Traditional medicinal knowledge about useful herb Bhelwa (Semecarpus anacardium, Family : Anacardiaceae) in Chhattisgarh, India

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

Although the villages having names like Bhelwadih, Bhelwapadar, Bhelwabhatha, etc., based on presence of this herb in abundance clearly indicates, the natural occurrence of Bhelwa, but I have seen it in almost every corner of Chhattisgarh. According reference literatures, it is a herb found in dry deciduous and Sal (Shorea robusta) forests of Chhattisgarh. Its English name is Marking nut because the black resin, obtained from pericarp of fruit, is used as marking ink to write on cloth. The washermen of Chhattisgarh still use the Marking nut, for this specific purpose. Bhelwa is one of the non-wood forest produces of Chhattisgarh having fair demand in national and international markets. It has both industrial and medicinal uses. The herb traders of different regions informed me that there is more demand for the industrial purposes. The buyers at national and international levels are aware the presence of Bhelwa in natural forests of Chhattisgarh. These forests fulfil the annual requirement of many leading pharmaceutical companies of India. In different reference literatures, related to economic botany, Bhelwa is described as herb having many industrial uses.

According to these literatures, the vesicant juice known in trade as Bhilawan Shell Liquid (BSL) is obtained from Bhelwa nuts and is rich source of phenols. BSL also finds uses in manufacture of varnishes, lacquers, enamels, paints, water proofing and industrial materials. The chlorinated derivates of phenolic constituents of BSL are used as insecticides, antiseptics, termite repellents, mildew and moth-proofing agents and also for preparation of synthetic detergents, herbicides and fireproof plastics. Kernels yield semi-drying oil which is used as wood preservative against white ants and also as lubricant for wooden axels of carts. Nuts are also used as Tan. The common natives and herb traders of Chhattisgarh are not aware of these multiple uses and this is the reason they are supplying this herb at relatively very low rates to buyers at national level. Like other herbs, there are many middle men, active in this business. As mentioned early, the buyers at national and international markets are aware of its presence, they only purchase the raw material. In Chhattisgarh, there is not a single processing or value addition unit. The natives are supplying raw material at poor rates and purchasing the processed material at very high rates. The politicians always quote that 'Chhattisgarh natives are poor men belonging to rich land' but as usual nobody do anything in real sense to make these natives, the rich men belonging to rich land. Many innovative processors are eager to start their units in Chhattisgarh but due to lack of support, and encouragement they are unable to start these units. In fact, there is a lack of political will. Although natives are not aware of its industrial uses, but as medicinal herb Bhelwa holds a reputed position among them. For its internal uses the natives are dependent on traditional healers. It is one of the toxic nuts and overdose can cause even death. The natives use different parts of Bhelwa externally without any tension. It is one of the commonly used veterinary medicines. In trader, there is demand of fruits but for the natives and traditional healers all parts are valuable. The insecticidal properties of Bhelwa are reported but the farmers of Chhattisgarh are not using it for this purpose. Bhelwa is not under cultivation and it is also not in list of medicinal herbs, the government is promoting. In public herbal gardens, it is planted as specimen. During my ethnobotanical surveys in different parts of Chhattisgarh, I have found that the natives and traditional healers have in depth traditional medicinal knowledge about this herb.

Again it is a bitter fact that there is a lack of pharmaceutical establishment based on Bhelwa. The documentation part is also lacking. In present article, I am describing some traditional medicinal uses of Bhelwa, as noted during my surveys. This article is the first written document about this herb in Chhattisgarh and I am feeling proud to do this work. At first I am describing its botany and reported medicinal uses. According to reference literature, Bhelwa is a deciduous tree having height upto 10 meters (In Chhattisgarh, more taller trees can be seen); young branches, petiole, under surface of leaves and inflorescence tomentose. Leaves coriaceous above, margin entire, base rounded or cordate, petioles 1-4.5 cm long. Flowers greenish-yellow, sub sessile, in erect, terminal 12-30 cm long panicles. Pedicles accrescent, upto 1.5 cm long in fruits. Sepals long, ovate, acute, pubescent without. Petals 5, 2.5-4 mm long, ovate-triangular, acute. Drupes black on ripening, 2-2.5 cm long, ovoid or oblong. Flowering time May-Oct. whereas fruiting time December-March. According to Ayurveda, fruits are hot, digestible, aphrodisiac, anthelmintic, and useful in treatment of ascites, skin diseases, piles, dysentery, tumours, fevers, loss of appetite, urinary discharges, ulcers, insanity, asthma, dental troubles etc. The rind is oleaginous, acrid, stomachic, laxative and cures bronchitis, leprosy, inflammations etc. According to Unani system of medicine, sweet fruit of Bhelwa is carminative whereas leaves lessen inflammation, stomatitis, piles, fever, weakness. It expels bad humours from body. The oil is hot, dry, anthelmintic, aphrodisiac, tonic, makes hair black, good for leucoderma, coryza, epilepsy, other nervous diseases, paralysis, superficial pains etc. It causes burns, ulcers and blebs.

The traditional healers use the oil extracted from Bhelwa very frequently in treatment of many common diseases. The oil is extracted with the help of 'Patal Yantra'. I have described the detailed method in my previous articles on herbal oils. The natives are also aware of this use. In general, they do not extract the oil. For oil, they are dependent on the healers. The healers use the oil both internally and externally. Externally it is used in treatment of boils, wounds and skin troubles, alone or in combination with other herbs. The traditional healers of Chhattisgarh plains, mix Kattha in Bhelwa oil and use it externally to suppress the boils. The oil is also used in treatment of ringworm. Many healers informed me that the oil at recommended quantities can be added in soap during manufacturing process without any problem. According to them, this herbal soap is a boon for the patients having the problem of skin troubles. This is good information and is of great use for the new entrepreneurs, planning to establish herb business particularly the processing units in Chhattisgarh. Bhelwa oil is also considered promising in treatment of Adhasisi (Migraine) The healers use it in different ways. In general, few drops off oil is applied, under supervision of the traditional healers, on opposite eye, of painful head. For example, if the pain is right sided, then oil is applied in left eye and vice-versa. According to healers, initially the application of oil produces burning sensation and irritation, after this tear flow starts and very soon the patients feel relief from intense headache. To avoid the burning sensation and irritation, the healers suggest the patients to apply few drops of ghee into the eyes, just before the application of Bhelwa oil. I interviewed the patients getting this treatment. They were satisfied with this treatment. The healers informed that regular use of this oil upto specific period, root out the problem of Adhasisi forever. In case of earache, as first aid remedy, the healers use Bhelwa oil with butter internally. Butter is added to reduce the same harmful effect. Under their strict supervision the traditional healers use this oil to treat stomach disorders. It is also used with milk as carminative. Two small drops of Bhelwa oil is recommended for the common cough and cold of small children. As other promising alternatives are available, the healers use this oil less frequently. But from documentation point of view, it is an important information. According to Unani system of medicine, the oil causes burns, ulcers and blebs, the traditional healers, aware of these bad effects, use different herbal combination to eliminate these effects. In burns, ulcers and blebs caused by Bhelwa, the healers apply the aqueous paste of Til (Sesamum indicum) and black soil externally. Like ghee or butter, the milk is also used externally, for same purpose. Many healers suggest the use of fruit pulp of Bahera (Terminalia belirica)to reduce or eliminate the bad effects of Bhelwa. The traditional healers specialized in treatment of bone fractures, use Bhelwa frequently. They prepare a special sweet dish by frying the Bhelwa in ghee and suggest the patients to take it regularly till complete setting and healing. In my previous articles, I have written about the use of Hadjod in same way. The healers prefer Hadjod in comparison to Bhelwa. Besides the use of oil, as carminative, the traditional healers also recommend Bhelwa fruit with curd or Imli (Tamarind). To make the immature boil, mature the natives apply Bhelwa externally with Chuna (Lime). The natives of Sarguja region, take the fruits of Bhelwa and burn it in fire. They collect the oil coming out from the seeds, and use it internally with milk in order to suppress the cough. During my surveys in Pendra region, I got an information on use of Bhelwa, in case of lead poisoning. This is an important information. The healers of this region use Bhelwa, mostly in form of decoction, to flush out the poison. In case of hydrocele, the healers use the combination of Bhelwa and Haldi externally an affected parts to reduce the pain. The healers also use it as female tonic and use it in popular herbal combinations as important ingredient.

The in depth traditional medicinal knowledge about Bhelwa in Chhattisgarh clearly supports the recommendation that this herb should be promoted as potential herb in Chhattisgarh by conducting detailed and systematic research on every aspect i.e. From collection to marketing. The traditional healers and natives using Bhelwa as medicinal herb are eager to share the valuable information with interested researchers. I am collecting more information on this herb and in near future, I will write more on various aspects.

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