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Pankaj
Oudhia
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Traditional
medicinal knowledge about common crop weeds in
Chhattisgarh (India).
[Updated document, year
2009]
Pankaj
Oudhia
Abstract
This research article
on medicinal weeds was on-line at www.herb.com
till 2005. Now it has been deleted from that site.
I am adding it in Ecoport for readers in its
original form.
Table of Contents
Medicinal Weeds
References
Medicinal
Weeds
The
basic definition of weed is 'Weeds are unwanted
plants'. Weeds are always considered as harmful.
It competes with crops for light, moisture and
nutrients and harbor insects and diseases harmful
to crops. For farmers and agriculture specialist
weeds are unwanted plants but for herbalists all
weeds are useful plants. In ancient Indian
literatures, it is clearly mentioned that every
plant on this earth possess medicinal properties
and it is an ignorance of human beings that they
have classified some plants as useful and others
as weeds. In short, we can say that all unwanted
plants are weeds but all weeds are not unwanted
plants. Many studies and surveys conducted by me
with the help of Department of Agronomy, IGAU,
Raipur (India) have revealed that weeds are a boon
for the farmers and farmers can not only recover
the cost of handweeding but also earn an
additional income by selling different weed parts
after uprooting, collecting and selling it in
national and international drug market with the
help of village level co-operative societies.
Adopting this concept, now many Indian farmers
have started selling of weeds and they are earning
money from these so-called unwanted plants. These
studies and surveys also revealed that
Chhattisgarh is rich in traditional knowledge and
ethnomedico uses of common weeds. Many tribes
still use these weeds for the treatment of common
ailments. I have collected many such information
about weeds. Some valuable information are given
below.
Leucas aspera (Family
Labiatae) is locally known as Gumma Bhaji and
commonly known as Dronpushpi, is a common field
and wasteland weed. In Chhattisgarh, Leucas is
widely used as potherb. Its new leaves and tender
shoots are used as vegetable. It is general belief
in Chhattisgarh that if taken regularly this weed
as potherb, develops a specific smell in human
body. This smell repels the snakes and other
venomous animals. Villagers particularly farmers
prefer this weed during rainy season, when the
incidences of snake bite are higher. During rainy
season, you can easily see this weed in village
market. In Ayurveda, anti-venom properties of
different parts of Leucas have been reported.
Blumea lacera (Family
Compositae) commonly known as Kukuronda and
locally as Kukurmutta, is a common rabi weed. In
Chhattisgarh, its leaves are used for many
purposes. Its leaves are used for the treatment of
bronchial asthma specially in acute condition. For
quick relief, dried leaves are burnt and fumes are
inhaled. It gives immediate relief. Herbal
cigarette prepared from Blumea and Datura leaves
is also popular among chronic asthma patient.
Dried leaves are burnt to repel away the
mosquitoes and common houseflies. In Homoeopathy,
Blumea lacera is a reputed drug for the treatment
of respiratory troubles.
In
Chhattisgarh, Achyranthes aspera (Onga, Chirchita,
Apamarg) is a common roadside weed. This weed
possesses anti-venom properties like Leucas. It is
specially used in the treatment of scorpion bite.
The fresh juice of leaves and roots are effective
for this. The fresh juice of leaves applied on
hands, repel away the scorpion. I have experienced
it. Even you can carry the black scorpion in your
palm, after applying fresh juice on palm. In
Chhattisgarh, farmers use the ash of Achyranthes
(rich in potash) as potash supplement in their
fields. In ancient period, washermen were using
this ash to wash the clothes.
In
Chhattisgarh, more than 50 weeds are used as
potherbs. These weeds are Chenopodium album,
Ipomoea aquatica, Ipomoea reniformis, Cynodon
dactylon, Corchorus sp., Sida acuta, Cassia tora
etc.
Among these weeds,
Cassia tora is widely used and popular potherb.
Cassia tora, a leguminous weed, is locally known
as Charota. This annual weeds germinate as the
first monsoon rains start. Its young leaves and
tender shoots are used as potherb. This potherb is
prepared in mustard oil. High amount of this
potherb causes diarrhoea. According to Ayurveda,
regular (or at least during rainy season) use of
this potherb in small amount is beneficial for the
patient suffering from gout and rheumatism. The
taste of Cassia seeds taste like Coffea arabica
seeds. The seeds are boiled in water and taken by
local people as refreshing drink. The oil
extracted from seeds is used for the treatment of
skin troubles like eczema and ringworm. This oil
is applied externally. There is a heavy demand of
Cassia seeds in national and international drug
market. In Ambikapur district of Chhattisgarh,
farmers use, protein rich Cassia seeds as cattle
feed.
Bathua (Chenopodium
album) belongs to Chenopodiaceae family. It is a
winter weed. Bathua is widely used as potherb.
Regular use of this potherb is believed to cure
skin disorders like Leucoderma. The oil extracted
from seeds is used for the treatment of
hookworm.
Gorakhmundi
(Sphaeranthus indicus) is a well reputed drug in
Ayurveda. In Chhattisgarh, it is found as winter
weed in wheat and chickpea fields. In
Chhattisgarh, its flower head is used for the
treatment of {{eosinophilia}g} and respiratory
troubles. It is general belief that this weed is
an indicator of fertile land.
References
Oudhia, P. and Dixit,
A. (1994). Weeds in Ambikapur region (Madhya
Pradesh) and their traditional use. Weed News.
1(2): 19-21.
Oudhia, P. and
Tripathi, R.S. (1998). Medicinal weeds of kharif
crops in the plains of Chhattisgarh. Bhartiya
Krishi Anusandhan Patrika. 13(1/2): 33-38.
Oudhia, P.; Joshi,
B.S. and Kosta, V.K. (1998). The possibilities of
preparing Homoeopathic drugs from the obnoxious
weeds of Chhattisgarh. Bhartiya Krishi Anusandhan
Patrika. 13(1/2): 53-57.
Oudhia, P. and
Tripathi, R.S. (1999). Medicinal weeds of
Raipur and Durg
(Madhya Pradesh) region. Proc. National Conference
on Health Care and Development of Herbal
Medicines, IGAU, Raipur (India),
29-30 Aug. 1997: 71-78.
Oudhia, P.; Tripathi,
R.S.; Puri, S. and Chandel, D.S. (1999).
Traditional knowledge about medicinal weeds in
Chhattisgarh. Vasundhara The Earth. 1(1):
12-15.
Oudhia, P. (1999).
Medicinal weeds in rice fields of Chhattisgarh
(India).
International Rice Research Note. 24(1): 40.
Oudhia, P. (1999).
Medicinal weeds in wheat fields of Chhattisgarh
(India).
Rachis (ICARDA). 18(1): 40-41.
Oudhia, P. (1999).
Medicinal weeds in groundnut fields of
Chhattisgarh (India).
International Arachis Newsletter. 19: 62-64.
Oudhia, P. (1999).
Studies on allelopathy and medicinal weeds in
chickpea fields. International Chickpea and
Pigeonpea Newsletter. 6: 29-33.
Oudhia, P. (2000).
Medicinal weeds in kodo millet fields : A source
of an additional income for Chhattisgarh farmers.
Ecol. Env. and Cons. 6(2) : 171-174.
New Comments
added on December 31,
2009
This basic research
document has reached so far. The world literatures
show that now more and more researchers are
working on medicinal values of so-called unwanted
plants weeds. In last few years hundreds of
research documents have been published throughout
world supporting this concept.
The
natives of Indian state Chhattisgarh and
neighboring states are earning from these plants.
They are getting protection from diseases through
Traditional Medicinal Knowledge about these
plants. The Traditional Healers are conducting
experiments to develop new uses of exotic weeds. I
have mentioned in previous research articles that
obnoxious weeds like Parthenium hysterophorus and
Lantana are becoming part of Traditional Healing.
They are adding it not only as secondary and
tertiary ingredients in complex herbal
formulations but also in many formulations these
weeds are present as primary ingredient.
In
CGBD database information on various aspects of
medicinal weeds is available in detail. The
efforts are in progress to make this database
online.
Original
Research Document
http://ecoport.org/ep?SearchType=earticleView&earticleId=1782&page=-2
How to Cite
this Research Document
Oudhia, P. (2009).
Traditional medicinal knowledge about common crop
weeds in Chhattisgarh (India).
[Updated document, year 2009] http://www.pankajoudhia.com
© Pankaj
Oudhia
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