Traditional medicinal knowledge about tree gums used to treat common diseases in Chhattisgarh India

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

The reference literatures define the vegetable gum, as a group of plant product resembling carbohydrates. They are composed of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen with small quantities of mineral matter ash constituents and sometimes a little nitrogen, small quantities of tannin may also be present in some gums. But the gums contain more than these that can not be detected by modern analytical methods. In Chhattisgarh, traditional healers and natives both have rich traditional medicinal knowledge about gums collected from different trees. They are not aware of its chemical constituents and properties but well aware of its unique medicinal properties and utilities. I am proud to say that natives and traditional healers are still practising and using these gums for the treatment of common diseases. I have collected a lot of information on ethnomedico uses of tree gums in Chhattisgarh. The compilation of findings of these surveys are given in detail in present article. Tree gums are important non-wood forest produce of Chhattisgarh. According to the traders of both state and Kolkata city, the tree gums collected from the dense forests of Chhattisgarh are considered best in whole country and there is a heavy demand of this non-wood forest produce. This increasing demand is creating problems in survival of many species. The example of Gum Karay from Sterculia urens is promising example. The forest officials are aware of the decreasing population of targeted trees and with the help of ban on collection and strict monitoring, they are trying their best to protect these trees. This is a bitter fact that Chhattisgarh supplies gums in crude form, unfortunately, even a single processing plant has yet not been established. I personally feel that there is a tremendous scope for processing industries in Chhattisgarh but possibly due to lack of awareness, the indrustralists from national and international levels are not taking interest. The collectors of tree gums are not educated and also they are not aware of heavy demand and good prices of gums at very cheap rates (even in many parts it is purchased in exchange of table salt). I am sure that establishment of processing units at state, can help the collectors to get more prices of their produces.

Babool (Acacia nilotica) is an integral part of paddy-ecosystem in Chhattisgarh. Chhattisgarh is known as "Rice bowl of India’ and in big bunds constructed around the paddy fields to maintain the water level in the fields, are places where you can find Babool trees in abundance. According to the natives of Chhattisgarh, no other plant is an alternative to Babool. The shade of Babool tree on standing paddy crop is not much harmful as compared to shades of other trees. They explain that the small compound leaves of Babool act as filter and through this filter enough sunlight reaches to standing paddy crop. Both in rural and forest areas, natives collect Bumbri gond (in commerce gum arabic) and sell it to local purchasers in nearby villages. During my study at Bagbahera region of Chhattisgarh, I have noted that at least ten buyers are involved in chain of marketing of each produce. The collected produce reaches to small village first and small village to nearby bigger village, bigger village to district place, district place to nearby established market and so on. The single produce provide employment to at least ten buyers but in this process every one get very little. Many non-governmental organisations in Chhattisgarh are trying to break this long chain. They are acting as bridge between end collectors and end buyers. This is positive approach but there are many practical problems. The traditional healer of Dalli-Rajhara region, informed me about many uses of Babool gum in treatment of sex related disease. One of my farmers Mr. Jitendra is cultivating different medicinal and aromatic crops in Dalli-Rajhara. He is young and enthusiastic farmer and social worker. He is having great respect toward the Indian traditions and traditional healers. This is very encouraging for me that he is selecting the crops according to the need of the traditional healer. I personally feel that there is a strong need to identify these enthusiastic young workers and to reward them for great work.

In case of chronic stage of Gonorrhoea, locally known as Sojak or Sujak, the traditional healer of Dalli-Rajhara prefer Babool gum as compared to other herbs. For the wounds of male genitals common in Gonorrhoea, he use Babool gum externally. He instruct the patients to bring mother’s milk with them and after receiving the milk, he mix the dried piece of gum in this milk and this paste is applied on wounds. I have talked many patients taking treatment from this traditional healer. As Gonorrhoea is very complicated and odd disease, the patients hesitate to talk openly to anyone other than the healer but when I informed them about my studies, they told me that before coming to this healer, they have invested a lot of money but got no relief. You will be surprised to know that like other traditional healers of Chhattisgarh, this healer also take no charge for treatment. He has his own farming and according to him , his farming is enough to generate money and if he ever try to sell his Gyan (knowledge), he will loose it. The other traditional healers of Chhattisgarh are also well aware of use of Babool gum for Gonorrhoea, but they add many other herbs found commonly in their areas. Although wheat is not a major crop in state but it is taken as rainfed crop in many areas. In wheat region, the traditional healers add the extract of wheat along with milk and Babool gum. The traditional healers of Bastar region add the Palas or Parsa gum (Butea monosperma) in this mixture in order to increase its efficacy. There is a strong need to evaluate the efficacies of different combinations. In order to stop or prevent bleeding during menustral cycle, the natives use Babool gum with betel nut. This is grand mother’s formula and natives are well aware of this. Both Babool gum and betel nut are mixed in water and tablets are prepared. The woman suffering from this problem is advised to take this tablet twice a day (one morning and another at evening). In face care, natives use many herbal combinations and in almost every combination, Babool gum is used as an essential component. In case of coryza, natives use Babool gum with Mulethi (Glycrrhiza), Opium, and seeds of Koha (Terminalia arjuna). This mixture is used both internally and externally. In case of severe pain in ribs, the natives prepare a special paste by mixing Babool gum with the freshly collected juice of Guarpatha or Dhikuar (Aloe vera) and apply it externally. According to the natives, using this paste, it is promising pain killer. This paste is also useful in other types of pain. The traditional healer of Durg told me that in case of migraine for quick relief one can use this combination successfully. He also told me that external massage of this paste in sole of both legs, before going to bed, aids in sound sleep and also beneficial for eye tension. When I discussed this formula with the traditional healer of Bagbahera, he was surprised and told that he is not aware of its use in pains. He is using this combination with neem leaves, as hair tonic and to make the hair dandruff free.

This is really surprising and good observation for researchers involved in ethnobotanical surveys. In case of ulcers of tongue resulting from poor digestion, the natives use the mixture of Babool gum, Multani mitti (Fuller’s clay) and juice of Adrak (Zingiber officinalis). The patients are advised to keep this mixture inside the mouth upto 2-3 minutes and swallow it. According to them after two-three times repetition, the patients get immediate relief. In case of diarrhoea, the natives use the combination of fruit pulp of Bael (Aegle marmelos) and Babool gum very frequently. According to the traditional healers of Chhattisgarh, Babool gum is alone effective in not only diarrhoea but also in case of other diseases related to digestive system. In Chhattisgarh, since centuries the travellers are advised to put a piece of Babool gum in their travelling kit. For diseases due to change of water (common during travelling in ancient times) this Babool gum plays vital role. The traditional healers of Chhattisgarh, advise their patients suffering from digestive troubles to take the Babool gum daily with water upto eleven days to get rid from these diseases for ever. I have tested it against my gastric troubles and found it effective. Many traditional healers say that the combination of Babool gum and water is not suitable for every patient and this is the reason, in general they advise the patients to eat the gum directly. The traditional healer of Narharpur region informed me that the patients having constipation should be given Babool gum with hot water and the patients suffering from diarrhoea, Babool gum with clod water in most suitable. According to him, water from natural spring or borewell (i.e. ground water) is best in order to get real and quick effect.

Acacia nilotica, a source of Babool gum, is leguminous tree. In reference botanical literatures, I have noted this details about Acacia. It is medium sized tree with blackish-grey to brown fissured bark; stipular spines upto 5cm long; smooth, whitish. Leaves bipinnate, 5-10 cm long; pinnae 2-10 pairs, 1.8-5cm long, leaflet 7-25 pairs, glabrous. Flowers in axillary peduncled globose heads, bright yellow. Calyx campanulate. Corolla twice the length of calyx. Pods 7-15 cm long, persistently grey downy, constricted between the seeds; seeds 8-12. Babool gum holds a reputed position in all systems of medicine in India. According to Ayurveda, gum is anti dysentric and styptic and useful in leprosy, vaginal and uterine discharges. According to Unani system of medicine, gum is expectorant, liver tonic and antipyretic. It is useful in sore throat, respiratory troubles, cough, piles and burns. It is good blood purifier and enriches the blood. Many ethnomedical uses of Babool gum have been documented from different parts of India by various authors and researchers earlier. But unfortunately, its use as ethnomedicine decreasing in India.

Semar is one of the common trees in Chhattisgarh. The traditional healers of Chhattisgarh use the gum collected from Semar tree to treat many common diseases. I have noted two important ethnomedico uses.

In case of diarrhoea the traditional healers use Semar gum in combination with other herbs like Dhawai (Woodfordia sp.). Many healers use it as an alternative to Babool gum but they prefer Babool gum. The traditional healer of Pendra region told me that Semar gum is one of the essential components in the mixture prepared by him. This healer is well known in his region as expert in sex diseases. In order to maintain the sexual health every winter he give special herbal mixture to the patients. According to him this mixture is sufficient for a year if taken during winter. He uses over 50 herbs in the mixture including Onion seeds, Radish seeds, Groundnut, Mucuna seeds, Motha (Cyperus rotundus), Dhawai (Wodfordia sp.), Asgandh (Withania sominfera), Akarkara (Spilanthus acmella) etc. He informed that without Semar gum this mixture is useless. The scientific name of Semar is Bombax ceiba and in national and international drug market the Semar gum is known as Hog gum. Like Babool gum, it is also an important non-wood forest produce in Chhattisgarh. In reference botanical literature I have found this details about Bombax. It is a large deciduous tree; trunk and branches with bulbous prickles when young, greyish blaze pink, Leaves large; leaflets 3-7, entire, 7-18 cm long, glabrous, reticulately veined, lanceolate, cuspidate, petioles 20 cm long; stipules small, triangular, caducous, Flowers numerous, near the ends of the branches, appearing before the new leaves. Calyx thick usually 3-lobed; lobes rounded, densely silky within, glabrous without Corolla bright red, elliptic-oblong, recurved, Stamens more than 60 arranged in 5 bundles of about 9-12 each; filaments flattened, slightly pubescent, rather more than half as long as the petals, connate only at the base of the bundles. Ovary conical, glabrous; style a little longer than the stamens; stigmas 5, linear, capsules 5-valved; seeds numerous, ovoid and bearing cotton.

The traditional healers of Bastar region commonly use the Butea gum to make the semen thick. These healers use other locally available herbs to increase the efficacy of Butea gum. Mainly the seeds of Tamarind (Imli) are mix with Butea gum and given to patients. To make it tasty many healers add sugar in this combination. The traditional healers of other parts of Chhattisgarh are not aware of this formula. They use Butea gum in different woman diseases. The gum from Munga (Moringa oleracea) is also used as medicine in Chhattisgarh. The traditional healers of Mungeli region recommend it to the patients suffering from Gonorrhoea. According to him, intake of Munga gum with fresh curd upto seven days can given much relief to the patients. During my surveys to Durg region,, I have observed the use of herbal mixture for general health. In this mixture, the natives use the bark and gum of Butea, Semar gum and Babool gum. The natives refer this mixture to all but specially to woman after delivery and small children in order to regain good health. You will get more information on traditional uses of tree gums in Chhattisgarh in my future articles. I personally feel that there is a need of scientific attention and also of scientific evaluation to test the efficacy of these tree gums. Thank you very much for reading this long article.