Traditional medicinal uses of Bans (Bambusa bambos) in Chhattisgarh, India

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

Now a days, the plantation of Bans in Chhattisgarh is becoming a boon for the organic growers. These growers are using the young newly emerged leaves of Bans to prepare natural green pesticides in order to repel away the harmful insects from crop fields. They simply collect the leaves and boil it in water. After adding some other promising herbs like Neem, Fudhar and Dhatura, they spray it on standing crops. According to the natives it is an age old practice but due to introduction of new high yielding varieties and chemical fertilisers, now its use is becoming obsolete. Now the new generation of organic growers particularly the growers engaged in organic farming of medicinal and aromatic crops have started its use as pest repellent. They are using it successfully in commercial cultivation of Safed Musli (Chlorophytum borivilianum), Kasturi Bhendi (Abelmoschus moschatus), Chandrashoor (Lepidium sativum), Kevatch (Mucuna pruriens) and Ratanjot (Jatropha curcas), we have yet not observed or experienced any detrimental effect of Bans decoction on these medicinal and aromatic crops. In my laboratory, I am evaluating the allelopathic effects of different parts of Bans on germination and seedling vigour of many agricultural crops and also on obnoxious weeds like Gajar ghas (Parthenium hysterophorus) and Gotiphool (Lantana camara). Bans is not a new herb for the traditional healers and natives of Chhattisgarh. The natives use it very frequently in their day today life. Different parts of Bans are in list of non-wood forest produces having routine demand in national and international drug markets. The dense forests of Chhattisgarh are rich in natural population of Bans. It is also under cultivation. The natives never allow this herb to grow in their home gardens. It is general belief that the presence of this herb in home garden is very harmful in all respects. They root out the spontaneous growing Bans herbs from home gardens.

Major Botanical differences between two Bambusa species
Characteristics	Bambusa	Bambusa
	bambos	vulgaris
1) Habit	Graceful. Spinous bamboo	A moderate-sized bamboo, 6-18 meters
2) Culm	Dense, 24-30 m, green or purplish green when young, turning golden yellow with prominent nodes and long, hollow, internodes, lower ones rooting, often sub-angular, flexuous	Bright green or stiped green-yellow or yellow, polished
3) Leaf	Linear or linear lanceolate, 7-15 cm x 2-20 cm	Linear-lanceolate, 15-25 cm long, rough

It is also common belief that burning of Bans in home is harmful and a root cause for many common diseases. The organic growers are aware of this fact and this is the reason they avoid to inhale the fumes during preparation of decoction. The natives prepare a special Herbal Mala using the roots of Bans and wear it in order to develop confidence. They use white string in this Mala. For preparation of Herbal Mala, the roots are dug on special occasions. In southern parts of Chhattisgarh, the natives wear it in form of earring. According to them, it is very useful in treatment of Adhasisi (Migraine). The use of Bans roots in form of earrings in treatment of migraine is not reported in reference literature. For preparation of earring they use red string in place of white string. In national and international drug markets, there is high demand of Vanslochan or Banslochan, a silicious concretion found in the joints of Bans. As it is in good demand, the adulteration is common practice. In markets, blue, white and intermediate coloured Banslochan are available. It is popular aphrodisiac and also used as cooling tonic. It is also stimulant and febrifuge. Before describing the traditional medicinal uses of Bans, I am describing its botany and reported medicinal uses. According to reference literatures, Bans (Bambusa bambos) is a graceful, spinous bamboo; Rhizome short, stout, knotty; Culm dense, 24-30 meters, green or purplish green when young turning golden-yellow with prominent nodes and long, hollow internodes, lower ones rooting, often sub-angular, flexuous; grows c 33 cms in 24 hours. Leaf linear or linear- lanceolate, 7-15 cm x 2-20 cm. Flower small, in large panicles, sometimes occupying the whole culm; once in 30-45 years. Fruit oblong, caryopsis, with a groove on one side, 5-8 mm long; Seed 75,000-105,000 per Kilogram, germination 14 days, remain viable for 6-12 months. According to Ayurveda, Bans as herb is acrid, cooling, laxative and useful in treatment of blood disorders, biliousness, leucoderma, inflammations, strangury, wounds, piles, urinary discharges, tuberculosis, bronchitis, asthma, fevers, leprosy, jaundice, anaemia etc. According to Unani system of medicine, Bans is tonic, emmenagogue and useful in treatment of ringworm, bleeding gums, earache, deafness, burning sensation, thirst, ophthalmia, stomatitis, syphilis, bronchitis, lumbago, piles, biliousness, gonorrhoea, fevers etc.

The natives and traditional healers have rich traditional medicinal knowledge about different uses of Bans. Its use in treatment of alopecia is most common among natives. The ash collected after burning the Bans, is mixed in water and aqueous paste is prepared. This paste is applied externally on hairs as hair growth promoter. The natives of different parts use it in different ways. The natives of Pendra region mix the ash in Sarson (Mustard ) oil and use it like aqueous paste. The natives of Bagbahera region, boil the leaves in Mustard oil to prepare the herbal oil to be used as hair growth promoter. Bans is also used as styptic to stop both internal and external bleeding. In case of injuries, in order to stop the bleeding, the natives apply the fresh leaf juice as first aid measure. To stop internal bleeding, the natives suggest the patients to chew, fresh leaves. The ash of Bans with coal powder is used to dress the wounds. According to the natives, the use of this combination enhances the healing process. In case of skin troubles, the natives advice the patients to wash the affected parts with fresh juice of Bans leaves. They also prepare special herbal decoction, in which Bans leaves are added as main ingredient and suggest the patients to wash the affected parts using this decoction. The traditional healers specialised in use of Bans, use it very frequently for abortion, at initial stages. They prepare a special decoction using the young, newly emerged leaves of Bans and juggery (Gud) and give it to the patients. The traditional healer of Mudpar village informed me that the decoction of Bans leaves is one of the best remedies for intestinal worms. He recommend its use only upto one week. During my visit to Janjgir region, the natives informed me that one can use the seeds of Bans, as promising alternative to rice and wheat seeds. The Bans seeds are digestible and full of beneficial medicinal properties. In reference literatures, the use of Bans seeds at time of femine is reported. The traditional healers use the decoction of Bans leaves with pure honey in treatment of respiratory troubles. According to them, it is specially useful in case of asthma. The traditional healers of Rajnandgaon region informed me that this decoction is useful in treatment of diarrhoea also. During my visit to Dalli-Rajhara region, the healers told me that the young leaves act as good appetizer, and the patients having the problem of poor digestion, must chew two-three leaves daily. Many healers recommend their patients having stomach related diseases to take the fresh juice of Bans leaves daily upto a week. The natives are also aware of this use. The ash of Bans in combination with other herbs is used to clean the teeth as tooth powder. According to the natives, it is good for patients having gum related troubles. The traditional healers use the Vanslochan, sweet in taste, in treatment of respiratory troubles very frequently.

The above mentioned medicinal uses clearly indicates that the natives and traditional healers of Chhattisgarh have rich traditional knowledge about Bans. Unfortunately, not a single pharmaceutical company in the state is active in preparing different herbal combinations and drugs, using this knowledge and raw material. I personally feel that there is a strong need to start Bans based drug manufacturing units in the state, with the joint efforts of Governmental and non-governmental agencies.