Pankaj Oudhia

Discussion of Harjori, Hadjori, Hadjodi or Hadjod, the bone herbs of Chhattisgarh

“I have seen the pictures of Harjori in your website. It is not true Harjori. I am Traditional Healer and using real Harjori for patients.” I received this message from North India. With this message he sent picture of his Harjori.

In general the herbs used by the bonesetters for heal fractured bone are known as Hadjori or Hadjodi in local languages.  There are not less than 100 herbs known by this name in Chhattisgarh only. Most of the Traditional Healers use Cissus quadrangularis for this purpose. Due to this reason in general Hadjodi name is taken for Cissus. The picture sent by the Healer was of Cissampelos pareira. It is also known as Harjori in many parts of India but in Chhattisgarh this name is not popular. Based on its different medicinal uses it is called by different names in the state. For example the Healers using it in treatment of Insanity name it as Bahia Booti. The bonesetters of Chhattisgarh use this plant in their daily practice.

“Thanks for your message. You are right but Cissus is also known as Harjori. There are tens of plants known by this name. Whenever you come to Raipur please visit to me.’ I replied to the Healer. Within week he reached to Raipur and contacted me. We started discussion on Cissampelos pareira and continued up to eleven hours. He was having rich knowledge about its use in treatment of bone related troubles. He prepares tens of formulations and gives it to his patients. When I searched my database I found that the Healers of Chhattisgarh are also using many of these formulations with slight variations.  None of the formulation used by him is available as commercial product in market.

I have written a lot on different aspects of this herb. During recent surveys I got new information about its use. The Healers of Chhattisgarh Plains use this herb in treatment of Renal Calculi. Not as single remedy but in form of herbal combination. They prepare over 125 formulations using this herb as main ingredient. “Over 125 formulations just for Renal Calculi!!!” I asked. “No, it is wrong to say that these formulations are only for Renal Calculi. We use it in treatment of all renal troubles. Last year we tried to treat the patients of CRF (Chronic Renal Failure) and got much success. Judicious use of these formulations can protect from these diseases. In general after removal of calculi patients ignore this trouble. Our treatment continues even after removal. This treatment helps kidneys to become active again. This treatment checks formation of calculi again. In these formulations over 60 herbs are used with Cissampelos pareira.

The bonesetters of North Chhattisgarh use Cissampelos pareira with Cissus and other bone herbs. I have collected information regarding over 55 such formulations. These formulations are used both internally as well as externally.

The Healers practice Traditional Allelopathic Knowledge to enrich Cissampelos with desired medicinal properties. Instead of extracts of small herbs they use tree extracts for this purpose.

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

Herbal Biscuit to Herbal Cigarette, success lies in taste and health benefits  

“Very odd taste. Go for further improvement.” I suggested to the manufacture of herbal biscuit. This manufacturer is trying to prepare different herb based biscuits for different diseases. At first he prepared biscuit for Diabetes, then biscuit for general health and encouraged with results biscuits for skin diseases. Migraine, Hypertension and so on. He met to me for special comments. I tasted all products and found all with odd taste.

 “You can suggest these as medicine but not as general biscuit. My suggestion is to prepare biscuit which taste like real biscuit and having health benefits not achievable through common biscuit.” I suggested. He ignored my suggestion and launched some of products for initial market response. It was promoted as herbal biscuit but most of the users complained about taste. He returned to me for improvement.

“This biscuit has different wild tubers and we have prepared it for patients having poor vitality.” He informed about his recent product. I tasted it. “I am not sure whether you have added chemicals in it or not but when I keep it in mouth it tastes like vitamin B capsules. Please inform me about ingredients so that I can find out the cause of bad taste.” I gave my opinion. He informed about 14 ingredients. “We purchase these herbs from herb traders and used it for biscuit preparation.” He further informed.

“I feel that you are using immature tubers of Patalkumhda in this biscuit. The odd taste as well smell is due to it.” I said. Next day he visited again with samples. The tubers were not fully matured. “I suggest you to engage your own herb collectors for collection of this tuber at right stage. It’s not difficult to get matured tubers. For inexperienced herb collectors it is difficult to locate the tubers after fall of leaves but experienced herb collectors identify easily the spots where this herb grows in abundance.” I tried to suggest.

“Herb collection is not easy task. We have big agricultural farm. If you suggest we can go for large scale cultivation of this tuber.” He proposed. “Cultivation of Patalkumhda is not a tough job. We can do it from next season. Once established it is not hard to maintain. It spreads like weed. That’s why we must book the field for it for many years. Regular harvesting will be required to keep control over its spread.” I suggested. For present experiment I arranged matured Patalkumhda for him.

In Biscuit prepared for Diabetes patient he added all bitter herbs. I remembered the comments of Traditional Healers having expertise in treatment of Type II Diabetes. “It is wrong concept to mix all bitter herbs and consume it up to long time. It may help in managing Diabetes in some cases but long term use results in side effects. We know from experiences that in such patients many times other herbs fail to give the desirable effects. Many times we have to use larger doses in such cases for getting desire effects. Bitter herbs disturbs digestion system and results in many types of skin related troubles. Bitter herbs must be avoided and if there is no option it must be taken for short time.” The Healers always say.

“If you want to prepare biscuit for Diabetes patient in real sense then use simple combinations having two or three herbs. It will give immense relief to patients.” I suggested. “In India when the users see names of Neem, Methi, Gudmar, Giloi, Karela etc. only then they consider it useful for Diabetes. If you use other ingredients they will never buy it.” He said. He was true to great extent. Like bitter effects of bitter herbs it is bitter truth. There is need to change this wrong concept.

From Indian state Gujarat I got samples of herbal cigarettes recently. The inventors were in process of getting international patent for it. When they informed about its ingredients I found it as traditionally used Herbal Cigarette. “What is new thing in it?” I asked. “We have invented it.” They claimed.

In Google patent search I see thousands of patents taken on the basis on Traditional Knowledge. This knowledge is in public domain but still by making slight modification so-called inventors are getting patents. Many organizations claim that they are fighting against such patents. They get fund for it but at ground level why they are not raising objection against it, is matter of surprise, at least for me.  

“The smell is very odd. The Cigarette lover will never adopt it. Non-smoking people will also not like it. If you want to make it popular then add herbs full of aroma and health benefits. I can suggest so many herbs.” I said to them. But they were not interested in much modification. I asked for sample in large quantity. With this lot I visited to forest village and put fire on it during evening hours. Its fumes spread every where. Villagers were seeing this activity. After sometime I got first response. “What is this? It will work against flies during rainy season. We can burn it in cattle shed.” One senior villager responded. “It may be good as mosquito repellent.” I got second response. With these responses I returned to the manufacturers and informed them about the true quality of their products they were naming as Herbal Cigarette. They thanked me and returned back.

Yesterday I received their mail. Now they are planning to use their products with slight modification for mosquito management.

Finally they reached to correct path. 

Medicated Bath and Skin troubles

“This treatment is not for specific skin trouble. It is to maintain the skin health. It prevents many troubles and also cures it. If you follow it sincerely throughout life your skin will remain free from ageing to great extent.” The Traditional Healers of Chhattisgarh Plains suggested the visitors from Mumbai. “What else we can expect. We are ready to take treatment.” They thanked to the Healers and showed interest in this treatment.

The visitors contacted me after reading my articles through net. I arranged their visit and very soon they were directly interacting with the Healers. “We recommend treatment no. 18 for you. It is only external treatment. Daily you have to take bath in freshly prepared decoction. This medicated bath will continue up to many months. You have to visit once in a day to us and then you are free to do anything during rest of the day.” The Healers informed.

The visitors decided to stay in Raipur and travel to Healer’s village every morning for bath. On their request I joined their long journey up to one month. I was impressed by their enthusiasm.

The treatment started with Karanj leaf decoction.  The Healers selected old trees less affected by diseases and insect. New leaves were preferred. The decoction is prepared by using well water. The visitors were instructed to either sit in tub filled with decoction or rub it on skin and after drying, take bath with well water. They preferred first option. “Don’t cover your hairs. Use this decoction for all parts.” The Healers instructed.

Next day when we reached to the Healers they were starting for forest in search of Beeja leaves. I joined them. We reached to old Beeja tree having good number of Kauagodi orchid. We collected leaves. Many Healers were in favor of adding Beeja bark with leaves but the senior Healers said that it must be added at later stage. We returned and decoction was prepared and used in same way.

On third day the Healers visited crop fields and as it was winter they found Bemchi leaves easily. Plants at preflowering stage were selected for collection of leaves. The visitors were suggested to sit in tub filled with this decoction up to long time.

For initial 20 days they used 20 different herbs in this specific ways. After 20 days they started mixing different herbs. The duration of actual treatment is four years but as it is very long duration and practically not feasible, no one takes interest in it. That’s why they have limited it to one year but one year is also long duration specially for the visitors coming from far places.

“Initially we were much depressed as this medicated bath was resulting in no visible effect but after fifteen days we started experiencing its real effect. This effect resulted in increased faith on healers that is must in every treatment.” The visitors commented.

The treatment continued but after forty days the visitors informed that they want to stop this treatment. They were having business urgencies from Mumbai and it was not possible to stay more in Chhattisgarh.  I discussed it to the Healers.

 “We are aware of such situations. It’s really hard for everyone to live with us up to long time. Suggest them to stay one more day and then visit in coming months at least for one month. We will try to continue the treatment.” They showed new path.

Many times the Healers discussed with me about its commercialization, at least to make available the herbs used in this process to the visitors like this, in form of small packets having all details about source, the Healers and method of use but we failed to proceed. The Healers prefer to use freshly collected leaves. Most of the herbs used grow as wild herbs and it is not possible to get it everywhere. The Healers are much worried about its misuse. That’s why they want to get protection of their knowledge. I am aware that it is tough process and much investment is required for it. Many investors meet to me time to time with interest in promotion of Traditional Healing. Few of them suggested establishment of  village level clinic for these Healers with all modern facilities. There must be some arrangement for stay of visitors. At present the Healers take no charge for this treatment but I have seen that after getting benefit many visitors show interest in paying something. The investors say that we must accept this donation and use it for the welfare of the Healers so that they can give their services without any burden.

We are working on this plan. We want to establish it as model so that in case of success we can motivate the Healers of other regions to proceed in this direction. Although due to increase in awareness in recent days the legal authorities are not taking action against the Traditional Healers but we know that under legal framework the Healers are not allowed to practice. It is a matter of “National Shame” for us that the Healers practicing Traditional Medicinal Knowledge are legally not permitted whereas the experts adopting imported medical system are given permission to treat patients. I am fighting against it, as you know.

Let’s hope that very soon our Traditional Healers will get legal rights as well as honor, they deserve since generations.  

© Pankaj Oudhia