Traditional Medicinal Knowledge about Herbs used in Treatment of Cancer in Chhattisgarh, India. XXVI. Interactions with the Traditional Healers of Dhamtari region.

Dhamtari is popular herbal market known worldwide. The small traders sell the forest produces to the traders of this region. From this market the buyers at nation level purchase the herbs in bulk. Dhamtari region is rich in bio-diversity. The natives and traditional healers are having rich traditional medicinal knowledge about herbs and insects. Although Dhamtari is a big herbal market but the traditional healers don't purchase the herbs from this market. They collect the herb by themselves and in case of exotic herbs they depend on the herb collectors as well as herb vendors. The healers have simple explanation for avoiding the use of herbs purchased from the herbal market. According to them in such markets the mixtures of both poor and high quality herbs exist. From this mixture it is hard to get good results. You will be surprised to know that many leading drug manufacturing companies purchase the herbs from this market .You can imagine the performance of their drugs in the light of the healer's comment. In this region many traditional healers are having expertise in treatment of different types of cancer. Through interactions and meetings with these healers I have collected information on use of some promising cancer herbs that are present in surroundings.

Among different types of Musli Semal Musli is very popular among the traditional healers. The roots of medicinal tree Semal (Bombax ceiba) are known as Semal Musli. Its all parts are used as medicine in traditional systems of medicine. The traditional healers of Dhamtari region are also aware of its many uses. The traditional healers having expertise in treatment of different types of cancer consider the flowers very useful in treatment. The flowers are used both internally as well as externally. Externally it is used in combination with other flowers. The healers add the Genda (Tagetes erecta) flowers most commonly. The flowers are boiled in water and in form of paste applied externally on cancerous wounds. They suggest all the patients to consume one flower daily during growing season. The healers informed that this use helps in stopping the spread of trouble. Also it develops body's power to resist this serious trouble. Few healers dry the flowers in shade for round the year use but most of the healers are not in favor of its off-season use. They informed that for off-season the Mother Nature has given other alternatives in form of other flowers. In order to enrich the flowers with medicinal properties the traditional healers irrigate the trees up to long time with the help of herbal extracts and leachates. In general the treatment starts from fifteen days before the collection of flowers. Old trees are preferred for the collection of flowers. The flowers are used fresh. The healers don't use its other parts in treatment.

Safed Semal is known as Ceiba pentandra scientifically. Like Semal it is also well known tree in the region. The traditional healers are aware of its use in treatment of different types of cancer. For mouth cancer the traditional healers use its bark. The bark is boiled in water to prepare the decoction .The patients are advised by the healers to gargle with this decoction. The healers are much impressed by its healing properties. In Chhattisgarh the bad habit of tobacco chewing is becoming common among the youths. This bad habit is resulting in mouth cancer. The traditional healers suggest such youths to stop consuming the tobacco in any form. And if it is necessary then always wash the mouth with this decoction even after every single use. They believe that through this decoction one can get protection from cancer in future. In case of mouth cancer this use in practiced along with main treatment of cancer. The healers don't use it internally. They are in favor of its long-term use in order to get promising results. In order to enrich the bark with medicinal properties the traditional healers irrigate it with certain herbal extracts. The inner bark is preferred for the use. The healers are aware that bark collection may damage the trees. This is the reason they take special precaution. Stored old bark is not used for this purpose. The healers are not in favor of adding more herbs with bark.

Raksi is well known weed in Rice fields. For the traditional healers of Chhattisgarh it is valuable herb. Its all parts are used as medicine. Its scientific name is Abutilon indicum. The traditional healers of Dhamtari region use it in treatment of cancer. They use it both internally as well as externally. They use its flowers as well as leaves for cancerous wounds. The aqueous extracts of flowers are used whereas the leaves are used in form of decoction. The wound is washed many times a day with the extract and decoction. In order to get more promising results many healers use the leaves in combination with flowers. The senior healers informed that its flowers are a boon for the patients having prostrate cancer. The flowers are given to the patients in dry form. The flowers are dried in shade for this use. The flowers are used alone as single remedy. The healers informed that both internal as well as external uses of flowers at a time cure the trouble effectively in less time. The healers collect this herb from rice fields where organic farming is practiced. Like other herbs they use specific herbal extracts to enrich the flowers with medicinal properties. I have written a lot about this traditional Alleopathic knowledge in my previous articles.

Through these common herbs the traditional healers of Dhamtari region are serving the cancer patients. The healers are well known for their expertise. They are practicing the traditional knowledge sincerely. It is good sign. I am in touch with these healers and trying to get more information.


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