Traditional medicinal knowledge about herbs and insects : One night with local herb collector of Pendra, Chhattisgarh, India

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

The natural forests of Pendra are rich in Bach (Acorus calamus). I have observed rich isolated patches of Bach in different parts of these forests. I frequently visit to this region with my clients interested in wild collection of herbs. For natural treasure of Tikhur and Dikamali, Pendra is a rich area. As you know, in our state mosquito is among big problems. In many parts of Chhattisgarh, Dikamali is used to prepare mosquito repellent sticks. Dikamoli tree can be identified simply with its typical small. I have observed very dense population of this tree on way to Pendra. In English it is known as Canbi resin tree.

The scientific name of Dikamali is Gardenia lucida Roxb. (family Rubiacene). In Indian system of medicine, it’s gum is used as medicine. The gum is hard, opaque in appearance, greenish yellow in colour and have typical repulsive odour. Few months back, a teacher from Nagri-Sihawa region of Chhattisgarh met me with proposal of establishing a small-scale industry for making mosquito and fly repe llent incense stick. He showed some sample sticks. I have found these sticks very effective. He is using Dikamali and Boswelia gum as main ingredients. As collection and marketing of Boswelia gum is banned in our state by forest department, I suggested him to search alternative of this gum. We are in process of developing new formula.

With my friends I am also trying to develop herbal mosquito repellent using common weeds. Use of weeds as raw material is saving the cost of raw material. During January-February months of this year, I visited to Pendra forests in search of Tikhur uring frequently visit to forests in search of herbs. He lives in Pendra. With the permission of my client, I decided to stay with this herb collector whole night. We decided to talk and share our experiences about common herbs. Next morning we have to start our journey to nearby Amarkantak hills in search of new herbs. During the stay with this herb collector I have gathered a lot of information on Traditional medicinal knowledge about common herbs and many unique formulas. Also I have also given to him a treasure of my knowledge gathered from different traditional healers of Chhattisgarh and other state.I have observed that the most of the traditional healers and local herb collectors prefer two topics for discussion. The first topic is Ghost, their interactions and meetings with this creature (I have yet not met them) and second sex related diseases and their expertise in this field.

During my surveys I have found that among tribal communities there are very less patients suffering from sex related diseases and I have always found very few tribal asking the traditional healers about the potential and powerful sexual drugs. The urban people approach to traditional healers mostly for their secret formulas to increase the sexual power. The traditional healers very frequently complaint me about the senseless questions of urban people. I have talked thoroughly to many traditional healers specialised in sexual disorders. They advise their patients to adopt normal life. In tribal culture, I have noted that there are many herbs given to persons of different age without explaining its effect. It is present in the ir culture. Many potherbs, even the stick of tree from which the toothbrushes (Daton) are prepared, possess great sexual potential. Use of these herbs according to culture, helps the tribal to enjoy this gift of god perfectly but modern life style of urban people have created a problem for them. This is the reason the urban people are having this problem to a greater extent. In internet also, I have noted on hair, skin and sex.

You will find more information on Traditional knowledge about herbs used in order to increase the sexual desire and to treat sex related diseases in my next articles. At present, we are discussing my stay with local herb collector of Pendra. We have started our talk from this burning topic. In order to increase the sexual power he has given me many formulas. In these formulas, I have noted the repeated names of Safed Moosli (Chlorophytum borivilianum), Black Kevatch (Mucuna pruriens), Patal Kumhada (Pueraria tuberosa), Satavar (Asparagus racemosus), Asgandh (Withania somnifera) etc. The medicinal potential of these herbs is already well described in available literatures. In order to get more unique and secret formula, I have disclosed the use of Mucuna roots and Trombidium mite for this purpose. After long discussion, I have noted some formula and after coming back, I searched the reference literature but not got the references. According to this herb collector, during rainy season a special type of Kai (Lichen) appear on the rocks, which smell like rotten egg, is very useful in increasing the sexual desire.

There is a special method for its use as medicine. It is collected early morning (why only at early morning, he is unable to explain), and dried in shade, after partial drying it is burn and ash in kept for use round the year. It is applied or used both externally and internally. Externally it is applied in form of paste with water on male genitals one hour prior to intercourse. According to him, it increases the power and duration. For regular use, the winter season is best. According to him, it can harm if used during hot summer days. There months regular use during each winter can make you enough powerful for one year. Later when I disclosed this formula to one of my Guru at Amarkantak hills, he smiled and said he have some more herbs to make this formula further strong . According to him, the roots of Kala Dhatura (Black Datura) increases the efficacy of this formula. The roots a lkaloid content is high) as per the instruction of his Guru and dried roots are put on fire and ash is used for medicine. The specific Lichen is used both externally and internally but with Dhatura roots it is used only externally. Only five percent Dhatura root is sufficient to increase its potency.

When I asked my Guru that what are the other herbs He smiled and replied that at first you try this formula, after that he will disclose the other herbs. As internal dose, the herb collector of Pendra warned me that before its use please consult your herb expert, he will inform you what does is suitable for you. He use five pinch of this with lukewarm water. During my visit to Oodlabari region of West Bengal, India, my local guide has also informed me about the use of common lichen of that area as stypic in order to stop the bleeding from wounds and to encourage the fast and quick healing. At that time, I smelled the lichen but in smell it was entirely different from lichen of Pendra and nearby area. In Amark antak hills, famous for valuable herbs, this lichen is not noted. My Guru told me that he instruct his followers and students to collect this valuable gift of mother nature during rainy season from Pendra region. I have collected some samples and sent it for identification. I think that there is a need for scientific investigation. In my village, one of natives have informed me that the Kai found on old ponds are useful in case of stomach disorder.

These information have motivated me to conduct a detailed surveys focused on different species of Kai (Lichen) in Chhattisgarh and traditional medicinal knowledge about these species. The herb collector of Pendra informed that there is some positive relationship between the tree of Doomar and this Kai. Doomar is a common tree occur in Chhattisgarh.. Its scientific name is Ficus glomerata (a relative of Pipal). According to him, he has observed the higher density of this Kai where the population of Doomar is high. This observation also needs scientific attention. I suggestion for him. Please try to apply the juice of this kai on Doomar and vice-versa. If the observation of herb collector is true, you will definitely find some encouraging result. From my fellow researchers and friends, I have heard that earlier the forests of Pendra and Amarkantak were the rich sources of Ganoderma mushrooms (Rieshi mushroom). Only after its complete exploitation by the exporter of the capital Delhi, the scientific community got information. Now you can observe it very rarely.

One of my favourite teachers during my student life at Agriculture College, Raipur, Dr. M.P. Thakur is at present working on different mushroom species of Chhattisgarh. There is a strong need to popularize and conserve the use of this potential Kai after scientific evaluation. In order to increase the size of male genitals ( most frequently asked questions on internet), the herb collector of Pendra informed me about many combinations. I have noted that the earthworm is among most repeatedly used component. He has informed me about both external and internal use of earthworm for this purpose. In most of the cases earthworm is killed, dried and powder with cow’s milk is used both for external and internal application. When I disclosed this use to other traditional healers, they said yes it is effective, but its efficacy varies from patient to patient. This is the reason the duration of treatment is different for every patient. The traditional healers informed me that very few people approach to them for this problem. When I informed them that on internet this is a burning question, they were surprised and laughed.

A traditional healer of Amarkantak town informed me that use of Kaiphal is also one of the best remedies. He has given me some extra large seeds of this herb and advi sed me to use it externally with buffalo’s milk (why not cow’s or goat’s milk, he is unable to explain). Kaiphal (Myrica esculenta) is an exotic tree native to China and Japan. I have never seen its tree in my state. The traditional healer collected or purchased these seeds from Delhi market. As my studies and surveys are focused on native flora of Chhattisgarh, I have not given more attention on use of Kaiphal seeds. I was aware that the earthworm’s are farmer’s friend but my surveys told me that it is a very useful creature and a good friend of herbalists also.

As you know, being herb expert I am guiding many of herb growers of state in commercial and organic farming of herbs. In organic farming vermicompost is a vital tool. Vermicompost is prepared with the help of earthworms (in order to hasten the process of composting). As the indigenous earthworms are thin in appearance and less in efficiency, we decided to use these Italian earthworms. The results were encouraging. During this experiment, an idea came to my mind and I decided to give some exotic earthworms to the traditional healers to evaluate its efficacy as medicine.

They were surprised to see the size of these earthworms. Within a month, I got the results. But the results were ne gative. They informed that the use of exotic species increases the quantity of drug but from quality point of view, it is very inferior of the indigenous species. Some of them told that the taste of exotic species is excellent and they were ready to use the mixture of both species (indigenous as main component) but as the cost of exotic species was very high, they refused to use it for their patients. The herb collector of Pendra told me that the crab is very useful for the treatment of many acute and chronic respiratory system disorders.

According to him, he has saved many patients using crab as medicine from last (?) stage of disease . He has no information about the different species of crab found in Chhattisgarh. According to him all species are having same medicinal potential. Also there is no specific method or time for collection of crab as medicine. I have shared my experience about common wasteland weed Blumea lacera in case of respiratory disorder and convinced him to conduct a small experiment by u io.

Thanks a lot for reading my this article patiently. In Chhattisgarh, a lot of information on herbs, insects, mites etc are available. I think I have to take at least ten more births, to document a part of this traditional knowledge. The documentation is a very little step. I am sure my these findings will be great use for the world community and very soon the world community will be able to develop new promising drugs based on these valuable knowledge.