Traditional knowledge about medicinal insects,mites and  spiders in Chhattisgarh, India

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

In ancient Indian literature it is mentioned that every plant and animal present on this earth are mutually beneficial. India is rich in biodiversity. Many rare plants and animals from India have been reported. Enormous work has been done on utilization of plants. Industrial and allelopathic uses of common plants have been reported. Like plants, insects, spiders, and mites also possess medicinal properties that can be exploited for the benefits of human beings. For example, the oil from red velvet mite Trombidium grandissimum is useful for paralysis. Also due to its ability to increase the sexual desire Trombidium is named as Indian Viagra'.

The entomophagy (i.e. use of insects as food) is practiced in many parts of the world including Chhattisgarh but the use of insects, mites and spiders as medicine is done in very few parts of the world and we are fortunate that Chhattisgarh people are rich in this traditional medicinal knowledge. Over 500 species of insects, mites and spiders are used as medicine to cure common ailments to complicated ailments in Chhattisgarh from time immemorial. Unfortunately, due to medicinal uses of these creatures in Chhattisgarh, the problem of over exploitation of these creatures is increasing very rapidly. Every years thousands of useful creatures are being killed and exported illegally to developed countries like U S A. According to one study, the world demand of Trombidium oil is fulfilled by Chhattisgarh. Therefore, it is essential to consider this important aspect i.e. conservation of knowledge and these creatures both during new Biodiversity plan for Chhattisgarh. Fortunately, some valuable informations regarding traditional medicinal uses of common insects, mites and spiders have been documented. The glimpses of these documents are presented below.

The POD BORER or the gram caterpillar Helicoverpa armigera Hubner (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is cosmopolitan and is widly distributed in India. It is a serious pest of chickpea (Cicer arietinum), pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan), cotton (Gossypium sp), sorghum (Sorghum bicolor), okra (Abelmoschus esculentus), and maize (Zea mays). Medicinal uses of Helicoverpa have not been reported in the available literature. Many previous studies conducted in Chhattisgarh region in India have revealed that the native people, particularly the old villagers, have rich traditional knowledge about common insects and mites. A survey was conducted during 1998-99 to list out the information on traditional medicinal knowledge about H. armigera.

A detailed ethnozoological survey was conducted in Raipur, Bastar, Rajnandgaon, Durg, Mahasamund, Sarguja, Kanker, and Bilaspur districts of Chhattisgarh. With the help of a well-prepared questionnaire, common information about the pod borer was collected from 100 randomly selected villagers. Based on the responses to the questionnaire, 15 villagers (5 from Raipur, 3 from Baster, 5 from Durg, 2 from Sarguja) having some knowledge about the medicinal uses of Helicoverpa were selected. Through regular visits to their villages and with the help of regular correspondences, the information on medicinal properties of Helicoverpa was collected. 

The survey revealed that these villagers (mostly above 60 years of age) use Helicoverpa alone or in combination with herbal drugs to treat more than 50 common diseases. Some medicinal uses are described below. Helicoverpa is used with herbal drugs such as Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera). Safed Moosli (Chlorophytum borivilianum), and Satawari (Asparagus racemosus). Villagers use powder (after drying and crushing) of caterpillars as a tonic for many common ailments such as fever, general weakness, and nervous breakdown. They generally apply the fresh extracts of caterpillars on injured parts of the body to stop bleeding as a first aid measure. This is a common practice in Chhattisgarh region. A villager from Durg, who is also a traditional healer, uses the aqueous extracts of caterpillar to promote hair growth. It is used externally. Many villagers use powder of the caterpillars with Sanai (Cassia obtusifolia) as a purgative. Sanai is a reputed purgative. Addition of caterpillar to Sanai increases its effectiveness. In Chhattisgarh, Helicoverpa infests many common weeds. Sphaeranthus indicus, locally known as Gorakhmundi, is a common weed in chickpea fields. Helicoverpa caterpillar feeding on Sphaeranthus leaves is used for the treatment ofeosinophilia and asthama.

During the survey, the villagers complained that the new generation is not much interested in medicinal properties of common insects and mites. The survey suggested that there is a need to document the medicinal and other uses of Helicoverpa with the help of extensive survey. The study indicated that there is a tremendous scope in this new field of research.

GREEN LEAFHOPPER (GLH), principally Nephotettix nigropictus (Stal.) and N. virescens (Distant), are found all rice-growing regions of India. These species are also known pests of rice in Japan, the Philippines, Taiwan (China), and Sri Lanka. In Chhattisgarh, Nephotettix sp., commonly known as Hara Maho or Saunf Keda, is one of the problematic pest of rice. To farmers and agricultural scientists, GLH is a serious pest, but to folk doctors, it is a source of additional income. The peoples of Chhattisgarh use many problematic weeds insects, spiders, and mites as a source of medicine.

As ethnozoological survey was conducted in Raipur,Baster,Bilaspur,Durg,Sarguja, Mahasamund, and Rajnandgaon districts of Chhattisgarh during 1998-99 to list the medicinal uses of common and problematic pests of different agricultural crops including rice. The study focused on folk doctors older than 60 y. In all, 20 folk doctors were interviewed and some common medicinal uses of GLH were compiled.

The survey revealed that folk doctors in the region use GLH as an additive to make traditional herbal drugs more effective. Van Bhengra (Tridax procumbens), a common rice weed, is used to stop any type of bleeding, and folk doctors mix fresh GLH with Tridax to increase its efficacy. Similarly, dried leaves of the upland weed Kukronda (Blumea lacera) are used to reduce the intensity of asthma attack. Dried leaves of Blumea with GLH are burned and the patient is advised to inhale the fumes of the mixture. 

GLH was also a common major ingredient in many popular herbal combinations to treat fever and diseases such as gonorrhea. GLH that have fed on medicinal rice var. Kalimoonch were reported to be useful for treating skin problems. Freshly crushed GLH is prepared as a paste and applied on the affected area. GLH is also popularly used as a poultry .feed in the region. A folk doctor from Sarguja said that GLH and brown planthopper Nilaparvata lugens (Stal.) combined can cure more than 40 diseases. The medicinal uses of GLH have not been previously reported. 

This survey covered only a small number of the more than 2,000 folk doctors in Chhattisgarh practicing and using traditional systems of healing. A detailed survey is in progress and is expected to provide information on the medicinal uses of GLH and other rice pests. In this survey, folk doctors said that useful insects with high medicinal value can be easily identified through their specific behavior and feeding habits.

RED VELVET MITE, Trombidium grandissimum Koch. locally known as Rani Keeda, is one of the beautiful mites. This predatory mite appears on ground surface in rainy season in Chhattisgarh and is found in almost all soils specially in alluvial soils. The tribes of Chhattisgarh use this mite for the treatment of different diseases. A survey was conducted by India Gandhi Agricultural University, Raipur (India) to list out the existing uses of this mite with specially prepared questionaire. The survey revealed that the inhabitants of Chhattisgarh use this mite (in combination with other herbal drugs) for the treatment of more than 10 important diseases including malaria, urinogenital disorders, paralysis, etc. Its use as sexual stimulant is most popular in the region. The traditional healers of the region purchase the femal mite from villagers for Rs.25/100 mites for preparing drugs. The survey suggested that there is a need for documentation of other uses of this mite.

BED BUG, Cimex lectularius L. feed on human blood at night and hide during the day in cracks and crevices. These bugs ar wingless, grow to be about inch logn and have oval, flattened, brown bodies. Chhattisgarh is rich in biodiversity. The natives use many insects, mites and spiders as medicine. To list out the traditional medicinal uses of Bed bug (commonly known as medicine), an ethnoentomological urvey was conducted during July-August 2000.Fifty traditional healers from six districts (viz. Raipur, Durg, Rajnandgaon, Bilaspur, Sarguja and Baster) of Chhattisgarh were selected. The survey was done with the help o personal interviews an weekly visits to traditional healers. The survey revealed that many traditional healers use this harmful insect as medicine. It is commonly used in treatment of epilepsy, piles alopecia and urinary disorders. The traditional healer of Sarguja, was found using this bug internally in case of snake bite. External applicaiton on piles, head (for promoting hair growth), inside the urethra (in case of urine retention ) were noted as most frequent uses of this bug. These medicinal uses of Bed bug is described by the traditional healers of Chhattisgarh have not been reported in available literatures. However, Cimex is a popular Homeopathic medicine. The survey revealed that there is a strong need to conducted a detailed ethoentomological survey in order to compile the traditional knowledge about insects, mites and spiders available in Chhattisgarh.

LIGHTENING BEETLES or Fireflies or Lighting bugs are common insects found in forest areas of Chhattisgarh (India). Tribals of Chhattisgarh use many insects, mites and spiders for the treatment of their health related problems. Series of ethoentomological surveys were conducted by the SOPAM to list out the traditional medicinal knowledge about common insects, mites and spiders in Chhattisgarh. The survey of year 2001 is focused on Fireflies. The survey was done with the help of personal interviews and weekly visits to traditional healers to observe their healing practices. The survey revealed that most of the traditional healers use fire flies as first aid case of injury. Freshly collected crushed Fireflies are used as styptic to stop the bleeding. In forest areas, casualities due to wild bear attack are common. Traditional healers use herbal mixture for the treatment of patients Fireflies are one of the main constituent of this herbal mixture. Second popular use of this insect is in case of cold borne earache. In earache, the Fireflies are mix with neem (A dzadirachata indica ) leaf juice and the liquid extract is applied in the affected ears. This use is found very common even school children are aware of it. These medicinal uses of Fireflies have not been reported in available literatures.

Of all the familiar household pests, the HOUSEFLY, Musca nebulo Wiedemann is the commonest. But in many parts of Chhattisgarh, housefly is used to treat many common diseases. A survey conducted during 1994-99 revealed that many folk doctors use housefly as medicine. Generally, housefly is used to treat more than 15 common diseases. Two most popular uses of this insect are described here. These popular uses are (i) For dyeing the hair black (ii) To cure the cold fever. For dyeing the hair black, folk doctors take 100 houseflies and mix them in sesamum oil. After mixing, the oil is kept under open sky in direct sunlight for forty days. Them this oil is used to dye the hair black. For treating cold fever, one housefly, half black pepper (Piper longum) and one pinch of asafoetida are mixed and this mixture is applied on eyes. This treatment is said to cure cold fever. The survey also revealed that the folk doctors of North-Eastern hilly part of Chhattisgarh use frequently the housefly as medicine.

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Table 1 : Traditional Medicinal Knowledge about insects, spiders and mites in Chhattisgarh.

Scientific and Common Name System of Mediinal Uses

1. Heliothis armigera Ayurved In various Ayurvedic preparation for (Gram pod borer) making health tonic.
2. Apis mellifica (Honey bee) Homoeopathy, Yunani Jaundice, diseases of spleen and stomach.
3. Coccus cacti (Cacti insect) Homoeopathy Pthisis and whooping cough.
4. Cimex lectularius (bed bug) Homoeopathy, Yunani For intermittent fever, asthma and snake Poison (Yunani).
5. Musca nebulo (Housefly) Yunani For diseases of eye and digestive system.
6. Cantharis strygosa ( Spanish fly) Homoeopathy, Allopathy For the diseases of skin, kindney and Urethra; Used as counter-impact (Allop.)
7. Blatta orientalis (Cockroach) Homoeopathy, Ayurved Yunani. For Asthma.
8. Mygale lasiodora (Large black Homoeopathy For chorea, chordea and nervous Cubian spider) disorders.
9. Lycosa tarentula (Taraentula Homoeopathy For cerebral congestion and enlargement spider) of lymphatic glands.
10. Hieroglyphus banian Yunani Diseases of liver. (Rice grasshopper)

[Originally published as
Oudhia,P.(2002).Traditional medicinal knowledge about common insects and mites in Chhattisgarh,India.Eco. Env and Consv.8(4):339-340.]