Interaction with the paddy growers of Durg region, Chhattisgarh, India, having traditional medicinal knowledge about useful tree Babool (Acacia nilotica)

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

Last week during my visit to southern parts of Chhattisgarh, I noticed that many natives use the hard spines of Babool tree in place of U-pins, alpines and stapler pins. As Babool, locally known as Bamri trees are very common in Chhattisgarh, the hard spines are available in plenty and in free of cost. The Babool is present in Chhattisgarh since time immemorial. In Chhattisgarh plains Babool tree is a common feature of typical paddy fields. This tree is associated with the day to day life of natives. The natives and traditional healers of Chhattisgarh, use almost every part of Babool for various purposes. In my previous article on "Tree shade Therapy" I have written a lot on traditional knowledge about Babool tree shade to reduce obesity. As Herbal Dataun, the use of Babool twigs is very popular in Chhattisgarh. Babool provides useful wood for the agricultural implements. The timber is considered as strong as the Teak (Tectona grandis). Babool is also a very popular fuel wood. Although the scientists are not convinced with the benefits of Babool- paddy system and they are motivating the farmers to plant exotic tree species in paddy bunds but farmers are not ready to uproot these multiuseful trees from their land. In my allelopathic studies, I have observed the beneficial allelopathic effects of Babool leaves on different growth stages in paddy crop. I have written a lot on this tree and also on its traditional uses in my previous articles. During 1997-98, I conducted a survey in Durg region, focused on paddy growers of Chhattisgarh, with the objective to list out the traditional uses of Babool popular among them. For this survey, 250 growers were selected and with the help of specially prepared questionnaire, the information is collected. In present article, I am describing the results of this survey. At first I am describing the botany and reported medicinal uses, I have noted from reference literatures. Babool is a medium sized tree having height upto 10 meters (even more in Chhattisgarh), with a clear bole of 6-7 meters. It is evergreen except in poor sites where it became leafless for a short while during April-May. It has a flattish umbrella-shaped crown with feathery foliage. The bark is dark brown or nearly black with longitudinal fissures. Twigs carry stout stipular spines, 1.5,2.5,5.0 cm long, pinnae 2-3 pairs, 1.8-3.8 cm, leaflets 10-20 pairs, small, linear, glabrous. Flowers are yellow, fragrant, in axillary globose heads, appear during rainy season in Chhattisgarh conditional. Pods are quite distinctive, a flattened " string of beads", generally solitary, 7-15 cm long, 1.2-1.5 cm broad. As medicine, Babool holds a reputed position in all most all systems of medicine in India. According to Ayurveda, bark is hot, astringent to bowels, alexipharmic, anthelmintic, and useful in treatment of cough, bronchitis, diarrhoea, dysentery, biliousness, burning sensation, piles, leucoderma, urinary discharges, ascites etc. Leaves are beneficial for eye diseases whereas pods are considered as cooling. Babool Gum, known as Gum Arabic in trade, is anti-dysenteric, styptic and cures leprosy, vaginal and uterine discharges. According to Unani system of medicine, bark is bitter, acrid, astringent to bowels, emetic and lessens dyspnoea. Leaves are tonic to brain and liver and antipyretic. It is useful in treatment of leucoderma, gonorrhoea, strangury, blood discharges etc. Flowers are good for insanity whereas gum is considered as expectorant, liver tonic and antipyretic. Gum is used in treatment of sore throat, lung troubles, cough, piles, burns, blood disorders, colic etc.

Common names of Babool around the world
Languages / regions/ countries	Names
1. Arabic	Saelam, Sant, Snut Sout, Sselam, Talah, Um el barka, Ummghilan
2. Baluchi	Chidirg
3. Basari	Kara
4. Bengali	Babla, Babul,Babur, Kikar
5. Myanmar	Huanglongkyain
6. Kanarese	Babbuli, Bobbuli, Barbara, Barbura, Gobalog, Jali, Gobli, Karibela, Karigi, Ramakanti
7. Egypt	Sant, Sunt
8. English	Indian Gum Arabic Tree, Egyptian Thorn, Gambia Pods, Egyptian Mimosa, Black Babool
9. French	Boisd' arariba rose, Bois diabubul, Gommier des Indes, Gommier rouge.
10. Gond	Bamura
11. Gambia	Bano, Nebneb
12.Greek	Acantha, Kommi
13. Gujerati	Babalia, Baval
14. Helorew	Shett, Shittim
15. Hindi	Babla, Babul, Babur, Bassim, Bauwar,Kikar
16. Iraq	Shok-al-hind
17. Konkani	Babul
18. Kumaon	Babul
19. Lambadi	Bambolero
20. Malaya	Babola
21. Marathi	Babhul, Babul, Vedibabul.
22. Northern Rhodesia	Mukoka
23. Persian	Kharemu ghilan
24. Portuguese	Gomma da India.
25. Punjab	Babla, Babul, Babur, Kikar
26. Rajasthan	Babul, Bambul, Bawal.
27 Sanskrit	Ajabaksha, Babbula, Babbulaka, Babula, Barbura, Dirghakantaka, Dridhabija, Goshringa, Malaphala, Varvara, Yugmakantaka.
28. Santali	Babla, Babur, Gobla, Gabur
29.Sind	Babbar, Babhula, Haribabar, Kalikikkar, Kikur.
30. Sinhalese	Babbula
31. Chinese	Bani, Banigna, Kargui korre
32. Sudan	Sant
33. Swazzi	Tsitwete
34. Tamil	Iramangandam, Karuvel, Karuvelam, Vel.
35. Telugu	Barburamu Nallatumma, Nellatuma, Tumna, Yugalakshamu
36. Urdu	Babul.
37. Uriya	Babulo, Baburo, Boburi

 

Botanical differences among major Acacia species
Characteristics	Acacia	Acacia	Acacia	Acacia
	auriculaeformis	catechu	leucocephala	nilotica
1) Habit	A straight, quick-growing tree, upto 16 meters, with angular branches.	A prickly tree, with a cylindrical stem, generally upto 3 meters.	A spiny, deciduous tree, upto 3 meters	An almost evergreen, fast growing tree, with short stem and a spreading crown and feathery foliage.
2) Bark	White, smooth, somewhat fissured.	Dark greyish brown, exfoliating in long snarrow chips.	Light yellowish grey, to nearly white, red inside	Dark brown to almost black, longitudinally fissured or deeply cracked.
3) Leaves	Pinnate, rachis modified into phyllide	Pinnate with a pair of recurved prickles at the base of rachis.	Bipinnate with spines	Bipinnate, with spines, pinnules narrowly oblong.
4) Flower	White or rich yellow, fragrant, in axillary spilas	Pale yellow, in cylindrical spikes.	Yellow, in heads, arranged in terminal panicles, 30 cm long.	Golden yellow, fragrant, in long-stalked, globose heads.
5) Fruit	Hard, brown pod, coiled at maturity.	Glabrous, flat, oblong pod, readily dehisces, seed dispersal through wind and water.	Black, narrow pod, 10-20 cm long	Greyish green, flat pod, constricted between the circular seeds, bears from an early age.
6) Seed	upto 43,000/kg	upto 40,000/kg.	10-20 in a pod	upto 11.000/kg, sheep and goats eat pods and disperse seed.

The paddy growers of Durg region selected for survey informed me that they use almost every part of Babool as medicine in treatment both internally and externally. As a tonic after severe illness, they use the powdered pod with milk. I have also tried it successfully. It is not wrong to name it "Poor man's tonic" Like the natives of other parts of Chhattisgarh, these respondents also use the twigs of Babool as Herbal Tooth Brush (Dataun). In treatment of stomatitis (Chhale), they apply the fresh leaf juice inside the mouth. According to them, this application produces slight burning sensation initially but after that it cures the stomatitis completely. In case of complications, the use the decoction in place of fresh juice. The patients are advised to gargle with this decoction. This decoction is also considered good for dental troubles. In treatment of gum related troubles, they prefer the decoction prepared from Babool bark in place of Babool leaves. In case of all troubles with different intensity and severity, they mix bark and leaves in equal proportion for the preparation of decoction. The decoction of young twigs is used in treatment of Tonsilitis. It is used in same way. In rainy season when during continuous work in submerged paddy fields, the growers get infection between the fingers of legs, they use Babool with Mehndi (Lawsonia alba). The leaves of these herbs are mixed and aqueous paste is prepared. This paste is applied externally on affected parts. As they have to work daily and there is no alternative, this regular use of aqueous paste helps them to get rid from this trouble within no time. The respondents further informed me that the soft pods of Babool and gum are boon for the patients suffering from syphilis. These parts are mixed in equal proportion and patients are instructed to take it regularly in day time till complete cure. They also use the decoction of bark as treatment. During the time of infection these respondents apply the fresh leaf juice with honey inside the eyes as preventive and curative measures both. Its use in treatment of conjuctivitis is very common in this part of Chhattisgarh. To heal the wound particularly the old problematic wounds, the poultice of Babool leaves is also used by them. In case of diarrhoea, common in small children, the new leaves of Babool are used with bud of Anar (Pomegranate) and Jeera (Cumin). It is used as first aid measure and in case of complication they consult to the traditional healers. In normal days, the male and female natives use the decoction of Babool bark to wash the genitals. According to them, it stops fungal infection, common in moist climate of Chhattisgarh. In case of any disease in this part, they regularly use the decoction to dress the wound. The patients having the problem of leucorrhoea is specially instructed to use this decoction for washing the genitals. In treatment of urinary troubles, the respondents are aware of internal use of Babool gum. They further informed me that the young pods roasted in ghee are also used by the traditional healers for the same purpose. In case of severe cough and throat infection, the natives keep a piece of Babool gum as treatment. During survey I got information of medicinal uses of common Babool insect Bag worm. I will write a separate article on the traditional uses this medicinal insect.

Although the new growers are giving more emphasis on exotic Acacia species, particularly the introduced species from Australia, but the roots of indigenous Acacia are well established in the minds of natives and traditional healers. Babool is one of important non-wood forest produces of Chhattisgarh. For rural youths, the different plant parts are the sources of additional income. Every year thousands of Babool seeds fall on ground and establish into new plants. The natives welcome these new plants. There is no threat to Babool in Chhattisgarh. The in depth traditional knowledge of natives and healers about Babool is protecting this tree for future generations in Chhattisgarh.