Medicinal herbs of Chhattisgarh, India having less known traditional uses XII. Champa (Michelia sp., family : Magnoliaceae).
Medicinal herbs of Chhattisgarh, India having less known traditional uses
XII. Champa (Michelia sp., family : Magnoliaceae).
http://www.pankajoudhia.com/RA1.pdf
Research Note - Pankaj Oudhia © 2001,2002,2003 Pankaj Oudhia - All Rights Reserved
In Chhattisgarh, two species of Champa are commonly planted in home gardens. The yellow flowered Champa is known as Peela Champa whereas white flowered Champa is known as Safed Champa. Safed Champa is relatively less common as compared to Peela Champa. The natives plant it in gardens for beautiful scented flowers. The flowers are offered in worship. I have seen Safed Champa first time in Sarguja region at my farmer's home garden during my research work at Ajirma farm. Among Bengali communities, having expertise in Agriculture, Safed Champa herb is very popular. The traditional healers of Chhattisgarh informed me that Peela Champa was introduced in Chhattisgarh by migrating natives of Bengal and Assam. For the traditional healers of Chhattisgarh both Safed (Michelia montana) and Peela (Michelia champaca) are medicinally important. Peela Champa is present in Chhattisgarh sin time immemorial. There is a name of city Champa based on this herb. Last month, I visited Champa city with the members of social organization Andh Shradha Nirmulan Samiti (ASNS). Although at present it is hard to find a single Champa tree in Champa city but the Principal and botanists of government college confirmed that Champa is named on Champa herb. Champa city is also known as Chanpa, but original was the Champa. The traditional healers from Bengali community use Safed Champa more commonly and the healers of other communities use Peela Champa. Through my surveys I noted that the healers using Safed Champa are more in number as compared to the healers using Peela Champa. In reference literatures, surprisingly I got very little information of Safed Champa. These literatures are full of information on Peela Champa. The reference literatures state that the oil obtained from flowers is used in perfumery but here in Chhattisgarh, the herb growers engaged in aromatic crop production are not aware of this oil. Both species of Champa are not under commercial cultivation in Chhattisgarh. Both are also not in list of non-wood forest produces, having routine demand. In present article, I am writing on traditional medicinal knowledge about both species of Champa. At first I am describing the botany and reported medicinal uses of Peela Champa (Michelia champaca). According to reference literatures, Peela Champa tall evergreen tree, bark grey or brownish. Leaves ovate - lanceolate, acute to acuminate, coriaceous, 15-20 x 7-9 cm. Flowers usually solitary, axillary golden yellow or orange, fragrant. Perianth segments 9 or more, oblong, fleshy. Fruit 5-10 cm long, ripe carpels ovoid or ellipsoid, woody. Seeds brown, angular with pink fleshy aril. Flowering and fruiting time April to July. Peela Champa holds a reputed position in different systems of medicine in India. As medicine, roots, barks, leaves, flowers and fruits are used. According to Ayurveda bark is bitter, acrid, destroys poison, diuretic, diaphoretic, aphrodisiac and useful in treatment of worms, bile, blood affections. Leaves are useful in case of vaginal discharges. Flowers are stomachic, diuretic , remove biliousness and good in leprosy, skin troubles and ulcers. According to Unani system of medicine, flowers are expectorant and useful in cough, rheumatism The natives are fond of sweet scented Champa flowers. It is common belief among them that the presence of Champa in home gardens purifies the air and destroy harmful micro-organisms. It is also a common belief among them that the presence of Champa attracts the snakes specially when the tree is in full bloom stage. Due to this fear, many natives ovoid the tree or plant it in fence. They also plant snake-repellent plants near to Champa to get sweet smell without the fear of snakes. The traditional healers of Chhattisgarh use this species of Champa in limited diseases. In order to treat Leucorrhoea, the healers of Narharpur region, use the juice of Peela Champa bark internally. The traditional healers of Chhattisgarh Plains use the decoction of bark in place of fresh juice. The quantity of juice or decoction depends upon the vitality of patients mainly. The treatment is continued till complete cure. In case of respiratory troubles in small children, the traditional healers of Bastar region, give Champa flower bud with leaf juice of Pan (Bete vine) internally. The traditional healers of Nagri-Sihawa region, specialised in treatment of fevers, give the decoction of Champa roots internally in treatment of intermittent fever. As other promising alternatives are available, they use it less frequently. The traditional healers of Bagbahera region, specialised in treatment of snake bites, use Safed Champa very frequently. As first aid, the fresh flower buds are given to the patients. In case of unavailability of fresh buds, they use dry buds, but the fresh ones are eferred. As treatment, the healers extract the juice from the bark of Champa and Bel (Aegle marmelos) and mix it in equal proportion. About half litre of juice is given to the patients. The healers informed that in most of the cases this combination cures patients. The traditional healers of other parts of Chhattisgarh are not aware of this use. When I informed them about this use, they tried it and found it very effective. The traditional healers of Raigarh district, are planning to try this combination in coming rainy season. This area is famous for heavy population of poisonous snakes and large number of deaths due to snake poison every yea The healers of Chhattisgarh plains, use the leaves of Safed Champa, like the leaves of Fudhar (Calotropis gigantea) in joint pain externally. They lukewarm the leaves and tie it on the painful joints. The juice is also applied for same purpose. The milk of this herb is used externally to reduce the swellings. The healers of Kondagaon region prepares a special herbal oil by mixing milk in base oil and use it externally in treatment of skin troubles. The natives are also aware of this use but as wrong use of milk causes problems like irritation, they use it under supervision of traditional healers. The flower buds are used internally in treatment of malarial fever. But this use is also becoming less poplar. The natural occurrence of both species of Champa in Chhattisgarh clearly suggests that there is possibility of its commercial cultivation as aromatic herb in the state. Through my articles in regional languages, I am writing on this aspect and motivating the herb growers to start its commercial cultivation. The above mentioned uses are very important and valuable. As this article, fulfils the requirement of documentation but the job is not over. The detailed surveys and systematic studies are essential , to establish this herb as potential medicinal as well as aromatic herb in Chhattisgarh Thank you very much for reading the articles.
http://www.pankajoudhia.com/RA1.pdf
Research Note - Pankaj Oudhia © 2001,2002,2003 Pankaj Oudhia - All Rights Reserved
In Chhattisgarh, two species of Champa are commonly planted in home gardens. The yellow flowered Champa is known as Peela Champa whereas white flowered Champa is known as Safed Champa. Safed Champa is relatively less common as compared to Peela Champa. The natives plant it in gardens for beautiful scented flowers. The flowers are offered in worship. I have seen Safed Champa first time in Sarguja region at my farmer's home garden during my research work at Ajirma farm. Among Bengali communities, having expertise in Agriculture, Safed Champa herb is very popular. The traditional healers of Chhattisgarh informed me that Peela Champa was introduced in Chhattisgarh by migrating natives of Bengal and Assam. For the traditional healers of Chhattisgarh both Safed (Michelia montana) and Peela (Michelia champaca) are medicinally important. Peela Champa is present in Chhattisgarh sin time immemorial. There is a name of city Champa based on this herb. Last month, I visited Champa city with the members of social organization Andh Shradha Nirmulan Samiti (ASNS). Although at present it is hard to find a single Champa tree in Champa city but the Principal and botanists of government college confirmed that Champa is named on Champa herb. Champa city is also known as Chanpa, but original was the Champa. The traditional healers from Bengali community use Safed Champa more commonly and the healers of other communities use Peela Champa. Through my surveys I noted that the healers using Safed Champa are more in number as compared to the healers using Peela Champa. In reference literatures, surprisingly I got very little information of Safed Champa. These literatures are full of information on Peela Champa. The reference literatures state that the oil obtained from flowers is used in perfumery but here in Chhattisgarh, the herb growers engaged in aromatic crop production are not aware of this oil. Both species of Champa are not under commercial cultivation in Chhattisgarh. Both are also not in list of non-wood forest produces, having routine demand. In present article, I am writing on traditional medicinal knowledge about both species of Champa. At first I am describing the botany and reported medicinal uses of Peela Champa (Michelia champaca). According to reference literatures, Peela Champa tall evergreen tree, bark grey or brownish. Leaves ovate - lanceolate, acute to acuminate, coriaceous, 15-20 x 7-9 cm. Flowers usually solitary, axillary golden yellow or orange, fragrant. Perianth segments 9 or more, oblong, fleshy. Fruit 5-10 cm long, ripe carpels ovoid or ellipsoid, woody. Seeds brown, angular with pink fleshy aril. Flowering and fruiting time April to July. Peela Champa holds a reputed position in different systems of medicine in India. As medicine, roots, barks, leaves, flowers and fruits are used. According to Ayurveda bark is bitter, acrid, destroys poison, diuretic, diaphoretic, aphrodisiac and useful in treatment of worms, bile, blood affections. Leaves are useful in case of vaginal discharges. Flowers are stomachic, diuretic , remove biliousness and good in leprosy, skin troubles and ulcers. According to Unani system of medicine, flowers are expectorant and useful in cough, rheumatism The natives are fond of sweet scented Champa flowers. It is common belief among them that the presence of Champa in home gardens purifies the air and destroy harmful micro-organisms. It is also a common belief among them that the presence of Champa attracts the snakes specially when the tree is in full bloom stage. Due to this fear, many natives ovoid the tree or plant it in fence. They also plant snake-repellent plants near to Champa to get sweet smell without the fear of snakes. The traditional healers of Chhattisgarh use this species of Champa in limited diseases. In order to treat Leucorrhoea, the healers of Narharpur region, use the juice of Peela Champa bark internally. The traditional healers of Chhattisgarh Plains use the decoction of bark in place of fresh juice. The quantity of juice or decoction depends upon the vitality of patients mainly. The treatment is continued till complete cure. In case of respiratory troubles in small children, the traditional healers of Bastar region, give Champa flower bud with leaf juice of Pan (Bete vine) internally. The traditional healers of Nagri-Sihawa region, specialised in treatment of fevers, give the decoction of Champa roots internally in treatment of intermittent fever. As other promising alternatives are available, they use it less frequently. The traditional healers of Bagbahera region, specialised in treatment of snake bites, use Safed Champa very frequently. As first aid, the fresh flower buds are given to the patients. In case of unavailability of fresh buds, they use dry buds, but the fresh ones are eferred. As treatment, the healers extract the juice from the bark of Champa and Bel (Aegle marmelos) and mix it in equal proportion. About half litre of juice is given to the patients. The healers informed that in most of the cases this combination cures patients. The traditional healers of other parts of Chhattisgarh are not aware of this use. When I informed them about this use, they tried it and found it very effective. The traditional healers of Raigarh district, are planning to try this combination in coming rainy season. This area is famous for heavy population of poisonous snakes and large number of deaths due to snake poison every yea The healers of Chhattisgarh plains, use the leaves of Safed Champa, like the leaves of Fudhar (Calotropis gigantea) in joint pain externally. They lukewarm the leaves and tie it on the painful joints. The juice is also applied for same purpose. The milk of this herb is used externally to reduce the swellings. The healers of Kondagaon region prepares a special herbal oil by mixing milk in base oil and use it externally in treatment of skin troubles. The natives are also aware of this use but as wrong use of milk causes problems like irritation, they use it under supervision of traditional healers. The flower buds are used internally in treatment of malarial fever. But this use is also becoming less poplar. The natural occurrence of both species of Champa in Chhattisgarh clearly suggests that there is possibility of its commercial cultivation as aromatic herb in the state. Through my articles in regional languages, I am writing on this aspect and motivating the herb growers to start its commercial cultivation. The above mentioned uses are very important and valuable. As this article, fulfils the requirement of documentation but the job is not over. The detailed surveys and systematic studies are essential , to establish this herb as potential medicinal as well as aromatic herb in Chhattisgarh Thank you very much for reading the articles.
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