Traditional Medicinal Knowledge about common Trees in Bagbahera region, Chhattisgarh, India

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

Yesterday when I was searching the field diaries having very first information about herbs, suddenly I got one missing diary with information on traditional medicinal knowledge about common trees in Bagbahera region. This diary was completed in year 2000 by my sincere and honest field workers Mr. Panchu Ram and Mr. Dore Lal of Bihajhar Village. At that time I was associated with National Watershed Development Project in Rainfed Areas and my work is to document the medicinal flora (and also fauna) of Chamra nallah watershed area. The survey was focused on traditional healers also but you will be surprised to know that in different parts of Chhattisgarh, the natives also have rich traditional medicinal knowledge about common herbs. Last month when I was interacting with Dr. Pati, senior anthropologist from Bhubneshwar (Orissa), I told him that the most of the ethnobotanical surveys are based on random samples. In order to know the common problem of any community the random sample survey is useful but in case of documentation of traditional knowledge it is essential to interact and discuss with every native in detail. This is very important particularly in case like Chhattisgarh. I am agree that this is very long process and require more effort and time but it is promising one. During my ethnobotanical surveys to different parts of Chhattisgarh, I have observed that every native have different level of knowledge about same herbs. In case of many herbs, the natives have more knowledge than the traditional healers. The natives are practising traditional medicinal knowledge in their day today life and also disseminating this valuable knowledge to new generations. It is really hard to deny the fact that we can not put these natives in the category of traditional healers. According to Dr. Pati, even the sample surveys are not enough to document the actual knowledge in short time then how the detailed surveys are possible ? He is right but I personally feel that the documentation of traditional knowledge must be given more importance as compared to one’s academic career. For academic career more numbers of research papers are must and we all know in order to increase the number, we have to go for sample surveys.

Through this article, I would like to request the researchers, particularly the researchers working in field of traditional knowledge, to change the methodology of sample surveys and go for detailed surveys. In my previous studies published in form of research papers in reputed journals, the sample survey method was adopted, but I am not satisfied with these incomplete surveys. It is common observation that the referee’s of these journals are not ready to publish the research papers based on detailed survey. When I conducted a survey based on problems perceived by the rural youths of Chhattisgarh, working in nearby cities’, I have selected 500 respondents, but honourable refree of reputed journal sent the paper back with comments "Rewrite the paper having the opinion of 200 respondents as the interview of 500 respondents in useless". He was ready to accept the opinions of even 50 respondents. I personally feel that this type of attitude is benefiting the researchers in respect of more numbers of research papers in very short time but this is also a bitter fact that our papers are not helping the common people in their hard life. I am observing this wrong trend in all over the world particularly in my country.

In this article, I am writing about the traditional medicinal knowledge about trees as informed by the natives of Bagbahera region to my field workers. I am mentioning the name and address of the natives and also trying to describe the botany and reported medicinal uses of these Trees. Shri Kunjan of Khallari (Sthapana) informed the field workers that Saliha and Kaner trees are useful in treating the boils. The bark of Saliha and the roots of Kaner both are used separately. According to him, the bark and root is crushed with the help of stone and juice in applied as antiseptic and in order to increase the healing process. Saliha (Boswellia serrata) is a common tree in Chhattisgarh. The bark on injury exudes on oleo-gum-resin, known as Indian Olibanum or Salaiguggul. This olea-gum -resin is used as incense and also yield rosin, volatile oil and gum. There is heavy demand of this produce in national and international herb market and due to this heavy demand and over exploitation, the natural population of Saliha is under threat in Chhattisgarh. Recently the local administration have posed a ban on collection and selling of this produce but it is bitter fact that the produce is available easily even today. There is a strong need of regular monitoring on this illegal trade. I am describing the botany of this important tree, I have noted from reference literatures. Saliha is a tree upto 18 meters height; Bark greenish-grey, yellow or reddish, fairly thick, smooth, exfoliating in thin, papery flakes, resinous inside; Leaf imparipinnate, 30-45 cm long, ovate, ovate lanceolate; Flower small, white, in axillary racemes or panicles; Fruit trigonous, 12 mm long drupe, splitting along three valves ; seed compressed, hard and winged. This is common tree in Chhattisgarh as during preparation of article on village names based on herbs in Chhattisgarh, I have noted that the villages named on Saliha are common in the state. Shri Kulanjan also informed that the fresh juice of Tendu (Diospyros melanoxylon) is useful in scorpion bite. It is applied in affected part in order to get rid from intense pain immediately. According to him, to reduce the extra heat (Garmi) in body, he dips the roots of Neem Tree (Azadirachta indica) in water whole night and next day uses the leachate empty stomach. He is aware of use of Harra (Terminalia chebula) fruits in treatment of cough. Shri Umrao Gond of Birajpali village informed the field worker that he use the bark of Kusum Tree to wash and dress the wound. The scientific name of Kusum is Schleichera oleosa (Syn. Schleichera trijuga). He also informed about the use of Lal Keonti. Although Lal Keonti is a climber, not a Tree, but as its description is coming for the first time in my articles, I am eager to describe this climber. He informed that the roots are crushed with the help of stones and applied on wounds (particularly the old problematic wounds) directly. This juice can also be used with coconut oil (Nariyal Ka Tel). According to him, this juice is also effective in treatment of skin diseases particularly the ring worm. In problematic wounds of infants the root juice is given with mother’s milk to heal the wound. In reference literatures, not much has been written on medicinal uses and properties of this climber. In most of the literatures the use of bark is mentioned. The use of roots as informed by Shri Umrao is not mentioned. The scientific name of Lal Keonti is Ventilago denticulata (Syn. Ventilago madraspatna; family : Rhamnaceae). It is a large much branched woody climber; young branches and panicles pubescent; Leaves 5-10 x 2.5-3.9 cm, oblong - lanceolate or elliptic-ovate, entire or crenate; Flowers in large drooping terminal panicles; buds five angled; Flowers in large drooping terminal panicles; buds five angled; corollas petals five, greenish, with an offensive odour; Fruit nut about 5mm diam., yellowish, globular, prolonged into a linear -oblong; one nerved wing. Shri Umrao is also aware of use of Neem leaves to dress the wound. According to him, the decoction is very useful. He informed that Papita (Papaya) fruit if taken without peeling, it is useful in treatment of stomachache of any kind. In order to reduce excess body heat (Garmi) he uses Munga bark with Sugar (to give it taste). The scientific name of Munga is Moringa oliefera.

I have already described its botany and medicinal uses in previous articles. Shri Budhram of Lalpur village informed the field workers about the use of Karan (Pongamia pinnata) oil in wound for the quick healing. Its use is reported in reference literatures related to different systems of medicine in India. According to Ayurveda, the oil is anthelmintic and cures eye diseases, rheumatic pains, leucoderma, skin diseases and wound. It is styptic and also useful in leprosy, piles, lumbago, chronic fever and liver pain. Shri Rathu from Navagon informed that the decoction prepared from Bar roots is useful in treatment of dysentry. The scientific name of Bar is Ficus benghalensis (family Moraceae). He also informed about the herbal combination useful in treatment of headache particularly the migraine. According to him this herbal combination is prepared by mixing the bark of Kusum, Rohina (Mallotus philippensis), black salt and Ama haldi (Curcurma amada). Shri Jairam of Bihajhar village informed that the oil prepared from Bar leaves is useful in treatment of skin troubles. For preparation of oil, the freshly collected leaves are boiled in sesamum oil and after burning of water, oil is collected. This oil is used externally on affected parts. Bar, also known as Bargad is native to India. It is common in monsoon and rain forests. It is large evergreen tree having height upto 30 meters, with spreading branches sending down to the ground many aerial roots, which afterwards develop into separate trunks; Leaves coriaceous, ovate to elliptic, cordate or rounded base, shining above; Fruit globose, about two cm in diameter, with male, female and gall flowers. As medicine, Bar holds a reputed position in different systems of medicine. Shri Jairam also informed that Kusumbark is useful in all types of swellings. The bark is crushed and after heating it slightly, applied it on swelling externally. According to him the decoction prepared from equal amount of Chirai Jam (Psidium guajava), Aam (Mangifera indica) and Saliha (Boswellia serrata) bark is very useful in treatment of dysentery. Shri Bedram from Biroda village described the use of Bahera (Terminalia bellirica) oil. It is applied on body externally in order to get relief from excessive heat during summer season. Shri Paras Ram of Biroda village told the field workers about many trees used in stomach disorders. The leaves of Munga (Moringa oliefera) is used to prepare vegetable. This vegetable is good for stomach troubles. He also uses Munga leaves in order to treat the swellings and Munga seeds for external application on head in case of migraine. For stomach ache he uses the decoction of Kauha (Terminalia arjuna ) leaves. According to him, the Bans leaves (Bamboo) can also be used in same manner. The flowers of Kumhi Tree are used with Gud (Jaggery) to stop the dysentery. For toothache, he uses the latex of Bar. With the help of cotton bud, latex is applied on painful teeth. It is promising pain killer.

Shri Balaram of Maulimuda village informed that the bark of Munga is useful in treatment of snake bite but he refused to disclose the methodology. Shri Padam Sen of Basuladabri village use the trees Bar , Khair (Albizia sp) and Pipal for religious ceremonies. According to him, he uses Babool (Acacia nilotica) seeds in treatment of fever, whereas use the fruits of Gadur (Cocculus indicus) tree in case of snake bite. He also informed about the use of pods of Dhanbaher (Cassia fistula) in treatment of fever. He uses the decoction of Munga fruits, for the treatment of Lakwa (Paralysis). He also told the field workers that the latex of Doomar (Ficus glomerata) is useful to heal the wounds. According to him, the herb is boiled in water using earthen pot and decoction is useful in treatment of Sujak (Gonorrhoea). Shri Firtu Ram of Bihajhar village informed that Koria Tree is used for the treatment of dysentery. The roots are powdered and sugar is added. This combination is recommended to the patients suffering from dysentery. Shri Jaisingh from Ghasinagar informed that the decoction of Bans leaves (Bamboo) is very useful in respiratory troubles particularly in case of acute attack of asthma. He uses Harra with Chana seeds (Chickpea seeds) for gastric complaints. He also told the workers that the oil extracted from Bamboo shoot is mixed with Nariyal (Coconut) oil and applied externally on Bemchi disease ( a typical type of skin trouble). Shri Dhanesh of same village told that the bark of Koha (Terminalia arjuna) is used in treatment of snake and scorpion bite. According to him, the bark in burnt in fire and ash is applied externally in affected parts. This bark is powdered and given with milk. It is useful in respiratory troubles. For children having the problem of poor appetite, he have an unique herbal combination. He described the method as "Cook the rice (200gms) with 20 gms of Babool leaves add 20gms more leaves in cooked rice. After adding salt, serve it hot to children". According to him it is good for stomach ache also. Any variety of rice can be use in this preparation. He also informed about the uses of Bar latex in order to increase the milk flow in lactating woman. Latex is mixed with cow’s milk and women are advised to take it. He informed that he is using this formulation since generations. He is also aware of medicinal uses of Ashok Tree bark (Saraca indica). The powdered bark is mixed in Tea and patients having insanity problem are advised to take this nerve and brain tonic. According to him, it gives miracle effects in very short time.

These examples are enough to confirm that the natives have valuable and rare traditional medicinal knowledge about common Trees. In this field diary, I have got information regarding some rare herb combinations and uses also, I will describe it in my future articles. The natives of this region also have rich traditional medicinal knowledge about herbs used as veterinary medicine.