Interactions with the Natives and Traditional Healers of Gulgul Village, Chhattisgarh, India having rich traditional medicinal knowledge about common herbs.

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

The seeds of Shivlingi resemble to the shape of male genitals. It is common belief in Chhattisgarh that use of Shivlingi seeds is beneficial for pregnant woman interested in only male child. For the first time in my life, I have seen the use of Shivlingi at Gulgul village. Gulgul is 80kms far from the capital of Chhattisgarh state. The natives and traditional healers of Gulgul are using this herb to get only male child from centuries. The traditional healers of this village informed me that they have gained this knowledge from their forefathers. According to them , they collect the herb from the dense forests of Sirpur region and by the typical bad smell of herb, one can easily identify Shivlingi herb. The herb is collected at fruiting stage. The traditional healers of Gulgul village advise the pregnant woman to start taking Shivlingi seeds two months after the start of pregnancy. The woman is instructed to take 3-4 seeds daily empty stomach up to one month. The healers warn the woman to not to chew or crush the seeds, just swallow whole seed. The traditional healers from other parts of Chhattisgarh are also aware of its use to get male child. The traditional healer of Rajim region, gives the Shivlingi seeds with gud. The traditional healer of Kanker region suggests his patients to use Shivlingi seeds with the seeds of Bhang (Cannabis sativa). He gives Bhang at morning and Shivlingi seeds at night to the woman. In reference literatures, the medicinal properties of Shivlingi leaves and whole plant are described. According to these literatures, Shivlingi is hot, pungent and alternative. Its use as tonic is also reported. In reference literatures related to botany, I have found this description about Shivlingi herb. It is an annual scandent herb; stem grooved and glabrous; tendrils bifid; Leaves membranous, 10-15 cm long, green and scabrid above, paler and smooth beneath, 5 lobed, deeply cordate base, lobes oblong lanceolate, margins sinuate denticulate; Flowers monoecious, male in fascicles of 3-6 flowers, corolla campanulate, 5-partite, ovate oblong; female flowers solitary , or few or many, corolla as in the male; Fruits baccate, sub sessile, globose, smooth, bluish green, streaked with broad vertical lines.; Seeds yellowish brown, and as described earlier of Shivling shape; Flowering time in Chhattisgarh conditions varies between August to October. I personally feel that there is a need of scientific evaluation of Shivlingi’s medicinal properties.

Common Indian Names of Shivlingi (Bryonia lacinosa)
Languages/Regions	Names
1) Gujarati	Shivlingi
2) Hindi	Gargumaru, Ishwara-Shivalingi
3) Malyalam	Kavodi, Shivalingi
4) Sanskrit	Apastambhini, Chandra, Lingaja, Lingini, Shivavalli

Both Bathua and Munga are common herbs found in Gulgul village. The traditional healers use both for the treatment of Leucoderma. Bathua (Chenopodium album) is a winter season crop weed. The healers advise the patients suffering from Leucoderma to take fresh juice of Bathua herb empty stomach in order to get quick relief. As Bathua is winter season crop weed, the healers advise the patient, do not loose the opportunity of using the herb for this disease. The Bathua herbs at vegetative stage are preferred. The traditional healers, also advise the patients to apply the aqueous paste of Munga (Moringa oleifera)seeds on white spots of skin. According to them , the internal use of Bathua juice and external use of Munga seeds to gather helps the patients to get quick relief from this awkward looking skin disease. The native of this village told me that the young leaf of Parsa tree (Butea monosperma) is another good remedy to get male child. According to them during period, the woman must eat one Parsa leaf with cow milk in order to get male child. The traditional healers are not agree with this formula. According to them Parsa leaf is effective but not alone. They add some more herbs in this combination and give it to the pregnant woman. They are not ready to disclose the formula publicly . In order to prevent abortion, the traditional healers of Gulgul village use the decoction of Santra (Orange) leaves and the bark of Pipal tree (Ficus religiosa). Some times they add 5-6 gms of bark powder in the decoction of Santra leaves. The patients are advised to take this decoction 3-4 times a day up to specific period. The period is fixed by the traditional healers according to the vitality of the patients.

The traditional healers of Gulgul village, use the whole plant of Punarnava and Bhengra as external application in case of cataract (Motiabindu). The fresh juice of these herbs is also recommended to make the eyes strain and disease free. Punarnava (Boerhavia diffusa) and Bhengra (Eclipta alba) are common wasteland plants in this region. Many healers from different parts of the state, use the roots of Punarnava in place of whole plant. The medicinal properties of Bhengra to cure eye diseases are mentioned in reference literature but not much has been written on medicinal uses of Punarnava for the treatment of eye diseases. For eye pain, the traditional healers use the leaves of Dhikuar (Aloe vera) with Turmeric (Haldi). After removing the gel from leaves, the healers add Turmeric powder in it and after warming it slightly, the patients are advised to keep the Aloe leaf having Turmeric powder on eye lids to get relief.

The traditional healers of this village are very popular in the region for the treatment of diabetes. Every Sunday, over 100 patients mostly from nearby cities visit the healers to take herbal combination useful in diabetes. The traditional healers refused to disclose the formula but when I assured them the I will never use this formula to earn even a single penny, they agreed to disclose the formula. According to them, they use one part of Jamun Guthli (Jamun seeds), one part of Sonth (dried Ginger powder) and two parts of Medhashingi herb. After mixing all these three herbs, they filter it through white muslin cloth and after filteration, they prepare small balls (each ball having the size of Ber fruit; Ber - Zizyphas jujuba) using the fresh juice of Dhikuar (Aloe vera). The Patients are advised to take three balls with pure honey in a day. The medicinal uses of Jamum (Syzygium cumini) and Medhasingi (Gymnema sylvestris ) are mentioned in reference literature. I interviewed the patients using this herbal combination. They told me that this is effective combination. Many patients aware of contents prefer to take combination from the traditional healers. According to them , the method of preparation is not as simple as described by the healers. Recently, I have given the combinations prepared by traditional healers and home made preparation, to one of the friends working as biochemist in reputed drug company. During my ethnomedico surveys to different parts of Chhattisgarh, I have noted that the healers of other parts are also aware of this herbal combination but they use these herbs in different ratios. According to them, Gymnema and Syzygium are the most effective herbs in these combinations and other herbs are added to nullify the harmful effects of these herbs. Before describing other details I would like to describe the botany pubescent; Leaves opposite, ovate, elliptic, base rounded or cordate; Flowers in Cymes; Corolla campanulate, yellow, corona of 5 processes; Fruits follicle, lanceolate, usually single; Seeds with thin marginal wing; Flowering time in Chhattisgarh conditions varies between March to May. According to Ayurveda, Gymnema is bitter, acrid, cooling, tonic, anthelmintic, alexiteric and alterative. It is useful in treatment of eye complaints, burning sensation, biliousness, bronchitis, ulcers, asthma, heart diseases, leucoderma, urinary discharges etc.

The traditional healers and natives of Gulgul village use many herbs as tonic. During winter, they use the vegetable prepare from tubers of Patal Kumhda (Pueraria lobata). This is also used as animal tonic. The traditional healers informed me that they prepare special herbal combination for women after pregnancy and for peoples of old age. They use the seeds of Parsa (Butea monosperma) and add sugar and Til seeds (Sesamum indicum) in equal proportion and give it to the patients up to one week. I have tried this combination and found it very effective.

The traditional healers of this village are now planning to leave this social service. The torture and harassment by local authorities, as they are unregistered practitioner, discouraging them to stop this service. The healers informed me that when they use Patal yantra to prepare Ark, the local police take action against them blaming that they are preparing narcotics. Long queue of patients in front of this village clinics is a proof for the effectiveness of their treatment but due to jealously the villagers are planning to take legal action against these healers. This is really surprising and sad. I personally feel that there is a strong need to encourage these healers to continue their social services for the sake of humanity.