Traditional Medicinal Knowledge about common herbs used for the treatment of Pelea or Pelia (Jaundice) in Chhattisgarh, India

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

In Chhattisgarh, over 250 species of herbs are used to treat the Jaundice. The list of traditional healers clearly indicates that most of the traditional healers are aware of Jaundice treatment. Very few are specialised in this treatment. During my ethnomedico surveys, I have noted increasing number of patients suffering from Jaundice. Although the natives are aware of allopathic treatment of Jaundice, but still most of them prefer to take medicine from traditional healers as compared to the qualified allopathic doctors. During 1994, When I was student at Agriculture College, Raipur and was on practical training at Zonal Agricultural Research Station, Ajirma (Sarguja) for the first time, I got an opportunity to see the use of common herbs for the treatment of Jaundice. The native and traditional healers of this region have rich traditional medicinal knowledge about herbs used in the treatment of Jaundice. During my survey at Pilkha hills with the traditional healers, I noted the healers most frequently use Bhuiaonla herb in their drug mixtures.

Common and popular names of Bhuiaonla around the world.
Languages/Regions/Countries	Names
1) Arabic	Mekatkata, Meneckete
2) Bengal	Bhujamla, Kiraneli
3) Brazil	Erva pombinha
4) Myanmar	Miziphiyu
5) Kanarese	So Cheu
6) French	Herbe du chagrin
7) Gujarati	Bhonya anmali
8) Hindi	Bhuinavalah, Jangli Amli, Jaramala
9) Malyalam	Kirganelli, Kinzhanelli
10) Marathi	Bhui avall
11) Philippines	Hierba de son Paula, Hierba de San Pedro
12) Sanskrit	Amliko, Amrita, Aphala, Bahupatra, Bahupushpi, Bhudhatri, Dalaparshni, Jhatamala, Nilalika, Shiva.
13) Sinhalese	Pittawaka
14) Spanish	Yerbade quining, Yerbade quinono
15) Tamil	Kilanelli, Kilkkaynelli
16) Telugu	Nelausirika, Nelausari
17) Urdu	Bhui Amla
18) West Indies	Petit Tamasin blant
19) Uriya	Bhui aola

The traditional healer of Ajirma region advise his patients to come at early morning, before sunrise. Before arrival of his patients, the healer visit to nearby fields for the collection of fresh herbs. The herb at fruiting stage is preferred. As Bhuiaonla occur in Chhattisgarh as wasteland plant, the traditional healer have not to walk long in search of herb. He prefers the herb from non-cultivated lands and give least preference to the herb from crop fields. The panchang (whole plant with roots) is collected and washed in well water. After cleaning, the healer crush the herb with the help of stone and prepare globules. Each globule is equal to the size of matured Ber (Ziziphus mauritiana) fruit. When patient suffering from Jaundice come for the treatment, the healer instruct him to swallow this globule with fresh cow milk (without boiling it). After swallowing, in general there is no problem but many patients vomit it. In this case, the healer advise them to try it again. The healer repeat this treatment up to ten days and according to him, this is sufficient to cure Jaundice. He is well known in the region for his miracle treatment.

When I talked to the healer, he told me that he is practising this treatment successfully since his childhood, and he gives whole credit of this success to God and his forefathers. Like other traditional healers of Chhattisgarh, he never charges fees or take any gift from the patients Although his formula is not a secret one, but native believes that Bhuiaonala is effective only if the healer prepare mixture and give it to the patients by his own hands. The traditional healer clearly denies that he have any special powder to make the herb more potential. According to him, many fellow healers never disclose this formula and perform special dances and utter mantras to impress the patients. In many cases, this drama is essential but not in every case. The main source of earning is farming for this healer. When I told him that I am engaged in promotion of herbal farming, he warned that never try to cultivate the herbs. According to him, the human beings never make any herb as potent (through cultivation) as it occur in nature. And this is the reason that the traditional healer avoid to use the herb collected from cultivated fields.

Later on from my other surveys, I got confirmation about the use of Bhuionla for the treatment of Jaundice. In Bagbahera region, the traditional healers use over 10 herbs to prepare special mixture for patients. I got opportunity to visit the forests with the traditional healers. The traditional healers of Bagbahera, use Bhuiaonla as major component in the specially prepared mixture. Bhuiaonla is one of the high value non wood forest produces of Chhattisgarh. From crop fields and forest areas, many tons of dried herb is transported to the national markets. Unfortunately, the farmers are not aware of this transportation and also about its high demand. Like other weeds, Bhuiaonla is also considered as harmful plant by most of the farmers. The regional research institutes recommend many toxic grochemicals to manage this weed. As hand weeding is a common weed control method in Chhattisgarh, most of the farmers uproot this weed and dump it outside their farms. The traders collect this weed (not for them) free of cost and sell it to national traders at fairly high rates. During my campaign to aware the common people about identification, harms and management of an obnoxious weed Parthenium hysterophorus, I always try to inform the farmers about the utilities of these so called unwanted plants. As herb expert, I am aware about the use and demand of these weeds in national and international markets but this is very difficult task to convince the farmers that they can earn an additional income from these so called unwanted plants. Last year I conducted a preliminary survey focused on the general knowledge (related to herbs) among the traders. The survey revealed that most of the traders are not aware about end uses of herbs, they sell to the national buyers. They are also not aware of national and international rates. This is the reason that they are not getting good returns from the national buyers. The same is the case of Bhuiaonla in Chhattisgarh. I personally feel that after proper training at different levels the government can do a lot to help these traders, collectors and also to the farmers.

As medicine Bhuiaonla holds a reputed position in different systems of medicine. The scientific name of Bhuiaonla is Phyllanthus niruri (family Euphorbiaceae). In reference literatures, I have found this detail about Bhuiaonla. It is an annual herb with 30-60 cm. height; stem branched at the base and angular; Leaves numerous, distichous, elliptic-oblong; flowers yellowish, numerous, axillary, monoecious; males 1-3, females solitary; disk of the male of minute glands, of female, annular, lobed; Fruits capsule, very small, globose, smooth, scarcely lobed; seeds trigonous, longitudinally ribbed on the back. Flowering time in Chhattisgarh condition varies between June to September. In other parts of India, natives are also aware of unique medicinal properties of Bhuiaonla. In Harpalpur (U.P.) Mr. Madan, a native, told me that he has successfully used the roots of Bhuiaonla for the treatment of Jaundice. When I shared my experience with whole plant against Jaundice, he showed ignorance towards the use of whole plant. Mr Madan prefer fresh root whereas Mr. B.N. Patel from Rajkot told me that the decoction of root is more beneficial as compared to fresh root. My major surveys were focused in Chhattisgarh and at present I am engaged in the same state. I feel that it is hard to write complete details in form of articles in one life. When I meet the traditional healers and natives from other states of India, my tension increases, really a big assignment and never ending task are waiting for me in these states. Through this article, I would like to request (humbly) the young generation to participate actively in this herculian task and assignment, for the benefit of human beings around the world. In Ayurveda, the medicinal properties of Bhuinaonla are well described. According to Ayurveda, it is alexipharmic, cooling and acrid, and useful in bronchitis, leprosy, thirst, anaemia, urinary discharges, anuria, biliousness, asthma, hiccup, and scabies.

Many traditional healers of Chhattisgarh, recommend their patients to wear a garland of specific herb parts in order to get rid from Jaundice. Although the modern science is not ready to accept the effects of herbal garland (Mala) but the natives have deep faith in traditional healers practising this treatment and the healers have deep faith in the knowledge gained from forefathers. During my surveys, I have noted the use of roots for the treatment of Jaundice. The traditional healer of Bastar, recommend his patients to use the garland prepared by him against Jaundice. He says to the patients that use this garland till cure and after complete cure, he takes the garland back and burry it near Pipal tree (Ficus religiosa). During long discussion on Jaundice herbs, he informed me about the use the roots of Punarnava in this garland. After discussion, I requested him that I want to visit the forest and to see the procedure he adopt to collect the Punarnava herb. He agreed. The traditional healer adopt no specific method for collection of herb. They prefer the Punarnava of forest origin. He never use digging instrument made up of iron. According to him, this metal is harmful for the medicinal properties of Punarnava.

In Chhattisgarh, two varieties of Punarnava grow in natural conditions. One can simply distinguish these varieties on the basis of flower colour. The red flowered variety is less preferred as compared to the white flowered variety. But at the time of collection, the healer take special precaution to select the herb at vegetative stage. In order to avoid confusion, he marks the spots where white flowered varieties commonly grows. During my surveys, I have noted both of these varieties prefer different types of micro environment. Very rarely they grow togather. This year I am planning to study the micro-environment required or preferred by these varieties. The healer listed many tree species around which the specific variety prefers to grow. The healer collect the roots and after washing , he cut it into 21-22 small pieces. After cutting, with the help of string, the garland is prepared. (Many traditional healers use the fruits of Xanthium in same manner in order to get rid from headache. You can find the detail in my previous article on Traditional medicinal knowledge about common herbs used for the treatment of migraine in Chhattisgarh, India). According to the traditional healer, there is no specific colour for string is recommended. Many traditional healers of state, use 8 or 9 parallel healer of Dalli-Rajhara preferred coloured string as compared to other colours. He has no reason for this specific colour. In Bilaspur region, many traditional healers, use the roots of Bhuiaonla alone or in combination with the roots of Punarnava. The roots of both species are put alternatively in the garland. According to them they make decision, on the use of species according to the severity of the disease.

I have listed over 15 herbs used for preparation of garland. Out of these 15 herbs, the roots of Bhuiaonla, Bhirra, Punarnava and Neem are most frequently used by the traditional healers of Chhattisgarh. I have searched many literatures in order to find out the science behind it but not got much success. These garlands are locally known as Mala and Tabiz. In case of Tabiz, the small box is put in garland containing the piece of root and mantras written on small piece of paper. The use of Tabiz is less popular as compared to the Mala. Many healers advise to put the Tabiz on other parts of body also. In many parts of Chhattisgarh, the healers use this garland in order to prevent the attack of Jaundice disease. I personally feel that there is a strong need for scientific evaluation to know the efficacies of these garlands, against Jaundice. Punarnava is popular potherb in Chhattisgarh. It is a wasteland plant (a weed for farmers) in Chhattisgarh. According to the traditional healer of Patan region, its use as potherb prevents the Jaundice and also useful in case of Jaundice. This information is not documented in available literature. Many natives particularly the old villagers have confirmed the use of this potherb against Jaundice. The internal use of its roots in treatment of Jaundice is mentioned in reference literatures. According to Ayurveda, Punarnava is bitter, cooling, astringent to bowels; useful in blood disorders, anaemia, inflammations, heart and respiratory diseases and leucorrhoea. The scientific name of Punarnava is Boerhaavia diffusa (family Nyctaginaceae).

Like Bhuiaonla and Punarnava, Imli is also a common non-wood forest produce in Chhattisgarh. Many traditional healers advise their patients to drink the leachate of Imli fruit as a treatment of Jaundice. The fresh fruit (pod) is put in water whole night and next morning the patient is advised to drink the water empty stomach. The natives of Chhattisgarh are also aware of this treatment. According to the traditional healer of Rajnandgaon, alone Imli Pani (Pani-water) is not sufficient for treatment, it is just supplement. He use the sugar syrup of common herb Cichory with Imli Pani. Cichory is not native to Chhattisgarh. It was introduced in Chhattisgarh with fodder crops from other parts of India. The healer told me that his father was purchasing the herb at that time for the preparation of drug but now this is easily available in fodder crop fields particularly in Berseem fields. The traditional healers of Chhattisgarh also use the herb Raksi for the treatment of Jaundice. Raksi is problematic rice weed. The healers recommend this herb with honey to patients suffering from Jaundice. According to them seven regular doses (one every day) can cure any stage of Jaundice in very short time. I would like to describe its botany in very short. It is an annual hairy herb, height upto 3 meters; Leaves broadly ovate-orbicular, acute or obtuse, crenate-dentate or undulate. Flowers solitary, axillary; pedicels usually geniculate. Calyx campanulate, in fruit stellately spreading, much shorter than the schizocarp; lobes 3-4 mm long, triangular, hairy; Corolla 25-30 mm across, hairy, yellow or orange - yellow; petals obovate. Schizocarps globular with a flat or indented apex. Sees glabrous or hairy. Flowering time is Chhattisgarh varies between August to March.

Besides use of herbs for the treatment, the traditional healers of Chhattisgarh give an equal emphasis on the diet of patients. They advise the patients to cure the problem of constipation first. They emphasize on inclusion of garlic, onion, ginger, bitter gourd etc. in regular diet for early cure. The flowers of Babool (Acacia nilotica) is also used with sugar for treatment by many traditional healers.