Traditional medicinal knowledge about common herbs used in treatment of Chilblains in Chhattisgarh, India

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

The traditional healers of Chhattisgarh Plains use the bark of Babool and Aam in treatment of Chilblains. The barks are collected and mixed in equal quantities. The mixture is boiled in water and patients are advised to expose the affected parts in fumes. This treatment is considered as one of the promising treatments. Both Babool (Acacia nilotica) and Aam (Mangifera indica) are common trees in Chhattisgarh. After exposure to fumes, the healers apply the cow ghee or butter. The traditional healers of Chhattisgarh use over 38 herbs in treatment of Chilblains. Most of the herbs are used externally and in combination with other herbs.

Common names of Katha (Acacia catechu) around the world.
S. No.	Languages/Regions/Countries	Names
1	Assam	Kat, Khair, Khoira, Koir
2	Bengal	Khayer, Kuth
3	Myanmar	Sha
4	Canarese	Cachu, Kaggali, Kanti, Kagli, Kashu
5	SriLanka	Karangall, Kashukutta, Voadalam
6	Dutch	Ketechuboom, Katsjouboom
7	English	Black Catchu, Cutch catechu, Degu Catechu
8	French	Acacia du cachou
9	German	Katechubaum, Kaschubaum
10	Greek	Acanthe
11	Gujarati	Kher, Kheriobaval
12	Hindi	Katha, Khair, Khairbabul, Khyar
13	Italian	Cacciu, Catto, Catechu
14	Malayalam	Kadaram, Karinnali, Senkarinna
15	Marathi	Kaderi, Khaderi, Khair, Khaira, Khera, Lalkhair
16	Portuguese	Cutch
17	Sanskrit	Bahushalya, Balapatra, Balaputra, Gayatri, Homa, Kantaki, Karkari, Yajnika, Sushalya
18	Sinhalese	Kayipu, Ratkihiri
19	Spanish	Catechu
20	Tamil	Kodiram, Karangalli, Karungali, Kodam, Odalai
21	Telugu	Kasu, Khadiramu, Mallasandra, Sandra, Sundra
22	Uriya	Bimbu, Khodira, Khoiro, Khoiru

The traditional healers of Rajnandgaon region use the Bhatkatiya herb in same manner as the barks of Babool and Aam are used .The whole herb of Bhatkatiya (Solanum xanthocarpum) is used for this purpose. The natives of Chhattisgarh use the latex of Bar externally in treatment of Chilblains as home remedy. The latex is applied in affected parts. Bar (Ficus benghalenisis) is also a common tree in Chhattisgarh. The natives of Chhattisgarh Plains fill the Babool gum in affected parts like Bar latex. They also use Mehndi leaves for this purpose. The aqueous extract of Mehndi (Lawsonia alba) herb is applied externally and after this application cow ghee is applied. The natives use Sarson and Til oil also for this purpose. In general both oils are applied externally. In many parts of Chhattisgarh the fume of burning Sarson oil is used for treatment. Both Til (Sesame) and Sarson (Mustard) are under cultivation as oil seed crops in Chhattisgarh. The traditional healers prepare the herbal creams by using different herbs for external application. In these herbal creams, they add Fudhar leaf ash (Calotropis gigantea), Fruit of Harra (Terminalia chebula), Til, Sarson, Castor oil, Castor leaves, etc. very frequently. In Southern parts of Chhattisgarh, the natives use Lauki fruit pulp for external application. The fresh pulp is simply applied in affected parts. Lauki (Lagenaria sineraria syn. Cucurbita sinceraria syn. C. longenaria syn. C. leucantha) is a climbing or trailing herb, native to Africa and now cultivated throughout India for fruits which are used as vegetable.

From my grandfather's diary I have noted this formulation. In this formulation Kali Mirch (Black Pipper), Resin and Kattha are mixed in equal proportion. I would like to explain the Kattha. The barks of Acacia catechu yields tan known as 'Kattha' extracted from chips of heartwood. Two teaspoonful of cow ghee and four teaspoonful of Chameli oil are added in this mixture. And this combination is put on flame after filling it in iron vessels. After cooling it is collected and stored for future use. This combination is applied externally. The traditional healers are well aware of this combination but they add more herbs in it to make it more effective. For the natives, due to rich traditional medicinal knowledge Chilblains is not a serious problem. In local markets many ready made creams having chemical ingredients are available but the natives avoid its use.

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