Interactions with the traditional healers and natives of Bhopalpatnam region, Chhattisgarh, India having rich traditional medicinal knowledge about common herbs insects and other animals

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

Last week, I got an opportunity to meet Mr. B. Rao Godbole and his friends of Bhopalpatnam region. This region is one of the remotest area from capital of Chhattisgarh, Raipur. Although it is connected with other parts of Chhattisgarh through road network but the conditions of road are horrible and more than a day and a lot of patience are required to reach Bhopalpatnam from Raipur. Mr. Godbole and his friends want to meet me, as they were continuously reading my popular articles on different aspects of herbs in local newspapers since last ten years and eager to meet me personally. Although we were in regular contact through letters. Mr. Godbole visited to me with herbs collected from dense forests of Bhopalpatnam region. Basically, he is working as "Gram Sevak (Rural Agriculture Extension worker)" and posted at Bhopalpatnam since last 17 years. He is herb lover and his this hobby made him an expert of traditional uses of common herb and animals. Now he is known as traditional healer in that particular region. He is quite young and enthusiastic. The traditional healers and native of Bhopalpatnam region have deep faith in him and this is the reason, he is very successful in documentation works. I decided to discuss on different aspects whole day with him and friends. In his group of ten persons, three were traditional healers and rest were natives. We shared lot of information, herb material and literatures during this interaction. I got new and surprising information from him and decided to visit his place for more study. In present article, I am describing the gist of our discussion with detailed traditional uses. I have informed Mr. Godbole that I will share these information to the world community. He was also agreed and informed me that due to lack of systematic documentation work, we are loosing valuable traditional knowledge every day, as the great healers and natives are passing away every day one by one with valuable and secret knowledge. For photographs of Mr. Godbole and herbs from his collection, I suggest you to visit photo gallery.

Mr. Godbole informed me that he is specialised in use of Safed Musli (Chlorophytum sp.) as medicine. He frequently visit to near by forests in search of Musli and after collection and drying, he prepare herbal combination using Safed Musli roots. He informed that the Musli roots collected from forests are far better than the roots purchased from local herb shops. He is aware of adulteration. This is really surprising that he is also in favour of using Musli roots without peeling. According to him, the root skin also possess valuable medicinal properties. He showed me four different species of Safed musli collected from Bhopalpatnam region. These were not common species, I have seen earlier. As they were mere root samples, it was difficult for me to identify it. In general, it is very easy to identify the species when herb is at vegetative stage. Through roots one can clearly differentiate Chlorophytum tuberosum and Chlorophytum borivilianum. Even Chlorphytum arundinaceum can be identified but it is very difficult to identify other species. I have seen one species very close to Chlorophytum borivilianum, but not exactly. The healers visited with Mr. Godbole informed that the rich Musli growers are purchasing this similar species at relatively high cost in form of planting material. The growers are selling the mixture of true Chlorophytum borivilianum and this local species. I have mentioned this malpractice in my previous articles. From business point of view it is unfair but the healers of Chhattisgarh have confirmed that the natives species are equally effective as compared to Chlorophytum borivilianum, that was introduced species, and in some cases native species showed even better results. Mr. Godbole recommends teaspoonful of Musli root powder with a glass of cow milk daily in order to maintain the sexual health. The fact that he discloses its herbs to patients, reflects his simplicity and honesty toward traditional knowledge. If he uses the formula of any local healers, he never misses to quote his name. By quoting his name, I kept the local collection of Bhopalpatnam region, safely in my Musli gene bank. During discussion, when I informed them about my work on medicinal insects, mites, soils, and excreta, they disclosed many new information. They informed that the traditional healers of Bhopalpatnam region, use the genitals (mainly penis) of Bhalu (Wild bear) alone or in combination with other herbs as aphrodisiac. I informed them that the healers of other parts use the Pittashai ( Gall bladder) as medicine but they are possible not aware of the use of Bhalu’s penis. According to them , one can easily get complete part in 90-100 Rs. without any problem. The herb collectors and vendors are one of the sources. Later when I contacted local herb sellers in Raipur city about the rate of this organ, at first they hesitated but when I showed deep interest, they informed that for a part of this organ I have to pay 800 to 1000 Rs. and for whole organ I have to pay around 5000 Rs. The collectors and vendors of Bhopalpatnam region are possibly not aware of this high rate. Now I am trying to find out its rates at national and international markets. I am also not aware of the fact, whether trade of penis is legal or illegal. The collectors kill the Bhalu for collection of medicinally important penis. They never collect it from dead Bhalu. The penis collected just after the intercourse is considered the best by the healers. According to them, it is horrible and unique experience to see the intercourse procedure of Bhalu. During intercourse they shout loudly and tear each other’s hairs.

This procedure last for two days and in two days, one can see lot of bleeding and spread of fresh blood all over the ground. The healers collect the penis (it is wrong probably, to use the word collect here), and only a small piece is used to prepare great amount of oil. In general, they boil the penis part in Til (Sesamum) oil and one piece is enough to prepare several liters of special oil. The healers also add some other herbs but Mr. Godbole informed me that without herbs, this oil is enough strong to show the desired effects. In name of true penis, the vendors and collectors, sometimes supply wrong samples. According to Mr. Godbole, by seeing the Dane (small swellings or boils) on penis, an expert can identify the genuine sample easily. This special oil is massaged externally on penis just before intercourse, in order to increase the retention time and capacity. This oil in increases the flow of blood in penis, he explains the mode of action of oil in simple words. To demonstrate the effects, he rubbed the oil on nerves on my hands near to palm. Within few minutes, the nerves started swelling and the flow of blood increased significantly. He suggested me to use it in right way but when I informed that I am still a bachelor and cannot use it, he presented me many bottles containing this oil for my friends. It is good to hear that a piece of penis is able to produce great amount of oil and this is the reason, not much Bhalus (Bears) are killed for the collection of penis. With the help of my biochemist friend, I am trying to evaluate the oil collected from Bhopalpatnam, local and national markets. In preliminary studies, I have noted that the samples at local and national markets are full of adulterants and although its prices are hundred times greater but in terms of efficacy, it is no where is front of original oil collected from Bhopalpatnam region. As mentioned in my previous articles, human-Bhalu conflicts are becoming common as human beings are encroaching the forest lands due to population pressure. The popularity of this traditional use may make the hunting of Bhalu more frequent. Through this article, I would like to request the researchers, forest officials, wildlife experts etc. to adopt multi disciplinary approach to manage this new problem without any further delay. The healers of this region informed that they have found the Pitta of Jangli Murga (Wild Cock) very useful in treatment of Diabetes. They suggest the patients to swallow the Pitta (Gall bladder) regularly upto seven days to get significant results. I have not noted this traditional use in my previous ethnobotanical surveys. In my previous articles, I have mentioned that the wild animals are also aware of medicinal uses of common herbs and quoted the experiences of natives and traditional healers of Gandai and Bagbahera region. Mr. Godbole confirmed this observations by giving the example of wild animal Chital. In case of bone injuries, the Chitals in group visit to Hadjod (Cissus quadrangularis) herb and sit around it.

The injured Chital eat the quadrangular nodes. The treatment is repeated upto complete cure. This is really a fantastic and unique information and observation and I am feeling proud that mother nature has given this chance to me to disclose this observation in form of written document among world community. The carnivores are also aware of Chital’s knowledge and they wait in dense bush nearer to Hadjod herb. Mr. Godbole informed that he has observed many variations in common Hadjod herb. From research point of view , this is unique information. I have requested him to collect it for my collection. He also informed me about the use of excreta of Sherni (Tigress). According to him, it is one of the promising remedies used to be free from routine use of alchohalic drinks. The addict natives are called by healers without informing them that they are planning to give the medicine. The healers give the addicted natives, a glass of drink ( the last drink) and add few pinches of dried excreta in it. When natives use it, they develop allergy to this drink within their bodies upto long time. With this unique traditional knowledge, the healers are doing great social services in their societies. He also told me that the milk of Sherni possess galactagogue properties. The milk of Sherni (Tigress) is given both internally and externally. For external application, they massage it on breasts. This milk is also used in treatment of asthma (Dama). The dried pieces are fried with cow’s ghee and given to the patients internally. For collection of milk, the healers frequently visit to areas where Sherni lives with newly borne cubs. In general, the trained collectors and vendors visit this place. They informed that during feeding a little quantity of milk, falls on ground and get collected in small holes in grounds. The collectors and vendors collect this milk. Like Bhalu penis, it is hard to identify whether the milk is genuine or not. Mr. Godbole informed me that he has developed many unique testing methods for identification of genuine sample. He tries to ferment the milk by using common herbs and according to him, the milk of Sherni (Tigress) smells typically. I salute the great discovery of this common native of Chhattisgarh. He showed me a special herb locally known as Bhalu Tadar (as it resembles the palm of Bhalu; i.e. Bear), used by the traditional healers of Bhopalpatnam region in treatment of cancer. I am trying to identify the herb, true to the species.

According to Mr. Godbole and his friends, there is no pressure on herbs in the dense forests of Bhopalpatnam region due to increasing national and international demand of herbs, but they told that the local traders collect the herb Patalkumhda( Pueraria tuberosa) in bulk from this region. As this part of Chhattisgarh is in border of Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh, the traders sell it at markets of Andhra Pradesh. They also informed that there is high demand of this herb because its dye is used to colour the currency and the business of illegal printing of currency is very common (really ?) in neighbouring state. They were not sure about this shocking information. They informed that there is a high demand of red colour tubers and as it hard to identify the herb having red tuber inside (at much depth), in most of the cases the intense efforts and labour of collectors go waste. To solve this problem, the collectors of the region have developed unique method of identification without digging.

By rubbing the fresh leaves on plain paper, they simply identify the colour of tubers. In general, the traders at Andhra Pradesh give 1000 Rs. per tuber (red coloured). For more details about the botany, reported and traditional uses of this valuable herb, I suggest you to read my previous articles. Mr. Godbole and his friends also informed me that Basaguda region, nearer to Bhopalpatnam is rich in unique bio-diversity. It is also a market place for herbs. During discussion. we also talked on different herbs and herbal formulations useful in treatment of common diseases. I am describing some promising herbs and herbal formulations that are in use in Bhopalpatnam region. Ramdataun (Smilax zeylanica; family Smilaceae) is common shrub in this region. According to them, its nature is cool and they use it in treatment of diseases resulted from excessive body heat. I have written about this herb in my article on Herbal tooth brushes (Dataun). The natives of Bhopalpatnam region use, the new twigs of this herb as Dataun. It is considered good particularly in treatment of gum related diseases and stomatitis. In case of severe headache particularly during hot summer season, the native collect the soil near to the Khas herb (Vetiver) and apply the aqueous paste in affected parts. In case of snake poisoning, particularly in bite by King Cobra, they use the bark of Baheda (Terminalia bellirica) in treatment. The bark of Baheda collected from the portion of tree not facing the sun is used. The bark, one foot above the ground surface is used. The decoction is prepared and given to the patients. In case of bite due to Karait Snake, they use the pods of Dhanbaher (Cassia fistula). They also informed that the flowers of Dhanbaher are a boon for the patients having the problem of constipation. The natural occurrence of Sarpagandha (Rauvolfia serpentina) is common in this particular region. The healers of this region use it in treatment of insanity, insomnia and blood pressure very frequently. They also use the Bael (Aegle marmelos) in treatment of diabetes. By mixing the Shivlingi (Bryonia laciniosa; family Cucurbitaceae) and Kuchla (Strychnos nuxvomica; family Loganiaceae), the healers use this combination in order to treat reproductive disorders of childless couples. Mr. Godbole and his friends informed that the natives use Nirmali herb (Strychnos potatorum) as fish poison very frequently. Although popular aromatic herb Kasturibhendi (Abelmoschus moschatus) not occur naturally in dense forests of Bhopalpatnam region but the healers grow this herb in small scale and use it in treatment of common respiratory troubles. They also informed me about natural insecticidal properties of Karra tree against common paddy pests.

It was really sad for me to hear about the increasing natural infestation of obnoxious exotic weed Gajar ghas (Parthenium hysterophorus) in dense forests of Bhopalpatnam region. They informed that due to this increase infestation, the bio-diversity of many areas is under threat. Through this article, I would like to request the government officials to take immediate action to stop further spread of this obnoxious weed in natural forests. They also informed me about over 15 variations of Ratti (Abrus precatorius) available in the region. He showed me the seeds of wild Arhar (Cajanus sp.). Natural occurrence of Chitrak (Plumbago sp.), Nirgundi (Vitex negundo), Jangli Piaz ( Urginea indica), Shatavar (Asparagus racemosus) etc. is also confirmed by them.

Many of the above described traditional knowledge is not reported in reference literatures. Its popularity in Bhopalpatnam region, clearly indicates its efficacy in treatment of common disease. In Chhattisgarh, there are thousands of sincere and dedicated workers like Mr. B. Rao Godbole. There is a strong need to identify encourage, motivate and recognise these potential youths.

Thank you very much for reading the article.