Pankaj Oudhia’s Notes on Helicteres isora L. [Kirtikar, Kanhoba Ranchoddas, and Baman Das Basu. "Indian Medicinal Plants." Indian Medicinal Plants. (1918)]

Pankaj Oudhia’s Notes on Helicteres isora L. [Kirtikar, Kanhoba Ranchoddas, and Baman Das Basu. "Indian Medicinal Plants." Indian Medicinal Plants. (1918)]

Pankaj Oudhia

Introduction

Based on Ethnobotanical surveys since year 1990 in different parts of India Pankaj Oudhia has documented vital information about Medicinal Plants mentioned in the famous publication by Kirtikar and Basu (1918). Through this research document Pankaj Oudhia has tried to present original document with additional notes. For complete paper with pictures, Interactive Tables, Video and Audio clips please visit pankajoudhia.com

For original publication by Kirtikar and Basu (1918) please visit https://archive.org/details/indianmedicinalp01kirt

181. Helicteres isora, Linn,, h.f.b.l, i. 365.,

Roxb. 506.

Sans. : — Avartani.

Vern. : — Marosi, marorphali, jonka-phali, kapasi, bhendu

(H.); Antamora (B.) ; Vurkatee (Sind.); Dhameenee (Dec);

Murad Shing (Marathij ; Kawun (Bomb.) ; Aita (Gond) ; Valum-

birikai (Tarn.) ; Gubadarra (Tel.)

Habitat : — Dry forests throughout Central and Western

India, from Behar as far west as Jammu, and the Western Penin-

sula. In the Thana Adawlat Garden (1881) there is a beautiful

plant six feet high. K.R.K. Ceylon low country.

Arborescent or shrubby. Leaves 3 by 2J in., bifarious,

obliquely cordate, roundish, obovate, often lobed, shortly acumi-

nate, serrate, scabrous above, pubescent beneath ; petiole i in.,

as long as the linear subulate stipules. Peduncles 2-3 together,

in a short axillary cyme. Bracteoles small, subulate. Flowers

206 INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS.

If in. Calyx gibbous, laterally compressed, somewhat 2-lipped.

Petals reflected, red at first, fading to lead colour, very unequal

in size. 2 lower the largest, claw winged. Staminodes 5 emargi-

nate scales. Stamens 10. anthers ovate. Ovary at the top of

the Staminal-column, 5-lobed, 5-celled. Styles awl-shaped,

more or less united, slightly thickened and stigmatose at the

tips. Ovules many in each cell. Follicles spirally twisted,

cylindric. beaked, pubescent.

Parts used : — The fruit, root, and bark.

Uses : — The fruits are made into liniment for sores of the

ear (Ainslie. )

[Pankaj Oudhia’s Comment: In treatment of Diabetic wound Helicteres fruits and other plant parts are very useful. I have documented information about thousands of Formulations in which Helicteres is added as important ingredient. In treatment of such wound Helicteres Formulations are used both internally as well externally. It is excellent remedy for recurring boils. The Indian Traditional Healers add one to 500 Herbs based on the condition of the patients in Helicteres formulations but key role is played by Helicteres even among 500 other ingredients. In Chhattisgarh Plains the Healers use it with Mucuna whereas the Healers of Bastar use it with Alsi. The Healers of Odisha use it in combination with Tentuli. In West Bengal it is used with Chirayata. In Jharkhand the Healers use Medicinal Ferns whereas in North-East it is used with Medicinal Orchids. Please see Table H-11 for list of Medicinal Orchids used with Helicteres in treatment of Diabetic wound. In Table H-12 you will find the list of Medicinal Ferns whereas in Table H-13 list of wild mushrooms is given.  

The Tradtional Healers treat wild population of Helicteres growing near perennial nallah with different herbal extracts and leachate three months before collection of plant parts specially fruits. Through their Traditional Allelopathic Knowledge they enrich the herb with desired medicinal properties. The Helicteres available with the herb traders collected without treatment is less effective and many times fails to give the results. I have documented this Traditional Allelopathic Knowledge. Please see Table H-14 for list of Herbal Extracts and methods of preparation used by the Healers of Chhattisgarh.

When Helicteres based Formulations are used for Diabetic wound the Traditional Entomotherapists add medicinal insects specially Aphids infesting wild herbs with it in order to increase its efficacy. Aphids infesting Dudhia herb are collected and added raw in the Formulations. Many Healers use these yellow Aphids in dry form also. They claim that Aphid as single remedy is not much effective but in Helicteres Formulations it not only enhances the effect of Helicteres but also play key role in treatment.]

They are also internally administered for colic, according

to the ancient "doctrine of signatures."

[Pankaj Oudhia’s Comment: Patients with liver related troubles are not given Helicteres in any form for treatment of colic. The Traditional Healers of Madhya Pradesh shared this vital information. When I shared it with the Healers of Chhattisgarh many of them showed surprise. Many senior Healers of Odisha are aware of this fact. In Helicteres based Herbal Formulations of Bastar I found many herbs beneficial for Liver.]

Sloane speaks of the juice of the root having virtues in

empyema and stomach affections. Leaves are used in Jamaica

for decoction for clysters (Murray.;

In the Konkan it is used in snake-bite [Pankaj Oudhia’s Comment: It is used for snake bite treatment throughout India but it is not a popular remedy for snake bite.] and diabetes

(Dymockj. It is also used in anthelmintic diarrhoea, dysent-

ery, hose of powdered bark one wal* to \ tola.

The root and bark used by the Santals for the same purposes

as the fruit (Revd. A. Campbell.)

According to Moodeen Sheriff, it is demulcent and mild

astringent, and useful with other drugs in the griping of bowels,

and flatulence of children.

Citation

Oudhia, Pankaj (2013). Pankaj Oudhia’s Notes on Helicteres isora L. [Kirtikar, Kanhoba Ranchoddas, and Baman Das Basu. "Indian Medicinal Plants." Indian Medicinal Plants. (1918)]. www.pankajoudhia.com