Interactions with senior farmers of Chhattisgarh Plains having traditional medicinal knowledge about common plants and animals.

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

Gahun (Wheat) is not a popular crop in Chhattisgarh. The farmers cultivate this crop without irrigation. Chhattisgarh is well known for paddy production. After paddy, they grow pulse and oil seeds crops. In area, where wheat is grown as second crop due to introduction of new seeds and technologies, many new pests have entered in Chhattisgarh. Gahunsa (Phalaris minor) is among these pests. Gahunsa is well known weed in wheat fields. It is an annual, graminaceous weed and according to reference literatures, it has spread widely in many wheat growing areas of the world. Like wild Oat (Avena fatua), it mimics wheat plants and sets seeds at almost the same height and time as the crop. Each plant of Gahunsa, (in English Canary grass) produces about 300-460, shiny black, very small, flat seeds which readily contaminate wheat seeds. In wheat growing regions of India, it has became headache for the farmers. As it emerges with the germination of wheat and resembles wheat seedling, therefore, it is difficult to recognize
it in the initial stage. The weed scientists are recommending many weedicides to eradicate this weed from wheat crop well in time. According to them, this weed causes great damage to wheat crop and there is no promising alternative to weedicides. The reference literatures related to weed management in wheat crop are full of information on chemical control. As the Gahunsa is becoming
resistant to existing weedicides, the scientists are conducting research to get more powerful molecules. The more powerful molecules are making this weed more resistant and according to
experts, this war will lead to make Gahunsa, a super weed, that can not be managed by any tools. The war between scientists and Gahunsa is becoming curse for the environment of wheat fields. The
strong chemicals are causing harms to farmers and polluting the ground water. In Chhattisgarh, like other new herbs, the natives also welcomed Gahunsa and through regular experiments, they have discovered its medicinal uses. As result, the farmers are not using the chemicals to manage this so called weed. They are using it as nature's gift in preparation of herbal combinations to treat many common diseases. The representatives of multi-national companies engaged in promotion of weedicides to eradicate Gahunsa are in great trouble. The wheat growers are not ready to consider Gahunsa as weed. The representatives informed me that the farmers adopt hand weeding method and after collection of uprooted plants, they use it for different purposes. They are not ready to dump lethal chemicals in their fields in the name of Gahunsa eradication. The traditional healers aware of its use, informed me that as this herb grows with wheat, it possess many medicinal properties similar to wheat. Both are grasses and getting same treatment from mother nature. Many healers prepare fresh juice from wheat seedlings and use it in treatment of common diseases. These healers mix both species (i.e. wheat and Gahunsa) in equal proportion to make the treatment more effective. The wheat growers further told me that when they permit wheat and Gahunsa to grow together, the combination of these two species, suppresses the growth of all other major weeds. These weeds are more harmful to wheat, as reference literatures say, as compared to the Gahunsa. By education, I am weed scientist, but I have noted the bitter fact that the most of the weed scientists consider the weed as great enemy and try to develop strategies to eradicate it. Many leading multinational companies are engaged in production of weedicides to eradicate the Gahunsa. The wrong thinking and attitude towards specific herbs by few scientists, are making our earth more and more polluted. I am proud to say that the Chhattisgarh farmers are aware of this pollution and through their in depth knowledge they are adopting 'Management through Utilization' concept to manage the unwanted plants in crop fields. You will be surprised to know that the farmers use this so called weed for hair care. The fresh herb is collected and with the help of water, aqueous paste is prepared. According to them, this paste is a boon for the patients having the problem of Alopecia. In herbal combinations used for hair care, the farmers never miss to add Gahunsa during cropping season. Its internal use, acts as carminative and flushes out the worms. In case of skin diseases, particularly in ringworm, the farmers burn the herb and collect the ash. This ash is applied externally on affected parts to treat
it in very less time. The farmers also told me that it can be used successfully in treatment of gastric troubles. These uses of Gahunsa (Phalaris minor) have yet not been reported in reference
literatures. This article is the first written document on this aspect and I am feeling proud to write this information, in this form and to present it, among world community. Gahunsa is also
used as fodder. The farmers believe that its use as fodder develops resistance in cattle bodies to fight diseases. The reference literatures support its use as fodder. According to these literatures, young plant contains upto 15 percent protein whereas hay contains 7.7 percent protein. Seed can be used as bird-feed. Although majority of allelopathic studies, conducted to
evaluate the effects of different parts of Gahunsa, on wheat, indicates that all parts possess lethal allelochemicals that can cause great harms to wheat, but many workers have shown that the
allelopathic effects depend upon the methods adopted for the studies and no body knows, the method, the mother natures adopts. In my studies, I have not found harmful effects of Gahunsa on
germination and early seedling vigour of wheat. I personally feel that there is a strong need to evaluate the Gahunsa in terms of medicinal properties, scientifically. Its popularity among natives clearly indicates it effectiveness. The problem of hair loss is common problem and the use of Gahunsa in this problem can establish it as potential medicinal herb. I am hoping that like the farmers of Chhattisgarh, the farmers of other states are also aware of various uses of Gahunsa, but as no one is asking them, this knowledge is still hidden. Through this article, I would like to request the researchers of wheat growing areas around the world, to focus their studies on this untouched aspect also. Rice grass hopper is one of the common insects of paddy crop. Both hoppers and adults damage paddy by feeding on leaves and shoots and by cutting off earheads. The eggs are laid in soil in masses of 30-40 between October to December. Hoppers emerge in the following June after the first monsoon rains. They grow feeding on leaves of rice or grass on the bunds and become adults in about 70-80 days. Very often it appears as a major pest. The farmers of Chhattisgarh Plains are aware of medicinal properties and uses of
Grasshoppers (Heiroglyphus banian, Orthoptera, Acridiidae). According to them, the nature of Grasshopper, locally known as Tiddi or Tidda, is hot as medicine. It is sour in taste. In early
days when medicinal rice varieties were under cultivation, the farmers were using the grasshoppers feeding on specific varieties for different purposes. It is common belief among them that as a source of drug, the insect feeding on herb is more useful as compared to the herb. Today when limited number of high yielding varieties are under cultivation, the farmers are not using the traditional knowledge. The young generation is not aware about the relationship between grasshoppers and medicinal rice varieties, and also the importance of this relationship for the benefits of mankind. The farmers collect the hoppers from field and dry it. After drying, the bodies are put on fire and patients having the problem of bavasir (piles) are advised to expose the affected parts in fumes in order to get early relief. The farmers informed me that internal use of hoppers purifies the blood and improves the sexual health. It is also used to prepare curry. This curry is also used as blood purifier. Many farmers told me that the hoppers
can be used successfully in treatment of respiratory and urinary troubles. The use of hoppers as medicine is also not reported in reference literatures. In general, the farmers eat the hopper for taste. They get health benefits as a bonus. I have written a lot of traditional medicinal knowledge about common insects and mites in Chhattisgarh, in my previous article. Through my ethnobotanical surveys, I am getting new unique knowledge everyday. I am confident that these information will prove the quote mentioned in ancient Indian literatures that everything on this earth is useful and it is our ignorance that we have categorized few plants and animals as useful and others as waste.

Common crabs in paddy fields are headache for the paddy farmers. These crabs build their home in bunds and in this process, the stored valuable rain water collected in field drains out through
this tunnel. In Chhattisgarh, the paddy farming is dependent on monsoon rains and to store the rain water the farmers build big bunds (Medh). Since generations, the farmers are using crabs as
food. This habit manages the crab population and protects their field bunds. The farmers have rich traditional knowledge about medicinal uses of crab. I have written many valuable information related to crabs as medicine, in my previous articles. Here I am describing, some new uses, I have noted during recent surveys. The paddy growers informed me that they collect the crabs and after drying, bum it and collect the ash. According to them, the ash is used internally. This ash is a promising tonic and beneficial in the diseases of blood, respiratory and urinogenital diseases. In general, they take this ash upto one week, in any time of the year. According to them, this intake, develops enough resistance to protect body from diseases round the year. The farmers also use alone or in combination with other herbs in case of renal calculi (Pathri). The one or two doses of ash flushes out the stones from body. I personally feel that there is a need for scientific evaluation and standardization of this unique use. Since generations, the farmers around the world are aware of benefits of earthworms. It is one of best friends of farmers. In Chhattisgarh, the farmers use earthworms, locally known as Gangerua, as medicine both internally and externally, During my surveys in Chhattisgarh Plains, the farmers informed me that they prepare a special decoction by boiling fresh earthworms in water. This decoction is very useful for the patients having the problem of urine retention. This is new information for me. Like the natives of other parts of Chhattisgarh, the farmers of Chhattisgarh Plains are also aware of its use as aphrodisiac. The farmers of Chuikhadan area informed me about medicinal uses of specific soil known as Chui. They use it in treatment of boils. The aqueous paste is applied externally on boils to suppress it. It is also applied externally on piles. According to them, this application
is one of the promising cures for piles. The farmers also add many common herbs with Chui soil to make it more effective. Internally the farmers use it under supervision of the traditional healers because if taken in large doses, it sticks in intestinal walls and very hard to flush.
Common Centipede (Scolopendra sp.) is also used as medicine by the farmers. They use it externally in treatment of eye diseases. The Centipede is collected, and dried. The dried Centipede with Mustard (Sarson) oil is applied externally on eyelids and eye-brows, to reduce tension in eyes and to root out the eye pain. This use is also not reported in reference literatures.

The above mentioned uses are not only valuable but also of great practical utility. All the above mentioned herbs and animals are considered as useless by scientists. Now time has come to learn
from real scientists i.e. the farmers. With the help of farmers and traditional healers, we are trying to develop these herbs and animals based formulations and also potential markets for these
formulations. As you know, that the Chhattisgarh farmers are already earning additional income from so called weed species by selling it in national markets, the addition of medicinal animals
particularly the insects will make this venture more profitable. This is good thing for me that the regular readers of my articles are increasing but I am expecting some potential workers that can help me to make these dreams true. This is 180th article on Botanical.com website. The endless information about common herbs and animals present in Chhattisgarh motivate and remind me that I have to write more articles regularly and at very high speed, as very less time is available with me.

Thank you very much for reading the article.