Traditional medicinal knowledge about common herbs used as home remedies in Chhattisgarh, India. : Recent Interactions with the senior natives of Chhattisgarh Plains.
Traditional medicinal knowledge about common herbs used as home remedies in Chhattisgarh, India. : Recent Interactions with the senior natives of Chhattisgarh Plains.
Pankaj
Oudhia
Extended
Summary
© Pankaj Oudhia
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The senior natives of Chhattisgarh extract the juice of matured Phalsa fruits, and after adding water, Sonth (Dried Ginger) and Gud (Jaggery), give it to the patients having heart troubles. Flowering and fruiting occurs in Phalsa herb between July to December in Chhattisgarh conditions. The senior natives never miss the chance to utilize, the matured fruits for this purpose. Phalsa is well-known herb. Its scientific name is Grewia asiatica. The traditional healers of Chhattisgarh Plains are also aware of this use. They explained to me that the presence of Sonth in the juice, nullifies the harmful effect of Phalsa juice. It also increases its taste. In the series of Herbal dishes of Chhattisgarh, I have mentioned that the natives use the leaves of Chaulai (Amaranthus virdis) in form of curries. Chaulai is under cultivation in Chhattisgarh. The senior natives of Chhattisgarh Plains consider the juice of Chaulai herb, a boon for the heart patients. The herb collected before flowering is considered best. The senior natives prefer the herb of organic farming origin, to extract the juice. Although Jau (Hordeum vulgare) is not under cultivation as agriculture crop but the natives use its grains for different purposes. The senior natives of Chhattisgarh Plains suggest the fellow natives having the problem of habitual Abortion to used Jau Ata (Flour) in combination with Black Til (Sesame) and Gud (Jaggery). All ingredients are mixed in equal proportion and with Shahad (Honey) taken internally upto long time. The traditional healers suggest the addition of more herbs in this combination but according to them, in normal cases this combination works very well. The senior natives suggest the Lactating woman to consume Urd Dal (Black Gram splitted seeds) in combination with cow ghee in order to increase the flow of milk. The natives popularly use Urd seeds as pulse in Chhattisgarh. Urd is well known pulse crop in the state. During recent interactions when we started discussion on dental care, the natives informed that the leaves of Patta Gobhi (Cabbage) are good for teeth and gums. The leaves are used in many ways. It is chewed well, till its juice reaches to the every corner of mouth. The senior natives also prepare a special decoction by boiling its leaves in water and suggest the patients to gargle with this decoction. The healers of this region suggest the addition of Jam (Psidium guajava) leaves in it to make the decoction more promising. The senior natives of Raipur city informed that the leaf juice of Karonda (Carissa carandus) can be used successfully in treatment of Mirgi (Epilepsy). The leaf juice is given internally in combination with whey. This combination is given upto long time. The traditional healers informed that this combination is effective in very early stages. In later stages, this combination can be used as supplement to main treatment. As you know, Chhattisgarh is known as Rice Bowl of India, hence it is not possible that the natives do not aware of its various uses. I have written a lot on this aspect in my previous articles. The senior natives of Chhattisgarh Plains informed that the rice grains of any rice variety can be used for face care. The grains are simply dipped in water overnight. Next morning the leachates are used to wash the face. Its regular use removes black spots from the face. I got new type of Herbal tea during the recent interactions. The senior natives suggest the patients having the problem of paralysis to boil the Urd seeds and Sonth in water and take the decoction internally like Herbal Tea. To make it more similar to tea, they add Lemon grass leaf in it. The traditional healers accepted this tea as supplement treatment.
The rich traditional knowledge of senior natives is very precious for us, the representative to present generation. I am keeping it safe for future generation. Many of the above mentioned uses are in regular use. For these formulation, I am not worrying because due to its efficacy, it will reach automatically to next generation. The less used formulations are required more attention.
Thank you very much for reading the article.
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