Medicinal herbs of Chhattisgarh, India having less known traditional uses. XXXXXVIII. Karayal (Nigella sativa)

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

During my visits to Mungeli region of Chhattisgarh, for the first time I saw the commercial cultivation of Karayal or Kalaunji. It is under cultivation in other parts of Chhattisgarh also. Its seeds are used as spice and condiment. In Chhattisgarh, it is grown as hardy spice crop. The growers informed me that this crop can be raised without much care and in even worst conditions, it gives good returns. The natives use Karayal in preparation of different dishes. There is a good demand of Karayal in local markets. The growers claim that the production of Chhattisgarh is even not capable of fulfilling the demand and that is why, Karayal seeds from neighbouring states particularly from Maharashtra, occupy the local markets. During the ethonobotanical surveys, conducted in different parts of Chhattisgarh, India, I have seen Karayal growing in wild. According to the experts it is escaped from the cultivated fields. In reference literatures, its occurrence as crop weed in Agricultural fields have been reported. For the traditional healers of Chhattisgarh, Karayal is a valuable medicinal herb. Before describing the traditional medicinal uses in Chhattisgarh, I am giving details regarding its botany, I have noted from reference literatures. Botanically, it is a herb with erect stem and having height upto two feet, many flowered, finely downy, especially near the ground; Leaves capillary, cut into numerous fine segment, not involucrating the flower; petioles downy; Flowers naked, dirty white; Anthers ovate, obtuse; Capsules muricated, united upto the very point into an ovate fruit, terminated by five erect styles; seeds angular. According to the traditional healers of Chhattisgarh, the presence of Karayal seeds in different dishes help in its proper digestion besides providing good taste. Its medicinal seeds are used as an integral part in many popular herbal combinations used as sex tonic and aphrodisiac in Chhattisgarh. The traditional healers of Bilaspur region use the seeds in treatment of Amenorrhoea alone or in combination with other herbs. Its leaves are also used for this purpose. In general, the healers suggest the natives to use Karayal seeds judiciously as medicine, because the nature of its seed is hot and overdose can cause harmful effects. The traditional healers of Southern Chhattisgarh, use the aqueous extract of Karayal roots in combination with Kukurmutta (Blumea lacera) roots in treatment of bleeding piles. It is considered as one of the promising treatments. In treatment of headache, in many parts of Chhattisgarh the healers apply the aqueous paste of its seeds on affected parts to reduce the pain but as other promising and cheap alternatives are available, it is used less commonly. The traditional healer of Mudpar village use the Karayal seeds in combination with other herbs in treatment of urinary system troubles. The above mentioned traditional medicinal uses are not enough to establish Karayal as medicinal crop in Chhattisgarh but it indicates that there is a good scope in this field. I am trying to gather more information on its traditional uses to proceed in this direction. In Chhattisgarh, the irrigation facilities are poor and most of the areas are rainfed. I personally feel that the crops like Karayal can be promoted among the poor farmers for good promising returns. I am confident that after establishing it as medicinal crop, we will help these farmers in more better ways.

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