Some less known but promising traditional formulations of Chhattisgarh, India. 352. Sun Phool Ke Durlabh Upyog.
Sun Phool Ke Durlabh Upyog means the rare use of Sun flower. Crotolaria juncea is locally known as Sun. It is a tall shrub cultivated throughout India. It is cultivated for its strong stem fibre. Although it is not cultivated as medicinal crop but for natives and traditional healers of Chhattisgarh, Sun is a valuable medicinal herb. Its all parts are used both internally as well as externally in treatment of many common diseases. These plant parts are used as single remedy and also in combination with other herbs. Through the Ethnobotanical surveys conducted in different parts of Chhattisgarh, I have collected much information on traditional medicinal uses of this herb. The traditional healers of Chhattisgarh Plains use the flowers of Sun in unique ways. According to them, its flowers are having the capacity to stop all types of bleeding. Flowers are used both internally as well as externally. Externally, the flowers are used in form of dry powder. The powder is prepared from shade dried flowers. In case of bleeding, the healers simply apply the flower powder on affected parts. It stops the bleeding immediately. Internally the flowers are used in form of powder or leachate. The flowers are kept in water overnight and next morning leachate is taken internally. The flower powder is used in combination with other herbs also. It is considered as a boon for the patients having gynecological troubles. It is considered as promising blood purifier also. The traditional healers of present generation is using sunflowers successfully in treatment of Hemophilia. Its positive effects motivated me to include this use in present series without any delay. Sun is cultivated through chemical farming. The healers are not in favour of use of flowers from plants raised by chemical farming. For organically grown crop, many times the healers raise this crop at their own crop fields. The healers have deep faith in this use. They have acquired this knowledge from their ancestors and this is a matter of proud that they are practicing this knowledge in new diseases like Hemophilia. This use is limited with the traditional healers of Chhattisgarh Plains only. The healers of other regions are not aware of this use. Also, in reference literatures related to different systems of medicine in India, I have yet not found any detail regarding this use.
For the botany, traditional and reported medicinal uses of Sun, please read my previous articles.