Some rare uses of common herbs, insects and mites in Bagbahera region, Chhattisgarh, India : Traditional Medicinal Knowledge needing special attention

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

During my ethnobotanical surveys in different parts of Chhattisgarh, I have observed and noted many rare and unique uses of common herbs, insects and mites. Although all information related to traditional medicinal knowledge are important but the rare uses, I am describing are relatively less known uses among the natives (i.e. limited to few natives) and as the specialists are passing away, the valuable traditional knowledge is also ending. In present article, I am describing these rare uses, I have observed and noted during my survey at Bagbahera region, Chhattisgarh.

From the natives of Sambar Village, I got an information on use of common agricultural pest Kambal Keeda in case of dog bite. According to the natives, this insect is poisonous and this poison is very effective against poison resulted due to dog bite. In case of dog bite the natives use freshly laid eggs of this insect. The patients are advised to eat the minute eggs in order to reduce the effect of dog bite. It is also applied externally in affected parts. The natives informed me that it is promising treatment and since generations they are using it successfully. Unfortunately, they are not aware of the name of great scientist discovered this unique use. In my previous articles, I have mentioned the use of Bhavri Keeda, an aquatic insect, used in other villages of Bagbahera region, in treatment of dog bite. The scientific name of Kambal Keeda is Diacrisia obliqua (Arctiidae; Lepidoptera). This is a polyphagus caterpillar that attacks variety of vegetation. It is serious pest of soybean crop. The moth lays from 500 to 1300 eggs. The egg, larval and pupal periods last for 6-9, 34-35 and 16-22 days respectively during October to February. Its life-cycle is completed in 50-76 days. As the freshly laid eggs are used for treatment, it is hard to get fresh eggs round the year. According to the natives, this is one of the constraints in its use. The natives even small children are expert in differentiating the eggs from other insect’s eggs. They regularly monitor the movement of these insects and on demand, collect the eggs within no time. The old natives informed that the herbs on which the adults feed play an important role in treatment. As researcher on Entomology, I have never read that the feeding habit or feeding on specific herb alter the medicinal properties of eggs. This is new information and also a new aspect on which the young researchers can focus their research works. I have written a lot on effect of herbs (on which particular medicinal insect is feeding) on the medicinal properties of their useful excreta but its effects on eggs, as informed by the natives suggest that there is a strong need of scientific evaluation and research. Unfortunately, the natives of other villages are not aware of this unique use and this article is first written document on this unique traditional medicinal knowledge.

The natives of Ghasinagar use unique herbal preparation for the treatment of Bemchi diseases. Bemchi is an infectious skin disease in Chhattisgarh. As you know, Beshram (Ipomoea carnea) is an exotic weed in Chhattisgarh and only few decades back it was introduced in state in name of green manure crop. If you want to know more about this herb, I suggest you to read my previous article on major Ipomoea species (Morningglories) of Chhattisgarh. The natives of Ghasinagar collect the Beshram herb and dry it in shade. After drying, they burn it in fire and ash is collected. They also collect the fresh excreta of local wild monkeys, preferably of female monkeys, and dry it. After drying, the excreta is burnt and ash is collected separately. The ash of excreta and Beshram are mixed in equal proportion of Til oil (Sesamum indicum) and this special preparation is used externally on affected parts. According to the natives, it is promising treatment. The patients taking the treatment confirmed this quote. In case of complications or chronic trouble, the patients are advise to mix the excreta of monkey with Kanhar (Black clay soil) mitti and rub the mixture in affected part. They also suggest to take bath using this preparation in place of soap. The use of combination of monkey excreta and Beshram herb in treatment of skin troubles is not reported in reference literatures. According to the natives, within eight days, this preparation cures the disease. This preparation is also useful in treatment of other skin diseases. As Bagbahera is wild region, the collection of monkey excreta is not a problem. When I asked the natives, why the excreta of female monkey is preferred they replied this is more effective as compared to normal excreta. Why ? They have no answer. I am sure researchers can answer and explain is WHY for next generations of these natives that are loosing interest in this unique traditional medicinal knowledge. Many species of Ipomoea have been reported in Chhattisgarh but the natives of this region prefer Ipomoea carnea. According to them , when Beshram was not present in Chhattisgarh, they were using the another species Ipomoea aquatica (Karmatta Bhaji). After introduction of Beshram, they tried it and after experiencing its miracle effects, adopted it in place of Karmatta Bhaji. This is healthy sign that the natives are not only practising the traditional medicinal knowledge but also adding their experimental findings for future generations. In this village, I have also seen the use of Gangerva (local species of earthworm) in treatment of snake bite. In case of snake bite, common in rainy days and during work at crop fields, as first aid remedy the natives crush the fresh Gangerva and apply the paste in affected part. According to the natives, this paste in capable of removing or extracting the poison if applied without any delay. In case of complications after this treatment the patient is referred to the traditional healers for further treatment. Many natives told me that the paste reduces the pain to the great extent and they use it in case of poisonous insect and scorpion bite also. On 11th January, 2003, I got an opportunity to visit Janjgir city as guest speaker to train the native farmers for commercial cultivation of medicinal and aromatic crops. During this visit, I got many valuable information about traditional medicinal knowledge about common herbs, insects and mites. The organisers informed about the village named Kaitha, famous for the treatment of snake - bite. This village is about 60 kms from Janjgir, the district headquarter. In this village, there is a temple of saint Birtia baba. This is common belief that if patients having snake-bite, visit to this temple and stay inside it for few hours, he get immediate relief from poison. As scientist it is hard to believe that without any treatment how the patients can get rid from poison. Many farmers also confirmed that the temple is a boon for the patients. They told me that patients are given herbal drink by the natives. Although most of the farmers, said that there is no role of this drink and only visit to that place is enough but I got the clue. As informed earlier, the name of village is Kaitha. Kaitha is local name of Elephant or wood apple (Feronia elephantum ; family Rutaceae). This village have many Kaitha trees in surroundings. This is the reason it is named as Kaitha. After coming back from Janjgir, I searched the reference literatures, related to different systems of medicine in India. In reference literatures related to Ayurveda, I read that seeds of Kaitha are antidote to poison whereas in Unani literatures. I got the information that the Kaitha leaves releive pain due to stings of wasps and other poisonous insects. When I searched my field diaries, I got the information provided by the traditional healers of Bastar region, that if any one use the aqueous leachate of Kaitha wood (kept in specially prepared wooden glasses) he can get enough resistance against common poison of snakes. After getting these information, I am becoming confident that there must be the relationship between the presence of Kaitha trees and snake-bite treatment. I am planning to visit this important village. I will definitely write a separate article after coming back. I am also thinking about the effect of Kaitha tree surroundings on patients and natives of Kaitha village. In previous article on tree shade therapy, I have described ethnobotanical knowledge about common tree shades in Chhattisgarh. I am sure that after confirmation , the name of Kaitha will get importance in the list of trees used in tree shade therapy. I am describing its botany in short. According to reference literatures, Kaitha is a small deciduous spiny tree; Bark dark grey or nearly black, wrinkled and with longitudinal furrows; Leaves smelling of aniseeds; Leaflets 5-7, cuneate or obovate, cuneate at tip; Flowers pale green, stained with red, in racemes or panicled; Fruits globose, 5-8cm, with rough-greenish woody rind and white sour pulp. The natives of Ghasinagar also informed about unique herbal combination useful in treatment of pains due to gout and rheumatism. The Kusum and Mauha (Madhuca latifolia) bark, leaves of Arandi (Castor), Neem, Negur (Vitex negundo), Babool (Acacia nilotica) and whole herb of Gondila (Urginea indica) are cooked in earthen pot filled with water. The patients are advised to expose the affected parts in the vapour in order to get immediate relief. All these ingredients are easily available in this region. Desi boir ( Zizypus jujuba) is very common herb in Chhattisgarh. The natives of Bagbahera region, use this herb in treatment of paralysis. The whole herb is used to prepare a powder. The patients are advised to take the powder with milk in order to get early cure. In reference literature, many medicinal properties of Desi Boir are well described. According to Ayurveda, root is bitter, cooling, causes cough, biliousness and headache whereas bark causes boils and useful in treatment of dysentery and diarrhoea; Leaves antipyretic, reduce obesity fruit is cooling, indigestible, aphrodisiac, tonic laxative and removes biliousness, burning sensation, thirst, and vomiting whereas seeds cure eye diseases and leucorrhoea (Safed Pani). The medicinal properties of whole herb are not mentioned. Also its use in paralysis is not described. I am proud to document the unique traditional medicinal knowledge of natives of Chhattisgarh.

The natives of Sukhri Dabri village use the herb named Lal Kumhda Lal Bel or Keonti to treat anaemic patients. I have described its botany in my previous article. According to the natives, its red colour clearly indicates that Keonti can be used to increase the blood, as tonic. It is used in form of different preparations in order to treat the patients suffering from anaemia. The use of Keonti (Ventilago denticulata) as vegetable is most popular use. It is used both in case of human beings and cattle in same way. In other popular preparation, the roots are boiled in water and decoction is given to anaemic patients for early relief. The natives of Khairat village use the bark of Munga (Moringa oliefera) herb as heart tonic. The decoction is prepared and given to the patients. In reference literatures, the use of Munga bark as heart tonic is not reported. The natives of Ghoyana village use the leaves of Senha tree as first aid remedy in case of any type of injury in order to stop the bleeding. The leaf juice is applied in wounds in order to hasten the healing process. Its decoction is used for old and problematic wounds. Senha is a common tree not only in Bagbahera, but also all parts of Chhattisgarh. The above mentioned uses of Senha are also not reported in reference literatures. The scientific name of Senha is Lagerstroemia parviflora (family Lythraceae). As its description is coming for the first time in my articles, I am describing its botany in short. According to reference literatures, it is small tree with ash-coloured smooth bark, young parts pubescent; Leaves elliptic-oblong or ovate lanceolate, acute or acuminate, pubescent beneath when young, coriaceous; Flowers fragrant, in few or many flowered axillary or terminal panicles, upto 20cm long; Calyx not ribbed, tube sub-hemispherical; Stamens several; Capsule ellipsoid or ovoid, upto 4 cm long, lower portion immersed in the accrescent woody calyx; seeds with terminal wings. Flowering and fruiting times in Chhattisgarh conditions vary between April to October.

The use of Tendu Lasa (Diospyros melanoxylon) as eye tonic is also new reference. The natives of Lamkeni village dip the Tendu Lasa in water overnight and next morning the patients having eye troubles particularly poor eye-sight are advised to wash the eyes with leachate. Its use increases during the transitional period when the problem of conjuctivitis increases. The natives of Birajpali village use the leaves of cultivated vegetable crop Karela (Momordica charantia) for reducing the pains due to gout and rheumatism. The leaves are colleted and after warming it slightly in fire, it is tied around the affected parts externally to reduce the pain. In my previous articles, I have described the use of Fudhar leaves (Calotropis gigantea) in same way. The use of Karela leaves in also rare traditional varieties and organically grown Karela is preferred for the treatment. Karela is common vegetable crop in badies (homegardens) of this region. The natives of Bihajhar village prepare a special herbal combination using Sun seeds (Crotolaria juncea), Datura seeds (Datura sp.) and Kali mirchi (Black Pipper) specially for the Khooni Bavasir (bleeding piles). The natives of Batora village informed me that in case of snake-bite they use the juice of Beshram (Ipomoea carnea) herb. Three drops of leaf juice is mixed with a glass of milk and given to the patients. I have not seen its use practically, but this is also a rare traditional medicinal knowledge.