My experiences and interactions with Bach (Acorus calamus) Collectors and Growers of Chhattisgarh, India

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

Bach, Vekhand, Buch or Vacha is not a new name for Indians. Since my childhood as common Indian, Bach is well known to me and I have used it many times in my childhood. My Daadi Ma (Grandmother) also recommend a small piece of Bach root in order to treat speech disorder of little children. This is most frequently used Home remedy for stammering and to clear voice for anyone specially of children. My Grandmother purchase this aromatic from local herb dealer at high rates. She was not aware of its availability in nearby forests. After completing my education, I was surprised to meet this unique herb again, Being Agronomist, at present I am technically guiding over 100 Bach growers of Chhattisgarh cultivating Bach in over 500 acres of land Few decades back, the Chhattisgarh forests were rich sources of many valuable herbs including Bach. But due to increasing demand and unscientific exploitation, Bach is now found in isolated patches. Still there is a heavy demand of this aromatic herb. The herb dealers of Kolkata are aware of natural occurrence of Bach in Chhattisgarh and this is the reason Bach is always on Top ten herbs having regular demand. During my ethnboatincal surveys in different forests of Chhattisgarh. I have found the forests of Pendra and Bilaspur rich in natural occurrence of Bach. In other parts of Chhattisgarh, I have not seen such rich patches. 

Common and popular names of Bach (Acorus calamus) around the world
Languages/Regions/Countries	Common Names
1) Arabic	Vaj, Vash
2) Assam, India	Bach
3) Bengal, India	Bach, Shwetbach
4) Myanmar	Linhe
5) Kanarese	Baje
6) Chines	Che Ts' and Pou, Choui T'sang Pou, Pai Chang
7) Kutchh, India	Venkhanda
8) Deccan, India	Gandkilokri, Vach
9) Dutch	Kalmus, Zwanenbrood
10) English	Bastard water flag, Calamus, Cinnamon sedge, Myrtle grass, Sweet Cane, Sweet Flag, Sweet Myrtle, Sweet root, Sweet rush
11) French	Acore, Acore aromatique, Acore odorant, Acoro Urai, Acori, Acrois, Galanga des marais, Raseau aromatique, Roseau odorant
12) German	Ackermagen, Deutscher Ingber, Kalmus, Karmes, Karmsen, Gewuerzkalmus, Kaumeles, Kolmas, Magenwurz, Nagenwurz, Schiemen, Wechel, Zebrwurz, Schienenzurz
13) Gujarat, India	Godavaj, Gandhilovaj, Vekhand
14) Hindi	Bach, Ghorbach, Gorbach, Kussebbewa
15) Italian	Acoro, Acoro aromatico, Calamo, Acoro odoroso, Calamo aromatica, Erba cannella, Erba di Venere
16) Kashmir	Vahi
17) Malyalam	Vashampa
18) Norway	Kalmus
19) Persian	Agar, Agreturki
20) Pacific coast	Bee wort, Flag root, Calamus root
21) Portuguese	Calamo aromatica, Canna cheirosa
22) Punjab, India	Baribaj, Wach
23) Sanskrit	Bhadra, Bhutnashini, Bodhaniya, Galani, Galomi, Ikshuparni, Jalaja, Jatila, Kanga, Kshudraptri, Lomasha, Mangalya, Rakshoghri, Shada grantha, Shartaparvika, Schlemshmaghni
24) Sinhalese	Wadakaha, Wadakahavasambu
25) South Africa	Sweet flag
26) Spanish	Acoro, Acoro, Verdadero
27) Tamil	Vashambu
28) Telugu	Vadaja, Vasa, Wasa
29) Urdu	Bach

You will be surprised to know that the Traditional Healers of many parts are purchasing this herb from outside the state for treatment. They are very afraid of exploitation of these useful herbs but they can not do anything. According to the traditional Healer of Keshkal, few decades back there are thousands of Bach plants in valley.

He still remember that the natives always preferred the rotational harvesting, in order to conserve and propagate the Bach plants in natural forests. But due to increased demand, for easy money no one has followed this rule and the natural population is diminished. I personally feel that there is a strong need to monitor the natural population of Bach in Chhattisgarh forests and enter this herb in red data book (if any) of the state. Increasing demand and decreasing natural occurrence has forced the innovative farmers of Chhattisgarh for commercial cultivation of Bach. As you know, Chhattisgarh is known as "Rice bowl of India" Paddy is Chhattisgarh’s traditional crop. It is believed that Chhattisgarh is one of the origin places of paddy. The natives have rich traditional knowledge about different types of paddy. Many medicinal rice types have also been reported from Chhattisgarh.

As the traditional crop paddy is no longer profitable due to over production in last two-three years, now the Chhattisgarh farmers are showing interest in new alternative crops like pulses, oilseeds and medicinal crops. Due to lack of adequate irrigation facilities in the state, the paddy farming is totally dependent on monsoon rains every year. For storage of large amount of water in field, paddy farmers have made big bunds around the fields. As Bach is also marshy and water loving plant, and can be grown in these modified (i.e. with big bunded fields) fields, now Chhattisgarh farmers are easily accepting this new crop for their lively hood. The newly borne state of India, Chhattisgarh, is also known as world’s first Herbal State. The new government is taking keen interest (?) in conservation and cultivation of natural herbs. This is the result of farmer’s interest and government’s encouragement that today over 25 species of herbs are under cultivation in fairly la hhattisgarh Bach is a valuable medicinal herb. In Sanskrit, one of its name is Bhootnashini (Bhoot - Ghost; Nashini - to destroy). In order to keep away the evils spirits from patients, many Traditional Healers perform special worship using Bach roots and leaves. They burn these parts in fire as offering to their Gods. According to the Traditional Healers of Chhattisgarh, there is specific time and period for harvest of Bach plants. As I frequently visit to different Traditional Healers, good or bad in nature, the Traditional Healer of Salewara has advised me to put the Bach roots always with me in order to be safe from any kind of magic. In Chhattisgarh, there is a festival named " Hareli" in rainy season. It is common belief that on the festival day , evil spirits increase their activities to the maximum. To prevent their home natives put the branches and leaves of neem (Azadirachata indica) in front of home.

Many Traditional Healers use Bach roots in order to protect themselves. At these times, the family members specially the children are not allowed to go outside the home after the sun set. The Traditional Healers of Chhattisgarh says that cultivation of Bach is not good for everyone. It may cause mental problems to the growers. I am associated as expert to Bach growers of Chhattisgarh from last five years. I have never experienced any incidence with the growers. I am eager to know the science behind the belief of Traditional Healers. In Chhattisgarh, mosquitoes are among big problems. In urban and rural areas, people use Bach as mosquito repellent. I have noted one more interesting thing about Bach. The Traditional Healers say, the Bach from cultivated origin is less effective as compared to natural Bach. In our ancient literatures it is clearly mentioned that the domestication and cultivation of forest herbs can deteriorate the quality of herbs. Possibly, the same Traditional Healers, are experiencing in Chhattisgarh . 

Unfortunately, to get good quantity (obviously not good quality) of Bach, most of this puts viz. pesticides, insecticides etc. Whether the buyers from nearby metro are not aware of chemically grown Bach or they are ignoring the poor quality of this herb, it is not clear but the Traditional Healers and qualified Ayurvedic doctors of the state is facing difficulty in getting genuine and effective herb. I have observed one more cheating practice common in so called quality conscious buyers of metro. The colour of naturally occurring Bach root is usually black but the Bach root from cultivated origin is lighter in colour. These buyers purchase the Bach from cultivated origin and dry it in open sun light. Due to high light intensity, the lighter colour changes into darker colour. The buyers sell it in name and price of naturally occuring Bach. Many research works conducted by Indian scientists have shown that sun drying deteriorate the quality of herb. The Traditional Healers are also aware of this fact.

During my research works on insect repellent plants at Indira Gandhi Agriculture University, Raipur, India, I have found the aqueous extract of Bach leaves and roots effective against many problem insects of important agricultural crops including rice, soybean, mustard, chickpea etc. In Chhattisgarh, the root powder is used as effective insect repellent since long back, to keep off moths and other insects from woollen goods. Its popularity as air-purifier herb in home gardens is also increasing in Chhattisgarh.

In ancient Indian literatures, Bach is mentioned as valuable herb. According to Ayurvedic philosophy Bach is pungent, bitter, heating, emetic, laxative, diuretic, carminative, anthelmintic and it improves appetite, voice, throat, good for disease of mouth, useful in abdominal pains, dysentry, tumours, thirst, loss of memory, rate-bite and worms in the ear. According to Unani system of medicine, the rhizome has a very bitter sharp taste. It is laxative, expectorant, carminative, tonic to brain, emmenagogue, useful in general weakness, stomatitis, toothache, inflammations, pain in liver and the

The English name of Bach is Sweet Flag. I have found this botanical description in reference literature about Bach. It is an aromatic herb; root stock as thick as the middle finger, creeping and branching; Leaves 0.9-1.8 x 1.6 - 3.8 cm; bright-green, acute, thickened in the middle, margins wavy; spathe 15-75 cm long; spadix 5-10 cm long, obtuse slightly curved, green; sepals scarious, anthers yellow; Flowers turbinate, prismatic, top pyramidal.

Mr. Deen Dayal Verma, is well known Bach grower of Chhattisgarh. He is growing this wonder herb from last five years. According to him, Bach is "Alsio Ki Phasel (lazyman’s Crop)" because it require no care and completely free from any insect or disease. Being a Agriculture graduate and an innovative farmer, he is conducting new field experiments with this crop. Last year he has shown he regional farmers that paddy and Bach can be grown as mixed crop and presence of Bach in paddy field protect the paddy crop from harmful insects and diseases. This is really a great effort by any farmer to aware the fellow farmers through field demonstrations. Mr. Verma is not aware of processing of Bach roots. He simply collect and sell the dried roots to the buyers and these buyers sell this herb to processors at very high rates.

The only purpose behind writing this article to show the actual picture of Bach Collectors and growers of Chhattisgarh to herb lovers around the world and to share the rich traditional knowledge about Bach, the Traditional Healers of state are having. Your opinions and suggestions on this article are welcome.