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Pankaj
Oudhia
Updated
versions of old research documents
For
basic details about this series please visit this
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http://www.pankajoudhia.com/newwork12.html
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Traditional
medicinal knowledge about herbs and insects used
in treatment of Sickle Cell Anaemia in
Indian State
Chhattisgarh. 1. Interactions with Traditional
Healers of Bagbahera region. [Updated document,
year 2009]
Pankaj
Oudhia
Abstract
Over 17 percent
population of Indian State Chhattisgarh is
affected by Sickle Cell Anaemia. In modern
sciences it is considered as genetic disorder and
hence, there is no treatment available. In rural
and forest regions of Chhattisgarh, the
Traditional Healers are trying their best to
provide relief to patients with the help of
traditional knowledge. The present series is an
effort to document this important traditional
medicinal knowledge.
Traditional
Healing
During Ethnobotanical
surveys in Bagbahera region in year 1999-2000 I
found the repetition of words “ Dusinghia” and “
Sickling” in my field diaries. My field workers
were using these diaries to note down the
information collected during door-to-door visit.
Sickle cell Anaemia is locally known as “Sickling”
are well aware of it. At first the natives try
modern medicines but when the medicines fail to
give desirable effects they take the services of
Traditional Healers. Traditional Healing is free
service and in most of the cases the Healers do
not charge even the cost of herbs. In Bagbahera
region hundreds of Traditional healers are engaged
in traditional healing and most of them use local
herbs in treatment of Sickle Cell Anaemia. Through
the surveys, I got information about the Healers
having expertise in treatment. I instructed my
field workers to meet and interact with these
experts frequently. You will be surprised to know
that they have arranged meeting over 20 times but
failed to convince them about the importance of
on-going documentation project. At last I decided
to pass many days with these Healers and share my
knowledge.
In
treatment of this disease the Traditional Healers
of this region use over 250 species of herbs both
alone and in combination with other herbs. Among
these herbs Dusinghia is used most commonly. It
grows as weed both in bunds and wasteland. The
population growing on wasteland especially near
Nallah is preferred for the preparation of
medicine. I got opportunities to visit with the
Traditional Healers for the collection. The
Healers use special herbal solution to irrigate
the selected plants. Every Plant is irrigated in
interval if 10-15 minutes. After this irrigation
they tie red thread on plants. This thread is an
indicator that the plants are treated and through
it other healers get the information. They do not
collect treated plants. As these plants grow
without any protection there are higher chances of
its destruction by cattle or wild animals. To
avoid this, the Healers select plants from
different locations and perform the treatment on
same day.
Why
herbal solution is used? It is Traditional
Allelopathic knowledge. According to the
Traditional Healers of Bagbahera region herbal
solution is nothing but the herbal extracts and
leachates of certain tree species. They irrigate
Dusinghia plants in order to enrich it with
medicinal properties. Although they are not aware
of scientific explanation and mode of action but
as traditional knowledge they are practicing it
sincerely without any modification.
One
night before the collection of plants the healers
perform special worship. They pray and request the
God to enrich the plants with medicinal
properties. Whole plant is collected. They use
wood piece to dig the plant. Iron instruments are
not used. Whole herb is kept under shade without
washing. By boiling it in water they prepare
decoction. This decoction is given internally to
the patients. Decoction prepared from fresh plant
is considered best. As it is seasonal herb for
round the year use the Healers use dry plants, in
form of powder.
Decoction is given
during morning hours. Based on the condition of
the patients they decide the doses. In general it
is given once in a week. Many times it is used as
supplement treatment along with main treatment.
The senior Healers informed that this decoction is
having positive impact on resistance power of
human body.
During the
interactions I got opportunity to meet the
patients getting benefit from this decoction. The
results were encouraging. The traditional healers
do not inform the secret of decoction to any one.
It was given to me with promise that it must not
used for commercial purposes. It is really
surprising that there are many Healers living and
practicing in same region and not aware of this
decoction and herb used in it. There is no
Traditional Healers Forum. That is why the healers
never get chance to interact and share their
knowledge.
Dusinghia is well
known herb of medicinal importance. Its scientific
name is Acanthospermum hispidum. Modern
literatures are having no evidence about its
efficacy in treatment of Sickle Cell Anaemia. I
feel that there is a need for systematic research
with the consent of the Traditional Healers in
order to provide modern scientific base to this
valuable traditional medicinal knowledge.
New comments
added on December 21,
2009
Through recent
Ethnobotanical surveys I have collected
information about 80 herbal formulations in which
Dusinghia is added as primary ingredient, 123
formulations in which it is added as secondary
ingredient and plus 200 formulations in which it
is added as tertiary ingredient. I have documented
these formulations with details in CGBD
database.
The
recent surveys revealed that the Healers of other
regions are also aware of its use in treatment of
Sickle Cell Anaemia. Still thousands of patients
around the world are waiting for promising
remedies. I feel that early clinical trials can
help these sufferers.
Original
Research Document
http://ecoport.org/ep?SearchType=earticleView&earticleId=746&page=-2
How to Cite
this Research Document
Oudhia, P. (2009).
Traditional medicinal knowledge about herbs and
insects used in treatment of Sickle Cell Anaemia
in Indian State Chhattisgarh. 1. Interactions with
Traditional Healers of Bagbahera region. [Updated
document, year 2009] http://www.pankajoudhia.com
© Pankaj
Oudhia
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