Traditional medicinal knowledge about herbs and insects. interactions with natives of Oodlabari region, West Bengal, India

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

I was surprised to know that there is no fish market in the region. In Bengal, fish is one of the frequently used food material. In Oodlabari, the natives have not to purchase the fish from market. The traditional knowledge they are having since centuries, helps them to get fishes free of cost. My local guide at Oodlabari informed me, the natives use the bark of tree named Chilauni as fish poison. They simply collect the bark, crush it and mix it in pond or small pond water, within few minutes all fishes appear on surface and they collect it easily without any time and patience.

For the first time in my life, I have seen this use. The guide told me that you will find no edible fish species in ponds because of this knowledge. The saw mill situated at Manabari village use this tree occassionly. According to the guide, the local people collect the sawdust from the mil and use it. This saw dust is more effective. I have not found any documentation of this use in the region. After coming back from this region, I have consulted the reference literatures and identified the tree "Chilauni" as Schima wallichii. In botany literatures, it is mentioned that the bark is black externally reference literatures and the liber is made up of an abundance of white, needle shaped cells, which are readily detached and act as Cowage (Mucuna pruriens), in producing painful irritation, when brought into contact with the skin.

Possibly this allergic cells are responsible for death or inconsciousness of fishes when the bark powder is applied in water. The natural occurrence of Chilauni is reported in Nepal, Sikkim, Bhutan, Assam, Chittagong etc. In Chhattisgarh, a winter season weed Gorakhmundi (Sphaeranthus indicus) is used by the natives for the same purpose. Although very few natives are aware of this useful fact but it is used very frequently. The dead fishes due to both Schima and Sphaeranthus are considered fit for edible purposes. In case of sphaeranthus, the whole plant is used. The crushed plant is applied in pond or small pond, half an hour after the treatment you can see its lethal effect. In Chhattisgarh, this weed is used for the cure of Asthma and other respiratory diseases.In many parts of India, certain species of fish are also used to treat the asthma patients. This method of treatment is very popular in Hyderabad region of India and it is commonly known as "Hyderabadi Upchar".

I am eager to know the efficacy of these fish species when they are collected using this weed as fish poison, I think that the Asthma curing weed and fish togather can produce for potential effect as compared to used alone As these fish species are not common in Chhattisgarh, I have yet not tried it. But I want to request the scientific community to think on this aspect. It was reported that in many cases the insects feeding on Datura leaves are more effective as compared to Datura leaves itself. Even the excreta of Datura insect is found best as compared to insects and leaves. In Chhattisgarh the natives use the Sphaeranthus against the crab. In paddy fields, crabs create a lot of problem. As you know, Chhattisgarh is known as "Rice bowl of India" and majority of agriculture depend on monsoon rains. Due to the uncertainty of rainfall, the paddy growers make big bunds (approximately 10 percent area of main field) in order to store the water in main fields necessary for paddy cultivation. The crabs make hole across these bunds. These holes drain all the stored water outside. In order to kill these crabs, the natives put dried Sphaeranthus in holes. This is promising solution. As Sphaeranthcas is winter weed and appear very late, when paddy is at harvesting stage, the natives collect and store this weed to use it next year for this purpose. Although many lethal agrochemicals are available to stop the movement of crabs but according to the natives, the use of agrochemicals poisoned the crabs which is not suitable for eating. Few years back, during my visit to Central Rice Research Institute , Cuttack, India, Dr. Sharma (now he is at Himachal Pradesh ) informed me about this headache in his experimental fields.

At that time he was conducting a detailed research on irrigation practices in paddy cultivation. I informed him about the promising solution developed by the natives of Chhattisgarh. The Agronomist Dr. Jha was very much impressed by this findings. He assured me that very soon he will conduct a detailed ethnomedico surveys in different parts of Orissa in search of native flora. At present, I am not aware about his project. I was talking about the traditional medicinal knowledge about herbs and insects in Oodlabari region of West Bengal. Few years back, I was invited as Herb expert by the renowned plantation and plywood company of North Bengal. They informed me that they have planted Kamhar (Gmelina arborea) and Sisham (Dalbergia Sissoo) plantation in hundreds of acres in Oodlabari region. As intercrop they have started Tea Cultivation. But according to them the Tea cultivation was not giving good returns. They wanted to start herbal cultivation in order to get more returns for unit area. As herb expert, I was invited there in order to select the suitable herb species for commercial cultivation based on climatic and edaphic factors. The plantation expert Mr. Sumeet Sarkar was working there as senior official. The Oodlabari is situated at very beautiful location. As a native of Chhattisgarh, it was great experience to observe the natural beauty present in this part of India. From New Jalpaigari railway station, Mr. Sarkar received me and within two to three hours after crossing Tista river we reached to the farm house. I stayed there for three days. After getting permission and local guide from Mr. Sarkar, I decided to use the first and last day for ethnomedico survey of the region in liesure time.

Near human habitat, as usual I have observed many weeds common in Chhattisgarh also. At first, I decided to ask few questions about these weeds and very soon I got one interesting observation. Ipomoea carnea is alien weed in India. It is commonly known as Beshram (means Shameless). In Oodlabari, Ipomoea is a common roadside weed. Although many uses of this weed have been reported and the natives of Chhattisgarh have developed many medicinal uses, but you will be surprised to know that many natives, particularly the poor people, use the leaves of Ipomoea carnea for edible purposes mostly as vegetable. The use of Ipomoea carnea leaves for this purpose has yet not been reported. They have informed me that they are using it since very long time and there is no harmful effects. I personally feel that there is a need to study the nutrient status of these leaves and to conduct detailed study on medicinal properties. The research on this waste land weed can open a new utility chapter in human history. Now there is no need to conduct a detailed study to decide whether it is toxic to human beings or not ? Majority of this work has been done by the natives of the region. I am sure that the ethnomedico surveys can save the expenses of advanced research to great extent but unfortunately, not much workers are engaged in this important field. Ageratum conyzoides is also alien weed and I have observed dense population in this region. Fortunately my guide was having a good and practical knowledge about herbs. During my survey a traditional healer of the region informed me that Ageratum is good enough to prevent the stone formation in bladder, and he use this weed for this purpose. He told me that he has got this valuable information after his own research and experimentation. He recommend the use of fresh juice, prepared from plant before flowering up to one month, once in a year in order to avoid or prevent the formation of stone in bladder. After coming back to Chhattisgarh I told the innovative traditional healers about this unique use also. The traditional healers have noted my experiences and now they are in process of experimentation. During my survey at Oodlabari region, I have noted one interesting use of Jangli Choulai (Amaranthus spinosus).

This wild Amaranth occur as roadside weed in this region. The natives use the fresh juice of leaves against spider poison. This region is covered by Natural forests and hilly streams. During my surveys, I have through dense forests and hilly streams. The problem of leech is one of the main problems during the survey. I have noted two common uses of herbs for the treatment of wound resulted from this creature. In case of septic wound, the natives apply the Opium in the affected part for quick healing . It is also common practice to apply raw onion and garlic on these wounds in order to heal it quickly. The problem of venomous snakes is also a great problem. The natives have rich traditional medicinal knowledge for snake bite. As you know mouse is one of the favorite foods of snakes. In Oodlabari region, in place of snake bite, the skin of dead mouse is applied as first aid measure. This is really surprising use. The guide informed me that in order to avoid the drowsiness due to snake bite, the patient is advised to eat two-three earthworms (alive). According to them this is very useful treatment. If patient hesitates to eat these raw earthworms, it is given with jaggery (Gud.).

Paddy is one of the main crop in this region. During the days of harvesting the farmers spread the whole plant on national highways and other busy roads after harvesting. The heavy loaded vehicles help them a lot in threshing. This operation saves the cost. Like other parts of India, here also the farmers are fond of agrochemicals but during my survey fortunately I came in contact with organic grower. He told me that he use many organic tools against harmful insects and diseases. The common weed Croton sparsiflorus is one of these. Different parts of this roadside weed repell away many rice pest successfully. He informed me that few decades back the tea bagan owners were not using chemicals but now they are using it profusely even two-three times more than the recommended level. This is the reason now it is not pleasant to take evening walk in Tea bagans in search of fresh air. He was afraid that lethal agrochemicals are not only damaging the fragile hill ecosystem of his homeland but also causing health damages. Mr. Sarkar informed me during the field visits that local authorities are promoting aromatic grasses in the region. Lemon grass is also among these.

The authorities are motivating the farmers to leave the traditional paddy farming and think on more profitable herbal forming. Suddenly I remembered the activities of my state (i.e. Chhattisgarh). In Chhattisgarh, the government is promoting the herbal farming. In Bastar region, the Southern plateau of Chhattisgarh, many farmers have initiated the commercial farming of this grass and with the help of steam distillation units they are extracting good quality oil. Sarkar told me that in Oodlabari, government is not promoting this herb in natural forest region like Chhattisgarh. According to herb experts of Chhattisgarh, the introduction of any exotic species including Lemon grass can cause irrepairable damage to the ecosystem but the introduciton and plantation are still in progress. I have suggested Mr. Sarkar, 20 herb species sutiable for commercial cultivation. He was more interested in Safed Moosli (Chlorophytum borivilianum) cultivation. It is common recommendation for the cultivation of Safed Moosli to sow it between 15th May to 15th July. But in Oodlabari region, during June-July the rains start and flood can cause damage to this costly crop, that is why I recommended sowing during 15February to 15th March. He has also shown interest in commercial cultivation of Mucuna. As the company has planted trees in hundreds of acres, this climber can be grown with trees and these trees can act as support for them. After this farm visit I came back to my state. My ethnomedico survey has remained incomplete.

In almost every corner of the Indica there are lot of traditional knowledge is present but no one has time and dedication to search and document this important uses. This year I am again planing to visit Oodlabari region for completing the survey, in my own expenses. I want to stay with the guide, that organic grower and the traditional healers whole night at their villages. I am not sure whether one month is sufficient for this survey or not, but I will visit this part of India again and promise you all to provide more information on various aspects.