Traditional medicinal knowledge about common herbs and herbal combinations used as Memory tonic for old patients in Chhattisgarh, India

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

I am not sure whether the memory tonics for old patients recommended by the traditional healers of Chhattisgarh, are also useful for common person or not ? But the old patients taking these herbal combinations are satisfied with the recommendations. Through the ethnobotanical surveys conducted in different parts of Chhattisgarh, I have collected limited but useful information on this aspect. The traditional healers of Pendra region use Bach roots (Acorus sp.) for this purpose. I have mentioned in previous articles that two species of Bach grow naturally in this part of Chhattisgarh. As memory tonic for common person, the healers prefer the use of Acorus calamus whereas for old patients they use Acorus gramineus. The roots are boiled in sugar solution and sweet dish is prepared. The patients are advised to take this sweet dish in little doses every morning. The traditional healers of other parts of Chhattisgarh are also aware of this use but due to non-availability of Acorus gramineus in other parts, they use Acorus calamus for this purpose. The traditional healer of Mudpar village prepare a special herbal combination for old patients. In this combination, he adds Harra fruit (Terminalia chebula), Bahera (Terminalia bellirica) bark, Aonla (Phyllanthus emblica) fruits, Jatamansi (Nardostachys jatamansi) NagarMotha (Cyperus rotundus) nuts, Kali Mirch (Piper nigrum) and Kali Haldi (Curcuma caesia) in equal proportion. With the help of Shahad (Honey), he prepares sweet herbal solution. The patients are advised to take this solution daily morning empty stomach. According to him, this preparation can be used round the year but he prefers its use in winter season. When I disclosed this preparation to the traditional healers of Narharpur region, they replied that the formulation is incomplete. They add few drops of Bhelwa (Semecarpus anacardium) oil in this formulation, before adding the Honey. The traditional healers of Bastar region objected on use of Kali Haldi. According to them, one must use Ama Haldi (Curcuma amada) in place of Kali Haldi. As all the healers are not passed out from same institution and also they have no communication among them, these variations are common in popular herbal combinations. Every healer have his own explanation for the use of specific herb. When I informed the traditional healer of Mudpar village about the comments, I received from Narharpur and Bastar, he replied that Bhelwa oil is not added because it is not suitable for every one. It is allergic to many patients and as we are using the formulation for old patients, we have to be very careful. On the use of Curcuma amada, his response was that he is aware of this use but Curcuma caesia is more effective as compared to Curcuma amada for this purpose. When during next visit, I met the healers of Narharpur region, using Bhelwa oil in this formulation and informed them about the comments. They replied that the herbs present in formulation are enough to nullify the effect of Bhelwa oil and if you are not using the Bhelwa oil, there is no need to add so many herbs. I am expecting more outcomes from next visits. Although it is very difficult to act as bridge among thee healers but I feel it is very essential for the documentation in true sense. You can simply imagine, that I have collected information on hundreds of herbs and herbal formulations. And to gather the comments on these formulations from the healers of different parts is a big task and requires lot of patience. The traditional healers of Chhattisgarh use Kullu Gond (Kullu Gum) obtained from Sterculia urens in herbal formulations used as Memory tonic. The traditional healers of Bhopalpatnam region, prepare a herbal combination by mixing Kullu Gond, Nagarmotha nuts and Sonth (Dried Ginger) in equal proportion. All herbs are converted into powder. The old patients are advised to take this powder daily upto a week as medicine. The healers decide the quantity on the basis of the patients vitality. The traditional healers of Chhattisgarh Plains use the common medicinal herb Bramhadandi (Tricholepis glaberrima)for this purpose. The whole herb is collected and washed thoroughly in running water. After washing, it is dried in shade. After drying it is converted into powder. The patients are advised to take a teaspoonful of powder with cow milk upto a month. It is considered as promising memory tonic for old patients. The healers instruct the patients to not to drink more water during the period of its intake. The traditional healers of Bagbahera region, use the Kullu Gond alone for this purpose. They dip a piece of Gum in water over night and next day, give the leachate to the patients. It is used as supplement to main treatment. The traditional healers of Nagri-Sihawa region suggest the patients to take Bhelwa fruit in small doses daily to get rid from this problem.
The traditional healers using above mentioned herbs and herbal combinations are satisfied with the results. According to them, they are using it since generations without any modification. As all herbs used in these formulations are commonly available, the healers have not to invest much for preparation of formulations.

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