Masor (Lens esculenta) as medicinal herb in Chhattisgarh, India.
Masor (Lens esculenta) as medicinal herb in Chhattisgarh, India.
http://www.pankajoudhia.com/RA1.pdf
Research Note - Pankaj Oudhia © 2001,2002,2003 Pankaj Oudhia - All Rights Reserved
The well known Agronomist Dr. Chhida Singh writes in his book "Modern techniques of raising field crop" about Masor. It is one of the important Rabi (winter) pulses. Pulses are a very important source of protein in the Indian diets as majority of population is vegetarian. Masor is one of the oldest pulse crops and the most nutritious of the pulses. It is mostly eaten as 'dal'. The pulse is first converted into split pulse or 'dal' by the removal of the skin and the separation of the fleshy cotyledons. Masor contains about 11 percent water, 25 percent protein, and 60 percent carbohydrates'. Masor (Lens esculenta syn. L. culinaris syn. Ervum lens) is native to South-West Asia and is under cultivated in almost all parts of India, including Chhattisgarh. Although the reference literatures consider this herb as nutritious herb and good for patients as diet but the traditional healers of Chhattisgarh warn the natives to use this pulse carefully as it can cause harms in majority of cases. The detailed Ethnobotanical surveys conducted in Masor growing areas in Chhattisgarh revealed that the natives and traditional healers grow this herb for good economic returns but use other herbs as pulse. Since generations they are aware of this fact that this is a medicinal herb with specific uses and they prefer its use under vision of the healers. The healers informed me that regular consumption of this herb as dal in diet causes many complicated problems. It produces blindness and harmful for sexual health. Also it is responsible for constipation, piles and leprosy. Its natur dry and hot. This is the reason, the natives avoid its use. In reference literatures related to different systems of medicine in India, many medicinal properties and uses of Masor have been mentioned. As medicine, mostly seeds (rarely leaves) are used. According to Ayurveda, seeds are cooling, astringent to bowels, diuretic, improves appetite, remove biliousness, causes pain, cures strangury, tumours, dysentery, skin diseases and useful in diseases of heart and eyes. According to Unani system of medicine, seeds are indigestible, constipating, tonic, laxative, enrich blood, and useful in diseases of chest, bronchitis, stomatitis, good for eye diseases and inflammation of breast. The traditional healers of Chhattisgarh suggest the natives using Masor 'dal' to add sufficient amount of Ghee (Cow ghee is preferred) in order to minimize the harmful effects. The traditional healers of Bastar region recommend the use of Sirka (Vinegar) also for the same purpose. I have noted that when the young natives approaches to the healers complaining about vivid dreams and the problem of night pollution, the healers instruct them to stop the use of Masor as first step. According to the healers, this small precaution, cures the problem in many cases. As medicine, the healers use all parts of Masor in treatment of many common diseases both internally and eternally. The traditional healers of Pendra region, suggest the patients suffering from throat related diseases to gargle with the decoction of Masor plant. For preparation of decoction, whole herb before flowering is used. The natives use the seeds externally alone or in combination with other herbs in face care. It removes black spots and keep the face fresh. The traditional healer of Mudpar village informed that if Masor is used for limited time, it enriches the blood and removes the impurities. According to him, this herb can be used successfully in treatment of gynaecological troubles particularly in treatment of Amenorrhoea. The farming communities of Chhattisgarh, use fresh plant as potherb or curry. According to them, its taste is bitter and it is easy to digest. The traditional healers are also aware of this use. They informed me that its use during cropping season, removes extra fat from body and purifies the blood. The healers are also aware that the Masor seed coverings are styptic but as other promising and cheap alternatives are available they use it in specific cases. Botanically, Masor is a herbaceous annual plant, mostly erect or bushy type with four to six primary branches. It is low growing not exceeding 50-60 cm in height. It has well developed root system including a central tap root, with several lateral branches spread out in all directions. The stem is weak and quadrangular. Leaves small compound and pinnate. The end of leaflets form tendrils. The inflorescence is a raceme of two or four flowers. Flowers are small, white tinged with blue, violet or pink. Pods are short, flattened, 1-1.5 cm, with a curved peak. Pods contain mostly two seeds. Grains are often light brown in colour and lens-shaped. For commercial cultivation of Masor, the natives use chemical inputs. The healers do not use this chemically treated herbs as medicine. To fulfill their requirement, they grow Masor in their own fields, organically. sor is grown in Chhattisgarh for its use as 'dal' in regular diet but the natives are also using it as medicine. In this sense, it is a medicinal crop rather then the pulse crop as projected. Through my Ethnobotanical surveys, I am trying my best to collect more information on its traditional medicinal uses. With the help of the traditional knowledge , the natives are avoiding the use of Masor in their daily diet but it is also necessary to make aware the natives of other states, where it's use is very common and popular. 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
The well known Agronomist Dr. Chhida Singh writes in his book "Modern techniques of raising field crop" about Masor. It is one of the important Rabi (winter) pulses. Pulses are a very important source of protein in the Indian diets as majority of population is vegetarian. Masor is one of the oldest pulse crops and the most nutritious of the pulses. It is mostly eaten as 'dal'. The pulse is first converted into split pulse or 'dal' by the removal of the skin and the separation of the fleshy cotyledons. Masor contains about 11 percent water, 25 percent protein, and 60 percent carbohydrates'. Masor (Lens esculenta syn. L. culinaris syn. Ervum lens) is native to South-West Asia and is under cultivated in almost all parts of India, including Chhattisgarh. Although the reference literatures consider this herb as nutritious herb and good for patients as diet but the traditional healers of Chhattisgarh warn the natives to use this pulse carefully as it can cause harms in majority of cases. The detailed Ethnobotanical surveys conducted in Masor growing areas in Chhattisgarh revealed that the natives and traditional healers grow this herb for good economic returns but use other herbs as pulse. Since generations they are aware of this fact that this is a medicinal herb with specific uses and they prefer its use under vision of the healers. The healers informed me that regular consumption of this herb as dal in diet causes many complicated problems. It produces blindness and harmful for sexual health. Also it is responsible for constipation, piles and leprosy. Its natur dry and hot. This is the reason, the natives avoid its use. In reference literatures related to different systems of medicine in India, many medicinal properties and uses of Masor have been mentioned. As medicine, mostly seeds (rarely leaves) are used. According to Ayurveda, seeds are cooling, astringent to bowels, diuretic, improves appetite, remove biliousness, causes pain, cures strangury, tumours, dysentery, skin diseases and useful in diseases of heart and eyes. According to Unani system of medicine, seeds are indigestible, constipating, tonic, laxative, enrich blood, and useful in diseases of chest, bronchitis, stomatitis, good for eye diseases and inflammation of breast. The traditional healers of Chhattisgarh suggest the natives using Masor 'dal' to add sufficient amount of Ghee (Cow ghee is preferred) in order to minimize the harmful effects. The traditional healers of Bastar region recommend the use of Sirka (Vinegar) also for the same purpose. I have noted that when the young natives approaches to the healers complaining about vivid dreams and the problem of night pollution, the healers instruct them to stop the use of Masor as first step. According to the healers, this small precaution, cures the problem in many cases. As medicine, the healers use all parts of Masor in treatment of many common diseases both internally and eternally. The traditional healers of Pendra region, suggest the patients suffering from throat related diseases to gargle with the decoction of Masor plant. For preparation of decoction, whole herb before flowering is used. The natives use the seeds externally alone or in combination with other herbs in face care. It removes black spots and keep the face fresh. The traditional healer of Mudpar village informed that if Masor is used for limited time, it enriches the blood and removes the impurities. According to him, this herb can be used successfully in treatment of gynaecological troubles particularly in treatment of Amenorrhoea. The farming communities of Chhattisgarh, use fresh plant as potherb or curry. According to them, its taste is bitter and it is easy to digest. The traditional healers are also aware of this use. They informed me that its use during cropping season, removes extra fat from body and purifies the blood. The healers are also aware that the Masor seed coverings are styptic but as other promising and cheap alternatives are available they use it in specific cases. Botanically, Masor is a herbaceous annual plant, mostly erect or bushy type with four to six primary branches. It is low growing not exceeding 50-60 cm in height. It has well developed root system including a central tap root, with several lateral branches spread out in all directions. The stem is weak and quadrangular. Leaves small compound and pinnate. The end of leaflets form tendrils. The inflorescence is a raceme of two or four flowers. Flowers are small, white tinged with blue, violet or pink. Pods are short, flattened, 1-1.5 cm, with a curved peak. Pods contain mostly two seeds. Grains are often light brown in colour and lens-shaped. For commercial cultivation of Masor, the natives use chemical inputs. The healers do not use this chemically treated herbs as medicine. To fulfill their requirement, they grow Masor in their own fields, organically. sor is grown in Chhattisgarh for its use as 'dal' in regular diet but the natives are also using it as medicine. In this sense, it is a medicinal crop rather then the pulse crop as projected. Through my Ethnobotanical surveys, I am trying my best to collect more information on its traditional medicinal uses. With the help of the traditional knowledge , the natives are avoiding the use of Masor in their daily diet but it is also necessary to make aware the natives of other states, where it's use is very common and popular. Thank you very much for reading the article.
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