Traditional medicines of Gonds and Bharias (32): Herbal Medicine for General Constipation

Bhumkas (local healers) are treasure of herbal medicinal knowledge. During our constant surveys in Patalkot valley, we came across many herbal practices which are potential as well as tried and tested ones.

Traditional healers in Patalkot perform herbal therapies to treat various health disorders.

Bhumkas (local healers) are treasure of herbal medicinal knowledge. During our constant surveys in Patalkot valley, we came across many herbal practices which are potential as well as tried and tested ones. The current article deals with a formulation for the treatment of general constipation. Constipation is normally a condition with inconsistent bowel movements with hard, painful and dry stools. Bhumkas in Patalkot prescribe many herbal formulations or therapies for the treatment of this disorder but authors herewith describe an important formulation for curing general constipation.

Drug preparation: Terminalia chebula fruit (1 tsp), Terminalia bellirica fruit (1 ½ tsp), Glycyrrhiza glabra root (1 tsp), Zingiber officinale rhizome (1/2 tsp) Cassia senna leaves (1 ½ tsp) and Emblica officinalis fruit (1 ½ tsp).

Dosage: About 1 tsp (teaspoon) powder should be given with water before going to bed.

1. Terminalia chebula Retz. (Chebulic myrobalan).

Hindi- Harra; Bengali- Haritaki; Marathi- Hirda; Gujarati- Hardo; Telugu- Karakkai; Tamil- Kadukkai; Oriya- Haridra; Punjab- Har, Harar; Assam- Silikha; Trade- Myrobalan, Chehulic myrobalan.

A tree 15-24 m in height and 1.5-2.4 m in girth, with spreading branches. Bark dark-brown, often longitudinally cracked, exfoliating in woody scales. Leaves ovate or elliptic with a pair of large glands at the top of the petiole. Flowers yellowish white, in terminal spikes. Drupes ellipsoidal, obovoid or ovoid, yellow to orange-brown, sometimes tinged with red or black and hard when ripe, 3-5 cm long, become 5-ribbed on drying. Seeds hard, pale yellow (WOA. 1997).

2. Terminalia bellirica Roxb. (Belliric myrobalan)

Hindi- Bahera; Bengali- Bhairah; Marathi- Beheda; Telugu & Tamil- Tani; Malyalam- Thani; Oriya- Bhara; Trade- Belliric myrobalan, Bahera.

A handsome tree, with characteristic bark, up to 40 m high and a girth of 1.8-3 m. Stems straight, frequently buttressed when large. Leaves broadly elliptic, clustered towards the ends of branches. Flowers in solitary, simple, axillary spikes. Fruits globular, 1.3-2 cm in diam., obscurely 5-angled (WOA. 1997).

3. Glycyrrhiza glabra L.

Sanskrit- Madhuka, Yashti-madhu; Persian- Bikhemahak; Hindi- Mulhatti, Jethi-madh; Bengali- Jashtimadhu, Jaishbomodhu; Marathi- Jeshta madha; Gujarati- Jethi madha; Telugu- Yashtimadhukam, Atimadhuramu; Tamil- Atimaduram; Kannada- Yashti madhuka, Atimadhura; Malyalam- Iratimadhuram.

A hardy herb or undershrub attaining a height up to 6 ft. Leaves multifoliolate, imparipinnate. Flowers in axillary spikes, papilionaceous, lavender to violet in colour. Pods compressed, containing reniform seeds (WOA. 1997).

4. Zingiber officinale Rosc.

Sanskrit- Ardraka; Hindi- Adrak, Ada; Bengali- Ada; Marathi- Ale; Telugu- Allamu, Sonthi; Tamil- Allam, Inji; Kannada- Hasisunti; Malyalam- Andrakam, Inchi.

A herbaceous, rhizomatous perennial, reaching up to 90 cm in height. Rhizomes are aromatic, thick-lobed, pale yellowish, differing in shape and size. Leaves narrow, distichous, sub-sessile, linear-lanceolate, upto 17 x 1.8 cm, dark green, evenly narrowed to form a slender tip. Flowers in spikes, greenish yellow with a small dark purple or purplish black tip (WOA. 1997).

5. Cassia senna Linn. var. senna syn. C. acutifolia Delile; C. angustifolia Vahl; C. obovata Baker (Fl Br Ind) in part (Alexandrian, Bombay or Tinnevelly Senna)

Bengali- Sannamakki, Sonpat; Gujarati- Middiawal , Senamakki; Hindi- Bhuikhakhasa, Hindisana; Kannada- Nelavarike, Soonamukhi; Malayalam- Nilavaka, Sunnamukhi; Marathi- Bhuitarvada, Shonamakhi; Oriya- Shonamukhi; Sanskrit- Bhumiari, Pitapushpi , Swarnamukhi, Swarnapatrika; Tamil- Nattunelavarai, Nelavagai, Sooratnilla avarai; Telugu- Neelaponna, Neelatangeedu.

A variable, branching, erect shrub, up to 1.8 m in height, introduced into India, naturalized in some parts; also cultivated. Leaves pinnate, pubescent, leaflets pale green to bluish green, 3-9 pairs, lanceolate or elliptic, varying on the same plant, 1.5-5.0 cm x 0.4-2.0 cm; flowers brilliant yellow, in erect, terminal racemes; pods light green when young to dark brown or black when mature, flat, thin, oblong, pubescent, 3.5-7.0 cm x 0.2-2.5 cm; seeds dark brown, obovate-oblong, 5-7 (WOA. 1997).

6. Emblica officinalis Gaertn. syn. Phyllanthus emblica Linn. (Emblic Myrobalan, Indian Goosberry)

Sanskrit-Adiphala, Dhatri, Amalaka; Hindi- Amla, Amlika, Aonla; Bengali-Akla, Amlaki; Gujarat- Amali, Ambala; Telugu- Amalakamu, Usirikai; Tamil- Nelli; Kannada-Amalaka, Nelli; Malayalam- Nelli.

A small or medium-sized deciduous tree with smooth, greenish grey, exfoliating bark. Leaves feathery with small narrowly oblong, pinnately arranged leaflets. Fruits depressed globose, ½-1 inch in diam., fleshy and obscurely 6-lobed, containing 6 trigonous seeds. The tree is common in the mixed deciduous forests of India ascending to 4,500 ft. on the hills. It is often cultivated in gardens and homeyards. A type bearing comparatively larger fruits than the wild plant is known in cultivation (WOA. 1997).

WOA. 1997. Wealth of Asia (AHEAD).

Authors Profile:

Authors are from Abhumka Herbal Pvt Ltd. The company is deeply engrossed in scouting and documentation of traditional tribal therapies and formulation/ product development. Authors are extensively documenting traditional herbal knowledge from various remote areas of Central and Western India.

For more information please log on to www.patalkot.com.

Contact via email:

Dr Deepak Acharya- info@abhumka.com; info@patalkot.com
Dr Anshu Shrivastava- ansh24@gmail.com
Devang Patel- devangpatels@gmail.com
Dr Sanjay Pawar- sanjay_pawar06@rediffmail.com

Email article    Print