Traditional medicinal knowledge about useful herb Methi (Trigonella foenum graecum; family:Papillionaceae) in Chhattisgarh, India
Traditional medicinal knowledge about useful herb Methi (Trigonella foenum
graecum; family:Papillionaceae) in Chhattisgarh, India
http://www.pankajoudhia.com/RA1.pdf
Research Note - Pankaj Oudhia © 2001,2002,2003 Pankaj Oudhia - All Rights Reserved
Methi is popular leafy vegetable in Chhattisgarh. Although it is reported as fodder crop also but the natives of Chhattisgarh are not aware of this use. Its seeds are used as spice and condiment. Natives use it just for taste but according to the traditional healers, all parts of Methi herb possess valuable medicinal properties and used both internally and externally in treatment of many common diseases. It is one of the popular home remedies in Chhattisgarh. Methi as leafy vegetable is popular in both rural and urban areas. The natives of rural areas grow this herb and sell it in nearby cities. Like other vegetable crops, the natives are using high doses of chemical pesticides in order to manage the pest problem in Methi crop. To get higher yield, they are using chemical nutrients inputs also. The healers aware of this over use, are not in favour of chemical farming. The healers specialized in use of Methi as medicine, generally grow Methi in their home gardens to fulfill the demand. According to reference literatures, Methi is native to South Europe and introduced to India. The in depth traditional knowledge of Chhattisgarh healers is really surprising. I would like to request the readers from south Europe to share their information and knowledge about Methi so that I can inform the healers and in future, we can try to arrange general interactive meet for the healers of both corners of the world. Through my Ethnobotanical surveys in different parts of Chhattisgarh, I have listed out 38 traditional healers specialized in use of Methi as medicine. Other healers also use it like other herbs but are not specialized in this herb. In this present article, I am giving the details, I have noted during my surveys. According to reference literatures, Methi is an annual herb. Stem erect, simple. Leaflets obovate, obsoletely toothed, stipules lanceolate, falcate, entire. Flowers sessile, solitary or in pairs. Calyx hairy, the teeth subulate, the length of the tube. Legumes elongated, compressed, longitudinally reticulated, falcate with a long beak about half the length of the legume. Seeds large, ovate and wrinkled, the radicle prominent. As medicine, seeds and leaves are used most frequently. Methi holds a reputed position as medicine in different systems of medicine in India. According to Ayurveda, Methi is hot, tonic, etic, anthelmintic, appetizer, astringent to bowels, cures leprosy, vomiting, bronchitis, piles, removes bad taste from mouth, useful in heart diseases. According to Unani system of medicine, it is hot and dry, suppurative, diuretic, aperient, emmenagogue, useful in dropsy, chronic cough, enlargement of spleen and liver. Leaves useful in external and internal swellings and burns and prevent hair falling off. The traditional healers of Chhattisgarh recommend their patients having the problem related to digestive system to eat more and more Methi leaves as vegetable. According to them it is a boon for the person wants to reduce obesity in less time. For dullness, dizziness and drowsiness, the healers simply suggest the use of Methi as vegetable. In general, it is considered as good appetizer. The fresh leaf juice of Methi herb is considered as promising hair tonic. It is advised by the healers to massage the hair, particularly the roots, with fresh leaf juice in order to get rid from the problem of dandruff and to promote new hair growth. If you are dependent on market for leaves, be aware, the healers warn, the agrochemicals used in commercial cultivation can show adverse effects on hairs. Many herbal beauty parlors of Chhattisgarh use the fresh juice externally in face care. According to the traditional healers, this use is beneficial for dry skin. It is also good for wrinkles. The natives and traditional healers have rich traditional medicinal knowledge about use of Methi seeds also. In hair care, in place of leaves, seeds can be used but leaves are considered superior. The traditional healer of Mudpar village, recommends the use of Methi seeds in treatment of rheumatism and gout. After seeing the extent of trouble and vitality of patients, the recommends Methi alone or in combination with other herbs. He suggests the patients to boil the two teaspoonful of Methi in a cup of water and after boiling take the decoction. According to him, in most of the cases, the patients get relief by this simple treatment. The traditional healer of Dashpal village use the same method to prepare a decoction but recommends it in treatment of constipation. The healers of Dhamtari region recommend this solution as tonic to patients after severe and exhaustive disease. The healers of Bilaspur region, use it in treatment of Khansi (Cough). This is really interesting as well as surprising that different healers use same formulation in treatment of different diseases. When I informed specific healers about other uses of this formulation, they showed ignorance. One of the objectives to form traditional healers forum in Chhattisgarh is to provide the interaction opportunities among the traditional healers so that together they can develop new uses and get benefits from other healer's knowledge. But this dream is still a dream for me. Instead of preparing decoction, many healers simply roast the seeds and grind it into powder. This powder is mixed in rock salt. The patients having the problem of gout and rheumatism suggest the patients to take a tea spoonful of this mixture twice a day in order to get rid from the trouble effectively. This formula is mentioned in my Grandfather's diary also. My many family friends have tried it successfully. Besides, spice and vegetable crop, Methi is also a important medicinal crop. Although it is not considered as medicinal crop but we are trying to establish it as medicinal crop in Chhattisgarh with the help of innovative herb growers, I personally feel that there is a need for promotion of organic cultivation of Methi so that the natives, fan of its taste, can get more health benefits from this herb. 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
Methi is popular leafy vegetable in Chhattisgarh. Although it is reported as fodder crop also but the natives of Chhattisgarh are not aware of this use. Its seeds are used as spice and condiment. Natives use it just for taste but according to the traditional healers, all parts of Methi herb possess valuable medicinal properties and used both internally and externally in treatment of many common diseases. It is one of the popular home remedies in Chhattisgarh. Methi as leafy vegetable is popular in both rural and urban areas. The natives of rural areas grow this herb and sell it in nearby cities. Like other vegetable crops, the natives are using high doses of chemical pesticides in order to manage the pest problem in Methi crop. To get higher yield, they are using chemical nutrients inputs also. The healers aware of this over use, are not in favour of chemical farming. The healers specialized in use of Methi as medicine, generally grow Methi in their home gardens to fulfill the demand. According to reference literatures, Methi is native to South Europe and introduced to India. The in depth traditional knowledge of Chhattisgarh healers is really surprising. I would like to request the readers from south Europe to share their information and knowledge about Methi so that I can inform the healers and in future, we can try to arrange general interactive meet for the healers of both corners of the world. Through my Ethnobotanical surveys in different parts of Chhattisgarh, I have listed out 38 traditional healers specialized in use of Methi as medicine. Other healers also use it like other herbs but are not specialized in this herb. In this present article, I am giving the details, I have noted during my surveys. According to reference literatures, Methi is an annual herb. Stem erect, simple. Leaflets obovate, obsoletely toothed, stipules lanceolate, falcate, entire. Flowers sessile, solitary or in pairs. Calyx hairy, the teeth subulate, the length of the tube. Legumes elongated, compressed, longitudinally reticulated, falcate with a long beak about half the length of the legume. Seeds large, ovate and wrinkled, the radicle prominent. As medicine, seeds and leaves are used most frequently. Methi holds a reputed position as medicine in different systems of medicine in India. According to Ayurveda, Methi is hot, tonic, etic, anthelmintic, appetizer, astringent to bowels, cures leprosy, vomiting, bronchitis, piles, removes bad taste from mouth, useful in heart diseases. According to Unani system of medicine, it is hot and dry, suppurative, diuretic, aperient, emmenagogue, useful in dropsy, chronic cough, enlargement of spleen and liver. Leaves useful in external and internal swellings and burns and prevent hair falling off. The traditional healers of Chhattisgarh recommend their patients having the problem related to digestive system to eat more and more Methi leaves as vegetable. According to them it is a boon for the person wants to reduce obesity in less time. For dullness, dizziness and drowsiness, the healers simply suggest the use of Methi as vegetable. In general, it is considered as good appetizer. The fresh leaf juice of Methi herb is considered as promising hair tonic. It is advised by the healers to massage the hair, particularly the roots, with fresh leaf juice in order to get rid from the problem of dandruff and to promote new hair growth. If you are dependent on market for leaves, be aware, the healers warn, the agrochemicals used in commercial cultivation can show adverse effects on hairs. Many herbal beauty parlors of Chhattisgarh use the fresh juice externally in face care. According to the traditional healers, this use is beneficial for dry skin. It is also good for wrinkles. The natives and traditional healers have rich traditional medicinal knowledge about use of Methi seeds also. In hair care, in place of leaves, seeds can be used but leaves are considered superior. The traditional healer of Mudpar village, recommends the use of Methi seeds in treatment of rheumatism and gout. After seeing the extent of trouble and vitality of patients, the recommends Methi alone or in combination with other herbs. He suggests the patients to boil the two teaspoonful of Methi in a cup of water and after boiling take the decoction. According to him, in most of the cases, the patients get relief by this simple treatment. The traditional healer of Dashpal village use the same method to prepare a decoction but recommends it in treatment of constipation. The healers of Dhamtari region recommend this solution as tonic to patients after severe and exhaustive disease. The healers of Bilaspur region, use it in treatment of Khansi (Cough). This is really interesting as well as surprising that different healers use same formulation in treatment of different diseases. When I informed specific healers about other uses of this formulation, they showed ignorance. One of the objectives to form traditional healers forum in Chhattisgarh is to provide the interaction opportunities among the traditional healers so that together they can develop new uses and get benefits from other healer's knowledge. But this dream is still a dream for me. Instead of preparing decoction, many healers simply roast the seeds and grind it into powder. This powder is mixed in rock salt. The patients having the problem of gout and rheumatism suggest the patients to take a tea spoonful of this mixture twice a day in order to get rid from the trouble effectively. This formula is mentioned in my Grandfather's diary also. My many family friends have tried it successfully. Besides, spice and vegetable crop, Methi is also a important medicinal crop. Although it is not considered as medicinal crop but we are trying to establish it as medicinal crop in Chhattisgarh with the help of innovative herb growers, I personally feel that there is a need for promotion of organic cultivation of Methi so that the natives, fan of its taste, can get more health benefits from this herb. Thank you very much for reading the article.
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