Pankaj
Oudhia
Compilation
of over 25,000 Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum) based
Traditional Formulations
“Total
number of formulations is now 25,900. It has
crossed the figure of 25,000.” I was informed by
my assistant. He was counting the Tulsi based
formulations in CGBD database. Tulsi is considered
as sacred plant in India.
The ancient literatures related to different
systems of medicine in India
are full of information about different aspects
and uses of this herb. In traditional as well as
modern houses you will always find Tulsi plant
both in rural and urban India.
Tulsi plant parts are used in hundreds of home
remedies. My special interest in this herb has
motivated me to enlist the Traditional
Formulations in which it is used. I have collected
information about hundreds of formulations but
when I started Ethnobotanical surveys I found that
large part of Traditional medicinal knowledge is
still in undocumented form. From 1990 to 2010 i.e.
in twenty year I have collected information about
over 25,000 formulations. Eighty percent of these
formulations have not been reported in ancient as
well as modern literatures. After documenting
information about 25,000 formulations I am not in
position to say that I have documented nearly all
available knowledge. My work is limited to
Chhattisgarh and neighboring states. Tulsi is
used in almost all parts of India.
You can imagine the quantum of undocumented
knowledge present in different parts of
India.
Tulsi
is used as single herb in thousands of
formulations both internally as well as
externally. Please see the table below. I have
tried to present the information about its use
with other herbs in compiled form.
|
Main
Ingredient |
Secondary
Ingredients (No. of
herbs) |
No.
of Traditional
Formulations |
|
Ocimum
sanctum |
2 |
+1200 |
|
Ocimum
sanctum |
3 |
+3300 |
|
Ocimum
sanctum |
4 |
+2800 |
|
Ocimum
sanctum |
5 |
+2400 |
|
Ocimum
sanctum |
6 |
+1100 |
|
Ocimum
sanctum |
7 |
+2500 |
|
Ocimum
sanctum |
8 |
+600 |
|
Ocimum
sanctum |
9 |
+200 |
|
Ocimum
sanctum |
10 |
+1200 |
|
Ocimum
sanctum |
11 |
+1500 |
|
Ocimum
sanctum |
12 |
+1900 |
|
Ocimum
sanctum |
13 |
+1800 |
|
Ocimum
sanctum |
14 |
+400 |
|
Ocimum
sanctum |
15 |
+900 |
|
Ocimum
sanctum |
16 |
+300 |
|
Ocimum
sanctum |
17 |
+300 |
|
Ocimum
sanctum |
18 |
+800 |
|
Ocimum
sanctum |
19 |
+800 |
|
Ocimum
sanctum |
20 |
+2200 |
In
Tulsi based Traditional Formulations as secondary
ingredients 2 to 250 (and more) herbs are used. As
main ingredient 1 to 95 herbs are used. I feel
that instead of saying “95 herbs are used” I must
say that information about formulations in which
Tulsi is used with 95 other herbs as main
ingredients have been collected so far. Who knows
that more complex formulations exist in other
regions?
“Why
don’t you check the list of Tulsi based
formulations mentioned in TKDL?” Many friends
suggest me. “I will check it if I will be allowed
to see that database but as experts in Ayurveda
and other related fields say that over 25,000
Tulsi based formulations are beyond imagination, I
think that TKDL is not having this amount of
information on Tulsi.” I reply to them. They
further ask,” Why don’t you publish these
formulations in form of report and give it to TKDL
for inclusion.” I say,” I am eager to do so but if
I give ten hours daily in typing the information
associated with these formulations it will take at
least five years to complete the work. During this
herculean task what will happen to my other work
specially work related to over 35,000 formulations
used for treatment of different types of cancer in
Traditional Healing?”
As
mentioned in previous articles and documents that
the natives specially farmers have rich
Traditional Agricultural Knowledge about Tulsi. I
have documented thousands of formulations used for
pest management. With growers of medicinal and
aromatics crops I am conducting experiments to
establish these formulations as promising
formulations.
Finally
at the beginning of this year I decided to write
formulation by formulation in the pattern of
extended summaries.
Oudhia,
P. (2010). Compilation of over 25,000 Tulsi
(Ocimum sanctum) based Traditional Formulations
having 2 herbs added as secondary ingredients.
Formulation no.1. CGBD (Offline Database on
Chhattisgarh Biodiversity), Raipur, India.
I
am hoping that I will complete this task in this
simple form up to end of year 2010.
Wild
Curcuma based Traditional Formulations and its use
with Medicinal Rice
Types
“We
are collecting herbs for this formulation from
more than one month.” The Traditional Healers of
Chhattisgarh Plains informed while showing over
110 types of herbs. “Now we will collect Ban Haldi
in bulk. It is main ingredient of our complex
herbal formulation. “They further
said.
These
Healers treat many diseases. They give both
internal as well as external medicines. This
complex herbal formulation is given to every
patient along with main medicines. “The use of
this formulation up to one month in any part of
the year helps common people to remain protected
from different diseases. This is the reason we
encourage everyone to take it sincerely.” They
disclosed.
“Whether
main role is played by Ban Haldi?” I asked. “Yes
main role is played by this herb but we never use
it as single herb. It is always used with other
ingredients. It is our Traditional Knowledge and
we are practicing it without much modification.”
They said.
During
Ethnobotanical surveys I have noted at least 35
variants of this formulation. Based on the
availability of herbs in different regions the
Healers use different herbs in this formulation.
Many Healers have modified it with specific
reasons. I met some Healers totally against the
general use of this formulation.”We try to give
specific combination to specific patient instead
of adopting general recommendations.” They
explained.
When
I visit to dense forest I see large patches of Ban
Haldi. Ban Haldi is used in thousands of
Traditional Formulations mostly in combination
with other herbs. Please see this table for Ban
Haldi based formulations.
|
Main
Ingredient |
Secondary
Ingredients (No. of
herbs) |
No.
of Traditional
Formulations |
|
Wild
Curcuma |
2 |
+600 |
|
Wild
Curcuma |
3 |
+750 |
|
Wild
Curcuma |
4 |
+550 |
|
Wild
Curcuma |
5 |
+800 |
|
Wild
Curcuma |
6 |
+1300 |
|
Wild
Curcuma |
7 |
+1100 |
|
Wild
Curcuma |
10 |
+900 |
|
Wild
Curcuma |
13 |
+1200 |
|
Wild
Curcuma |
14 |
+1400 |
|
Wild
Curcuma |
16 |
+550 |
|
Wild
Curcuma |
25 |
+500 |
|
Wild
Curcuma |
28 |
+700 |
|
Wild
Curcuma |
30 |
+800 |
|
Wild
Curcuma |
55 |
+600 |
|
Wild
Curcuma |
56 |
+550 |
|
Wild
Curcuma |
60 |
+600 |
|
Wild
Curcuma |
80 |
+500 |
|
Wild
Curcuma |
82 |
+600 |
The
Healers having expertise in use of Medicinal Rice
use different types of Haldi. Among natives use of
Medicinal and Traditional rice with common Haldi
i.e. Curcuma longa is popular whereas the
Traditional healers use wild forms of Haldi. In my
report on Type II Diabetes and Traditional Healing
I have mentioned the use of 50 types of Medicinal
Rice. Please see the table below to get
information about Traditional Formulations in
which Ban Haldi is used in combination with
different Medicinal Rice types.
|
Main
Ingredient |
Medicinal
Rice Type |
No.
of Traditional
Formulations |
|
Wild
Curcuma |
Medicinal
Rice Type 1 |
+150 |
|
Wild
Curcuma |
Medicinal
Rice Type 2 |
+500 |
|
Wild
Curcuma |
Medicinal
Rice Type 7 |
+50 |
|
Wild
Curcuma |
Medicinal
Rice Type 8 |
+300 |
|
Wild
Curcuma |
Medicinal
Rice Type 15 |
+100 |
|
Wild
Curcuma |
Medicinal
Rice Type 17 |
+100 |
|
Wild
Curcuma |
Medicinal
Rice Type 20 |
+100 |
|
Wild
Curcuma |
Medicinal
Rice Type 21 |
+100 |
|
Wild
Curcuma |
Medicinal
Rice Type 22 |
+150 |
|
Wild
Curcuma |
Medicinal
Rice Type 23 |
+200 |
|
Wild
Curcuma |
Medicinal
Rice Type 27 |
+200 |
|
Wild
Curcuma |
Medicinal
Rice Type 30 |
+350 |
|
Wild
Curcuma |
Medicinal
Rice Type 31 |
+500 |
|
Wild
Curcuma |
Medicinal
Rice Type 32 |
+800 |
|
Wild
Curcuma |
Medicinal
Rice Type 33 |
+500 |
|
Wild
Curcuma |
Medicinal
Rice Type 34 |
+500 |
|
Wild
Curcuma |
Medicinal
Rice Type 35 |
+100 |
|
Wild
Curcuma |
Medicinal
Rice Type 44 |
+100 |
|
Wild
Curcuma |
Medicinal
Rice Type 48 |
+100 |
|
Wild
Curcuma |
Medicinal
Rice Type 49 |
+100 |
|
Wild
Curcuma |
Medicinal
Rice Type 50 |
+100 |
After
documenting information about thousands of simple
Ban Haldi based formulations now I am focusing on
complex herbal formulations like one mentioned
above. Due to complexity such formulations are in
danger. No doubt they are very effective but the
Healers of new generation as well as the modern
researchers are not showing keen interest to know
about it.
I
am expecting that my writings will encourage them
to focus their attention on this
aspect.
