The status of traditional medicinal knowledge about common weeds in Chhattisgarh, India : A Detailed Survey

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

Since inception of agriculture, weeds have been recognized as potential pests. Weeds in general reduce crop yield by 31.5%. For Ayurvedists and Pharmacologists most of the weeds are valuable medicinal plants. It is written in our ancient veda that every plant on this earth is useful Keeping this thought in mind, the concept was developed by the agricultural scientists that after identifying the traditional and modern uses of different parts of weeds, these so called unwanted plants, can be utilized to increase the income of the farmers. Farmers can adopt the practice of hand weeding for weed control and can sell the valuable parts of medicinal weeds with the help of co-operative societies to recover the cost of hand weeding and to earn extra income. Many valuable medicinal plants are found in Chhattisgarh region as weeds. The traditional knowledge about medicinal properties of these weeds have not been reported and documented. A detailed survey was conducted during 1992-98 to collect the information regarding traditional knowledge about common weeds of crop fields, bunds and wastelands.

The ethnobotanical survey in Chhattisgarh region was conducted in purposively in purposively selected districts namely Raipur, Bilaspur, Durg, Rajnandgaon. Bastar and Sarguja. From each selected district, two blocks and from each selected block, a random sample of four villages was taken. A proportionate sample of villagers knowing traditional knowledge about weeds was taken to make the total sample size as 2500 respondents. The data were collected with the help of personal interview on a well prepared interview schedule. The respondents were selected on the basis of (i) those having traditional knowledge about medicinal weeds, (ii) those living in Chhattisgarh for at least 50 years and (iii) having age over 60 years. Respondents not fulfilling anyone of the above mentioned criteria were rejected and finally 1000 respondents were interviewed. The local name, ontogeny etc. of medicinal weeds were noted. For the medicinal and industrial uses of the common weeds the help of reference literatures of Ayurved. Homoeopathy, Unani, Allopathy etc was taken. For gathering information about the specific uses of medicinal weeds, frequent visits to respondents were made.

The study revealed that a large number of villagers, specially elder villagers, were aware of medicinal potential of not only the medicinal weeds but also common insects and birds. However it is difficult to convince them to disclose their secrets. 75% respondents has gained the knowledge about medicinal weeds from their forefathers whereas for 10% respondents the source of information was their own experimentation and experiences. Only 5% respondents were taught by the " Village Gurus" about medicinal weeds. The study also revealed that only 20% respondents believed in using traditional knowledge + Ayurved + Allopathy combinations for treating their patients. About 7.5% respondents were using traditional knowledge + Allopathy and 2.5% respondents were using combinations of all popular systems of medicine. The problems/ reasons expressed by the respondents for non-adoption of traditional knowledge alone for treatment were surprising. About 65% respondents answered that the treatment using traditional knowledge is loosing its popularity day by day. About 15% respondents blamed the government policies whereas same percentage of respondents told that the availability of medicinal weeds is decreasing very rapidly. The place of medicinal weeds is now occupied by some newly introduced weeds like Congress grass Parthenium hysterophorus and Sole grass Aeschynomene americana. During survey the heavy infestation of Patheium hysterophorus was noted in very district in crop fields. Public places, bunds and wasteland. With the help of lethal allelochemicals like parthenium, p-coumaric acid and caffeic acid, Parthenium is suppressing the growth of medicinal weeds. Similar observations were also noted in early studies. According to villagers, Partheium was not presents in villages of Chhattisgarh 10 years back. Similarly. During survey heavy infestation of Aeschynomene was noted. Although Aeschynomene is medicinal weed but most of the villagers are not aware of its medicinal properties. The main reason is that this weed has not been reported in Chhattisgarh 20 year back. It was introduced probably form Rajasthan through sheep herds which visited frequently during the period of femine. This endozoochory has created and still creating many problems for the villagers Aeshynomene smothers the growth of more than 30 medicinal weeds found in bunds and wastelands.

About 50% respondents were specialized in treating woman troubles whereas 20% in venereal diseases. 15% in bone setting and 7.5% in snake bite. About 5.0% (2.5% each) respondents were found specialized in treating general ailments and skin troubles. The survey indicated that most of the respondents were (i) next generation is not serious about this valuable traditional knowledge (15.38%), (ii) next generation do not want to learn about this (46.15%) and (iii) The survey revealed that in Chhattisgarh more than 150 plants are found as weeds, out of these more than 85 weeds were reported as medicinal different systems of medicine used in different systems of medicine. It was found during the search of literature that most of the uses described by the respondents are already documented. After several visits to targeted villages, the respondents told the survey team about some of their secret formulas for preparing drugs from medicinal weeds. About 20 such formulas were explained by the respondents. The authenticity of these drugs were not tested by practical utility of some drugs have been observed on patients during the survey. 

These results of survey views conclusion that there is a urgent need to a undertake ethnobotanical surveys. Some constructive modifications are essential in existing govt. policies to encourage the villagers to adopt this traditional knowledge of treatment. Also there is a strong need to aware the people of the region about the importance of traditional knowledge and this system of healing. Last but not least, the systematic documentation of traditional knowledge is essential. For achieving this target, the joint efforts of government, non-government agencies and local is essential.