Ethnobotanical Leaflets 14:1- 4 , 2010.

Ethno-medicinal Plants used for Amenorrhoea and Abnormal Menstruation Diseases in Danta Taluka (Gujarat)

N. K. Patel

Department of Biology,

Sheth M. N. Science College, Patan -384265

Issued: January 01, 2010

Abstract

The present paper deals with species of flowering plants commonly used by different Adivasi communities to cure amenorrhoea and abnormal menstruation diseases and disorder. The cause of disease, its symptoms, and plant organs utilized and methods of preparation of remedies are provided. Tribes associated with specific remedial preparation have been mentioned, however, they may not be always exclusive since Adivasi communities are widely distribution in Danta Taluka and have considered communication with each other. It is hoped that the present study will not only confirm earlier findings recorded in literature, but also provide additional clues in this fields of vital interests.

Map of Gujarat State showing

the Danta Taluka

The Danta taluka is situated between 24° - 24’’ to 24° - 30’’ N latitudes and between 72° - 45’’ to 73° - 30’’ E longitudes. In the north it is bounded by Rajasthan State, in the south by the Mahesana District, in the east by the Sabarkantha district and in the west by Palanpur and Vadgam taluka. The total area of the Danta taluka is 86074.75 sq.km. Danta taluka has 187 villages and forest area of 47941.97 hectare. Tribals in Danta taluka mainly cast Adivasi which sub-tribes are Bumbadiya, Bhemiyat, Dabhi, Dhrangi, Gamar, Kodarvi, Laur, Makvana, Parghi, Parmar, Rohisa, Solanki and

Taral are main tribal group inhabiting this area.

Introduction

Medico-ethno botany acts as a bridge between botany and tribal knowledge regarding medicinal aspects of plants. India is very rich in floristic diversity as well as in ancients folk literature which may be tapped for information since all systems of medicine have their roots, in one way of the other in folk medicines and house hold remedies. Regveda and Atharvaveda, which dates back to 2000-1000 BC, and several post Vedic treatise viz. Charak samhita (100 AD), Sushruta samhita (800-900 AD), Dhanwantri nighantu (1200 AD), Raj nighantu (1600 AD) to name a few, are the important ancient source of information on medicinal plants. The modern ayurvedic and unani literature have further added to our knowledge regarding plant-based remedies.

During recent years, there has been a wide concern to collect more and more ethno botanical information, especially ethno medicinal Ethno botanical study is a result of study made by Nath (1960), Jain (1968),Thaker (1926), Jain (1991), Shah et. al (1981), Bhattacharya (1996), Nurani (1997), Punjani (1997), Mitaliya (1998), Bhatt and Mitaliya (1999),and Bhatt et al (1999 - 2000) (ANT, BHATT,. MITALIYA AND PATEL). Such information provide clues for materials to be tested by pharmacological and clinical researches, provide new distribution areas for raw drugs and a broad base for interaction with other systems of medicines.

The total area of the Danta taluka is 86074.75 Sq.Km. Danta taluka has 187 villages. Forest area is 47941.97 hectare, Irrigated area is 6670.05 hectare, Non-irrigated area is 13975.74 hectare, Cultivated wasteland is 4588.69 hectare, non cultivated wasteland 12858.60 hectare.

During present study the authors have collected ethno medicinal information on 09 species of flowering plants from ancient hand written scripts, tickets of herbaria and musea, local vaids (physicians) and herbalists, forest officials and different tribal communities in the taluka. The uses recorded by the authors. Voucher specimens have been cited. Certain plants, however, find mention in ayurvedic and unani literature and other medico-botanical writings as indicate in the text, but the ingredients, methods of remedy preparation and prescriptions are indivenous and need mention. It is hoped that this effort will not only provide additional support to the earlier findings recorded in the literature, but also provide clues for new materials having medicinal potentially for traditional Indian system of medicine.

Materials and Methods

During the present works I have gone in the various villages and forests area including hill and hillocks for collection of angiosperm plants taxa. Good number of the trips where arrange in connection of the season. During monsoon and end the frequency was more because of good number of plant taxa were available in collection.

The collected plants were brought to the laboratory, identified up to species level where ever it is possible and then dried with customary method which was mounted on herbarium sheet and label.

The information data on ethno botanical were collected through the dialogue and arranging night meeting with local tribal and knowledgeable people of the villages. I prepared a questioner for dialogue which tribal people which attach of each individual plants species in detailed and make a temporary note which is converted into data bank is presented in the thesis where ever it is applicable. It is my pleasure that each individual local people have give me full support for collection detail of individual plant species only because of the local and tribal people by arranging a meeting with them. I have collected the information of various uses of plants in general.

Each plant have been enumerated on the basis of classification of Bentham and Hooker system.

Results

Amenorrhoea and Abnormal Menstruation

Amenorrhoea failure to menstruate is very common among women above the age of 35 years. Abnormal uterine bleeding i.e., excessive menstrual scanty menstrual are also common problems. The plants commonly used by adivasi to overcome these disorders are :

Allium cepa L.

(Liliaeae).

Local name: DUNGLI

Young bulbs are eaten in excessive to start menstrution .

Aristolochia bractoelata lam.

(Aristoloichiaceae).

Local name : KIRMAR

Decoction of plant is very popular among the bhils to regularize menstrual cycle and excessive bleeding.

Bambusa arundinacea (retz) roxb.

(Poaceae).

Local name : VANS

Decoction of young leaves is used to clear uterus after child birth in village of Danta Taluka

Daucus carota L.

(Apiaceae).

Local name : GAJAR

Decoction of seeds is given to regularize menstrution. It is considered as much effective as the gum resin of commiphora wightl

Mucuna pruriens (L).dc.

(Fabaceae).

Local name : KUVECH

Decoction of seeds is used to regularize menstruation. It is also believed to increase fertility and chances of pregnancy by the bhil and damor tribes.

Mollugo cerviana (L). Seringe

(Molluginaceae).

Plant is cooked as vegetable and given to ladies after child birth to clear the uterus .kathodi tribe also consider it equally effective for syphilis.

Raphanus sativus L.

(Brassicaceae).

Local name : MULA

Seed powder given orally for 1 week twice a day against irregular menstrutice by the meena tribe.

Sagittaria sagittifolio L.

(alismatacea).

Decoction of plant is given for clearing the uterus after child birth by the damor tribe.

Trachyspermum ammi(L).Sprague.

(apuaceae).

Local name : AJMO

Seeds are powdered and half or one spoon is taken 2-3 time a day by ladies suffering from scanty menstruation. High dose is believed to cause abortion . it is also prescribed by the local vaidyas.

Acknowledgements

The authors are thankful to the notified and denotified adivasi groups, their vaids, ojhas, bhopas etc.and forest officials who provided valuable information on this subject. We are also thankful to the authorities of various herbaria and museums for their help and co-operation extended in several ways.

References

Bambhadai G.K.(1940-1952) Vanaspati Shristi, Vol I,II & III., Kutch.

Bhatt. D.C. & Inamdar J.A. (1971) Further Addition to the flora of Saurashtra vak. 271-277

Journal of sau.uni.Rajkot.

Bole, P.V. & Pathak,J.M.(1988) Flora of saurashtra,Vols. II & III, BSI , Calcutta.

Cooke, T. (1908) Flora of Bombay Presidency, Vols. I - III, BSI, Calcutta.

Patel, N.K. (2001) Study of Angiosprmic Plants with Relation to Phytosociological &

Ethnobotanical Study of Danta taluka, Dist. Banaskantha", Ph.D. Thesis For North

Gujarat University, Patan.

Patel R.I. (1971) Forest flora of Gujarat State. Forest Department. Baroda.

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Sedgwick L'.J. (1918). Vol. IV-No. 7. Plants of Northern Gujarat. Calcutta superintendent

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