Pankaj Oudhia

Keep talking and let me guess the herbs you are taking

“These deep cracks in my sole and palm are very painful. It is not a problem of winter. Cracks remain same throughout year. I tried all medicines both modern and ancient but failed to get relief. I have to work in rice fields and stay in standing water up to long time. Condition is becoming worse day by day. Please suggest some herbs for me.” While taking pictures of rice weeds a senior native told about his trouble. I examined the cracks and asked, “Your appetite is good but still you are not gaining body weight?” He said, “Yes.”  “Are you sensitive to cold wind? Do you feel depressed always specially at morning? Are you suffering from old problem of constipation with very dry stool? Chapati is not your favorite food? Are you suffering from Migraine?”

He showed surprise but replied all questions in yes. “You know every thing about me. Are you astrologer or practice Tantra?” He asked. I replied that I am neither astrologer nor Tantrik. I am just practicing methods of traditional diagnosis learnt from the Traditional Healers.

“I am aware that you are fond of salt. Please stop using excess salt in any form you will get rid from not only deep cracks but also other associated troubles. There is no need of any medicinal herb.” I suggested. Although it was tough but he started using less salt and as result became free from all troubles.

I am a student of Homeopathy. If you study the writings of famous Homeopaths specially writings on Drug proving you will become well aware of the specific good and bad effects of drugs. This learning helps in diagnosis of problem by getting one clue from patient’s complaint. Many times even by seeing patient you can draw complete profile of his or her troubles. Traditional Healers also adopt this approach. They have learnt this science from their ancestors. Many times patients coming from Indian Metros and abroad complain me that Healers asked nothing and given remedies. How one can suggest remedies without seeing medicinal reports? It is very difficult to convince them.

Is it possible to guess the herb any patient is taking, by simply talking with them? For me the answer is positive. I meet hundreds of patients having Type II Diabetes. When they describe the troubles I say that you are taking Methi or Gudmar presently and if you reduce its doses you can get rid from the troubles. I am aware of mere 200-300 herbs and its effects on human body but Traditional Healers are aware of thousands of herbs. Many times they surprise patients by naming the herbal combinations used by them. I feel that in all branches of modern medicinal education this traditional knowledge must be included as course material.

Few years back a woman approached to the Traditional Healer of Southern Chhattisgarh. Tired of taking treatment from Ayurveda practitioner for gynecological troubles she decided to take services of this Healer. The Healer decided to talk with her for sometime. When she discussed about the problem of constipation with aversion to food materials prepared from milk and cow ghee, he ended discussion and said that it seems you are taking Rohina based formulation. “Yes, you are right. The Ayurveda practitioner suggested me to take decoction of Rohina bark every morning as treatment. This decoction provided temporary relief but generated new symptoms” She confirmed. The Healers suggested, “Instead of taking Rohnia decoction you can take bark in powder form with hot water. If symptoms persist you can add one part of Koha bark with 10 parts of Rohina in order to reduce its bad effects.” I was there and listening the interaction. The ancient Indian as well as modern world references mentions much about Rohina but this unique aspect of Rohina use is not mentioned anywhere.

I visited to the Traditional Healer of Durg region with my friend’s wife. She was facing the problem of excess bleeding. The time was end of summer, around 20th June. “What is your favorite fruit?” Healer asked only one question. “Definitely Mango” She replied without any delay. “Stop taking Mango, you will be OK within hours”- Healer suggested. He said that no medication is required. Hard to believe but after much discussion she agreed to stop using Mango up to one week. Meanwhile she showed me many references claiming that Mango is useful in gynecological troubles. I have also written on this aspect but if Healer is saying anything with confidence then we must follow it. After sometime she got rid from the troubles.

These examples are very important specially for the practioners using medicinal herbs in daily practice. I feel fortunate that I am getting opportunities to document this knowledge.       

Combination of Six types of Medicinal Rice and its use as “Panacea”

“Take this rice combination and consume cooked rice twice a day with the herbs I am giving with it.” The Traditional Healer of Chhattisgarh Plains was giving instructions to patient suffering from Type II diabetes along with so many associated troubles. He was from far place and tired of modern medicines. Instead of giving emphasis on Type II Diabetes treatment the Healer suggested him to adopt special daily routine using herbs and herbal combinations. If possible, stay with him and visit to forest daily.

I examined the rice combination and found five types of seeds in it. Seeing my curiosity the Healer explained that not five, six types of seeds are in mixture. Then he explained the medicinal importance of all six types. He was cultivating it in his crop fields. “You will not find it in market. It is also not available with farmers. These seeds are the gift of my ancestors. I am trying to conserve it in its original form. I am aware that seeds are loosing medicinal properties instead of using Traditional Allelopathic Knowledge to enrich it with medicinal properties, but I way no other alternative.” He explained.

In the list of herbs to be used with Medicinal Rice I found plus 30 herbs. “When you cook the Medicinal Rice, add first ten herbs in it and then consume it during morning. Next 20 herbs should be added in cooked Rice in dry form and consumed at evening. Rest of herbs should be used on Sundays. Please take it sincerely up to one year and forget all modern medicines. You will be free from not only Type II Diabetes but also all health problems. This treatment will protect from such diseases rest of the life. Keep visiting me at the interval of 15 days.” After saying this he diverted his attention to treat other patients.

Patients coming to the Healers from modern cities after consulting modern health experts and taking modern medicines never believe in this approach of treatment. Most of them try this treatment up to one week or ten days and then return to basic treatment. Healers are also aware of this fact but they give this treatment with confidence and pray that patients must adopt it at least one month in order to see its effects.

Use of Medicinal Rice and its combination in this way is a part of Traditional Medicinal Knowledge the Healers of Chhattisgarh are practicing since time immemorial. I visited to rice growing areas of Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh and Orissa and met the Healers using Traditional rice as medicine. Most of them use Medicinal Rice through this approach with some variations. Herbs used with cooked rice differ from region to region as well as patients to patients. It is really surprising that why the researchers engaged in documentation of traditional medicinal knowledge about Medicinal Rice have yet not published information of this important aspect? I am aware that it is tough task to prepare one year long schedule having different herbs and herbal combinations from day one to day 365 through never ending interactions with the Healers but this knowledge must be documented without any delay as very few knowledge holders are with us.

While documenting over 10,000 cases of Type II Diabetes treatment through Traditional Medicinal Knowledge in “Type II Diabetes report”, I have mentioned hundreds of cases in which Medicinal Rice types are used alone and in combination with other herbs. How Medicinal Rice Types are grown, treated with herb extracts and leachate, harvested, stored and also tens of methods through which types are given to patients having different troubles, details on every aspect are there.

I have mentioned in previous research articles that Bukni-Bhat is given to patients in different troubles. Haldi powder is mixed with cooked Rice and served to the patients. It is popular home remedy for common cough and cold. In rural Chhattisgarh it is given to women after child birth in order to regain the vitality. The natives of present generation use all types of rice mostly modern rice but Traditional Healers use only Traditional specially Medicinal Rice with Haldi. Instead of using common Haldi available in market they prefer wild Haldi available in forest in plenty. Van Haldi, Genji and Dokri Haldi are local names of wild Haldi. In Traditional Healing these wild types are used most frequently. Many senior Healers consider it as panacea and start treatment with this combination. They claim (and I have seen it) that in many cases the simple use of Bukni-Bhat used in traditional way gives immense relief to patients. This combination is also suggested for natives of all age groups in order to develop natural resistance in body enough to protect it from diseases. Few months back I was informing the Healers about outbreak of Swine Flu. Based on symptoms and other details many of them suggested that this combination can be used as promising preventive.

If you search “Medicinal Rice” in Google and other search engines you will find top results based on my works. Medicinal Rice is in use since time immemorial and I have taken birth very lately but still it is very surprising that scientific references say very little about Medicinal Rice. Many rice researchers are contacting me with typical message “I will be highly obliged, if you send the seeds of these Medicinal Rice types.” What they are going to do with? No one knows. A researcher from Southern India working in reputed organization contacted me for seeds. His plan was to search active phytochemicals in Medicinal Rice. I suggested him to conduct research with the consent and guidance of Traditional Healers. He refused and ordered that if you will not give the seeds I will arrange it from regional Agricultural University. He tried but failed to get the true seeds. He is approaching again. I am requesting him to take broader aspect of Medicinal Rice research and associate all components working on it, instead of using Traditional Medicinal Knowledge about Medicinal Rice for personal gain like paper publication. In my previous articles I have proposed the establishment of International Medicinal Rice Research Institute (IMRRI) in Chhattisgarh.

Seeing my interest in Medicinal Rice farmers and Traditional Healers aware of my work are continuously sending seeds of different Traditional and Medicinal Rice Types. I am unable to grow it in my fields due to regular surveys and other assignments. I am giving it to other farmers but still I am requesting the farmers and Healers to keep seeds with them. I am trying to convince the rice lovers and researchers including policy makers to come forward to save the Traditional and Medicinal Rice. 

© Pankaj Oudhia