Pankaj Oudhia

Traditional Allelopathic and medicinal knowledge about Dongar Vaneer

“Always try to collect Dongar Vaneer growing with Waltheria indica and Hemigraphis latebrosa. Such Dongar Vaneer plants are rich in medicinal properties as compared to plants growing with other herbs specially grasses.” I remembered the suggestions of Tradtional Healers using Dongar Vaneer in treatment of many diseases. I was climbing on hill in search of this herb for my Allelopathic experiment. The objective of this experiment was to see the effects of leachate and extracts of different wild herbs on germination and early seedling vigor of Tradtional Pulses. I selected Dongar Vaneer for this experiment.

Although Allelopathy is relatively a new term but it is really surprising that the Tradtional Healers are aware of this phenomenon from time immemorial. I have documented their Tradtional Allelopathic knowledge. They use it for different purposes but in order to enrich medicinal species with desired medicinal properties they practice this knowledge most frequently.

I searched the hill to locate a spot where Dongar Vaneer, Waltheria and Hemigraphis were growing in Allelopathic combination. After effort of many hours I find the spot. I collected Dongar Vaneer pods for my experiments and took pictures of this unique combination. According to the Healers, Waltheria and Hemigraphis play vital role in enriching Dongar Vaneer with medicinal properties. Surprisingly they don’t prefer to collect Waltheria or Hemigraphis growing in this combination. Waltheria and Hemigraphis both are used as Traditional medicine. “We are practicing our Tradtional Knowledge. We have not tried to verify it through experiments you conduct in your laboratory. When we use it on our patients we see the difference in terms of effects.” The Healers explained.

Dongar Vaneer is seasonal herb and used in treatment of many diseases both internally as well as externally. I have seen that the Healers suggest patients having nervous system related diseases to walk on Dongar Vaneer population bare foot daily morning. They have deep faith in efficacy of this treatment. Dongar Vaneer population at vegetative stage is considered best for this purpose.

The decoction of plants collected before flowering is used internally in treatment of nervous system related disease. Due to severe mental shock when patients show the symptoms of great depression, as first remedy the Healers remember this herb. “This decoction acts in miraculous way. Many times patients complain about its odd taste. In such condition we add juggery in it. Many times Scoparia like herbs are also added but we insist of taking this decoction in its original form.” The Healers of Sarguja region informed. The Healers of Chhattisgarh Plains add more herbs in it in order to make this decoction more useful but always keep the proportion of Dongar Vaneer at higher side. “Whether normal person can take this decoction in order to remain free from mental exhaustion?’ I asked to the Healers. “Yes, but for general use decoction should be light.” They explained.

I prepared special herbal tea by adding Dongar Vaneer as main ingredient. For taste and aroma added other compatible herbs. In next visit I served this tea to the Healers. After taking first sip they started thinking of its ingredients. They guessed presence of some well known herbs but failed to guess Dongar Vaneer’s presence. It was a sign of success. I disclosed the formulation and requested them to try it on their patients. The most positive side of this herbal tea is its effect on mood. I see it as potential herbal tea for our arm forces fighting war in stressful conditions.

The Healers having expertise in treatment of liver related diseases give root decoction of this herb once in every fifteen days. On that day they stop use of other medicines. I have observed that the Healers having expertise in treatment of Leucoderma practice this knowledge quite commonly.    

The Healers are aware that its seeds and leaves can be used as tonic but as other promising alternatives are available they use it less commonly. I am aware that from documentation point of view it is important information.

When I was preparing report on Type II Diabetes the name of this herb came many times specially with Medicinal Rice Alcha. The Healers add this combination in 200 days schedule of Diabetic patients having kidney related troubles. This combination is given up to many weeks with dozens of other medicines in different parts of day.

Through on-going surveys I am trying to gather more information on Dongar Vaneer.   

Search for medicinal tree having swollen lymph nodes like structures

When I reached to meet the Tradtional Healers having expertise in treatment of different types of cancer a patient from Delhi was interacting with them. His swollen lymph nodes were reminding me the patient of Homoeopathic drug Badiaga. The Healers were trying to get information on all aspects of his trouble. He wanted to show the medical reports prepared by leading cancer hospitals of India but for the Healers there was no meaning of these reports. Seeing me in far village the patient requested me to translate reports for the Healers. I tried to convince him that let the Healers do their job and please keep full faith on them for early recovery.

“Whether you have seen such swollen lymph nodes like structure on any tree?” The Healers questioned me. I tried to remember and said,” I have seen it on indigenous Mango trees.”  “Yes, your observation is right but we use Indigenous Mango trunk at early stage. At later stage we use different tree. If you are interested you can join us in search of this tree for preparation of medicine.” They offered. It was golden opportunity for me and who will dare to miss it.

I have mentioned in previous research articles that swollen spots on tree trunks are seen as abnormality by Botanists but Tradtional healers consider it as gift of Mother Nature. They collect plant part from that swollen spot and use it in treatment of different diseases both internally as well as externally. In my previous articles you can find information about preparation of herbal oil for Gout from swollen trunk of indigenous Mango tree.

With Healers I traveled to some distance by car and then they decided to walk in dry river bed. I instructed my driver to park the vehicle in safe place and take rest. Don’t play music and also in case of encounter with carnivores climb on tree. He tried to give assurance through smile. I was not aware of tree species the Healers were searching. They were aware that patient was waiting in village for treatment but when many experts visit to forest in group endless discussion starts on flora and fauna. After two hour of search we stopped near Kauha tree i.e. Terminalia arjuna. It was growing in middle of river. Although at that time river was dry but Healers informed that during flood it tolerates all odd conditions. Botanically one type of Kauha is present in the state but the Healers have categorized it on the basis on its uses. For example, Kauha growing in black soil, Kauha growing in river bed, Kauha growing in forest etc. According to them different types of Kauha possess different medicinal properties. Modern as well as ancient literatures say nothing about it.

When I examined the Kauha tree trunk I found the natural swollen nodes like structures at the base. It was amazing to see such tree. I have seen such tree earlier but not in perfect appearance. “Now we are sure that we can save the patient.” The Healers cheered with joy. They collected Dhamas climber growing in nearby forest and extracted leaf juice. Instead of collecting all swollen nodes like structures they selected five. After removing the swollen nodes they applied leaf juice of Dhamas in exposed part. “This application will heal the wound in few hours.” They said and started worshipping the tree. They wrapped Bodal leaves around the collected nodes.

“A bridge is proposed here. It will connect all villages even in rainy season when floods are common. For it there was plan to cut this tree. We tried to inform about its importance to the engineers but they made joke and refused to accept our request. We have to save this tree anyhow as it is not possible to develop such structures in tree trunk by human beings. Seeing the response of engineers we planned to spread rumors about this tree that if it is cut then Forest God will take revenge in terms of poor crop as well as poor forest produces up to several years. It worked as expected. Now in pressure of natives engineers have shifted the location. Whenever they visit to site they never forget to worship this tree. We are not justifying the act of spreading rumor and you can say it as blind faith but if any measure protects our trees without harming others, we will never hesitate to use it.” The Healers explained. They were full of confidence. 

I decided to tell this story of the Healers and their love with forest through my writings. This article is an effort in this direction.       

I thought that the time has come to return back to village but the Healers continued their search. “We are searching Manjoor Booti. Without it we can not use Kauha plant parts. Now we have to climb on hill as this herb grows in rocky areas. It is extremely rare and we have to start its search seriously without wasting time in discussion.” After saying this they started climbing nearby hill, I followed them.

© Pankaj Oudhia