Sevanti (Chrysanthemum coronarium, family : Compositae) as medicinal herb in Chhattisgarh, India.
Sevanti (Chrysanthemum coronarium, family : Compositae) as medicinal herb in Chhattisgarh, India.
Pankaj
Oudhia
Extended
Summary
© Pankaj Oudhia
Sevanti is well known in Chhattisgarh for its beautiful fragrant flowers. The natives plant this herb in home gardens. In Raipur city, the capital of Chhattisgarh, every year Chhattisgarh Horticulture Society organizes flower show and there is special category for beautiful flowers of Sevanti. According to the reference literatures it is native to Mediterranean region. In Chhattisgarh, it is introduced as ornamental herb. It is annual herb with yellow or yellowish white flower heads. The senior natives of Chhattisgarh informed that this ornamental herb is present since very long time. During the ethnobotanical surveys conducted in different parts of Chhattisgarh when the traditional healers of Chhattisgarh informed me about some traditional medicinal uses of Sevanti, I got surprised. I have collected many valuable information through interactions with them and also got opportunities to see its practical uses many times. I am giving the details in present article.
The traditional healers use the flowers of Sevanti as medicine. According to them, the white flowered herb possess more valuable medicinal properties than the yellow flowered species. The healers use it internally in treatment of Amenorrhoea. The flowers are dipped in water over night. Next morning, the flowers extract is given internally to the patients empty stomach. The use is continued till complete cure. In case of complications, the healers use the decoction of Sevanti flower. The flowers are boiled in water and when all watery contents evaporate the boiling is stopped and the patients are suggested to take the decoction. The decoction is also used in treatment of Sujak (Gonorrhoea). The healers add more herbs in it to make the decoction more useful. In treatment of Renal Calculi (Pathri) the healers suggest the patients to keep the flowers under open sky in winter session. Next morning, flowers having few drops are taken internally. According to the healers, its use in this way upto one week give immense relief to the patients. The flowers are used externally also. By mixing the flowers in water, the healers prepare an aqueous paste. This paste is used externally in treatment of swellings.
Through the popular articles in regional languages when I informed the natives about the traditional medicinal knowledge about Sevanti flowers our healers are having, they got surprised. Through the on-going surveys, I am trying my best to gather more information on this aspect specially from other parts of Chhattisgarh. I am confident that the valuable traditional knowledge will help us to establish this ornamental herb as potential medicinal herb.
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