of border district Kupwara of Jammu & Kashmir Union territory. Onsite study reveals that 70 medicinal plant species belonging to 43 families and 61 genera were used by the local people as remedy to various ailments. Herbal healers (Hakeems) were the most knowledgeable persons for prescribing traditional medicines prepared from these medicinal plants in different forms followed by the old age persons. Various plant parts mostly of herbs and shrubs like roots, inflorescence, barks, juices, leaves, seeds and other extracts are used to treat different health disorders in humans and various livestock animals as well. Among the observed varieties, many species i.e almost (26%) seemed to be in danger either due to the excessive use by applying nonprofessional way of collecting and handling plants for income generation purposes or destruction of the habitat by various natural and anthropogenic ways. Assimilated knowledge during this work will be beneficial for the protection and conservation of this green gold keeping the future perspective in mind.