Pankaj Oudhia

Less known but (Traditionally) much used Diabetes herbs waiting for detailed research       

“Respected sir, my self ***, m.pharm in pharmacognosy student from gayatri college of pharmacy, Sambalpur. I am from Raipur, Chhattisgarh. I want project in antidiabetic activity on plant. So please suggest and help me for selection of plant in which I could work.” Every week I get many such messages. It seems that interest on plants used in treatment of Diabetes has increased. According to reference literatures, many plants are used around the world this purpose. I have observed that researchers have selected few hundreds plants and labeled it as Diabetes plants. And conducting research on it again and again. Unfortunately, even after much research only few plants have been established as promising plants. It indicates that most of the research works are done mere for formalities. After publishing two or three papers in reputed journals researchers shift to another topic.

As you know, I have mentioned thousands of herbs and herbal combinations in my Type II Diabetes report. For researchers like this I suggest herbs from it. After getting herb names young researchers search the reference literatures. In most of the cases they fail to find these names in literatures. As result they hesitate to work on it. In such cases they return to routine herbs like Momordica or Gymnema.

Through my writings I motivate the young researchers to take initiative and focus on new herbs. Be Pioneer.

Few months back a close relative with Type II Diabetes approached to me and requested to prepare schedule for him. It was not new to me. I have prepared hundreds of schedules for such patients based on my experience. I simply ask about routine diet schedule to them and add few things commonly available in surroundings.

After long discussion I added different types of Laddus in his schedule. “I am suffering from Diabetes and you are suggesting different types of Laddus!!! Is it correct?” He questioned. “Don’t worry these Laddus are part of Diabetes treatment since time immemorial. You can name it as sweet treatment of Diabetes.” I replied. I suggested him to use Bambri Lasa in all preparations. Bambri Lasa is gum of Acacia nilotica. In general, natives use different types of tree gums in preparation of Laddus but for patients having Diabetes are suggested to use Bambri Lasa.

In Chhattisgarh Plains Bambri is available everywhere. In early days village children were collecting it for local traders. In this way they were getting some money from traders but children of new generation are not interested in it. Traders have also lost interest due to increasing labor wages. Less popularity of this gum is another constraint. But medicinally this gum is very useful and still used by the Traditional Healers.

“Why Bambri Lasa? Is it effective against Diabetes? I have never heard about it?” My relative asked. “Bambri Lasa is useful for Diabetes. For better results it must be used with combination of specific herbs. That’s why I have suggested you to use it in Laddus having many herbs. In many cases use of this Lasa results in problem of constipation. But due to presence of other herbs it will not cause this problem when consumed in form of Laddus.” I tried to explain.

After getting answers of all questions, he started using the schedule sincerely.

During recent visit to forest I was taking pictures of Kevatch pods. When I completed it I found someone waiting for me. “I am Traditional Healer and waiting for collection of Kevatch plant parts.” He said. “Sorry, please come and take the parts.” I said and gave him space. He was there to collect Kevatch roots. I was surprised as most of the Healers using its roots as medicine collect it before flowering and poding. But this Healer was collecting it during flowering and poding. I have mentioned in previous research articles that Kevatch roots are used as Aphrodisiac and Traditional Healers are still practicing this knowledge. “I am collecting it for patients having Diabetes.” He disclosed.

He collected roots and then covered the remaining underground parts with soil. Use of Kevatch roots for Diabetes was not new information for me but I was interested in specific method. I shared my knowledge with him and as return he shared his knowledge. “We use it in complicated cases of Diabetes (Type II Diabetes) when patient’s kidney and eyes are affected. We prepare over thirty formulations based on these roots. In these formulations Kevatch roots play key role. Its proportion is always kept at higher side. In general, we don’t give one formulation to all patients having similar symptoms. We interact with patients up to long time and then suggest suitable formulation.” They informed. They use Kevatch roots as single remedy but rarely.

The thirty formulations reminded me the complex formulations having plus 75 herbs used by the Healers of other regions in treatment of Type II Diabetes.

Bambri and Kevatch are used most frequently by the Traditional Healers for Diabetes along with hundreds of herbs but for modern world these names are at the bottom in potential Diabetes herbs list. I feel that young researchers must come forward to conduct research on such herbs after making interactions with the Traditional Healers, instead of using mere library references.        

Discussion of Leucoderma herbs and experience of Traditional Healers

“I am suffering from Leucoderma and tried Bawchi through many methods. I applied it with cow urine on white spots but this application resulted in irritation and new skin problem. After it I tried seed powder internally but it resulted in throat related troubles. Then tried PUVA treatment having active chemical of Bawchi but failed to get desired effect. Almost all ancient Indian literatures on medicine recommend the use of this herb but why I am not getting relief?” I receive many such messages from different corners of the world.

Bawchi is herb of medicinal importance. It is effective against Leucoderma but Bawchi is not only herb used for it. There are hundreds of herbs and thousands of combinations for this trouble. The Traditional Healers are aware of art of its use. Simple formulations mentioned in ancient literatures are not effective in all cases. When during surveys I present these documented formulations among the expert Healers they say that it is not complete information. Through my research articles I have tried to document the comments of Traditional Healers on ancient formulations. It is bitter fact that ancient Indian literatures give incomplete knowledge of treatment of most of diseases. “It is fault of the translators. They have failed to get the exact meaning and interpreted it as per superficial knowledge. One can not blame the ancient literatures.” An Ayurveda expert from BHU once informed me. Whatever is the truth but I feel that there is need to publish revised editions of these literatures with the help of Traditional Healers of present generation.    

In treatment of Leucoderma instead of treating white spots from outside the Healers prefer to search the root cause of disease at first. After it systematic treatment is done. They are strictly against the self-medication.

Few months back I was in forest with Healers. We found a person collecting Sarphonk roots. The Healers informed that he is having rich knowledge about herbs. He is basically a farmer but traveled different parts of India for his interest in herbs and herbal treatment. “It is wrong to say him as Traditional Healer but we can say it as Healer.” The Healers gave their opinion. I introduced myself and asked about his purpose to visit forest.

“I am preparing medicine for Leucoderma. My daughter is suffering from it. In my formulation I use roots of herbs in different proportion. This formulation is used internally.” He informed.

“Sarphonk is available everywhere then why you are collecting it from forest?” I asked. “Earlier I was collecting it from crop fields, bunds and wasteland but when I found smell as well as traces of pesticides in it I decided to collect it from forest. As you know, rice farmers use heavy amount of pesticides. This application is making the medicinal herbs present in wasteland useless. Pesticides are applied in forest also specially in plantation areas. That’s why I have chosen this remote place for it. After collection of this root I will collect six different roots including roots of Kevatch.” He explained.

The Healers started discussion with him when they got information about the health problem of his daughter. “This formulation is giving much relief to her but she is having menstrual problem. It started after taking this formulation and I feel that any ingredient present in this formulation is creating problem. I tried different combinations by increasing and decreasing the specific herbs but failed to identify the herb responsible for it.” He informed.

The Healers focused their discussion on this aspect. I was having objection in use of one root but hesitating to comment among experts. Seeing the never ending discussion I decided to present my view. “I feel that there is need to remove Kevatch roots from this formulation. There is no problem in using this root alone. In combination compatible herbs are not present.” I said. The discussion shifted on herbs compatible to Kevatch. A senior Healer suggested the use of Kevatch pod hairs in place of roots for better results with less bad effect. After long discussion we all came to same conclusion.

He modified the formulation and started using it. As expected we received positive news from him.

Such discussions are vital but every time Healers don’t discuss so openly. Whenever I am invited as guest speaker in Traditional Healer meet or event like it, I prefer to sit with them and engage in long discussion instead of giving lectures from stage, far from them. Let me quote my dream again and that is to organize global meet of Traditional Healers from all corners of this world. Believe me such meets will result in ocean of new knowledge that will protect generations from diseases.  

© Pankaj Oudhia