Pankaj Oudhia

Mechanical rice harvesting is efficient but curse for snake population 

“I can’t drive fast as so many snakes are in road today.” My driver said. He was saying right but it was matter of surprise for me to see so many snakes in road during winter. At one place he stopped the vehicle as three snakes were crossing road in small distance. Two of them were deadly cobras. Snakes are worshipped in India and this is the reason everyone tries their best to protect snakes crossing road. It is not possible always but snakes in road are never killed intentionally. I have mentioned in previous research articles that during rainy season snakes are seen in road in large number especially during time of dusk. In fine road they feel uncomfortable and cross roads very slowly. At night shining snake skin is visible from distance.

“It is time of rice harvest. Rice fields are temporary home for snakes. They feed on rats and prove old saying that snakes are farmer’s best friends. After rice harvest they migrate to different places.” A senior rice farmer tried to explain the reason. “But I am visiting the area from long time but never seen snakes in large number during this harvest time? Is there any specific reason?” I asked. “Earlier rice harvest was manual. It was very slow process. It was giving enough time to snakes to find new places for them. But now more and more farmers are using mechanical harvesters. These harvesters save time but curse for snakes. Its use kills many snakes and forces others to leave fields immediately.” The farmer explained.

I am not snake expert but documented much traditional knowledge related to snake bite and related aspects. I feel that we must do something to minimize the untimely death of farmer’s friends. In my previous articles, I have mentioned about the services of Shri Ganesh who have saved thousands of lives affected by bites of deadly snakes. Many big hospitals suggest their patients to take services of him when they feel that condition is very critical. Like other Traditional Healers, he also takes no fee from patients. He sucks venom by applying herbal paste inside mouth and treats snake bite with the help of herbs and herbal combination. After every treatment he gets ulcers inside mouth and these ulcers force him to stop taking food up to several days. Fortunately hundreds of followers are with Shri Ganesh and all of them are giving services without taking charges. These are angels in earth.

During recent forest visit he was with me. I discussed the problem of untimely death of snakes during rice harvesting time. “I will try to aware the villagers but you know it is very difficult task. Farmers are aware that snakes are their friends but they will not stop using mechanical harvest due to acute labor shortage in rural areas. Earlier when fumigants were introduced in rice farming, I started campaign to avoid its use as it kills snakes immediately but very few of them accepted my request. Today agrochemicals are killing every thing around crop fields.” Shri Ganesh explained.

This summer I got a phone call from Uttar Pradesh. Villagers wanted to repel cobra couple from their community hall without injuring them. When they published their request in local newspapers, someone suggested them to contact me. “Please suggest some herbs sir so that we can keep these snakes at bay.” They requested. I consulted Shri Ganesh and arranged herbal combination for them. After this incidence I am receiving many calls for help. I humbly reply that I am not snake expert but they are not ready to accept it.

While walking in rice bunds you can see dozens of snakes. There is no need for panic. They avoid you and never bite. Farmers live with them up to many months during cropping season. I have mentioned in previous research articles that earlier natives were consuming specific herbs having typical smell like Gumma Bhaji in order to keep the snakes at bay during field work. Such herbs are effective. This is the reason these are still in use. But its use is limited to senior natives. Natives of young generation are afraid of snakes. They prefer to kill it whenever see it. Senior natives are not happy with this new trend. Gumma grows as weed. Youths avoid using it as potherb.

Yesterday I got phone call from snake charmers of Mahasamund region. I discussed with them about untimely death of snakes due to rice harvest. “Pankaj Ji, we are ready to assist you in this regard. If you arrange meals we can send ten members of our community. They can travel with you during harvest time and collect the snakes from road without injuring them. After collecting many snakes we will release it in nearby forest.” They proposed. I welcomed their proposal and finalized the dates. I am aware that we are already late and in big state like Chhattisgarh ten-twelve volunteers can contribute very less but as trial I want to do it this year.

Snake and fear are synonyms for me. Hoping that this campaign will establish these two words as different words in my dictionary.             

Miraculous wound healing herb “Titra Poonchhi”

“Wait Vinod, wait. I am coming.” I shouted but he ignored me and entered into the dense forest. I followed him. After running for few minutes I found him. He was in much hurry. “From Mumbai a patient has arrived to the Traditional Healer. The Healer is not in condition to go to forest. He ordered me to find special herb from forest and return immediately. I am following his instruction and that is why I am in hurry.” He said all in one breathe.

“May I help you? Let’s search it in forest. I am calling my driver as well as field assistant.” I said.

“According to the Healer, this herb is present in hill. I have searched the entire hill but failed to find it. The condition of patient is very bad. Modern doctors lost the hope and that is why his family members approached to the Healer as last resort. Although it is very late but the Healer is ready to treat him. Are you aware of herb named “Titra Poonchhi?” Vinod asked.

Fortunately I was aware of this herb and also its location in forest. “We have to travel to village at foothill nearly 5-7 Kms. I have seen it growing outside the village near pond. I am calling my driver to bring vehicle.” I replied.

Very soon we were at the village and uprooting herb. Villagers gathered around us. I asked about its use. They replied that they are not aware of its use. For them it is waste plant. As it is not a weed in field and also not harmful to them and cattle they ignore it. I found big question mark on their face that why we are collecting this waste plant with care?

We returned back. As expected patient was at last stage of cancer. Cancerous wound was visible. Foul smell of wound was present in surroundings. “Thanks a lot. It will take one hour to prepare herbal combination. In the mean time, keep patient in shade of Moodhe tree.” The Healer instructed. “We have to prepare 75 herb based formulation within one hour. It is good that you are with us and I am confident that we will prepare the formulation in less time.” He said to me and started selecting herbs.   

“Titra Poonchhi” was not a new herb for me. For the first time, I observed its use in Durg region. The Healers collected it from Bastar and using its dry roots for treatment of all types of wound. Root was in use in form of decoction. “In many diseases wounds are problematic and ignorance results in even death of patients. In case of any wound especially in case when patients have less vitality without any delay we give root decoction. In most of the cases one dose roots out the trouble but in advanced case we give it up to several weeks. We add so many herbs in it in order to increase its efficacy. Most of the herbs added are bitter in taste. That is why we add Mithi Patti like herbs in it to make the decoction sweet. Bhuineem is used most frequently with Titra Poonchhi. As this herb is rare in occurrence we have to collect it in bulk whenever we visit to forest. It is not available with the herb traders. Many herb vendors keep it but most of them give other herbs in name of this herb. That is why we prefer to collect it directly from source. In cancerous wound we use it externally also.” They explained. I observed its internal use that time. Later during surveys I documented tens of formulations in which this herb is used as main ingredient but never seen its practical use.

The Healers of Gariaband region once informed that they tried to grow this herb around their villages but failed. They mentioned that monkeys are aware of its medicinal uses but they were not sure about exact use. Whatever knowledge they have was their traditional knowledge and very few of them tried to modify it as per need.

The Mumbai patient was in great pain. The Healer prepared complex herbal combination and gave it to him. “You will feel better within hour. Now I am going to prepare mud hut for you.” Then Healer said to me,” Doctor Sahab, please go to that village again with Vinod and collect the herb in bulk. For long treatment we require it in bulk.”

Mumbai patient lived up to two months with the Healer. He is still taking treatment. His condition is improving. We searched the forest for this herb and collected it from all sources. These requirements as well as miraculous effects are forcing me to develop its cultivation method. I have planted few plants in field. Based on comments of the expert Healers I am treating it with different extracts. “If you care, it will not grow and if you ignore, it will spread everywhere.” A senior villager commented.

 I am taking his comments seriously.    

Decreasing interest of Traditional Healers in Bangar and formulations based on it      

“We are not aware of its medicinal use. We use it as rope and wood for different local purposes.  Earlier it was in use as medicine but we have not seen its use in our lives.” A senior native of Joba village traveling with me deep in forest informed. He was showing native tree Bangar i.e. Kydia calycina. It was really matter of surprise for me that natives as well as Traditional Healers of the region having rich population of Bangar were not aware of its medicinal uses.

I have mentioned in previous research documents related to cancer herbs both in Botanical.com and Ecoport.org that the Healers of Mahasamund region use its leaves in treatment of severe pain. Leaves in form of decoction are used externally for cancerous wound. Fresh leaves are preferred for preparation of decoction.  I tried to share this information with the Healers of Gariaband region having expertise in treatment of cancer like diseases but they showed less interest. It seemed that they were satisfied with the performances of existing formulations.

During recent surveys in Southern Chhattisgarh I found Bangar roots in many formulations. Most of the formulations are for natural body resistance. Roots are collected before flowering. During flowering season collection of leaves as well as root is avoided. The senior Healers informed that in early days when war was in progress they were using many types of wild flowers to prepare special bed for warriors.  The purpose of this bed was to give complete relax to them within few hours. Among wild flowers used Bangar was one of them. Fortunately I met the Healers who have used it earlier not for warriors but for newly wed couples during wedding night. “As the flowers are not available round the year and also modern couples prefer rose petals like scented material the use of Bangar for this purpose lost its popularity. They ignored its positive effect on health.” They said sadly.

The Healers of Durg region informed that they found Bangar compatible with Neem, Bhirra, Karra, Manhar, Kya, Bhuineem, Tinsa and Kalmi in treatment of many common diseases. They accepted that it is not used much commonly.

In the series of forgotten formulations I have written a lot. Seeing the decreasing interest of Traditional Healers in Bangar, I am adding Bangar based formulations in this series. It is not right to declare these formulations less effective. It is matter of investigation that why plant available in abundance is not preferred by the Healers. I have noted that the Healers are not practicing Traditional Allelopathic Knowledge to enrich it with desired medicinal properties.

While documenting Traditional Agricultural Knowledge I found the name of this species in the list used by rice farmers to manage pest. These observations were encouraging. 

While planning a health resort I suggested the owner to give space to this species although medicinally it is less used but I see it as species with good future. The modern experts have yet not evaluated Bangar and formulations based on it in treatment of different types of cancer.  I am expecting that such experiments will establish real importance of this wild tree.

 © Pankaj Oudhia