Traditional Medicinal Knowledge about popular pulse crop Arhar (Pigeon pea) in Chhattisgarh, India

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

Arhar [Cajanus cajan(L.) Millsp. Syn. Cytisus cajan L.] is popular pulse crop, native to Africa and is now grown in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka states of India. Seeds are eaten as pulse whereas husk of pods and leaves provide valuable cattle feed and twigs are used as green manure. In India, it is also grown as cover crop in plantations. The thin straight branches of Arhar are used for making baskets, and as thatching material. Arhar is also a good host for lac insect. (Singh et al 1996). In different systems of medicine, Arhar holds a reputed position as medicine. In many countries including India, the natives are still using Arhar to treat their health problems. According to Ayurveda, leaves are astringent, sweet, diuretic, laxative, cooling, anti-inflammatory and anodyne. It is useful in oral ulcers, odontalgia, gingivitis, stranguary and inflammations. The seeds are astringent, acrid, sweet, anthelmintic, cooling, pectoral, constipating, resolvent, alexeteric, febrifuge and expectorant. The seeds are useful in tumours, oral ulcers, cough, vomiting, bronchitis, haemorrhoids, fever and cardiac diseases (Warrier et al 1994). In French Guiana, the starch obtained from the seeds is employed as a resolutive. The shoots, green pods and flowers as an infusion for pectoral affections. (Caius, 1989). The natives of Chhattisgarh, a newly borne state of India, have rich traditional medicinal knowledge about common herbs, insects, mites and other animals (Oudhia, 1998, 1999, 2001 and 2002). Many ethnomedicines are still in use in different parts of the state. Arhar is grown as Kharif season crop in Chhattisgarh and used mainly as pulse but in rural and forest areas, the natives specially the traditional healers use different parts of Arhar shrub as medicine. To list out the traditional medicinal uses of different parts of Arhar in Chhattisgarh, a detailed survey was conducted during 1996-2001.

The survey was focused on traditional healers of the state. From the list of over 1500 traditional healers of state, 203 traditional healers using Arhar as medicine were selected for the survey. These healers are from all (i.e. sixteen) districts of Chhattisgarh. With the help of regular visit and specially prepared questionnaire, these healers were interviewed. For further confirmation, the author visited to the healers and practically observed the uses and methods adopted to prepare medicine from Arhar. The help of reference literatures was also taken.

The survey revealed that the selected traditional healers use different parts of Arhar in treatment of over 50 common diseases. Arhar is used both internally and externally by the traditional healers. Some of important uses are described below. In case of painful ulcers on tongue, due to indigestion, the traditional healers of Sarguja region, advise the patients to gargle with the fresh juice of Arhar leaves. The leaves prior to flowering are preferred. According to the healers, after flowering the medicinal properties of leaves decrease. In case of acute tonsilitis and other related throat problems, the traditional healers advise the patients to mix Arhar leaf juice in hot water in ratio of 1:5 (one part juice and 5 part water) and use it as gargle. The traditional healers of Bastar region, the southern part of Chhattisgarh, recommends the use of Arhar roots in place of leaves. According to them, roots are more potential as compared to leaves. Arhar leaves are popularly used as medicine for eye diseases. The traditional healers use the leaf juice with lemon fruit and neem leaf juice externally, on eyes. In case of poor eye sight, the traditional healer of Pendra region, recommend the patients to use the aqueous paste of roots of old Arhar tree on eyes externally . In case of severe hiccup, the traditional healers suggest the patients to burn the pod husk of Arhar and inhale the fumes to get quick relief. Many healer, mix the pod husk of Chickpea (in equal proportion) in pod husk of Arhar to increase its efficacy. The juice of Arhar leaves are also recommended in lead poisoning. The use of Arhar roots as medicine is not mentioned in reference literatures. During the survey the traditional healers complained about the new high yielding varieties of Arhar and indiscriminate use of chemical fertilisers on Arhar. It was observed during the survey that most of the traditional healers avoid to buy or collect the different parts of Arhar from markets or fields. They prefer the organic or low input farming and according to their need they grow Arhar in home gardens. The young generation is not taking interest in traditional medicinal knowledge and this is the reason, the number of healers having knowledge is decreasing in the state. The survey suggested that there is a strong need for documentation and scientific evaluation of this traditional medicinal knowledge about Arhar so that it can be utilised for the benefit of human beings around the globe.

References

Caius, J.F. 1989. The medicinal and poisonous legumes of India. Jodhpur, India : Scientific Publishers pp. 23-24.
Oudhia, P. 1998. Medicinal insects and spiders. Insect Environment 4(2):57-58.
Oudhia, P. 1999. Studies on allelopathy and medicinal weeds in chickpea fields. International Chickpea and Pigeonpea Newsletter 6 : 29-33.
Oudhia, P. 2001. Traditional medicinal knowledge about Pod borer Helicoverpa armigera in Chhattisgarh, India, International Chickpea and Pigeonpea Newsletter 8:14-15.
Oudhia, P. 2002. Traditional medicinal knowledge about Chickpea in India with special reference to Chhattisgarh. International Chickpea and Pigeonpea Newsletter 9:32-34.
Singh, U., Wadhwani, A.M. and Johri, B.M. 1996. Dictionary of economic plants of India. New Delhi, India : Indian Council of Agricultural Research p. 36-37.