Traditional medicinal knowledge about Binoula (Cotton seed) in Chhattisgarh India.

Traditional medicinal knowledge about Binoula (Cotton seed) in Chhattisgarh India.

Pankaj Oudhia

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© Pankaj Oudhia

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Cotton (Gossypium species) was under cultivation as commercial crop in Chhattisgarh in early days. As you know, Cotton is one of the most important fibre crop playing a key role in economic and social affairs of the world. It is oldest among the commercial crop of the world. In Chhattisgarh cotton seed cake is used as cattle feed. According to the reference literatures, Cotton seed oil extracted from cotton seed is used for edible purposes, manufacture of Vanaspati, soaps, paints and varnishes, toilet preparations, leather industry and as lubricant. Binoula is also used for medicinal purposes. The reference literatures related to different systems of medicine are full of information regarding medicinal uses and properties of Binoula. According to Ayurveda, Binoula is galactagogue and aphrodisiac. According to the Unani system of medicine, it is aphrodisiac, expectorant, laxative and useful in treatment of orchitis. The traditional healers of Chhattisgarh are aware of many traditional medicinal uses of Binaula. Through the ethnobotanical surveys conducted in different parts of Chhattisgarh, I have collected these information's. I am giving the details in present article.

The traditional healers of Chhattisgarh Plains use Binoula oil as aphrodisiac. The patients are advised by the healers having poor sexual desire to massage the oil gently on male genital before intercourse. Its regular use not only increases the retention time but also increases the desire. The healers of different regions have different opinions regarding the use. Many healers suggest its massage several hours prior to the intercourse. After massage, the healers suggest the patients to wrap the genital with Andi (Ricinus communis) leaf. Many healers use Pan (Betel vine) leaf also for the same purpose. All healers are not in favour of its regular use. Most of them recommend it to the patients only. The healers use oil for other purpose also. Its use in face care is one of these purposes. It is applied on black spots to remove it. According to the healers its long term use improves the complexion also. The traditional healers of Bagbahera region, use the oil in treatment of wounds. They are aware of its miraculous healing capacity. In case of complications, the healers add other herbal oils with it. The senior natives of Chhattisgarh plains use the oil to treat itching in anus, a trouble common in small children. The oil is applied inside the anus. The use is continued till complete cure. It is considered as one of the promising and cheap uses. The Binoula is used in powder form, in combination with different herbs in treatment of many common diseases. The traditional healers of Narharpur region informed me that the internal use of Binoula in combination with other herbs like Neem leaves, flushes out the toxins from body. It is considered as promising blood purifier and used internally in treatment of skin related troubles. The healers of Northern Chhattisgarh use the powder in treatment of hysteria successfully. In previous articles, I have written a lot on traditional medicinal uses of other parts of Cotton plant. As Cotton is under cultivation in many parts of the world, I personally feel that by collecting the information on traditional uses of Binola in these parts, we can prepare the good reference literature for the use of future generation. Thank you very much for reading the article.