Traditional medicinal knowledge about common herbs used for asthma in Chhattisgarh, India

Research Note - Pankaj Oudhia
© 2001,2002,2003 Pankaj Oudhia - All Rights Reserved

Although the number of government dispensaries (based on Allopathy System of Medicine) is increasing in tribal regions of Chhattisgarh, but there are still many traditional healers using traditional system of medicine. Last year I have collected the list of over two thousand traditional healers specialised in treatment of common ailments to chronic diseases. Surprisingly I have noted that majority of traditional healers are specialised in sex related diseases and Asthma. I will describe the herbs used in sex related disease in next article. In present article, I am trying to describe the common herbs used for Asthma in Chhattisgarh, India. I have collected these information by frequent visits to these traditional healers. I am presenting these miracle herbs in front of world to show the glimpses of rich traditional knowledge, the natives of Chhattisgarh are having.

Common and popular names of Gorakhmundi (Sphaeranthus indicus) around the world.
Languages/Regions/Counties	Names
1) Arabic	Kamazariyus, Kamdaryus
2) Bengal	Chagulnadi, Ghorkmundi, Murmuriya
3) Gujarati	Bodiokalara, Mundi
4) Hindi	Gorakhmundi, Mundi
5) Persian	Randar u mmi talkha
6) Marathi	Barasavadi
7) Malyalam	Adakkamanian, Attakkamanni
8) Sanskrit	Aruna, Bhikshu, Bhukadambika, Bhukanda, Kumbhala, Chhitagranthika, Lotani, Lochani, Mundi, Mahamundi, Tapadhana
9) Sinhalese	Etmadamahana, Mudamahana
10) Tamil	Kottakkarandai
11) Telugu	Bodasoram, Bodatarapu
12) Urdu	Kamdaryus, Mundi
13) Uriya	Buikadam, Murisa

When I was studying Agriculture, I was told by my weed expert that Blumea lacera is an obnoxious weed which completes with upland rabi crops for light, moisture and nutrients and lowers the final yield. I was always attracted toward this socalled weed because of its typical camphorous smell. During my student life, I have accidently disovered a beetle feeding on this plant. After concerning the scientific literatures, I have found that this beetle is not reported in Blumea. Since then I am continuously studying the different aspects of this herb. During allelopathic studies, I have discovered the beneficial effects of this socalled weed on upland crop. For natives of Chhattisgarh also Blumea is not a weed. Common people particularly the farmers collect this herb from crop fields, dry it and sell it to local herb buyers. The local buyers sell it to national market. Unfortunately, common people are not aware of its unique medicinal properties, this is the reason they sell it at very low rates. In interior dense forests of Chhattisgarh, where scarcity of table salt exist, the tribes exchange many such herbs with table salt. The traditional healers are aware of medicinal properties of this herb, and they use it very frequently. In case of acute Asthmatic attack the patients are advised to inhale the fumes of dried Blumea leaves. Being on Asthma patient, I have experienced and benefited with these fumes. For regular use, healers recommend to prepare herbal cigarrette using this herb in combination of other herbs. In Chhattisgarh, Blumea occurs between August to April. The leaves collected before flowering is considered best. Very young leaves are not preferred. According to traditional healers insect (Blumea leaf beetle Chrysolina madrasae) infested Blumea leaves are more beneficial as compared to unaffected leaves. I think, scientific investigation on this aspect is necessary. Blumea found on wastelands are considered best as compared to Blumea found in crop fields.

In many parts of India, Blumea is used as fly repellent, for the treatment of piles and diseases of mouth. In scientific literatures, I have found this botanical description about this herb. Blumea is an annual herb with a strong odour of turpentine (as mentioned earlier). Stem erect, height upto 0.9 meters. The color of stem is ash colored, densely glandular and pubescent. Lower leaves are petioled, upper leaves are subsessile, finely silky pubescent on both sides. Many flower heads, yellow involucral bracts densely silky-villour, inner bracts with green midrib pappus white, Fruits achene. Flowering time in Indian conditions is between January to April. Blumea is locally known as Kukurmutta, Kukronda, or Kukkurchedi. In many parts of India, it is known as Janglimuli. Blumea grow as weed in plains of India. In hilly regions, many drug manufacturing companies cultivated this herb to prepare drugs. Blumea is one of the frequently used ingredients in Indian systems of medicine. In Homoeopathic system of medicine, Blumea holds a reputed position.

During my visit to Jagdalpur city of Chhattisgarh. I have observed that some people are collecting herbs grown along with railway track. Curiously I approached to them. They informed me these herbs are for the traditional healers of Machkot forest area. I have decided to visit these healers. The healers of this area are specialised in bone setting and treatment of respiratory diseases. After long discussions, I have got the information regarding Arusa ( or Adusa) .The traditional healers are using this herb for the treatment of chronic Asthma. Arusa is known as Vasa or Vasak in Sanskrit and is a reputed drug for Asthma mentioned in Ayurveda. I felt proud to see that the traditional healers are still using this herb. In Ambikapur district (The Northern hilly region of Chhattisgarh) I have found dense but isolated patches of this useful herb, but surprisingly the traditional healers are not using it. This is the reason its area is increasing in this part. The scientific name of Arusa is Adhatoda vasica and it belongs to Acanthaceae family. It is an evergreen, gregarious, stiff, perennial shrub. The height varies between 1.2 to 6.0 meters. Leaves elliptic - lanceolate or ovate lanceolate, hairy, light green abore and dark green below. Flowers large white, with red or yellow barred throat, in spikes with large bract. Fruit clavate. Seeds globular or subarbicular, rugose. The traditional healers use the leaf decoction frequently as compared to fresh juice. Decoction is prepared by using indegenous methods. The Ayurvedic practioners in nearby big cities prefer decaction of tribal origin, although many branded products are available in market. In branded products the extracts are used instead of whole plant part. According to Ayurvedic practioners, this is the possible reason for poor effectiveness of this branded products. Like Blumea leaves, Arusa is also a part of Herbal cigarette. It also repells flies and leaves are used to save clothes and stored grains from harmful insects and mites. The whole plant of Arusa is used to treat common diseases.

You will be surprised to know that many traditional healers use Rice pest Greenleaf hopper (Nephotettix nigropictus) for the treatment of Asthma. Use of Green leaf hopper (dried) in increasing the efficacy of Blumea is most popular among traditional healers. Green leaf hopper is a serious pest of rice and Chhattisgarh is known as "Rice bowl of India". In many Herbal cigarettes, I have found bodies of Green leaf hopper used as ingradient.

During my visits to dense forests of Chhattisgarh, I have noted the increasing infestation of obnoxious weed Parthenium hysterophorus. The pollens of tis weed is responsible for many types of serious and complicated respiratory diseases. According to the traditional healers, Parthenium is becoming a curse for natural bio-diversity. They are aware of this allergy causing alien plant. According to them, Parthenium is one of the factors responsible for increasing number of Asthmatic patients in Chhattisgarh. Many traditional healers have started experiments with this new herb. They have found it effective against many common problems. This is a positive sign. In Homoeopathy the drug Parthenium hysterophrous is used to treat the symptoms produced by Parthenium in nature. Many traditional healers believe that Parthenium leaves may be used for curing the asthma but there experiments are in progress and they have yet not reached to any conclusion.

"Queensland Asthma weed" Euphorbia hirta (Locally known as Duddhi) is found in abundant in Chhattisgarh both in tribal and urban belt as weed. It is one of the reputed and known herb used for Asthma. Unfortunately, most of the traditional heales are not aware of its unique medicinal properties. And those knowing are not using it. They are using it for other diseases.

Gorakhmundi (Sphaeranthus indicus) is a common winter season weed. According to soil scientists, it is a fertility indicator and always grow on fertile lands. This herb found as weed in almost every corner of the Chhattisgarh. Locally it is known as Gudaria. Every season, several tract loads herb is supplied to fulfill the increasing demand of this herb in national and international drug markets. The local collectors are purchasing this herb at very low rates and like Blumea, supplying it to national and international markets at very high rates. Gorakh mundi herb is one of the favourite herbs for traditional healers. In winter they prefer it. The decoction prepared from whole plant is given to patient for immediate and long lasting effects. I have also tried it and found it very effective. In scientific literatures. I have found this botanical description. Gorakhmundi is a much branched herb about 30 cm high and branches cylinderic, with toothed wings, glandular and hairy. Leaves sessile, decurrent, ovate oblong, glandular hairy, serrate or dentate, flowers compound heads globose avoid, penduncles with toothed wings, fruits achene, glabrous, stalked. Flowering time in Indian conditions is between November to January. Gorakhmundi is also a popular fish poison in tribal belts of Chhattisgarh.

Beside these Mango leaves, Datura leaves, Ginger, Turmeric (with milk), Lavang (Clove) etc. are also used for the treatment of Asthma patients by traditional healers