Ethnobotanical Leaflets 10: 305-328. 2006. Green
Leaves for Diarrhoeal Diseases Used by the Tribals of Kenojhar and Mayurbhanj *Kambaska Kumar Behera ** Purandra Mandal and *Dayanidhi Mahapatra *Department
of Agriculture Biotechnology, **Department
of Horticulture Orissa Issued Abstract The present paper reports with 49 plant species belonging to 30 families, mostly used by the tribal people of Kenojhar and Mayurbhanj district of Orissa. The tribal population of the region primarily depends upon these plants for curing diarrhea. They are enumerated with binomial, family, local name, parts used and ethno medicinal uses. Further studies on chemical and pharmacological actions are suggested to validate the claims. Introduction Modern medical facilities are unable to reach the
common people not only in this state/country but also the whole world. In Orissa as there is only one hospital for every 3300 sq.
km. and one doctor for 2720 people. In such a situation people ordinarily
resort to indigenous phytotherapeutic treatment
which is known to common people from their ancient' heritage. Such
circumstances provoked the authors to carry out a medico-ethno botanical
survey of North Orissa (Kenjohar
and Mayurbhanj districts), during the year 2002 to
2004 to find out the plants used for treatment of diarrhoeal
diseases which exists in the folk lore of rural mass. Diarrhea diseases are
of three types: Acute watery diarrhea, (majority of the cases); Dysentery
(blood in the stool) and persistent Diarrhea. Diarrhea and other intestinal
diseases are the leading causes of child and adult mortality in Materials and Methodology A literature survey was carried out on
the study area before the field work started (Das
and Misra, 1987; Das and Misra, 1988a; Das and Misra, 1988b, Hemadri and Rao, 1989; Hemadri, 1991; Dash,
1994; Das and Misra, 2000 ;Behera, K.K.2006 ). Most
of the works were based on taxonomic survey. Very few works were done on ethnobotanical study. The present work is the outcome of
extensive survey of different deep forest pockets of tribal villages of Kenojhar and Mayurbhanj
district undertaken during 2004-2005 to collect information on the medicinal
uses of diarrhea of different plant species. During field work, interviews
were conducted with local knowledgeable villagers, the herbal healer called as˜Vaidyasâ” (local physicians in Indian System of
indigenous Medicine), old woman and medicinal plant vendors. Plant specimens
were collected and identified with local flora (Saxena
and Brahmam, 1996). The medicinal value of each
plant was enumerated in the following pattern: a) Binomial, b) Family, c)
Local name, d) Parts used and e) Ethnomedicinal uses. Study Area Keonjhar and Mayurbhanj district is situated in the biotic
province, Chhotanagpur Plateau in the
northern part of Orissa Keonjhar is L..ocated
between 21o1'N and 22o10'N Latitude and 85o11'
E to 86o22' E Longitude and Mayurbhanj
is located 21016’ and 22034’ North Longitudes
and between 850 40’ and 870 11’ Results and Discussion The data on medicinal plants, used
in diarrhea diseases, which was collected from local inhabitants in Keonjhar and Mayurbhanj
district, were analyzed. The enumeration and utilization of these plants are
described below. ENUMERATIONS
OF PLANTS: 1. Mangifera indica L. ORIYA NAME: Amba FAMILY: Anacardiaceae MODE OF ADMINSTRATION: Aqueous cold extract of tender leaves taken
internally to check dysentery. Also bark ground to paste with water and taken
twice daily to check diarrhea, effective for both in children and adults. 2. Spondias pinnata (L.f)
Kurz ORIYA
NAME: Ambeda FAMILY: Anacardiaceae MODE OF ADMINSTRATION: Stem bark paste (20gm)
along with curd was taken twice daily, in empty stomach as a cure for
dysentery. 3. Oxalis corniculata L. ORIYA NAME: Ambiliti FAMILY: Oxalidaceae MODE OF ADMINSTRATION: Raw leaf juice (50ml) taken
twice a day for three days as a cure for chronic dysentery and diarrhea. 4. Valeriana
jatamansi Jones ORIYA NAME: Amrut Jata FAMILY: Valerianaceae MODE OF ADMINSTRATION: Leaf juice taken orally with
honey, given for internal use to check diarrhea in children. 5.
Achyranthes aspera L. ORIYA
NAME: Apamaranga FAMILY: Amaranthaceae. MODE OF ADMINSTRATION: Leaf paste with Gur or jaggery and butter/curd
taken twice a day to cure blood dysentery. 6. Acacia nilotica (L.) Willd. ORIYA NAME: Babula FAMILY: Mimosaceae MODE OF ADMINSTRATION: Leaf macerated with rice
water, given for internal use orally to consume about 50 ml each time, twice
daily for 3 to 5 days to cure diarrhea. 7.
Acorus calamus L. ORIYA
NAME: Bacha FAMILY: Araceae MODE OF ADMINSTRATION: Decoction of rhizome along
with roots of Angelonia grandiflora
taken twice a day to check diarrhoea. 8. Terminalia
bellerica (Gaertn.) Roxb. ORIYA NAME: Bahada FAMILY: Combretaceae MODE OF ADMINSTRATION: Powder prepared by burning
the fruits, taken internally with rock salt in diarrhea. 9.
Jatropha curcus L. ORIYA
NAME: Baigaba (Dhala jahaji) FAMILY: Euphorbiaceae. MODE OF ADMINSTRATION: Latex from the stem and leaf
taken orally along with ripe banana once or twice a day to check dysentery in
adults. 10. Jatropha gossypifolia L. ORIYA NAME: Baigaba (Nali) FAMILY: Euphorbiaceae. MODE OF ADMINSTRATION: Aqueous extract of
stem and bark taken orally twice a day to cure blood dysentery. 11. Ficus benghalensis L. ORIYA
NAME: Bara/Bata FAMILY: Moraceae. MODE OF ADMINSTRATION: Extracted Juice from aerial
roots (Prop root) taken in empty stomach twice a day to cure dysentery in
children. 12. Ziziphus mauritiana Lamk. ORIYA NAME: Barakoli FAMILY: Rhamnaceae MODE OF ADMINSTRATION: Fruit pulp along with curd,
pomegranate (Punica granatum
L.) juice and til oil taken orally to cure
blood dystentery. 13. Phyllanthus
fraternus Webster ORIYA NAME: Bhuin anla FAMILY: Euphorbiaceae. MODE OF ADMINSTRATION: Root paste administered to
children (below two years) twice a day for three days in diarrhea. 14. Ailanthus
excelsa Desf. ORIYA NAME: Dakhina kabata/Mahala FAMILY: Simaroubaceae MODE OF ADMINSTRATION: Bark ground to paste and
administered orally along with curd, twice a day for effective remedy in
dysentery. 15.
Punica granatum L. ORIYA
NAME: Dalimba FAMILY: Punicaceae. MODE OF ADMINSTRATION: Leaf, bud or unripe fruit is
made to paste along with rice washed water 'and administered orally along
with a minute pinch of opium. Half cup taken twice a day to check diarrhea. 16. Solanum viarum Dunab ORIYA NAME: Dengabheji FAMILY: Solanaceae. MODE OF ADMINSTRATION: Leaf and root juice taken
orally in dysentery twice daily for three days. 17.
Ficus hispida L.f. ORIYA
NAME: Dimiri FAMILY: Moraceae. MODE OF ADMINSTRATION: Latex collected from cut
wounds of the stem taken orally to cure blood dysentery/diarrhea. 18.
Datura metel L. ORIYA
NAME: Dudura FAMILY: Solanaceae MODE OF ADMINSTRATION: Seeds are purified by soaking
in cow urine for 12 hours. Then the seed coats are removed and cotyledons are
boiled in cow milk and made to paste. The product is taken internally to cure
chronic or persistent diarrhea and dysentery. . 19. Gmelina arborea Roxb. ORIYA NAME: Gambhari FAMILY: Verbnenaceae. MODE OF ADMINSTRATION: Ripened fruit juice with
sugar and pomegranate fruit juice taken orally to cure dysentery. 20.
Terminalia chebula Retz. ORIYA
NAME: Harida FAMILY: Combretaceae MODE OF ADMINSTRATION: Paste prepared from pericarp taken along with curd to cure diarrhoea. 21. Kalanchoe pinnata (Lamk.) Pers. ORIYA NAME: Hemakakara/ Amarapoi FAMILY: Crassulaceae MODE OF ADMINSTRATION: paste along with three nigrum black peppers (Piper L.)
administered orally twice a day to cure diarrhea. 22.
Ludwigia perennis L. ORIYA
NAME: Jalatandula/Jalajali FAMILY: Onagraceae. MODE OF ADMINSTRATION: Leaves along with
pomegranate, black berry (Syzygium cuminii) and Bela [(Aegle marmelos (L) Corr:]
are boiled together. The aqueous extract is taken orally twice a day to cure
chronic dysentery. 23. Breynia retusa (Dennst.) Alston ORIYA NAME: Jajanga FAMILY: Euphorbiaceae. MODE OF ADMINSTRATION: Leaf (young/old)
ground to paste and taken orally along with sugar candy three or four times
in diarrhea. . 24.
Musa paradisiaca L. ORIYA
NAME: Kadali FAMILY: Musaceae. MODE OF ADMINSTRATION: Sap from Leaf and seeds
administered orally to cure diarrhea. 25. Feronia Limonia (L.) Sw. ORIYA NAME: Kaitha FAMILY: Rutaceae MODE OF ADMINSTRATION: Unripe fruit paste taken
orally twice a day for three days to check diarrhea. 26. Amaranthus
spinosus L. ORIYA NAME: Kantamarisha FAMILY: Amaranthaceae. MODE OF ADMINSTRATION: Aqueous decoction from roots
taken two or three times a day to check chronic diarrhea. 27. Senna occidentalis (Syn. Cassia occidentalis L.) ORIYA NAME: Kasendri FAMILY: Caesalpiniaceae MODE OF ADMINSTRATION: Tender leaves boiled with
butter milk, made to paste, and mixed with powders of cumin seeds and asafoetida. Pills made from the mixture taken twice a day
cumin seeds and asafoetida. Pills made from the
mixture taken twice a day to cure diarrhea. 28. Diospyrus
melanoxylon Roxb. ORIYA NAME: Kendu FAMILY: Ebenaceae. MODE OF ADMINSTRATION: Tender Leaf juice taken
orally to cure diarrhoea. 29. Derris
trifoliata Lour ORIYA NAME: Ketia FAMILY: Fabaceae MODE OF ADMINSTRATION: Raw Leaf juice taken orally
two to three times a day to cure chronic dysentery. 30. ORIYA NAME: Khajuri FAMILY: Arecaceae. MODE OF ADMINSTRATION: Fresh sap (Taddy) extract from the plant taken before the sun rise
in diarrhea. 31. Strychnos
nux-vomica L. ORIYA NAME: Kochila FAMILY: Loganiaceae. MODE OF ADMINSTRATION: Bark Macerated with lemon
juice, made to pills and taken orally in acute diarrhoea. 32. Pavonia odorata Willd. ORIYA NAME: Kurumuli FAMILY: Malvaceae MODE OF ADMINSTRATION: Two tea spoonful of leaf
juice along with black pepper (Piper nigrum L.) administered orally twice a day
in empty stomach for dysentery of babies 33.
Mimosa pudica L. ORIYA
NAME: Lajakuli FAMILY: Mimosaceae MODE OF ADMINSTRATION: Roots pounded with water and
the liquid paste taken twice a day in diarrhea. 34.
Citrus meidca L. ORIYA
NAME: Lembu FAMILY: Rutaceae. MODE OF ADMINSTRATION: Unripe fruit paste taken
orally with a little sugar or sugar candy once a day for three days in diarrhoea. 35. Lawsonia enermis L. ORIYA NAME: Manjuati FAMILY: Lythraceae. MODE OF ADMINSTRATION: Roots along with neem leaves, and ginger, made to paste, and taken with
boil with water to check diarrhea in babies. 36. Murraya koenigii (L.) Sprand. ORIYA NAME: Mersinga : FAMILY: Rutaceae. MODE OF
ADMINSTRATION: Decoction of the leaf taken orally to cure dysentery. 37. Mesua nagassarium (Burm.f.) Kost. ORIYA NAME: Nageswar/Nagakedar. FAMILY: Clusiaceae.
MODE OF ADMINSTRATION: Aqueous extract from
the bark taken orally to cure diarrhea. 38.
Azadiraclita indica A. Juss. ORIYA
NAME: Nimba FAMILY: Meliaceae MODE OF ADMINSTRATION: .
2-3 grams of the resin secreted from the stem bark dissolved in rice, water
and administered twice a day in to children to check diarrhea. 39.
Erythrina varigata var. orientalis (L)
Merr. ORIYA NAME: Paladhua
FAMILY: Fabaceae. MODE OF ADMINSTRATION: Decoction from bark
administered orally to cure blood dysentery 40. Butea monosperma (Lamk.) Taub. ORIYA NAME: Palasa FAMILY: Fabaceae. MODE OF ADMINSTRATION: Raw leaf extract used
internally twice a day to cure diarrhea. .41.
Aerva Lanata (L.) Juss. ORIYA
NAME: Paunsia FAMILY: Amaranthaceae MODE OF ADMINSTRATION: Roots boiled along with
rhizomes of Mutha (Cyperus
rotundus L.) and Fennel (Foeniculum
vulgare Gaertn.). The
decoction resulted is taken 2-3 times a day to cure diarrhea in children. . 42. Oroxylum indicum (L.) Vent. ORIYA NAME: Phanaphania FAMILY: Bignoniaceae MODE OF ADMINSTRATION: Powdered root bark of lotus
is fermented in an air tight vessel for about one month, sieved, filtered and
the liquid filtrate is taken orally along with sugar candy or honey thrice a
day for 3 days in blood dysentery. .43. Allium cepa L. ORIYA NAME: Piaja FAMILY: L..iliaceae. MODE OF ADMINSTRATION: The bulb is cut vertically,
and a little amount of lime (Calcium hydroxide) is inserted through the slit
and allowed to remain for 10 minutes. Then it is directly chewed to check
blood dysentery. 44. Basella rubra L. ORIYA NAME: Poi FAMILY: Basellaceae. MODE OF ADMINSTRATION : Leaf juice along with juice from pomegranate seeds taken twice
a day to cure diarrhea. 45.
Manikara zapata (L.) Royen ORIYA
NAME: Sapata FAMILY: Sapotaceae MODE OF ADMINSTRATION: Unripe fruits to be grounded,
paste taken orally thrice a day to check diarrhea. 46. Asparagus
racemosus Willd. ORIYA NAME: Satamuli/Satabari FAMILY: Liliaceae. MODE OF ADMINSTRATION: Boiled milk extract of fresh
roots (tubers) taken orally to cure blood dysentery. 47. Hemidesmus
indicus (L.) R. Sr ORIYA NAME: Sugandhi FAMILY: Asclepiadaceae MODE OF ADMINSTRATION: Root tubers grounded with
fennel and the paste taken with gur twice a day for
three days to check diarrhea and dysentery. 48.
Tamarindus indica L. ORIYA
NAME: Tentuli FAMILY: Caesalpiniaceae.
MODE OF ADMINSTRATION: Tender leaves macerated to
paste and taken directly to check dysentery. Also powder made from dried
flowers taken orally with sugar in blood dysentery. 49. Tridax procumbens L. ORIYA NAME: Vissalyakarani FAMILY: Asteraceae MODE OF ADMINSTRATION: Whole plant made in to paste
and taken orally in diarrhea. The investigations revealed the
medicinal plants used in diarrohea consist of 49
species of 46 genera belonging to 30 families. Euphorbiaceae
is the dominant family (4 spp.), followed by Moraceae (3) Rutaceae (3) Solanaceae(2)
Fabaceae (2) Verbenaceae
(2) Annacardiaceae(2) and others having one each.
The use of plant resources as remedies is probably an ancient as man himself.
The aforesaid uses are the ones practiced in day-to-day life of tribals living in deep forests. The use of the
traditional medicine is widespread in this region with higher percentage of
the population relying on it. This is because of lack of modern medical
facilities available in this region and the expensive Medicare system which
these tribal people are unable to afford. Conclusion: Traditional healthcare practices of
indigenous people pertaining to human health are termed as ethnomedicine. Ethnomedicine is
the mother of all other systems of medicine. Recently the importance of these
traditional medicines has been realized worldwide as some of them proved to
be very effective (Marini-Bettolo, 1980) and some
other prescriptions of these traditional healers may be of benefit to human
kind when thorough scientific analysis is conducted into their properties.
The study revealed that whatever knowledge on plants exists with the people
of the study area, they are on fast declining because lack of interest of
local youth to learn the traditional knowledge from the old herbal healer.
The highly interesting findings require further research, while the efficacy
of the various indigenous practices will need to be subjected to
pharmacological validation. Therefore, greater efforts are required to
document traditional knowledge of the local people so as to prepare a
comprehensive account of it, which will open new vistas in plant research
that can fulfill the purposes of conservation and which are eco-friendly to
nature. Acknowledgements The authors are thankful to the Forest
Officer of the study area for providing support during this field survey. We
also acknowledge the help provided by the local villagers during the field
work. References Abraham, Z.
1981. Glimpses of Indian Ethnobotany, Oxford & Publishing Co., Atal, C. K. and Kapur,
B. M. 1982. Cultivation and Utilization of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants,
Regional Research L..aboratory
(CSIR), Bentley, R.
and Trimen, H. 1980. Medicinal Plants, Vol.
I-IV, J. & A. Churchill, L..ondon. Behera,K.K.(2006).
International web journal on ethnobotay,
Plants used for Gynecological disorders by tribals
of Mayurbhanj district, Orissa,
India. Das, P. K. and Misra,
M. K. 1987. Some medicinal plants used by the tribals
of Deomali and adjacent areas of Koraput district, Orissa. Indian
Journal of Forestry, 10: 301-303. Das, P. K. and Misra,
M. K. 1988a. Some medicinal plants among Kondhas
around Chandrapur (Koraput).
Journal of Economic and Taxonomic Botany, 12: 103-109. Das, P. K. and Misra,
M. K. 1988b. Some ethnomedicinal plants of Koraput district, Orissa. Anicient Science of L.. Das, P. K. and Misra,
M. K. 2000. Vegetation and floristic studies on Koraput
district of Orissa. In: Higher Plants of Indian
Sub-continent, Vol. ix: 115-130, Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh, Dash, S. S.
1994. Ethnobotanical study of Narayanapatna area
of Koraput district, Orissa.
M.Phil. Dissertation, Hemadri, K. 1991. Medico-Botanical Exploration of
Phulbani and Koraput
Districts of Orissa, Central Council for
Research in Ayurveda and Siddha,
New Delhi, India. Hemadri, K. and Rao, S. S.
1989. Folklore claims of Koraput and Phulbani districts of Orissa
state. Indian Medicine, 1: 11-13. Marini-Bettolo, G. B. 1980. Present aspects of the
uses of plants in traditional medicine. Journal of Ethnopharmacology,
2: 5-7. Sandhya, B., Thomas, S., Isabel, W. and Shenbagarathai, R. 2006. Ethnomedicinal
plants used by the Valaiyan community of Piranmalai Hills ( Satyavati, G. V., Gupta, A. K. and Tandon,
N. 1987. Medicinal Plants of Saxena, H. O. and Brahmam,
M. 1996. The Flora of Orissa, Vol. I-IV, Orissa Forest Development Corporation, State of the
Environment Report. 2001. Ministry of Environment & Forests, Government
of Subramoniam, A. and Pushpangadan,
P. 1995. Ethnopharmacological validation of
traditional medicines. In: Glimpses of Indian Ethno-pharmacology by Pushpangadan P, Nyman U, George V, (ed.). TBGRI, Thiruvananthapuram, pp. 351-360. *Kambaska Kumar Behera ** Purandra Mandal and *Dayanidhi Mahapatra *Department of Agriculture
Biotechnology, **Department of Horticulture Orissa Issued Abstract The present paper reports with 49 plant species belonging to 30 families, mostly used by the tribal people of Kenojhar and Mayurbhanj district of Orissa. The tribal population of the region primarily depends upon these plants for curing diarrhea. They are enumerated with binomial, family, local name, parts used and ethno medicinal uses. Further studies on chemical and pharmacological actions are suggested to validate the claims. Introduction Modern medical facilities are unable to reach the
common people not only in this state/country but also the whole world. In Orissa as there is only one hospital for every 3300 sq.
km. and one doctor for 2720 people. In such a situation people ordinarily
resort to indigenous phytotherapeutic treatment
which is known to common people from their ancient' heritage. Such
circumstances provoked the authors to carry out a medico-ethno botanical
survey of North Orissa (Kenjohar
and Mayurbhanj districts), during the year 2002 to
2004 to find out the plants used for treatment of diarrhoeal
diseases which exists in the folk lore of rural mass. Diarrhea diseases are
of three types: Acute watery diarrhea, (majority of the cases); Dysentery
(blood in the stool) and persistent Diarrhea. Diarrhea and other intestinal
diseases are the leading causes of child and adult mortality in Materials and Methodology A literature survey was carried out on
the study area before the field work started (Das
and Misra, 1987; Das and Misra, 1988a; Das and Misra, 1988b, Hemadri and Rao, 1989; Hemadri, 1991; Dash,
1994; Das and Misra, 2000 ;Behera, K.K.2006 ). Most
of the works were based on taxonomic survey. Very few works were done on ethnobotanical study. The present work is the outcome of
extensive survey of different deep forest pockets of tribal villages of Kenojhar and Mayurbhanj
district undertaken during 2004-2005 to collect information on the medicinal
uses of diarrhea of different plant species. During field work, interviews
were conducted with local knowledgeable villagers, the herbal healer called as˜Vaidyasâ” (local physicians in Indian System of
indigenous Medicine), old woman and medicinal plant vendors. Plant specimens
were collected and identified with local flora (Saxena
and Brahmam, 1996). The medicinal value of each
plant was enumerated in the following pattern: a) Binomial, b) Family, c)
Local name, d) Parts used and e) Ethnomedicinal
uses. Study Area Keonjhar and Mayurbhanj district is situated in the biotic
province, Chhotanagpur Plateau in the
northern part of Orissa Keonjhar is L..ocated
between 21o1'N and 22o10'N Latitude and 85o11'
E to 86o22' E Longitude and Mayurbhanj
is located 21016’ and 22034’ North Longitudes
and between 850 40’ and 870 11’ Results and Discussion The data on medicinal plants, used
in diarrhea diseases, which was collected from local inhabitants in Keonjhar and Mayurbhanj
district, were analyzed. The enumeration and utilization of these plants are
described below. ENUMERATIONS
OF PLANTS: 1. Mangifera indica L. ORIYA NAME: Amba FAMILY: Anacardiaceae MODE OF ADMINSTRATION: Aqueous cold extract of tender leaves taken
internally to check dysentery. Also bark ground to paste with water and taken
twice daily to check diarrhea, effective for both in children and adults. 2. Spondias pinnata (L.f)
Kurz ORIYA
NAME: Ambeda FAMILY: Anacardiaceae MODE OF ADMINSTRATION: Stem bark paste (20gm)
along with curd was taken twice daily, in empty stomach as a cure for
dysentery. 3. Oxalis corniculata L. ORIYA NAME: Ambiliti FAMILY: Oxalidaceae MODE OF ADMINSTRATION: Raw leaf juice (50ml) taken
twice a day for three days as a cure for chronic dysentery and diarrhea. 4. Valeriana
jatamansi Jones ORIYA NAME: Amrut Jata FAMILY: Valerianaceae MODE OF ADMINSTRATION: Leaf juice taken orally with
honey, given for internal use to check diarrhea in children. 5.
Achyranthes aspera L. ORIYA
NAME: Apamaranga FAMILY: Amaranthaceae. MODE OF ADMINSTRATION: Leaf paste with Gur or jaggery and butter/curd
taken twice a day to cure blood dysentery. 6. Acacia nilotica (L.) Willd. ORIYA NAME: Babula FAMILY: Mimosaceae MODE OF ADMINSTRATION: Leaf macerated with rice
water, given for internal use orally to consume about 50 ml each time, twice
daily for 3 to 5 days to cure diarrhea. 7.
Acorus calamus L. ORIYA
NAME: Bacha FAMILY: Araceae MODE OF ADMINSTRATION: Decoction of rhizome along
with roots of Angelonia grandiflora
taken twice a day to check diarrhoea. 8. Terminalia
bellerica (Gaertn.) Roxb. ORIYA NAME: Bahada FAMILY: Combretaceae MODE OF ADMINSTRATION: Powder prepared by burning
the fruits, taken internally with rock salt in diarrhea. 9.
Jatropha curcus L. ORIYA
NAME: Baigaba (Dhala jahaji) FAMILY: Euphorbiaceae. MODE OF ADMINSTRATION: Latex from the stem and leaf
taken orally along with ripe banana once or twice a day to check dysentery in
adults. 10. Jatropha gossypifolia L. ORIYA NAME: Baigaba (Nali) FAMILY: Euphorbiaceae. MODE OF ADMINSTRATION: Aqueous extract of
stem and bark taken orally twice a day to cure blood dysentery. 11. Ficus benghalensis L. ORIYA
NAME: Bara/Bata FAMILY: Moraceae. MODE OF ADMINSTRATION: Extracted Juice from aerial
roots (Prop root) taken in empty stomach twice a day to cure dysentery in
children. 12. Ziziphus mauritiana Lamk. ORIYA NAME: Barakoli FAMILY: Rhamnaceae MODE OF ADMINSTRATION: Fruit pulp along with curd,
pomegranate (Punica granatum
L.) juice and til oil taken orally to cure
blood dystentery. 13. Phyllanthus
fraternus Webster ORIYA NAME: Bhuin anla FAMILY: Euphorbiaceae. MODE OF ADMINSTRATION: Root paste administered to
children (below two years) twice a day for three days in diarrhea. 14. Ailanthus
excelsa Desf. ORIYA NAME: Dakhina kabata/Mahala FAMILY: Simaroubaceae MODE OF ADMINSTRATION: Bark ground to paste and
administered orally along with curd, twice a day for effective remedy in
dysentery. 15.
Punica granatum L. ORIYA
NAME: Dalimba FAMILY: Punicaceae. MODE OF ADMINSTRATION: Leaf, bud or unripe fruit is
made to paste along with rice washed water 'and administered orally along
with a minute pinch of opium. Half cup taken twice a day to check diarrhea. 16. Solanum viarum Dunab ORIYA NAME: Dengabheji FAMILY: Solanaceae. MODE OF ADMINSTRATION: Leaf and root juice taken
orally in dysentery twice daily for three days. 17.
Ficus hispida L.f. ORIYA
NAME: Dimiri FAMILY: Moraceae. MODE OF ADMINSTRATION: Latex collected from cut
wounds of the stem taken orally to cure blood dysentery/diarrhea. 18.
Datura metel L. ORIYA
NAME: Dudura FAMILY: Solanaceae MODE OF ADMINSTRATION: Seeds are purified by soaking
in cow urine for 12 hours. Then the seed coats are removed and cotyledons are
boiled in cow milk and made to paste. The product is taken internally to cure
chronic or persistent diarrhea and dysentery. . 19. Gmelina arborea Roxb. ORIYA NAME: Gambhari FAMILY: Verbnenaceae. MODE OF ADMINSTRATION: Ripened fruit juice with
sugar and pomegranate fruit juice taken orally to cure dysentery. 20.
Terminalia chebula Retz. ORIYA
NAME: Harida FAMILY: Combretaceae MODE OF ADMINSTRATION: Paste prepared from pericarp taken along with curd to cure diarrhoea. 21. Kalanchoe pinnata (Lamk.) Pers. ORIYA NAME: Hemakakara/ Amarapoi FAMILY: Crassulaceae MODE OF ADMINSTRATION: paste along with three nigrum black peppers (Piper L.)
administered orally twice a day to cure diarrhea. 22.
Ludwigia perennis L. ORIYA
NAME: Jalatandula/Jalajali FAMILY: Onagraceae. MODE OF ADMINSTRATION: Leaves along with
pomegranate, black berry (Syzygium cuminii) and Bela [(Aegle marmelos (L) Corr:]
are boiled together. The aqueous extract is taken orally twice a day to cure
chronic dysentery. 23. Breynia retusa (Dennst.) Alston ORIYA NAME: Jajanga FAMILY: Euphorbiaceae. MODE OF ADMINSTRATION: Leaf (young/old)
ground to paste and taken orally along with sugar candy three or four times
in diarrhea. . 24.
Musa paradisiaca L. ORIYA
NAME: Kadali FAMILY: Musaceae. MODE OF ADMINSTRATION: Sap from Leaf and seeds
administered orally to cure diarrhea. 25. Feronia Limonia (L.) Sw. ORIYA NAME: Kaitha FAMILY: Rutaceae MODE OF ADMINSTRATION: Unripe fruit paste taken
orally twice a day for three days to check diarrhea. 26. Amaranthus
spinosus L. ORIYA NAME: Kantamarisha FAMILY: Amaranthaceae. MODE OF ADMINSTRATION: Aqueous decoction from roots
taken two or three times a day to check chronic diarrhea. 27. Senna occidentalis (Syn. Cassia occidentalis L.) ORIYA NAME: Kasendri FAMILY: Caesalpiniaceae MODE OF ADMINSTRATION: Tender leaves boiled with butter
milk, made to paste, and mixed with powders of cumin seeds and asafoetida. Pills made from the mixture taken twice a day
cumin seeds and asafoetida. Pills made from the
mixture taken twice a day to cure diarrhea. 28. Diospyrus
melanoxylon Roxb. ORIYA NAME: Kendu FAMILY: Ebenaceae. MODE OF ADMINSTRATION: Tender Leaf juice taken
orally to cure diarrhoea. 29. Derris
trifoliata Lour ORIYA NAME: Ketia FAMILY: Fabaceae MODE OF ADMINSTRATION: Raw Leaf juice taken orally
two to three times a day to cure chronic dysentery. 30. ORIYA NAME: Khajuri FAMILY: Arecaceae. MODE OF ADMINSTRATION: Fresh sap (Taddy) extract from the plant taken before the sun rise
in diarrhea. 31. Strychnos
nux-vomica L. ORIYA NAME: Kochila FAMILY: Loganiaceae. MODE OF ADMINSTRATION: Bark Macerated with lemon
juice, made to pills and taken orally in acute diarrhoea. 32. Pavonia odorata Willd. ORIYA NAME: Kurumuli FAMILY: Malvaceae MODE OF ADMINSTRATION: Two tea spoonful of leaf
juice along with black pepper (Piper nigrum L.) administered orally twice a day
in empty stomach for dysentery of babies 33.
Mimosa pudica L. ORIYA
NAME: Lajakuli FAMILY: Mimosaceae MODE OF ADMINSTRATION: Roots pounded with water and
the liquid paste taken twice a day in diarrhea. 34.
Citrus meidca L. ORIYA
NAME: Lembu FAMILY: Rutaceae. MODE OF ADMINSTRATION: Unripe fruit paste taken
orally with a little sugar or sugar candy once a day for three days in diarrhoea. 35. Lawsonia enermis L. ORIYA NAME: Manjuati FAMILY: Lythraceae. MODE OF ADMINSTRATION: Roots along with neem leaves, and ginger, made to paste, and taken with
boil with water to check diarrhea in babies. 36. Murraya koenigii (L.) Sprand. ORIYA NAME: Mersinga : FAMILY: Rutaceae. MODE OF
ADMINSTRATION: Decoction of the leaf taken orally to cure dysentery. 37. Mesua nagassarium (Burm.f.) Kost. ORIYA NAME: Nageswar/Nagakedar. FAMILY: Clusiaceae.
MODE OF ADMINSTRATION: Aqueous extract from
the bark taken orally to cure diarrhea. 38.
Azadiraclita indica A. Juss. ORIYA
NAME: Nimba FAMILY: Meliaceae MODE OF ADMINSTRATION: .
2-3 grams of the resin secreted from the stem bark dissolved in rice, water
and administered twice a day in to children to check diarrhea. 39.
Erythrina varigata var. orientalis (L)
Merr. ORIYA NAME: Paladhua
FAMILY: Fabaceae. MODE OF ADMINSTRATION: Decoction from bark
administered orally to cure blood dysentery 40. Butea monosperma (Lamk.) Taub. ORIYA NAME: Palasa FAMILY: Fabaceae. MODE OF ADMINSTRATION: Raw leaf extract used
internally twice a day to cure diarrhea. .41.
Aerva Lanata (L.) Juss. ORIYA
NAME: Paunsia FAMILY: Amaranthaceae MODE OF ADMINSTRATION: Roots boiled along with
rhizomes of Mutha (Cyperus
rotundus L.) and Fennel (Foeniculum
vulgare Gaertn.). The
decoction resulted is taken 2-3 times a day to cure diarrhea in children. . 42. Oroxylum indicum (L.) Vent. ORIYA NAME: Phanaphania FAMILY: Bignoniaceae MODE OF ADMINSTRATION: Powdered root bark of lotus
is fermented in an air tight vessel for about one month, sieved, filtered and
the liquid filtrate is taken orally along with sugar candy or honey thrice a
day for 3 days in blood dysentery. .43. Allium cepa L. ORIYA NAME: Piaja FAMILY: L..iliaceae. MODE OF ADMINSTRATION: The bulb is cut vertically,
and a little amount of lime (Calcium hydroxide) is inserted through the slit
and allowed to remain for 10 minutes. Then it is directly chewed to check
blood dysentery. 44. Basella rubra L. ORIYA NAME: Poi FAMILY: Basellaceae. MODE OF ADMINSTRATION : Leaf juice along with juice from pomegranate seeds taken twice
a day to cure diarrhea. 45.
Manikara zapata (L.) Royen ORIYA
NAME: Sapata FAMILY: Sapotaceae MODE OF ADMINSTRATION: Unripe fruits to be grounded,
paste taken orally thrice a day to check diarrhea. 46. Asparagus
racemosus Willd. ORIYA NAME: Satamuli/Satabari FAMILY: Liliaceae. MODE OF ADMINSTRATION: Boiled milk extract of fresh
roots (tubers) taken orally to cure blood dysentery. 47. Hemidesmus
indicus (L.) R. Sr ORIYA NAME: Sugandhi FAMILY: Asclepiadaceae MODE OF ADMINSTRATION: Root tubers grounded with
fennel and the paste taken with gur twice a day for
three days to check diarrhea and dysentery. 48.
Tamarindus indica L. ORIYA
NAME: Tentuli FAMILY: Caesalpiniaceae.
MODE OF ADMINSTRATION: Tender leaves macerated to
paste and taken directly to check dysentery. Also powder made from dried
flowers taken orally with sugar in blood dysentery. 49. Tridax procumbens L. ORIYA NAME: Vissalyakarani FAMILY: Asteraceae MODE OF ADMINSTRATION: Whole plant made in to paste
and taken orally in diarrhea. The investigations revealed the
medicinal plants used in diarrohea consist of 49
species of 46 genera belonging to 30 families. Euphorbiaceae
is the dominant family (4 spp.), followed by Moraceae (3) Rutaceae (3) Solanaceae(2)
Fabaceae (2) Verbenaceae
(2) Annacardiaceae(2) and others having one each.
The use of plant resources as remedies is probably an ancient as man himself.
The aforesaid uses are the ones practiced in day-to-day life of tribals living in deep forests. The use of the traditional
medicine is widespread in this region with higher percentage of the
population relying on it. This is because of lack of modern medical
facilities available in this region and the expensive Medicare system which
these tribal people are unable to afford. Conclusion: Traditional healthcare practices of
indigenous people pertaining to human health are termed as ethnomedicine. Ethnomedicine is
the mother of all other systems of medicine. Recently the importance of these
traditional medicines has been realized worldwide as some of them proved to
be very effective (Marini-Bettolo, 1980) and some
other prescriptions of these traditional healers may be of benefit to human
kind when thorough scientific analysis is conducted into their properties.
The study revealed that whatever knowledge on plants exists with the people
of the study area, they are on fast declining because lack of interest of
local youth to learn the traditional knowledge from the old herbal healer.
The highly interesting findings require further research, while the efficacy
of the various indigenous practices will need to be subjected to
pharmacological validation. Therefore, greater efforts are required to
document traditional knowledge of the local people so as to prepare a
comprehensive account of it, which will open new vistas in plant research
that can fulfill the purposes of conservation and which are eco-friendly to
nature. Acknowledgements The authors are thankful to the Forest
Officer of the study area for providing support during this field survey. We
also acknowledge the help provided by the local villagers during the field
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