Gulbakawali (Hedychium coronarium, family Zingiberaceae) as medicinal herb in Chhattisgarh, India

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

The Amarkantak region of Chhattisgarh is religious and tourist place. At the hills, many Hindu temples and Ashrams are situated. Amarkantak hills are covered with dense forests. The great river Narmada originated from this part of Chhattisgarh. For the herb lovers, the hills and forests are the treasures having valuable herbs and medicinal insects. Every year thousands of natives
travel Amarkantak hills. They never forget to purchase the small bottles having Gulbakawali Ark (extract). The Gulbakawali Ark of Amarkantak is world famous. The traditional healers and natives of this region are well aware of its medicinal uses. This Gulbakawali Ark is used as eye-tonic. The natives and visitors use this Ark round the year internally to make the eyes free from all infections and to treat common troubles. From local markets to big stores, everywhere Gulbakawali Ark is available in different rates. The natural occurrence of this herb in any other part of Chhattisgarh is not reported. I have also not observed it during my ethnobotanical surveys in different parts of Chhattisgarh. Surprisingly, in reference literatures related to different systems of medicine in India, I have not got much information about this herb. From recent issue of Natural Product Radiance (March-April 2003), I got information that the rhizome of
Gulbakawali is used in Chinese natural medicine and has been prescribed and used in treatment of headache, lancinating pain, contusion, inflammatory and intense pain due to rheumatism etc. It is also used as febrifuge, tonic, excitant and anti-rheumatic in the Ayurvedic system. I have visited Amarkantak hills many times both as tourist and for surveys. During surveys, I got
opportunities to meet the traditional healers of this important region. They informed me that the Gulbakawali herb is limited to very moist areas only. They named the place Mai Ka Bagicha
specifically where it is found in abundance. The healers informed that although this herb is present since generations in Amarkantak hills, but it is introduced species. The saints brought this herb from Himalayas. During my ethnobotanical surveys, I have seen different species of Gulbakawali in Amarkantak region i.e. Hedychium coronarium, Hedychium coronarium var flavum and Hedychium spicatum, H. coronarium is known as Ginger Lily whereas remaining two species are known as Yellow Ginger Lily and Spiked Ginger Lily. I have found Hedychium coronarium var. flavum in abundance and commercially exploited. The reference literatures describe that rhizome yields essential oil of therapeutic and industrial importance but the natives and traditional healers use yellow fragrant flowers to prepare eye tonic. H. coronarium and H. coronarium var. flavum are known as Gulbakawali in this region whereas H. spicatum is known as Kapur-Kachri. Gulbakawali and Kapur-Kachri both are not the regional or local names. These are Hindi names popular in Himalayan regions. This information indicated that the healers are true and Hedychium species are not native to Chhattisgarh. It is common observation that from the places of tourists importance, any thing gets popularity within no time. Through tourists the Gulbakawali Ark reached to western countries and the local herb traders informed me that many natives
are supplying the Ark regularly around the world. The healers have no doubt about its effectiveness. It prevents Motiabind (Cataract). The flowers are collected and through indigenous
method of steam distillation Ark (extract) is collected. The healers suggest the users to use one or two drops twice a day round the year. You will be surprised to know that many leading
eye hospitals of India are using this Ark successfully. The natives of this region informed me that due to increasing demand, its rates have increased many folds within five years. This demand
is putting pressure on natural population of Gulbakawali in this region. Many extractors and traders have started commercial cultivation of this herb. But cultivation is beneficial only in
Amarkantak region. When the innovative herb growers of Chhattisgarh Plains tried this herb in their fields, possibly due to climatic variations, the herb failed to produce flowers. Like other valuable herbs, the scientific research and package of practices for its commercial cultivation are not available for Chhattisgarh. The educated farmers are adopting the standard cultivation practices of Hedychium spicatum. Last year when one of my farmers, purchased Gulbakawali herb for commercial cultivation from Amarkantak regions, we got adulteration of Keu-Kand (Costus specious) herb in Gulbakawali. Actually, both herbs grow side by side in natural conditions. The healers of Amarkantak region believes that both herbs affect the medicinal properties of each other. The medicinal properties of Keu increases in presence of Gulbakawali and vice-versa. Through my allelopathy experiments, I am trying to establish the science behind this belief. When healers visit the forests for the collection of herbs, they prefer these herbs, growing side by side. As both herbs are of economic importance, now we are planning to try Gulbakawali-Keu (Hedychium-Costus) intercropping. Their growing habits, edaphic and climatic requirements are also same. Through this article, I would like to request the scientists around the world to focus their studies on this important aspect. Among above mentioned three species of Hedychium, H. spicatum is well known in national and international drug markets. The powdered rhizomes of H. spicatum are used for perfuming tobacco. The rhizomes are the
source of essential oil that is used in perfumery and pharmaceutical preparations. Although the natives of Amarkantak region are not aware but according to reference literatures, the
aerial stems of Gulbakawali constitute a useful raw material for making paper. The dried whole stems contain 43% cellulose. The paper produced has exceptional strength, elasticity and folding
qualities. This valuable use can provide additional income to Gulbakawali growers of Chhattisgarh. The increasing popularity of Gulbakawali Ark is sufficient to prove that it is promising eye-tonic. In Chhattisgarh, many parts are having the Amarkantak hills like climatic conditions. There is a need to conduct detailed field trials in these parts. These trials will help the Gulbakawali to establish as potential medicinal crop and encourage the farmers to start its commercial cultivation. The commercial cultivation will reduce the pressure on natural population.

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