Traditional Medicinal Knowledge about Herbal Mala used for the treatment of common diseases in Chhattisgarh

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

The Harrap’s Easy English dictionary describes the term "Garland" as a circle of flowers or leaves worn as a decoration’. The word Mala is very close to Garland. In Mala generally flowers and leaves are main component and it is used to honour someone. In Herbal Mala, described in this article is common in Chhattisgarh and the traditional healers use roots in place of flowers and leaves. They advise the patients to wear this Herbal Mala for specific period or whole life, according to the trouble they are facing. Many traditional healers, suggests their patients to use Tabiz (Locket ) in place of Herbal Mala. In this Tabiz, they use roots of specific herbs. During my ethnomedico surveys in different parts of Chhattisgarh, I have collected a lot of information on Herbal Mala. I am describing some of the valuable information about Herbal Mala commonly used in Chhattisgarh.

Common and popular names of Putranjiva around the world.
Languages/Regions/Countries	Names
1) Bengal	Jiputa, Putranjiva
2) Myanmar	Badihyu, Egayit, Taukyat
3) Kanarese	Amani, Putrajiva, Mehasinal ale
4) Hindi	Jiaputa, Jivputrak, Patji, Putranjiva
5) Malyalam	Pongalam, Ponkolam
6) Marathi	Jewanputr, Jivputrak
7) Sanskrit	Garbhada, Jivanaputra, Kumarajiva, Pavitra, Mavu, Putrajiva, Putranjiva
8) Tamil	Irukolli, Karupali, Karupilai
9) Telugu	Kadrojuvi, Kudrajini, Putrajivika
10) Urdu	Bholokoli, Pahunjona, Poichandia, Poitundia

In case of Night pollution, a common disease among youths, the traditional healers of Bagbahera region recommend the patients to use specific Mala having Dhatura (Datura sp.) roots. Based on the severity of problems, the healers recommend the use of Black or white varieties of Dhatra. The patients having more than 2 to3 wet dreams in a single night are advised by the traditional healers to use herbal Mala having roots of black variety .As string, white colored string is preferred. In case of normal patient, the healers advise to use of roots of white variety and in place of white colored string, black one is used. One the basis of severity, the healers use 3 or 6 gms of roots to prepare the Herbal Mala. The traditional healers of Rajnandgaon area, recommend white variety only to the their patients. According to them, they are aware of miracle healing properties of black variety but in their area, black variety is very rare. The traditional healers of Bilaspur region are not aware of white variety roots used for night pollution. They use only black variety. The traditional healers of Durg region, advise their patients to tie the Herbal Mala around the waist instead of neck. According to them, this is most effective method. They suggest their patients to wear this Herbal Mala whole day till relief. If it is not possible for them, then they instruct them to wear it at least during sleep. Datura occurs as wasteland herb in Chhattisgarh. As medicine, Datura holds a reputed position in all systems of medicine. Based on the colour of flowers, it is divided in many varieties including black and white. The black variety is preferred by the traditional healers as compared to the white variety. In reference literature, the use of Dhatura leaves and seeds are well mentioned but not much has been written on the use of roots. According to Ayurveda, the seeds and leaves are used for the treatment of leucoderma, skin diseases, ulcers, bronchitis, jaundice, piles, biliousness, eye pain, headache, nose-trouble, enlarged testicles, boils etc. whereas anti-inflammatory properties of roots are mentioned. Here I am describing the botanical description of Kala-Dhatura (Black variety) Dutura fastuosa Linn. (Family : Solanceae). It is a shrub having 30-60 cm height, somewhat zig-zag, divaricately branched; Leaves ovate, acute, entire or with large teeth or lobes, usually pubescent, very unequal at the base; flowers purple outside, white inside, double, solitary, long, tubular, funnel - shaped; limb with 5 or 6 deltoid lobes and a short tail in the middle of each intervening sinus; Fruits capsule, nodding, on curved stalk, sub globose, green , covered with straight sharp prickles ; Seeds numerous, packed, yellowish brown. Flowering time in Chhattisgarh conditions varies between August to January. For the same trouble (Night Pollution), the traditional healers of Sarguja region use the Herbal Mala prepared with roots of Nirgundi (Vitex negundo). They use red string in this Mala and advise the patient to wear it whole night. In general, they use 10 gms. of roots. Based on the severity of disease, they use the Mala having 3,5 or 7 root pieces. In reference literature, many medicinal properties of Nirgundi roots are mentioned excluding its use to treat Night pollution. According to Ayurveda, root is tonic, febrifuge, expectorant and diuretic.

In order to avoid the Abortion, the traditional healers of Chhattisgarh use the Herbal Mala prepared from Shami roots. Shami trees are not common in Chhattisgarh. The traditional healers purchase the roots from local herb shops and use it. In general, the white coloured string is used to prepare Herbal Mala. The scientific name of Shami (also known as Jhand locally) is Prosopis cineraria (Family : Leguminoseae). Before describing another Herbal Mala, I would like to give botanical description of this tree Shami is a small tree with grey glabrous branches armed with scattered prickles; Leaves bipinnate; rachis 3-5 cm long, glabrous; pinnae mostly 2 pairs, opposite; leaflets 8-21 pairs, sessile, oblique rounded and mucronate at apex. Flowers yellow, in short peduncled, solitary or terminally panicled spikes. Calyx truncate, slightly 5-toothed; Corolla 3mm long; pods cylindrical, straight, torulose; seeds 10-18, seed colour dull brown. Flowering time in Chhattisgarh conditions varies between December to April. In reference literatures, the use of roots to prepare Herbal Mala is not mentioned. The traditional healers advise their patients to use this Herbal Mala to wear it either around neck or to tie it around their waist, in order to avoid abortion. In general, they use 6-8 gms of roots and only single piece of root is used to prepare the Herbal Mala. In Gandai region of Chhattisgarh, the Mala prepared from roots of Putranjva tree is very popular. It is used to avoid abortion. Both natives and traditional healers are well aware of this property of Putranjiva roots. The scientific name of Putranjiva is Putranjiva roxburghii (family : Euphorbiaca).

In Chhattisgarh the roots of Chirchita are very frequently used to prepare different Herbal Malas to treat common diseases. In case of chronic fever, the traditional healers prepare herbal Mala using white variety of Chirchita roots. The traditional healers collect the roots only on Itwar (i.e. Sunday). They prefer the collection of roots before sunrise. At the time of collection, the traditional healers prefer to wear red clothes and after collection, they wrap the roots with red clothes. They prepare the Herbal Mala using red string. This Mala is either used in neck or tied around the wrist of left hand. Mostly the healers advise the patient to tie the Mala around the wrist. After cure, the healers advise the patients to remove the roots. When I asked the traditional healers about the role of red colored clothes, they informed that red colour increases the medicinal potential of Chirchita roots. Many of them told me that the red cloths, helps the roots to retain its medicinal properties. I personally feel that there is a need of scientific investigation to explain the utility of red cloths and string during the use of Chirchita roots. In case of Sukhandi disease (Marasmus) of children, the traditional healers of Chhattisgarh use the Herbal Mala prepared from Chirchita roots. They collect the roots on Mangalwar (i.e. Tuesday). In place of red string, green coloured string is used to prepare the Herbal Mala. Many healers use Tabiz in place of Herbal mala. The traditional healers told me that alone this Mala is not enough to cure the marasmus. According to them, when they use different herbal combinations in this disease, the Herbal Mala around patients neck, increases the potential of these combinations. The use of Chirchita roots as Herbal Mala is not reported. Chirchita is a common wasteland plant in Chhattisgarh and for the traditional healers and natives, it a valuable medicinal herb. It is one of the important non-wood forest produces also. Every years several tons of dried Chirchita herb is transported from forests to national and international markets.

In snake affected areas, the natives use the Herbal Mala prepared from Gumma roots. It is common practice in Chhattisgarh. During rainy days the farmers use this Herbal Mala in order to get protection from venomous snakes common in paddy bunds and fields. The fresh roots are used to prepare the Herbal Mala. The scientific name of Gumma is Leucas aspera (Family : Labiateae). It is a common road side and crop field (Mostly upland) weed in Chhattisgarh. It is also a popular potherb. In Chhattisgarh, the farmers smear the root juice on sole of legs and also put the root piece inside the shoes, during visit to crop fields in order to get protection from venomous snakes.

The traditional healers of Chhattisgarh use the Herbal Mala also as veterinary medicine. In case of worm infestation, the use of Lasora plant is well described in literatures, but the traditional healers of Chhattisgarh, recommend the Herbal Mala prepared from Lasora roots in order to prevent the attack of mites in cattle. They told me that use of this specially prepared Herbal Mala is helpful in repelling the mites already present in cattle’s bodies. The healers use a single piece of 10-15 cm long roots in order to provide maximum benefit. The scientific name of Lasora is Cordia obliqua (Family : Borginaceae). The medicinal properties of its bark, leaves and fruits are mentioned in reference literatures but not much has been written on medicinal properties of roots.

It is common practice in Chhattisgarh that the natives prepare the Herbal Mala using Bagnakha and Kanghi roots for little children in order to protect them from evil spirits. The scientific name of Bagnakha is Martynia annua (syn. M. Diandra; Family : Martyniaceae) and Kanghi is Abuliton indicum (Family : Malvaceae). Both herbs are found in abundance during rainy season in almost every corner of the state. The Herbal Mala prepared from Punarnava roots is also in use in Chhattigarh . You can get details about the use of Punarnava roots in my article Traditional medicinal knowledge about common herbs used for the treatment of Peelea or Pelia (Jaundice) in Chhattisgarh, India.

As stated earlier, not much has been written on this important aspect (i.e. Herbal Mala) by early researchers and writers. This is good news that the traditional healers and natives are aware of utilities of there Mala and they are still using it to treat common diseases. There is a strong need to study the science behind this.