Traditional medicinal knowledge about common herbs used in treatment of common diseases, in Chhattisgarh, India : Recent interactions with the traditional healers of Southern Chhattisgarh.
Traditional medicinal knowledge about common herbs used in treatment of common diseases, in Chhattisgarh, India : Recent interactions with the traditional healers of Southern Chhattisgarh.
Pankaj
Oudhia
Extended
Summary
© Pankaj Oudhia
During the recent visits when I started discussion with the traditional healers of Southern Chhattisgarh, I got many valuable information on traditional medicinal uses of common herbs. I am giving the details in this article.
The traditional healers informed me about the use of gum collected from Kullu tree (Sterculia urens) in treatment of Epistaxis. They suggest the patients to smell the powdered gum in order to stop the bleeding. According to them this simple use cures the troubles at initial stages. This part of Chhattisgarh is rich in natural population of this important tree. In case of severe toothache, for immediate relief the healers suggest the patients to apply the fresh latex of Doomar tree in painful teeth. The help of cotton bud is taken to apply the latex. Care is taken that it must not go inside the body. This simple treatment gives great relief. Its regular use helps in killing the germs. Doomar is a common medicinal tree in Chhattisgarh. Its scientific name is Ficus glomerata. The traditional healers informed about the use of empty pods of Chana (Cicer arietinum) in treatment of dental troubles. We visited to Chana fields for the collection of empty pods. It is not difficult to find empty (Seedless) pods in Chana plants. From production point of view, it is a sign of loss but as I always write that for the natives and healers of Chhattisgarh, nothing is waste. The empty pods are collected and dipped in water, overnight. Next morning, the patients having the problem of decayed teeth are advised to gargle with the leachates. According to the traditional healers it acts as both preventive and curative. As Chana is cultivated as winter season crop, the availability of empty pods is limited to specific period. I personally feel that there is a need to popularize this important traditional knowledge among the common natives specially the natives of young generation because the bad habit of Tobacco chewing is resulting in serious dental troubles. I am feeling fortunate that I have documented the traditional knowledge about Chana herb, it insects and common weeds found in Chana field. The traditional healers of Southern Chhattisgarh also use the Chana seeds in dental care. The seeds are boiled in water to prepare the decoction. The patients are advised to gargle with the decoction. The healers informed about the use of common herbs in treatment of painful ribs (Pasli), a trouble common in small children. The healers suggest the use of Andi Tel (Ricinus communis seed oil) to the care takers. The oil is massaged gently on painful ribs. Also, after massage, the leaves of Bakain (Melia azadirach) are kept on the painful ribs. The aqueous paste of leaves can also be used. The healers prepared a decoction by boiling the flowers of Kusum, in water. This decoction is given internally to the patients. They are also aware of use of Fudhar roots in treatment. The roots are rubbed in stone and with the help of water, an aqueous paste is prepared. This paste is applied externally on affected parts in order to reduce the pain. The scientific name of Fudhar is Calotropis gigantea. In treatment of Pathri (Renal Calculi), the healers consider the juice of whole herb of Jwasa (Alhagi camelorum) very promising. But as other promising herbs are available, the healers use it less frequently. In treatment of Kidney pain, the healers use the seed extract of Andi (Ricinus communis) externally.
The recent interactions resulted in more valuable information. This article is a supplement to previous articles written on this aspect.
Thank you very much for reading the article.
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