Pankaj Oudhia

Motivating rural youths for medicinal plant conservation

In Dashera time I was with Shri Mehataru ji and we were searching rare medicinal herbs in dense forest. During interaction he informed that the herb traders are in search of herbs used in treatment of Diabetes. They are ready to pay all charges. They are searching forest and wherever see such herbs without any delay uproot it. They visit the same place again and again and in few days that herb is removed completely. It is serious situation.

He showed me well known herb Gymnema growing on Saja and Koriya. According to him once it was in abundance. Although the forest in surroundings is rich in diversity but very few Traditional Healers are active in the region. That is why medicinal herbs are neither collected nor used from this forest by natives. As result when traders come to collect herbs natives ignore it. They are not aware of its miraculous properties. During visit many senior natives joined our hunt. When I informed them about medicinal properties and simple uses of these herbs they showed surprise. They realized that that they are living near gold mine. Traders are taking advantage of their ignorance. I suggested Shri Mehataru to start using the herbs and medicinal knowledge about it for social welfare. I will arrange the visits of Traditional Healers from other areas. They can teach the simple but effective uses of medicinal herbs. It will improve general health of natives and also motivate the youths to learn about treasure.

A rural youth named Shri Rakesh was with us during this visit. He was much interested in his mobile set. We were searching rare herbs whereas he was busy in searching mobile tower signal in set. He is a farmer basically. Aware on bitter as well as expensive life of Indian metros, he wants to stay in village but eager to live with modern facilities like mobile and washing machine. I suggested him to start taking interest in medicinal herbs. He agreed and now he is my contact person.

Now Shri Rakesh is keeping view on activities of herb traders. He is also enlisting Traditional Healers of the region and gathering information about home remedies once used by natives.    

Barefoot Taxonomists in India, Sanjivani Booti and modern herb identification methods

“This is Van Siliyari. We use this herb very commonly. It is used alone as well as in combination with other herbs. The Traditional Healers having expertise in treatment of complicated diseases add this herb in complex herbal formulations.” Shri Vinod showed the plant growing in hill top. Flowers were like Siliyari i.e. Celosia argentea. I remembered that I have seen it earlier many times and also documented traditional medicinal knowledge about it. The Healers of different regions identify it by different names. During Ethnobotanical surveys in Sarguja region I was informed that it is Van Kachra i.e. waste plant. The Healers traveling with me during surveys informed me that they have not named this herb yet. “We know how to use it. It is more than enough for us.” They added. In CGBD database I have kept special space for it in”Van Kachra” category.

Few days back I posted the picture of Van Siliyari in Indiantreepix. Members identified it as Trichuriella monsoniae of Amaranthaceae. Its synonyms are Aerva monsoniae and Celosia monsoniae, Celosia monsoniae is its old name. But Celosia clicked me. Shri Vinod was correct in saying it Van Siliyari i.e. Wild Celosia.

Identification of herbs is still not easy task. I have taken help of many experts but noted that different experts identify the same plant differently. For example, during Rajim Mela 2007 I took picture of herb seller selling herb named “Sanjivani.” He was claiming that it is the same Sanjivani Booti mentioned in Holy Ramayana. The price of herb was very low. I thought that if it is real Sanjivani Booti then its price must be very high. It means it is not the true one. I posted the picture to Pestnet Yahoo Group. Members identified it as Azolla. I put the pictures with this identity in Ecoport.

Meanwhile I showed the pictures as well as dry herb to Traditional Healers. Many of them said that it is relative of Mardajadi i.e. Selaginella sp.. The Healers from Orissa also said the same thing. But I decided not to modify the Ecoport caption.

Few days back during discussion in Indiantreepix I forwarded the same picture in the group. The members specially Dr.Gurucharan Singh identified it as Selaginella bryopteris and confirmed that it is true Sanjivani Booti.  It is not at all Azolla. I suddenly remembered the identification of Traditional Healers. They said it as relative of Mardajadi i.e. Selaginella sp.. They were right.

Due to on-going “Protest against Ecoport” it is not possible to make change in Ecoport records. Hence, I uploaded the same images in Discover Life database with true identification.  

You can say that how any scientist can say this but I like the approach of Traditional Healers. They use local names. They are not aware of scientific names, families and nomenclature methods but still identify medicinal herbs without any mistake. They don’t bother whether ovary is superior or inferior and identify the herbs from one leaf stage. They don’t ask for pictures of flowers, fruits and all parts of plants for identification. I feel India requires modern as well as Barefoot Taxonomists both in order to conserve biodiversity.

 Thousands of Barefoot Taxonomists are using traditional knowledge to identify herbs. Most of them are Traditional Healers. In their work there is no chance of mistake. They use collected herbs as medicine for their patients. Many Barefoot Taxonomists are herb collectors. Indian herb trading relies on these herb collectors. The traders sitting in big cities depend on them. But they have yet not got honor from our society.  They have neither well funded projects nor modern vehicles to travel inside forest. Still as hobby and closeness towards Mother Nature they visit to forests. I feel that efforts are must to bring these real Taxonomists in main stream.

Potential Medicinal crops for today and tomorrow

“Golden days of Safed Musli are over. Stevia is also not giving good returns. I tried Sisymbrium cultivation but failed to get the profit. We need new medicinal crops. Please suggest top ten medicinal crops for today.” Few days back I was interacting with leading herb grower of Central India . He was in much worry. I replied that I can suggest potential medicinal crops not only for today but for coming decades but at first tell me about the land where you want to raise these crops. As per climate, soil and other details I can suggest it. If you give information about your investment capacity then it will be more helpful.

After the end of Musli boom suddenly the interest on medicinal crop growing has reduced. Young farmers still want to raise these crops but past experiences have made them cautious. From three-four years I am getting new type of assignments. Representatives of multinational companies are approaching for specific demand. For instance, few years back representatives of multinational company interested in growing Cissus quadrangularis contacted me. At first they wanted to collect the farmer’s produce. I gave them the address of farmers growing Cissus. Later they showed interest in large scale cultivation of this medicinal herb for specific time duration. They promised to buy the produce back at pre-decided rates. 

I approached to farmers. Many of them started its cultivation under my technical guidance. After production company made its promise. The selected farmers were growing traditional crops earlier. They started growing Cissus for limited time duration and then returned to traditional crops again. The company wanted to maintain the secrecy. Farmers maintained it but seeing new crop growing in fields other farmers took interest in it and without any concrete agreement they started growing Cissus. Today they have good population of Cissus and buyers are no where.

Our Cissus mission was so successful because of bitter experience of past. Few years back a company interested in Gloriosa superba approached to me for cultivation in 20 acres initially and up to 100 acres in second phase. I contacted the interested farmers. I was aware of company representatives from long time. Hence strict agreement was ignored. After completion of first phase when farmers approached to company representatives, at first they refused to buy it back and later ask for lower prices. After long discussion with company representatives farmers decided not to continue the deal.  We started searching other buyers but no one was agree to buy it in bulk at our prices.

I approached to organic growers and suggested new Gloriosa based herbal formulations effective against pest. After seeing its demonstration they agreed to use these formulations but said that availability of Gloriosa is a big constraint. I suggested them to contact the Gloriosa growers cheated by the company. For organic growers produce of 20 acres was not much. Gloriosa growers got desired prices and also a good lesson to work always with concrete agreement. Later that company approached some of the farmers again but I was informed that farmers refused to even talk with them.

Tikdi Kand, Kali Haldi, Sarpgandha and many other crops were raised as per specific demand by many genuine companies in few years. Farmers are still practicing this short term but profitable medicinal crop farming. I feel that farmers of other parts of India must take advantage of this demand and grow the crops. Companies have limitations. They know that cultivation is not easy task. Farmers also have their own limitations. They have no market. If they maintain the trust they can go much far through such agreements.

I always give emphasis on cultivation of Indian medicinal herbs. There are many advantages of this approach. Growing Indian medicinal herbs in other parts of world is possible but to get medicinally rich produce is not easy task. Few years back many entrepreneurs tried to grow Safed Musli in Australia. They succeeded in getting good crop but failed to get quality produce. Many of them met me and raised this problem. It is thumb rule that indigenous plants rarely remain same in other places. This is especially true for medicinal herbs.  Due to continuous wild harvest the natural population of many useful herbs is decreasing at alarming rates. The promotion of its cultivation reduces pressure on its natural population.

In general, in commercial cultivation of medicinal trees very few farmers take interest but in last few years I met at least twenty farmers interested in raising such medicinal trees. As you know due to over exploitation many gum yielding medicinal trees are in danger. Its natural population is decreasing and concerned authorities are not keen to protect existing population.  Such trees can be raised in large farms with eye opening profits. The main constraint is lack of information about its commercial cultivation. You have to start from basics. My farmers took interest in it. A farmer from North India selected ten medicinal tree species. After its planting he is growing annual crops as intercrops. As area is large he is planning to make end products from tree gums.

In short I want to say that instead of growing one or two crops in large areas by the farmers of different parts of India like Safed Musli we must keep the word ‘diversity’ in mind. We have hundreds of herbs in our list of potential medicinal crops.   

“Healing Khumri” and wider aspect of Safed Musli business

“If you have old problem of Migraine, try this specially prepared cap. It will cure your trouble within a month. We have over 30 types of such caps useful in Insomnia to hair fall.” These lines are from proposed advertisement for the specially prepared caps. One of my clients is working on this project from over a decade. Started with the problem of Migraine we developed over 65 types of such caps but at initial phase he wants to launch only 33 types. I say it as “Herbal Caps” but possibly this product will come in name of “Healing Khumri”.  As you know, Khumri is a term used for traditional bamboo umbrella used by farmers and shepherds in Chhattisgarh.

According to my client this is novel concept and when products with real effects will come in market it will get good business. He is a member of religious organization and wants to start free distribution of these caps as social service but he is much afraid of its commercial exploitation. These caps look very simple and it is very difficult for others to judge the herbs used in these caps but in the modern world of competition there are chances of duplicate caps.

Few days back I met well known herbal product manufacturer having expertise in marketing.” Give me sand. Through marketing expertise I can sell it at the price of gold.” He claimed with confidence.  He showed me Musli based product. In bold letter the label of “Aphrodisiac” was visible from far. He was confident that there is huge market of Aphrodisiac and if it is herbal product it is easier to market.

“What about the effect?” I asked.  “It is very powerful.” He replied. “Have you tried it? If your answer is yes then you are well aware that Musli is good for general health and work on concept that if general health is good, sexual health will also remain sound. Musli is far less effective as compared to other herb based products available in market in terms of instant effects. Most of the users expect Musli as instant result provider. It is not possible. As result after one or two uses they stop using it. I feel that the marketing approach is not well planned.

I have written in my hundreds of Safed Musli articles that it is a good vitaliser. Its judicious use can protect from diseases. It improves natural body resistance. Safed Musli products should cover wide range. Safed Musli can be effective in Type II Diabetes in one hand and on other hand can be used as promising measure to get protection from Swine Flu like troubles. It is not mere an aphrodisiac. I repeat, please take its wider aspect while marketing it.” I tried to explain. “Traditionally Safed Musli is used in hundreds of formulations. Most of these formulations are unique. Tikdi Kand and Musli both are powerful as single remedy but when both are mixed in different proportions due to synergistic effects it gives miraculous results. Why you are not marketing this formulation?” I continued.

“I agree with you but Tikdi Kand-Safed Musli formulation is not mentioned in ancient literatures. Hence for new product development we have to adopt very long procedure. It is very costly. That is why we simply prepare classical combinations mentioned in ancient literatures and try to market it. You will find combination of Safed Musli with Asgandh, Kevatch and Satavar in products available in market, nothing else.” He expressed his pain.

“If we hesitate to adopt traditional formulations not mentioned in ancient literature we will loose it forever. I feel that efforts are must to bring such effective and unknown formulations to main stream. Mere documentation of such formulations is not only purpose of my life. Such formulations must reach to the patients around the world so that they can get benefit from gifts of Mother Nature.” I said.

I am glad and feeling proud that the client planning to harvest the concept of “Healing Khumri” is taking bold step and before commercializing it, trying to give it to poor patients free of cost. In this era of Global recession I feel that such concepts can help a lot the entrepreneurs getting continuous losses in routine business.                  

Traditional Fishing with the help of Kya

“What was that? What they were doing?” I asked to the Traditional Healers traveling with me in survey vehicle. “They are tribal women engaged in fishing by using Kya Manjh.” They replied. Without any delay my leg pressed the breaks and we returned back to the spot. Two women were collecting fishes floating on stream water. The Traditional Healers showed me the freshly harvested fruits of Kya tree. Kya tree was growing near the stream. I requested the women to repeat the process of fishing, if possible. They agreed.

First of all they collected fruits from Kya tree. Fruits are crushed with the help of stone and then rubbed on stone in order to make foam. Then these fruits were thrown in stream. Within minutes movements in water were visible. The Kya Manjh i.e. Kya foam started showing its effects. Very soon we observed floating unconscious fishes on surface. They were still alive but unconscious. With the help of children women collected it without any effort. After recording all events through my movie camera, I thanked them.

I observed that Kya Manjh was effective on almost all types of fishes small as well as big. I observed at least 10 species of delicious fishes in their basket. “These fishes are not toxic. Kya Manjh poison is not harmful for us. We are aware of over 300 effective fish poison. Manhar and Karra are also effective but before consumption of harvested fish specific treatment is required to eliminate its toxic effects.” The women informed.

The Healers told that in this process of fishing water becomes free from pollutants. Mother Nature has placed Kya trees near streams with special purpose. Kya i.e. Strychnos potatorum is well known water purifier. It is in use by natives as well as Traditional Healers since time immemorial. The Healers of Chhattisgarh use different parts of this tree as folk medicine. It fruits are used to clean eyes as well as wound. “It removes all types of germs effectively.” They informed.

They showed me orchid locally known as Kaua-Godi growing on Kya tree. They climbed on tree and after small worship collected a part of that orchid. They use it in complex herbal formulations used in treatment of modern diseases.

Kya fruits are in trade. Although the authorities claim that there is no pressure on its natural population but according to the Traditional Healers due to the activities of “Wood Mafia” this species is decreasing in number.          

© Pankaj Oudhia