Medicinal herbs of Chhattisgarh, India having less known traditional uses. VII. Thura (Euphorbia neriifolia, family : Euphorbiaceae)

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

Thura is not a new herb for the natives and traditional healers of Chhattisgarh. In forest areas where wild animals enter the crop fields, the use of Thura as fence , helps the farmers effectively. In natural forest, this xerophytic herb is present in isolated patches.

I have seen its natural population in arid states like Rajasthan and parts of Gujarat. As this herb is full of spines, the natives use it as fence herb commonly. This is the reason it can be seen easily in human habitat. During my work at Bagbahera region, I got opportunity to study the allelopathic effects of Thura on different herbs. In my studies, I have found it every effective in suppressing the growth of many herbs occur as weed in crop fields of Bagbahera region. The farmers adopting organic farming use this herb alone or in combination with other herbs, as natural pesticide. They are using it since generations successfully. The herb growers of Chhattisgarh are taking advantage of this traditional use. The growers informed me that Thura alone is capable of repelling harmful insects from Kasturi Bhendi (Abelmoschus moschatus) crop. Like Genda (Marigold) and Kalmegh (Andrographis paniculata), these growers are planting Thura in surrounding of cultivated fields, as guard crop.

The herb growers of different region use different methods to prepare natural pesticide from Thura. In general , the whole herb is collected and dipped in water (1 : 10 ratio) and after one week, filter the solution. This solution is used as preventive spray. The growers add Neem, Kalmegh, Datura, Fudhar (Calotropis sp.) in this solution to make it more effective. According to them one must be careful in selecting the other herbs for this solution, as many herbs can cause harmful effects on crop plants also. They also give emphasis on concentration. The herb growers of southern Chhattisgarh, burn the dried Thura herb and collect the ash. The aqueous solution of ash is sprayed on standing crops. This is a bitter fact that the regional research institutes have yet not started any research to standardise the method for preparation of Thura solution. The farmer, aware of its miracle effects, are working hard in this direction. Unfortunately, the farmers of different regions are not in touch. With my Hindi articles and personal visits, I am trying to bring all the innovative farmers in one forum so that they can interact with each other and share their valuable experiences. I am not in mood of inviting academicians, as their research papers based on manipulated data can not help these real field scientists. Through reference literatures, I got information that the growers of Gujarat states are also aware of unique properties of Thura and they have developed many promising uses. I am confident that the meeting with the innovative growers of both states will provide a lot of valuable information that can be forwarded to the organic growers of other states. Although Thura is present in sufficient number in Chhattisgarh but it is not in the list of non-wood forest produces having regular demand. The traders at regional and national levels informed me that they purchase it from arid areas where it occurs in abundance. They further informed that the medicinal properties of Thura depend upon the climate. More arid the climate, more will be the medicinal properties.

According to them , Thura of other states possess more properties as compared to Thura collected from Chhattisgarh. In reference literatures, I have yet not found any such practical information. The traditional healers of Chhattisgarh are not ready to consider the native Thura inferior to other Thura. They are agree in the point that the Thura of different locations possess different medicinal
properties and according to them, it is thumb rule for all the herbs. I personally feel that the scientific explanation through systematic research is essential in this regard. The natives and
traditional healers of Chhattisgarh are aware of unique medicinal uses of Thura. But these uses are not much. This is the reason, I have kept this herb in the category of herbs having less known
traditional uses. As Thura is spiny herb, the natives having knowledge about its medicinal uses avoid to plant it at home gardens. They also consider it as a home for poisonous snakes. The
farmers take advantage of this snake home. The presence of snakes in Thura herbs , helps in controlling the natural population of rats, harmful to crops. Before describing traditional medicinal
uses, I am giving details regarding botany and reported medicinal uses of Thura. According to reference literatures, Thura is a succulent shrub or small tree, upto 6 meters. Bark reticulate.
Stem cylindrical or obscurely five-angled branches , bearing short, stipular thorns in vertical or spiral line or warty knobs. Leaf fleshy, nearly sessile, deciduous, obovate-oblong, 15-30 cm
long, terminal on branches. Inflorescence involucres yellowish, in small cymes, fruit deeply-3-lobed capsule, 1.25cm broad. Flowering and fruiting December to May. According to Ayurveda, the plant is
bitter, pungent, laxative, carminative, alexipharmic, improves appetite, useful in abdominal troubles, bronchitis, tumours, loss of consciousness, delirium, leucoderma, piles, inflammations,
enlargement of spleen, anaemia, ulcers, fevers, The milk is pungent, laxative and good for abdominal troubles, tumours, leucoderma. Leaves are heating, carminative and improve appetite.

In my previous articles, I have mentioned that the natives and traditional healers of Chhattisgarh have rich traditional knowledge about use of herbs as potherbs, and also described how
the traditional healers like Shri Seetaram from Bagbahera region are still engaged in increasing the list of herbs that can be used as potherbs. Shri Seetaram tried Duddhi (Euphorbia hirta) and
reported that its taste is sweet but it is strong purgative. The traditional healers of other parts of Chhattisgarh use Thura, another Euphorbia species, as purgative. They advise the patients to prepare curry from leaves of Thura by frying it in cow ghee and take it to get rid from constipation. Only traditional healers are aware of this use. In general, the natives do not use Thura leaves
as potherb. The healers of Chhattisgarh plains, use Thura milk for same problem. They dip the powdered Nisoth (Ipomoea turpethum) in Thura milk and after soaking give it to the patients having the problem of constipation, with pure honey. During my ethnobotanical
surveys in different parts of Chhattisgarh, I have noted that the natives prefer external uses of Thura and use it internally under supervision of traditional healers. They are aware that overdose
can cause problem like vomiting and loose motions. In case of Bavasir (Bleeding piles), the natives use Thura leaves as home remedy. They simply lukewarm the leaves and apply it externally on
piles. This application reduces itching pain and swelling. The traditional healers of Bastar region, use Thura wood in unique way.

They fill the Kali Mirch (Black Pipper) in the Thura wood by drilling and burn the wood in fire. After complete burning, the Kali Mirch is collected and with sugar, it is given to patients suffering from chronic respiratory troubles. The healers informed me that they are aware of this use since generations and using it successfully in their routine practice. In case of respiratory troubles in children, the traditional healer of Mudpar village, use Thura leaves both internally and externally. He lukewarm the leaves and extract the juice. The common salt and pure honey are added in this juice. This combination is given internally and also applied externally. According to him , both internal and external use at a time, root out the problem in very less time. To cure the
deep cracks in soles of legs, the natives of Chhattisgarh plains use Thura milk successfully, They boil the Thura milk in Arandi (Castor) oil and after adding common salt, apply the paste
externally on soles The milk of Thura is also used commonly, like Aloe gel, in case of burns during work at kitchen. This use is popular among the house wives. To solve the problem of insomnia,
the traditional healers of Narharpur region, use the Thura root powder with gud (Jaggery), till complete cure. In case of poisonous insect bites or common mosquito bites, the natives of Bilaspur region, mix the Thura and Pipal and apply it externally on affected parts. This application reduces the swelling as well as intense pain. The honey collectors of Chhattisgarh are also aware of this use. The traditional healers of Nagri-Sihawa region, informed that Thura milk can be used successfully for healing the wounds, through external application but as other promising alternatives are available, its use is becoming obsolete. The healers use the Thura milk in treatment of rheumatism. The milk is collected and boiled in Neem oil. This herbal oil is applied
externally on affected parts as treatment. Different parts of Thura are popularly used as veterinary medicine. I have written a lot about it in my previous articles.

The above mentioned traditional uses are not enough to establish Thura as medicinal crop having high demand. I personally feel that these traditional uses in form of medicine, natural pesticide, live fence, allelopathic herb etc. should be taken into consideration by the researchers. I am confident that systematic research on these aspects, will help us to establish Thura as potential crop. As its propagation is relatively easy and cheap, after developing its uses, the farmers can be encouraged to plant this herb in their fields, to get additional income, with many benefits.

Thank you very much for reading the article.