Some less known traditional medicinal uses of common herbs used in treatment of Safed Daag (Leucoderma) in Chhattisgarh, India

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

In general, the traditional healers of Chhattisgarh specialized in treatment of Leucoderma instruct the patients to avoid the use of Baigan (Brinjal) as vegetable. According to them, its intake increases the intensity of trouble. You will be surprised to know that although its internal use is restricted but the traditional healers use the special oil prepared from Baigan fruits in treatment of Leucoderma externally. They collect the fresh fruit, boil it in water and collect the extract. This extract is further boiled in base oil. When all water contents evaporate, the oil is collected. This herbal oil is considered as a boon for the patients having the problem of Leucoderma. I have seen its practical uses many times and also got opportunity to interact with the patients. According to them, this herbal oil acts fastly and fade up the spots in very less time. Baigan is one of the very popular vegetable crops in Chhattisgarh. According to the traditional healers, the use of Baigan as vegetable is responsible for many health problems but unfortunately the natives are not much aware of this fact. The traditional healers of Chhattisgarh Plains, frequently use Karayal seeds in treatment. The seeds are mixed in Sirka (Vinegar) and an aqueous paste is applied. The patients are advised to expose the spots in sunlight after the application of this paste. To make this paste more powerful the healers add many more herbs including Bemchi (Psoralea corylifolia), Dhatra (Datura stramonium) seeds and yellow old leaves of Fudhar (Calotropis gigantea). Based on intensity of problem, the healers add these herbs in different proportions. Karayal is under cultivation in Chhattisgarh whereas Bemchi, Dhatra and Fudhar are common medicinal weeds that grow in wastelands. The traditional healers of Bastar region use Peng seeds in treatment. The seeds are dipped in cow urine upto a month and after this duration seeds are washed and oil is extracted. This oil is used externally. This use is very popular among the healers. The scientific name of Peng is Celastrus paniculatus and it is one of the well known non-wood forest produces of Chhattisgarh having good demand in national and international drug markets. The traditional healers of Sirsa (Albizia lebbeck) tree rich areas of Chhattisgarh use the seed oil of Sirsa in treatment of Leucoderma. The healers advise the patients to apply the seed oil on spots and massage it gently. In my previous articles, I have written a lot on use of Bemchi both internally and externally in treatment of Leucoderma. The traditional healers of Chhattisgarh have in depth traditional knowledge on this aspect. The healers of Southern Chhattisgarh use Bemchi in combination with Imli (Tamarind) seeds. I was not aware of this use earlier. The seeds of both herbs are crushed and converted into powder. After making powder, both are mixed in equal proportion. This combination is applied externally on the white spots. According to the healers, within a week the change in colour starts. To make this combination more strong, the healers add the root powder of Doomar (Ficus glomerata) in this combination. From the traditional healers of Bhopalpatnam region, I got the information on use if different types of Haldi in treatment. The healers mix Haldi (Curcuma longa), Kali Haldi (Curcuma caesia), Ama Haldi (Curcuma amada) and seeds of Charota (Cassia tora) in equal proportion and after adding water, prepare an aqueous paste. This paste is applied in same manner. The healers informed me that unlike other combinations, this combination produces no irritation on skin and this is the reason it is more popular among the healers. As Kali Haldi is rare herb, many healers delete it from the formulations but most of the healers consider the formulation incomplete without this important herb. The traditional healers use the Kobra snake with common herbs to prepare a special solution. I have seen practically the process of preparation of solution. The snake is killed and cut in its length. The healers fill the leaves of Sarphonk (Tephrosia purpurea) and seeds of Charota (Cassia tora) in this cut. After filling the herbs, the cut is sewed. After this process, the body of snake is burnt on fire. Within very short time, the liquid oozes out from the body. This liquid is collected and stored for future use. This liquid is applied externally on spots. It is considered as one of the promising remedies in treatment of Leucoderma. I have yet not seen this use in other parts of Chhattisgarh. Many of the above mentioned traditional uses have not been reported in reference literatures. I am proud to write about the unique traditional medicinal knowledge our healers are having

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