Traditional medicinal knowledge about common herbs used in treatment of Dog bites in Chhattisgarh, India

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

As rainy season starts in Chhattisgarh, the cases of dog bites by street dogs increase suddenly at alarming rates. In urban areas now it is becoming a common problem. The news at local papers yesterday motivated me to collect all the information from my field diaries and to write a separate article on traditional medicinal knowledge about common herbs used in treatment of dog bites. The traditional healers of almost all parts of Chhattisgarh have rich traditional knowledge about these herbs. They avoid any delay in treatment and take special care of patients. They are aware that any delay in treatment can result in harmful consequences. With the help of both internal and external treatment through herbs they get success in majority of the cases. This is the reason that in forest and rural areas prefer traditional treatment. In general, the healers prevents the healing of wound upto at least one month. They apply many herbal pastes externally and patients are advised to avoid exposure in cold winds. In present article, I am giving the details of traditional uses common in different parts of Chhattisgarh, India. In previous articles, I have already mentioned some uses. The traditional healers of Chhattisgarh use common wasteland herb Satyanashi in treatment. The whole herb is used internally. The healers prepare a herbal combination by mixing Satyanashi with Kali Mirch (Piper nigrum) and give this mixture with Mattha (whey). The patients are advised to take this combination at least 5-7 times in a day. The healers recommend its long term use. They instruct the patients to avoid the use of spicy food during the treatment period. The healers of different parts mix Satyanashi and Kali Mirch in different proportion. In general, they take 15 gms of whole herb and mix with 7 fruits of Kali Mirch. As I always write, the healers do not have measuring equipments and from experience they are aware of accurate quantities to be taken for combination. I got this figure when I weighed it in my laboratory. The herb collected before flowering is used. The scientific name of Satyanashi is Argemone mexicana. It is not native to India but the natives and traditional healers are well aware of its different medicinal uses and properties. For its botany and reported medicinal uses, I suggest you to read previous articles. In wounds, the traditional healers of Chhattisgarh Plains apply the fresh latex of Fudhar (Calotropis gigantea). During cropping season, as first aid measure, the natives of this region apply the fresh juice of Mooli (Radish) leaves in wounds. The traditional healers of Bhopalpatnam region specialized in treatment of dog bites also keep the ash of Hadjod stem (Cissus quadrangularis) with them. The ash mixed with Sirka (Vinegar) is applied externally on wounds. This use is considered as one of the promising remedies in this trouble. The traditional healers of Bastar region are also aware of this use. The healers of Bagbahera region use the bark of common tree Hingot in treatment. The bark powder is given internally with whey. Before this powder, the patients are instructed to eat Gud (Jaggery). The scientific name of Hingot is Balanites aegyptica (syn. B. roxburghii). To nullify the effect of poison, the traditional healers of Southern Chhattisgarh use the root extract of Bakain (Melia azedarach). According to the healers, due to effect of poison the taste of root extract seems sweet, but when the patients got rid from poison, they can feel the real bitter taste of its root extract. By this simple method, the healers test the effect of dog poison. The healers of Chhattisgarh use Kuchla herb (Strychnos nuxvomica) in treatment of dog poison commonly. The healers use it in different ways. The traditional healers of Bastar region, suggest the patients of roast the Kuchla seeds and consume it daily in little doses. The healers of Chhattisgarh Plains, suggest the patients to boil the Kuchla in human urine and apply the paste on wounds. The healers also suggest to use alcoholic drinks prepared from indigenous herbs in place of human urine. Kuchla is an important medicinal herb in Chhattisgarh. As first aid measure, the natives of Bilaspur region, use the juice of Piaz (Allium cepa) with Shahad (Honey) externally. The healers of Sarguja region use the flowers of Kathal (Jackfruit) in treatment. They take half kg. Of fresh flowers and boil it in 3 litres of water. When one third quantity of water (of initial quantity) remains, the boiling is stopped. The decoction is given with common salt (Namak) to the patients. The above mentioned traditional medicinal uses clearly reveal that the traditional healers of Chhattisgarh have rich traditional knowledge about common herbs used for this purpose. I am feeling proud to write that this article is the first written document on these traditional uses. I will write more on this aspect in my future articles.

Thank you very much for reading the article.