Traditional medicinal knowledge about Tulsi (Ocimum sp.) In Chhattisgarh, India:The results of recently conducted ethnobotanical surveys

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

From the traditional healer of Mudpar village Shri Hanumat Prasad Verma, I got interesting as well as important information on the use of Tulsi herb in treatment of different types of cancers. This healer is one of the well known traditional healers specialized in treatment of cancers. According to him, Tulsi is used internally both alone and in combination with other herbs. At initial stages, he suggests the patients to take leaves of Tulsi with whey in every hour. He informed me that this simple use is capable of reducing the intense pain to the great extent. He instructs the patients to take increased quantities of milk and curd during this treatment. In complicated cases, he uses Tulsi in combination with other herbs. He is not interested in telling the secret formula, but he accepts that in his formulation Tulsi herb plays an important role.

Many such information. I have collected during my recent ethnobotanical surveys conducted in different parts of Chhattisgarh, India. In my previous articles, I have written a lot on botany, related species, reported and traditional medicinal uses of Tulsi in Chhattisgarh. The present article, is an addition in the previous articles on Tulsi. The traditional healers of Saraipali region specialized in treatment of Jaundice use Tulsi very frequently. The method of use is very simple. One hundred Tulsi leaves are boiled in a glass of water and when the water remains one third of initial quantity, boiling is stopped. This solution is filtered and with Shahad (Honey) it is given, to the patients having the trouble of Jaundice. This treatment is continued till complete cure. According to the traditional healers, it is promising liver tonic and they recommend it in other related troubles also. The healers of Bagbahera region use the Tulsi leaves in treatment of joint pains. They collect 250 gms of Tulsi leaves, a leaf of Andi (Ricinus communis) and half tea spoonful of common salt and prepare an aqueous paste. This paste is applied externally in painful joints to reduce the pain in very less time. The natives of this region are also aware of this use but they use it during attack only. The traditional healers have different opinion. They suggest the patients to continue this application till ten days after the end of pain. According to them, if patients adopt this method, they will never get repeated attacks.

In the list of Herbal Pillows, Tulsi has fixed its place. The traditional healers of Kharora region informed me that the Pillow prepared by filling Tulsi leaves in it, is a boon for the patients having the problem of insomnia. The use of Tulsi leaves to treat insomnia in this way has yet not been reported in reference literatures. I am surprised and also feeling proud to document this unique knowledge. The healers instruct the patients to take 5 leaves of Tulsi before using this pillow to get more powerful effects. The traditional healers of Chhattisgarh Plains, use Tulsi leaves in treatment of Leucorrhoea, a common gynecological problem. They instruct the patients to use Tulsi leaves internally with Shahad (Honey) upto long time for permanent relief. I have interacted with many patients taking this simple treatment. They were satisfied with this treatment. The above mentioned traditional uses clearly reveal that the results of recent surveys are encouraging. Next year I will conduct one more survey in same villages to collect the remaining information.

Thank you very much for reading the article.