Pankaj Oudhia

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Why your Methi is not giving desirable effects in treatment of Type II Diabetes? [Updated document, year 2009]

Pankaj Oudhia

Abstract

Research Article detailing the importance of medicinal herb Methi in treatment of Type II Diabetes and associated troubles. This article is specially written to give glimpses of scientific report titled ‘Traditional medicinal knowledge about herbs and herbal combinations used in treatment of Type II Diabetes in India with special reference to Chhattisgarh’

Methi is well known herb since time memorial in India. The reference literatures related to different systems of medicine in India are full of information about medicinal properties and uses of this herb. Its use in treatment of Diabetes especially Type II Diabetes is also known from ancient times. The modern experts and researchers have done detailed studies on this herb and as results in market we are having hundreds of Methi based products with claims that all are effective in treatment of this so-called modern day disease. It is not wrong to say that modern researchers have focused their research on identification of natural chemicals within the herb and its isolation and uses in treatment of Type II Diabetes. Methi is in use as home remedy for this disease in different parts of India. If you ask senior citizens about the herbs useful in treatment of Diabetes they will name it just after Karela. In general Methi seeds are used for this purpose. Seeds are used to prepare powder or many times whole seeds are used. Few years back I was attending International Conference in Kolkata. A leading researcher on Diabetes complained that Indian literatures say much about Methi but it is not as effective as claimed by the literatures. In general drug companies manage to sell Methi based products based on the deep faith and claims given in reference literatures and common people use it with faith. This was not new question for me. When any Diabetic patient starts using Methi he or she shows much faith in it but it is not much effective in every case. As result most of them stop taking it or continues it just as routine medicine. Modern natives get information about its use from news articles and they use Methi based products available in market. Let us search the answer of this million dollar question that why Methi is not desirable giving desirable effects as claimed in reference literatures related to different systems of medicine in India?


Very few of us know that not only seeds or leaves but all parts of Methi are useful in treatment of Diabetes both internally as well as externally. As mentioned above in general common people as well as researchers focus on seeds and leaves. For availability of seeds they depend on the local market. In market different types as well as grades of Methi are available. In Metros especially in Delhi market you will get Methi especially useful for Diabetes. When I purchased it in little amount I found it as bold seeded type raised through modern agriculture. I asked to the sellers that why it is useful for Diabetes? They were not having definite answer. Many replied that they are selling it by saying this since many decades. Now modern herb experts are also suggesting to purchase this special Methi from market. I presented these seeds to the Traditional Healers of different parts of India having expertise in treatment of Diabetes and use of Methi. They found it less than average in performance.


I am documenting traditional medicinal knowledge about different uses of Methi since year 1992. I have seen the Healers preparing drugs from it. They never depend on the Methi available in market. They grow it in their fields or in Badi. Before sowing they drench the land with special herbal extracts. Seeds are also soaked in herbal extracts. After germination at specific interval, till harvest, crop is treated with different types of herbal extracts and leachate. These treatments are having many purposes but important objective is to enrich it with medicinal properties so that it can give desirable results when patients will use it. I have documented this knowledge of Methi growing. It is Traditional Allelopathic Knowledge. While studying Agronomy I suggested my professors to include this traditional knowledge in improved cultivation practices. They appreciated it but suggested to try it during advanced studies in later part of life. Such detailed works are not required in M.Sc.. I am still trying for this. As Methi is widely used throughout world I am confident that this traditional farming method will not only give Methi rich in medicinal properties but also farmers will get assured market for their hi-quality produce. It is totally organic farming. Most of extracts and leachates used for treatments are prepared from the herbs and trees available in surroundings. Few rare herbs are also used.


So the way you adopt to grow, you will get medicinally rich Methi accordingly. In many parts of Chhattisgarh the Healers depend on herb vendors for Methi plant parts. These herb vendors sell it as wild Methi. They sell dry parts mostly seeds. But in general Healers grow it and use it. I would like to mention here that when Methi is grown for treatment of different human diseases it is treated with different extracts and leachates. While documenting information on use of Methi in treatment of Type II Diabetes most of the Healers informed that method of use plays vital role in making Methi really effective and in general alone Methi is not sufficient to give desirable effects. I have mentioned in previous research articles that throughout India different types of Laddu prepared from Methi plant parts mainly seeds are very popular. It is prepared for taste as well as medicine. As home remedy its use is very common. Till today I have collected information on hundreds of Laddu prepared from Methi. While preparing it Methi is added as important ingredients. In India you will find Laddu having two basic ingredients to tens of basic ingredients. Based on effectiveness of Methi Laddu in treatment of Type II Diabetes and associated diseases through interactions and discussions with the Traditional Healers of Chhattisgarh I have selected 35 types of Laddu. When I started documenting information about these 35 Laddu I came to conclusion that one “Laddu encyclopedia” can be prepared. You can imagine the quantum of knowledge associated with hundreds of Laddu. I know you are ready with question. Prepare Laddu and consume it. What are the details about it? While preparing these 35 Laddu the Healers use three types of ingredients i.e. Primary, Secondary and Tertiary. Primary ingredients are most effective in treatment of targeted diseases. Secondary ingredients are added to increase the performance of Primary ingredients whereas Tertiary ingredients are added to increase the performance of both Primary and Secondary ingredients. Both Secondary and Tertiary ingredients also play partial role in treatment. The Healers prepare it by themselves in most of the cases. Many times patients are suggested to purchase it from specific shop. In rare cases they are informed about the ingredients. As result the information available with common natives is different from the information having the Healers. This is the reason most of the Laddu we use, fail to give the desirable effects.


After preparing Laddu the Healers fix it in specific schedules of medicine given to the patients. Many Laddu are given in noon before or after lunch. Many types are given at night. Similarly morning time is also suggested. Based on the experience and condition of the patients they decide the size of Laddu. Also after taking Laddu number of drinks are suggested. Well water to whey and herbal extracts are among these drinks. The purpose is to increase the effectiveness of these Laddu.


Methi based herbal dishes are also popular in India. The Healers suggest the patients to include these dishes in existing schedules to get early relief. In my scientific report on Type II Diabetes I am trying to put all important information on this aspect in simple terms so that after completion of report patients as well as researchers can use Methi in effective treatment of diseases specially Type II Diabetes.


Keep reading my research articles at Ecoport for updates.

New comments added on December 16, 2009

The work on Diabetes report is in progress in CGBD database. After documenting Traditional Medicinal Knowledge about 35 types of Methi Laddus I decided to add information about 50 more Laddus. The information about these 50 Laddus was collected through recent Ethnobotanical surveys.

With the help of innovative farmers fields trials were conducted in supervision of Traditional Healers for growing Methi with desired medicinal properties. Results of these experiments were added in CGBD database.

When I wrote about traditional methods of Methi cultivation for Diabetes treatment, in different languages in farm journals, farmers of many states took interest in it and showed eagerness to grow Methi through these ways. I received many letters from Rajasthan and Gujarat that they also have rich traditional knowledge on this aspect. I have forwarded their messages to the researchers working on those states. I am hoping that they will document this important knowledge. During visit to Orissa I shared information about Methi Laddus used by the Healers of Chhattisgarh. They showed keen interest and assured that they will use it in Traditional Healing. Many of them suggested improvement in these Laddus.

From two months I am trying to buy different types of Methi Laddus available for sell in Indian Metros. These Laddus are consumed by Diabetes patients. I am getting samples as well as recipes but it is sad to note that none of Methi Laddu is having ingredients suggested by the experts Healers. During recent talk among herb lovers in Mumbai I discussed this issue. Many entrepreneurs showed interest in it. It is good sign.      

Original Research Document

http://ecoport.org/ep?SearchType=earticleView&earticleId=3084&page=-2

How to Cite this Research Document

Oudhia, P. (2009). Why your Methi is not giving desirable effects in treatment of Type II Diabetes? [Updated document, year 2009]. http://www.pankajoudhia.com

© Pankaj Oudhia