Traditional medicinal knowledge about Pudina (Mentha sp. Family: Labiatae), in Chhattisgarh, India

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

Out of major Mentha species viz. Field Mint (Mentha arvensis), Japanese Mint (Mentha arvensis var. Piperascense), Peppermint (Mentha piperita), Spear Mint (Mentha spicata) and Bergamot Mint (Mentha citrate), Field Mint and Japanese Mint are under cultivation in Chhattisgarh.

Common names of Mentha piperita around the world.
S.No.	Languages/regions/countries	Names
1	Arabic	Nana
2	Bogota	Yerba buena
3	Brazil	Nortela pimenta
4	Chinese	Po Ho
5	Danish	Pebermynte
6	Dutch	Pepermint
7	English	Brandy Mint, Pepper Mint
8	French	Menthe, Menthe anglaise
9	Hungarian	Borsus menta
10	Italian	Menta piperita
11	Mexico	Menta piperita
12	North America	Lamb Mint, Brandy Mint, Lam Mint, Peppermint
13	Norwegian	Peppermynte
14	Polish	Pepparmunta
15	Portuguese	Hortelana pimentosa
16	Russian	Myata perechnaya
17	Spanish	Mentainglesa, Menta Piperita
18	Swedish	Pepparmynt
19	Turkish	Nana
20	Uruguay	Menta

Field Mint is present in home gardens since very long time and natives and traditional healers are using it as medicine. The commercial cultivation of Japanese Mint started few years back. The natives and healers are not much aware of its traditional medicinal uses. In hot summer days, when you visit any home in villages, the natives welcome you with a glass of cold water having Pudina extract in it. They are well aware that the role of Pudina extract in hot summer days when temperature goes upto 46 C. They prepare extract from the Pudina herb growing in home gardens. Due to urbanization, now the Cola culture is taking the place of Pudina extract but truly speaking, there is no promising health drink for hot days as Pudina extract. Many leading pharmaceutical companies of India are engaged in manufacturing of Pudina extract. These ready-made extracts are very popular among natives having no place for Pudina cultivation. You will find this ready-made extract in every home in urban areas that it is used as home remedy to manage the problem related to digestive tract. The traditional healers of Chhattisgarh prefer home made extract as compared to the ready-made extract. They are aware that in home made extract they use M. arvensis growing in their land since time immemorial but the extracts the pharmaceutical companies are selling, may be prepared from other species.

Common names of Mentha arvensis around the world.
S.No.	Languages/regions/countries	Names
1	Arabic	Habakjabuli, Habaqulhind, Naanaaulhind
2	Bengal	Podina
3	Myanmar	Bhudina
4	Canarese	Chetnimaraga, Maraga
5	Chinese	Po Ho
6	English	Chinese Mint, Corn Mint, Marsh Mint
7	French	Baume deschamos, Pauliot thym
8	Guam	Yerba buena
9	Gujarati	Phudno, Pudina
10	Hindi	Pudinah, Pudina
11	Malaya	Pok ho
12	Malyalam	Putiyina
13	Marathi	Pudina
14	Persian	Filfilmun, Pudinah
15	Sind	Pfudnah
16	Sinhalese	Odutalan
17	Spanish	Yerba buena
18	Tamil	Pudina, Yechakkirai
19	Telugu	Igaenglikura, Pudina
20	Urdu	Pudinchkohi

The natives use no chemical inputs for Pudina growing in home gardens. I have noted that the home made extracts are less pungent as compared to the ready made extracts but medicinally home made extracts are capable of treating all the common problems effectively. In present article, I am giving details regarding traditional medicinal uses of Pudina (Field Mint) in Chhattisgarh, I have noted through the ethnobotanical surveys. After this description I will write on Japanese Mint cultivation. According to reference literatures, botanically, Pudina is a perennial erect herb; stem short and hairy; Leaves narrowed below, stalked, ovate, oblong lanceolate, toothed; the upper similar and large; Flowers in axillary distant whorls, none at the tip; Corolla sub-equally four lobed, lilac, lined with hairs and hairy outside; Fruits nut lets dry, smooth. Pudina holds a reputed position as medicine in different systems of medicine in India. According to Ayurveda, Pudina is expectorant, emmenagogue, tonic to kidneys, useful in liver and spleen diseases, asthma and pains in joints etc. The Chutney prepared by natives of Chhattisgarh in hot summer days using Pudina herb is very popular. The fresh leaves are crushed and by adding salt and other spices, aqueous paste is prepared. This paste is known as Pudina ki Chutney and it is served with meals. The natives use it both for taste and health. You will be surprised to know that this chutney is used externally also in treatment of many common troubles. It is applied externally on ringworm and eczema. Also it is recommended for the patients having the problem of Adhasisi (Migraine). In this case, the Chutney is applied externally in painful parts. It stops the intense pain immediately. I would like to mention here that for external use, the spices are not added to Chutney.

Many Mint based mouth freshers are available in market. Pudina is in use as mouth fresher in Chhattisgarh since generations. The natives prepare a decoction by boiling the leaves in water ad gargle with this decoction to get rid from bad-breath. I have found this decoction very promising in treatment of Tonsilitis. Its regular use during actue Tonsilitis, delays the next attack to great extent. The decoction is used in another way also. During the preparation of decoction, the vapour coming out from solution is considered beneficial for the patients having the problem of coryza and cough. As you know, Chhattisgarh is well known for Herbal Teas. The natives use the leaves alone or in combination with other herbs and prepare herbal tea. This tea is a promising substitute to regular tea. The experiments of Japanese Mint cultivation were not good for the herb growers of Chhattisgarh. For the first time, its commercial cultivation started in year 1997.The innovative herb growers motivated by the research findings of CIMAP, Lucknow and success model of Eastern Uttar Pradesh State, tried this crop in their fields. Unfortunately, when farmers started its commercial cultivation, there was no standard package of practices for Chhattisgarh conditions.

The researchers were not aware of its cultivation in Chhattisgarh.As result, the innivative herb growers faced a lot of problem from nutrient management to harvesting and processing.Later some scientists conducted research, but at that time the growers were established as experts.The growers found the moist paddy fields suitable for its commercial cultivation .In absence of proper technical guidance ,the farmers adopted chemical farming.Due to poor marketing infrastructure after few year its commercial farming stopped in Chhattisgarh.Now,the Mint growers have started the commercial cultivation of paddy again.Their processing units have became waste.And by seeing this failure ,no one has yet dared to start its commercial cultivation again.In initial trials we have found that the climatic and edaphic factors of Chhattisgarh are suitable for its commercial cultivation.I personally feel that through systematic research ,field demonstrations and after establishing marketing infrastructure , we can convince the growers to start its cultivation with confidence.The demand of Mint is global and increasing with encouraging rate.This can provide good returns to the farmers as well the state authorities. Seeing the traditonal uses of Fiel Mint in Chhattisgarh ,we can say that there is a tremendous scope to establish Mint based pharmaceutical units in Chhattisgarh to utilize this unique knowledge in scientific ways,for the benefits of the natives.

Thank you very much for reading the article.