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Pankaj
Oudhia
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Traditional
medicinal knowledge about useful herb Jason
(Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, family: Malvaceae) in
Chhattisgarh,
India.
[Updated document, year
2009]
Pankaj
Oudhia
Jason is one of favorite flowers on which
orange banded blister beetle (Zonabris pustulata)
feed. This beetle is a medicinal insect and famous
Homoeopathic drug Cantharis is prepared from this
insect. In Chhattisgarh, the natives and
traditional healers also use this medicinal insect
in treatment of many common diseases. The
traditional healers having knowledge about its
various uses informed me that for preparation of
drug they prefer the Blister beetle feeding on
Jason flowers. These beetles also feed on flowers
of common weed Beshram (Ipomoea carnea). The
healers do not use the Blister beetle collected
from Beshram flowers. This is unique information
and has not been reported in reference
literatures. The traditional healers of Sarguja
region use the flowers of Jason with this insect,
in treatment of cancer. I have done sincere and
detailed research on Jason - Blister beetle
interactions in Chhattisgarh. Although the English
name of Jason is Chinese shoe flower, but for the
natives and traditional healers of Chhattisgarh it
is an herb of great value. Like the peels of
banana, the external application of fresh petal of
Jason flower on shoes, gives new shine to it. In
Chhattisgarh, this herb is known as Devi-phool
because the flowers are offered to Devi (the
goddess). In Chhattisgarh, no one dares to clean
the shoes with this honored flower. The flowers
occur during most of the months in a year. There
are single and double forms of flowers with
different color shades of orange, yellow, crimson,
bright red and magenta, etc. Medicinally, white
flowers are preferred. Among natives, red colored
Jason flowers are popular. It is an essential
component of any home garden in Chhattisgarh. It
is common belief among the natives that the
presence of this herb in home-gardens brings
happiness and prosperity. In areas where the
natural population of Blister beetles is high, the
natives avoid the plantation, as the Blister
beetles can cause troubles to them specially to
little children. Besides red and white flowers,
the varieties having different flower color are
also gaining popularity among flower lovers. As
medicinal herb, Jason is neither under cultivation
nor it is in list of traders. Through my
ethnobotanical surveys, I have identified only 50
traditional healers specialised in use of Jason
alone or in combination with other herbs. The
natives particularly the old natives are aware of
its medicinal uses. Surprisingly, the traditional
uses of Jason in Chhattisgarh have not been
documented. The present article is an effort to
document the scattered traditional medicinal
knowledge about this useful herb. I am giving the
information mentioned in my field diaries,
collected during ethnobotanical surveys in
different parts of Chhattisgarh. I have yet not
conducted a separate survey focused on this herb
but I have plan for this and I am confident that
this specific survey will generate more
information than the information given in this
article. At first I am describing its botany and
reported medicinal uses. According to reference
literatures, Jason is shrub or small tree; Leaves
ovate, acuminate, irregularly serrate towards the
top, entire near the base, penninerved, glabrous
or pubescent on the nerves beneath; Flowers
solitary, axillary, on long pedicels jointed above
the middle, epicalyx lobes 5-7, lanceolate, Calyx
deeply five - lobed, Corolla large, showy, 5-10 cm
across, red in the more commonly cultivated
variety pink or yellow in other cultivates, petals
obovate, cuneate, staminal tube exerted far beyond
the petals; No fruit produced in Indian
conditions. As medicine, roots, leaves and flowers
are used commonly. According to Ayurveda, the
flower buds have sweet odour and bitter taste. It
is cooling astringent; remove burning of body,
urinary discharges, seminal weakness, piles
uterine and vaginal discharges. It also promotes
the growth of foetus.
The natives and traditional healers of
Chhattisgarh use the flowers of Jason in hair care
by adopting different methods. The healers of
Chhattisgarh plains use the fresh flower juice
externally to stop hair loss. The natives of this
region add two to three flowers in water and use
it for bath. The healers of other parts prepare
special herbal oil by boiling the fresh flower
juice in base oil. When all watery contents
evaporate, oil is collected and stored for future
use. As base oil, Til oil is used most commonly.
This special herbal oil is used as hair tonic. The
healers also add some other herbs mainly Urai
(Vetiveria), and Nagarmotha (Cyperus rotundus), to
make this oil more effective. This oil is
considered best in treatment of Adhasisi
(Migraine) also. Internally, the flower buds are
given with sugar up to two weeks. The traditional
healers informed me that both internal and
external use simultaneously root out the problem
within no time. Although it is cheap and effective
method, but surprisingly it is not much popular
among the natives. They take complete treatment
under supervision of the traditional healers. As
problems of hair loss and premature greying are
becoming common problems these days, the
systematic use of Jason both internally and
externally, can play a vital role in this regard.
For internal use, the healers of different regions
recommend different quantities. In general, 3 to 5
flower buds per day are recommended. According to
the healers, one must not afraid of over doses, as
one or two more buds can not cause any harm. In
herbal oil prepared from fresh juice of Jason
flower, the traditional healer of Mudpar village
adds Bhengra (Eclipta alba). This combination is
not mentioned in reference literatures. I am proud
to write that the traditional healers of
Chhattisgarh are not following the instructions of
forefathers sincerely but also adding new
experimental findings, for coming generations. The
roots are used as sex tonic in combination with
other herbs. In general, the healers mix the roots
of Jason and Semal (Bombax ceiba) bark in equal
quantities and give this mixture with cow milk.
The traditional healers of Narharpur region
informed that alone Jason roots are capable of
showing desirable effects. As the use of Semul
causes the problem of constipation, the healers of
this region, avoid this herb with Jason. The
healers also use the roots of white flowered Jason
variety, with cow milk, to prevent the problem of
habitual abortion This use is popular among the
natives also. The healers also add some other
herbs with Jason roots. In treatment of diarrhoea,
the natives roast the flower buds in cow ghee and
give it to the patients. As other promising and
cheap alternatives are available, the natives use
it less frequently. The natives of Chhattisgarh
informed me that the leaves and flowers are also
beneficial in treatment of diabetes. I have yet
not seen its practical uses.
Although the above mentioned traditional use of
Jason are not enough to promote and establish
Jason as potential medicinal crop but I personally
feel that the use of Jason particularly as hair
growth stimulator must be promoted. Also there is
a need for detailed ethnobotanical surveys to
document the traditional knowledge about this
useful herb in Chhattisgarh.
Thank you very much for reading this
article.
New comments added on November
13, 2009
During recent surveys I met the Traditional
Healers having expertise in treatment of Type II
Diabetes and associated troubles. They informed
that they use Jason flowers in hundreds of
formulations as secondary ingredient. As you know,
the ingredients used in any formulation in order
to enhance the effects of primary ingredients are
known as secondary ingredients.
“It means that Jason is not having direct
effect on Type II Diabetes?” I asked. “We prefer
Jason as primary ingredient in many formulations
used for this disease but there are many
limitations during use. There is need to get
complete details about allergies, liking and
disliking of patients before suggesting Jason
based formulations. We have used it for long time
but when we felt that its use is causing problem
in many cases we stopped. As other promising
alternatives are available, we are using it less
commonly.
“In Indian Metros many Yog experts and
naturopaths are suggesting common people with
Diabetes to take leachate of this flower or chew
two to three flowers daily in order to manage the
disease. “Is it right way?” I put my question. The
Healers replied that self medication in any
disease specially in complicated diseases like
Diabetes must be avoided. Jason must be taken
under supervision of experts. Jason leachate is
beneficial to some extent. We suggest our patients
to use spring water for preparation of leachate.
By dipping freshly harvested flower in water up to
three hours collect leachate and use it. Many
patients dip flowers whole night and many times
more. It is not right way. Instead of using Jason
alone, based on the condition, we suggest patients
to take it with compatible herbs and food
materials. If you are taking Kodo Kheer or cooked
Kodo for Diabetes, avoid taking Jason based
formulation. If you are taking Munga curry for
this trouble, take Jason based product just after
meals. Munga and Jason are compatible. Jason
leaves are also useful but we use it less
commonly.
I have mentioned in previous research articles
that many Traditional Healers use only flowers to
treat all diseases. The Traditional Healers of
Chhattisgarh Plains having expertise in this
flower therapy informed me about number of
formulations useful for Type II Diabetes. They add
Jason flower commonly. Indigenous Jason is used
only. They grow it their Badi and use it in
different formulations. Many of them complained
that its availability in less quantity is big
constraint. As mentioned above Jason is not
cultivated commercially. Ten-twelve plants in Badi
and hardly 20-30 plants in any village are not
enough to prepare medicine for hundreds of
patients. This flower is of religious importance.
Most of the villagers grow it for offering. They
rarely give it to the Healers even in price. In
cities the price of Jason flowers is very high
specially in festive seasons. Many nurseries raise
it but it is raised chemically. Such flowers are
not considered useful as medicine. This problem is
forcing the Healers to use other flowers
preferably wild flowers available in plenty in
place of Jason.
As you know while preparing 1000 GB report on
Type II Diabetes I worked day and night without
any break. This continuous work in computer
affected my eye site and hair more than other body
parts. After all efforts and measures the dark
circle around eyes are still visible. I lost
hairs. For that I am trying many options including
use of Jason based oil. During recent surveys I
got information about over 150 types of herbal oil
in which Jason is added as main ingredient. These
preparations are popular among Healers as well as
their patients. The Healers add 10 to 55 different
herbs in this oil in order to make it more
effective. When they prepare it for hair growth
and migraine they add more herbs.
Keep reading my articles for updates.
Original Research
Document:
http://www.botanical.com/site/column_poudhia/150_jason.html
How to Cite
this Research Document
Oudhia, P. (2009).
Traditional medicinal knowledge about useful herb
Jason (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, family: Malvaceae)
in Chhattisgarh,
India.
[Updated document, year 2009] http://www.pankajoudhia.com
© Pankaj
Oudhia
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