Traditional Medicinal Knowledge about common herbs used in treatment of Kodh (Leprosy) in Chhattisgarh, India

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

As the colour of spots is white, most of the traditional healers of Chhattisgarh, recommend the patients suffering from leprosy to avoid the use of white food material viz. milk, curd, sugar, rice etc. They also instruct the patients to avoid fish. Few decades back, Leprosy was the serious problem not only in Chhattisgarh, but also in other parts of India. But due to extensive programmes by the Indian Government, now natives are aware of this disease and the number is decreasing. During my ethnomedico surveys in different parts of Chhattisgarh, I observed that very few traditional healers are aware of Leprosy treatment. Most of the traditional healers claim that they have enough knowledge to treat this disease but the patients taking herbs under their supervision informed me that they are able to reduce its intensity but unable to cure it. My surveys revealed that total 25 traditional healers of Chhattisgarh are specialised in the treatment of Leprosy. I have interacted all these traditional healers and discussed the herbs used by them. All the healers use some common herbs. Few herbs are very specific and the specific healers avoid to disclose these. In this article, I am describing traditional medicinal knowledge about some promising herbs used for the treatment of Leprosy by the traditional healers and natives.

All healers use different parts of tree for the treatment of Leprosy. It is common belief among the traditional healers that the impurities of blood are responsible for this disease. Many healers blame the evil spirits for this disease and according to them, Neem is able to purify the blood and remove away the evil spirits, Although it is now scientifically proven that Leprosy is not a contagious disease but in Chhattisgarh, natives still believe that it is contagious and they advise the patients to live with the traditional healers till cure or they make separate unit for the patients. If the family members are ready to pay the expenses, the traditional healers generally agree to keep the patients under their supervision. The healers prepare a special hut for the patients. The healers mix Neem and Nirgundi (Vitex negundo) leaves in the mud to be used to build the hut. These huts are built near to Neem plantations and during noon, the patients are advised to take rest under these trees. The traditional healers are aware of the fact that this is time taking disease and require lot of patience. For internal and external application, the healers use Neem parts in different ways. For preparation of drugs, the healers prefer 20-30 years old Neem trees only. They use the decoction of different parts of Neem for the treatment. In decoction, besides bark, leaves, roots and flowers of Neem, Harra (Terminalia chebula), Baheda (Terminalia bellirica), Aonla (Phyllanthus emblica), Bemchi (Psoralea corylifolia), Babool (Acacia nilotica) are added. The healers instruct the patients to avoid spicy food during the use of decoction. The patients informed me that it is very difficult to use this decoction because of extreme bitter taste. They request the healers to add sweetening herbs, but they compel them to take the decoction in original form. According to patients, it acts as purgative. The traditional healers confirmed this and informed that it is necessary to drain out the impurities and vish (toxins) out of the body. The healers also advise the patients to collect the dew drops from Neem leaves and apply this useful dew drops in spots for early relief. As socially Leprosy is not considered as safe disease, in general common people neglect the patients . According to traditional healers, when patients come for the treatment first time, most of them are depressed and it is very necessary to make them mentally sound and healthy first. During treatment the healers, assign many complicated works to the patients in order to make them busy. According to the patients, the collection of dew drops is very difficult work but healers always insist to collect more and more dew drops. The use of dew drops collected from Neem leaves for the treatment of Leprosy is not mentioned in reference literatures. I am proud to write the traditional healers of Chhattisgarh are aware of this unique use and it is still in practice. I personally feel that there is a strong need for scientific evaluation in order to explain its effects. Neem is valuable herb for the traditional healers. Now whole world is aware of its miracle healing properties. Neem is a common tree in the state. I am describing its botany, I have noted from the reference literatures. Neem (Azadirachta indica; family Meliaceae) is a large, evergreen tree; stem straight and long, bole 6 meters, with a large crown; Bark grey or dark grey or nearly black, rough, reddish-brown inside the numerous, oblique furrows and scattered tubercles; Leaf imparipinnate, alternative, 20-40 cm long; leaf lets 8-19, alternate or opposite oblique or sub-falcate, falcate-lanceolate, rarely ovate-lanceolate, glossy, bluntly serrate; Flower white or pale yellow, generally small, honey-scented, numerous, in slender, lax axillary panicles; Fruit green, turning yellow on ripening, aromatic, oblong, ovoid-oblong, smooth drupe, 1.3-1.8cm long; seed 3300-6300 per kilogram with no dormancy, viability long. Neem holds a reputed position in almost all the systems of medicine in India.

In my previous article on Traditional medicinal knowledge about common herbs used as Heart tonic in Chhattisgarh, India, I have described about the uses of medicated wooden glasses for the treatment of common diseases. The traditional healers of Chhattisgarh, prepare a special medicated wooden glass for Leprosy patients also. Fortunately, this glass is also useful in treatment of another common disease diabetes. This glass in prepared from the wood of Beejasal tree. The tree used to prepare the glasses should be 40-50 pears old at least. The healers instruct the patients to fill water in this glass at night, and next morning, drink the leachate empty stomach. The diabetic patients are instructed in different way, I will describe it in future article. In absence of glass, the healers use the piece of wood and advise the patients to dip it in measured quantity of water. According to traditional healers of Pendra region, the regular use of this medicated glass prevents body from harmful pathogen and increase the resistance. It is good and recommended for natives of all age group. The healers are not sure but they believe that regular use of this wooden glass prevents the attack of Leprosy also. For confirmation scientific studies are necessary. The scientific name of Beeja Sal is Pterocarpus marsupium.

It is common practice in Chhattisgarh, to apply the bark decoction of Hingan in skin disease externally. In case of Sendri mata (Small pox) the natives still use this tree to prepare a decoction to wash the affected part. Most of the natives use it (along with the Allopathic drugs) for the treatment of Sendri mata. The traditional healers of Chhattisgarh, advise the Leprosy patients to make powder from dried Hingan bark and take a teaspoonful of this powder daily morning empty stomach in order to get early relief. According to the traditional healers this powder is for specific patients. Many patients react badly after taking it but the patients having no problem from this powder, get cure in very less time. The healers are also surprised by the miracle effects of Hingan bark powder. The traditional healers of Dhamtari region informed me that he had tried the roots in the same way as the bark but roots are not much effective. Like other trees, very old Hingan trees are preferred by the traditional healers. In case of new trees, they increase the quantity of powder. There is no thumb rule for this but the healers increase the quantity on the basis of their experiences. In reference literatures, not much have been written on utility of its bark in case of Leprosy. According to the reference literatures, the bark possess anthelmintic and spasmolytic properties. The uses of Hingan are coming in my articles for the first time, I am describing its botany in short. The scientific name of Hingan is Balanites roxburghii (family Balantitaceae). According to reference literatures, Hingan is a spiny, evergreen tree upto 9 meters height; Bark grey, 6mm thick; Leaf bifoliate, leaflets elliptic or obovate; Flower small, greenish-white, fragrant; Fruit woody, ovoid, 5-gooved drupe, enclosing on oily seed in bitter pulp. Hingan is a common tree in natural forests of Chhattisgarh.

Pitta or Pittpapda is common roadside weed in many parts of Chhattisgarh. I have seen it in Sarguja region where it competes with upland crops. Although farmers are not aware of its uses but for the traditional healers of Chhattisgarh, it is valuable herb. In my surveys, I have noted many ethnomedico uses of Pittpapda, and it is used in combination of other herbs only. I have yet not get the information on use of Pittpapda used alone in treatment of any disease. For the treatment of Leprosy the traditional healers use Pittpapda in combination with Asgandh (Withania somnifera), Bramhadandi, Harra (Terminalia chebula), and Baheada (Terminalia bellirica). Asgandh is not reported in Chhattisgarh. The traditional healers purchase this herb from local herb shops. The traditional healers of Pendra informed me that in this combination. Pittpapda is most important and essential component and one can avoid the use of Asgandh without much problem. In name of Bramhadandi, the traditional healers use common weed Tridax procumbens but in reference literatures, many other herbs are mentioned in the name of Bramhadandi. The use of Tridax in Leprosy treatment is not mentioned in reference literatures. All these herbs are collected and dried in shade. The equal parts of all herb are then converted into powder. The healers select the earthen vessel and fill it with well water. In this water, powder is mixed and vessel is kept under the shade of neem tree whole night. Next morning, they filter the solution and give the leachate to patients. The scientific name of Pittpapda is Fumaria indica (Family Papaveraceae). Botanically it is diffuse much branched annual glaucous herb; Leaves with flat linear segments; flowers small, white is or rose coloured, sepals two, lanceolate; Fruits globose, rugose when dry with two pits at the top, single seeded.

According to traditional healers of Bastar region, Shisham is a promising blood purifier and very useful in treatment of Leprosy. The healers informed me that all parts of Shisham are useful in treatment but barks are mostly and frequently used part. For the healers of Bastar region the river Indravati is equivalent to river Ganga. The healers use the water of Indravati for the preparation of drug instead of water from other sources. According to them, as the river flows through natural forests rich in valuable medicinal herbs and soils, its water is itself a medicine. During my surveys, I have seen the vessels full of Indravati river water with the traditional healers. For specific disease like Leprosy, the traditional healers of Bastar region, use only the river water for preparation of drug. They advise the patients to take regular bath in river water in order to get early relief. The Shisham trees nearer to Indravati river are preferred by the healers to prepare the drug. The bark is converted into powder and mixed it in river water. The healers advise the patients to take this solution daily before going for sleep. About 250 gms. of bark powder is dipped in 3 litres of river water. Many healers instruct the patients to add the sugar in this combination to make it tasty. As in general white food material is restricted, the healers avoid the use of sugar. Some healers boil the powder in river water and prepare a decoction. This decoction is given to the patients after lunch. The healers give this solution upto forty days and after break of one month, repeat it again for next forty days. According to the healers, first dose is enough in most of the cases. The healers take special precaution in case of patients suffering from diabetes. For diabetic patients, they prefer Beejasal as compared to Shisham. Although Shisham is mentioned as medicinal herb in reference literatures but the uses have not been described in detail. The ethnomedico use of this useful herb are also not available in literatures. The scientific name of Shisham is Dalbergia sissoo (family Leguminoaseae). Sesham is a large, deciduous tree; Stem with light crown.; Bark grey, longitudinally or sometime reticulately furrowed; leaf compound, flower yellowish white, in axillary panicles of short racemes; Fruit pale brown, one to four seeded pod; seed reniform, flat, light brown, with papery testa, seeds viable upto one year. I personally feel that there is a need of scientific studies to evaluate the medicinal uses of Shisham in treatment of Leprosy.

Among less frequently used herbs, Babool (Acacia nilotica),. Samudhraphal (Argyria speciosa), Sarphonk (Tephrosia purpurea), Sirsa (Albizia sp.) are main herbs. The healers use the different parts of these herbs as supplement to major treatment. The traditional healers of Chhattisgarh plains use Babool Bark in same manner as Shisham Bark is used by the healers of Bastar region. But according to them, it is less effectives as compared to Shisham bark. Many healers use the combination of Babool and Sirsa Bark in order to increase the efficacy of Babool Bark. The Babool gum is also used by the traditional healers. The traditional healers of Sarguja region, use the bark of Samudhrapha tree for Leprosy treatment. I personally feel that there is a strong need of scientific evaluation to understand the effect of different tree barks alone and in combination with other tree barks.