Traditional medicinal knowledge about Coffee Green bug Coccus viridis Gr. (Hemiptera: Coccidae) feeding on Sahadevi (Vernonia cinerea), in Chhattisgarh, India. Updated Version.

Traditional medicinal knowledge about Coffee Green bug Coccus viridis Gr. (Hemiptera: Coccidae) feeding on Sahadevi (Vernonia cinerea), in Chhattisgarh, India. Updated Version.

Pankaj Oudhia

Introduction

Entomophagy and Entomotherapy are well known in Asia since generations. Unfortunately not much work has been done to document valuable Traditional Medicinal Knowledge about Insects. Pankaj Oudhia is documenting this knowledge since year 1990. The present note “Traditional medicinal knowledge about Coffee Green bug Coccus viridis Gr. (Hemiptera: Coccidae) feeding on Sahadevi (Vernonia cinerea), in Chhattisgarh, India.”  is updated version of his previously published online research document available through pankajoudhia.com.

Keywords: Entomophagy; Entomotherapy; Medicinal Insects; Ayurveda; Chhattisgarh;

According to the reference literatures, this (Coccus viridis) green coloured, flat, soft scale is a major pest of Coffee in all the Coffee-growing regions. The scale in all its stages of development infests the leaves and tender shoots. On the leaves they are present on the under surface crowding along the midribs and veins. The infested plants are covered with sooty mould growing superficially on the honey-dew secretions of bug. Sahadevi acts as alternate host to this Green bug. Sahadevi grows as wasteland weed in Chhattisgarh. It is popular among the traditional healers for its valuable properties and uses. Every year the Green bugs infest this weed heavily. During the Ethno-entomological surveys conducted in different parts of Chhattisgarh in recent past, I have noted that the traditional healers of Southern Chhattisgarh and Plains frequently use the Green bugs feeding on Sahadevi as medicine in treatment of many common diseases. The bugs are collected and used, with Sahadevi leaves in most of the cases. The bug with leaves in dry powder is given internally as remedy to Bavasir (Piles). It is considered as promising remedy of Bavasir particularly at initial stages of trouble. To hide its identity, the healers give this powder with Gud (Jaggery).

New comments added on April 20, 2007

In advanced cases of Piles specially bleeding Piles the Traditional Healers using Sahadevi leaves and this medicinal insect add more herbs with it in order to increase its performance. The Healers of Southern Chhattisgarh informed during recent surveys that by adding 5 types of medicinal herbs in this combination they make it strong. All these herbs grow as weed with Sahadevi. Blumea lacera, Tridax procumbens, Sphaeranthus indicus, Ipomoea reniformis and Chenopodium album are these weeds. Leaves of all these herbs are taken and mixed in equal combination. Separately Sahadevi leaves and Coccus are mixed in equal proportion. Full fed insects are used. Sahadevi based combination is added in other weed based combination in 10:1 proportion. The Healers informed that this combination acts in promising way and helps in reducing bleeding. All weeds are having property to increase the efficacy of basic combination. Sphaeranthus and Ipomoea leaves act as tonic also. In general this combination is given with Honey up to one week and continues its use in case of relief. Honey acts as carrier. There are many limitations in use of this combination. Only freshly collected insects are used in this combination. Therefore its off-season use is not possible. Also infestation of this insect on Sahadevi is not very common. The Healers aware of its miraculous effects invest much time and effort in search of such infested plants. They keep this knowledge secret for many reasons. This is the reason common natives are not aware of this useful combination specially about addition of medicinal insect in it. I am fortunate that Healers shared this information with me and also gave me freedom to share it with other Healers in order to get their comments.

When I shared this information with the Healers of Chhattisgarh Plains many of them searched the infested plant and assured me to try it on their patients. The Healers of Bagbahera region are aware of the basic combination but as other promising alternatives are available it is used very rarely. I have mentioned in previous research articles that the Healers of this region use many insects like Bhavri in treatment of Epilepsy. The senior Healers informed that Coccus infesting on other plants are added with popular medicinal insects. I am trying to get more details on this aspect.

In treatment of fever, the bugs with leaves are given in form of decoction. The bugs with leaves are boiled in water. When half quantity (of initial quantity) of water remains, the boiling is stopped and decoction is given to the patients. According to the traditional healers, this decoction increases the perspiration and helps in reducing the high temperature. The traditional healers specialized in treatment of Malarial fever are aware of its internal use in combination with medicinal herbs in treatment. The traditional healers are not aware of its other medicinal uses. As Sahadevi grows as winter season weed, the healers use it in season only. The off-season use is avoided. They have other alternatives as herbs with insects, for other seasons.

These traditional medicinal uses of Coccus virdis feeding on Vernonia sp. have yet not been reported in reference literatures. This valuable information is coming for the first time among the world community, through this research article.

New comments added on May, 2014

Through recent surveys I have collected information about over 1800 Formulations in which Coccus virdis collected from Vernonia is added as important ingredient. These Formulations are used in treatment of different types of fever. In Semecarpus based Formulations it is added as secondary ingredient. In Sauropus based Formulations it is added as tertiary ingredient. These Formulations are used in treatment of Enteric fever. In Argemone based Formulations of Odisha it is added as quaternary ingredient. These Formulations are used in treatment of Kala-azar. In Mallotus based Formulations it is added as quinary ingredient. In Glochidion based Formulations for Malaria it is added as quaternary ingredient along with Tagetes. In Drypetes based Formulations for old fever it is added as septenary ingredient. In general the Traditional Healers add it as secret ingredient and rarely share knowledge about it. In Helicia based Formulations for intermittent fever it is added as senary ingredient. In wild mushrooms specially Senha Futu based Formulations it is added as quaternary ingredient with Dudhum fish. These Formulations are used internally for treatment of fever due to lung infection. In Bixa based Formulations for Malarial fever it is added as denary ingredient. In Costus based Formulations it is added as quinary ingredient. These Formulations are used for prevention of malarial fever. In Knema based Formulations it is added as tertiary ingredient. In Calotropis based Formulations it is added as secondary and denary ingredients based on the condition of the patients.

In secret Formulations for treatment of Sickle Cell Anemia the Traditional Healers of Chhattisgarh add Coccus virdis as important ingredient. These Formulations are known as complex formulations as over 150 ingredients are added in it. The Healers claim that Coccus virdis plays very specific and important role in thiese Formulations. For information on complete Formulations and dosage please visit pankajoudhia.com

Thank you very much for reading the article.

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Citation

Oudhia, Pankaj (2014). Traditional medicinal knowledge about Coffee Green bug Coccus viridis Gr. (Hemiptera: Coccidae) feeding on Sahadevi (Vernonia cinerea), in Chhattisgarh, India. Updated Version. pankajoudhia.com