Traditional Medicinal knowledge about beneficial tree shades useful in treatment of common diseases (Tree Shade Therapy) in Chhattisgarh, India

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

The traditional healers of Chhattisgarh, recommend their patients suffering from chronic constipation to sleep in the shade of Harra tree, with herbal combination. According to them after taking herbal combination, sleeping in the shade of Harra increases the effectiveness of the combination. The ethnomedico surveys in different parts of Chhattisgarh by me revealed that the traditional healers and natives have rich traditional medicinal knowledge about beneficial tree shades useful in treatment of common disease. Over 85 species of trees possess this unique healing property. As the population in state is increasing and area under forest is decreasing, now the traditional healers are not recommending it to their patients. Like use of excreta of animals, insects, mites and spiders as medicine is not prefered by the patients, practically it is very difficult to follow this "Tree shade therapy". I have searched many reference literature but got very few information on this important but untouched field. In rural areas during hot summer season, natives still prefer to sleep outside the homes in order to get sound sleep. In villages nearer to dense forests it is not practically possible to sleep underneath the open sky. According to the traditional healers using "Tree shade therapy" there is a need to establish a safe herbal garden for this therapy. At present, they advise the patients to sleep under the shade of specific tree inside the villages for specific duration (depending upon the degree of sickness). In present article, I am trying to describe in detail about the tree species found useful by the traditional healers of Chhattisgarh, the precautions taken and my interactions with the patients using this therapy.

Harra is one of the most common trees in dense forests of Chhattisgarh. The non wood forest produce dealers in India and abroad are well aware of dense population of Harra trees in these forests. In Chhattisgarh the traditional healers of both the Harra and non-Harra areas are well aware of its unique medicinal properties. In Indian systems of medicine Harra is one of the most frequently used drugs in different combinations. The traditional healer of Narharpur region is famous for using Harra tree shade for the treatment of chronic constipation. He recommend his patient to sleep on forest floor rather than one wooden bed (khat or khatia) for quick relief. According to him, everyone must sleep under the shade of Harra tree at least a month every year. It is not only beneficial for chronic constipation but also to develop resistance inside the body. He suggest his patients to plant permanantely this tree inside their houses, in order to get benefit round the year. But the traditional healers of Bastar have different opinion. According to them, naturally occurring Harra tree is more effective as compared to planted one. If it is necessary to plant this tree, do not use chemical inputs on medicinal herbs. The traditional healers of Chhattisgarh are well aware of this fact from decades. They also instruct the patients not to apply organic inputs because in nature, the environmental stresses produce unique medicinal properties within the trees. The traditional healer of Bastar recommend twelve species of trees that must be used for shade in twelve different months in a year. According to him, the twelve species he had selected are useful for his region only and this is a responsibility of traditional healers of different regions to search or recommend the locally available trees for the patients of that particular regions. The same is mentioned in ancient Indian literature related to herbs that patients can be successfully treated only with the herbs present in its surroundings, the vaidya (doctor) should not have to go far in search of herbs. When I consulted my friend practising Ayurveda as licensed doctor , he told me that in reference books few lines are there describing the healing property of Harra tree shade but according to him, he has never seen or heard its practical use. I am proud to say that the traditional healers of state have enough knowledge on this aspect and many of them are still practising it. For the educated and modern patients living in urban areas in air conditioned homes, it is hard to believe or adopt this useful therapy . Although they have deep faith in these traditional healers but prefer the drugs rather than this supplement therapy. In reference literatures related to botany I have noted these details about Harra trees. These are trees upto 18m height, bark dark brown, leaves alternate or sub opposite, elliptic-oblong or ovate-elliptic, inequilateral, silky hairy when young, glabrous later on, apex acute or obtuse, base acute or rounded or sometimes cordate, glands 2; Flowers creamy white, bisexual, in terminal 10-15 cm long panicles; pedicels 1mm thick; calyx glabrous without hairy within; lobes ovate deltoid, fruits ellipsoid. As mentioned earlier, Harra holds a reputed position in Indian systems of medicine. As medicine bark and fruits are used but the traditional healers of Chhattisgarh have rich traditional medicinal knowledge about roots also. According to Ayurveda, the fruit is dry and heating, tonic, expectorant, anthelmintic, antidysentiric, carminative and alternative. It is useful in constipation, gout, delirium, biliousness, ascites, dyspepsia, hiccup, vesicular calculi, urinary discharges, inflammations, tumours, bleeding piles, fistula, leucoderma, asthma, diseases of eye, heart and bladder etc. The scientific name of Harra is Terminalia chebula (Family Combretaceac).

In every Indian home garden, you will find at least one Neem tree. It is general belief that neem tree purifies the air and repell away or kill the harmful germs present in air. As the population is increasing, the size of home is decreasing. Accordingly, the place of large neem tree in home gardens is shrinking and now average Indians are preferring the dwarf exotic ornamentals with beautiful flowers. According to the traditional healers of Chhattisgarh the introduction of exotic species and removal of useful medicinal herbs from home gardens is one of the reasons responsible for increasing mental tension and health expenditures in urban homes. In past, neem, tulsi, ghikuar, pudina, adusa etc. were the essential herbs of home gardens. The traditional healers say that all of these herbs are recommended for home gardens keeping in view its beneficial effects on the micro environment and health problems. Many studies conducted in different parts of world have revealed that plantation to neem trees make the environment healthy. The traditional healers of Chhattisgarh are aware of this fact from centuries and they are recommending the patients suffering from any disease to use the shade provided by neem trees.

In Bilaspur region of Chhattisgarh, it is common practice to use Munga tree shade for the treatment of many common diseases. Munga is a local name of common Drumstick tree. In every home garden (Badi) in rural homes, Munga is preferred. Not only of its beneficial shade but also it is popularly used as vegetable. The traditional healer of Mungeli region recommend the pregnant woman to sleep at least one night under the Munga tree. According to him, it is very beneficial for the health of both woman and child. In Chhattisgarh, it is common practice to serve the specific vegetable prepared from Munga to woman just after delivery. I consulted many scientists, researchers and reference literatures, to know the science behind Munga tree shade effect on pregnant woman. Surprisingly, the traditional healers of other parts of the state are not aware about this traditional knowledge. The traditional healer from Mungeli region told me that he has gained this unique information from his grand mother and from generations, his family is recommending this treatment to the patients. He also told me that if the pregnant woman tries to sleep more than one night under Munga tree shade, It is dangerous for her and the child. According to him care should be taken in selection of plants in nay hospital compound particularly in maternity section. After getting such important information, I always try to point out this fact to my co-passengers or friends when we pass from any hospital compound. I personally think that this is an important information and there is a need of scientific investigation and evaluation.

According to the traditional healer of Gandai, Salewara and Bakarkatta forest regions of Chhattisgarh, the wild animals are also well aware of this "Tree shade therapy’ and by regular monitoring and careful observation, one can get a lot of information about the animal’s knowledge on this important aspect. The traditional healers of Bastar are also agree with the observation of these traditional healers. They informed me that the bison is more sensitive in selection of tree shades and they never use the same tree shade continuously. When I discussed this observation to the forest officers, they were surprised and said that they have never focused their mind on this important aspect. I have given special assignment to the natives of these regions particularly the herb collectors who visit forest very frequently and I am sure in near future, we will be able to get more information.

After my lectures on herbs, the audience always ask the useful herbs to reduce body fat. During my ethnomedico survey in Durg and Raipur region of Chhattisgarh plains, I got an interesting information related to obesity. The natives and traditional healers of this part of Chhattisgarh are well aware of fat reducing effects of Babool tree shade. According to them, this is promising treatment and the person working around this tree shade (i.e. the rice farmer) or sleeping under the shade of this common tree never get extra fat in his body. Babool is a common tree in rice bunds of Chhattisgarh "The rice bowl of India" Unfortunately, the traditional healers are not recommending this use in their day to day practice, possibly because of practical problems. As no one prefer to plant this thorny plant in home gardens and rice bunds are not a place where one can pass whole night. The traditional healer from Patan informed me that his grandfather was recommending it to his patients, and at present, the common people have no faith in this therapy. Also one of the main reason responsible for poor faith is that in rural area the average native do lot of hard work and obesity in not a problem in these areas. For the natives living in urban areas engaged in more mental work and less physical work, the obesity is burning problem but in urban areas you will find Babool tree very rarely. This important traditional knowledge require special scientific attention.

The traditional healers of Kanker region suggest their patient suffering from skin troubles to take advantage of Parsa tree shade. According to them Parsa (Butea monosperma) tree shade is capable of changing old skin into new skin. These traditional healers use specially prepared herbal paste and after application of this paste on affected parts or on whole body, the patients are advised to sleep at least one night under Parsa tree. One day and night under this tree shade is considered as most effective by the traditional healers. Parasa is also in list of non-wood forest produces in the state. The traditional healers of Satna (Madhya Pradesh) use the shade of common shrub Nirgundi (Vitex negundo) for rheumatic troubles. During my visit to Chitrakot hills, I have noted and seen the practical use of this shrub for treating rheumatism. The traditional healers specialised in treatment of rheumatism, grow dense population of Nirgundi in surroundings of their clinics and patients are advised to live in tents under dense population of Nirgundi van (i.e. forest). There are two types of Ashoka trees occur in Chhattisgarh. One is grown for Ornamental purposes in home gardens whereas another type commonly known as Seeta Ashok is having tree type growth with lot of shade. According to the traditional healers of Chhattisgarh, the shade of Seeta Ashok tree is best remedy for woman diseases. Different parts of Seeta Ashok tree particularly the barks and roots are used for woman diseases in all systems of medicine in India. It is common belief in Chhattisgarh that straight growing Ashoka causes mental tension in family or where it has been planted. On the other hand, the Seeta Ashok tree in home garden is capable to remove all the ill effects of other trees. There is a need to find out the science behind it. In general, it is recommended to plant this tree nearer to kitchen in home garden where average Indian woman passes majority of her day time. The medicinal properties and uses of Seeta Ashok tree shade are not mentioned in reference literatures and I am proud to say that the traditional healers as well as the natives of the state are well aware of this medicinal use and also they are using it. In reference literatures the medicinal properties of different parts of Seeta Ashok is given in detail. According to Ayurveda, bark is acrid, astringent, alterative, anthemlmintic, demulcent, and emollient. It is useful in dyspepsia, thirst, burning sensation, blood diseases, biliousness, tumours, enlargement of abdomen, colic piles, ulcers, blood containing discharges from uterus, menorrhagia etc. The seeds are useful in urinary discharges.

There is long list of tree species having healing shades. You will find more details in my future articles. Next month I am planning to start my ethnomedico survey in Jaspur district of Chhattisgarh. I have heard that the natives have rich traditional medicinal knowledge about healing tree shades. I personally feel that the documentation of this traditional knowledge is must. Also it is necessary to find out the science behind these effects. These traditional knowledge can be a challenge to new researchers planning to do something new in their doctoral or post doctroal programmes. I am sure this knowledge is present in other parts of India also, and through detailed ethnomedico surveys, we can gather a lot of information. The traditional healers of Chhattisgarh, visit to forests during heavy rains in order to collect the leachates from herbs. According to them rainwater wash the herbs thoroughly and leachates collected, possess valuable medicinal and healing properties. I will write a separate article on this aspect. To root out the practical difficulties the traditional healers are facing during use of "Tree shade therapy", one of my clients Mr. K.S. Khurana has decided to establish a herbal resort focused on traditional medicinal knowledge. The proposed name of this resort is Muktangan. This resort is situated in 100 acres of natural forest and tree felling is restricted in this region. In this hundred acre plot we have noted dense population of many tree species having utility in this therapy. His architect is planning the resort in a way so that the patients or visitors can take maximum advantages of the tree shades. We are confident that our this effort can help us a lot in conserving the traditional medicinal knowledge about tree shades present in natives and traditional healers of Chhattisgarh.