Random Ethnobotany Notes by Pankaj Oudhia

 A group of researchers from North India visited to me for “Consultation” on Medicinal Rice and Lathyrus based tens of Herbal Formulations for life style diseases. They claimed that these formulations were developed by them. But the claim was wrong. Most of these Formulations are used in rural India by expert Farmers as well as Traditional Rice Experts in areas where Medicinal Rice and Lathyrus are still under cultivation. They informed that the future is of Medicinal Rice and Lathyrus and this is the reason they are keeping focus of these crops.  

Few months back visitors from Andhra Pradesh approached for “Consultation.” They were in process of developing Medicinal Rice and Millets based Food products. They were using Traditional Medicinal Rice of Andhra Pradesh and Kerala. Due to lack of published literature on these Rice types they were facing problem. In absence of direct references they are seeking information on cross references on Medicinal Rice and my research publications on Medicinal Rice suggested them to take appointment for consultation. I furnished detailed list of research publication on Medicinal Rice. I tasted some of their Food products. The products were full of health and also very tasty.    

Last year I received a gift from Manipur farmers engaged in conservation of Traditional Medicinal Rice. They approached to me with patient at advanced stage of cancer. The Traditional Healing Methods suggested by me worked in promising way and the patient survived. Although it was part of “Consultation” but I refused to take any charge. After returning back the farmers sent gift to me. The gift was in form of notebook having interesting information on Manipur Medicinal Rice. I found tens of promising Herbal Formulations in which Medicinal Rice types are used with wild orchids as main ingredients. Medicinal Rice-Orchid Formulations are not new in Traditional Healing but I must say that the gift from Manipur was unique. 

A group of farmers visited to me for “Consultation” on Herbal Farming. They were from Orissa. During interaction they shared information about Traditional Medicinal Rice used externally for management of Skin diseases. Seeing my interest later they arranged seeds for me. During my surveys in Orissa many years back I collected lot of information on Medicinal Rice used for different diseases including Skin diseases. I am planning to present Orissa Medicinal Rice seeds to the Traditional Medicinal Rice Experts of Central India for further study.  

Last week three persons from Maharashtra visited to me for “Consultation” on Vitiligo treatment through Traditional Healing methods. During interaction they informed that many Healers of Maharashtra are recommending Medicinal Rice as main treatment of Vitiligo with much success. It forced me to check my database. I found atleast 30 types of Medicinal Rice used in Vitiligo. It was good to know that the Healers as well as Farmers are still growing Traditional Medicinal Rice in Maharashtra. I suggested improvement in Maharashtra Medicinal Rice Formulations to the visitors.   

A group of young Entomologists visited to me for the list of Medicinal Rice having good level of resistance to insect attack. They were working on Gall Midge. During two hour discussion we discussed potential and well known Medicinal Rice from different parts of India and also from Nepal and Bangladesh.  They took interest in Vedic farming in which insects are managed through eco-friendly way. 

After reading my research documents on Traditional Allelopathic Knowledge practiced by Traditional Rice Experts and Traditional Healers in Medicinal Rice cultivation, a group of farmers from Kerala approached to me with lot of questions. Two hour brain storming discussion benefited every one participated in this discussion.  They assured me to use Traditional Allelopathic Knowledge for famous Medicinal Rice of Kerala.  

A group of young researchers engaged in Stevia Cultivation interacted with me last month. The purpose of “Consultation” was to get knowledge about indigenous species beneficial for growth of Stevia crop. During two hour interaction they showed interest in indigenous species having multi uses viz. species for growth promotion as well as for insect and disease management. They are planning to visit Indian Stevia Farms where some of these species are in use.  

In December 2012 a client from North India visited for Consultation with specific query. He was in search of atleast 30 species of Trees less preferred by birds. His company takes tree plantation contacts at national and international airports. I furnished the desired information and by dividing India in ten eco-zones suggested group of 30 species of Trees for each zone. Many years back I received similar query from the Tree planting company of Nagpur.

“This is exhaustive list of trees and shrubs planted in Mumbai. Please sort out the Allergy causing as well as toxic species specially to children.” This was request of one of the leading Non-governmental organisations of Maharashtra. The representatives visited to me for Consultation. After searching the information related to thousands of species in my medicinal plant database I identified tens of Allergy causing species planted in densely populated areas of Mumbai. Within a week I sent the complete list to them. Visiting to Mumbai on March 29 for further discussion in this regard.   Earlier I identified Allergy causing species planted in New Delhi, Pune and Vidarbha. I was informed that in Nagpur awareness campaign is in progress to stop new plantation of Allergy causing species. Efforts are required to remove the existing species also and to replace it with harmless species. 

Out of over 3000 queries from different parts of the world in January 2013 on Telia Kand and Safed Palash only ten queries converted in to face to face meetings. As expected all interested persons were Tantriks by profession. They have lots of questions on these species having demand among their clients. It took several hours of non-stop Consultation to satisfy them completely. In February 2013, +2500 and in March 2013, +1800 queries about these medicinal species have been received at this end so far.  Promising Herbal Formulations for Cancer Prevention and Cure having Telia Kand and Safed Palash as key ingredients 

In January of this year Herb Trader from North India took Appointment for one hour Consultation on different aspects of Trillium govanianum . He was much interested in its demand in national as well as international market. Chinese are mad behind this medicinal species, he claimed. In return I informed about ten potential, far better and easily available herbs of the region where Trillium grows.  He assured me that this new information will help to reduce the unwanted pressure on this wild species in the region.  

On invitation of respected DIG, ITBP, I visited for guest lecture last month. ITBP (I ndo - Tibetan Border Police) is operating in Chhattisgarh, India in anti-naxal operations. My lecture was focused on forest herbs useful to the Arm forces new to the region. From thirst quencher herbs to Appetite suppressant herbs I covered many topics related to problems the forces face in ground. The Chief Medical Officer was also attending the lecture and we interacted a lot during one hour lecture.  The possibilities of using forest herbs for land mines detection and destruction created much interest among them. 

After 14 years of long research and clinical trials on medicinal herbs useful for Sickle Cell Anemia, a researcher from Central India visited to me for “Consultation”. Every thing was in perfect shape in the Herbal Formulation developed by him but in many patients it was resulting in Urticaria like symptoms. There are 13 herbs in the Formulation. I found all ingredients safe. His problem solved when I asked about the sources of plants from where he was collecting it. Two hour brainstorming discussion resulted in error free Formulation. Hoping that very soon it will extend relief to patients suffering from Sickle Cell Anemia as commercially available drug.     

Last week I interacted with two researchers during “Consultation” on potential herbs useful as single remedy for management of old cases of Cervical Dystonia. In 30 minutes discussion they asked about my views and comments on 100 medicinal plants, mostly indigenous, they selected from reference literature. They showed interest in medicinal plants yet not reported in modern literature. They will visit again in coming months for further consultation.