Traditional medicinal knowledge about common herbs and herbal formulations used in treatment of Lice and Dandruff : The results of recently conducted ethnobotanical surveys in Chhattisgarh, India

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

The traditional healers of Tendu (Diospyros melanoxylon) tree rich areas of Chhattisgarh use the bark of Tendu externally to kill the lice. The healers use the bark in different ways. The most popular way is its use with cow urine. The healers collect the bark and dry it in shade. After drying it is converted into fine powder and stored for future use. When the natives having the problem of lice approach the healers, they give powder to them and suggest them to prepare an aqueous paste by mixing bark powder in cow urine and apply it on hairs, specially at the roots of hairs. After drying, they are instructed to wash the hairs with well water. Many healers prefer the decoction of Tendu bark. The bark is boiled in water and when decoction is prepared, the patients are advised to use it externally. The healers avoid the use of stored decoction. They are also not in favour of using same decoction by warming it again and again. As it is difficult to get fresh bark and to prepare decoction daily, the natives living in urban areas aware of its uses, do not use it. Its use is popular in Tendu rich areas where availability of fresh bark is not a problem. The natives of Bastar region use the fresh fruit pulp of Mainphal for this purpose.

The scientific name of Mainphal is Randia dumetorum. The natives of Chhattisgarh Plains use the seeds of Sitaphal in control of lice externally. The seeds are collected and crushed into powder. The powder is mixed in water and hairs are washed with it. The natives use it with special care because the powder is injurious to eyes. Knowing this harmful effect, the natives use this powder less frequently. The scientific name of Sitaphal is annona squamosa. Sitaphal is well known fruit tree in Chhattisgarh. The natives also use another fruit tree Anar (Pomegranate) in same manner. The fruit rind is used for this purpose. The decoction is prepared by boiling dry fruit rind in water and hairs are washed. Like the seed powder of Sitaphal, the natives also take special precaution while using this decoction. Its accidental entry into the eyes is avoided. The traditional healers of Chhattisgarh Plains are also aware of this use, they suggest the natives to use aqueous extract of fruit rind in place of decoction for safe use. According to them, the fresh water extract is less effective as compared to the decoction, but by increasing the time of application one can get desirable effect from this extract also. In my previous articles, I have mentioned the traditional uses of Piaz (Onion) bulb juice as hair growth promoter.

During recent ethnobotanical surveys, I got information on its use in treatment of Lice also. The juice is applied on hairs and after ten minutes of application, it is washed with the help of water. Due to specific odd smell of Piaz juice, this use is less popular. Like the juice of Piaz, the natives use the juice of Mooli (Radish) in same way. In treatment of dandruff, known as Rusi or Khuski locally, the natives of Chhattisgarh use Methi herb in different ways. The seeds and leaves are used externally. They add one teaspoonful of powdered Methi seeds in half cup of curd and applied on hairs. 15 minutes after the application, hairs are washed with water. In general, the natives use it thrice in a week. It is considered as one of the promising treatments. The natives of many parts of Chhattisgarh, use the juice of fresh leaves of Methi in treatment of dandruff. Many natives use cow milk in place of curd in previously mentioned combination. The scientific name of Methi is Trigonella foenum-graecum. Although Jatamansi is not native to Chhattisgarh but the traditional healers of Bilaspur region use the whole herb in form of herbal oil, in treatment of dandruff. Like other herbal oils, the herb is boiled in base oil and when all water contents evaporate, oil is collected and used externally. The traditional healers purchase this herb from local herb shops. As the name of Jatamansi is coming for the first time in my articles, I am describing its botany in brief. According to reference literatures, it is a dwarf herbaceous plant with a long hairy tap root; Stems perennial, very short, simply divided into a number of shaggy scaly crowns from which the leaves proceed; Branches erect, a few inches high, downy; Leaves obovate-lanceolate, three ribbed, downy; Flowers pale pink, clustered in the axils of the upper leaves, which form a kind of involucre to them. Most of the above mentioned traditional uses have not been reported in reference literatures. As the problem of both lice and dandruff is increasing around the world, I am expecting that the rich traditional knowledge present in this part of the earth will be of great help for the sufferers present in other parts.

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