Pankaj Oudhia

Art of using Aphrodisiac 

“Take this herb up to one week eight times in a day. If you have any problem, come to me immediately.” Traditional Healer suggested the patient forcing to return home with medicine. Traditional Healer wanted him to stay in mud hut specially prepared for him. I was staying in village for surveys.

Very next day, I found the patient again discussing the Healer. “The nature of this herb is hot. I feel uncomfortable when I consume it more than twice in a day.” Patient complained. “OK, I am giving you Medicinal Rice. Please take this Rice as meals twice a day. It will solve you problem but don’t stop taking the medicine.” Traditional Healer suggested.

After two days he returned back. “Problem of heat is over but I feel that this medicine is resulting in constipation.” He put new complaint. “Along with Medicinal Rice take cooked Kodo and if possible add cooked Sawa seeds with it in order to get more promising results.” The Healer suggested.

Next evening he returned again with new problem. “It seems that this medicine is increasing the sexual desire. You have strictly instructed me to avoid it but it is beyond my control. Suggest any remedy.”  It was new complaint by patient. “OK, please locate well having Doomar tree in its periphery and whenever you feel libido take as much water as you can. You will feel better.” It was the suggestion of Traditional Healer.

“I have one more problem. I feel burning sensation in sole and palm. It has increased after taking this medicine.” The Healer suggested, “That’s why I was keeping you in mud hut prepared from soil mixed with cooling herbs. Please take black soil collected from Bharri with you and apply it in sole and palm till drying. For more positive effect you can add new leaves of Bambri in this soil before making paste.”  Patient said, “Thanks. May I use Multani Mitti in place of Kali Mitti i.e. Black soil.” The Healer replied that Multani Mitti is not known to us. We are using indigenous soils since time immemorial.”

Next day I visited to nearby forest with this Traditional Healer to collect this special herb. In six hours we collected the herb in bulk, enough for one month. This Healer is expert in sex related troubles. In my report on Traditional Medicinal knowledge about Extraordinary Sexual Performances I have documented such interesting conversations in detail. Such conversations make any report interesting and meaningful. I have interacted with thousands of Traditional Healers before documenting their knowledge. It’s very simple to quote ten-twenty herbs and herbal formulations used traditionally for good sexual health and publish it in form of research papers but when you live with the Healers you get real information, real problem of using medicines and vast knowledge of Healers based on their traditional knowledge, as solutions.

The problems started by taking the medicine, mentioned above, are not common for all patients. This problem varies from patient to patient. For example Asgandh and Kevatch are considered as common aphrodisiac. Every one knows it through information available everywhere but very few are aware of “Art of taking Aphrodisiac”. If you take it without knowing the art you will not get desired results. Use of Asgandh with other tubers many times results in skin troubles. In many cases use of Asgandh results in many types of allergies especially when it is harvested from place having severe drought. Patients having deep faith in traditional medicine never blame herbs. They think allergies may be due to other reasons. The Healers are aware of it. This is the reason they never suggest self medication. They always prefer judicious use and try to keep the names of herbs secret from patients.

Seeds collected from Kevatch plants severely affected by mosaic disease are when used to prepare different herbal formulations useful as aphrodisiac it results in adverse effect on nervous system. Seeds collected from healthy plants are nervine tonic. The Healers aware of the bad effects of mosaic diseases on seeds take special care while collection. At maturity it is very difficult to judge whether leafless plants are affected with mosaic or not. That is why they visit to see growing plants time to time. Through Traditional Allelopathic Knowledge they try to manage this disease. They get success but not every time.

According to ancient Indian literatures winter is best season to consume medicinal herbs having aphrodisiac properties but the Healers practicing Traditional medicinal knowledge related to Extraordinary sexual performances have to start course as per the requirement of the natives ready for marriage any time of year. In general natives prefer the course started one month before “the show.” There are many years long courses exist but modern natives have not much patience to adopt it. As result knowledge about long courses are in danger. The Traditional Healers always try to explain that the long as well as short courses are not only for sexual health but also for overall health and even if you are not preparing for marriage, then also you take advantage of these courses in order to remain forever young.            

Traditional Agricultural Knowledge, Dhekna Booti and Pest Management

“This is Dhekna Booti. We use it to repel bed bug away. We keep the plant in bed for sometime. Due to its smell bed bugs leave this place.” Senior native informed during forest visit few years back.

Bed bug Cimex sp. is locally known as Dhekna. In Central India many herbs are used traditionally to repel Dhekna away. Most of these herbs have word Dhekna in their names. For example Conyza sp. is used for this purpose. It is known as Dhekna Jadi. I take special interest in such herbs. I have found these herbs useful in agricultural pest management.

“Is it only useful for Dhekna or it can be used for rice pest also?” I asked. The senior native replied, “I am not aware of its other uses. We are using it for this specific purpose only. Let me ask to other natives for confirmation.” In next visit he confirmed that it is only used as bed bug repellent.

At that time I was trying Botanicals against Mucuna aphid. From cow dung and urine solutions to different types of herbs we were trying everything. Mucuna crop was in farmer’s fields and they were taking keen interest in organic pest management. I decided to try this Dhekna Booti. I wanted to use this herb with cow dung and urine solution through FFCDS method but many farmers suggested the use of decoction. At first there was plan to use single herb. We prepared different solutions and sprayed it as preventive spray during cloudy days when attack of aphid is expected. The results were encouraging but not very good. Later when I tried it with Neem it acted in promising way but Traditional Healers having expertise in use of Mucuna as medicine suggest to avoid use of Neem based leachate and extract in Mucuna. So, we started trying other herbs.

After testing tens of herbs we found combination of this herb with Blumea very effective. As Blumea is available as weed in surroundings farmers can collect it without any problem. Newly emerged plants were found much effective as compared to old plants for preparation of solution. We noted that during time of planting Mucuna, Blumea is no where but when insect infestation starts in Mucuna you will find emerging Blumea in wasteland and field bunds. One of our farmers says that it is the arrangement of Mother Nature and we must harvest the benefits of this natural gift.

Later I tried this herb in combination with other herbs in different medicinal and aromatic crops including Safed Musli, Acorus, Stevia, Coleus, and Withania. The experiments are still in progress. With the help of Traditional Healers this herb based formulations were tested on different types of Medicinal Rice. We also tried it in modern rice but formulations were more effective in case of Medicinal Rice as compared to commercial rice.

In Chhattisgarh farmers have rich Traditional Agricultural Knowledge. They use thousands of formulations in order to manage pest. Although in the modern era of agrochemical based farming farmers of young generation are taking less interest in it but senior natives as well as Traditional Healers are practicing this knowledge. They are trying to enrich this knowledge through on-going experiments. I have documented information about over 12,000 formulations but still much information is in undocumented form. Every new survey results in new findings.

In India many organizations are promoting organic farming. I feel that they must come forward to revitalize this Traditional Agricultural Knowledge.    

© Pankaj Oudhia