1101-Article Text-1937-1-10-20180709
1101-Article Text-1937-1-10-20180709
1101-Article Text-1937-1-10-20180709
INTRODUCTION:
Ethno biology is an integrative, multi-disciplinary branch of Life Science which shows the inter
relation of tribal people men with animals and plants in a natural environment. It also deals with the
relationship of these organisms and the people for food, medicine, ritual processes, and social life.
For the benefit of people.
In modern world, diversified ethnic history of rituals and performance is still conserved by many
living groups of tribal people who are closely associated with their ambient vegetation (Pal and Jain
1998). Both bio-groups (Plants and animals) are being used as a medicine for treatment of internal
and external diseases (Kokwaro, 1993). Healing of human ailments by using animals or their products
is known as zootherapy (Mishra et.al. 2011) and by plants or their products are known as herbal
therapy. In India this practice is more than 4000years old (Varghese, 1996). India is rich in flora and
fauna and shows extreme variation in geographical and climatic conditions. According to Census
2011, tribal population is 104 million in India covering 8.6% population occur in every state of the
country. Out of them many smaller tribal groups are quite sensitive to ecological degradation caused
by urbanization and Industrialization. These people use wild plants and animals in many types of
various ways to fulfill their basic needs such as food, clothing and shelter. Use of natural products
including plants and animals vary from region to region and country to country due to
environmental factors and according to their needs. As per WHO (2013) report the traditional
medicines are being used as primary health care the 60 to 90 % in developing countries as compared
to the developed countres (31 to 70%) to the extention in African countries it is up to 80%. Earlier
tribal communities are almost entirely dependent on the plants and animals for their survival but in
the recent developing world they are becoming a part of our society and are being affected by the new
technology. Thus tribal life is changing very fast and hence cultural and traditional knowledge of
tribes is being decreasing due to modernization. Therefore, there is an urgent need for documentation
of such important knowledge before it vanishes.
Samvatsar and Diwanji, 2000; Bhattacharya and Dubey 2004; Wagh and Jain 2010; Diwanji, 2011;
Choudhary and Upadhyay 2012; Alawa and Ray 2012 and Muwel and Kher, 2016 reported utility of
plants by tribal in several diseases. Tribhuvan and Patwardhan, 1996 reported the use of medicinal
herbs; medicines extracted from animal and bird resources; use of medicated mud and use of water,
minerals and metals by several tribes (Thakurs, Warlis, Katkaris,Bhils,Korkus and Mavchis ) of
Maharashtra. According to Adeola, 1992 and Gaski et. al., 1994, active ingredients of traditional
medicines and cultural food are present in wild animals and their products. They play an important
role in health and on several ritual and religious occasions (Rosner, 1992).
According to Mahata, 2002, zootherapy is less studied than plants.Sharma, 2002; Gupta et.al. 2003;
Singh and Padmalatha, 2004; Jamir and Lal, 2005; Kalita et. al. 2005; Kakati et.al. 2006; Mahawar
and Jaroli, 2006; Alves et. al., 2007, 2008, and 2009; Chinlampianga et.al., 2014; are important
contributors who have aided the knowledge regarding zootherapy.
Bhilala tribes is one of the important tribe considered and known as direct descendants of the Bhil
and Rajput immigrants (belongs to Indo-Aryan family) and mostly distributed in several states of
Western and Central India (en.wikipedia.org/ wiki/Bhilala). Therefore, like other tribes, scientific
knowledge of this tribe must be documented properly and systematically. West Nimar is important
belt of tribal area where Bhil, Bhilala, Barela tribes live. Their knowledge is explored by several
scientists but not all. Therefore in the present study we have undertaken to explore the use of plants,
animals and their products as medicinal resources by Bhilala tribe with special reference to senior
residents (age 60-86 years) of two villages i.e. Chouki and Bhamori of Dhar district of Madhya
Pradesh. India.
STUDY AREA:
Dhar district is situated in the South-Western part of Madhya Pradesh. The district lies between the
latitude of 22o14’- 230 North and the longitude of 740 28’ to 750 43’ East. Chouki and Bhamori
villages of the district Dhar are selected for the present study. These two villages are 130 km away
from Indore in North West of Madhya Pradesh.
TAXONOMIC IDENTIFICATION
The medicinal plants reported by the informants were collected during field surveys and were
identified with the help of senior renowned taxonomist Retired Professor A. B. Seerwani and
confirmed from available literature. However, animals’ generic and specific names are recorded from
Book of Indian animals (Prater, 2009).
OBSERVATIONS
Table-1. Use of medicinal plants parts to treat various diseases in human beings and cattle
by Bhilala Tribe in village Chouki and Bhamori.
1- Sanwjad- Mimosa hamata- Small stem sticks are used in Yagya/Havan (religious occasions)
2- Bhayrung- Leea edgthwarthi- Aqueous paste of root solution is given orally to the diseased
cattle.
3- Demriyo- Ipomea sp. - Aqueous paste or seed/fruit solution is given orally to the diseased
cattle.
4- Popti- Physalis minima – Decoction of stem pieces is given orally to the patients.
5- Bachaniya- Cocculus hirsutus- Squeezed leaf paste is used as bandage on infected eye.
6- Kadvidodi- Grewia asiatica- Seeds are crushed in water and the seed solution is given orally
once to the patient.
7- Nayken - Vitis trifolia-Root paste is applied on the affected area.
8- Oontkata- Solanum sp. - Aqueous extract of root is given orally to the patient only once.
9- Mehndi- Lawsonia inermis- Leaf paste is used on affected area.
10- Rajan- Cochorus capsularis- Aqueous seed paste or seed solution is given orally to children.
11- Amai kamai- Solanum nigrum- Leaf is gently heated after putting oil on the leaf surface and it
is used as bandage on the affected area.
12- Walla- Haloptelia integrifolia- Bark is cut in to small thread like and twine and tied around
the neck during fever up to one week.
13- Rencho- Mimosa rubcauliis- paste of knot is given orally to cattle.
14- Kharwad- Echinops echinatus -Decoction /Aqueous leaf solution/extract is given orally to the
cattle.
15- Moyras- Pergularia daemia- Root is grinded and given orally (in the form of ghutee).
16- Gudwel- Tinospora cordifolia-Stem and leaves of this plant are grinded and aqueous solution is
given orally to the cattle affected from diarrhoea.
17- Sitaphal- Annona squamosa- Leaf paste is used as bandage on wound of cattle.
18- Ykul- Gynnosporia montana- Infected eyes are opened in vapour of boiled leaves for few
minutes .Grinded leaves are also applied on boils.
19- Trisinghiyo- Tribulus terrestris- root is crushed in water and solution/extract or decoction is
given orally to the cattle suffering from diarrhoea.
20- Mahua- Madhuca indica- Leaf is gently heated after putting oil on the leaf surface and tied on
the affected parts (hands and legs) to release excess heat (inflammation).
21- Gulbas/ Madhanu- Mirabilis jalapa- Leaf is gently heated after putting oil on the leaf surface
and tied on the affected part/boils.
22- Babool- Acacia nilotica – Fruits and seeds are crushed in water and solution/extract is given
orally to the patients.
23- Calotropis procera- Leaf is gently heated after putting oil on the leaf surface and tied on the
affected part.
24- -------- Aclypha wilkesiana- One or two leaves are given orally to the cattle with bread to
check the out coming uterus during pregnancy.
25- Calotropis gigantea- Root extract is given orally to the mad cattle.
Oont- Camelus dromedaries- Half an inch of bone is rubbed in water and the solution is given orally
to the patients/cattle suffering from epilepsy or madness.
Khargosh- Lepus nigricollis- Bone and dried flesh is burnt on fire stones and smoke is given is
inhaled by patients of typhoid
Kabar-Acridotheres tristis- 50 -100 grams of flesh and bone is roasted and given to a child to cure
stammering.
Ullu- Bubo bengalensis- Owl’s bone is tied on neck of the patients suffering from dysentery or
vomiting.
Titori- Vanellus indicus-Two to three eggs are given orally to a patient (Narcolepsy).
Billy - Prionalilurus viverrinus- Two to three drops of urine of cat is dropped in the ear in earache.
Sambhar- Rusa unicolor- Half an inch of bone of this animal is rubbed with water and the solution is
given orally to the patients of epilepsy.
Bail- Bos taurus indicus- Two to three drops of urine are put in to the ear to subscribe earache.
Gai- Bos indicus- In typhoid and jaundice, two or three sips of urine is given orally and remaining
urine is applied on the whole body.
Gorpad- Varanus varies- Oil is extracted from the flesh of Varanus and applied on the neck and
massages the neck of cattle when swelling and pain is there.
Bakari- Capra indicus - Five to ten drops of goat milk is given orally to a ulcer patient.
Bijju- Viverra zibetha- Smoke of half an inch bone of this animal is given to patients of epilepsy.
Muhal,Chata- One to two inches honey bee nest is burnt on fire stones and smoke is given to
inhale patients of typhoid and jaundice.
Kala saanp- Naja naja- Bone (1/2 inch long) of black snake is rubbed in water and the solution is
given orally to the patients.
Gadha- Equus africanus asinus- Hoop of this animal is rubbed in water and the solution is given to
the cattle suffering from hooped diseases.
Kachhua - Testudo graeca- Head of tortoise is grinded after drying and the part of available matter is
given orally and remaining matter is applied on the pregnant women.
Saanp- Smoke of snake’s skin is inhaled by the sick animals.
Chamgadad- Aqueous solution of bone of a bat is given orally to a child suffering from stomachache.
Kabuter- Coolumba livia- Roasted flesh is given orally to the patients of epilepsy.
Bander- Macaca mulatta- The person having a problem related to wisdom tooth, is made to drink the
aqueous solution of a bone of monkey.
Bhains- Syncerus caffer- Flesh of buffalo is heated to obtain oil wchich is applied on the burnt part of
hands.
The present study shows that the Bhilala tribe has rich knowledge of treating various kinds of
diseases using animal parts of domestic as well as wild animals e.g. (Lepus,Viverra, Najas etc.).They
are using bones of eight animals including birds and reptiles as shown in table-2 to control of
epilepsy, madness, stammering, diarrhoea, dysentery and wisdom tooth. However, meat of Columba
livia is also used for the same disease. It is also revealed that traditional knowledge of this tribe is still
with them and they treat variety of diseases. Bhilala tribal people are curing various disorders by
using animal parts such as bone, meat, milk, urine, hooves, oil, skin, head and fats of 19 animals out
of which 4 are birds, 3 are reptiles, 1 is insect and 11 are mammals. Nine animals are commonly
domesticated and 10 animals are wild. Interestingly hooves of Equus africanus are being used for
hooves diseases of other animals. Ali and Mahdihassan (1984) reported the use of animal parts and
products in Pakistan for various diseases and constituting 9% of all the medicinal substances in the
inventory of traditional medicines. Costa-Neto (2004) reported traditional use of 180 species as
medicinal resources in Northeastern Brazil. Bhilala tribe of these two villages are using urine of Gai-
Bos indicus for Typhoid/Jaundice however Mogya and Bawaria tribe of Ranthambhore National Park
,India are using the same to recover from weakness due to fever and cancer(Mahawar and
Jaroli,2006). Interestingly milk of goat Capra indicus is being used by these residents and Bhilala
tribe for similar problem i.e. to cure mouth ulcer (Mahawar and Jaroli, 2006).
CONCLUSION:
Documentation of 25 plant species of 17 families and 19 animal species of 16 families for traditional
use in the form of medicine is interesting for mankind. Informants of village Chouki and Bhamori of
District Dhar(M.P.) India is rich in traditional knowledge. They know the use of bone, urine and other
animal parts and plant parts in number of important diseases whichmay prove of a good service to our
society. Therefore, the contents of this paper must be documented at higher level.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:
We are highly delighted to Prof. A.B. Seerwani, Retired Professor of Botany for identification of
plants and valuable suggestion. We are extremely thankful to Professor Prerna Ojha, Department of
Language of Govt.Holkar Science College Indore for improvement of the text. We are also thankful
to all super seniors of village Chouki and Bhamiri and parents of Alkesh for their kind co-operation.
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