Traditional Medicinal Knowledge about common herbs used in treatment of Sujak (Gonorrhoea) in Chhattisgarh, India

Research Note - Pankaj Oudhia
© 2001,2002,2003 Pankaj Oudhia - All Rights Reserved

The traditional healers of Chhattisgarh use the roots of common herb Phalsa and leaves of Sadasuhagan very frequently in treatment of Sujak (Gonorrhoea) .Different healers use these herbs in different ways. In general, the healers dip the roots in water whole night and next day collect the leachate. The leachate with sugar is given to the patients having this odd disease. Many traditional healers dip the roots two to three nights for more beneficial effects and give it to the patients without sugar. Sugar is added just for taste but according to the traditional healers, without sugar it is more useful. The healers of southern parts of Chhattisgarh , use the stem bark of Phalsa in place of roots. They are aware of medicinal properties of Phalsa roots but according to them, the roots are suitable only for the patients having good vitality. For old patients, roots are not suitable. The healers have yet not tried the combination of roots and stem barks in different combinations. This is one more aspect on which young researchers can focus their studies. Phalsa is a common herb found in dense forests of Chhattisgarh. It is in list of non-wood forest produces of Chhattisgarh but there is less demand of this herb in national and international drug markets. I am describing its botany and reported medicinal uses. I have noted from reference literatures. Phalsa (Grewia asiatica syn. G. elastica, family : Tiliaceae) is a tree with grey bark; branches with large white blotches; Leaves obliquely ovate, rounded or slightly cordate at the base, acuminate, minutely serrate, some times obscurely 3-lobed, pale and softly downy beneath, especially when young; basal nerves 5-6; petiole generally not exceeding12mm; stipules linear; Flowers in densely crowded axillary cymes; peduncles hairy bearing 2-3 bracteolate pedicels; Sepals slightly pubescent and yellow inside; Petals yellow, much shorter than the sepals; Drupes globose, dark brown or black when ripe. Flowering April-June in Chhattisgarh conditions. Phalsa holds a reputed position as medicine in different systems of medicine in India. According to Ayurveda, root, bark and fruit are useful as medicine. Unripe fruits are bitter, acrid sour and useful in treatment of biliousness where as ripe fruits are sweet, cooling, digestible, tonic and aphrodisiac. Ripe fruits cure inflammations, heart and blood disorders, fevers and consumption. Bark is useful in treatment of biliousness, urinary and gynaecological troubles.

According to Unani system of medicine, root and bark are useful for strangury, gleet and gonorrhoea . In many parts of India, it is under cultivation for its edible fruits. The use of Phalsa wood for preparing golf shafts has also been reported in reference literatures. The use of Sadasuhagan herb in treatment of Gonorrhoea is also common in Chhattisgarh. The traditional healers collect the leaves of white flowered Sadasuhagan herb and cut it into pieces. These pieces are dipped in water whole night and next morning it is given to the patients having Gonorrhoea. The herbs having pinkish flowers are not preferred by the traditional healers. They are unable to explain the reasons for this specific use. Sadasuhagan is not a native to India. It is native to Malagasy. In Chhattisgarh, it occurs at both wild and cultivated form. Many herb growers of Chhattisgarh are growing this herb commercially as whole herb is having heavy demand in national and international drug markets. Its use in treatment of various types of cancer particularly leukaemia , is the reason responsible for the heavy demand. It is also planted in home gardens as ornamental herb. Since few decades, the natives of Chhattisgarh are using this herb in treatment of diabetes. They are using the raw flowers and leaves for this trouble. Its use in treatment of diabetes is not reported in available literatures. The encouraging results have made this herb very popular among natives. Now they are planting this herb in home gardens for medicinal uses. The use of introduced ornamental herb Bougainvilea sp. for the treatment of diabetes is also not reported in reference literatures but you will be surprised to know that the uses of leaves and flowers in treatment of diabetes are becoming very popular among natives. I am describing the botany of Sadasuhagan in brief. Sadasuhagan (Catharanthus roseus syn. Vinca rosea syn. Vinca pusilla syn. Lochnera rosea; family Apocynaceae) is an erect, slightly smelling perennial herb, 30-90 cm high; leaf oval, obovate or oblong-elliptic, acute, glossy; Flowers usually 2-3, fragrant, pinkish (var. roseus) or white (var. alba) throughout or pink or yellowish in orifice (var. ocellatus, not common in Chhattisgarh), in terminal and axillary cymose clusters; Fruits hairy many seeded follicles, 2-3 cm long; Seed oblong, minute, black, and germinate within ten days.

Although for the weed scientists, Siliyari and Gokhru are obnoxious weeds but for the traditional healers of Chhattisgarh, both are valuable herbs useful in treatment of Gonorrhoea. The healers use these weeds alone or in combination. In combination, they use the whole herbs of Siliyari and Gokhru and seeds of Koha tree (Terminalia arjuna), in equal proportions. The herbs Siliyari and Gokhru are collected and dried in shades. After drying, healers convert these into fine powder. The patients are advised to take this combination with cows milk till cure. In area having dense natural population of Siliyari, the healers use Siliyari with Koha seeds whereas in Gokhru rich area, they use Gokhru with Koha. There are very few pockets, particularly in Mahanadi river belt where all three herbs occur naturally. The healers of these pockets, use the combination. This is interesting information. I personally feel that there is a need of scientific studies in order to evaluate the efficacies of different combinations. Siliyari (Celosia argentea; Family Amaranthaceae) is a common weed in upland agricultural crops of Chhattisgarh. In Raigarh region, it is one of the obnoxious weeds for rainy season crop. Siliyari herb is present in Chhattisgarh since generations. Many villages named on this herb (viz. Siliyari) clearly prooves this fact. Both the traditional healers and natives are aware of its different medicinal uses but it is surprising to know that the scientists and researchers of National Research Centre for weed sciences, situated in neighbouring state are investing a lot of funds in order to develop the weedicides for its eradication. They are also recommending many lethal agrochemicals for its management. The natives of Chhattisgarh believe in "Management through Utilisation’ concept but the scientists are eager to manage this socalled weed through chemicals. The close relative of Siliyari, Celosia cristata, is popular ornamental plant common in home gardens. Another weed Gokhru is also a valuable herb for the traditional healers and natives. The book titled scientific weed management by eminent weed scientist Dr. O. P. Gupta describes Gokhru as a problematic weed in this manner "Dryland crops grown on light soils, particularly pearlmillet are plagued with Gokhru. The weed is a nuisance also on Kuccha walk ways, roads, grass lands and lawns etc." Gokhru holds a reputed position as medicine in all systems of medicine in India. Through my NGO, SOPAM (Society for Parthenium Management), I am trying hard to educate the farmers about various uses and importance of common weeds. I personally feel that the farmers can earn an additional income by selling these socalled weeds after knowing its importance. I am against the use of harmful agrochemicals in my homeland. I am describing the botany of this important herb in brief. According to reference literatures, Gokhru (Tribulus terrestris family ; Zygophyllaceae) is a prostrate silky herb; Leaves opposite or alternate with one leaf aborted paripinnate, leaflets unequal; Flowers solitary, bisexual regular, pentamerous, yellow or white; Fruits globose, of five woody cocci, each with two pairs of hard, sharp spines, one pair longer than the other; Seeds several in each coccus; flowering throughout the year in Chhattisgarh conditions. Besides these uses, the traditional healers and natives have traditional medicinal knowledge about many other herbs and herbal combinations. Now I am describing these herbs and herbal combinations.

The traditional healers of Durg region use the Gol Bhaji very frequently in treatment of gonorrhoea. On full moon night, the healers collect the seeds and dip it in half litre of cow milk (without boiling). Next morning seeds are separated and milk is given to the patients. According to the healers it is one of the promising treatments. The healers use this herb with other popular herbal combination. Gol Bhaji is naturally occurring herb in Chhattisgarh. It is also under cultivation as vegetable crop. Botanically, Gol Bhaji (Portulaca oleracea, family : Portulacaceae) is prostrate, sub succulent annual herb ; Leaves cuneate-oblong or cuneate - obovate, usually truncate, whorled above ; stipular hairs scarious, minute or absent; Flowers yellow, sessile, solitary, or in clusters or cymes, supported by a whorl of leaves; Petals oblong-obovate notched; Capsules dehiscing above the base; Seeds reniform, black and granuate. Flowering throughout the year in Chhattisgarh conditions. For burning in urine common in this trouble, the traditional healers of Durg region, advise the patients to drink the whole herb juice of Banana. The traditional healers of Kanker region, boil the leaves of Neem and Chameli in water and instruct the patients to expose the male genital in fumes. After boiling they prepare small globules of both leaves and instruct the patients to put this globule inside the penis. Like these leaves, the traditional healers of Chhattisgarh plains, use the decoction of Sirsa leaves (Albizia speecies). The traditional healers of Mahasamund region, extract the juice from newly emerged leaves of Babool (Acacia nilotica) and whole herb of Gokhru and after adding sugar, give it to the patients. The traditional healers of Bastar region, prepare a special herbal combination using the newly emerged leaves and flowers of Parsa (Butea monosperma) and Gol bhaji and give it to the patients with cow milk.

According to the traditional healers of Chhattisgarh the treatment of Sujak (Gonorrhoea) requires patience. The herbal treatment of this complicated trouble is relatively cheap and effective. This is the reason the natives prefer to take treatment from traditional healers. The natives living in urban areas having easy access to qualified medicinal practitioners also prefer traditional treatment. These observations clearly indicates the in depth knowledge of traditional healers about common herbs used in treatment of Gonorrhoea.