Amarbel (Cuscuta sp.) As medicinal herb in Chhattisgarh, India
Amarbel (Cuscuta sp.) As medicinal herb in Chhattisgarh, India
http://www.pankajoudhia.com/RA1.pdf
Research Note - Pankaj Oudhia © 2001,2002,2003 Pankaj Oudhia - All Rights Reserved
Amarbel is a parasitic, twining herb with golden yellow, wiry stems, rudimentary scaly leaves, and small clusters of minute, bell-shaped flowers. According to reference literatures related to weed science, it is one of the obnoxious weeds of the world. Every year weed management authorities of many countries invest millions of money to eradicate this so called unwanted plant. There are more than 170 species of Amarbel in the world. Cuscuta campestris, C. reflexa and C. hyalina are most common. This parasitic herb attacks on many important and valuable agricultural crops. It disseminates by seeds as well as through movement of its fragments with men and animals. In Chhattisgarh, Amarbel is common herb and attacks on variety of herbs both cultivated and natural. For the natives and traditional healers of Chhattisgarh, Amarbel is a valuable medicinal herb. The healers give special preference to parasitic herbs like Amarbel, in selection of medicine used in treatment of complicated diseases. In general, they believe that the parasitic herbs extract healthy and potential sap from host plant and if their host plants are medicinal pants then these parasitic herbs possess many similar properties (i.e. medicinal) to host medicinal plants. Amarbel species feeding on commonly used medicinal herbs are given special attention by the traditional healers. The natives and traditional healers of Chhattisgarh use Amarbel both internally and externally in treatment of more than 39 common and complicated diseases. It is popular veterinary medicine also. In case of loose motions and related stomach disorders the natives prepare a decoction from whole herb and give it internally to the affected animals. It is considered as one of the promising treatments. You will be surprised to know that many traditional healers of Chhattisgarh use the whole herb as sex tonic and aphrodisiac. The fresh herb is preferred, to prepare the drug. Many healers collect the fresh herb and dry it in shade. After drying, it is converted into powder. This powder is stored for use round the year. According to the healers, the nature of Amarbel is dry and hot. The traditional healers of Bastar region use it in treatment of eye related diseases. It is used internally. According to these healers, Amarbel is a boon for the patients having the problem of bind (Cataract). The traditional healers of Chhattisgarh Plains, use it as main component in herbal formulations used in treatment of liver related troubles. It is used internally. The traditional healers of Kondagaon region, prepare a special oil by boiling the fresh herb in Til Oil. This oil is used externally to increase the performance of male genitals. After heavy field work when the paddy growers take rest, their wives boil the fresh herb in water and the hot vapours are passed through painful body parts. This simple treatment helps the paddy growers to get ready for next day's hard work. The natives suggest the patients having the problem of gout to adopt the same method to get quick relief. The traditional healers of Bilaspur region, prepare a special decoction using Amarbel herb in combination with other herbs in order to flush out the intestinal worms effectively. Allelopathy studies, I have found this herb effective against common crop pest. It can be used as insect repellent in combination with other herbs. My studies revealed that there are the possibilities of utilizing positive (inhibitory) allelopathic effects of Amarbel in order to control many obnoxious crop weeds and to prepare eco-friendly, cheap and effective green herbicides with the help of this so-called unwanted plant. The natives and traditional healers of Chhattisgarh aware of its valuable medicinal properties and uses, darely object when the weed scientists advise them to consider it as weed and to control it in crop fields with the help of agrochemicals. In many science conferences, I have informed the weed researchers about the traditional medicinal knowledge about Amarbel in Chhattisgarh, but possibly due to pressure of multinationals engaged in manufacture of lethal agrochemicals, they do not encourage my work of weed utilization. Many of the above mentioned traditional medicinal uses have yet not been reported in reference literatures. This article is the first written document on this aspect. As mentioned earlier, Amarbel is a problematic weed in many countries. The researchers of these countries can learn a lot about its uses from the traditional healers of Chhattisgarh. I invite the interested researchers to visit Chhattisgarh for detailed study. Thank you very much for reading the article.
http://www.pankajoudhia.com/RA1.pdf
Research Note - Pankaj Oudhia © 2001,2002,2003 Pankaj Oudhia - All Rights Reserved
Amarbel is a parasitic, twining herb with golden yellow, wiry stems, rudimentary scaly leaves, and small clusters of minute, bell-shaped flowers. According to reference literatures related to weed science, it is one of the obnoxious weeds of the world. Every year weed management authorities of many countries invest millions of money to eradicate this so called unwanted plant. There are more than 170 species of Amarbel in the world. Cuscuta campestris, C. reflexa and C. hyalina are most common. This parasitic herb attacks on many important and valuable agricultural crops. It disseminates by seeds as well as through movement of its fragments with men and animals. In Chhattisgarh, Amarbel is common herb and attacks on variety of herbs both cultivated and natural. For the natives and traditional healers of Chhattisgarh, Amarbel is a valuable medicinal herb. The healers give special preference to parasitic herbs like Amarbel, in selection of medicine used in treatment of complicated diseases. In general, they believe that the parasitic herbs extract healthy and potential sap from host plant and if their host plants are medicinal pants then these parasitic herbs possess many similar properties (i.e. medicinal) to host medicinal plants. Amarbel species feeding on commonly used medicinal herbs are given special attention by the traditional healers. The natives and traditional healers of Chhattisgarh use Amarbel both internally and externally in treatment of more than 39 common and complicated diseases. It is popular veterinary medicine also. In case of loose motions and related stomach disorders the natives prepare a decoction from whole herb and give it internally to the affected animals. It is considered as one of the promising treatments. You will be surprised to know that many traditional healers of Chhattisgarh use the whole herb as sex tonic and aphrodisiac. The fresh herb is preferred, to prepare the drug. Many healers collect the fresh herb and dry it in shade. After drying, it is converted into powder. This powder is stored for use round the year. According to the healers, the nature of Amarbel is dry and hot. The traditional healers of Bastar region use it in treatment of eye related diseases. It is used internally. According to these healers, Amarbel is a boon for the patients having the problem of bind (Cataract). The traditional healers of Chhattisgarh Plains, use it as main component in herbal formulations used in treatment of liver related troubles. It is used internally. The traditional healers of Kondagaon region, prepare a special oil by boiling the fresh herb in Til Oil. This oil is used externally to increase the performance of male genitals. After heavy field work when the paddy growers take rest, their wives boil the fresh herb in water and the hot vapours are passed through painful body parts. This simple treatment helps the paddy growers to get ready for next day's hard work. The natives suggest the patients having the problem of gout to adopt the same method to get quick relief. The traditional healers of Bilaspur region, prepare a special decoction using Amarbel herb in combination with other herbs in order to flush out the intestinal worms effectively. Allelopathy studies, I have found this herb effective against common crop pest. It can be used as insect repellent in combination with other herbs. My studies revealed that there are the possibilities of utilizing positive (inhibitory) allelopathic effects of Amarbel in order to control many obnoxious crop weeds and to prepare eco-friendly, cheap and effective green herbicides with the help of this so-called unwanted plant. The natives and traditional healers of Chhattisgarh aware of its valuable medicinal properties and uses, darely object when the weed scientists advise them to consider it as weed and to control it in crop fields with the help of agrochemicals. In many science conferences, I have informed the weed researchers about the traditional medicinal knowledge about Amarbel in Chhattisgarh, but possibly due to pressure of multinationals engaged in manufacture of lethal agrochemicals, they do not encourage my work of weed utilization. Many of the above mentioned traditional medicinal uses have yet not been reported in reference literatures. This article is the first written document on this aspect. As mentioned earlier, Amarbel is a problematic weed in many countries. The researchers of these countries can learn a lot about its uses from the traditional healers of Chhattisgarh. I invite the interested researchers to visit Chhattisgarh for detailed study. Thank you very much for reading the article.
Comments