Traditional medicinal knowledge about herb Bemchi ( Psoralea corylifolia) in Chhattisgarh, India

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

Every year Chhattisgarh farmers invest a lot of money on manual weeding and agrochemicals for Bemchi management. Bemchi is a common rabi (winter) season crop field weed in Chhattisgarh The agricultural extension workers have convinced the Chhattisgarh farmers that Bemchi is an obnoxious weed and can cause damage to their valuable crops. The herb experts and traditional healers of the state, are well aware of medicinal properties and uses of this so-called weed Bemchi. This is surprising that many famous Ayurvedic practitioners are also aware and using Bemchi in their routine practice but they are not aware of its presence in Chhattisgarh. They are purchasing this herb from local herb shops at very high rates for preparation of herb mixture. Many ethnomedico surveys conducted earlier in the state, ignored the occurrence of this valuable herb. I have seen and talked to many early workers showing the Bemchi herb. According to them, at the time of survey they were not aware of this herb and they have kept this herb in unidentified herbs category. In some research papers, I have noted that Bemchi is endangered plant in Chhattisgarh and needs immediate attention. But this is not a fact. Bemchi is growing as weed in almost every part of the state and for herb dealers it is valuable non-wood forest produce. Every year several truck loads of different parts of Bemchi are transported to national and international markets from Chhattisgarh. According to the leading herb dealer of Dhamtari, Charota (Cassia tora) and Bemchi (Psoralea corylifolia) are routine items and are always in good demand. Many processors of the state, particularly the processors of Mahasamund district are extracting valuable oil from Bemchi seeds. These processing units have became a boon for many traditional healers. The extraction of oil from Bemchi seeds is very time consuming process.

Common and popular names of Bemchi (Psoralea corylifolia) around the world
Languages / regions /countries
	Names
1. Arabic	Loelab el abid, Mahalep
2. Bengal	Barachi, Bavachi, Hakuch, Latakasturi
3. Kanarese	Bavanchi
4. Srilanka	Ravoli
5. Chineses	Ku Tzu, Pu Ku Chih
6. Gujarati	Babchi, Bavacha, Bawachi
7. Hindi	Babachi, Babchi, Bavanchi, Bukchi
8. Marathi	Bavachya, Babchi, Bavachi
9. Persian	Waghchi
10. Sanskrit	Aindavi, Asitatvacha, Avalguja, Bakuchi, Chandralekha, Chandra prabha, Chandraraji, Kalameshi, Kambojii, Kantaka, Krishna, Krishnaphala, sita, Sitavari, Soma, Somaraji, Suprabha,
11. Sinhalese	Bodi
12. Tamil	Karpokarishi, Karpurvarishi
13 Telugu	Bhavanji, Kalanginja, Karubogi, Korjastham
14 Urldu	Babechi
15 Uriya	Bakuchi

The traditional healers living in semi-urban or urban areas, prefer to buy Bemchi oil from local herb shop. The owners of local herb shops informed me that this oil come from nearby states like Uttarpradesh and Bihar. Establishment and successful running of processing units are helping the traditional healers to get oil directly from factory and in comparatively less prices. The traditional healers in interior parts of Chhattisgarh, prefer the oil prepared by themselves using ancient extraction method During my ethnomedico surveys in different parts of Chhattisgarh, I have noted a lot of variations in the extraction methods used by the traditional healers. In general, the freshly collected Bemchi seeds are dried in shade (not in direct sunlight; there may be loss of medicinal properties if it is dried in direct sunlight). These seeds are kept inside the earthen pot (older one is preferred; why? No answer) and the mouth of pot is covered by lohe ki jali (Iron net). The pot is kept in a position so that the bottom face the sky and the mouth toward the ground. The iron net prevents the exit of seeds outside the pot After this the healers dig the soil and make space to burry 2/3 of this pot inside the soil. Before putting the pot, a bottle (for collection of oil) is kept inside the soil just below the mouth of earthen pot. After putting bottle and earthen pot in side the soil, the healers arrange Gobar ke kande (Kande or Chenna is prepared by spreading the fresh cattle dung on outside wall or floor of home in a specific round shape. After drying this small circled dried dung is locally known as Kande or Chenna. These Kande or Chenna are used as fuel in rural areas) . on the exposed bottom of earthen pot (on ground surface). After this, the healers put the fire on Kande. The heat generated from burning of Kande, extracts the oil from Bemchi seeds inside the earthen pot and oil automatically collect in the bottle placed in front of mouth of earthen pot. In reference Ayurvedi literatures, I have got the common name of this instrument used to extract oil from seeds. It is mentioned as Patal Yantra. In reference literatures on Indian systems of medicine, the utility of this Yantra (instrument) is described in detail but the methods and precautions to be taken during this processing method are not well written. Fortunately, The traditional healers of Chhattisgarh, are well aware of this traditional knowledge and still practising it. According to the traditional healer of Bastar, there is specific norms for the numbers of Kande to be used for heating the bottom of pot. Also, there is detailed procedure which start from selection of cattle for preparation of Kande. He told me that dung from pregnant, diseased, ill, and male cattles are avoided. Among all cattles cow dung is best for extraction of oil. Why only cow dung. He informed that his forefathers told him about these specifications. According to him, the cow dung collected at specific time and day is considered best (by his forefathers) but as it is not easy to follow each and every instruction word to word , this traditional healer ignore the importance of collection time and day.

The size and number of Kande to be used for extraction of oil depend upon the potential of oil to be prepared. According to the traditional healer of Narharpur region oil of equal potential can not be recommended to any patients. The selection of potential depend upon the age, vitality and stage of disease. With the help of bio-chemist friend, I am trying to explain the "potential" of this oil. We are analysing the natural chemical content of oil from different oil of different potentials. As far as the effect of the oils having different potentials is concerned, I have observed practically the use and efficacy. For preparation of oil of lower potential, less number of Kande are used and vice-versa. One interesting information I have noted during my ethnomedico surveys is that the composition and efficacy of Kande depend upon the feeding habit of cattle. As the spread of exotic weeds in the grazing lands is increasing rapidly in many parts of state, the composition of dung is also changing drastically. The traditional healers of semi-urban areas informed me that you can find the pieces of polythene and other city wastes in cows dung and the Kande prepared from this dung are poor in quality and able enough to change the potential of oil. The traditional healers of Durg region told me that in rice bunds, increasing infestation of weed Soli or Sole (Aeschynomene americana) is creating the problems. In this part of the state, due to increasing population and illegal encroachments, the space and land for grazing are decreasing rapidly. The rice bunds (in general prepared on ten percent area of individual field) are acting as good source of natural vegetation and farmers are getting enough forage from these bunds in order to feed their cattles, but the increasing infestation of leguminous weed Soli, rich in protein, is not good forage. The cattles feeding on it, are getting gastric trouble and frequent loose motions. The dung resulted from intake of Soli is rejected by the traditional healers. The traditional healers of Gandai forest region, engaged in extraction of Bemchi oil, are afraid of spread of Rungia repens in their forests. Two years back, when I was on my survey at this dense forest region, the range officer Mr. Namdev showed his worry about spread of Rungia in forest. According to him , they are keeping close view and performing regular monitoring, on this spread.

The traditional healers of this area yearly told me that early removal of this weed from forest region will be of great relief for them. My organisation, SOPAM (Society for Parthenium Management) has started various projects in order to collect the informations on various utility aspects of obnoxious weeds like Sole, Rungia etc. We are also conducting allelopathic research in order to discover its stimulatory allelopathic effects on crops. We are sure that the spread of knowledge about its utility in infested areas, can automatically reduce its infestation. We have experienced this in case of Lantana and Ipomoea carnea. As herb expert of state biodiversity action plan in Chhattisgarh state, I advised the member secretary Dr. Anoop Bhalla, a dedicated administrator, to select the traditional healers as resource person in order to get true information about the present status of herbs, endangered herbs, increasing infestation of obnoxious alien weeds etc. As a student, I have participated in many ethnomedico surveys with my professors. In forest areas, no one was daring to leave the Jeep and we were just taking the observation on roadside flora and with the help of reference literatures, we were preparing an impressive progress report with nice photographs. This is really shocking that every year a lot of money in such surveys is invested by the funding agencies and on the basis of early surveys, the surveyors declare any plant (like Bemchi) as endangered plant I am not aware of other parts of the world but in India it is common observation. The decreasing population of real experts and taxonomists are one of factors responsible for. And I personally feel that before any conservation project on herbs, there is a strong need to start a programme to conserve these endangered species (i.e. real experts and taxonomists).

The processing units where oil of Bemchi is extracted in less time and effort, are not aware of herbal oils with different potential. On the basis of demand, they always use standardise method and they are satisfied with this. When I informed them about the role of Kande (a heat source), they replied this is good observation but the Indian pharmaceutical companies, the main buyers of this product, prefer only one grade and if they establish R&D section then what is future scope ? I have no answer for them. Bemchi oil is sold in name of Bawchi, Babchi or Bakuchi oil by pharmaceutical companies. The experts of these companies claim that they are using the method described in reference literatures and many of them quote the reference on packets but according to the traditional healers of Chhattisgarh, this oil is least potential oil and can not be used for all patients. I feel that the national pharmaceutical companies must take advantages of the medicinal knowledge of these traditional healers to serve the patients in real Ayurvedic way. These healers can play a vital role in saving the cost of R & D projects. The only problem or constraint is that the traditional healers charge no fees for their treatments, just reverse to this, the companies charge very high cost ( to get maximum benefit). According to the traditional healers if they charge the fees the miracle effect of herb and their knowledge both will disappear or lost. In Chhattisgarh, we are trying to establish a traditional healers forum in order to recognise, and honour them and to fight for their rights.

Before describing the detailed traditional medicinal knowledge about Bemchi in Chhattisgarh I would like give the botanical description of Bemchi, I have collected from reference literatures. It is an erect annual pubescent herb, with gland - dotted branches; Leaves simple alternate, cordate, dentate, obtuse, sub truncate, mucronate, pubescent on both sides; In florescence a short and dense long peduncled raceme; peduncles 2.5-7.0 cm long with 3 flowers in the axil of each bract; Calyx bilabiate, upper lip formed of 4 teeth, lower of one tooth; Corolla blue-purple, petals are clawed; standard 5-6 mm long; keel incurved, pitted, mucronate and single seeded. Flowering and fruiting time in Chhattisgarh between October to April. In Ayurveda, and other related systems of medicine, Bemchi holds a reputed position. According to Ayurveda, root is useful in caries of teeth; Leaves are good for diarrhoea; Fruit are diuretic, and useful in treatment of piles, vomiting, bronchitis, inflammation, anaemia, and improves hair and complexion; seeds are refrigerant, alterative, purgative, antipyretic anthelmintic, alexiteric and good for heart troubles, urinary discharges, leprosy, skin troubles etc.

As medicine, the traditional healers of Chhattisgarh use Bemchi in treatment of many common diseases both internally and externally. Many of these users are well mentioned and documented in reference literatures but as explained earlier the traditional healers of different parts of the state use, same herb in different ways. As the source of information for all the traditional healers are different, they have their own reasons to adopt the specific method told by their fore fathers. The patients of Leucoderma is increasing in Chhattisgarh. I have also noted increasing patients in other parts of country also. Bemchi is one of the most frequently used herb in the treatment of odd looking white spots on skin . The traditional healers are also practising and using Bemchi for the treatment of skin disorders particularly the leucoderma. Most of traditional healers recommend, its external use. The interesting information is related to the liquid material used to prepare paste of Bemchi seeds. As base water, honey, curd, urine etc. are used. According to the traditional healer of Gunderdehi, in order to get quick effect, dip the Bemchi seeds in curd upto three days and after three days make paste and apply it on spots. The traditional healers of Bhilai who has successfully treated many patients, told me that cow urine is a good extractor and one must dip the seeds in freshly collected cow urine. The selection of urine has specific norms. I have noted this peculiar thing that almost every healer using urine avoid the urine of ox and pregnant cow. There is a need to study the science behind it. The traditional healer of Keshkal, uses the first human urine after ejaculation of semen in order to make his paste stronger. According to him, one night soaking of Bemchi seeds in human urine is enough to show the effect. The traditional healers avoid the urine collected from cows during hot summer and rainy days. According to them winter is best season for collection and use. The traditional healer of Jagdalpur recommend his patients to dip Bemchi seeds in pure honey and apply it. Many healers use only water. From internet I have noted the information on PUVA technic in which ultraviolet rays are passed after the application of Bemchi based paste on affected part. The purpose of all the liquids is to extract the active chemical of Bemchi. There is a need of scientific evaluation and comparative studies. The traditional healer of Bagbahera region clarified that different liquids are used for different degree of extraction. He refused to tell the details. The oil from Bemchi seeds is also recommended for external application. Unfortunately, many of my family friends have faced this disease and fortunately, I have got opportunities to compare the effects, of different combinations.

I have observed that it is relatively easy to overcome this trouble at early stage (i.e. initiation of few spots stage) but patients try to ignore these small spots at this stage but when it appear on exposed (to public) part i.e. face, hands etc. they start the treatment. It is very hard to get rid from disease after severe spread. Also it is not feasible to apply the herb or mixture on many irregularly distributed spots daily. Although herbs are effective but it requires a lot of patience and sincerity. According to the traditional healers, expert in treating leucoderma, there are many reasons responsible for this problem but it is difficult to tell the reason, responsible in every case. Many healers blame modern eating habits responsible for Leucoderma. The Unani practitioner of Durg city, use Bemchi and exotic herb Ammi majus for the treatment of Leucoderma. According to him, the combination of these herbs are very effective. After the spread of spots on all over the body, the traditional healers start giving more emphasis on internal use of Bemchi as compared to external use. For internal dose, Bemchi alone or in combination with other herbs is used. Almost all traditional healers recommend their patients to roast the seeds and take it with sea salt. In general, healers prepare the mixture and without disclosing the herbs recommend it to patients. According to the traditional healers of Raipur, overdose of seeds can cause great harms to vocal cards, hence it is advisable to take this herb under supervision of healers. The traditional healers also use Bemchi seeds and oil for the treatment of eczema and ringworm. The traditional healers of Bastar, prepare a special herbal decoction using whole plant (after flowering) of Bemchi and Fumaria parviflora and patients are advised to dilute the decoction and wash the affected parts with this decoction. In different herbal combination used for hair and face care the traditional healers use Bemchi herb as integral part. According to the traditional healers of Chhattisgarh, Bemchi oil is best remedy for the cold borne diseases. In case of paralysis, joint pains, rheumatism and sciatica this oil is very effective.

The Chhattisgarh farmers engaged in organic farming of medicinal herbs are using Bemchi oil with neem oil as insect repellent successfully. In my allelopathic studies, I have observed its effects against crop pest and diseases. The studies are in progress and I will write more after the completion of studies.

I have written many detailed articles and research papers on different aspects of traditional medicinal knowledge in Chhattisgarh. For describing a part of this knowledge, I have to write atleast 20 articles in a month, I am praying the almighty to give me enough strength for writing atleast a thousand such articles till my death. You encouragement and support, are with me. Thanks a lot for giving your valuable time for understanding the rich traditional medicinal knowledge about herbs and animals present in Chhattisgarh , India.