Pankaj Oudhia

Van Jhunki and Traditional Healers of present generation

“Don’t harvest much. Enough, enough.” I heard many voices in hill slope. I found three youths collecting herbs. They were collecting variety of herbs but Van Jhunki in bulk. “We are students of Traditional Healers and collecting herbs for preparation of medicine. We have to visit seven different hills for collection. This is first hill.” They informed.

“But where are the other hills?” I asked. “From this place it is hard to see these hills due to dense forest but these hills are very near to this hill.” They replied. “Are you visiting different hills for different herbs?” I continued to question. “No, we have to collect same herbs from different hills.” They explained.  I surprised as the herbs they were collecting were in abundance in this hill then why they will collect same herbs from different hills? May be this is the Traditional sustainable harvesting method to allow natural population of herbs to survive in all locations-I thought. I decided to meet the Healers.

“You are right but the main purpose is to get herbs rich in medicinal properties. Same herb collected from different locations possesses different medicinal properties. Our students are not enough trained to identify the potential herb. That’s why we suggest them to collect same herb from different locations. Through this way we get a lot of medicinally rich herb.” They tried to explain. “We are adopting this method from time immemorial. Visit to these hills round the year is a past of our life. In our childhood carnivores were present in these hills in large number. At that time we were visiting in group ten to fifteen people. Now forest cover is decreasing at alarming rates. ‘Wood Mafia’visits here more than us. Due to movement of their vehicles new plants are spreading. From few years forest authorities have allowed sheep and goat grazing in these hills. We are not confident to get all these herbs after ten years.” They continued to say.

These Traditional Healers treat all types of diseases but having expertise in treatment of different types of fever and joint pain. They prepare different herbal formulations by using twenty five herbs. These herbs are mixed in different proportions and herbal formulations are prepared. They keep the information about contents as well as methods secret and never talk about it with their patients. I am meeting to them from fifteen years. They use Van Jhunki in their formulations.

 “We collect it in bulk once in a year and keep it in dry form. Although this herb is present in abundance but it is not in trade. Also other Healers use it less commonly. They have kept it the category of forest herbs having less use. But we have enough knowledge about it. As our popularity is increasing more and more patients are coming. For them we require this herb in bulk. These days we are motivating our students to go far places in search of this herb. Through formulations we are evaluating the effectiveness of herb collected from new locations.” They informed.

I identified this herb as Crotalaria prostrata. In reference literatures its traditional and modern medicinal uses have been reported but still this herb is used less commonly. According to these literatures root of this herb is used most commonly but these Healers use its all parts alone and in combination.

During Ethnobotanical surveys I noted that the Healers of present generation are not practicing Traditional Allelopathic Knowledge to enrich this herb with desired medicinal properties. From senior Healers I tried to get information on this aspect and documented the knowledge in original form. Most of the Healers of present generation adopt some criteria to collect the herb rich in medicinal properties. Van Jhunki growing with Manjoor Booti, Titra Poonchhi like medicinal herbs in wild is considered best for collection. Van Jhunki growing in shade of old Modgar tree is also considered good for preparation of fever medicines.

Through on-going surveys I am trying to collect more information on this herb.     

Dew drops collected from Orchid Kauagodi and Traditional Medicinal Knowledge about it

Last week I worked up to late night, rather early morning. It was 4.00 AM. After completing work I decided to sleep but failed to find it in my eyes. I called to my driver and asked, “Whether it is possible to start for forest within half an hour?” “Why not?” I got positive response and within forty five minutes we were on way to forest. It was not the routine time to visit forest. In winter this time very few vehicles are seen in road.  I was aware of presence of heater in car but never used it. Driver adjusted it and for the first time we started enjoying it.

I was expecting nothing. I only wanted to see the forest in morning hours and return back. After one hour we stopped for roadside snack shop for tea and Alu-Poha. In fast drive of one hour we reached to forest. Without Traditional Healers forest visit looks incomplete to me. I thought of taking Healers with me but as second thought I decided to enter in forest alone.

I took pictures of insects and small herbs. And then returned to car. I observed that driver was talking to few people. When I reached near I found them as Traditional Healers of nearby villages. I was the happiest researcher of the world at that moment. “We are here to collect Amrit.” They said and showed different earthen pots they were carrying with them. They were in forest to collect dew drops from different medicinal herbs.

“We will climb on this old tree of Beeja and collect the dew drops from orchid growing on it. If you want to get best pictures then climb on tree and remain in top. You can shoot the entire process clearly.” They proposed. When to inspect the tree one of them climbed he shouted that one snake is resting in a branch. Due to this I changed the plan for climbing. The Healers climbed one by one and without disturbing the snake started collecting dew drops. They returned with mere one glassful of dew. Tens of orchids locally known as Kauagodi were growing on one tree. “We can collect more dew but over collection will be fatal to Kauagodi. That’s why we have collected in limited quantity.” They informed.

Beeja trees are common in this forest and also orchid but Healers wanted to collect as much as possible dew before 9 AM. They were visiting forest for this specific purpose from one week. It will continue up to several weeks.

The Healers try to keep this dew as long as possible. Many of them give it to the patients directly. Its intake after taking certain herbal medicines is considered good. Many Healers prepare herbal combinations by adding it and then use these combinations round the year. Dew is applied on specific body parts externally also. Dew collected from this orchid is considered full of vitality. The patients recovering from chronic diseases are suggested to take it. Many times patients are instructed to collect it from trees and use it throughout winter.

“Climbing on tree requires much experience. That’s why we avoid sending the patients for it. If their relatives assure us then we allow them. As you know everyone is not aware that existence of orchid is must for future patients and as result they collect much dew from it. This act affects the growth of these natural gifts.” They disclosed.

I have mentioned in previous research articles that in early days the senior farmers were using dew drops collected from Chickpea crop for preparation of medicine for digestive system related troubles. For that they spread white cloth on plants in crop fields at night and collect wet cloth next morning. Through this method they get much dew. I tried to suggest this method to the Healers using Kauagodi dew. “In forest it is not possible. We are not the only visitors for dew, from monkeys to small insects all visit there for it. In controlled condition i.e. crop field it is possible.” They rejected the suggestion.

I tasted dew drops from their earthen pot. It was tasteless. This orchid grows on different tree species including Saja and Tendu. The Healers consider dew collected from same species of orchid growing on different tree species different in medicinal properties. Many times they mix the dew collected from different sources. “This year winter is long and we are getting sufficient dew.” They informed.

I took tens of pictures and also prepared film. I was fortunate enough to get all details in this short visit. I am aware that it is not possible to follow these Healers but decided to visit frequently in coming days.   

© Pankaj Oudhia