Traditional medicinal knowledge about common herbs used to prepare herbal tooth brushes Dataun (Daton) in Chhattisgarh, India

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

Dataun can be simply defined as twigs or new soft branchlets of herbs used to clean the mouth. Although most parts of the Chhattisgarh are under the impact of multinational companies selling varieties of chemical and herbal toothpastes, but still there are places where the natives use Datuan to brush and clean the mouth. It is bitter fact that as the use of modern toothpaste and tooth powder is increasing the number of patients suffering from dental troubles is also increasing .In rural and forest areas of Chhattisgarh, it is hard for the natives to believe the fact that in urban area common people loose majority of their earnings in so called modern clinics. The fashion of root canal surgery (very costly for normal Indian) is increasing very dangerously in urban areas. You will be surprised to know the old generation having roots at villages and living in modern society is still using Dataun to clean the mouth before using the modern toothpaste and tooth powders. The natives and traditional healers of Chhattisgarh have rich traditional medicinal knowledge about common herbs used to prepare Dataun. Although the Datauns prepared from Neem and Babool are most popular but in Chhattisgarh over 55 species of herbs are used to prepare Dataun. According to the traditional healers of Chhattisgarh, the role of Dataun is not limited to just clean the mouth but it has deep effect on general health. There are specific herbs used to prepare Dataun for specific purposes, and on special occasions. Before explaining the details about different herbs and specific Dataun, I am describing how the Datauns are prepared and used. The twig or soft branchlets are cut and chewed from one side till it takes the shape of brush. During the process of chewing, there is complete exercise of jaws and the fresh juice of twig or branchlet spread all over the mouth. After the process of brush making, this brush is used to clean the teeth (just like plastic tooth brushes). After this, the twig is splitted vertically and each part is folded in U shape and then Chiri is prepared. This U shaped Chiri is used to clean the tongue. After Chiri, the whole process ends. In general, the natives perform this process twice a day, (First at morning and second at night before sleep; just like us). The twig or new soft branchlets used for this process is known as Datoun or Datun in Chhattisgarh. In urban areas, people fond of both Dataun and modern toothpastes, prefer to use the brush prepared by chewing the twigs in place of plastic toothbrushes and with the help of this herbal brush the toothpaste is used on teeth. The status of its popularity can be easily understood by example of my family. My father still uses only Dataun and he is having no dental troubles. I use fifty-fifty means partly Datuan and partly toothpaste, my teeth are facing some problems. And my nephew use only toothpaste, he says that there is no alternative to yummy sweet toothpaste. Next month we are preparing for his first dental surgery. Use of Dataun is popular and in use in all over India particularly in the rural areas. As mentioned earlier, Neem and Babool Dataun are most popular, you can get the fans of these Datauns in metros like Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata.In Chhattisgarh, the collection of twigs to sell it as Dataun is a source of income for rural people. Daily hundreds of natives particularly the rural youths collect the Dataun, cut it in uniform size and sell it to nearby cities at very good rates. As the Datauns are common and easily available in villages, there is no demand in village markets.

Common and popular names of Parsa (Butea monosperma) around the world.
Languages/Regions/Countries	Names
1) Assam	Polah, Polak
2) Bengal	Kinaka, Palas, Polashi
3) Myanmar	Banban, Pauk, Pauk-pin, Pouk
4) Kanarese	Brahmavriksha, Muttaga, Muttala, Muttuga
5) English	Bastard Teak, Flame of the Forest
6) French	Butee touffue
7) Hindi	Chalcho, Chichra, Tesu, Dhak, Palas
8) Gujarati	Kakria, Khakara, Khakda, Pallaso
9) Malyalam	Khimshukham, Muriki, Palasi, Shamata
10) Marathi	Kakrocha, Palas, Paras, Pholas, Phulas
11) Persian	Daraspalah, Palah
12) Sanskrit	Bijasheha, Bramhapadapa, Bramhavriksha, Lakshataru, Kinshuka, Palasha, Parna, Yajnika
13) Sinhalese	Kaliya, Kalu keale, Gaskeala
14) Tamil	Kali, Kattumurukku, Kinjugam, Palasu, Porasu, Punamurukku, Punamurungai, Pungu, Sira, Tikkuru, Vallai.
15) Telugu	Kimsukamu, Muduga, Moduga, Modugu, Palasamu, Togarumoduga, Tella moduga
16) Urdu	Palashpapra
17) Uriya	Kinjuko, Polas, Polaso, Porasy.

Today the whole world is aware of the unique medicinal properties of Neem (Azadirachata indica). In ancient literatures related to herbs, it is clearly mentioned that the Dataun prepared from Neem is best. To clean the mouth with the help of Neem Dataun is not a child’s paly. The bitter taste of Dataun is tolerable to very few people. But once it became habit, no other Dataun can satisfy the user. In rural areas, natives still use the crop fields, wastelands, canal areas for morning call. The use of concrete latrines is still not popular in rural and forest areas of Chhattisgarh. Daily, the day of normal native start at 5.00 am. After leaving the bed he take lota ( a small water jug) and start to search place for morning call. Normally these areas are outside the village. He cut fresh Dataun and reach to ‘safe’ place chewing this Dataun. According to the traditional healers of Chhattisgarh, the use of Dataun during morning walk stimulates the bowel and routine user of Dataun never faces the problem of constipation or stomach disorders. The Neem Dataun is specially recommended to the patients suffering from dental problems. Due to its germicidal natural chemical Neem Dataun make the teeth and gum healthy. Many traditional healers suggest their patients to swallow the juice of Dataun during mouth cleaning. According to them this juice is very beneficial for body but some traditional healers are against this. According to them as the juice is mixed with the harmful germs, it is not advisable to swallow it. They recommend frequent spitting. The use of Neem Dataun is well documented. Although the use of Neem Dataun is decreasing in India, but the number and popularity of neem based herbal products for dental care are increasing very rapidly.

Botanical differences between major Butea species.
Characteristics	Butea	Butea
	monosperma	superba
1) Branches and shoot	Very irregularly bent in various directions. Young shoots downy.	Stem twining, as thick or thicker than a man's leg, woods very long, running over large trees.
2) Bark	Bluish-grey or light brown	Ash coloured, pretty smooth.
3) Leaves	Long-petiolated, 3-foliolate; leaflets coriaceous broadly obovate from a cuneate or deltoid base, glabrascent above, with densely fine silk below.	Alternate, terminal, remote, very large; leaflets downy, in other respects as is B. monosperma, but much larger.
4) Flower	Buds velvety blackish, flowers bright orange-red, sometimes yellow in 15 cm long racemes on bare branches.	Much larger and more numerous; calyx with the divisions longer and much more pointed.

It is a bitter fact that the whole world is now recognising and accepting the miracle medicinal properties of Neem, but in India the number of Neem trees is decreasing . In rural areas no one want to plant or care the old plants of Neem. The farmers are taking more interest in exotic trees like Eucalyptus, Acacia mangium, Poplar etc. According to them, these new exotic trees will give more returns but unfortunately they are not aware of the long term damage on fragile eco system by these exotic trees. About a decade back, in Chhattisgarh, many rich farmers planted Eucalyptus trees in thousand of acres, now they are feeling and observing that the water level at their farms have gone down and they are facing the water crisis. In early days, every village of Chhattisgarh fulfil its demand of Neem oil from its own fields. Now most of the villages are dependent on nearby cities for their requirement for oil. In villages, natives use neem oil as hair oil to make hair lice free and also apply the oil on body in order to save the body from infectious diseases and harmful creatures like insects, common during rainy season. This is the reason we always avoid to take village meeting during rainy season. It is very hard to deliver a lecture smelling very odd smell of neem oil coming from the audience. You can better understand if you have ever smelled this oil. The innovative educated farmers living near big cities and having well contact with modern communication systems are now planning to go for commercial plantation of Neem. As the population of Neem tree is decreasing and the taste of Neem Dataun is not agreeable to every one, the use of Babool Dataun is increasing. In rural areas of Chhattisgarh, you will found Babool tree in good number. There is deep relationship between rural economy and Babool tree. From centuries, Babool is one of the best friends of farmers. As you know Chhattisgarh is a "Rice Bowl of India" Paddy is one of the main crops. The Babool tree is an integrated part of rice fields. The bunds prepared to retain the water in rice fields are favorite home of Babool tree. Although modern agriculture scientists are trying to convince the Chhattisgarh farmers that Babool is a very bad tree, one should root out this useful tree and even they are saying that it is harmful to the rice crop, but the time and nature have taught the Chhattisgarh farmers that there is no alternative to Babool for them. The wood of Babool is in use for constructing their homes and also their agricultural implements. The gum (gum arabic) provides an additional income.

Botanical differences between Neem (Azadirachta indica) and Mahaneem (Melia azedarach)
Characteristics	Azadirachta	Melia
	indica	azedarach
1) Habit	A large, evergreen tree, 12-18 m	A moderate sized, deciduous tree, 9-12 m.
2) Stem	Straight and long, bole 6 meters, with a large crown.	Cylindrical, with a spreading crown, 3.5 meters.
3) Bark	Gery or dark grey or nearly black, rough, reddish-brown inside with numerous, oblique furrows and scattered tubercles.	Grey, rough, with shallow, longitudinal furrows.
4) Leaf	Impasipinnate, alternate, 20-38 cm long; leaflets 8-19, alternate or opposite, oblique or sub-falcate-lanceolate, rarely ovate-lanceolate, glossy, bluntly serrate.	Bi or occassionally tripinnate; leaflets ovate or lanceolate.
5) Flower	White or pale yellow, generally small, honey-scented, numerous, in slender, lax, axillary, panicles.	Lilac, fragrant, in axillary panicles.
6) Fruit	Green, turning yellow on ripening, aromatic oblong, smooth, drupe, 1.3-1.8 cm long	Ellipsoid-globose, smooth first becoming wrinkled, green when raw, yellowish when ripe, in clusters.
7) Seed	3300-6300/kg	750-1400/kg

The Babool tree give valuable Dataun for their own use and also money, after selling Dataun in city markets. They know that its leaves are very nutrituous and good manure for their crops. They question the scientists favoring the plantation of so-called more profitable trees that whether these new trees can provide gifts like Babool and if your answer is no, then please do not force us to jump in well. This is very ridiculous that scientists are recommending the Poplar in rice bunds. They are saying that its wood or pulp is useful for match stick making. There is not a single match factory in Chhattisgarh so who will purchase it in future ? They have no answer. Seeing all these now I am thinking that our education is causing great harm to our own society. Instead of learning from real scientists i.e. the farmers, we are trying to show our socalled intelligence to them. Babool is very fast growing and drought tolerating tree. You will be surprised to know that the rice farmers practically take zero care of these trees but these trees are surviving and maintaining its friendship with the Chhattisgarh farmers from centuries. In villages near to forests, you will find less Babool and more Parsa. In these areas, the Dataun of Parsa is very popular. Both Babool and Parsa Dataun are used for cleaning the mouth. The traditional healers of Chhattisgarh are not much aware of its other medicinal potential as used as Dataun, other than its use in dental care. Babool and Parsa both holds a reputed position in Indian systems of medicine. The scientific name of Babool is Acacia nilotica and Parsa is Butea monosperma According to Ayurveda, Babool bark is hot, astringent to bowels, alexipharmic, anthelmintic and cures cough, bronchitis, dysentery, diarrhoea, piles, burning sensation, biliousness, leucoderma, urinary discharges etc. The Babool leaves are used to care eye diseases and to heal fractures whereas pod is cooling. Its gum is antipyretic, anti dysentiric and stops bleeding. According to Ayurveda, the stem bark of Parsa is astringent, biter, anthelmintic, and useful in tumours, bleeding piles and ulcers. The gum is used to cure diarrhoea, dysentery, respiratory troubles and bleeding. The root cures night blindness and other related troubles, and useful in elephantiasis. The flowers are used to treat leprosy, rheumatism , gout, skin troubles, thirst and burning sensations whereas fruits and seeds are considered as hot, dry, digestible and anthelmintic.

During my ethnomedico surveys to different parts of Chhattisgarh, I always try to find out the fact that how the natives have got the knowledge about the use of particular herbs. In most of the cases, they reply that they have gained the knowledge from their forefathers, but many times, I feel proud to meet the person who have developed or discovered the use and playing vital role in enriching the traditional knowledge. As the scientists are encouraging exotic flora in Chhattisgarh, the introduction of these plants are causing great damage to the ecosystem. Many exotic plants have became troublesome weed and farmers are investing a lot of money to keep away these plants from their crop fields. The introduction of Ipomoea carnea, Lantana camara, Eichhornia crassipes and Parthenium hysterophorus are some promising examples. In initial period of introduction, these weeds have caused great harm to the natives of Chhattisgarh but as the time passed, the natives have discovered and developed many medicinal and industrial uses of these unwanted plants. When I published reports of my ethnomedico surveys giving the details regarding the medicinal knowledge about these plants in front of world community, they appreciated the approach and creativity of the natives. Lantana was new to the natives and considered as the toxic herb, but you will be surprised to know that the natives of Lantana rich areas of Chhattisgarh are using the twigs of Lantana as Dataun. Its use as Dataun is not reported even in country from where it has originated.

Last month when I was on my visit to herb grower Mr. Deen Dayal Verma’s farm the stream near to his village was flooded. We stayed their till the water level had gone down. During discussion with the villagers, crossing that flooded stream, I got surprising information. The Tilda region is covered with lateritic soil. The villagers informed that the wastelands are under dense cover of Lantana. When I started talk on Dataun, they informed about the use of Lantana twigs as Dataun. According to them it is just like Neem and Babool Dataun and there is no harmful effect. Many of them informed that the Lantana Dataun is very effective against aphthae. As they do not swallow the juice of Dataun, they failed to inform me about effects after reaching in stomach. According to them, after using Lantana Datun you will never forget its refreshing effect. For Neem and Babool Dataun you have to go for brushing twice in a day but according to them Lantana Dataun is very effective as its use only for one time is sufficient. All these are really surprising informations and there informations encouraged me to document this valuable traditional knowledge well in time. I have not observed the use of Lantana (locally known as Gotiphool) Dataun, in any other part of Chhattisgarh. In reference botany literatures. I have found this detail. It is a low, erect or sub scandent, vigrous shrub with stout recurved prickles and a strong odour of black currents. Root system very strong. Leaves ovate or ovate oblong, acute or subacute, crenate - serrate, scabrid or both sides. Flowers small, usually orange, sometimes varying from white to red in various shades and having a yellow throat, in axillary heads, almost throughout the year (in Chhattisgarh conditions). Fruits small, greenish-blue black, blackish, drupaceous, shining with two nutlets. Lantana was introduced in India for its beautiful flowers but now it is known as harmful weed. Its rapid spread in dense forests particularly in Teak forests are becoming headache for foresters and experts. I personally feel that there is a strong need for scientific evaluation of properties of Lantana in dental care and treatment of apthae.

The persons suffering from gum troubles are advised by traditional healers to use the Dataun of Koha or Kahua. Like Babool, Koha is also a most common tree in rice fields, particularly in Chhattisgarh plain. Its common Hindi name is Arjun and popular heart tonic Arjunarisht is prepared by this tree. Like Babool, Koha also plays vital role in rural economy. Its useful bark is in very demand both in national and international drug markets. This demand is now creating a problem on its survival and due to unscientific exploitation of bark the Koha trees are dieing. The traditional medicinal knowledge about Koha Dataun for the treatment of gum troubles is also not documented. For indigenous herb experts and healers Koha is an important and valuable herb. According to Ayurveda, it is alexiteric, styptic, tonic, anthelmintic and useful in fractures, biliousness, heart and blood diseases, intoxication anaemia, excessive prespiration, asthma, tumours, leucoderma and urinary discharges. Chhattisgarh is well known for its dense Sal forest. In Sal forest area, the natives use Sal Dataun for mouth cleaning. In drier areas of Chhattisgarh, the natives use the Chind Dataun for same purpose. The natives are well aware from past experiences that any twig can not be used as Dataun. According to them, many twigs are toxic and can cause death. All non-toxic twigs are also not useful as Dataun. The twigs having the capacity to change in to ideal brush after continuous chewing is considered as best. My ethnomedico surveys revealed that there is a tremendous scope in this field.

The beneficial uses of common guava bark and leaves for dental care are well known. In Chhattisgarh the natives use the Dataun of guava for dental care. According to the traditional healer of Bastar, it is equally effective as Neem Dataun. The Neem Datuan affects the whole body whereas the effect of guaava Dataun is limited to mouth only. According to him, the indigenous guava trees are best for this purpose. The high yielding improved varieties posses less medicinal properties. I think there is a need of scientific evaluation for these properties. In Chhattisgarh there are specific Datauns used only on particular day by particular gender. In Khamarchhat (Halshasthi) festival, women use the specific Dataun of Khamhar and Chirchita. On other days, there is no restriction of using these Datauns but natives use it only on the festival day. Why only women, why not men ? why only on festival day? I am trying hard to get these specific answers. According to many traditional healers, on this particular day some specific medicinal properties develop in these herbs and this finding is a result of extensive research of forefathers. They say that in order to continue this use on this particular day it is associated with festival by our forefathers. Whether the Khamhar and Chirchita Dataun increases the resistance in woman body against diseases or act as tonic? There is need of scientific evaluation. The scientific name of Khamhar is Gmelina arborea whereas Chirchita is Achyranthus aspera. Khamhar is not unknown to the natives of Chhattisgarh. In Chhattisgarh , you can still found the villages names based on dense population of Khamhar viz. Khamharin, Khamhardih etc. Chirchita is common roadside and wasteland weed in Chhattisgarh. You will get more details about these herb in my future articles. On Hareli festival day, the natives use the Dataun of Sarphonk. Like Khamhar and Chirchita Dataun it is used preferably on festival day. According to the traditional healer of Chhattisgarh Sarphonk is the herb mentioned as Vajradanti in reference literatures. Vajradants is well known for making the teeth and gum disease free. But there is confusion. In many literatures, Onosma is described as Vajradanti. The scientific name of Sarphonk is Tephrosia purpurea. In general the traditional healers advise to swallow the juice of Sarphonk Dataun during chewing. According to them it is a good tonic and also improves body resistance against common diseases. The reference botany literature, I have noted this description. It is perennial herb, with rounded glabrous or slightly hairy branches. Leaves imparipinnate, leaflet 9-21, elliptic oblong, obtuse or truncate, mucronate, glabrous above , silky beneath; stipules deltoid, hairy. Flowers in leaf opposed 10-13 cm long racemes. Calyx pubescent, teeth acuminate, Corolla pink red or purple, pubescent outside, Pods pubescent, nearly straight, 6-9 seeded. It is important to mention here that in many parts and cases, the plant roots are also used as Dataun. The root and twig both are used as Dataun in case of Sarphonk.

As you know, Mahua is one of the most popular and on demand non timber forest produces in Chhattisgarh. Mahua is associate with natives from centuries and the different plant parts and products like Mahua liquor are frequently used by natives and traditional healers. According to the traditional healers, Mahua Dataun also possess unique medicinal properties. Like Mahua (Madhuca latifolia), Bhagrenda Dataun is also popular in Chhattigarh. In modern scientific literature, I read the antibacterial properties of the Bhagrenda Dataun. I am proud to write that the natives of Chhattisgarh are still using this Dataun. Bhagrenda is found as wasteland weed in Chhattisgarh. In many parts of the state, farmers are using this shrub for fencing purposes. You will be surprised to know that the improved Bhagrenda varieties are under cultivation in Chhattisgarh as medicinal crop in fairly large areas. The scientific name of Bhagrenda is Jatropha curcas. In English, it in known as Physicnut or Purging nut. This Euphorbaceae herb is frequently used herb in Chhattisgarh. According to Ayurveda, it is useful in treatment of Urinary discharges, abdominal complaints, fistula, heart diseases, biliousness and anaemia. You will get more details about traditional medicinal knowledge of this herb in my future articles.

Fudhar, Maulshri etc. are among other Datauns. My detailed ethnomedico surveys are in progress and I am sure very soon, I will be able to provide more information on this important aspect. In reference literatures, I have found a herb locally known as Ram Dataun. Its scientific name is Smilax. In these literatures, its use as Dataun is not mentioned. I am sure that there is a scientific reason behind this name. The traditional healers covered in my latest survey told that this herb is good remedy for venereal diseases but they are not aware of its use as Dataun. The different Datauns are providing extra income to rural youths but I personally feel that there is a need to develop organised market. As the use of Datauns is still popular in metros and becoming popular in other parts of the world, the organised markets can provide more benefits to these youths. The documentation of traditional medicinal knowledge about these Dataun will be of great use in this process of marketing. The mother nature has selected me to document this useful knowledge, I will try my best to complete this assignment sincerely.