Medicinal insect Termites (Diar or Deemak) : Traditional Medicinal Knowledge, Existing and Possible uses

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

Termites (Termitidae, Isoptera) are considered as obnoxious pest around the world. Every year we use many tons of agrochemicals to manage these insects with little success. In Chhattisgarh, India, different species of Termites are present and creating problems for natives. Through the ethno botanical surveys in different parts of the state, I have collected much valuable information on uses of Termites and its mounds (Bimbhora or Bambi). I always write in my articles that everything present on the earth is useful to human beings and this is our ignorance that we have kept many useful things in the category of harmful things. Termites are present in almost every corner of Chhattisgarh and in abundance. The natives and traditional healers of Chhattisgarh use these Termites both as medicine and food. You will be surprised to know that the natives collect the termite queen and sell it in local markets at fair rates. The farmers take hard work from Termites.

I am describing all interesting traditional information in present article. This is first written document on traditional medicinal and other uses of Termites in Chhattisgarh, India. I have noted that few species like Microtermes sp: Odontotermes sp; Coptotermes sp. And Trinervitermes sp. Are dominant species in Chhattisgarh. Many other unidentified species are also present in Chhattisgarh. The references on these species are not available. The reference literatures related to Entomology describe about Termites as 'The winged Termites, the sexual forms emerge out of the termitaria and take to flight. When they alight again their wings are shed and in pairs enter suitable substrata. Seven to ten days after the swarming the female lays the first batch of eggs numbering 100 to 130. These eggs hatch in 40 to 42 days. The female termite then enlarges itself to form the queen in due course. The queen can give up to 30,000 eggs per days." For effective management of Termites in specific area it is essential to kill the queen. By using Termite queen as medicine and food, the natives and traditional healers of Chhattisgarh, keep control on its population in natural conditions. The queen lives in royal chamber deep inside the soil rich in moisture. You will be surprised to know that the rural natives using the queen as medicine and food take no charge from the urban natives to dig the mounds to kill the queen. In urban areas, very few natives are aware of its uses. They are well aware of this fact that by destroying the queen, the problem can be root out forever. As the Termite mounds are free flats for the venomous snakes, generally the urban natives hesitate to destroy it. The rural natives coming in city for employment agree to do this job very happily. Instead of killing the queen, they take it with them as gift. I have mentioned in my previous articles that the natives and healers prepare special dish using Termite queen for newly wed couples. The methods of preparation vary from place to place but it is used for maintaining sexual health and to get energy. This is a matter of scientific investigation that when the natives use it as food, it provides what types of minerals or vitamins. Unfortunately, we have yet not started work on this important aspect. The traditional healers of Chhattisgarh use the queen in combination with common herbs in treatment of different diseases.

I have listed over 550 traditional healers aware of various medicinal uses of Termite queen. The use of Termite as medicine has not been reported in reference literatures related to different systems of medicine in India. I am proud to write that the natives and healers are aware of these uses and using it in their regular practice. Its use as medicine is also not reported in Homoeopathy. This is good sign that many enthusiastic young Homoeopaths of Chhattisgarh are trying to prepare a drug from Termite queen. They have submitted a research project for the clinical trials. In southern parts of Chhattisgarh, the soil from termite mound is given in very small quantity to the pregnant woman to assure safe delivery. According to the healers, its use helps in making the complexion of new born, fair. The soil is also used as veterinary medicine, in treatment of many common diseases particularly in Foot and Mouth (F & M) disease. Although these Termites cause great harm to crops but many farmers avoid destroying the mounds. According to them, the rats are bigger problem than the Termites. The presence of Termite mounds, give shelter to venomous snakes, the enemies of rats. In Bagbahera region, the farmers prefer to destroy the mounds. In this area Bhalu (Wild Bear) is a big problem and Termites are favourite food for Bhalu. According to them, the presence of Termite mounds around the fields force the Bhalu to visit the area and after eating Termites, they attack on crops. One interesting observation, I would like to mention here is the farmers want to use the mounds as shelter place of snakes, plant Aloe Vera (Dhikuor) herb on mounds. The presence of Aloe vera repels away the Termites but cause no harm to snakes. In this way, they protect their fields from Termites. Many farmers are growing Badam (Almond) in their home gardens. They are aware that the upper soft portion of Badam fruit is good for the Termites and they cannot eat the inner hard portion beneath which the seeds are present. The farmers keep the Badam fruits near the Termite mound and after removal of soft portion; by the Termites they collect it. When whole fruit is crushed with the help of stone, in majority of cases the seeds splits into many pieces. After the removal of soft portion, there is no chance of seed splits. By this trick, the farmers take the free service from the Termites.

The farmers of forest areas choose new land for cultivation by using different methods and indicators. For example the land having natural population of Charota (Cassia tora) and Gudaria (Sphaeranthus indicus) herbs is considered best for cultivation of cash crop. The land having dense population of Parsa (Butea monosperma) trees is not selected. By observing the height of Termite mound, the farmers select the land for tuber and seed crops. It is common belief in Chhattisgarh that the presence of Koha tree (Terminalia arjuna) and/or Termite Mound in any land, indicaters to presence of sufficient amount of ground water. When the farmers found both indicates at same land, they never leave it without cultivation. In urban areas, at the time of first monsoon shower, the winged Termites came out and fly around lights. For day or two, it creates great problem to natives by entering in homes and by creating disturbances in driving. Few days back, I experienced the same problem. During visit to rural areas around the capital city Raipur, I observed that the poultry farm owners are taking advantage of this problematic situation (for others). The owners collect the winged Termites using light traps and use it as poultry feed. They informed that the poultry birds are fond of this seasonal dish and for their health it is good. This new observation motivated me to write a separate write on Termites and its possible uses. In the experiments related to Allelopathy, generally we prepare extracts and leachates of different plant parts and apply it on other plants in order to study the effects. Last year, I tried aqueous extract of Termite queen, without any specific objective, for pre-sowing soaking treatment of common medicinal and aromatic crops including Safed Musli (Chlorophytum borivilianum), Sarpgandha (Rauvolfia serpentine), Ratannjot (Jatropha curcas) and Chandrashoor (Lepidium sativum). I got no significant results. I am not unhappy. This year I will try it in different ratio on other crops. With the help of rice growers, we are planing interesting experiment. During dry spell of monsoon rains, in upland rice crop the Termites cause great damage. We are planning to spray the Queens extract on crop and observe the reaction of attacking Termites. We are very excited. The readers of this article have full right to laugh on our planning but we feel that there is no harm to try this in field conditions. I will inform you after completion of the experiments. The use of Termite queen as medicine and food is becoming the thing of past. The young generation is not taking interest. The collection frequencies for Termite queens are decreasing and as result the Termite population is increasing in these areas. After gathering the information on various uses of Termites, I am disturbing it in whole Chhattisgarh. The natives aware of harmful agrochemicals are showing interest in 'Management through Utilization' concept. I am confident that through specific surveys. I can extract and collect more information on the uses of Termites in Chhattisgarh.

Thank you very much for reading the article.