Pankaj Oudhia on Helicteres isora: Manuscripts from Medicinal Plant Database

Abstract

Since year 1990 Pankaj Oudhia is writing on various aspects of Biodiversity and Traditional Healing. The regular writing of more than two decades resulted in documents worth millions of pages. Very small part of these documents is online so far. The present series is an effort to represent excerpts of these documents available in Pankaj Oudhia’s Medicinal Plant Database at pankajoudhia.com

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Like every year this year also the Herb Collectors of [[Indian]e103] state [[Chhattisgarh]e372244] collected fruits of [[Aithi]e215987] in bulk for the Herb Traders. The Traders informed that this year its demand has increased many folds. They are not aware of reason but they instructed the Collectors to collect both mature and immature fruits and don't wait for uniform quality.  The buyers at national as well international levels will get it in bulk this year. Not only from Chhattisgarh but also from other states of Central and Eastern India. But the Traditional Healers of these regions using Aithi plant parts will find it difficult to get desired quantity as well as quality this year. In general the Healers of Chhattisgarh use its all parts as medicine for many types of diseases. Whenever the demand increases these Healers face this problem. They are seeing its collection from wild since their childhood but they say it clearly that its demand has increased recently. Since decades trees are regularly giving fruits and other parts without break. Now old trees are exhausted and new population is coming in less number due to lack of fruits. Many Healers informed about use of this tree like other trees as fuel wood and other domestic purposes. Once rich in its wild population many forests are loosing it at alarming rates. The existing population needed conservation efforts. There is need to monitor the trade of Aithi. Also promotion of rotational harvesting is required.  Although it seems next to impossible to stop completely the harvest from this tree in wild for one year but if done the Healers say with confident that trees will get enough chance to grow vigorously and produce healthy fruits. Many herb growers of Chhattisgarh tried its commercial cultivation and also conducted small trials but they know that till the supply from forest will continue no one will purchase fruits from them having high cost. In field condition it performed well and I have mentioned in previous research articles that many farmers have developed its organic way of cultivation.  During recent interactions and discussions with natives associated with forest plant Aithi I collected interesting information. I am giving details in present article. 

The reference literatures related to different systems of medicine in India describe much about medicinal properties and uses of Aithi fruits but write less about other parts. I have written a lot on different aspects of this plant in my previous research articles. In general fruits are used to gripping pain in stomach. During recent surveys the Healers of {{Mainpur}e} region informed that they use its leaves internally in treatment of {{Ulcerative Colitis}g}. Young leaves collected from old trees are preferred. They treat such trees with herbal solutions. Many of them informed that [[Beeja]e9046] and [[Char]e3956] bark leachate are added in this herbal solutions. They are practicing this Traditional [[Allelopathic]g25170] Knowledge since time immemorial without any modification. In general Aithi tree having rich population of Beeja and Char trees in surroundings is consider best for collection of leaves. Leaves damaged by insects or diseases are not collected. Leaves are used in form of juice. Many times dry leaves are added in powder form in herbal combinations used for this purpose. While its use the patients are instructed to take curd in large amount. In general the patients having this trouble are suggested by the Healers to include curd in their diet. Few Healers informed that they use its leaves in combination with [[Kutaj]e6738] bark.

Wound healing properties of Aithi bark is well known. In many parts of India it is used by Healers. The Healers of Chhattisgarh are also aware of it. They prepare herbal combination by adding [[Neem]e3581], [[Karra]e374809], [[Bhirra]e4516], [[Kalmegh]e12320] and Aithi fruit powder in different proportions. This combination is applied externally on old wounds. It is also used as veterinary medicine. The Healers of {{Keshkal}e} region informed that in this combination Aithi bark plays important role and this is reason that its proportion is kept at higher side. They prefer Neem leaves, Bhirra leaves, Kalmegh leaves and Karra fruits. The Healers of {{Bagbahera}e} region prefer mixture of Bhirra bark and leaves in order to get promising effects. The Healers claimed that in most of the cases the use of this combination alone heals the wound. Its use is continued till complete cure. By adding over 19 herbs and deleting Kalmegh leaves the Healers of {{Sarguja}e} region prepare special herbal combination and use it externally in treatment of cancerous wound. They are much satisfied with the performance of this combination. They want to keep the information about other ingredients secret. The Herb Vendors of {{Bilaspur}e} region claimed that the Healers of this region make herbal oil by adding these herbs mainly Aithi in base oil and use it for same purpose. I have yet not seen this oil.

The Healers of {{Bastar}e} region are aware of use of Aithi bark alone and in combination with other herbs in treatment of skin troubles both internally as well as externally but as other promising alternatives are available they use it less commonly. These Healers use Aithi plant parts collected in different seasons in order to enrich over 20 species of forest trees. Through on-going surveys I am trying to get more information on this Traditional Allelopathic Knowledge.

 The above-mentioned information is important and needing attention from scientific community. I am much interested in Traditional Allelopathic Knowledge. If Healers will permit me I will try to take pictures to show the readers that how this traditional knowledge is practiced.

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