Traditional medicinal knowledge about useful herb Jason (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, family : Malvaceae) in Chhattisgarh, India

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

Jason is one of favourite flowers on which orange banded blister beetle (Zonabris pustulata) feed. This beetle is a medicinal insect and famous Homoeopathic drug Cantharis is prepared from this insect. In Chhattisgarh, the natives and traditional healers also use this medicinal insect in treatment of many common diseases. The traditional healers having knowledge about its various uses informed me that for preparation of drug they prefer the Blister beetle feeding on Jason flowers. These beetles also feed on flowers of common weed Beshram (Ipomoea carnea). The healers do not use the Blister beetle collected from Beshram flowers. This is unique information and has not been reported in reference literatures. The traditional healers of Sarguja region, use the flowers of Jason with this insect, in treatment of cancer. I have done sincere and detailed research on Jason - Blister beetle interactions in Chhattisgarh. Although the English name of Jason is Chinese shoe flower, but for the natives and traditional healers of Chhattisgarh it is a herb of great value. Like the peels of banana, the external application of fresh petal of Jason flower on shoes, gives new shine to it. In Chhattisgarh, this herb is known as Devi-phool because the flowers are offered to Devi (the goddess). In Chhattisgarh, no one dares to clean the shoes with this honoured flower. The flowers occur during most of the months in a year. There are single and double forms of flowers with different colour shades of orange, yellow, crimson, bright red and magenta, etc. Medicinally, white flowers are preferred. Among natives, red coloured Jason flowers are popular. It is an essential component of any home garden in Chhattisgarh. It is common belief among the natives that the presence of this herb in home-gardens brings happiness and prosperity. In areas where the natural population of Blister beetles is high, the natives avoid the plantation, as the Blister beetles can cause troubles to them specially to little children. Besides red and white flowers, the varieties having different flower colour are also gaining popularity among flower lovers. As medicinal herb, Jason is neither under cultivation nor it is in list of traders. Through my ethnobotanical surveys, I have identified only 50 traditional healers specialised in use of Jason alone or in combination with other herbs. The natives particularly the old natives are aware of its medicinal uses. Surprisingly, the traditional uses of Jason in Chhattisgarh have not been documented. The present article is an effort to document the scattered traditional medicinal knowledge about this useful herb. I am giving the information mentioned in my field diaries, collected during ethnobotanical surveys in different parts of Chhattisgarh. I have yet not conducted a separate survey focused on this herbs but I have plan for this and I am confident that this specific survey will generate more information than the information given in this article. At first I am describing its botany and reported medicinal uses. According to reference literatures, Jason is shrub or small tree; Leaves ovate, acuminate, irregularly serrate towards the top, entire near the base, penninerved, glabrous or pubescent on the nerves beneath; Flowers solitary, axillary, on long pedicels jointed above the middle, epicalyx lobes 5-7, lanceolate, Calyx deeply five - lobed, Corolla large, showy, 5-10 cm across, red in the more commonly cultivated variety pink or yellow in other cultivates, petals obovate, cuneate, staminal tube exerted far beyond the petals; No fruit produced in Indian conditions. As medicine, roots, leaves and flowers are used commonly. According to Ayurveda, the flower buds have sweet odour and bitter taste. It is cooling astringent, remove burning of body, urinary discharges, seminal weakness, piles uterine and vaginal discharges. It also promotes the growth of foetus.

The natives and traditional healers of Chhattisgarh use the flowers of Jason in hair care by adopting different methods. The healers of Chhattisgarh plains, use the fresh flower juice externally to stop hair loss. The natives of this region, add two to three flowers in water and use it for bath. The healers of other parts prepare a special herbal oil by boiling the fresh flower juice in base oil. When all watery contents evaporate, oil is collected and stored for future use. As base oil, Til oil is used most commonly. This special herbal oil is used as hair tonic. The healers also add some other herbs mainly Urai (Vetiveria), and Nagarmotha (Cyperus rotundus), to make this oil more effective. This oil is considered best in treatment of Adhasisi (Migraine) also. Internally, the flower buds are given with sugar upto two weeks. The traditional healers informed me that both internal and external use simultaneously root out the problem within no time. Although it is cheap and effective method, but surprisingly it is not much popular among the natives. They take complete treatment under supervision of the traditional healers. As problems of hair loss and premature greying are becoming common problems these day , the systematic use of Jason both internally and externally, can play a vital role in this regard. For internal use, the healers of different regions, recommend different quantities. In general, 3 to 5 flower buds per day are recommended. According to the healers, one must not afraid of over doses, as one or two more buds can not cause any harm. In herbal oil prepared from fresh juice of Jason flower, the traditional healer of Mudpar village add Bhengra (Eclipta alba). This combination is not mentioned in reference literatures. I am proud to write that the traditional healers of Chhattisgarh are not following the instructions of forefathers sincerely but also adding new experimental findings, for coming generations. The roots are used as sex tonic in combination with other herbs. In general , the healers mix the roots of Jason and Semal (Bombax ceiba) bark in equal quantities and give this mixture with cow milk. The traditional healers of Narharpur region informed that alone Jason roots are capable of showing desirable effects. As the use of Semul causes the problem of constipation, the healers of this region, avoid this herb with Jason. The healers also use the roots of white flowered Jason variety, with cow milk, to prevent the problem of habitual abortion This use is popular among the natives also. The healers also add some other herbs with Jason roots. In treatment of diarrhoea, the natives roast the flower buds in cow ghee and give it to the patients. As other promising and cheap alternatives are available, the natives use it less frequently. The natives of Chhattisgarh informed me that the leaves and flowers are also beneficial in treatment of diabetes. I have yet not seen its practical uses.

Although the above mentioned traditional use of Jason are not enough to promote and establish Jason as potential medicinal crop but I personally feel that the use of Jason particularly as hair growth stimulator must be promoted. Also there is a need for detailed ethnobotanical surveys to document the traditional knowledge about this useful herb in Chhattisgarh.

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