Interactions with the natives and traditional healers of Dhamtari region, Chhattisgarh, India having rich traditional medicinal knowledge about common herbs

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

Here is a new news for the diabetic researchers and patients. The root leachate of Koha and Aam leaves can be used successfully in treatment of this common but complicated disease. Yesterday, I got opportunity to deliver a lecture on herbal cultivation in Chhattisgarh at Dhamtari region. I was the only speaker and I delivered talk whole day. During lunch break, I got enough time to interact with the natives and traditional healers of this region having rich traditional medicinal knowledge about common herbs. When I was coming back from Dhamtari, in bus luckily, by co-passenger was also the herb lover. I got very interesting information from these persons. In present article, I am giving details of this interaction. I have mentioned in my previous articles about various uses of Koha bark and wood as medicine. It is mainly used as heart tonic and in treatment of heart diseases. The healers of Chhattisgarh also prepare special Herbal Glasses from Koha wood. Its use in treatment of diabetes is not reported. During interaction in Dhamtari, the healers informed me that the root leachate of Koha (Terminalia arjuna) can be used to lower the blood sugar. The roots spreading in north direction are collected and dried in shade. After drying, root piece is cut at the length of index finger and dipped in a cup of water. Next morning, the leachate is given to the patients empty stomach.

The healers further informed me that this should be used till the regulation of blood sugar. They were not in favour of its long term use. According to these healers, the dried leaves of Aam (Mangifera indica) is also capable of treating diabetes. It should be taken in powdered form. In general, the healers suggest the patients having diabetes to take a tea spoonful of dry Mango leaf powder with water, daily morning up to three months in summer. It is common belief that its use in each summer prevents the problem of diabetes. The leaves of indigenous Aam trees are used. Both uses are new information for me. I have yet not seen its practical uses. Aam and Koha are common trees in Chhattisgarh. For details regarding its botany, other traditional and reported uses, please read my previous articles. The natives informed me that to get rid from stammering, they use the fruit pulp (Gooda) of Dhanbaher (Cassia fistula) tree. The pulp is mixed with the equal quantity of green Coriander (Hara Dhania). After mixing, juice from this mixture is extracted and patients are advised to gargle with this juice once in a day up to a month. This home remedy is very popular in this region. Its popularity clearly indicates its effectiveness. In exchange, I informed them the treatment method by which I got rid from this problem in my childhood. My mother selected a fine surfaced gravel of Murum soil (Laterite soil) and instructed me to keep it below the tongue whole day. Be careful and do not swallow it. I kept this gravel daily up to one month. Slowly-slowly my voice was became clear and very soon I got rid from stammering. This use is also not mentioned in reference literatures. According to my mother, it is the gravel, that is helping, by regulating the movement of tongue. I am convinced with her and now trying to search more clear scientific explanation. Dhaincha is a common herb in Chhattisgarh and many species of this herb are used as green maturing crop. According to the natives of Dhamtari region, the leaf and flower juice of Dhaincha (Sesbania sp.) Can be used successfully to reduce the pain due to Migraine. The leaf and flower juice are mixed in equal proportion and patients are advised to inhale it. Within no time, the patients get relief. This is one of the promising treatments to avoid harmful pain killers. While observing the slides on medicinal weeds of Chhattisgarh, one of the participants identified the wild species of Akarkara (Spilanthes sp.) This wild species of Akarkara is common in crop fields during winter season. He informed that to treat the problem of Lakwa (Paralysis), he collect the whole herb and dry it in shade. After drying it is converted into powder and mixed in Mahua oil (Madhuca indica). This special oil is given to the patients having Lakwa with instruction to apply it externally in numb parts in order get cure effectively. The valuable information provided by the participant, proved the fact again that it is wrong to write Akarkara as weed or waste plant. After coming back, now I am planning to inform the traditional healers of Chhattisgarh specialized in treatment of Lakwa, about this new information. Alsi (Linseed) is popular oil seed crop in Chhattisgarh.

The traditional medicinal knowledge about this herb in Chhattisgarh is enough to establish it as promising medicinal crop. In this training workshop, it got information on one more unique use of Alsi herb. According to the natives, the fumes of burning Alsi oil is beneficial for the patients having the problem of hysteria. Every time when I visit to different parts of Chhattisgarh to give talks on herbal cultivation, I get new information and chances of interaction with the common persons. Although the organizers of these training workshops pay me for the talks but in fact many times, I return the honorarium to them saying, I got more information from them. Although externally it is very hard to judge once rich traditional knowledge but I have observed that after simple discussion, one can get enough information from common person. It is very difficult for me to document all this knowledge in one single life. When I discuss on Herbal Cigarettes in training workshops, the participants took keen interest. One of the participants in Dhamtari camp informed that there is a possibility of preparing Herbal Cigarette with the help of inflorescence of Chirchita. He informed that he is suffering from chronic asthma, and whenever he gets severe attack, he put the dried inflorescence in fire and inhales the fumes. According to him, he got this information from unknown herb vendor visited his village 40 years ago. He is satisfied with it and using it since very long time. I assured him that I will forward this information to concerned traditional healers and also thanked him for sharing this valuable knowledge. Chirchita is common wasteland herb. Inspired by this participant, many natives informed that the ash collected after burning Chirchita (Achyranthes aspera) roots is a boon for the issueless couples. The healers of Chhattisgarh are already aware of this use and they are using it successfully. The traditional healers of Dhamtari region informed that in treatment of Pelea (Jaundice) they use the juice of Anar seeds (Pomegranate) in specific ways.The juice is extracted and kept in iron vessel under sky whole night. It is done in full moon night. Next day sugar is added in the juice for taste and given to the patients. This is not used as main treatment. It is supplement treatment with main treatment. When I discussed about the common herbs useful in treatment of fever, and specific use of Chirchita roots in management of fever, the participants got surprised. They got more surprised after knowing the fact that these uses are developed by the traditional healers of their own state. I am feeling proud to play the role of Honey bee to disseminate the knowledge from one person to another. Many participants informed that like the roots of Chirchita, one can use the roots of Aam (Mangifera indica) externally during fever, to get rid from it.

This was new information for me. I have noted it carefully and now wishing to test its efficacy. This is also not mentioned in reference literatures related to different systems of medicine in India. Many parts of Dhamtari are covered with dense forests. In these forests, Gunja or Gomchi (Abrus precatorius) is a valuable and natural occurring herb. The paddy growers living in these forest areas informed me that after exhaustive work in paddy field to get rid from body ache, they prepare special herbal oil by mixing the fresh root juice of Gunja herb in Til oil and massage the oil in whole body gently. When I discussed the use of Chuimui (Mimosa pudica) herb to make the flow of urine free, the traditional healers attending the training workshop replied that the roots of common aquatic herb Kamal (Lotus) can be used in same manner. They informed that the roots and Til seeds are mixed in equal quantity and with the help of fresh cow urine, a solution is prepared. After filtration, the patients are advised to take the solution internally. According to the healers, one dose is enough to cure the problem of urine retention. The urine of black coloured indigenous cow is preferred. Many of the above mentioned uses have not been reported in reference literatures. The confidence of natives and healers regarding its promising uses is enough to prove the fact that the traditional knowledge about common herbs is rich. And also it indicates that still most of the parts of this knowledge are undocumented. After partial document, through my surveys, I am expecting young researchers to take the responsibility of next steps so that this traditional knowledge can be used for the world community well in time.

Thank you very much for reading the article.