Traditional medicinal knowledge about common herbs used as home remedies in treatment of Stomachache in Chhattisgarh, India

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

Through recently conducted ethnobotanical surveys in different parts of Chhattisgarh among the natives. I have collected a lot of information on use of common herbs as home remedies in treatment of stomach. In this article, I am giving the details. As home remedies, the use of common herbs Nimbu, Lason, Methi, Saunf, Hing, Zeera, Dhania, Pudina, Ajwain, Adrak and Fudhar are very common. All these herbs are easily available and the natives aware of its medicinal properties and uses, plant it in home gardens for its use in urgency. In treatment of Stomach ache due to Dyspepsia to the natives use Nimbu (Lemon) Juice commonly. They mix the juice in a cup of lukewarm water and with sugar and salt take it. According to them, this simple use cures the trouble many times. I have mentioned in previous articles that the natives prepare special chutney using Lason (Garlic) bulb and use it for taste and also in treatment of many common troubles. The natives use it in treatment of stomachache also. Externally, the Lason bulb juice is applied around the umbilicus for the same purpose. The natives take half teaspoonful of Lason juice, and equal quantities of cow ghee and Namak (salt) are added. This combination is applied externally whereas at the same time, patients are advised to use Lason Chutney. The natives take 100 gms of Methi seeds (Fenugreek) and roast it slightly. The roasted seeds are converted into powder and one fourth (i.e. 25 gms) of Black salt is added. Two teaspoonful of this mixture is taken twice a day with lukewarm water in treatment of stomachache till complete relief. This mixture is also used for joint pains, lumbago and other rheumatic pains. This mixture is very popular among the natives. The natives of Chhattisgarh also use the roasted seeds of Saunf (Fennel) of this purpose. Hing (Asafoetida) powder is used as home remedy for both internally as well as externally. Internally the natives prepare a small globules using Hing powder and give to the patients having the problem of stomachache with lukewarm water. Externally , the aqueous paste is applied on painful parts. The natives use many Hing based herbal formulations available in form of patented drugs in the markets. The natives having the problem of stomach disorder, use Zeera (Cumin) water daily. They add a teaspoonful of Zeera in fair to five litres water and prepare a decoction. The decoction is used daily till complete cure. Its long term use is considered as one of the promising treatments. This traditional use is popular in other parts of India also. I have written a lot on use of Pudina (Mentha) in treatment of stomachache in previous articles. During recent surveys, I got information on new combination. The natives of Chhattisgarh Plains, use the Pudina herb in combination of Saunf. The herb is dried and converted into powder. Saunf is also converted into powder. Both powders are mixed in equal proportion and taken with lukewarm water in treatment of stomachache.

The popularity of above mentioned home remedies among the natives of Chhattisgarh is enough to prove its utility. As the information is not available in compiled format, the natives of one part of Chhattisgarh are not getting the advantage of the traditional knowledge of other parts of the state. I am expecting that the on-going documentation work will be of great use to solve this problem.

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