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Traditional Medicinal Knowledge
about medicinal herbs Koha (Terminalia arjuna) and Sarphonk (Tephrosia
purpurea) in Chhattisgarh plains, India
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Research Note - Pankaj Oudhia
© 2001,2002,2003 Pankaj Oudhia - All Rights ReservedThis article is based on my ethnomedico surveys conducted during 1996-2000, in different districts of Chhattisgarh plains. In Chhattisgarh Plains, Koha is a common tree and both natives and traditional healers are aware of medicinal properties of Koha. I have written a lot on its uses in heart, dental an other related troubles in my previous articles. Its twigs are popular Dataun (Herbal Tooth Brush) in Chhattisgarh. In this article, I am describing some unique uses of Koha, I have got during my surveys.
The traditional healers of Chhattisgarh plains use different parts of Koha for the treatment of many common diseases. Among these, different types of headaches are major troubles. The healers use Koha both internally and externally. The traditional healers of Durg region advise the patients suffering from headache due to excessive heat, to take the fresh leaves of Koha and Dhania (Coriander) and mix it using water, add sugar for taste and take twice a day till relief. The patients are also advised to take fresh leaves of Koha, Kohda (Pumpkin), Hara Dhania (Green Coriander), Kasni (Cichorium intybus), Makoi (Solanum indicum),Chirpoti (Physalis minima), Kukronda (Blumea lacera), Neem (Azadirachata indica) and extract the juice. This juice is dropped into the nose (few drops) as treatment. The healers informed me that Dhania and Koha are major ingredients in this combination. On the basis of availability, the users can delete or add other herbs. Most of herbs used in this combination are common wasteland plants. In order to get quick relief, one must use all herbs. Many healers boil the Koha seeds, pieces of Kohda fruits and Vanfasha seeds (Viola sp.) in water and patients are advised to expose the affected part in the fumes to get relief. In case of migraine (Adhkapari), the traditional healers of Bagbahera region, use the aqueous paste of Koha seeds for external application. According to them, it is useful in alleviating the intense pain. Many healers use the aqueous paste of leaves with seeds in order to make the combination strong.
Botanical differences among major Terminalia species of Chhattisgarh Particulars Terminalia Terminalia Terminalia Terminalia alata arjuna bellirica chebula 1) Local Names Saj Koha Bahera Harra 2) Habit A large, deciduous, straight-stemmed tree, with wavy crown, 32 m or more A large, evergreen tree with a spreading crown and dropping branches. A handsome tree, upto 40 m A tree with a round crown and spreading branches, 15-24m 3) Stem Clean, straight bole, upto 21m. Rarely long and straight, sometimes flutted Straight, frequently buttressed when large, clear bole of 6-9 m Cylindric, bole 4-9 m 4) Bark Grey or black, with deep, longitudinal, Fissures and transverse cracks. Very thick, grey or pinkish-green, smooth, exfoliating in thin, irregular sheets Bluish or ash-grey, with numerous, fine longitudinal cracks, yellow inside Dark brown, often longitudinally cracked, exfoliating in woody scales. 5) Leaf Elliptic or ovate, with one or two glands near the base. Subopposite, oblong or elliptic, coriaceous Broadly elliptic, clustered towards the ends of branches Ovate or elliptic with a pair of large glands at the top of petiole. 6) Flower Dull yellow, in terminal and axillary panicles White, small in panicled spikes. Greenish white, with honey-like smell , in axillary, simple ovoid, pyriform or ellipsoidal spikes Yellowish-white or greenish-white in terminal spikes 7) Fruit Upto 5 cm long, with 5 broad, coriaceous horizontally veined wings, 400-700 fruits per kg. Ovoid or ovoid-oblong, 5-7 seeded, 2.5-5.0 cm long with winged angles. Globular, obscurely 5 angled, somewhat fleshy dry, 0.3-2.0 cm diameter, grey, velvety, tomentose Ellipsoidal, obovoid or ovoid, yellow to orange-brown, sometimes tinged with red or black and hard drupe when ripe 8) Seed 13,000/kg, germination 4-70 days, 35-70 percent, viable upto 12 months Hard, 775-800/kg, germination 50-76 days, 50-60 percent Germination 38-100 percent, viable upto one year, germination 14-30 days Hard, pale yellow, germination 15-90 days, viable upto one year, germination 60 percent. The traditional healer of Dhamtari region, uses Koha seed, fruit, roots and barks in equal proportion for preparation of aqueous paste. I personally feel that there is a need of scientific investigation to evaluate the efficacies of these combinations. The traditional healers of Chhattisgarh Plains prepare a special herbal oil from Koha leaves. Young leaves are preferred to prepare the oil. The healers crush the leaves and extract the juice. The juice is mixed in sesamum oil and allowed to boil. When water evaporates completely from this combination the process is stopped. The traditional healers use this oil in many ways. The healers suggest the patients suffering from insomnia to use this oil externally on head and sole of both legs. According to them it is also good for chronic headache. The traditional healers of Raipur region, told me that it is good for hairs also. It promotes new hair growth and stops premature hair fall. But the traditional healers of others parts are not agree with this use. Many healers use the roasted seeds of Dhania and Koha to prepare powder. The healers give this powder with pure honey to the patients suffering from insomnia. According to them, in place of pure honey, Gud (Jaggery) can be used. The healers also advise the patients to burn this powder and inhale the fumes to get sound sleep. In case of bleeding piles, the traditional healers of Chhattisgarh plains prepare a decoction using Koha bark. The patients are advised to use this decoction in many ways. Daily intake of this decoction once in a day is recommended. During the preparation of decoction, the patients are instructed to put the affected parts in fumes. After cooling the traditional healers give it to the patients to apply it externally on bleeding piles. According to the traditional healers, these multiple uses of same decoction, helps the patients to get rid from this problematic disease. The traditional healers of Dongargarh region informed me that the decoction of bark is useful in dysentery.
Major Botanical differences between two Tephrosia species Characteristics Tephrosia Tephrosia candida purpurea 1) Habit Agregarious shrub, stem slender, sometimes woody, branches with persistent, brown or grey, velvety pubescence, 1.2 - 4.5 meters. A polymorphic, much-branched, suberect, hardy perennial herb, 30-60 cm 2) Leaf Imparipinnate, 12-25 cm long, leaflets 15-25, narrowly oblong to obovate oblong, grey or white, silky beneath Imparipinnate, 5-15 cm long, leaflets 9-21, narrow, oblanceolate, glabrous above, obscurely silky below 3) Flower Creamy white tinged with red,in racemes Red or purple in leaf-opposed racemes 4) Pods Slightly recurved, clothed with brown silky hair, 10-15 seeded pod Slightly recurved, glabrescent, 5-10 seeded 5) Seeds Brownish Greenish grey, smooth I have already described it in my previous articles, that this decoction is good heart tonic. The bone setters of Kapsi region advise the patient to take the fresh juice or decoction of Koha bark with milk in order to heal the fractures in less time. I have talked to many patients using Koha bark for this purpose and according to them , it is really very effective. The traditional healers of Raipur region, suggests the common person to apply this decoction as face wash to make the face fresh and free from infections. Many beauty parlours at Raipur city are using this decoction with multani mitti (Fuller’s clay). This combination is applied on face as face pack. The healers told me that it is good in removing black marks from face. The traditional healer of Gunderdehi, advise the patients to take the fresh aqueous extract of Koha bark with pure honey to treat chronic cough. According to him, the aqueous extract is very useful. He also told me that the aqueous extract given with the aqueous extracts of Aam (Magnifera indica) and Jamun (Syzygium sp.), is best remedy for any type of bleeding, both internal and external. To treat acute coryza, the healers use many herbal combinations. In this combination, Koha seeds are used as an integral part. The traditional healer of Devkar village, informed me that he used the Koha seeds to reduce the quantity of excessive milk in lactating woman. According to him, he suggests his patients to use the aqueous paste of Koha seeds, Masoor (Lentil) and Jeera (Cumin) externally for this purpose. For the natives and traditional healers of Chhattisgarh, Koha is one of the most valuable trees.
My surveys in other parts of Chhattisgarh are in progress and I will write more on this useful medical herb in my coming articles.Although in reference literatures Sarphonk is described as green manure crop but in Chhattisgarh the farmers are not aware of its uses as green manure crop. In Chhattisgarh, Sarphonk is found as wasteland plant. For farmers it is not a headache and weed scientists rarely recommend chemicals to eradicate it. Both for natives and traditional healers of Chhattisgarh, Sarphonk is a valuable herb. Like Koha, it is also used as Dataun during festival time specially by women. In many parts of Chhattisgarh, the traditional healers consider it as "Vajradanti" but according to herb experts the "Vajradanti" mentioned in Ayurveda is another herb. " Vajradanti" is a popular herb used to make the teeth and mouth trouble free. Like Calotropis, Blumea, Achyranthes, Datura it is also a very common herb found in almost every corner of Chhattisgarh. Sarphonk is in the list of non-wood forest produces of Chhattisgarh. There is routine demand of this herb in national and international drug markets. The traders from nearby metro, prefer to buy the whole herb, roots and seeds of Sarphank in bulk. Like the seeds of Charota (Cassia tora), its seeds are also used as substitute to coffee.
The traditional healers of Chhattisgarh plains, use different parts of Sarphonk, to treat more than 25 common diseases. The farmers use the roots of Sarphonk as first aid measure in case of injuries from agricultural implements. They collect the fresh roots chew it and apply the juice externally on injured parts in order to stop bleeding and to enhance the healing process. The traditional healers use the roots of Sarphonk to treat the enlarged spleen. The healers collect the roots before flowering and give it to patients with whey. According to them, it is one of the best remedies for enlarged spleen (Tilli locally). The seeds and roots of Sarphonk are used to treat rat bite by the natives of Chhattisgarh plains. In different systems of medicine, Sarphonk holds a reputed position. According to Ayurveda, the Sarphonk plant is digestible, anthelmintic, alexiteric, alterative, antipyretic and useful in treatment of liver, spleen, heart, blood, tumours, ulcers, leprosy, asthma and poisoning whereas seeds are useful in rat-poisoning. According to Yunani system of medicine, the Sarphonk root is diuretic and useful in treatment of asthma, bronchitis, liver, spleen diseases, boils and pimples, inflammations etc. The leaves are tonic to intestines and useful in respiratory diseases, piles, syphilis an gonorrhoea. I am describing its botany in short. Sarphonk is a polymorphic, sub erect, hardy and perennial herb; Leaf imparipinnate, 5-15 cm long; leaflets 9-21, narrow, oblanceolate, glabrous above, obscurely silky below Flower red or purple in leaf-opposed racemes; Pod slightly recurved, glabrescent, 5-10 seeded; Seed greenish grey and smoot. The detailed surveys are in progress.