Medicinal herbs of Chhattisgarh, India having less known traditional uses. XXXI. Urai (Vetiveria zizanioides; family Gramineae)

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

Urai is common grass found in almost every corner of Chhattisgarh. I have noted its dense natural population in Pendra and Bastar region. Urai is known as Khas or Gandar in trade.
According to reference literatures it is under cultivation in Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and West Bengal. It is cultivated for an essential oil, obtained from roots and used in perfumery,
cosmetic, soaps and for flavouring shurbuts. It is established and well known aromatic crop in India. In Chhattisgarh, it is not under cultivation. The natural occurrence and lack of awareness
about the trade and demand of this valuable herb are the main reasons, responsible. In Chhattisgarh, it is known as Urai and many of the herb collectors are still not aware that Khas and Urai are same plants. This is the reason they are getting very less price from collection. In Chhattisgarh, the demand of roots increases in hot summer. The roots are made into aromatic scented mats, fans and woven into curtains which when moistened, cool and scent the air. Urai roots are very popular among Ganja [Ganja is prepared from dried unfertilized female inflorescences of Hemp (Cannabis sativa)] smokers of Chhattisgarh. The Ganja smokers add
rice and Urai roots in order to increase its narcotic effects. In my previous articles, I have written a lot on herbal cigarettes popular in Chhattisgarh. The traditional healers of Chhattisgarh
prepare a special herbal Cigarette using Urai roots and this is given to the patients having the problem of Adhasisi (Migraine). It is also effective in common headache. The healers informed me
that it is wrong claim that addition of Urai roots in combination used by the Ganja smokers increases its narcotic effect. In fact, it reduces the harmful effects of Ganja smoking. In general, the traditional healers never advocate or support for the habit of Ganja smoking. Urai roots are in the list of non-wood forest produces of Chhattisgarh. According to the herb traders, there is
a heavy demand of roots in neighbouring states. As medicinal herb, there is very less demand. The buyers at national levels, prefer the Urai roots of Chhattisgarh because it is collected from wild. In other states, it is under cultivation and farmers use chemicals for higher yield. Like Gondla (Cyperus sp.) roots, Urai root is also supplied to Saharanpur and Kannoj region of India. Besides aromatic crop, Urai is also a valuable medicinal crop. As informed early the Chhattisgarh forests are rich in natural population of Urai but it is a bitter fact that the natives and traditional
healers of Chhattisgarh are not much aware of its medicinal uses and properties. The results of my ethnobotanical surveys conducted in different parts of Chhattisgarh have prevealed it. Through these surveys I have gathered some information. I am describing these information in this article. Botanically, Urai (Vetiveria zizanioides syn. Phalaris zizanioides syn. Andropogon muricatus syn. A squarrous syn. Anatherum zizanioides ) is a densely tufted perennial grass; root stock branching, with spongy aromatic roots. Culms stout, up to over 1.8 meter high, (even more), usually sheathed all along, Leaf sheath compressed, lower ones keeled and fan-like, blades narrowly linear 30-90 cm long, erect, pale green, margin spinously rough-flowers-panicle and upto 30 cm long, rachis short, whorls 6-10 with upto 20 rays, racemes upto 5 cm, slender,
Sessile spikelets, colour varying from yellowish to black. Urai as medicinal herb holds a reputed position in different systems of medicine in India. Its roots are used as medicine. According to
Ayurveda, Urai is cooling, bitter, alexiteric, stomachic, astringent, and useful in burning sensation, bilious fevers, sweats, foul breath, thirst, strangury, ulcers and blood diseases. According to Unani system of medicine, roots are cooling to brain, bitter, soporific, useful in spermatorrhoea, headache and blood diseases.

During rainy season, the natives of Chhattisgarh burn the dried roots of Urai to repel away the flies. In case of painful boils, the healers prepare an aqueous paste with the help of Urai roots
and apply it externally. To dress open wound, it is used with Neem leaves. To treat Prickly heat (Ghamori) the natives take bath after applying the root paste in affected parts. The traditional
healers of Chhattisgarh use the dried roots in different herbal combinations to subside the bad smell of herbs. The traditional healers of Nagri-Sihawa region, specialized in treatment of
fevers, prepare a special drink from Urai roots and give it internally to reduce the temperature as well as exhaustion. With the help of innovative herb growers of Chhattisgarh, we extracted the essential oil from Urai roots collected from wild. The oil recovery was excellent and when we showed the sample to buyers at national and international levels, they showed eagerness
to purchase it in bulk. Our forests are rich in Urai and there is a tremendous scope to establish processing units in Urai rich areas of Chhattisgarh in order to generate village level
employment opportunities. Through my surveys, I am trying to locate and demarcate the Urai rich areas in Chhattisgarh map. Our plan is to use the naturally growing Urai roots and also to
promote the commercial organic cultivation of Urai in these regions. The natural occurrence and good growth of any herb in any specific place clearly indicate that there are the possibilities
of its commercial cultivation at that particular place. At present through herb traders the fresh roots are going outside for extraction of essential oil and after value addition, we are buying back at higher prices. We are also in process of developing improved farming techniques of Urai in Chhattisgarh. Although the traditional medicinal knowledge about Urai in Chhattisgarh is less and it is not enough to establish it as potential medicinal crop but as aromatic crop there are
established markets for Urai essential oil. Through proper management and planning the Urai roots of Chhattisgarh can play a vital role in aroma industries.

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