Journal of Medicinal Plants Research Vol. 2(12), pp. 356-360, December, 2008 Available online at http://www.academicjournals.org/JMPR ISSN 1996-0875© 2008 Academic Journals Full Length Research Indigenous medicine used for treatment of gynecological disorders by tribal of chhattisgarh, India Rajesh Shukla 1* , Moyna Chakravarty 2 and M. P. Gautam 3 1 School of Studies in Anthropology, Raipur C.G., Chhattisgarh. 2 Pt. Ravishankar Shukla University Raipur C.G., Chhattisgarh. 3 Chhattisgarh State Forensic Science Laboratory, Police line Campus, Tikrapara Raipur C.G. Accepted 22 November 2008 The present paper deals with the indigenous medicinal plants used by the tribes of various regions of Chhattisgarh state. The tribals depend on the herbal medicines for curing various gynecological disorders. Tribal do not approach doctors (physicians) due to lack of awareness and shyness or hesitation. Herbal healers and their patients who receive the treatment for any gynecological complication enquired the local names, parts used and method of administration. The binomial names are enumerated with utilization of these plants. Further studies were suggested to validate the claims and herbal drug development for treatment of such disorder. Key words: Herbal medicine, gynecological disorder. INTRODUCTION Traditional remedies are part of the cultural and religious life of the tribal. In this paper nature and range of traditional medicines used for female complaints in relation to gynecological conditions and disorders. A wide range of herbal traditional medicines are used to regulate the menstrual cycle, enhance fertility and as either abor- tifacients or anti abortifacients. Plants and plant based medicaments are the basis of many of the modern phar- maceuticals we used today for our various ailments (Abraham, 1981; Atal and Kapur, 1982). Nearly 80% of the world population rely on traditional medicines for primary health care, most of which involve the use of plant extracts (Sandhya et al., 2006). In India, almost 95% of the prescriptions are plant based the traditional system of Unani, Ayurveda, Homeopathy and Siddha (Satyavati et al., 1987). Study area For present study the data was collected randomly from various parts of Chhattisgarh State. Chhattisgarh is located between 17 to 23.7 degrees north latitude and 8.40 to 83.33 east longitude. Tribal people mostly inhabit *Corresponding author. E-mail: rajks_anth@hotmail.com, rds.anth@gmail.com in deep forest area, and depend on the forest resources for their livelihood. Data collected from the tribal dominated areas. Major tribal group residing in study area are Bhunjia, Kamar, Muria, Maria, Halba, gonds etc. The present paper concentrate on the traditional medi- cine or herbal medicines used by the tribal for various gynecological disorders. MATERIAL AND METHODOLOGY The present paper is out come of extensive field survey of different tribal villages of Chhattisgarh state during 2005 - 2006 to collect information’s on medicinal uses of different plant species for gynecological disorders. During field work, interviews were conducted with local knowledgeable villagers, herbal healers called Vaidhraj, Baiga, Gunia or Sirha (local physicians in Indian System of Medicines), old women and patients. The gynecological medicinal value of each plant was enumerated in the following patterns; a. local name, b. part used, c. method of administration, doses and d. botanical name. RESULTS The data on medicinal plants for treatment of various gynecological disorders was collected from local peoples in Chhattisgarh, were analyzed. The enumeration and utilization of these are described in Table 1. The use of plant species as remedies is probably an ancient as men himself. The medicinal preparations are Shukla et al. 357 Table 1. Plants used for gynecological disorders in Chhattisgarh. 1. Local Name Botanical Name Part Used Disease Method of Preparation Doses Chir-chira Achyranthus aspera Root Easy Delivery Fresh and Dried root is grinded and decoction is made with water and given to a pregnant women for relief in painful delivery. Half cup decoction is given once or twice at the time of delivery. 2. Local Name Botanical Name Part Used Disease Method of Preparation Doses Ramdatoon Smilex zeylanica Root White Discharge A decoction is made with water and taken orally after completion of menstrual discharge. One or half cup decoction is given once daily in morning for 3 days. 3. Local Name Botanical Name Part Used Disease Method of Preparation Doses Karghi, Satavar Asparagus racemosus Tuber and stem Excess Bleeding during menstrual discharge and burning sensation in urine Fresh and Dried root or stem is soaked in a glass of water for one hour. Taken orally early morning in empty stomach. One glass daily up to 7 days. 4. Local Name Botanical Name Part Used Disease Method of Preparation Doses Anantmool Hemidesmus indicus Root Milk secretion Paste of fresh root is prepared and taken orally in morning and evening. Twice daily for 1-2 days. 5. Local Name Botanical Name Part Used Disease Method of Preparation Doses Dudhi Euphorbia hirta Leaf Milk secretion decoction of fresh leaf prepared with milk, taken orally. Twice daily for 2-4 days. 6. Local Name Botanical Name Part Used Disease Method of Preparation Doses Satavar Asparagus racemosus Tuber Milk secretion Fresh satavar tuber is taken directly with a powder of Anantmool (Hemidesmus indicus) root and Doodhmongra (tuber). Powder is made in 1:1:1. Taken orally in empty stomach in morning and evening. Half spoon powder and 1-1.5 fresh root twice daily up to 8 days. 7. Local Name Botanical Name Part Used Disease Method of Preparation Doses Dhawai Woordfordia fruticosa Flower Irregularity in Menstruation Half spoon of Powder of dried flower is mixed with Honey and taken orally. One spoonful of the preparation taken daily up to 8 days during menstrual periods. 358 J. Med. Plant. Res. Table 1. Contd 8. Local Name Botanical Name Part Used Disease Method of Preparation Doses Palas Butea monosperma Root and Bark Leucorrhoea Half spoon of Powder of dried flower is mixed with Honey and taken orally. One spoonful of the preparation taken daily up to 5 days during menstrual periods. 9. Local Name Botanical Name Part Used Disease Method of Preparation Doses Ashoka Saraca asoca Bark Leucorrhoea Powder of dried Ashoka bark, Kachnar (Bauhinia veriegata) bark and Rahiman bark in 1:1:1. One spoon powder is mixed with one glass gruel of rice is taken orally. One glass of mixture is taken twice daily for 2-5 days. 10. Local Name Botanical Name Part Used Disease Method of Preparation Doses Semhar Salmalia malabaricum Root Irregularity in Menstruation Powder of dried root is taken orally with water or with meals. One or two spoon powder is taken thrice daily up to 5 days. 11. Local Name Botanical Name Part Used Disease Method of Preparation Doses Ashoka Saraca asoca Root Irregularity in Menstruation Decoction of Ashoka root, Arjun (Terminalia arjuna) bark, Rasna (Blepharispermum subsessile) root and Giloy (Tinospora malabarica) stem, filter the preparation. Filtrate is taken orally. Half glass decotation is taken twice daily for one month. 12. Local Name Botanical Name Part Used Disease Method of Preparation Doses Ramdatoon Smilex zeylanica Root Red & White Discharge Powder of Red and white Ramdatoon is made. One or two spoon Mishri (recrystalised cane sugar) is added with 20gms. powder and taken orally. One spoon powder is taken twice daily for 20-40 days. 13. Local Name Botanical Name Part Used Disease Method of Preparation Doses Sugandhi, Anantmool Hemidesmus indicus Root Vitality after Child Birth Powder of root is prepared and 10 gms. powder is taken orally. Thrice daily for 10 days. 14. Local Name Botanical Name Part Used Disease Method of Preparation Doses Keokand Costus speciosus Rhizome Strengthening Powder of root is prepared and one spoon of root powder is taken orally with cold water. Twice daily for 2-10 days. Shukla et al. 359 Table 1. Contd 15. Local Name Botanical Name Part Used Disease Method of Preparation Doses Ramdatoon Smilex zeylanica Root Weakness during Monthly discharge, Giddiness Powder of Nagarmotha (Cyprus rotandus), Dhawai (Woodfordia fruticosa), Tripatri (All root) and Ramdatoon is prepared and Half spoon powder is taken orally in morning and evening. Thrice daily for 7 days. 16. Local Name Botanical Name Part Used Disease Method of Preparation Doses Ramdatoon Smilex zeylanica Root Leucorrhoea Powder of 50gms. Ramdatoon, 50 gms. Nagarmotha (Cyprus rotandus), 50gms. Aonla (Emblica officinalis), 50 gms. Padhmool, 25 gms. Tripatri and 50 gms. Mishri (recrystalised cane sugar) is prepared. Half spoon powder is taken with one cup gruel of rice is taken orally in morning and evening. Twice daily for 21 days. 17. Local Name Botanical Name Part Used Disease Method of Preparation Doses Tilwan Wendlandia heynei Flower Abortion Fresh flower is grounded with milk; a cup of grounded mixture is taken orally from third day of mensural period. Once daily for 3 days. 18. Local Name Botanical Name Part Used Disease Method of Preparation Doses Shivlingi Diplocyclos palmatus Seed Contraception Seed of Shivlingi, Sonth, Kalimirch, Putrajivi and Root bark of Vat is made in powder. 2-5 gms. powder is taken with water or milk at night. Once daily for 21 days. After completion or beginning of menstrual cycle. 19. Local Name Botanical Name Part Used Disease Method of Preparation Doses Tejrai Peucedanum nagpurense Whole Plant Promoting Sexual Desire Powder of Tejrai, Bhojrai (seed), Tejpatra (leaf) and Mishri (recrystalised cane sugar) is prepared. One spoon of powder is taken with one cup milk at night. Once at night for 21 days. 20. Local Name Botanical Name Part Used Disease Method of Preparation Doses Kalmi, Haldu Adina cordifolia Bark Burning Sensation in Urine Decotation of Haldu bark and Aonla (Emblica officinalis) bark is prepared and kept in glass bottle. One glass of decotation is taken orally. Twice daily for 5 days. 360 J. Med. Plant. Res. Table 1. Contd 21. Local Name Botanical Name Part Used Disease Method of Preparation Doses Kalimusli Curculigo orchioides Tuber Promoting Sexual Desire & Strengthening Powder of dried Kalimusli (Curculigo orchioides), Kalimirch and Illaichi is prepared in tablet form. Two capsule is taken in morning and evening after meal. Twice daily for 15 days. 22. Local Name Botanical Name Part Used Disease Method of Preparation Doses Gular Ficus racemosa Fruit Contraceptive Flower is collected after doing rituals i.e. offer agarbatti, coconut, flower and Gangajal (holi water of the Ganges) on Sunday or Wednesday. Fresh fruit is used after contraception. Taken only once. 23. Local Name Botanical Name Part Used Disease Method of Preparation Doses Maida Litsea sebifera Bark Leucorrhoea Bark of Maida and Safed Koria is taken in equal quantity and soaked in one cup water overnight. Taken in empty stomach early morning. Once daily up to 5 days. practiced in day to day life of tribal living in remote forest or village. The use of herbal medicines is wide spread in this region with higher percentage of the tribal as well as non tribal population relying on it. This is because of lack of awareness, shyness and lack of modern medical facilities available in their region and the high cost of medical system for treatment are unaffordable by tribal. Conclusion Ethnomedicinal practices of tribal and non tribal relating with human health. Ethnomedicine means the medical practices for the treatment of ethnic or aborigine people for their health care needs. Present study focuses on the utilization of plants available with the people of Chhattisgarh, they are using the traditional knowledge for the treatment of gynecological disorders. There is an urgent need for systematic documentation of this knowledge by using scientific tools. REFERENCES Abraham Z (1981). “Glimpses of Indian Ethnobotany”: Oxford and Publishing Co., New Delhi: pp. 308-320. Khan AV, Khan AA (2006). “Ethnomedicinal uses of Achyranthes asperal. (Amaranthaceae) in management of Gynecological Disorders in Western Uttar Pradesh (India)”. 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Gautam 3 1 School of Studies. herbal medicines used by the tribal for various gynecological disorders. MATERIAL AND METHODOLOGY The present paper is out come of extensive field survey of different tribal villages of. nature and range of traditional medicines used for female complaints in relation to gynecological conditions and disorders. A wide range of herbal traditional medicines are used to regulate