Pankaj Oudhia

Over-exploitation of Bhuineem and its impact on Traditional Healing and wildlife

“You missed the golden opportunity. OK, now be ready. One more patch of Bhuineem is coming. Give your footwear to me. OK, now without any hesitation walk on plants.” During student life I was in dense forest of Bastar with a Traditional Healer. I was attending very first class of Traditional Healing. That Healer was my first Guru and with him I was in very first tour of dense forest. I was in great worry but following the instructions sincerely.

“Good. Now you will feel new freshness. This bare foot walking on Bhuineem will purify your blood and protect you from many diseases including Malaria up to long time. You must do it at least once in a day. We are fortunate that we have Bhuineem like herbs in our forest and we are aware of its importance.” He said with joy. 

Many times it looks awkward for co-travelers but wherever I see Bhuineem population I never miss to take this advantage. This herb is present throughout Chhattisgarh. Few years back I was in Niyamgiri hills, Orissa for survey. I informed about this simple use to the young Traditional Healers. They showed surprise. They were aware of its internal use and like Chhattisgarh, in Orissa also it is an integral part of Traditional Healing. It is popularly consumed in form of hot decoction in order to get protection from different types of fever and also to cure it.  The Young Healers of Niyamgiri was not aware of benefit of walking on these plants. They followed me and very soon experienced the miraculous effects. Later many of them informed through phone that they are getting benefit from it and recommending it to their patients.

Last week I was with the Traditional Healers searching caterpillars in forest. “This caterpillar is very specific. It feeds on Bhuineem plant only. We collect full fed caterpillars and use it as medicine both internally as well as externally. In treatment of Sickle Cell Anaemia we use many herbal formulations. This caterpillar is added as important ingredient in many of these formulations. We have tried Bhuineem in these formulations but observed that caterpillar feeding on Bhuineem is more effective than Bhuineem itself. Today our plan is to search this insect whole day and collect it in bulk.” They informed.

I have documented much information related to Traditional Medicinal Knowledge about insects and mites. It seems that this knowledge is endless. Use of caterpillar feeding on Bhuineem as medicine is neither mentioned in ancient literature nor in modern literature. I am fortunate to get chance to document this knowledge for first time.

We searched for insects up to three hours but failed to get even one insect. Once rich in Bhuineem population now it was hard to find it. Bhuineem is collected in bulk from forest mercilessly before flowering and fruiting. There is huge demand of this herb excluding root in national and international markets. It is added in hundreds of herbal formulations. It is under collection since many decades without any break. Earlier demand was less and as result some herbs were getting chance to flower and fruit. But now due to high demand herb collectors try to collect all possible herbs. Herb traders invest much to explore new areas and send the herb collectors deep inside forest. Due to continuous exploitation its population is decreasing at alarming rates. The Healers having expertise in use of this plant as medicine get it in early rainy season but fail to get seeds due to trade. As there is no plant how they can find insects feeding on it?

There was clear anger in the faces of Healers. They cursed the greedy herb traders. I was eager to know the effect of this decreasing population on caterpillar specific to this species. Are they also in verge of extinction or they have changed their food habits? If they change the food habits then the Healers must get it in other forest species but Healers said that this caterpillar is vanished from forest. It is matter of serious investigation.

When I was conducting surveys in North Chhattisgarh in mid nineties, the Healers informed that Monkeys are aware of medicinal uses of Bhuineem. They also feed on insects attacking Bhuineem. It is not regular food item. They use it for specific purpose possibly like we human beings, may be in treatment of fever-the Healers guessed.

At evening finally we found some plants growing on hill top. Plants were loaded with flowers and fruits. But caterpillar was not there. The Healers got frustrated. They invested whole day with no result. They discussed with each other and then decided to return back. I missed the chance to see this medicinal caterpillar.

After returning back to village they showed me dry caterpillars collected many months back. It was not possible to identify it. I collected information about it and other ingredients used in formulations and retuned back.

I decided to write about it in my articles so that researchers working on bad impacts of over-collection of forest herbs can get the ground level information and force the authorities to enforce sustainable harvesting of Bhuineem in forest.  

Bendra Booti, a true friend of rice farmers

“When we go to rice fields we never forget to drink the decoction prepared from Bendra Booti. It is present everywhere. It develops specific smell inside our bodies which repels venomous insects as well as many types of snakes common in rice fields. After taking this decoction we work in fields fearlessly. We are using it since time immemorial successfully.” The senior farmer of Chhattisgarh Plains informed.

His description about herb and its effect reminded me Gumma Bhaji. I have mentioned in previous research articles that Gumma grows as weed and during rainy season farmers consume it with taste. They believe that its regular use develops specific smell which keeps snakes at bay.

“This is not Gumma. We are aware of Gumma and its medicinal properties but never heard about its use to repel snakes. Our Gumma is Bendra Booti.” The farmer cleared the doubt.

“Although farmers are aware of its one use but this herb is a boon for rice farmers in many ways. Its regular as well as judicious use gives extra energy to work in tiring conditions up to long time. Skin diseases in legs are common in them due to regular work in submerged crop fields. This decoction helps in treatment of such troubles. It removes old problem of constipation. If there is no constipation there are less chances of getting sick. In this way Bendra Booti is one of true friends of farmers.” The Traditional Healers aware of its Traditional uses informed. 

The rice farmers of young generation are addicted to tobacco based Gutkha products. You will find large number of empty pouches in crop fields. They are wasting hard income in consuming poison. These youths are not interested in taking Bendra Booti decoction before entering in crop fields. They laugh on this traditional knowledge. Due to this attitude the use of Bendra Booti is becoming thing of past day by day.

“Is it possible to use this decoction along with Gumma curry in order to get more promising effects? I am specially asking it for the natives of Naglok like areas where hundreds of people die due to snake bite yearly.” I raised this question in front of Healers aware of uses of both Gumma and Bendra Booti. “We have tried its combination but found that its use is not safe in this way. Both herbs are not compatible. Many patients get mild fever and in many cases and develop respiratory symptoms. This is the reason that we stopped using such combinations. I personally feel that the Mother Nature has gifted different herbs for different regions.” They further explained.

“I have found growing Bendra Booti and Gumma together. There must be some Allelopathic association between them. From that theory I believed that it can be used in combination to enhance the performances of both.” I continued to question. “You are right but we are waiting for success in using these herbs in combination.” They replied.

Modern rural youths are interested in tobacco based Gutkha and senior farmers suggest them to use Bendra Booti root decoction, as mentioned earlier. I feel that the herb manufactures can come with new innovative solution. They must search the possibility of using this root in Gutkha product so that purpose of both youths and seniors can be fulfilled. I am hoping that young researchers will think on this aspect.

In case of internal injuries without any delay the Healers use this herb.  It helps in seizing all types of bleeding both internally as well as externally. In early days of war they were using this herb quite commonly. They are aware of tens of formulations in which this herb is added as main ingredient.

Bendra Booti is used around the world as folk medicine. Many uses seem similar but as you know most of the research publications document superficial information. Hence, it is difficult to decide whether the uses are same or different. I always dream of organizing a global summit for the Traditional healers where they can share knowledge for the sake of world community without any barrier, something like “Traditional Healers without borders.”  Through such summits world community can get complete picture of any herb.

I am interested in the name of this specific herb. Bendra means Monkey. “Whether monkeys are aware of its use or this herb is not related to monkeys?” I asked. Many Healers confirmed that monkeys are aware of its medicinal uses but they were not sure about the exact uses. May be it is one of the secrets of their active life full of vigor and energy. 

The search for new information related to this herb is in progress. Keep reading my research documents.

© Pankaj Oudhia