Traditional Medicinal Knowledge about common herbs used in treatment of Nasoor (Old wounds) in Chhattisgarh Plains, India

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

The farming community of Chhattisgarh are well aware about the use of common wasteland weed Chirchita in treatment of old wounds. The leaves of Chirchita (Achyranthes aspera) are collected and with the help of water, paste is prepared. The cotton is soaked in this paste and applied externally on old wounds. In majority of cases, this simple treatment cures the old wound. The natives also use the leaf juice as styptic in order to stop the bleeding. It is one of the most frequently used herbs used as first aid remedies in Chhattisgarh. The traditional healer of Mudpar village Shri Hanumat Prasad Verma prepares a special herbal oil by using the leaves of Chirchita, Patharia Bhaji (Boerhaavia diffusa), Mehndi (Lawsonia alba), Andi (Ricinus communis), Boir (Ziziphus rotundifolia), Neem (Azadirachta indica), etc. The fresh leaves are mixed in equl proportion and boiled in base oil. Til oil (Sesamum) is used as base oil. When all watery contents evaporate, the oil is collected and stored for future use. The healer uses this oil in treatment of old wounds. He informed that all herbs play important role in this oil and therefore, no herb can be deleted or added in this oil. He is satisfied with the efficacy of oil. In general, the natives of Chhattisgarh try to treat wounds with the help of home remedies and in most of the cases they get success. In case of complications, they consult the traditional healers. The natives living in urban areas initially try antibiotics but when problem persists, they consult the healers or use traditional medicine. The traditional healers informed that the cases having this problem are increasing from past two or three decades. The old wounds indicate the poor resistance of human body. If problem occurs at regular interval then there must be some basic health problem needing enough attention. In general, the healers suggest the natives to give emphasis on blood purification. At the start of rainy season, they suggest the natives to prepare globules (size of Ber fruits) from Neem leaves and take one globule in a day up to one week. This simple use make the body resistant round the year. They warn that seven days means seven days, it should not be taken more than a week. They also suggest to take bath by using herbal decoction and juice. Kadu Pani (please read previous articles) is one of these herbal baths. The healers blame the modern life for the cause of this problem. Now it is a fashion here, that seeing any old wound, the registered practitioners recommend pathological test for diabetes. In Chhattisgarh, many labs are active and engaged in various tests. The healers informed that the reason for old wounds is not always diabetes. They have there own indigenous system of diagnosis and in case of diabetes, they select special herbs. I have already mentioned in my previous articles that the healers of Chhattisgarh believe that diabetes is curable trouble and at initial stages it can be managed more easily. The fast food culture, is becoming curse for the natives, the healers believe.

In present article, I am giving details regarding some herbs used in treatment of the old wounds, I have collected through recent surveys. The rice growers of Chhattisgarh Plains use the web of common spider found in rice fields externally to treat old wounds. The cow feeding on wild grasses is selected and daily morning fresh cow dung is collected. The cakes are prepared and after burning it, ash is collected. This ash is used to dress the old wounds. The natives use the dung in this way. The healers adopt more complicated method. You will be surprised to know that the plant material on which any cow is feeding plays an important role in changing the medicinal properties of milk, dung and urine. The healers still remember that in past, they were using different feed materials specific to different cows. They informed that to get best results from milk, feed cows under self supervision. When cow goes to pasture land for grazing, it eats varieties of herb and produces specific milk, having specific use. But now the pasture lands are shrinking in Chhattisgarh due to illegal encroachment and many exotic species have captured the pasture lands. Now the Chhattisgarh cows are eating weeds like Lantana, Parthenium etc. and no one is aware what wrong effects he is getting while using this milk. In dairies, the owners are using chemical boosters to increase the milk production. The healers simply say that you cannot expect healing properties from common milk. I am not aware about any dairy farm engaged in such identical milk production. In ancient literatures related to different systems of medicine in India, particularly in Charak Samhita, it is clearly mentioned about the medicinal properties of cow milk collected from cattle feeding on Urd (Vigna mungo), or on Ikh (Saccharum officinalis) etc. Through this article, I would like to request the researchers to focus their studies on this important aspect also. So, I was discussing about the use of dung cake ash in treatment of old wounds. The healers of Chhattisgarh prefer only the cows feeding on grasses, the dicots are rejected. According to them, this selection makes the ash so many times more effective. The traditional healers of Durg region use the latex of common herb Gular (Ficus glomerata) externally to heal the old wounds. The leaves of Castor and Mehndi are mixed in equal proportion and juice is extracted. This juice is applied externally on wounds in same manner. The healers of Dhamtari region informed me that at initial stages the leaf juice of many common herbs can be used successfully. Raksi (Abutilon indicum), Sirsa (Albizia sp.), Kaner (Thevetia nerifolia), Patera (Typha sp.) Are among these herbs. The healers of Raipur region, use the Kamal (Lotus) and Bar (Ficus benghalensis) leaves to prepare a special herbal oil. This oil is used in treatment of spreading wounds. In rural areas, the shredded skin of snakes (Kechuli) is collected and burnt. The ash is mixed with the latex of Bar and applied externally on old wounds. This use is not described in reference literatures. I personally feel that there is a need for systematic research to evaluate these herbs in modern context. Many healers accept that many of these formulations are now becoming obsolete as new powerful strains of pathogens are emerging. There is a need for improving these basic formulations with the help of modern science.

Thank you very much for reading the article.