Pankaj Oudhia

Management of Parthenium Allergy through Traditional Healing

“Why they are cutting Parthenium in this way? This method will help in further spread of Parthenium and also affect the health of workers. Let’s stop the vehicle and inquire about it.” I instructed the driver and he followed it. I was travelling to forest with field worker and Traditional Healers. I raised my objection against this method of managing allergy weed.

“You are right sir. The workers are getting sick regularly but we have to follow the instructions of our officers.” The supervisor said. I tried to interview the workers.

“We are facing problem of skin allergy. We use Sarson oil in order to get temporary relief.” They said. I remembered the workers of Jabalpur region I met few year ago, using Kadu Tel i.e. Sarson Tel for same problem after day long work of Parthenium uprooting.

“Our six friends are in bad condition due to this work. If you have time please visit with us to the village.” They requested. We accepted it and started for their village. The condition of their friends was very bad. Due to skin allergy they were looking like characters of horror movies. I remembered a professor of university in Jabalpur facing same problem.

“We visited to the doctors. They gave us some anti-allergy medicine. It helped in reducing respiratory troubles but skin is not getting original appearance.” They informed with pain in face.

“Doctor Sahib, if you allow us we want to treat these patients.” The Traditional Healers travelling with me said. “Why not? You are most welcomed to treat these cases.” I replied.

“For getting the key plant we have to go to forest.” They said. We started for forest.

After much search we found the old tree in dense forest. The Healers collected its old branch and cut into small parts. With few parts we returned back. “Every night dip this wood piece in a bowl of water and next morning take it empty stomach. Continue its use up to fifteen days. We are confident that it will cure your trouble.” They explained the method to patients. The patients thanked them and we returned back.

We reached the place of work. I said to the supervisor that I am going to lodge complaint about this unsafe way of Parthenium management. I have taken pictures and prepared a film. Also recorded the version of patients facing worst case of Parthenium allergy. I will inform about it to media in capital.  If you believe in me then please stop this work.

The supervisor stopped the work and through his mobile contacted to his officers. “My officers want to talk with you.” He said. Before listening to me his officer said from other side that please don’t give this issue to media. We are sorry and promise you to adopt the safe method of Parthenium removal. I am thankful to you that you have treated the affected workers. We are ready to give compensation to them.”

 After completing talk with the officer I explained the safe Parthenium management methods to the supervisor.

“We use Khair wood piece for Parthenium allergy. In general, it is used for all types of skin allergy specially allergy due to plant and plant parts.   In most of the cases patients get relief form simple use of Khair leachate but if it fails to give the desirable results we use Khair in combination with other herbs.” They disclosed. The use of Khair i.e. Acacia catechu for Parthenium allergy is not mentioned in world literatures. This is new information and coming among world community for the first time through this document. I thanked the Healers and promised to spread information about this simple but effective treatment wherever I will go and whenever I see such patients.

My plan disturbed that day but it was matter of satisfaction that we helped the affected workers and also stopped unsafe Parthenium management methods.    

Never ending problem of wrong identification of herbs

“Sir, it seems that I have committed a crime. I have just completed my Ph.D. I used many plants including Borreria hispida for experiment. After getting this degree I found that the plant used as Borreria is not the real one. It was Alternanthera species. But it was not my mistake. I approached to Botany department for correct identification but now I realize that they are not much aware of local flora. Please guide what I can do. If I tell about this error to every one then they will laugh at me and make joke up to many years.” Few months back I was interacting with the in-service candidate about his problem.

I remembered the Vicoa incidence. In my university at that time Botany department was lacking true taxonomist. I showed a plant collected from field and asked for identification. After consulting the literature my professors concluded that it is Vicoa more specifically Vicoa vestata. For confirmation I showed it to my contacts in another university having well established Botany department. They also confirmed it. At that time I was in process of publishing a research paper based on my Ethnobotanical survey in North Chhattisgarh. I acknowledged the botanists for guidance in the paper and sent it for publication. As you know publication is time taking task.

Meanwhile when I searched the literature in university library I found that plant was identified wrongly. I started searching actual Vicoa and very soon I found its colored plate. While preparing research paper I kept many unidentified herbs in separate category. Actual Vicoa was put in that category due to ignorance.

Without any delay I wrote to the editor. After writing several letters I received no response. “The publication is at final stage and at this stage it is not possible to make any change.” Finally I received this message. The paper published. I requested the editor to publish errata in next issue but again I got no response. I corrected this error in other papers. The professors identified it as Vicoa vestata whereas in reality it was Vicoa vestita.    

Later I published over 120 research documents in journals of national and international repute and over 100 conference papers. I faced much difficultly in true identification. When I started writing online articles I decided to use the local names instead using wrong scientific names. It worked and as result I have written about thousands of formulations without any error. For example when I document information about Dang Kanda I keep its pictures and list of spots where it can be seen in fields. When any expert approaches to me for its scientific name I show it. “Oh, it is Dioscorea sp.” He or she says. Earlier I was investing much time for its true scientific name but now I realize that this approach is also very good.

For this approach there is need to take as much as possible pictures of particular species. It was next to impossible in early days but introduction of digital camera has changed the scenario. Now we can not only take pictured from different angles but also store it without any deterioration. And it is very cheap also.

I suggested the Ph.D. scholar to accept this fault like I accept through my articles. This is not the matter of shame or fear. I feel that if everyone realizes the mistakes we can correct lot of wrong information present in modern literatures. Let the friends make joke of it. Think only of young researchers following you and your work with full faith.

The correction of error is must for them.

 © Pankaj Oudhia