Traditional Medicinal Knowledge about common herbs used in treatment of gynaecological disorders in Chhattisgarh, India

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

In case of menorrhagia, the natives of Chhattisgarh use different soils for treatment. In general, the soil collected near to Chana (Chickpea) crop is used. After collection, soil is kept in pot filled with water and patients are advised to drink the filtrate twenty four hours after dipping. The soil nearer to Chana plant is taken. Organically grown Chana crop is preferred as presence of agrochemicals in soil can cause harmful effects. The soil is collected early morning and the natives prefer to collect the soil when crop is at vegetative stage. According to the natives, this filtrate is useful both for patients and normal person. In Chhattisgarh, Chana is cultivated as rabi (winter) season crop after harvesting of paddy (Oryza sativa). Heavy clay (locally known as Kanhar) soil is preferred for cultivation. In my previous articles. I have described traditional medicinal knowledge about the useful and valuable soils of Chhattisgarh. The natives informed me that in early days when there was no use of agrochemicals in Chana cultivation, the use of soil for the treatment of menorrhagia was very common and popular but these days, due to heavy use of agrochemicals, it is difficult to get chemical free soil and this is the reason, the natives are hesitating to use this cheap and effective treatment. This is very interesting to know that the natives use the soil from field where Chana is taken after the harvesting of paddy crop and if in previous season, the land was fallow, they never use the Chana soil for treatment. When I discussed this treatment with the traditional healers, they told me that they are not aware of Chemistry but they believe that both paddy and Chana herbs play a vital role in making the soil rich in medicinal properties. In reference literatures related to different systems of medicine, the use of Chana leaves, acid exudation and seeds as medicine are described. I am proud to say that the natives and traditional healers of Chhattisgarh, are using its roots also and even the soil beneath the Chana herb is used for treatment. In reference literatures, the use of Chana herb in treatment of menorrhagia is not mentioned. I personally feel that there is a strong need to conduct a detailed study on this aspect. During my ethnomedico surveys in different parts of Chhattisgarh, I have noted and observed the uses of different soils collected nearer to common herbs in treatment of many common troubles including menorrhagia but according to the traditional healers, there is no alternative to soil collected nearer to Chana herb. As native to Chhattisgarh, with the help of traditional healers, I am trying to popularise the use of Chana soil. It is common belief in Chhattisgarh, the soil collected and use during crop season is only useful and on storage, it looses the valuable medicinal properties. As Chana is cultivated in winter only and soil collected prior to flowering is preferred, very short time is available for its use.

I am sure that the scientific research on this important aspect can help us a lot to preserve the soil in its natural from (as far as medicinal properties are concerned) for its use round the year. In Chhattisgarh, the natives also use the common wasteland herb Duddhi in treatment of menorrhagia. Duddhi is named as Duddhi because injury to any plant part results in secretion of milk (Dudh-Milk in Hindi) latex. In Chhattisgarh, many species of Duddhi have been reported and the natives and healers, are using almost every species in treatment of common disease. I will write a separate article on different species of Duddhi, like the article on major species of Ipomoea. The natives collect the herb from wasteland and dry it in shade. After drying, they convert it into powder and patients are advised to take a tea spoonful of this powder daily morning. In my previous article related to pot herbs of Chhattisgarh, I described an interesting observation related to use to Duddhi as potherb. When Mr. Sitaram of Bagbahera region tried this herb as vegetable, he found it sweet but large doses caused diarrhoea. The healers and natives are aware of this fact. This is the reason they suggest the patients to take the dried herb in recommended dose. The scientific name of Duddhi is Euphorbia hirta (family Euphorbiaceae). In reference literatures, not much has been written on different medicinal uses and properties of this useful herb. I am describing its botany in short, I have noted from reference literatures. It is an annual herb having 15-50 cm height, erect or ascending, hispid with long often yellowish hair, branches often four-angled; Leaves opposite, obliquely oblong - lanceolate, serrulate or dentate, dark green above, pale beneath, base unequal-sided; Flowers involucres numerous, crowded in small axillary globose cymes; glands minute; globose, with or without a limb; Fruit capsule, appressedly hairy; Seeds ovoid-trigonous, rugose, reddish brown; Flowering time-throughout the year. The natives of Chhattisgarh also use many home remedies in order to treat menorrhagia. The use of Dhania (Coriander and Anar (Pomegranate) is very common. The peels of Anar are converted into powder and patients are advised to take this powder with cold water. The Dhania is used as decoction. The use of Dhania decoction is most common and according to the natives, it is promising treatment. Before describing other herbs, I would like to apologise, if there is any mistake in medicinal terminologies. As I am Bachelor, it is always very difficult to write or collect information on gynaecological troubles. Fortunately, the healers and natives have rich traditional medicinal knowledge about various herbs useful in treatment of these disorders, but unfortunately, I am weak in this field and this is the reason, I make mistakes in writing articles on this aspect.

Last week, when I was discussion Dr. Dass’s experience in remote part of Chhattisgarh, Abhujmarh as social work, she informed me that the tribal use many herbs for birth control and abortion. Dr Dass has worked in Abhujmarh and presently living in Raipur City. During discussion, we talked on different herbs. I am describing details regarding some promising herbs and method of use.

As birth control measure, the natives use many common herbs both externally and internally. The females are advised by the natives to put specific parts of herbs inside the vagina at (and for) specific time for birth control. It is common practice in Chhattisgarh to use Bemchi seeds for this purpose. The seeds are collected and converted into powder and after mixing this powder in Sesamum oil, the females are advised to put this mixture inside the vagina just after the mensustral cycle. It is very interesting that the Bemchi herb growing near to Doomar ( Ficus glomerata) trees are preferred for preparation of this mixture. Bemchi (Psoralea corylifolia) is a common wasteland herb in Chhattisgarh. I personally feel that there is a strong need to evaluate the medicinal potential of Bemchi herb, growing in wastelands and Bemchi herb collected nearer to Doomar trees. This is very typical observation. Unfortunately, the natives and traditional healers of Chhattisgarh are unable to explain the science behind this but as it is part of their traditional knowledge, they are following the rules strictly. As scientific explanation is not available, the young generation is loosing interest in these traditional uses. The researchers can play a vital role here. There explanation can help and motivate the young generation to understand the importance of traditional knowledge. This is very long process but I am confident that a small effort will result in big outcome. The timely step is essential as we are already very late. In many parts of Chhattisgarh, the natives put Kali Mirchi (Black Piper) in side the vagina as birth control measure. According to them, it is not convenient for all to adopt this method. The uses of neem oil and pure honey are also common. According to healers the use of neem oil is promising method but due to very odd smell of neem oil no one is ready to adopt this promising method. The healers told me that neem oil’s medicinal properties are responsible for action not the smell of oil and if we are able to eliminate this odd smell, this use will become very popular. The use of honey is also having its own limitations. The availability of pure honey is one of the major problem. The honey having adulteration of sugar syrup can not serve the purpose. Due to viscosity its use is very difficult. Many natives informed me that it is not of practical use during intercourse because of its sticky nature. During discussion with my Guru Shri Vishal Bharat, once he told me that the external application of sesamum oil (Til ka Tel) on male genitals with common table salt is good birth preventive but the natives hesitate to use this method also. There are several such methods but due to some constraints they are not in use. I personally feel that after detailed and systematic research, we can remove these constraints and make these methods popular. For example, in Til oil- Salt method, crude salt is used. If fine powdered salt is adopted in place of crude salt, there will be no problem during intercourse. Many traditional healers of Chhattisgarh, suggest the females to take a teaspoonful of Haldi (Turmeric) powder daily with lukewarm water. This is simple method, but not a promising one. Although Thura (Euphorbia nerifolia) is not a common herb in Chhattisgarh, but many natives use this thorny herb as fence to prevent the entry of animals in farm or home. The traditional healers of Bastar region informed me that the ash collected after burning the herb, is very useful. The females are advised to take this ash with sugar as birth control measure. The natives use this combination under strict supervision of the traditional healers, as overdose can cause great harm to the patients. It is also common practice in Chhattisgarh, to put the globule prepared by mixing the seeds of Munga (Moringa oliefera) in ghee and pure honey. This globule is kept inside the vagina.

Although the natives of Chhattisgarh are having rich traditional medicinal knowledge about herbs useful in Abortion but in general they prefer to consult and take the herbs under supervision of the traditional healers. During my ethnomedico surveys, I have noted that there are many traditional healers specialised in Abortion and they are not aware of other treatments. This is really surprising and interesting. During my visits to Pendra region, I have seen the use of decoction prepared from fresh leaves of Bans (Bamboo) for abortion. The node of Bamboo (green) are also used this purpose. In this part of Chhattisgarh, natural Bamboo population occur and the natives and healers are specialised in different potential uses of Bamboo herb. Gahunsa (Phalaris minor) is one of the obnoxious weeds in wheat fields and in India, the scientists and farmers use tons of agrochemicals to manage this weed. Although for the natives and healers of Chhattisgarh, this is very new exotic weed but I am proud to write that in wheat growing areas of Chhattisgarh, the natives and healers have discovered new uses of this weed. This is positive sign that their experiments to enrich the traditional medicinal knowledge are in good progress. Their research findings regarding new medicinal uses of obnoxious exotic weeds like Parthenium hysterophorus, Lantana camara, Phalaris minor etc. Are not good news for multinational companies engaged in production and promotion of agrochemicals in fertile lands of Chhattisgarh. The medicinal uses of Phalaris minor is yet not reported in reference literatures. The natives and healers have discovered many unique uses of Phalaris. I will describe it in separate article. Here I am describing its use in abortion. The natives collect the herb from crop field and dry it. This dried herb is converted into powder and with Aloe (Dhikuar) put it into the vagina to induce abortion. Many healers add the root powder of Punarnava herb in this combination in order to increase its potential. Bathua seeds (Chenopodium album) are also added in this combination. Bathua is also a common weed in wheat crop fields in Chhattisgarh. The natives collect the flowers of Jason (Hibiscus rosasinensis), Anar (Pomegranate), Arand (Castor) and peels of Anar fruits and after drying, burn it. It is general belief that inhalation of fumes result in abortion. The natives also prepare a decoction from the bark of Munga (Moringa oleifera) and fruit peels of Anar with sugar in order to induce the abortion.

I will write a separate article on Leucorhoea (Safed Pani) and related troubles. Thank you very much for reading the article.