Traditional Medicinal Knowledge about common herbs used for the treatment of Hydrocele in Chhattisgarh, India

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

Mainphal is a common tree in Chhattisgarh, found abundantly in natural forests. The traditional healers of Chhattisgarh, use very frequently different parts of Mainphal to treat hydrocele. It is used both externally and internally. Medically Hydrocele can be defined as a circumscribed collection of fluid in the tunica vaginalis of testis. It is one of the common problems particularly among youths. The public urinals of capital city are full of posters claiming that contact so and so doctors for promising cure in minimum fees. These posters indicate that like other parts of India, in Chhattisgarh also this is a common problem. Unfortunately, the natives, particularly belonging to urban areas are not aware of traditional medicinal knowledge and practising traditional healers and they are investing a lot of money in modern treatment with less success. In my surveys, I have found over 30 traditional healers specialised in the treatment of hydrocele. Other traditional healers are also aware but the success percentage I have noted is higher in case of specialist traditional healers. These healers use number of herbs but I have found Mainphal as most frequently used herb. It is used alone or in combination with other herbs. Its roots, barks and leaves are used but most of the healers use the leaves. The healers extract the leaf juice and put the juice under neem (Azadirachata indica) tree shade whole night. Next morning the juice is applied externally on scrotum. In absence of neem tree, the healers use Bakain (Melia azedarach) tree shade. It is general belief among traditional healers that this effective treatment, increases the medicinal properties of Mainphal leaf juice. Before keeping the pot under the neem tree, the healers perform small worship and utter mantras. In this worship, the healers request the neem tree to help in increasing the medicinal potential of leaf juice. I personally feel that here is a need of scientific evaluation of this process.

Major Botanical differences among Curcuma species
Characteristics	Curcuma	Curcuma	Curcuma	Curcuma
	amada	aromatica	longa	zeodaria
1) Stems and roots	Stemless herb, root stock large, sessile, tubers thick, cylindric or ellipsoid, pale yellow inside.	Stemless herb, root stock large, sessile, annulate, biennial, tubers yellow and aromatic inside.	Tubers oblong, Palmate, deep orange inside	Stemless herb, root stock of palmately branched, cylindric, oblong, annulate tubers, Pale yellow inside, odour like camphor, taste bitterish spicy.
2) Leaves	Long petiolated in tufts, 30-45x7.5-12.5 cm, oblong lanceolate.	38-60x10-20 cm, oblong elliptic or laneolate, green, variegated above, base deltoid.	Long stalked, lanceolate, tapering to each end, smooth, of a uniform green.	4-6 with long petioles, 30-60 cm long, oblong-lanceolate, clouded with purple down the middle.
3) Flowers	In autumnal spikes, Flowering bract greenish-white, bract of the coma tinged with red or pink, Calyx white or very pale yellow.	Fragrant, in spikes 15-30 cm long, Flowering bracts cymbiform rounded at the tips, pale green, forming pouches for the flowers, bracts of the coma tinged with red or pink Calyx tube 2.5 cm, Upper half funnel shaped, lobes pale-rose lip yellow, 3 lobed.	Spike central , oblong, green.	Flowering stem 20-25 cm long, appearing before the leaves, clothed with sheaths, Flowers yellow in spikes, flowering bract green tinged with red, coma bract crimson or purple, Calyx funnel shaped, lobed, lip 3 lobed, deep yellow.

 

The traditional healers of Mahasamund region, told me that the tree of Doomar (Ficus glomerata) is equally useful as the trees of Neem and Bakain, but the traditional healers of other part of Chhattisgarh are not ready to accept this. The Ayurveda expert of Raipur city having deep faith in traditional medicinal knowledge, told me that there is no meaning of this process. According to him, the healers perform this ceremony only to impress the patients and to show them that preparation of drug is not a child’s play. But I am not agree with him. The healers generally do not demonstrate the preparation methods to their patients. After getting convinced by my interest and work, they agreed to show me the process. The patients getting the treatment from the healers are not aware of this process. Hence, there is no question of impressing the patients. I am sure that systematic scientific research can answer these questions. In old troubles, the healers use the root juice of Mainphal in place of leaf juice. Sometimes, the healers use the combination of both. The aqueous extract of Mainphal seeds is also used. The healers told me that in majority of cases, use of different parts of Mainphal in treatment of hydrocele is not written in detail. According to these literatures, mainly the bark and fruit are used as medicine but I am proud to write that the traditional healers of Chhattisgarh are aware of medicinal uses of all parts of Mainphal. In reference literatures many other medicinal properties of Mainphal are described in detail. According to Ayurveda, it is bitter, sweet, heating, aphrodisiac, emetic, antipyretic, carminative and alexiteric and useful in treatments of ulcers, inflammations, skin-disorders, chronic bronchitis, muscular pain, paralysis, boils, leprosy, eruptions etc. The scientific name of Mainphal is Randia spinosa (Syn. R. dumetorum, R. brandisi, R. tomentosa, Xeromphis spinosa), family Rubiaceae. I am describing its botany in short. It is armed shrub or small tree; spines axillary; Leaves mostly fascicled on branchlets, obovate or oblanceolate, sub coriaceous, glaberscent or pubescent; stipules ovate; Flowers solitary or 2-3 fascicled, creamy white, fragrant; Calyx campanulate; Corolla covered with appressed silky hairs; Fruits globose, fleshy. Flowering time varies between May to July, in Chhattisgarh conditions.

Common Indian Names of Baibirang
Languages/Regions	Names
1) Gujarati	Varding, Vavading
2) Hindi	Boberang, Wavrung, Baibirang
3) Kanarese	Vayuvitang, Vidanga
4) Marathi	Vavading, Kakannie
5) Sanskrit	Bhasmaka, Bidanga, Jantughna, Pavaka
6) Bengali	Biranga
7) Tamil & Telugu	Vayuvilanga

Different parts of Parsa are also used by the traditional healers of Chhattisgarh to treat hydrocele both internally and externally. Parsa (Butea monosperma) is one of the most demanded non-wood forest produces of the state. I have written a lot on this herb in my previous articles. In order to reduce the pain due to hydrocele, the traditional healers use the root bark of Parsa. The healers collect the roots only during solar or lunar eclipse. These roots are dried in shades and after drying, it is converted in powder. The patients are advised to take this powder (one teaspoonful) twice a day till relief. This in not used for cure. It acts as pain-killer, the patients are advised to take other herbs with this for complete cure. During flowering season (between January to May in Chhattisgarh conditions), the healers advise the patients to collect the fresh flower from tree and boil it in water. After boiling, the flowers are collected and applied externally on scrotum in order to alleviate the pain. Many healers advise the patients to put the scrotum on the fumes coming out from pot in order to get relief. There is difference in collection procedure of flowers. Many healers prefer the flowers that are fallen in the ground whereas other suggests the patients to collect it from branches. The traditional healer of Tilda, told that the medicinal properties of fresh and fallen flower are completely different. I am surprised by the deep knowledge of the healers. I would like to request the researchers to focus their studies also on this important aspect. The utility of root and stem bark in case of hydrocele is described in reference literatures. According to these literatures, the root and stem bark are useful in treatment the hydrocele. But I have noted that the healers are not aware of its healing properties, as they use it just to alleviate the intense pain.

Baibirang is one of the most demanded non-wood forest produces of Chhattisgarh. Every year the traders collect this herb in bulk and supply it to national and international drug markets. For the buyers at national markets, the Baibirang of Chhattisgarh, is most valuable herb. According to them, in terms of medicinal properties the Baibirang of Chhattisgarh is best among Baibirang from other states and they get higher prices for this produce. Unfortunately , the real collectors are not aware of this fact and the traders of district level never want to disclose this fact to them. This is the reason the real collectors are still getting the old prices. Although it is yet not mentioned in official reports but due to over exploitation and high demand, the natural population of Baibirang is decreasing in state. In early days, when there is the demand of Baibirang seeds only, there was no danger for its natural population but from last decades, the demand of its roots has increased. The utility of its root is not mentioned in reference literatures. I am also not aware of its use but the primary collectors informed me that many traders are purchasing Baibirang roots at fairly high rates. When I discussed this with the forest officers, they laughed at me saying that there is no danger because there is demand of fruits only. If we consider the official records only, then they are very true but in field one can clearly observe the decreasing natural population of Baibirnag. The destructive and un-scientific collection method (i.e. collection of roots) is becoming a real curse. The traditional healers of Chhattisgarh use the Baibirang seeds for many diseases including hydrocele. The traditional healers of Sarguja region, advice their patients to use Baibirang seeds with ghee and powdered old bricks in order to get relief. This is really surprising to observe the use of powder old bricks in the treatment of any disease. I have never seen or read such unique use, of old bricks. The healers advise them to take this combination internally. According to the healers, Baibirang is main component in this combination but it is useful without powdered old brick and ghee plays vital role in digestion of this brick powder. The healers told me that initially in some cases this combination may cause vomiting or vomiting sensation but the patients should not be worry. When I asked the healers, how they select bricks to be used as medicine, they described detailed methods. I will write a separate article on this important aspect very soon. In reference literatures related to different system of medicine, the medicinal properties of Baibirang is mentioned. According to Ayurveda, Baibirang fruit is hot, dry with sharp bitter taste purgative, carminative, alexiteric, appetiser and useful in the treatment of tumours, ascites, bronchitis, mental troubles, dyspnoea, heart diseases, urinary discharges, jaundice, migraine, and worms in wounds.

I would like to described the botany of Baibirang in short. The scientific name of Baibirang is Embelia ribes (family : Myrsinaceae). It is a large scandent shrub with long branches and internodes, bark studded with lenticels; Leaves alternate, coriaceous, elliptic-lanceolate, shinning above, paler and silvery beneath; whole surface covered with minute reddish sunken glands; Flowers in lax panicles, racemes minute, many, greenish yellow; Fruits berry, nearly globase, smooth, succulent, black when ripe, like a pepper corn when dried. Flowering time varies between January to March in Chhattisgarh conditions.

Both Haldi (Turmeric) and Kali Haldi (Black Zeodary) are used by the traditional healers of Chhattisgarh in treatment of hydrocele. Both are used externally. In case of intense pain in scrotum, the traditional healers advise the patients to use the rhizomes of Haldi to apply in affected part after mixing it in egg yolk. Aqueous extract is also used in many cases. The use of Haldi in this way is very common in almost all parts of the state but the traditional healers of Bastar region, prefers Kali Haldi. The natural occurrence of Kali Haldi is reported in this region. The traditional healers of Bastar, prepare an aqueous paste and apply it externally just like Haldi paste. But after application, the patients are advised to wrap the betel leaves on it. In absence of betel leaves, the healer use Mahua, or Aam leaves. According to them, the use of leaves helps the aqueous paste to work effectively. For preparation of paste, the healers use lukewarm water and they advise the patients to apply lukewarm paste on scrotum The traditional healer of Kanker told me that in place of betel, Aam or Mahua leaves, one can use the leaves of Kali Haldi itself for better results. The healers from other parts of state are also aware of miracle healing properties of Kali Haldi but due to non-availability of Kali Haldi in all areas is a big constraint. During my work as medicinal plant expert in preparation of state bio-diversity action plan, I got information from forest guards of different corners of the state that Kali Haldi is becoming endangered herb in Chhattisgarh and there is a strong need to take immediate action for its conservation. My talks with the traditional healers after getting the information, confirmed this.

Recently, I visited neighbouring state Orissa. The natives complained that due to over exploitation, the availability of this herb is decreasing in their state also. During my visit to West Bengal state, I have seen the cultivation of Kali Haldi in isolated patches. My local guide told me (at that times) that the commercial growers are facing the problem of marketing. When I questioned the leading trader from Kolkata city, that why you are taking herb from forest people of my state, as it is available with the farmers of your state, he replied that there is a demand of Kali Haldi of forest origin not of cultivated origin. Later when I compared the produce of natural and cultivated origin, with the help of my biochemist friend, I found the high residues of chemical pesticides in produce. Although the size of Kali Haldi rhizome from cultivated origin was more but in terms of quality it was very poor. In reference literatures, many medicinal uses of Kali Haldi are well described. According to Ayurveda, Kali Haldi is pungent, bitter, fragrant (in Bengal it is used as cosmetic), heating, appetiser, vulnerary, anthelmintic, antipyretic, alexiteric and useful in leucoderma (my friends have tried it success fully), bronchitis, piles, asthma, tumours, tuberculosis, enlargement of spleen and epileptic seizure. The scientific name of Kali Haldi is Curcuma caesia (Family:Zingiberaceae). I am desribing the botany of Kali Haldi. It is a stemless herb with root stock of palmately branched, cylindric, oblong, annulate tubers, pale-yellow inside; Odour similar to camphor, taste bitterish spicy; Leaves 4-6 with long petioles, 30-60 cm long, oblong-lanceolate, clouded with purple down the middle Flowers with flowering stem having 20-25 cm length, appearing before the leaves, clothed with sheathes; Flowers yellow in spikes, flowering bract green tinged with red; Coma-bract crimson or purple; Corolla funnel shaped, lobed; lip 3-lobed, deep-yellow, Fruits capsule, trigonous. In order to reduce the pressure on natural forests of Chhattisgarh, there is a need to promote its commercial cultivation in the state.

The traditional healers also use the decoction of Dhanbaher (Cassia fistula) seeds for the treatment of hydrocele. In case of hydrocele of small children, it is common practice to apply the seeds of Rahar with water, in affected part for immediate relief. The bark of Siris (Albizia lebbeck) is also in use in many parts of state for external application. According to the traditional healers of Chhattisgarh, although the treatment of hydrocele takes long time but it is curable disease and with the help of their knowledge, the patients can be treated in less expenses and through side-effect free therapy.