Nariyal (Cocos nucifera) as medicinal herb in Chhattisgarh, India

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

The climatic and edaphic factors of Southern Chhattisgarh are suitable for commercial cultivation of Nariyal. The state authorities are promoting its cultivation in this part. Although the climate of Chhattisgarh Plains, where I live, is not considered suitable from production point of view, but you will find this tree in many homes.

It is common belief in Chhattisgarh that presence of this tree in home gardens at specific direction brings prosperity and happiness. My neighbour has planted Nariyal tree. The growth is vigorous but fruiting is very less. Every year when in summer due to high wind, it causes damage to electricity line, the staff members of electricity department come and trim this tree, and as bonus never miss to steal the fruits, then I question him why donot you remove this herb from home garden? He simply reply that he is not interested in fruits. As the tree is present in home garden, it is a matter of great satisfaction. 'It will bring the prosperity' - he adds. Although Nariyal tree is not as common as other trees in Chhattisgarh, but the natives use the fruits and other parts of tree in various religious ceremonies and also in food preparations.

For the neighboring states, Chhattisgarh is a potential market for Nariyal plant parts. The traditional healers of Chhattisgarh are well aware of its medicinal properties and uses but it is one of the less frequently used herbs. The reference literatures related to different systems of medicine in India are full of information about its various medicinal uses. In present article, I am not giving the such details. Through ethnobotanical surveys conducted in different parts of Chhattisgarh, India, I have noted some rare uses of Nariyal. I am giving these details in this article, but at first I am describing its botany and reported medicinal uses. According to the reference literatures, Nariyal is a straight unbranched stately growing palm having height upto 25 meters, with a cylindrical annulated stem bearing a crown of large leaves; Leaves pinnate, leaflets equidistant, narrow and tapering; Inflorescence Spadix with a hard oblong longitudinally splitting spathe enclosing many yellow or orange male flowers and few female flowers; Fruits trigonously obovoid or subglobose green or yellowish fibrous drupes; seed one, oval or spherical with a hard endocarp and oily white endosystem and sweet milky or watery fluid in the large cavity. All parts of Nariyal are used as medicine. Nariyal holds a reputed position as medicinal herbs in different systems of medicine in India.

According to Ayurveda, its root is anthelmintic whereas seed is cooling, oleaginous, indigestible, fattening, tonic, laxative, aphrodisiac, cardiotonic and useful in treatment of leprosy, thirst, biliousness, blood diseases, burning sensation, tuberculosis etc. Flower is cooling and useful in diabetes, dysentery, urinary discharges, constipation etc. Dried seeds improve taste. Milk is cooling, appetizer, aphrodisiac, and laxative. It is used in treatment of biliousness, bronchitis, tumours, etc. Nariyal oil is indigestible, fattening and useful in urinary complaints, asthma, bronchitis, asthma, consumption, ulcers etc. According to Unani system of medicine bark is good for teeth and scabies whereas seed is sweet, aphrodisiac, diuretic and useful in treatment of fever, paralysis, liver complaints, piles etc. It enriches blood. Its oil is sweet, tonic, diuretic and useful in lumbar-pain, piles and scabies. The traditional healers of Chhattisgarh use, the coir as medicine frequently, besides other parts. In treatment of hiccup, the dry coir is burnt and ash is collected. The patients are advised to mix few pinches of ash in Shahad (Honey) and take it internally till complete cure. The powdered coir mixed with Sarson Tel (Mustard oil) is applied externally in treatment of eczema. It is considered as one of the promising treatments. The traditional healers of Bastar region use the coir ash in combination with Gud (Jaggery) in treatment of Metrorrhigia. Ash and Gud are mixed in equal proportion and stored for future use. The patients are advised to take one teaspoonful of combination daily morning empty stomach till complete cure. It stops the excessive bleeding immediately. The traditional healers of Nagri-Sihawa region, boil the coir in water and give it to the patients having fever. This water helps in reducing the thirst and also lower down the high temperature.

In many parts of Chhattisgarh the healers use, the coir ash as herbal tooth powder in treatment of teeth and gum related troubles. For traditional medicinal uses of other plants, I suggest you to read previous article. Aware of unique medicinal uses of Nariyal fruit juice (Nariyal Pani), we natives want to consume it in bulk daily, but unfortunately in Plains, we get poor quality fruits from neighboring states. If it is supplied in proper way, then natives will leave the habit of soft synthesize soft drinks, that are becoming popular among youths.

Thank you very much for reading the article.