Traditional medicinal knowledge about Ground beetle Ophionea nigrofasciata (Schmidt-Goebel) feeding on Rice Green Leaf Hopper, in Chhattisgarh, India. Updated Version.

Traditional medicinal knowledge about Ground beetle Ophionea nigrofasciata (Schmidt-Goebel) feeding on Rice Green Leaf Hopper, 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 Ground beetle Ophionea nigrofasciata (Schmidt-Goebel) feeding on Rice Green Leaf Hopper, in Chhattisgarh, India.”  is updated version of his previously published online research document available through pankajoudhia.com.

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

Chhattisgarh is well known for its rice varieties and production. It is known as 'Rice bowl of India'. Rice is a staple food in this region. Beside using it as food, for the traditional healers of Chhattisgarh Rice is a valuable medicinal herb and even the insect-pest attacking on specific rice varieties particularly the medicinal rice varieties are used as folk medicine. In previous articles I have written a lot on different aspects of traditional medicinal knowledge about Rice and Green Leaf Hopper. During the Ethno-entomological surveys conducted in Chhattisgarh Plains, in recent past, I have observed that many healers use Ground beetles Ophionea nigrofasciata collected from rice fields as medicine. In general, the Ground beetle is known as potential natural enemies of Leaf Folder larvae and Green Leaf Hopper. The full fed beetles are collected and after drying converted into powder. This powder is used both internally as well as externally in treatment of many common diseases. Its use in treatment of swellings is very popular among the healers. In treatment of swelling it is used externally in form of aqueous paste. This paste is having the capacity to absorb the extra heat from affected part and help in reducing it effectively in very less time. The traditional healers also use the insect powder internally with popular herbal formulations but as traditional secret, they do not want to give the details. The initial information about its potential use as medicinal insect is enough for me. Many healers claimed that the powder is added in popular herbal combinations, as main ingredient, used in treatment of different types of cancerous wounds, but I am not sure about it. The traditional healers using this insect as medicinal insect take special measures during its collection. The rice fields heavily infested with Green Leaf Hopper are selected for the collection with assumption that the beetle has fed on hoppers instead of other insects. The healers claimed that by seeing its efficacy ass medicine, they get confirmation whether they have collected the potential beetle or not, but they have no other checking method before this stage. The rice fields where rice is under cultivation as organic crop are selected for the collection of beetles. As the area under chemical farming is increasing, it is becoming difficult for the healers to get the potential beetle. The senior healers informed that in early days when medicinal rice varieties were under cultivation, the beetles were in use in treatment of many complicated troubles. Unfortunately, these varieties are not under cultivation now.

The above mentioned traditional medicinal uses of Ground beetle have yet not been reported in reference literatures. This research article is the first written document on this important aspect.

New comments added on May, 2014

Through recent surveys I have collected information about over 3000 Formulations in which Ophionea is added as important ingredient. These Formulations are popular among the Traditional Healers for miraculous wound helaing properties. In Abutilon based Formulations it is added as secondary ingredient. These Formulations are used internally. In Termite based Formulations it is added as quinary ingredient. These Formulations are used externally as well as internally. In Gram Pod Borer based Formulations Ophionea is added as tertiary ingredient. In Phaecanthus based Formulations it is added as quaternary ingredient. Allelopathically enriched Azadirachta is added as secondary ingredient in these Formulations. In Hydnocarpus based Formulations used in treatment of cancerous wound it is added as octonary ingredient. In Mitragyna based Formulations of Odisha it is added as septenary ingredient. These Formulations are popular among the senior Healers  In Costus based Formulations for old wound in patients having Type 2 Diabetes Ophionea is added as secondary and tertiary ingredients. In Xanthium based Formulations of North Chhattisgarh it is added as denary ingredient. These Formulations are effective but not much popular among the Healers of young generation. In Miliusa based Formulations it is added as nonary ingredient. The Healers perform purification rituals before adding it in these Formulations. Over 18 types of herbs and herbal combinations are used in the purification process. In Cullenia based Formulations it is added as senary ingredient along with wild mushrooms and medicinal orchids. In Medicinal Rice Alcha based Formulations it is added as quinary ingredient. For complete information on Formulations and dosage please visit pankajoudhia.com

Thank you very much for reading the article.

Related References

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Citation

Oudhia, Pankaj (2014). Traditional medicinal knowledge about Ground beetle Ophionea nigrofasciata (Schmidt-Goebel) feeding on Rice Green Leaf Hopper, in Chhattisgarh, India. Updated Version. pankajoudhia.com