Kali Musli (Curculigo orchioides; family: Hypoxidaceae) as medicinal herb in Chhattisgarh, India

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

The traditional healers of Chhattisgarh use both Kali (Curculigo orchioides) and Safed Musli (Chlorophytum sp.) Together in common herbal formulations used as sex tonic and aphrodisiac. In nature both Musli prefer same habitat and commonly grows side by side. The traditional healers prefer the Musli herbs growing side by side for preparing the herbal formulations. This fact is not described in reference literatures related to different systems of medicine in India. The traditional healers of Chhattisgarh are practicing it since generations. It is a bitter fact that in indigenous systems of medicine, Kali (Black) Musli is used more frequently as compared to the Safed Musli. But this is really surprising that the natural population of Safed Musli is decreasing at alarming rates from the Chhattisgarh forests. There is no threat on natural population of Kali Musli. Possibly, the other uses of Safed Musli (Other than medicine) has created this high demand. Botanically both Musli are different. Safed Musli belongs to Onion family (i.e. Liliaceae). As the natural forests are rich in Kali Musli, it is not under cultivation as medicinal crop. Many innovative herb growers tried to domesticate it but after seeing less demand, they dropped the idea of cultivation .I have mentioned in previous articles that Kali Musli is one of the favorite foods of Bhalu (Wild bear). They prefer Kali Musli from Kali-Safed Musli mixed population. The traditional healers believe that these wild animals are aware of its aphrodisiac properties and they use it in limited quantities, not in large quantities as food. The healers of Bhopalpatnam region informed me that they have observed many times that Bhalu consumes it few days prior to intercourse. I am trying to get more confirmations. The natives particularly the herb collectors of Gandai region have also confirmed this observation. Through my ethnobotanical surveys in different parts of Chhattisgarh I have identified over 250 traditional healers specialized in use of Both Musli species. As medicine. Also I have listed out about 55 herbal formulations in which they use these valuable herbs. I am describing some promising and popular formulations in this article. The traditional healers of Chhattisgarh Plains prepare the herbal formulation using Black Musli, Safed Musli, Satavar (Asparagus racemosus) and Mochras (Gum of Semal). All herbs are used in equal amount. This formulation is recommended with a glass of cow milk, daily night. In general, the healers suggest the patients to use this combination, upto one month during winter season, because according to them, the nature of formulation is hot, hence its use during hot summer days should be avoided. Most of the healers recommend this formulation to their male patients but there are healers that are in favour of its use for female patients. According to them, after excluding Satavar it can be used for the males only but the presence of Satavar makes it enough useful for female patients. In general, it is used to maintain the sexual health and to get extra strength. The healers recommend it to the patients of different age group for various purposes. The young patients having the problem of spermatorrhoea, night pollution etc. are advised to take it till complete cure. For newly wed couples it is a boon. In old age, this formulation helps in maintaining sexual health. The herbs used in this formulation are available in abundance in nature. So, if these are collected from wild, there is no cheaper and promising alternative but if these are purchased from Local herbs shops, you will get it in very high prices and no one can gurantee you about its purity. I have interviewed many patients using this formulations from long time. They are satisfied with its effectiveness. One of the patients fond of new experimentations, informed that one can use this formulation in form of aqueous paste externally on male genitals for getting more instant effect. The healers have yet not confirmed and approved this external use. The traditional healer of Mudpar village prepares a special dish for his patients. The fresh juice of Onion (Piaz) and Honey (Shahad), one litre each, are mixed and cooked till its concentration reaches to desirable stage. At this stage, one kg each of Safed and Kali Musli are added. Before addition, the roots are powdered. This dish is given at various doses, based on the intensity of trouble, vitality of patients and age. The traditional healers of Narharpur region, use Kali and Safed Musli in combination with inflorescence (Baur) of Aam (Mangifera indica), internally for same purpose. They also add Mochras in this combination. During discussion, they informed me that alone Safed or Kali Musli can cause many undesirable effects and to avoid this problem, they mix Safed and Kali Musli. According to them, both herbs have potential to nullify each others harmful effects. I am proud to write about in depth traditional knowledge of these healers. I would like to request the researchers reading this article to conduct separate studies to provide scientific explanation of this combination. The traditional healers of Bastar region are not much convinced about this theory. They except that Safed Musli can cause problems, if not used judicious, not the Kali Musli. They use many formulations having Kali Musli only. In the popular combinations they add, Kali Musli, Shatavar, Mucuna pruriens seeds, Echinops echinatus seeds, Malkangni (Celastrus paniculatus) seeds etc. Botanically, Kali Musli is a small herb, root stout with copious fleshy root fibres; Leaves sessile or petiolate, linear or linear lanceolate tips sometimes rooting, scape, very short, clavate. Flowers in racemes, distichous, yellow, lowest in the raceme 2-sexual, perianth segments elliptic, oblong, hairy on the back. Fruits capsule, oblong with a beak. Seeds grooved, black, shining. As medicine, Kali Musli holds a reputed position in different systems of medicine in India. According to Ayurveda, the roots are heating, aphrodisiac, alterative, appetizer, fattening, useful in piles, biliousness, fatigue, blood diseases etc. According to Unani system of medicine, roots are carminative, tonic, aphrodisiac, antipyretic and useful in bronchitis, ophthalmia, indigestion, vomiting, diarrhoea, lumbago, gonorrhoea, gleet, hydrophobia, joint pains etc. I personally feel that there is a need to develop standard cultivation practices for commercial cultivation of Kali Musli. Although at present, there is no threat on its natural population but increasing demand can create problems in features.

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