Traditional medicinal knowledge about common herb as used as tonic in Chhattisgarh, India

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

After loss of vital liquid, pregnancy and severe illness, in general Allopath practitioners recommend tonic to the patients, for extra strength. The natives and traditional healers of Chhattisgarh use different herbs and herbal formulations for this purpose. They avoid the use of tonics available in markets having synthetic chemicals. Through the ethnobotanical surveys, I collected many interesting information's on this important aspect. The natives and traditional healers of different parts of the state use different formulations.

Also they use the same herb in different ways. In presented article, I am giving details regarding these traditional uses. The traditional healers of Bael (Aegle marmelos) tree rich areas of Chhattisgarh collect the matured fruits from trees and extract the fruit pulp. The pulp is dried and converted into powder. A teaspoonful of powder with a glass of lukewarm cow milk is recommended twice a day. The treatment is continued upto two months. The traditional healers of Chhattisgarh recommend the use of matured fruits of Tomato (Tamatar) to gain extra strength in less time. According to the traditional healers, Tomato fruit is having the capacity to flush out harmful and poisonous substances from human body. This is the reason the traditional healers suggest the patients taken Allopathic medicines to eat plenty of Tomato fruits to flush out the remains. After this flush out, they start herbal treatment. As I always mention, the healers use only organically grown Tomato fruits for preparation of medicine. In place of matured fruits, freshly extracted juice is also recommended. Tomato is considered as good appetizer. The traditional healers of Narharpur region recommend the use of Harra fruit powder (Terminalia chebula) with honey (Shahad) and cow ghee.

The use is continued upto two months. Harra is a common medicinal tree in natural forests of Chhattisgarh. The natives of Chhattisgarh Plains prepare a special herbal tea using Lemon fruit juice. In place of regular tea, the healers recommend its daily use. The method of preparation is simple. They take a cup of boiled water and add a pinch of rock salt, one tea spoonful of sugar, ten drops of Lemon fruit juice and one fourth teaspoonful roasted Cumin seeds. Sugar is added just for taste, hence it can be avoided. In general, the natives suggest the patients to take this herbal tea thrice a day. The healers are also aware of this tea. They add some more herbs like Pudina (Mentha), Tulsi (Ocimum sp) in this herbal tea to make it more stronger. The traditional healers of all parts of Chhattisgarh recommend the use of Aonla fruits (Phyllanthus emblica) as tonic. In general, they suggest the patients to include this fruit in different forms in their routine life. In Chhattisgarh, the natives prepare many Aonla based dishes, Chutneys, Achar (Pickles), Sharbat etc. In these forms, Aonla can be included in meals. In local markets, many Aonla based herbal formulations are available. The urban natives use these formulations. The natives of rural and forest areas are aware about adulteration that is common in these formulations. Aonla based Ayurvedic formulation Chyvanprash is available in several brands in Chhattisgarh. Every manufacture claims that his product is genuine and there is no adulteration. I collected many samples from market and gifted the natives and traditional healers to verify the claims the manufactures are making. Although the natives and healers have no modern laboratory facilities but with the help of in depth traditional knowledge they rejected most of the samples by saying that it do not contains Aonla fruits.

They confirmed that in remaining samples Aonla is used but as recommended in Ayurveda, wild species of Aonla was not used. To avoid its use, many traditional healers prepare Chyavanprash in their homes, in front of patients, and use it with faith and confidence. Although this Chyavanprash lacks attractive packaging and relatively higher in price but the natives never miss the chance to purchase this genuine herbal formulation. During winter season, the healers suggest the use of Asgandh roots (Withania somnifera). The patients having very poor vitality are advised by the healers to use this herb carefully and under their guidance . A teaspoonful of root powder with cow milk, once in a day is recommended. In general, the healers do not allow its use round the year. For female patients, they suggest the use of Satavari root powder (Asparagus racemosus) in same manner. For little children the traditional healers of Bagbahera region recommend the juice of Piaz (Onion). Two teaspoonful of juice with few pinches of Gud is given once in a day. From my grand father's diary, I have noted the use of Methi (Trigonella foenum-graceum) seeds as tonic. Two teaspoonful of Methi seeds are dipped in a glass of water for six hours. After completion of this duration, water with Methi seed is boiled and when one fourth quantity of initially quantity remains, the decoction is cool down and with two teaspoonful of Shahad (Honey), it is given to the patients as health drink. According to this diary, it must be taken atleast once in a day till complete relief. It is mentioned as once of the promising tonics. In my previous articles of Til (Sesamum indicum), I have mentioned the traditional uses of Til as tonic. I am not repeating it in this article. The above mentioned traditional uses are not only effective but also cheaper as compared to patent tonics available in markets. This is the reason, these uses are popular among the natives and traditional healers of Chhattisgarh.

Thank you very much for reading the article.