Pankaj Oudhia

Use of Manjoor Booti as primary and secondary ingredient in complex herbal formulations

“If you want to save your life, you must stop taking alcoholic drinks in any form and amount.” The Tradtional Healers were giving warning to the youth with damaged liver. “I have tried it many times but I feel exhausted and depressed without it. These symptoms force me to start it again.” He tried to explain his problem. “For that you have to live with us up to at least one month. We will try to help you by all means.” They suggested.

“We will start our treatment with wild tubers. These tubers will increase resistance of his body. For mental strength Bramhi and Muscaini like herbs will be given in different combinations. But as main remedy we have to use Manjoor Booti both internally as well as externally.” The Healers informed. They showed me the dry herb collected in previous season. “For real effect there is need of freshly harvested herb daily. We will give this assignment of herb collection to the patient.” They further said.

Manjoor Booti is seasonal herb and in general the Healers identify it from its flowers. Manjoor means Peacock. Its flowers have the color of Peacock feather. That is why the Healers have named it as Manjoor Booti. The Healers collect this herb from rocky areas. I am conducting surveys since many years but collected very little information about this herb. Most of the Healers keep it in the category of less useful herb. In nature its occurrence is rare. This herb is not in trade. While documenting forgotten formulations of Chhattisgarh specially complex formulations having at least 100 ingredients the name of Manjoor Booti came many times. The Healers add this herb as main ingredient in not more than 175 formulations. It is added as secondary and tertiary ingredients in hundreds of formulations. I have mentioned in previous research articles that the secondary ingredients are added in any formulation to enhance the performance of primary ingredients. Many times its presence reduces the harmful properties of primary ingredients.

In previous article you have read that the Healers were searching this herb for its use with Kauha i.e. Terminalia arjuna. According to the Healers, in treatment of swollen lymph nodes initially they try combination of these herbs in different proportion. In case of positive results they continue it. In case of poor responses they mix both herbs in equal proportion and then try to add secondary ingredients in the formulation. The Healers of Chhattisgarh Plains use these herbs in this way but the Healers of Sarguja region use it in another way.

They use specially collected Kauha nodes as main ingredient and then add Manjoor Booti as secondary ingredient. They claim that in most of the cases the patients get much relief from trouble. In order to increase the efficacy of this formulation they add tertiary ingredients. As you know tertiary ingredients are added to increase the effects of primary and secondary ingredients. This is very complex knowledge and due to its complexity very few Healers practice it. It is not good sign.

The Healers of all regions accept that main role is played by Kauha and Manjoor Booti in all formulations. Alone none of these herbs is able to give relief. 

The Healers of Southern Chhattisgarh having expertise in treatment of different types of cancer keep their knowledge secret. Every month patients from different parts of India visit to them. During surveys I have observed that they collect Manjoor Booti in bulk. Many times they purchase it from the herb vendors coming from nearby states.

Google search about this herb results in few hundred web pages. Modern literatures give information about very few medicinal uses of this herb. It is really a matter of surprise that why modern researchers have not reported medicinal uses of this important herb.

Let’s return to the youth interested in saying goodbye to alcohol addiction. In such cases the Healers prepare thick paste by crushing fresh leaves with wet black soil. This paste is applied on sole and palm. After drying it is washed. Root decoction is given internally whereas whole plant is added with other herbs and spread in bed. Patients are advised to sleep on it.

“This way of treatment is effective but it is time taking job. That is why we use other easy treatment methods.’ The Healers of Chhura region informed.

Through on-going surveys I am trying my best to gather more information on this aspect. The Healers of Chhattisgarh Plains have requested me to identify and mark the spots in various parts of the state where rich population of this herb is present. I am taking pictures of such spots not only in the Chhattisgarh but also in neighboring states.  

Brave Mantora solving global problems through local knowledge 

I

“Why don’t you take the help of Nonee?” Indian expert suggested the Australian delegates.

“Nonee, you mean Mantora?” Australian delegates asked question in reply of question.

“Yes, Mantora. She has done great job in forest fire management. Allow her chopper to you country and she will try her best to manage bush fire.” Indian expert replied.

“Why not our chopper? Is anything special in her chopper?” Australian delegates asked.

“Yes, everything is special with Mantora. You must take her services.” Indian expert said.

II

Mantora took an aerial view of burning forest to locate eye of the fire and then landed her chopper without any hesitation. Australian rescue agencies raised the alarm and within no time rescue choppers were encircling the spot where Mantora’s chopper was landed. “Fire, fire and fire, nothing else. We have lost Mantora.” Pilot of rescue chopper cried. Remote satellite operators tried to focus on eye of the fire carefully. They found water vapor cloud in the spot. It was unusual. Very soon they can see Mantora’s chopper in the eye with no fire. “How it is possible? Where is Mantora? See her body lying on ground----------------

[Excerpts from Science Fiction titled “Brave Mantora in eye of the Australian Bushfire.
”Author: Pankaj Oudhia, SOPAM, Raipur, India. 2009]    

Brave Mantora lives in remote village of Chhattisgarh and uses local knowledge for global problems. She remains in demand always but she prefers to stay in village specially in nearby forest with his mentor Baiga Baba. Recently when Indian arm forces invited her for solving terror attack they have to send helicopter in Mantora’s village as mobile network is not present there. Mantora found that Mobile network is becoming curse for birds as well as bees. She decided to say goodbye to this modern facility. The villagers followed it.

With the help of Prof. Majumdar, Mantora tried hard to solve the terror problem in which tens of people were kidnapped by the terrorists. Instead of trying modern method of using guns in such cases she instructed the commandoes to leave gun aside and fight with new technique. They used specially prepared mosquitoes in Prof. Majumdar’s lab to manage terrorists.

Brave Mantora have rich knowledge about herbs. She developed many plant species capable of showing movements of leaves when any person with gun comes near to it. For arm forces she developed special herbal formulation. By using this formulation forces can fight up to many months without food. In this duration this formulation will keep them free from diseases and help in managing stress. Brave Mantora uses her knowledge about wild herbs to clear land mines without affecting lives.   

I am enjoying writing this science fiction. At first I have written it in English and then Hindi. Recently local newspaper published excerpts of fifth chapter of this science fiction. I got overwhelming responses. The readers were from urban as well as rural background. They requested me through letters and phone calls to publish full story and continue to write about Brave Mantora. Till today they were dependent on hired heroes from west like Harry Potter. These heroes fail to match with local conditions. “Now we have our own leader, capable of solving global problem.” I got message from a little girl eager to know much about Mantora.

“If you want to establish Mantora internationally you must write in English. Through this language it will reach to millions of readers. If you write it in regional languages then no doubt it is good step but you will get limited readers.” One of readers suggested. I accepted it and writing it in more than two languages.

Now days in India very few writers are writing Science Fiction. I feel that writing on this aspect is must to develop scientific temperament in new generation. It must be written in simple language. It must enhance the imagination power of the readers.

As beginner in this field like all beginners I am searching for publishers. A well known publisher from UK has showed interest in it but they want to make Brave Mantora more modernized.  The discussions are in progress.

If I am not wrong, recently Brave Mantora was invited to Afghanistan. She suggested in one of her lectures after managing bush fire in Australia that instead of dumping so many bullets on earth forces must use C machine to disturb the functions of arms and ammunition used by terrorists.  As response to this, experts invited her to Afghanistan.

Let’s see whether Mantora gets success or not this time?  

© Pankaj Oudhia