Three days with traditional healers of Bagbahera (Chhattisgarh) India

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

When I was working as researcher at Indira Gandhi Agricultural University, Raipur, being active and diverse worker, I faced lot of professional rivalery. My specilization is in Agronomy (i.e. crop production and soil management ) but as researcher, I have done a lot of work on insects, mites and spiders. Basically it is a work of Entomologist. This is reason I have faced many problems. Inspite of hurdles, some of my professors like Dr. R.S. Tripathi, Dr. A.R. Pal etc. have given me opportunities to work on different aspects. 

Seeing my work and interest in ethnobotany, Dr. Pal has included my name in his team as scientist to conduct detailed survey at forest areas of Bagbahera, about 70 kms. from Raipur. During my two years of extensive work at Bagbahera, I have collected a lot of unique and important information about common herbs and insects. Bagbahera is at Orissa (other Indian state) border. The principal of Higher Secondary School, who is at Bagbahera since his birth, told me once that three to four decades back Bagbahera was covered with dense forests. It was well known for its Bagh (i.e. Tiger) and Bahera land (i.e. low land having natural oozing of water upto several months). Due to commercial exploitation and increasing industrilization, now the dense forest is limited to few isolated patches. 

Common and popular names of Duddhi (Euphorbia hirta) around the world.
Languages/Regions/Countries	Names
1) Australia	Queensland Asthma Herb
2) Bengal	Borakerui, Burakeru
3) Srilanka	Madduppach chrichippillu, Palavi
4) Kanarese	Achchegida
5) Fiji	Do ni osi
6) French	Herbe a Jean Renaud, Pilulier
7) English	Asthma herb, Snake weed, Pill-bearing spurge, Australian asthma herb.
8) Guam	Golondrina
9) Gujarati	Dudeli, Dudh, Nagladudheli
10) Hindi	Bahidudhi, Dudhi, Laldudhi
11) Malyalam	Nelapalai
12) Marathi	Dudhi, Dudnali, Govardhan, Mothidudhi
13) Mouritius	Jean Robert
14) Philippines	Batabotonis, Botobotones, Golandrina
15) Sanskrit	Nagarjuni, Pusitoa
16) Sinhalese	Budadakiriya, Dadakiriya, Kiritala
17) Tamil	Amumpatchaiyarissi
18) Telugu	Bidarie, Nanabala, Nanabiyan

I have never seen or heard about the tiger during my surveys, although many times, I have seen the wild bear. Local farmers grow crops like maize, groundnut etc. and collect honey, mahua (Madhuca latifolia), and other minor forest produce from forest. There products are favourite food for bear, hence man-bear conflict is very common in this region. To list out the traditional Healers of the region, I have conducted detailed surveys of villages viz. Phoolvari, Maulimuda, Kassibahera, Navadih, Basladabri, Bhadrasi, Bihajhar, Basti Bagbahera, Kalyanpur, Tendukona, Mongrapali, Saraipali, Bhaluchuan, Litiadadar, Khairat, Kulia, Kasekera, Kusmara, Kumharimuda, Bagar pali, Pandarikhar etc. After preparing a list, I planned to stay with these traditional healers continuously upto three days and three nights. During my stay, I have collected valuable information. Some important observations are mentioned in this article.

The problem of mosquitoes is a common problem in urban areas of India. Now it is becoming a headache in rural areas also. As no natural alternative is available, we use chemical insecticides and repellents for mosquitoes. In India, you will found many brands of Allithrin based machines using aromatic oil like lemon grass oil. Many of reputed companies are selling these chemical alternatives as natural and herbal solution. During my stay at Traditional Healer of Paterapali, I have seen that he is burning specific leaves in fire and the fume is repelling away the mosquitoes. According to him, it is a natural way of repelling not only the mosquitoes but also other harmful flies. He claimed that these miracle leaves also destroy the harmful microbes and make the environment of home clean and healthy. The fumes are very bitter. At higher density, I felt uneasiness and requested him to open the doors and windows. I have asked several times about the name and identify of this mosquito repellent and air purifier, but he refused to disclose. 

Next morning, with my field assistant Mr. Ravi Kumar, I took a long walk to nearby forest. During discussion, I asked Ravi about these leaves. He said the use of these leaves is an age old practices and its local name is Bhirra. He has also shown me the trees of Bhirra and after identifying it, I was surprised to know that this is present in almost every part of Bagbahera. I have found this tree as substitute to Neem tree, as leaves are very bitter like neem leaves. The tribal women, informed me that they use these leaves on wounds in same manner of neem leaves. The traditional healer of Bhaluchuhan, told me that in combination with other herbs he use Bhirra leaves for the treatment of rheumatism. I have collected these leaves and with the help of powdered Gondla (Cyprus rotundus ) nuts, prepared an incense stick. This stick is effective in repelling away the mosquitoes. On the basis of this success, I suggested the University authorities and the state government, to make plan to establish small cottage industries at Bagbahera so that the natives can get real benefits from their traditional medicinal knowledge about native flora and fauna. 

They instructed me to prepare a project. Like other projects, this project also in waiting list since three years. Seeing its miracle effect on mosquitoes. I prepared the aqueous extracts of the fresh leaves, bark and roots of Bhirra tree at different ratio and applied on weed seeds as soaking treatment and on weed plants as foliar application. From these allelopathic studies, I found some encouraging results. With the help of regional farmers, I tried these extracts against insects attacking commercial crop. I personally feel that there is tremendous scope in this field. As far as the use of Bhirra leaves as mosquito repellent is concerned I have observed that natives of Bagbahera never burn these leaves in presence of infants. According to them infants can not tolerate these bitter fumes. 

I have solved this problem by decreasing the content of Bhirra leaves in incense stick. In English, Bhirra is known as East Indian Satinwood Tree (Family : Flinderiaceae) I have seen this tree in other parts of Chhattisgarh also but surprisingly in other parts natives are not aware of this unique use of this tree. I have found this botanical description in reference literatures. Leaves paripinnate; leaflets 20-40; opposite, subopposite or alternate, glabrous, pale and dotted on lower surface, oblong - lanceolate, obtuse with oblique base, 3 x 1 cm long, membranous, Flowers white, penduncles upto 10cm long, hardly as long as the leaves. Capsule avoid or oblong 3x1.5 cm long, dark brown; seeds compressed, winged above. I personally feel that there is a need to generate employment opportunities among youths of Bagbahera with the help of small cottage industries based on traditional medicinal knowledge, because every day hundreds of youths left the region in search of jobes in nearby industrial areas.

Basically, I am vegetarian (at least in front of my mother) but I am very fond of eating insects and mites particularly the medicinal insects and mites (please never tell this to my mother). I think that it is not fare to report the miracle herbs and insects without experienceing its effect. You will be surprised to know that I have never taken the chicken or mutton in my life. As a patient of Parthenium borne allergy, I always prefer Homoeopathic drug Blatta (yes, it is prepared from cockroach). In Bagbahera, I have noted that the Traditional Healer of Bihajhar uses Bhavari keeda (Keeda means insect) for the treatment of epilepsy. This Traditional Healer is specialised in treatment of epilepsy, locally known as mirgi. Bhavari is the aquatic insect and common in water bodies of Bagbahera. In order to maintain the secrecy of the formula he use banana or jaggery, put the live insect inside it and give it to the patients. A long never ending line of patients not only from Bagbahera but also from nearby areas, is the proof of efficacy of this insect in case of epilepsy. In reference literature, when I tried to find out the correct identity of insect, I found it nearer to water striders. Recently, I have sent some specimen for identification.

One surprising think I have observed in Bagbahera that the new experiments are still on, to enrich the traditional medicinal knowledge. As we know that use of Euphorbia hirta as potherb is not recommended by any tradtional healers possibly may be to harmful natural chemicals present in the herb, but you will be surprised to know that our cook at Bagbahera Mr. Seetaram, who is also a Tradtional Healer of Basti Bagbahera informed me that he had tried the Choti Duddhi (Euphorbia) once. According to him it is very sweet in taste but slows down the activity of brain. I have never met the healer who regularly tries new herbs as potherbs, just for experimentation.

During my visits to Tendukona village, I have noted the collection and sell of Gudaria herb. In Chhattisgarh, Gudaria is found as weed in rabi (winter) crops and weed scientists recommend its destruction through lethal chemicals. 

The natives are aware of economical value of this so-called weed. They never follow the recommendations of scientists. They collect it and sell it to the middleman (Kochia) living in Tendukona village. Although the middleman, pays very little price to the natives but they are happy as they are getting cost of weed. From Tendukona village, the middleman sell this herb in name of Gorakh Mundi to nearby cities or directly to national herb markets situated at metros. Gorakhmundi is one of the very frequently used herb in indigenous (i.e. Ayurvedic and Unani) drugs. The Traditional Healers of Bagbahera are also aware of unique medicinal properties of this herb. According to them Gudaria is good blood purifier and develops resistant in body against cold borne diseases. 

According to the Traditional Healer of Karmapatpar, he has seen that in winter female Bhalu (wild bear) eat this herb from crop fields. Possibly they are also knowing the miracle effects of this herb. In Bagbahera, the decoction from whole plant is prepared and given to patients suffering from eosinophilia. The scientific name of Gudaria or Gorakhmundi is Sphaeranthus indicus (Family : Compositeae). In reference literatures, I have found detailed description about this useful herb. It is a much branched herb upto 30cm ( I have seen plants having 40-50 cm height). Stem and branches cylendric, with toothed wings, glandular and hairy; Leaves sessile, decurrent, ovate-oblong, glandular hairy, serrate or dentate; Flowers in compound heads, globose avoid, penduncles with toothed wings; Corolla purple, involucre bracts linear, ciliate near the ends; Flowers achene, glabrous, and stalked. This is aromatic herb.

During my three days with the Traditional Healers of Bagbahera, I have learnt many unique things about common herbs, and I will never forget those three days. You will find more details in my upcoming articles. Thank you very much for reading my article patiently.