The search for rare herbs in Chhattisgarh, India

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

From last ten years, I am in search of real Telia Kand. Telia
Kand, is a herb, according to the herb collectors, contains acidic
liquid inside the roots having the properties to dissolve the iron
pin. In Hindi, Telia means oily (Tel - Oil). In the name of Telia
Kand, the herb collectorC sell different herbs at very high rates.
The traditional healers of Chhattisgarh consider it as valuable
medicinal herb. According to them, this herb is capable of
dissolving all the foreign bodies present inside the body. Many
healers claim that it is promising herb that can be useful in
treatment of different types of cancer. In reference literatures
related to different systems of medicine in India, many herbs have
been mentioned as Telia Kand and it is still a problem to identify
the correct species. For testing, the healers suggest to pierce
pin inside the root and if it is genuine Telia Kand then it will
be dissolved. If there is no effect on pin, then it is false
material. When I visit forests for ethnobotanical surveys, I
always keep pin with me and never miss to ask the healers to show
the true Telia Kand. Through my surveys, I have noted that healers
of Amarkantak and Gandai region use the Telia Kand more commonly.
These regions are well known for dense forests. The healers of
Gandia region, informed that the Rengakhar area is rich in Telia
Kand. I visited this area few years back and collected rare herbs
but unfortunately not got the True Telia Kand. In local herb
markets, in the name of Telia Kand many dry roots are available. I
have collected over 35 samples known as Telia Kand in different
regions. As all the samples are dry, it is very difficult to test
whether it is genuine or not. According to the herb collectors,
the fresh roots are having the capacity to dissolve the pin and
I have yet not seen the fresh roots. I have raised questions of
Teila Kand in different scientific forums but noted that the
scientists are not ready to accept its presence without seeing its
miracle effects. Few days back I discussed about this herb with
senior herb researchers Dr. Rajendra Gupta and Dr. M. R. Uniyal.
They informed that they have heard about this herb but yet not
seen it any where. I will continue my search for this rare herb in
future and inform you about latest information. For the
traditional healers of Chhattisgarh, the rare herbs or rare
species of any herb are of great importance. In my previous
article, I have mentioned about the occurrence of white flowered
Mokhla (Asteracantha longifolia), Akarkara (Spilanthes sp.) and
Bhatkatiya (Solanum xanthocarpum). Whenever the healers find
these rare herbs in forest, they collect it and keep it as
valuable asset. One good thing I have noted is that the healers
collect these rare herbs for them, only if these are present in
any specific location in abundance. When there are less plants,
they leave the spot as such and collect the useful part only. In
general, the natives associate these rare species with good luck
and wealth. Taking advantage of this belief, the herb collectors
and herb vendors keep these herbs with them and sell it at fair
rates. Although it is not scientifically proven but according to
the traditional healers of Chhattisgarh , these rare herbs
possess more rich medicinal properties and uses as compared to its
common forms.

I am keeping positive thinking in search of Telia Kand because my
search of Bhramarmar or Bhramarmari has not gone waste. I have
mentioned about this herb in previous articles. This herb attracts
the flies and snakes commit suicide (?) near this herb. For the
first time, I heard about this herb from my Guru Shri Vishal
Bharat. He was using the bark of Bramarmari in treatment of blood
cancer. Bhramarmar in Chhattisgarh was his discovery. Although the
traditional healers of Chhattisgarh are aware of this herb since
generations but they do not use it in treatment of cancer. In
different parts of the state it is known with different names. I
have collected its sixteen names in local languages. Shri Vishal
Bharat once told me about this herb and warn me not to disclose
its identify to every one because it is rare and needs
conservation. With the help of innovative herb growers, we are
trying to propagate this herb artificially in order to conserve
it. I am not aware of its presence in other parts of the world but
in Chhattisgarh, I have seen only 35 such herbs in isolated
patches. When I wrote about this herb in local news paper, the
greedy traders started hunt for this rare herb. After this
incidence, I stopped writing on this rare herb. By visiting the
forests having natural population of Bhramarmar, I am trying to
identify the fly species attracted towards this herb and try
understand to that as it is not an insectivorous plant, for what
purpose this herb attracts these flies.?

I have seen the white flowers of Satyanashi, only once with the
traditional healer of Chhattisgarh plains. After that I have yet
not seen it in field conditions. The Mexican poppy (Agremone
mexicana) is a common wasteland plant. In reference literatures,
yellow flowered species has been reported. According to the
traditional healers, the white flowered species also occurs in
Chhattisgarh but very rarely. The healers use the white flowers in
treatment of complicated diseases. Recently I got information from
Bhopalpatnam region that it is present in that area. I am eager to
visit the region. From this region, I also got information on
occurrence of Red Musli. This is new information for me as well as
the other herbs. A lot have been written on Kali (Black) and Safed
(White) Musli (Curculigo sp. and Chlorophytum sp.) but Red (Lal)
Musli is not mentioned any where. I have received the sample. It
is identical to Safed Musli on all aspects except in colour. It is
also very rare herb. I will write more about Red Musli in my
future articles.

In absence of taxonomist in my team it is very difficult to
identify the new species. As the information on rare herbs in
Chhattisgarh are not available in documentation form, I am
satisfied that atleast the preliminary information is now coming
in form of written document. I am confident that for the young
researchers of coming generation these articles will provide
proper guidance.

Thank you very much for reading the article.