Pankaj Oudhia

How much water is good for your health?

“Take my water bag as we have to travel deep in the forest.” I instructed my driver. During such visit I drink plenty of water but what surprises me is the water intake of Traditional Healers walking with me. They hardly drink water. In summer days they keep consuming Tendu fruits and claim that it gives strength and also end thirst to some extent. In summer, hot wind “Loo” is very common in India. “Drink plenty of water, if you want to get protection from sunstroke” It is common advice and natives are following it since time immemorial But surprisingly Healers don’t follow this rule, They travel with me and many times I get sunstroke even after drinking much water and they remain unaffected.

“How much water you take in a day?” I asked to natives of my villages. “Half lota” They replied. Half lota means less than half liter in a day. They work in crop fields tirelessly and rarely visit to hospital for any disease. “How much water you take Pankaj Bhai?” They ask. “Three to four liters of water daily on average.” I reply. Earlier I was drinking less water but my Naturopath friends suggested increasing intake of water in order to get rid from many basic troubles like constipation, considered root causes of serious diseases. In India, Yoga as well as modern medical experts also suggest drinking good amount of water.

According to ancient Indian literatures, water must be avoided during food intake. It must be taken one hour after meals. Many books suggest taking water half an hour before any meal, so that it can flush the stomach and make it ready for meals. But it is old saying,” Don’t drink water when you are hungry and don’t take food when you have thirst.” It is a key for sound health.

 “When you take half lota of water?” I asked to the natives. “During meals.” They replied without any hesitation.  “By taking less water we are much stronger than urban natives taking plenty of water.” They added.

When I put this question among the Octogenarian Healers with black hair and having complete set of teeth they simply reply, “If there is requirement of water, healthy body will ask for it. Whenever there is desire, don’t ignore it. Take water immediately. Avoid taking plenty of water at a time. It can create extra burden and many times affect normal functioning of body. It is true that water is medicine but don’t take it as medicine. Take it as precious gift of Mother Nature. Enjoy drinking water every time. Take sip by sip.

In modern life of hurry, worry and curry with less physical activities, high water intake is must. Without it, it is difficult to survive. In rural and forest areas natives take fresh water, do much physical activities, take potherbs, wild fruits and tubers and relatively free from mental tension. In such conditions they have to take less water.” They tried to explain. “Take this water. It is collected from water source surrounded by Doomar tree. This tree not only purifies the water but also enriches it with medicinal properties. You will always find Pipal, Bar, Doomar, Pakar like trees around traditional water sources. It is Mother Nature’s arrangement to keep water sources clean as well as full of healing properties. Urban natives take chemical water full of chlorine. Believe it or not, this chemical water is responsible for many of their health troubles but they have no alternative except to drink chemically treated water.”  They continued to say.

I have mentioned in previous research documents that the Traditional Healers are aware of miraculous healing properties of water collected from different resources. They prepare medicine using it.  

I get many mails with request about more information on herbs having potential to purify water. I suggest the planners as well as researchers through my writings to try herbal treatment methods for water purification. Around the world different herbs and herbal combinations are in use since time immemorial. Our libraries are full of such information. Then why efforts are not done, so far, to supply drinking water treated through herbs in even single city of this world?   

Therapeutic properties of non-fruiting wild Aonla

“Look old Aonla tree at top. We must reach there.” The Traditional Healer pointed Aonla tree at hill top and without any delay started climbing. We followed him. After half an hour we reached to top. Aonla tree was loaded with fruits. Our local guides started collection of fruits. But the Healer was not happy. “We have to go far for the search of special Aonla. Let’s move.”   He said. It was twenty fifth Aonla tree of the day. The Healer was in search on non-fruiting Aonla tree.

Our forests are rich in wild Aonla (Emblica officinalis) population. Although this year due to poor monsoon fruiting is less but trees with fruits are visible throughout forest. Non-fruiting is considered as problem in modern Aonla farming. Near Raipur city I am seeing large scale plantation of Aonla waiting for fruiting from more than fifteen years. The authorities have lost the hope. Now this good looking plantation is only for beauty not for fruits but it is difficult to get non-fruiting Aonla tree in forest.  

“In Traditional Healing nothing is waste. We use both fruiting and non-fruiting Aonla as medicine.” The senior Healers informed. The Healers having expertise in use of Aonla bark and root in treatment of urinary troubles prefer non-fruiting Aonla trees. They have marked such trees in forest. The “Wood mafia” cut all types of trees. Due to their increasing activities, now Healers have to travel long in search of this special Aonla.

For the first time, I got information on this aspect during field training at Ambikapur region. Shri Rohini of Ajirma village informed me about it. At that time I asked about it to my professors but it was new information for them also. I searched the literatures but found that researchers have worked on fruiting Aonla and its different aspect. There is no reference on medicinal uses of non-fruiting Aonla types. During International conference in Kolkata many years back I requested a researcher friend working on phytochemicals to conduct research to see difference between medicinal properties of fruiting and non-fruiting Aonla. He conducted small research and submitted project on it but failed to get fund. As result the work stopped. I continued to document information on this aspect.

The Healers use inner bark of special Aonla alone and in combination with other herbs. I have collected information about plus 150 formulations used frequently by them, so far. None of these formulations is available as commercial product in market. Bark is collected round the year but winter is preferred when fruiting in other trees occur.

“I suggest female patients to use this bark regularly. Simply dip a piece of bark in well water overnight and next morning take the leachate internally. It helps them to recover from illness.” Senior Healer of Raipur region informed. The Healers treating patients having Type II Diabetes add Methi seeds in bark water and next morning advise the patients to take Methi seeds first and then take leachate. This use is suggested 180 days onwards in 365 days schedule for such patients. I see it as unique knowledge.

I have mentioned in previous research documents that decoction prepared from tree named Kanke is given to women after children birth. In order to make this decoction strong the Healers add many types of bark in it. Bark of non-fruiting Aonla is one of these barks. The Healers of Gariaband region informed me about it.

“If you fail to get non-fruiting Aonla, what you do?” I asked. The Healers replied, “At that year we don’t prepare medicine. We never use fruiting Aonla as substitute.” “What about Traditional Allelopathic Treatment?” I asked another question. “Our grandfathers were practicing this knowledge. We have seen use of Bhirra based extract on such Aonla tree. This extract is applied before and after collection of bark. We are not practicing this knowledge.” They informed. Whatever the reason of not practicing Traditional Allelopathic Knowledge, but information about it is very important from documentation point of view.     

“Monkey business” of planners and never ending recession monkeys facing

“Stop, stop. What these monkeys are eating?” We were at good speed but fallen tree branches loaded with fruits attracted by attention. Monkeys were there in large number and consuming the fruits even in mid road without bothering fast moving vehicles. “Monkeys are consuming Picri i.e. fruits of Pipal.” It was guess of my driver. We put the vehicle in reverse gear. Seeing the vehicle monkeys became aggressive. I stopped and tried to take pictures from distance. Passing by farmer warned,” Keep distance with these monkeys. They are eating fruits of Bahera. They are fond of it and never allow any type of disturbances.”  I followed his instructions.

Last week while walking in dense forest, I saw damaged Harra fruits. I thought it was due to insects but the local guide informed that fruits are half eaten by monkeys. Harra is much liked by them as Bahera. He pointed some monkeys sitting at tree top consuming green Harra fruits.

Mainphal is very toxic fruit not consumed by wild animals. Few months back I was taking pictures of Mainphal loaded with fruits. According to the Healers the outer portion of fruit is not toxic, only inner portion is harmful. Monkeys are aware of it. They carefully consume outer portion and throw the inner portion away. “It is arrangement of Mother Nature. This activity of monkey helps in dispersion of seeds. We have seen monkeys traveling far distance with this fruit. It indicates that they use it as medicine also in specific conditions. After observing this behavior we tried outer portion as medicine and got much success.” They informed.

In my village farmers are facing so-called monkey nuisance. They are adopting both friendly as well as non friendly methods to save their crops from it. Earlier monkeys were visitors but now they live in village.  My father has planted Guava in his field. When monkeys attack on Guava, after consuming fruits half they throw it. Next morning you will find damaged fruits everywhere. Always it is painful experience for my father who eagerly waits for fruiting. “I have no objection if they eat the fruits completely. It will make me happy but the way they eat rather damage, it is not acceptable.” He makes complaint.

I remember the saying of Traditional Healers. Monkeys wish to taste all fruits in search of best fruit. They never miss to consume the best fruit completely. Through this procedure they give opportunity to seeds to disperse. Again it is arrangement of Mother Nature.

Harra and Bahera are valuable medicines in Ayurveda and other systems of medicine in India. Our forests are rich in its wild population. Every year Harra and Bahera fruits are collected in bulk and in form of hundreds of truck loads sent to different corners of India and then abroad. This business is flourishing from decades and year by year demand is increasing. I repeat, Harra and Bahera are much liked by monkeys. “You can imagine the horrible situation in forest and anger of monkey community towards this annual collection. Earlier they were consuming relatively mature fruits but now they are aware that people don’t wait for them and collect fruits in bulk without any delay. That is why they have started consuming immature fruits. And as you have observed, they don’t allow any one in this process.” The Healers disclosed.

They further claimed that fruits like Harra and Bahera help in digestion. During this season they dare to consume fruits and insects difficult to digest. After it they reach to these fruit trees in order to solve the problem of digestion.

“There are enough Harra and Bahera trees in dense forests and it is beyond our capacity to collect fruits from all trees.” The herb trader from Dhamtari tried to defend. I have visited said dense forest many times. Although there is less collection in such areas but I found severe competition among monkey community. “This competition is man made and it is causing harmful effect on wild population.” The Healers said with anger.

“Forest cover is decreasing and non-wood forest produces are not available in sufficient quantities for monkeys like creatures. This is the reason they are migrating to villages and cities and becoming menace. Everyone knows this theory from common people to planners sitting in air-conditioned chambers but unfortunately no one is doing anything at ground level to stop it.”   

© Pankaj Oudhia