quintessence of the conventional medicines of an …

15
Plant Archives Volume 20 No. 2, 2020 pp. 5277-5291 e-ISSN:2581-6063 (online), ISSN:0972-5210 QUINTESSENCE OF THE CONVENTIONAL MEDICINES OF AN ENDEMIC TRIBE OF WEST BENGAL, INDIA Promit Kumar Ghosal 1 *, Arunasis Goswami 2 and K.C. Dhara 3 1* Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, West Bengal State University. Berunanpukuria, Malikpur, Barasat, 24 Parganas (N), Kolkata (West Bengal), India. 2 Department, of Veterinary & Animal Husbandry Extension Education, West Bengal University of Animal and Fisheries Sciences, Kolkata (West Bengal), India. 3 Directorate of Research Extension and Farms, West Bengal University of Animal and Fisheries Sciences, Kolkata (West Bengal), India. Abstract Toto is the one and the only endemic endogamous tribe of the state of West Bengal, residing in a small settlement called Totopara at Madarihat Subdivision of the present Alipurduar District of the state. They have their age old traditional medicinal practices which are entirely based on natural resources. The Toto medicine and their medicinal practice is a vast science and this science has no written documentation. There are hardly 2 to 3 people in the entire Toto community who practice this system of medicine and recognized as the Medicine man or “Pao”. These people maintain this medicinal knowledge completely based on their regular practice and it carried from one generation to the next based on the ancestral inheritance system. However, due to fast pace of westernization and acculturation of the Toto community this age old knowledge is at the verge of extinction. In this context, the present study was made with objective to explore the age old practice of ethno medicinal practices among this community. The present study reveals that Toto tribe is ethno-botanically very sound. In this present study we are able to collect 91 ethno botanical information treating 39 different ailments. It is very interesting to note that this list of ailments comprises very simple as well as very complex diseases like gastric disorder to a complex diseases like ophthalmic problem and cardiac diseases. Key Words: Toto Tribe, Traditional Medicine, West Bengal. Introduction “Toto” one and the only endemic tribal group of the state of West Bengal resided at the Totopara of the Madarihat Subdivision of the Alipurduar District of the state. This endogamous tribal group in the verge of extinction, their population is lowering down to less than 1000 in the year 1999 but after then with comprehensive development program initiated by the Government of West Bengal their population is now increased to 1500 (Census report 2011). This is the only tribal group which consumed beef and pork at a time. This endogamous tribal group is again divided into 8 – clans and marriage among these 8 – clans of Toto tribe is permissible (Sanyal, 1973). Others social aspects of this unique tribal community had been studied by different workers like (Mitra, 1951, Majumdar, 1995, 1998, 2010, Toto, 2012 etc.). These Toto people practice traditional medicine to cure their ailments. The medicinal plant wealth of the Jalpaiguri district has been studied by (Nandi, 2013, Chatterjee, 2013, Majumdar, 2013, Haldar, 2013 etc.), but in these work nothing is mentioned about the Toto Medicine. Mudgal et al., (1999), first document the Ethnobotanical lore of the Toto Tribe but, that work is not complete in every respect. There are still some stone remain unturned regarding the traditional medicinal lore of the Toto tribe, which we try here to do. These people are entirely dependent on the nature to meet up their day to day needs. With the increasing human civilization and rapid spread of industrialization natural abode of this tribal group is on the verge of destruction. Besides these this tribal group has no written documentation, they pass their knowledge wealth in ancestral manner from father to son so, with the extinct of this group specially those 2-3 *Author for correspondence : E-mail : [email protected]

Upload: others

Post on 27-May-2022

0 views

Category:

Documents


0 download

TRANSCRIPT

Page 1: QUINTESSENCE OF THE CONVENTIONAL MEDICINES OF AN …

Plant Archives Volume 20 No. 2, 2020 pp. 5277-5291 e-ISSN:2581-6063 (online), ISSN:0972-5210

QUINTESSENCE OF THE CONVENTIONAL MEDICINES OF ANENDEMIC TRIBE OF WEST BENGAL, INDIA

Promit Kumar Ghosal1*, Arunasis Goswami2 and K.C. Dhara3

1*Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, West Bengal State University.Berunanpukuria, Malikpur, Barasat, 24 Parganas (N), Kolkata (West Bengal), India.

2Department, of Veterinary & Animal Husbandry Extension Education, West Bengal University ofAnimal and Fisheries Sciences, Kolkata (West Bengal), India.

3Directorate of Research Extension and Farms, West Bengal University of Animal andFisheries Sciences, Kolkata (West Bengal), India.

AbstractToto is the one and the only endemic endogamous tribe of the state of West Bengal, residing in a small settlement calledTotopara at Madarihat Subdivision of the present Alipurduar District of the state. They have their age old traditionalmedicinal practices which are entirely based on natural resources. The Toto medicine and their medicinal practice is a vastscience and this science has no written documentation. There are hardly 2 to 3 people in the entire Toto community whopractice this system of medicine and recognized as the Medicine man or “Pao”. These people maintain this medicinalknowledge completely based on their regular practice and it carried from one generation to the next based on the ancestralinheritance system. However, due to fast pace of westernization and acculturation of the Toto community this age oldknowledge is at the verge of extinction. In this context, the present study was made with objective to explore the age oldpractice of ethno medicinal practices among this community. The present study reveals that Toto tribe is ethno-botanicallyvery sound. In this present study we are able to collect 91 ethno botanical information treating 39 different ailments. It is veryinteresting to note that this list of ailments comprises very simple as well as very complex diseases like gastric disorder to acomplex diseases like ophthalmic problem and cardiac diseases.Key Words: Toto Tribe, Traditional Medicine, West Bengal.

Introduction“Toto” one and the only endemic tribal group of the

state of West Bengal resided at the Totopara of theMadarihat Subdivision of the Alipurduar District of thestate. This endogamous tribal group in the verge ofextinction, their population is lowering down to less than1000 in the year 1999 but after then with comprehensivedevelopment program initiated by the Government ofWest Bengal their population is now increased to 1500(Census report 2011). This is the only tribal group whichconsumed beef and pork at a time. This endogamoustribal group is again divided into 8 – clans and marriageamong these 8 – clans of Toto tribe is permissible (Sanyal,1973). Others social aspects of this unique tribalcommunity had been studied by different workers like(Mitra, 1951, Majumdar, 1995, 1998, 2010, Toto, 2012

etc.). These Toto people practice traditional medicine tocure their ailments. The medicinal plant wealth of theJalpaiguri district has been studied by (Nandi, 2013,Chatterjee, 2013, Majumdar, 2013, Haldar, 2013 etc.),but in these work nothing is mentioned about the TotoMedicine. Mudgal et al., (1999), first document theEthnobotanical lore of the Toto Tribe but, that work is notcomplete in every respect. There are still some stoneremain unturned regarding the traditional medicinal loreof the Toto tribe, which we try here to do. These peopleare entirely dependent on the nature to meet up their dayto day needs. With the increasing human civilization andrapid spread of industrialization natural abode of this tribalgroup is on the verge of destruction. Besides these thistribal group has no written documentation, they pass theirknowledge wealth in ancestral manner from father toson so, with the extinct of this group specially those 2-3*Author for correspondence : E-mail : [email protected]

Page 2: QUINTESSENCE OF THE CONVENTIONAL MEDICINES OF AN …

people who practice this system of traditional medicine,these vast knowledge of this group related to nature alsowill be vanished. So, to record this vast wealth ofknowledge before they lost entirely ethnobotanicalexploration is the only way to achieve this goal.Area of Study

“Totopara” situated in between 26° 49' 48.00"Nlatitude & 89° 18' 36.00"E longitude covering an area of8.0814sq km. in the Madarihat subdivision of the presentAlipurduar District (erstwhile Jalpaiguri district) of thestate of West Bengal. This area is bounded by the foothillsof Bhutan to the north, Torsha river to the east, Titi riverand Titi reserve forest on the south-west by the Hauririver (Map of Totopara).

The average annual rainfall is 3,900 mm. The summeris rather hot and the mean maximum temperature variesbetween 33-35°C and the mean minimum temperaturein winter varies between 7.5-10°C. This damp warmclimatic condition of the region helps to form a diversegrowth of luxuriant vegetation in the tract. Generally thevegetation pattern is mixed deciduous forest types. Thisis predominantly covered by the dense forests of Sal,mixed with other deciduous and the ever green trees.

Composition of the patches of evergreen forests is riverineKhair-Sisso forests, the Savannah vegetation and densejungles of shrubs, creepers, herbs are also available. Thistract of land is designated as the “anthropological Museumof the state” due to its wide range of diversity of differenttribal communities, which comprises of Rabha,Rajbanghsi, Santal, Munda, Oraon, Polia/Polly, Lepcha,including one and the only endemic tribes the TOTO,etc.

Materials and MethodsThis present work is the outcome of extensive field

work for the last 7 years in different pockets of Totopara.All the information collected from the Toto Medicine menand women of different Toto clan by personal interview.Questioners are prepared based on the standard literatureas mentioned by Jain & Mudgal (1999). In each casevoucher specimens were collected and they are treatedwith standard technique as mentioned by Jain & Rao(1977). For future reference during collection ofinformation local Toto name of every plant along withthe common English name where it is obtained is collected.

In the enumeration list all information is arrange in

Map – Map of Totopara [Totopara layout Source: Majumdar 1993].

5278 Promit Kumar Ghosal et al.

Page 3: QUINTESSENCE OF THE CONVENTIONAL MEDICINES OF AN …

Quintessence of the conventional medicines of an endemic tribe of West Bengal, India 5279

Tabl

e 1:

Lis

t of T

radi

tiona

l Med

icin

e pr

epar

ed fr

om a

rom

atic

and

med

icin

al p

lant

s col

lect

ed fr

om T

otop

ara

of A

lipur

duar

dis

trict

s of W

est B

enga

l dur

ing

field

surv

ey.

Sl.

Fam

ilyB

otan

ical

Vern

acul

arH

abit

&Pa

rts

Use

& F

orm

ulat

ion

No.

Nam

eN

ame

Nam

eH

abita

tU

se1

Aca

nt-

Adh

atod

aB

asak

(To)

Terr

es-

Leaf

1. F

ever

: Fre

sh le

aves

8-1

0 ar

e cl

ean

prop

erly

and

then

put

in a

bra

ss p

ot w

ith it

s app

roxi

mat

eha

ceae

vasi

caB

asak

(B)

trial

/fo

ur ti

mes

wat

er, t

he w

hole

mix

ture

is b

oile

d til

l it c

omes

hal

f of i

ts o

rigin

al v

olum

e. T

he a

queo

usN

ees.

Mal

abar

nut(E

)Sh

rub

obta

ined

is g

iven

@2T

sp fo

r 2-3

times

a d

ay fo

r 3

days

to r

educ

e th

e bo

dy te

mpe

ratu

redu

e to

feve

r. ex

tract

thus

2A

ndro

Chi

rata

Terr

e-Le

af1.

Ski

n di

seas

e (R

ash)

: Han

dful

of f

resh

leav

es a

re p

ut in

a p

ot fu

ll of

boi

led

wat

er fo

r abo

utgr

aphi

s(T

o)st

rial/

2 –

3 ho

urs

and

then

afte

r co

oled

the

soak

ed le

aves

are

squ

eeze

d ge

ntly

to a

sof

t pas

te, t

he p

aste

echi

oK

alm

egh

Her

bth

us o

btai

ned

is a

pplie

d ex

tern

ally

as

poul

tice

with

cot

ton

role

on

the

effe

cted

par

t to

redu

ceid

es(B

)th

e itc

hing

and

ras

h on

the

skin

s. In

cas

e of

acu

tene

ss o

f the

dis

ease

the

rem

aini

ng a

queo

us(L

.)Fa

lse

extra

ct o

f the

leav

es is

kep

t in

a ho

llow

bam

boo

jar a

nd la

ter u

sed

durin

g ba

th.

Nes

s.W

ater

2. J

aund

ice:

Fre

sh L

eave

s are

sque

ezed

in a

mor

tar a

nd ju

ice

thus

obt

aine

d is

giv

en @

2Tsp

full

will

owtw

ice

daily

one

at e

arly

mor

ning

in e

mpt

y st

omac

h an

d th

e se

cond

bef

ore

dinn

er ti

ll co

mpl

ete

(E)

reco

very

. 3. F

ever

with

Col

d: A

han

dful

of f

resh

leav

es a

re b

oile

d w

ith o

ne c

up o

f wat

er a

ndth

e lu

kew

arm

dec

octio

n is

use

d as

nas

al d

rops

to r

elie

f of c

onge

stio

n in

the

nose

and

or

runn

ing

the

luke

war

m A

bout

2 –

5 g

ms.

of r

hizo

me

of B

on-a

da (K

aem

pfer

ia ro

tund

a) a

re fi

nely

cho

pped

into

slic

es a

nd th

ese

slic

es a

re b

oile

d w

ith th

e ab

ove

aque

ous

deco

ctio

n of

the

leav

es th

e w

hole

mix

ture

thus

obt

aine

d is

take

n lik

e C

hai (

Tea)

to re

duce

feve

rish

sens

atio

n.3

Hyg

roph

ilaK

ulek

hara

Aqu

aLe

afB

leed

ing:

schu

lli(B

)/H

erb

i) Fr

esh

Leav

es a

bout

20g

ms

are

clea

ned

and

crus

hed

with

wat

er o

n gr

indi

ng s

tone

; the

aqu

eous

(Buc

h.M

arsh

deco

ctio

n th

us o

btai

ned

is ta

ken

@1T

sp a

t ear

ly m

orni

ng in

em

pty

stom

ach

thric

eH

am.)

M. R

.ba

rbel

in a

wee

k to

sto

p bl

eedi

ng fr

om in

tern

al o

rgan

.et

S. M

.(E

)ii)

Sam

e cr

ushe

d le

aves

are

als

o ap

plie

d di

rect

ly o

n th

e cu

t or w

ound

to st

op b

leed

ing.

Alm

eida

N.B

.: Th

is h

erb

is o

nly

seas

onal

ly a

vaila

ble

near

aqu

atic

site

s on

bank

of H

auri

& T

iti ri

vers

.4

Phlo

gac

Kis

ing

Terr

e-Le

af,

1. A

bdom

inal

pai

n: 1

0-12

flow

ers o

r flo

wer

bud

s are

cle

an p

rope

rly a

nd b

oile

d in

a c

up o

f wat

er.

anth

us(T

o)st

rial/

Roo

t2T

sp o

f the

aqu

eous

ext

ract

thus

obt

aine

d is

giv

en 2

-3tim

es a

day

(m

ust b

e th

e fir

st d

ose

at e

arly

thyr

siflo

rus

Ram

-BSh

rub

&m

orni

ng in

em

pty

stom

ach)

to re

duce

the

pain

.(R

oxb.

)as

ak (B

)Fl

ower

.2.

Cou

gh &

Col

d: L

eaf &

Roo

t in

1:1

ratio

are

cle

an p

rope

rly a

nd c

rush

ed &

squ

eeze

d w

ith a

few

Nee

s.N

ongm

-dr

ops o

f hon

ey, t

he ju

ice

thus

obt

ain

is g

iven

2-3

times

dai

ly ti

ll co

mpl

ete

reco

very

.an

gkha

(E)

3. L

eave

s ar

e al

so u

se a

s fo

dder

to c

attle

.5

Ala

ngi

Ala

ngiu

mA

nkor

a(To

)Te

rres

-R

oot

Dys

peps

ia: R

oot o

r roo

t par

t col

lect

ed fr

om th

e ne

ares

t jun

gle

and

sun

drie

d an

d cr

ushe

d on

bla

ckac

eae

salv

iifol

ium

Aka

raka

nta (

B)

trial

/gr

indi

ng st

one,

the

pow

der t

hus

obta

in is

take

n w

ith a

gla

ss o

f luk

ewar

m w

ater

at e

arly

mor

ning

in(L

.f.)

Sage

-lea

ved

Tree

empt

y st

omac

h to

cur

e in

dige

stio

n.W

ange

rinal

angi

um(E

)6

Ach

yran

Ker

angb

a(To

)Te

rre-

Leaf

1. G

ynec

olog

ical

pro

blem

s inc

ludi

ng a

borti

on: R

oot e

xtra

ct is

giv

en to

mar

ried

wom

en to

trea

tth

esA

pang

(B)

stria

l&

thei

r gyn

ecol

ogic

al p

robl

ems.

In c

ase

of a

borti

ficat

ion

the

root

or

root

par

t is

use.

(Tot

os a

re n

otTa

ble 1

Con

tinue

d....

......

Page 4: QUINTESSENCE OF THE CONVENTIONAL MEDICINES OF AN …

5280 Promit Kumar Ghosal et al.

aspe

rapr

ickl

y/H

erb

Roo

tlik

eto

disc

usse

d m

uch

abou

t the

ir pr

oces

s of

abo

rtific

atio

n tre

atm

ents

ope

nly)

L.ch

aff

2. S

ores

& w

ound

s: F

resh

leav

es a

re c

rush

ed a

nd s

quee

zed

and

thus

the

extra

ct 2

-3 d

rops

are

flow

er (E

)di

rect

ly p

ut u

pon

the

sore

or

wou

nd a

reas

. The

trea

tmen

t con

tinue

s til

l the

wou

nd h

eal u

p to

tally

.7.

Am

aran

-A

mar

aPa

ruch

a(To

)Te

rres

-Le

af3.

Con

stip

atio

n: L

eave

s an

d ro

ots b

oile

d to

geth

er in

2:1

ratio

and

mad

e in

to m

esh

and

mix

ture

thac

eae

nthu

sK

anta

note

(B

)tri

al/

&th

us o

btai

ned

are

give

n @

1/2

cup

at b

edtim

e as

a la

xativ

e.sp

inos

ussp

iny

pig

Her

bR

oot

4. A

bsce

ss: L

eave

s an

d ro

ots

1:1r

atio

are

cru

shed

with

sto

ne m

orta

r pe

stle

and

the

past

eL.

wee

d (E

)th

us o

btai

ned

is a

pplie

d as

pou

ltice

on

absc

esse

s be

fore

bed

time

for

early

sup

pura

tion.

5. L

eave

s ar

e us

ed a

s ve

geta

ble

and

as fo

dder

to c

attle

.8

Am

ara

Ahm

icha

(To)

Terr

es-

Leaf

1. A

ntid

ote:

Sco

rpio

n/C

entip

ede

stin

gs: L

eave

s ar

e cl

eane

d an

d sq

ueez

ed b

etw

een

the

palm

s an

dnt

hes

Not

esak

(B)

trial

/ju

ice

thus

obt

aine

d is

app

lied

imm

edia

tely

on

bitin

g ar

ea to

get

relie

f fro

m p

ain

and

the

burn

ing

virid

isG

reen

Her

bse

nsat

ion

in c

ase

of S

corp

ion

and

Cen

tiped

e st

ings

.L.

Am

aran

th(E

)2.

Who

le p

lant

use

d as

veg

etab

le s

easo

nally

.9

Ana

car-

Man

gife

raTa

itena

msa

iti(T

o)Te

rres

-Le

afEy

e st

ye: T

ende

r lea

ves

2 -5

pie

ces

are

crus

hed

and

sque

ezed

and

juic

e th

us o

btai

ned

is fi

ltere

d.di

acea

ein

dica

L.

Aam

(B)

trial

/Th

e fil

trate

is u

sed

as e

ye d

rops

and

app

lied

on th

e ed

ge o

f the

eye

lids

to r

educ

e th

eM

ango

(E)

Tree

infla

mm

atio

n an

d re

dnes

s of

the

corn

ea a

s w

ell a

s irr

itatio

n of

the

eye

due

to in

fect

ion.

10A

noon

Poly

alth

iaLa

ngay

a(To

)Te

rres

-Ba

rkA

ntid

ote

to S

corp

ion

& C

entip

ede

stin

g: D

ry b

arks

are

cru

shed

with

a st

one

with

a li

ttle

amou

ntac

eae

sube

rosa

Bara

chal

i(B)

trial

/of

Eu

(loca

lly a

vaila

ble

hom

emad

e co

untry

liqu

or) a

nd th

e pa

ste

thus

obt

aine

d is

app

lied

(Rox

b.)

Cor

ky D

ebbe

rTr

eeim

med

iate

ly o

n bi

ting

area

to g

ive

relie

f fro

m p

ain

and

the

burn

ing

sens

atio

n in

cas

e of

Sco

rpio

nTh

wits

Tree

(E)

and

Cen

tiped

e st

ings

.11

Api

acC

ente

llaTi

cha

(To)

Terr

es-

Who

le1.

Indi

gest

ion:

A h

and

full

of fr

esh

leav

es a

re c

lean

ed a

nd s

quee

zed,

the

extra

ct th

us o

btai

ned

is-e

aeas

iatic

aTh

anku

ni (B

)tri

al/

Plan

tus

ed a

s tre

atm

ent o

f Liv

er c

ompl

aint

s. Fo

r bet

ter r

esul

ts, s

eeds

of T

imbu

r (Za

ntho

xylu

m a

rmat

um)

(L.)

Indi

anH

erb

soak

ed in

to d

rinki

ng w

ater

at a

bout

1:4

ratio

for o

vern

ight

, the

n fil

tere

d an

d th

e fil

trate

are

mix

edU

rban

.Pe

nny-

with

pre

viou

s ju

ice

and

mix

ture

thus

obt

aine

d is

use

d as

med

icin

e pr

efer

ably

at e

arly

mor

ning

wor

t (E)

in e

mpt

y st

omac

h. 2

. Who

le o

r par

t of p

lant

is u

sed

as v

eget

able

als

o.12

Apo

cy-

Rau

volfi

aK

oren

-Te

rres

-R

oot

1. U

terin

e co

ntra

ctio

n: R

oots

or p

art o

f roo

ts a

re c

lean

ed a

nd c

rush

ed o

n a

red

ston

e m

orta

r the

nna

ceae

serp

entin

agd

abai

(To)

trial

/m

ixed

few

dro

ps o

f wat

er fr

om a

secr

ete

wat

er-f

alls

(abo

ve B

huta

n hi

lls);

aque

ous

mix

ture

thus

(L.)

Ben

th.

Sarp

og-

Und

erob

tain

ed is

giv

en to

incr

ease

ute

rine

cont

ract

ion

durin

g la

bour

.ex

Kur

z.an

dha

(B)

Shru

b2.

Blo

od p

ress

ure:

Roo

ts o

r par

t of r

oots

are

cle

aned

and

cru

shed

on

a bl

ack

ston

e m

orta

r; th

enIn

dian

the

past

e of

the

root

is b

oile

d w

ith d

rinki

ng w

ater

in a

wid

e m

outh

ed e

arth

en p

ot ti

ll th

e fin

alSn

aker

-so

lutio

n re

duce

d to

1/3

rd o

f its

prim

ary

cont

ent;

the

aque

ous

extra

ct th

us o

btai

ned

is g

iven

tooo

t (E)

cont

rol h

igh

bloo

d pr

essu

re.

13A

ra-

Poth

osH

arso

oTe

rres

-Le

af1.

Sm

all P

ox/M

easl

es: A

han

d fu

ll of

leav

es a

re su

n dr

ied

and

the

drie

d m

ater

ials

cho

pped

into

ceae

Scan

dens

(To)

trial

/&

smal

l pie

ces

and

pow

dere

d w

ith st

one

and

pow

dere

d le

aves

are

app

lied

with

Eu

(loca

lly a

vaila

ble

L.M

oney

Clim

-St

emho

mem

ade

coun

try li

quor

) to

redu

ce th

e po

ckm

arks

due

to s

mal

l pox

pus

tule

s.Pl

ant (

B)

ber

2. F

ract

ure

of B

ones

: A p

aste

is p

repa

red

by m

ixin

g fr

esh

stem

of t

his p

lant

, Dub

a (C

ynod

onCl

imbi

ngda

ctyl

on),

Gur

ja (T

inos

pora

cor

difo

lia) l

eave

s (at

a ra

tio o

f 2:1

) alo

ng w

ith a

bout

50g

ms o

f Kau

ni

Tabl

e 1 C

ontin

ued.

......

...

Tabl

e 1 C

ontin

ued.

......

...

Page 5: QUINTESSENCE OF THE CONVENTIONAL MEDICINES OF AN …

Quintessence of the conventional medicines of an endemic tribe of West Bengal, India 5281

Aro

id (E

)(S

etar

ia it

alic

) pow

der.

The

who

le m

ixtu

re th

us o

btai

ned

is u

sed

as a

ban

dage

mat

eria

l on

the

fract

ured

par

t of t

he b

ody.

Afte

r cov

erin

g w

ith th

e ab

ove

past

e th

e fr

actu

red

parts

are

tied

with

two

or m

ore

split

bam

boo

with

stem

bar

k of

Age

di (C

issa

mpe

los P

erei

ra),

to h

aste

n fr

actu

re.

Poul

tice

is c

hang

ed d

aily

up

to 2

2day

s.14

Scin

daps

usK

anre

Terr

es-

Frui

tB

ody

ache

: 5-6

frui

ts a

s col

lect

ed fr

om th

e ju

ngle

are

cle

aned

with

wat

er a

nd c

rush

ed o

n a

blac

kof

ficin

alis

Laha

ra(T

o)tri

al/

grin

ding

sto

ne a

nd p

aste

thus

obt

aine

d ar

e ap

plie

d ex

tern

ally

on

the

body

or

body

par

ts to

(Rox

b.)

Gaj

pipu

l (B)

Clim

-re

duce

pai

ns &

ach

es.

Scho

ttLo

ng p

eppe

r (E)

ber

15A

ster

-A

gera

tum

Ahe

mna

ngm

iTe

rres

-Le

afB

leed

ing:

A h

andf

ul o

f ten

der l

eave

s ar

e co

llect

ed, c

lean

ed a

nd s

quee

zed

betw

een

both

pal

ms

and

acea

eco

nyzo

ides

(To)

Kuk

ursu

ka/

trial

/th

e ju

ice

thus

obt

aine

d is

app

lied

dire

ctly

on

the

wou

nded

are

a of

the

body

or b

ody

part(

s) a

s pe

rL.

Occ

hunt

i (B

)H

erb

requ

ired

quan

tity

to s

top

blee

ding

.G

oatw

eed

(E)

16A

rtem

isia

Dun

gchu

(To)

Terr

es-

Who

le1.

Ant

isep

tic: L

eave

s ar

e cl

eane

d ca

refu

lly a

nd c

rush

ed o

n a

ston

e an

d th

us p

repa

re p

aste

isni

lagi

rica

Nag

adan

a(B

)tri

al/

Plan

tap

plie

d ei

ther

dire

ctly

or

with

few

dro

ps o

f hon

ey to

redu

ce th

e po

ssib

ility

of i

nfec

tion

of w

ound

.(C

.B.

Indi

anSh

rub

1. A

sthm

a: B

idi (

a lo

cal c

igar

) is p

repa

red

from

sun

drie

d flo

wer

ing

head

s kep

t in

‘Tar

apat

a’Cl

arke

)w

orm

(Mac

aran

ga d

entic

ulat

a) le

aves

and

sm

oked

by

adul

ts to

red

uce

the

brea

thle

ssne

ss in

ast

hma

Pam

p.w

ood

and

in c

ase

of c

hild

ren

belo

w th

e ag

e of

12

a fu

me

of th

e sa

me

is in

hale

d.(E

)2.

Joi

nt-p

ain:

Roo

t are

cle

aned

and

cru

shed

on

a st

one

and

the

past

e th

us p

repa

re is

app

lied

as p

oulti

ce o

n ef

fect

ed jo

ints

to r

elie

ve p

ain.

17B

iden

sA

gedi

(To)

Terr

estr-

Leaf

Sore

s &

Wou

nds:

Ten

der

leav

es a

re c

lean

ed a

nd s

quee

zed

and

juic

e th

us o

btai

ned

is a

pplie

d on

pilo

sa L

.bl

ackj

ack

(E)

ial/H

erb

wou

nded

are

a ex

tern

ally

. Afte

r app

licat

ion

avoi

d to

uchi

ng w

ater

on

that

wou

nded

are

a.18

Trid

axB

otua

-Te

rres

-Le

afB

leed

ing:

A h

andf

ul o

f ten

der l

eave

s ar

e co

llect

ed, c

lean

ed a

nd s

quee

zed

betw

een

both

pal

ms

and

proc

umbe

nssi

ngdi

(To

)tri

al/

the

juic

e th

us o

btai

ned

is a

pplie

d di

rect

ly o

n th

e w

ound

ed a

rea

of th

e bo

dy o

r bo

dy p

art(s

) as

L.Tr

idak

hya

(B)

Her

bpe

r re

quire

d qu

antit

y to

sto

p bl

eedi

ng a

nd q

uick

hea

ling

of th

e w

ound

(s).

Coa

tbut

tons

(E)

19Bi

xaBi

xaD

utas

ing

Terr

es-

Bark

1. D

ysen

tery

: Bar

k is

cho

pped

into

smal

l pie

ces a

nd is

boi

led

in a

wid

e m

outh

ed e

arth

en p

ot u

ntil

ceae

orel

lana

/Yek

ungs

he(T

o)tri

al/

&fin

al s

olut

ion

beco

me

1/3r

d of

prim

ary

cont

ent,

the

aque

ous

infu

sion

thus

obt

aine

d is

giv

en 3

-4La

tkan

/Sin

dure

(B)

Shru

bSe

eds

times

day

till

the

mot

ion

stop

s an

d st

omac

h-ac

he is

cur

ed. A

fter

reco

very

adm

inis

tere

d cu

rry

Lips

tick

tree(

E)m

ixed

with

Sin

gdi-p

eikh

ati (

Paed

eria

foet

ida)

& P

endr

asin

g (M

urra

ya k

oeni

gii)

for 2

–3 d

ays i

nac

cord

ance

with

the

acut

enes

s of

the

dise

ase.

2. A

nim

al b

ites

or In

sect

stin

gs: F

or a

ny o

f suc

hoc

casi

on im

med

iate

ly fe

w d

ried

seed

s ch

oppe

d in

to p

owde

red

with

sto

ne m

orta

r or

any

hea

vym

ater

ials

and

thus

dry

pow

der

appl

ied

arou

nd th

e af

fect

ed a

reas

to r

educ

e th

e ch

ance

of i

nfec

tion.

20Bo

ragi

-C

ordi

aD

aisi

ng (T

o)Te

rres

-Le

af1.

Ulc

ers:

Ten

der l

eave

s 4-5

are

cle

aned

and

sque

ezed

gen

tly in

bet

wee

n pa

lm a

nd ju

ice

thus

nace

aedi

ctom

aB

ahan

ari (

B)

trial

/&

obta

ined

is th

en m

ixed

with

few

dro

ps o

f hon

ey a

nd a

pplie

d im

med

iate

ly o

n th

e ul

cer t

o ha

sten

Fors

t. F.

Indi

an C

herr

y (E

)Tr

eeFr

uit

the

heal

ing.

2. H

eada

che:

Fre

sh m

atur

e lea

ves (

late

x be

arin

g) 5

-6 ar

e put

on

fire f

or ab

out 2

–3 m

inut

es,

then

coo

led

for ½

min

utes

and

then

app

lied

on th

e fo

rehe

ad ti

ll th

e le

aves

are

tota

lly c

oole

d.

Tabl

e 1 C

ontin

ued.

......

...

Tabl

e 1 C

ontin

ued.

......

...

Page 6: QUINTESSENCE OF THE CONVENTIONAL MEDICINES OF AN …

5282 Promit Kumar Ghosal et al.

Now

-a-d

ays

they

app

ly s

ome

mar

ket a

vaila

ble

oil o

n th

e fo

rehe

ad b

efor

e th

e ab

ove

fom

enta

tion

proc

ess.

3. F

ruits

are

edi

ble,

and

con

sum

ed a

s ve

geta

ble.

21Ca

ppar

i-C

appa

risSi

mbr

i (To

) Kal

o-Te

rres

-Le

afG

out:

Leav

es a

bout

8-1

0 br

uise

d on

sto

ne p

estle

and

juic

e th

us o

btai

ned

is s

oake

d in

a c

otto

nda

ceae

zeyl

anic

a L.

kera

/Kaa

lker

a (B

)tri

al/

role

and

use

d as

pou

ltice

on

the

join

ts d

urin

g be

dtim

e fo

r 7 d

ays

to re

duce

the

pain

. It m

ay b

eC

eylo

n C

aper

(E)

Shru

bco

ntin

ued

afte

r 7d

ays

in a

ccor

danc

e w

ith th

e ac

uten

ess

of th

e pa

in.

22C

aryo

ph-

Dry

mar

iaM

akai

bi (T

o)Te

rres

-Le

af1.

Con

stip

atio

n &

Indi

gest

ion:

8-1

0 fr

esh

leav

es a

re b

oile

d an

d de

coct

ion

thus

obt

aine

d is

filte

red

ylla

ceae

cord

ata

(L.)

Avija

l (B

)tri

al/

and

the

filtra

te is

giv

en @

1/2

cup

at b

edtim

e as

to tr

eat c

onst

ipat

ion

and

to p

reve

nt d

iges

tive

Will

d. E

xTr

opic

alH

erb

prob

lem

. 2. C

omm

on C

old:

Bid

i (a

loca

l cig

ar) i

s pre

pare

d fro

m a

han

dful

of s

un d

ried

leav

es k

ept i

nRo

em. &

Chi

ckw

eed

(E)

‘Tar

apat

a’ (

Mac

aran

ga d

entic

ulat

a le

aves

) an

d sm

oked

by

adul

ts fo

r th

e re

cove

ry fr

om g

iddi

ness

Schu

lt.an

d in

cas

e of

chi

ldre

n be

low

the

age

of 1

2 a

fum

e of

the

sam

e is

inha

led.

23Co

mbr

e-Te

rmin

alia

Arju

nTe

rres

-R

oot

Men

orrh

agia

: Par

ts o

f roo

t is

roas

ted

on c

harc

oal a

nd b

ruis

es w

ith fe

w d

rops

of ‘

Eu’ (

Loca

l cou

nt-

tace

aear

juna

(Ro-

(To,

B, E

)tri

al/

ry li

quor

mad

e fr

om M

arua

i.e.

Ele

usin

e co

raca

na) a

nd th

e ju

ice

thus

obt

aine

d is

giv

en tw

ice

daily

xb. e

x D

C.)

Tree

with

the

follo

win

g di

rect

ives

i.e.

to ta

ke th

e ju

ice

at e

arly

mor

ning

tow

ards

faci

ng th

e ea

st a

nd a

tw

t. &

Arn

.ev

enin

g to

war

ds fa

cing

the

wes

t to

stop

hea

vy o

r pr

olon

g m

enst

ruat

ion

blee

ding

.24

Con

volv

-Con

volv

ulus

Cha

ngdi

(To)

Terr

es-

Roo

tC

onst

ipat

ion:

Roo

ts c

lean

ed a

nd th

orou

ghly

cru

shed

with

sto

ne m

orta

r; th

e ju

ice

thus

obt

aine

dul

acea

ear

vens

is L

.H

iron

khur

i/Har

-tri

al/

is g

iven

app

roxi

mat

e 1/

2 cu

p at

bed

time

as p

urga

tive

for t

he tr

eatm

ent o

f con

stip

atio

n.in

Khu

ra(B

)Fie

-H

erb

ld B

indw

eed

(E)

25C

ucur

bita

Yana

sing

(To)

Terr

es-

Stem

Abd

omin

al p

ain:

5 to

6 s

mal

l pie

ces o

f Jui

cy st

em is

put

into

a b

rass

pot

and

boi

led

for 1

0 m

inut

espe

po L

.Sq

uash

(B, E

)tri

alw

ith a

cup

of w

ater

. The

aqu

eous

ext

ract

thus

obt

aine

d is

giv

en @

2Tsp

for 2

-3tim

es in

a d

ay/C

limbe

r (m

ust b

e th

e fir

st d

ose

at e

arly

mor

ning

in e

mpt

y st

omac

h) to

redu

ce th

e co

lic p

ain.

26C

ucu-

Mom

ordi

caA

mba

rshi

(To)

Terr

es-

Leaf

1. F

ever

: Fre

sh le

aves

8-1

0 ar

e cl

eane

d pr

oper

ly a

nd d

ecoc

tion

thus

obt

aine

d is

giv

en @

2Tsp

rbita

coch

inch

in-

Kan

krol

(B)

trial

/&

with

ligh

t foo

d fo

r 2-3

times

in a

day

for 3

day

s to

redu

ce th

e bo

dy te

mpe

ratu

re.

ceae

ensi

s (Lo

ur.)

Chi

nese

Clim

-St

em2.

Mou

th o

dor:

Thic

k pa

rt of

ste

m is

cut

into

sm

all p

iece

s an

d th

us u

sed

as b

rush

ing

on te

eth

Spre

ngC

ucum

ber (

E)be

rfo

r mou

th re

fresh

ing

and

to c

ontro

l inf

ectio

n fro

m b

acte

ria o

n gu

ms.

27D

illen

i-D

illen

iaK

untin

g (T

o)Te

rres

-Fr

uit

1. C

oolin

g ag

ent:

A h

andf

ul o

f fru

its a

re p

ut in

to a

bra

ss p

ot w

ith 3

-4 c

ups

of d

rinki

ng w

ater

and

acea

epe

ntag

yna

L.B

on-c

halta

(B)

trial

/so

aked

for

over

nigh

t, th

en th

e in

fusi

on th

us o

btai

ned

is fi

ltere

d an

d th

e fil

trate

is g

iven

Dog

Tea

k (E

)Tr

eeap

prox

imat

e on

e cu

p as

trad

ition

al m

edic

ine

pref

erab

ly a

t ear

ly m

orni

ng in

em

pty

stom

ach.

The

rem

aini

ng s

oake

d fr

uits

cru

shed

on

a st

one

and

the

past

e th

us a

pplie

d ex

tern

ally

on

skin

as

a co

olin

g ag

ent f

or th

e re

lief o

f bur

ning

sen

satio

n.1.

Rip

ped

fruits

are

med

ium

cru

shed

and

use

d in

pre

para

tion

of P

ickl

e.28

Euph

or-

Bre

ynia

Mim

aisi

ng (T

o)Te

rres

-Pl

ant

Eye

infe

ctio

n: T

ende

r lea

ves

2 -5

pie

ces a

re c

rush

ed g

ently

in b

etw

een

palm

s an

d th

e ju

ice

thus

bice

aere

tusa

(D)

Chi

tki (

B) C

uptri

al/

obta

ined

is fi

ltere

d, th

e fil

trate

is u

sed

as e

ye d

rops

and

app

lied

on th

e ed

ges

of th

e ey

e lid

s to

Sauc

er P

lant

(E)

Shru

bre

duce

the

infla

mm

atio

n an

d re

dnes

s of

the

corn

ea a

s w

ell a

s irr

itatio

n of

the

eye

due

to in

fect

ion.

29Eu

phor

bia

Cha

pang

sing

(To)

Terr

es-

Late

x1.

Bro

nchi

tis: W

hole

pla

nt is

cho

pped

into

smal

l pie

ces

and

is b

oile

d w

ith a

gla

ssfu

l of d

rinki

nghi

rta L

.K

hirik

a (B)

trial

/&

wat

er in

a b

rass

pot

unt

il th

e fin

al s

olut

ions

red

uced

to 1

/3rd

of p

rimar

y co

nten

t, de

coct

ion

thus

Tabl

e 1 C

ontin

ued.

......

...

Tabl

e 1 C

ontin

ued.

......

...

Page 7: QUINTESSENCE OF THE CONVENTIONAL MEDICINES OF AN …

Com

mon

Her

bPl

ant

obta

ined

is g

iven

@2T

sp fo

r 3-4

tim

es d

aily

to c

lear

the

muc

us.

Spur

ge (E

)2.

Ast

hma:

Lea

ves

are

chop

ped

into

smal

l pie

ces

and

are

boile

d w

ith a

gla

ssfu

l of d

rinki

ng w

ater

ina

bras

s po

t unt

il th

e fin

al s

olut

ion

beco

me

1/3r

d of

its

prim

ary

cont

ent.

A c

up fu

ll of

this

aqu

eous

extra

ct is

mix

ed w

ith a

few

dro

ps o

f hon

ey a

nd ta

ken

like

Cha

i (te

a) tw

ice

daily

to g

et re

lief o

fbr

eath

less

ness

. 3. B

oils

& B

liste

rs: B

y sq

ueez

ing

the

plan

t (ex

clud

ing

root

por

tion)

gen

tlybe

twee

n tw

o pa

lms,

the

late

x is

com

es o

ut, t

he ju

ice

thus

obt

aine

d is

app

lied

dire

ctly

ove

r the

boils

for

early

sup

pura

tion.

30G

olch

idio

nJa

mba

isin

g (T

o)Te

rres

-Ba

rkSt

omac

h di

sord

er: B

ark

abou

t 10g

ms c

hopp

ed in

to sm

all p

iece

s and

put

it in

to d

rinki

ng w

ater

at

spha

erog

y-tri

al/

abou

t 1:6

ratio

for s

oaki

ng o

vern

ight

, the

infu

sion

thus

obt

aine

d is

then

filte

red

and

the

filtra

te is

num

Kur

z.Tr

eegi

ven

½ c

up a

s med

icin

e pr

efer

ably

at e

arly

mor

ning

in e

mpt

y st

omac

h fo

r 1 o

r 2 d

ays.

31Ja

troph

aSa

da o

r Sw

etTe

rres

-St

emTo

otha

che:

Ste

ms

are

cut i

nto

piec

es &

use

as

toot

h st

icks

and

or

brus

hes

at m

orni

ng a

nd o

rcu

rcus

L.

Vere

nda (

B)

trial

/w

hile

feel

ing

seve

re p

ain.

Usu

ally

Tot

os c

olle

ct th

is st

ick

regu

lar b

asis

whi

le c

olle

ctin

g th

eir

Phys

ic N

ut (E

)Sh

rub

fire

woo

d in

the

jung

le.

32K

irgan

elia

Dirs

ai (T

o)Te

rres

-Le

af1.

Ble

edin

g gu

m: 8

-10

tend

er le

aves

are

sque

ezed

in b

etw

een

palm

s, ju

ices

thus

obt

ain

is so

aked

retic

ulat

aB

huin

amla

(B)

trial

/w

ith a

fres

h co

tton

ball

and

appl

ied

dire

ctly

on

affe

cted

gum

s to

sto

p bl

eedi

ng a

nd h

ealin

g(P

oir.)

Bai

ll.B

lack

-hon

eySh

rub

quic

kly.

Afte

r 15-

20 m

inut

es w

ash

mou

th w

ith c

old

wat

er. T

he p

roce

ss m

ay c

ontin

ue fo

r 2-3

day

Shru

b (E

)at

ear

ly m

orni

ng. 2

. Too

thac

he: S

ame

Juic

e so

aked

with

a fr

esh

cotto

n ba

ll an

d is

to a

pply

dire

ctly

insi

de th

e ea

r car

eful

ly s

o th

at it

sho

uld

not g

o m

uch

deep

in th

e ea

r-pa

ssag

e to

red

uce

toot

hach

e.33

Phyl

lant

hus

Mai

she

(To)

Terr

es-

Shoo

tTo

otha

che:

Ten

der

shoo

ts a

re c

ut in

to s

mal

l pie

ces

and

then

one

pie

ce is

tied

with

a th

read

and

embl

ica L

.A

mla

(B)

trial

/pl

aced

on

the

side

of t

he e

ar e

xter

nally

con

side

ring

the

sam

e si

de o

f the

affe

cted

teet

h. T

he w

hole

Indi

anTr

eepr

oces

s is

don

e in

the

early

mor

ning

bef

ore

sunr

ise.

It is

obs

erve

d th

at a

s th

e st

em d

ried

up th

e pa

ingo

oseb

erry

(E)

redu

ces

grad

ually

.34

Ric

inus

Rer

i (To

)Te

rres

-B

eans

1. V

erm

ifuge

: Col

lect

ed b

ens

are

crus

hed

in a

n iro

n m

orta

r, th

en p

ress

& sq

ueez

e an

d ob

tain

oil

com

mun

is L

.Er

anda

/Rer

i (B

)tri

al/

drop

s, w

hich

is fu

rther

filte

red

thro

ugh

a ba

mbo

o si

eve

and

the

filtra

te 1

-2 d

rops

of o

il is

Cas

tor o

ilSh

rub

give

n to

the

smal

l chi

ld a

t mor

ning

in e

mpt

y st

omac

h to

exp

el th

e in

test

inal

wor

ms.

2. C

onst

ipat

ion:

plan

t (E)

Abo

ut 1

Tspf

ull o

il is

giv

en b

y w

eekl

y to

an

adul

t afte

r di

nner

for t

he tr

eatm

ent o

f con

stip

atio

n.35

Flac

ourt-

Gyn

ocar

dia

Got

asin

g (T

o)Te

rres

-Se

ed1.

Ski

n D

isea

ses (

Scab

ies)

: A h

andf

ul o

f See

ds in

who

le a

re b

oile

d in

mus

tard

oil

for 2

0–30

min

utes

,ia

ceae

odor

ata

Cha

ulm

ugra

(B)

trial

/&

then

coo

led

and

filte

red;

filtr

ate

thus

obt

aine

d is

use

d as

med

icat

ed m

assa

ge o

il an

d ap

ply

exte

rna-

R. B

r.C

hhal

Mog

ra (E

)Tr

eeFr

uit

lly o

n af

fect

ed a

reas

to c

ure.

2. P

ulps

of f

ruits

are

eat

en a

fter b

oilin

g in

wat

er b

y th

e lo

cal p

eopl

e.36

Faba

-A

caci

aB

ichi

(To)

Terr

eBa

rk,

1. A

nti-d

andr

uff:

Bar

k ab

out 1

0gm

s chi

pped

into

smal

l pie

ces a

nd p

ut in

to lu

kew

arm

wat

er a

tce

aePe

nnat

aBi

swal

(B)

stria

l/Fr

uits

abou

t 1:6

ratio

for

soak

ing

over

nigh

t, th

en fi

ltere

d an

d th

e fil

trate

infu

sion

thus

obt

aine

d is

(L) W

illd

Rus

tyCl

imbe

r&

Ste

map

plie

d on

sca

lp a

s m

edic

ine

pref

erab

ly b

efor

e ba

th to

avo

id d

andr

uff.

mim

osa (

E)2.

Ant

idot

e to

Sna

ke b

ite: T

ende

r bar

ks a

re c

hipp

ed &

cru

shed

with

a st

one

mor

tar

and

add

little

am

ount

of E

u (lo

cally

ava

ilabl

e ho

mem

ade

coun

try li

quor

mad

e fr

om M

arua

i.e.

Ele

usin

eco

raca

na);

the

mix

ture

then

filte

red

and

the

filtra

te th

us o

btai

ned

is a

pplie

d im

med

iate

ly o

n bi

ting

area

as

anti-

veno

m to

giv

e re

lief f

rom

pai

n an

d th

e bu

rnin

g se

nsat

ion

from

sna

ke p

oiso

n. 3

. Fru

its

Tabl

e 1 C

ontin

ued.

......

...

Tabl

e 1 C

ontin

ued.

......

...

Quintessence of the conventional medicines of an endemic tribe of West Bengal, India 5283

Page 8: QUINTESSENCE OF THE CONVENTIONAL MEDICINES OF AN …

& S

tem

toge

ther

are

mix

ed, c

rush

ed a

nd th

e m

ixtu

re is

spre

ad o

n th

e w

ater

bod

ies

as fi

sh st

upifi

er.

37B

utea

Pala

sh (T

o, B

)Te

rres

-Le

afVe

rmifu

ge: F

resh

leav

es 8

-10

are

boile

d w

ith g

lass

ful o

f drin

king

wat

er in

a b

rass

pot

unt

il th

em

onos

perm

aFl

ame

of th

etri

al/

solu

tion

final

ly r

educ

ed to

½ o

f the

prim

ary

cont

ent;

deco

ctio

n th

us o

btai

ned

is g

iven

@1T

sp(L

am.)

Fore

st (E

)Tr

eeby

wee

kly

to th

e sm

all c

hild

ren

whi

le e

mpt

y st

omac

h in

the

mor

ning

to e

xpel

the

inte

stin

e w

orm

s.38

Cas

sia

Luto

daba

i (To

)Te

rres

-Le

afSk

in d

isea

ses

(Rin

gwor

m):

Leav

es a

nd fr

uits

app

roxi

mat

ely

in e

qual

am

ount

are

cru

shed

toge

ther

alat

a L.

Daa

dmor

don

(B)

trial

/&

on a

sto

ne p

estle

and

the

past

e th

us p

repa

re is

app

lied

on in

fect

ed a

reas

pre

fera

bly

at b

edtim

e.C

andl

e Bus

h (E

)Sh

rub

Frui

tsN

ext d

ay m

orni

ng th

at p

art o

f the

bod

y is

was

hed

with

col

d w

ater

. It i

s con

tinue

d til

l cur

e.39

Tam

arin

dus

Tetla

(To)

Terr

es-

Bark

1. Ja

undi

ce: B

ark

abou

t 10g

ms c

hipp

ed in

to sm

all p

iece

s and

put

into

luke

war

m w

ater

at a

bout

indi

ca L

.Te

tul (

B)

trial

/1:

6 ra

tio fo

r so

akin

g ov

erni

ght,

next

day

mor

ning

the

infu

sion

thus

obt

aine

d is

filte

red

and

the

Tam

arin

d (E

)Tr

eefil

trate

cup

is g

iven

as

med

icin

e im

med

iate

ly a

nd re

st o

f the

infu

sion

is k

ept i

n a

bras

s po

tan

d gi

ven

@ ½

cup

at b

edtim

e. T

his

proc

ess

is r

epea

ted

up to

3da

ys in

acc

orda

nce

of th

eac

uten

ess o

f the

dis

ease

s. 2.

Sor

e on

Leg

: Bar

k ab

out 1

0gm

s or a

bit

mor

e is

cru

shed

on

a bl

ack

ston

e an

d pa

ste

thus

pre

pare

d is

app

lied

exte

rnal

ly to

infe

cted

are

as p

refe

rabl

y at

bed

time

to g

etre

lief f

rom

pai

n, it

als

o he

lps

to h

aste

n th

e he

alin

g pr

oces

s.40

Lam

i-O

cimum

Tuls

i (To

, B)

Terr

es-

Leaf

1. B

ronc

hitis

: i) H

and

full

of fr

esh

leav

es ar

e cle

aned

pro

perly

and

crus

hed

alon

g w

ith 2

-4 P

iple

e (P

iper

acea

esa

nctu

m L

.H

oly B

asil

(E)

trial

mul

lesu

a) a

nd e

xtra

ct th

us o

btai

ned

is g

iven

@1T

sp fo

r 3-4

tim

es in

a d

ay to

redu

ce m

ucus

./S

hrub

ii) In

cas

e of

acu

tene

ss, t

hus t

he m

ixtu

re b

oile

d w

ith 1

cup

of w

ater

till

the

entir

e vo

lum

e re

duce

sto

app

rox.

hal

f of i

ts p

rimar

y vo

lum

e an

d th

en it

filte

red

and

filtra

te d

ecoc

tion

thus

obt

aine

d is

give

n lik

e C

hai (

Tea)

for 2

-3 ti

mes

in a

day

. 2. C

onst

ipat

ion:

Fre

sh le

af is

boi

led

in a

ppro

xim

atel

y2c

ups

of w

ater

and

the

deco

ctio

n ab

out 1

cup

thus

obt

aine

d is

giv

en a

t ear

ly m

orni

ng in

empt

y st

omac

h to

cur

e co

nstip

atio

n.41

Mel

i-A

zadi

rach

taN

eem

Terr

es-

Leaf

1. S

kin

dise

ase

(con

tact

der

mat

itis)

: A h

and

full

of fr

esh

leav

es is

boi

led

in a

ppro

xim

atel

y 1L

tr of

acea

ein

dica

(To,

B, E

)tri

al/

wat

er a

nd th

e de

coct

ion

thus

obt

aine

d is

app

lied

exte

rnal

ly w

ith a

fres

h co

tton

ball

on th

eA

. Jus

s.Tr

eeef

fect

ed s

kins

. In

case

of a

cute

ness

of t

he d

isea

se, t

he r

emai

ning

aqu

eous

ext

ract

is k

ept i

n a

hollo

w b

ambo

o-ja

r and

late

r use

d du

ring

bath

. Or a

fter b

oilin

g th

e le

aves

in w

ater

, kep

t it t

ill it

be

cool

ed a

nd th

e w

hole

mat

eria

ls a

re s

quee

zed

with

han

ds a

nd th

e pa

ste

thus

obt

aine

d is

app

lied

exte

rnal

ly a

s po

ultic

e on

the

effe

cted

skin

s. 2.

Jaun

dice

: Ten

der

leav

es a

han

d fu

ll of

is c

lean

edan

d bo

iled

with

wat

er 1

:6 ra

tio a

t nig

ht ti

ll th

e fin

al s

olut

ion

com

es to

1/3

rd o

f prim

ary

cont

ent a

ndke

pt it

in a

bra

ss p

ot to

soa

ked

over

nigh

t. In

the

mor

ning

the

deco

ctio

n th

us o

btai

ned

is fi

ltere

dan

d th

e fil

trate

is g

iven

@ 2

tsp

for t

he tr

eatm

ent o

f liv

er (p

refe

rabl

y th

e 1s

t dos

e st

arts

at e

arly

mor

ning

in e

mpt

y st

omac

h an

d ag

ain

at e

veni

ng b

efor

e di

nner

) in

itial

ly fo

r 3d

ays,

but

may

be

cont

inue

d m

ore

in a

ccor

danc

e w

ith th

e ac

uten

ess

to th

e co

nditi

on o

f th

e pa

tient

.42

Men

i-Ti

nosp

ora

Gur

ja (T

o)Te

rres

-Le

afVe

rmifu

ge: F

resh

leav

es 8

-10

are

boile

d in

wat

er a

ppro

xim

atel

y 1:

4 ra

tio in

a b

rass

bow

l and

the

sper

ma

cord

ifolia

(Th-

Gul

anch

a (B

)tri

al/

final

sol

utio

n be

com

e 1/

2 of

the

prim

ary

cont

ent;

the

deco

ctio

n th

us o

btai

ned

is g

iven

@1T

sp fu

llce

ae u

nb.)

Mie

rsG

iloy (

E)Cl

imbe

ron

ce o

r tw

ice

in a

wee

k in

em

pty

stom

ach

to c

hild

ren

age

grou

p of

03-

12 y

ears

as v

erm

ifuge

.43

Cis

sam

pelo

sA

gedi

(To

)Te

rres

-Le

af1.

Bod

y sw

ellin

g: A

ppro

xim

atel

y 15

-20

leav

es a

re c

hipp

ed in

to sm

all p

iece

s and

cru

shed

with

a

Tabl

e 1 C

ontin

ued.

......

...

Tabl

e 1 C

ontin

ued.

......

...

5284 Promit Kumar Ghosal et al.

Page 9: QUINTESSENCE OF THE CONVENTIONAL MEDICINES OF AN …

pere

ira L

.K

ijri (

B)tri

al/

&st

one

pest

le a

nd fr

esh

juic

e th

us o

btai

ned

is a

pplie

d ex

tern

ally

on

abdo

men

and

bac

k pr

efer

ably

Vel

vet l

eaf (

E)Tr

eeBa

rkat

day

time

to re

duce

the

inte

rnal

bur

ning

sen

satio

n. A

fter a

whi

le w

ash

thei

r bod

y w

ith c

old

wat

er.

2. F

iber

s: T

he b

ark

is s

trong

and

so

used

for t

ying

pur

pose

s.44

Mim

os-

Mim

osa

Gar

chan

g (T

o)Te

rres

-Le

afIn

term

itten

t fev

er: B

oth

fres

h le

aves

and

tend

er s

tem

app

roxi

mat

ely

in e

qual

am

ount

of r

atio

acea

epu

dica

L.

Lajja

bati

(B)

trial

/&

are

crus

hed

toge

ther

on

a st

one

mor

tar a

nd th

e ex

tract

thus

obt

ain

is g

iven

@1T

sp a

long

with

Sens

itive

Clim

ber

Stem

1Tsp

full

hone

y th

rice

daily

to c

ontro

l ter

tian

tem

pera

ture

.Pl

ant/T

ouch

-me

-not

Pla

nt (E

)45

Mor

ing-

Mor

inga

Sajn

a-m

unto

(To)

Terr

es-

Leaf

1. B

lood

-Pre

ssur

e: A

han

dful

of f

resh

leav

es a

re c

lean

ed a

nd c

rush

ed o

n a

ston

e m

orta

r and

juic

eac

eae

olei

fera

Sanj

a (B

)tri

al/

thus

obt

aine

d is

giv

en o

nce

in a

wee

k @

one

sm

all b

owl t

o co

ntro

l hig

h pr

essu

re.

Lam

.D

rum

stic

kTr

ee2.

Leu

corr

hea:

A h

andf

ul o

f fre

sh le

aves

are

boi

led

in 4

cup

s of

wat

er a

fter s

unse

t till

the

wat

erTr

ee (E

)co

mes

hal

f of i

ts o

rigin

al c

onte

nt a

nd k

eeps

in a

n ea

rthen

pot

ove

r ni

ght t

o co

ol; d

ecoc

tion

thus

obt

aine

d is

filte

red

and

the

filtra

te is

giv

en @

½ c

up tw

ice

in a

day

(1s

t dos

e is

giv

enim

med

iate

ly a

fter

suns

et a

nd 2

nd o

ne is

just

bef

ore

the

sunr

ise)

in e

mpt

y st

omac

h to

sto

pw

hite

vag

inal

dis

char

ge.

46M

yrt-

Syzy

gium

Khu

dija

m (T

o, B

)Te

rres

-Se

edIn

dige

stio

n: S

eeds

are

col

lect

ed a

nd d

ried

up a

nd c

rush

ed in

a s

tone

mor

tar,

thus

the

pow

der

isac

eae

cum

ini (

L.)

Java

Plu

m (E

)tri

al/

give

n w

ith w

ater

pre

fera

bly

from

Hau

ri riv

er to

cur

e w

inds

.Sk

eels

Tree

47N

ycta

gi-

Boe

rhav

iaLa

nchk

icha

(To)

Terr

es-

Roo

t1.

Jau

ndic

e: P

art o

f roo

ts is

cle

an p

rope

rly a

nd b

oile

d in

a w

ide

mou

thed

ear

then

pot

till

the

nace

aedi

ffusa

L.

Puno

rnov

a (B

)tri

al/

final

sol

utio

n re

duce

d to

1/3

rd o

f its

prim

ary

cont

ent;

aque

ous

extra

ct th

us o

btai

ned

is g

iven

@R

ed h

ogw

eed

(E)

Her

b2t

sp fu

ll w

ith li

ttle

amou

nt o

f Gur

(Jag

gery

) afte

r tak

ing

light

food

for 2

-3 ti

mes

in a

day

to re

duce

the

yello

wne

ss o

f the

bod

y. 2.

Sto

mac

h di

sord

er: A

bout

1Ts

p fu

ll of

abo

ve e

xtra

ct is

als

o us

ed in

any

kind

of g

astri

c pr

oble

ms

& in

dige

stio

ns w

ith li

ttle

drin

king

wat

er.

48Pi

per-

Pipe

rPi

pla (

To)

Terr

es-

Seed

s1.

Cou

gh &

Col

d: D

ried

seed

s 5-

6 cr

ushe

d an

d bo

iled

in 1

cup

of w

ater

, ext

ract

thus

obt

aine

d is

acea

elo

ngum

Pipu

l (B

)tri

al/

take

n as

Cha

i (Te

a) @

2-3

times

dai

ly ti

ll ge

t rel

ief f

rom

cou

gh.

L.In

dian

long

Clim

ber

2. T

ooth

ache

: Drie

d se

eds

2-4

put i

n an

ear

then

pot

con

tain

ing

a cu

p of

wat

er, i

t soa

ked

over

nigh

tpe

pper

(E)

and

deco

ctio

n th

us o

btai

ned

are

appl

ied

with

a s

mal

l cot

ton

ball

inte

rnal

ly o

n th

e pa

rticu

lar

infe

cted

teet

h to

red

uce

pain

and

sen

sitiv

ity.

49Pi

per

Pipl

ee (T

o)Te

rres

-Se

ed1.

Cou

gh &

Col

d: B

idi (

a loc

al ci

gar)

is p

repa

red

from

sun

drie

d se

eds 3

-4 k

ept i

n ‘T

arap

ata’

(Mac

aran

gam

ulle

sua

Bon

pipu

l (B

)tri

al/

&de

ntic

ulat

a le

aves

) an

d sm

oked

by

adul

ts to

get

rel

ief i

n dr

y co

ugh

and

cold

and

in c

ase

ofD

. Don

.H

ill P

eppe

r (E)

Clim

ber

Leaf

child

ren

belo

w th

e ag

e of

12

a fu

me

of th

e sa

me

is in

hale

d fo

r 2-3

times

acc

ordi

ngly.

2. S

kin

dise

ase

(Ras

h): A

han

dful

of l

eave

s ar

e bo

iled

@1:

10 ra

tio o

f wat

er in

an

earth

en p

ot a

tea

rly m

orni

ng; t

he e

xtra

ct th

us o

btai

ned

is m

ixed

with

nor

mal

wat

er to

take

bat

h.50

Poac

-C

ynod

onD

uba

(To)

Terr

es-

Plan

t1.

Eye

-irrit

atio

n: F

resh

leav

es a

han

dful

of a

re c

lean

ed p

rope

rly a

nd b

ruis

ed w

ith st

one

mor

tar

eae

dact

ylon

Dur

ba (B

)tri

al/

and

sque

ezed

, jui

ce th

us o

btai

ned

is fi

ltere

d an

d th

e fil

trate

is a

pplie

d su

rrou

ndin

g of

eye

s(L

.) Pe

rs.

Berm

uda

Her

bex

tern

ally

to g

et ri

d of

itch

ing

sens

atio

n. 3

. Ble

edin

g: S

imila

rly a

han

dful

of l

eave

s are

cle

aned

Tabl

e 1 C

ontin

ued.

......

...

Tabl

e 1 C

ontin

ued.

......

...

Quintessence of the conventional medicines of an endemic tribe of West Bengal, India 5285

Page 10: QUINTESSENCE OF THE CONVENTIONAL MEDICINES OF AN …

gras

s (E)

prop

erly

and

bru

ised

with

any

ava

ilabl

e st

one

mor

tar a

nd p

aste

juic

e th

us o

btai

ns is

app

lied

imm

edia

tely

on

min

or w

ound

as h

aem

osta

tic a

gent

s. Th

is m

etho

d is

wid

ely

prac

ticed

whi

lehu

ntin

g &

gat

herin

g at

jung

le.

51Po

lygo

-Fa

gopy

rum

Lapp

asak

(To)

Terr

es-

Who

le1.

Blo

od-P

ress

ure:

Who

le p

lant

is c

lean

ed p

rope

rly a

nd b

ruis

ed w

ith a

sto

ne m

orta

r and

squ

eeze

d;na

ceae

escu

le-

Buc

kwhe

at (E

)tri

al/

plan

tju

ice

thus

obt

ain

is fi

ltere

d an

d th

e fil

trate

is g

iven

@1c

up o

r one

smal

l bow

l onc

e or

twic

e in

ant

um M

.H

erb

wee

k to

con

trol h

igh

bloo

d pr

essu

re. 2

. Who

le p

lant

is b

oile

d an

d co

nsid

ered

as

a ve

geta

ble

dish

.52

Poly

gonu

mTa

man

di (T

o)Te

rres

-Le

af1.

Ble

edin

g gu

ms:

Lea

ves a

re c

lean

ed p

rope

rly a

nd c

rush

ed w

ith a

ston

e m

orta

r and

squ

eeze

d,C

hine

nse

Bisk

atal

i (B

)tri

al/

juic

e th

us o

btai

ned

is fi

ltere

d an

d th

e fil

trate

is g

iven

@1c

up o

r bow

l ful

l to

child

ren

as to

nic

Linn

.C

hine

se K

no-

Her

bto

pro

tect

from

ble

edin

g gu

ms.

2. F

resh

leav

es a

re b

oile

d &

take

n as

veg

etab

le.

twee

d (E

)53

Poly

gonu

mB

irsai

(To)

Terr

es-

Leaf

1. S

prai

n: T

ende

r lea

ves 5

-6 a

re c

rush

ed w

ith st

one

mor

tar a

nd e

xtra

ct th

us o

btai

ned

is a

pplie

dne

pale

nse

Pani

mor

ich

(B)

trial

/as

pou

ltice

on

swel

led

parts

of t

he b

ody

to re

duce

the

pain

of t

he s

prai

n. In

cas

e of

ank

le o

rM

eiss

n.N

epal

ese

sma-

Her

bkn

ee jo

ints

inju

ry d

ue to

fall

from

tree

etc

., th

e sa

me

leaf

pas

te is

take

n in

bet

wee

n tw

o w

arm

rtwee

d (E

)le

aves

of ‘

Har

soo’

(Pot

hos

Scan

dens

) and

bin

d w

ith a

cot

ton

role

on

the

inju

red

plac

ebe

fore

bed

time

to re

duce

the

swel

ling

and

pain

. 3. P

lant

as a

who

le b

oile

d &

take

n as

veg

etab

le.

54Po

rtul-

Portu

laca

Cha

pang

sing

(To

)Te

rres

-W

hole

2. C

oolin

g ag

ent:

Who

le p

lant

is c

lean

ed p

rope

rly a

nd c

rush

ed w

ith a

sto

ne m

orta

r an

dac

acea

eol

erac

eaB

oro

nuni

ya (B

)tri

al/

plan

tsq

ueez

ed, j

uice

thus

obt

aine

d is

filte

red

and

the

filtra

te is

app

lied

exte

rnal

ly o

n th

e sk

inLi

nn.

Purs

lane

(E)

Her

bha

ving

bur

ning

sen

satio

n. 2

. Afte

r boi

ling

the

who

le p

lant

is u

sed

as v

eget

able

.55

Rubi

-Pa

eder

iaSi

ngdi

-Te

rres

-Le

af1.

Indi

gest

ion:

Fre

sh le

aves

8-1

0 ar

e cl

eane

d pr

oper

ly a

nd c

rush

ed w

ith a

ston

e m

orta

r and

acea

efo

etid

a L.

peik

hati

(To)

trial

/&

extra

ct th

us o

btai

ned

is g

iven

@1T

sp w

ith @

1Tsp

dec

octio

n of

Eue

ng (

seed

s of

Zan

thox

ylum

Gan

dal p

ata

(B)

Clim

ber

Shoo

tar

mat

um) a

s dig

estiv

e. 2

. Pile

s &

Fis

tula

: Ten

der s

hoot

s con

tain

ing

10 –

12

leav

es a

re c

hipp

edSk

unk V

ine (

E)in

to s

mal

l pie

ces

and

boile

d in

2 c

ups

of w

ater

in a

bra

ss p

ot a

nd to

redu

ce th

e qu

antit

y of

the

wat

er to

abo

ut 1

/4th

of t

he o

rigin

al v

olum

e, d

ecoc

tion

thus

obt

aine

d is

giv

en a

t bed

time

tore

duce

pai

n an

d bu

rnin

g se

nsat

ion.

56R

ut-

Mur

raya

Pend

rasi

ng (

To)

Terr

es-

Roo

t,1.

Bod

y ac

he: P

art o

f roo

t is

clea

ned

prop

erly

and

bru

ise

with

a s

tone

and

ext

ract

thus

obt

aine

dac

eae

koen

igii

Cur

ry-p

ata (

B)

trial

/St

emis

giv

en @

1-2T

bs w

ith fe

w d

rops

of H

oney

or G

ur (J

agge

ry) o

nce

or tw

ice

in a

day

to re

duce

the

(L.)

Cur

ry le

af (E

)Sh

rub

bark

pain

. 2. D

iarr

hea:

Ste

m b

ark

is c

hipp

ed in

to sm

all p

iece

s an

d cr

ushe

d on

a b

lack

ston

e, th

e ex

tract

Spre

ng.

&th

us o

btai

ned

is g

iven

@1

or 2

Tsp

with

½ c

up o

f wat

er fo

r 3-4

tim

es in

a d

ay to

con

trol t

heLe

afm

otio

ns. 3

. Lea

ves a

re u

sed

in c

ooki

ng fo

r Fla

vour

ing

curr

ies,

espe

cial

ly w

ith s

mal

l fis

hes.

57Sc

rop-

Zant

h-Eu

eng

orTe

rres

-Sp

ines

,1.

Ski

n D

isea

ses (

Alle

rgic

itch

y ra

shes

): 10

-12

spin

es o

f the

pla

nt a

re re

mov

ed fr

om th

e st

em w

ithhu

lox

ylum

Jous

ing-

shos

atri

al/

Leaf

a fo

rcep

s ty

pe o

f too

l and

are

grin

ded

vigo

rous

ly o

n a

ston

e pl

atfo

rm ti

ll th

e la

tex

trans

form

edar

iaar

mat

um(T

o) T

imbu

r (B

)Sh

rub

&in

to s

moo

th p

aste

like

san

dalw

ood

past

e, th

en th

e pa

ste

is a

pplie

d ex

tern

ally

on

the

affe

cted

ceae

DC.

Win

ged

Pric

-Se

eds

area

s pr

efer

ably

at b

edtim

e. N

.B.:

Toto

s use

to ta

ke v

ario

us k

inds

of i

nsec

ts in

clud

ing

spid

ers

inkl

y Ash

(E)

thei

r reg

ular

food

hab

it. D

ue to

this

kin

d of

food

hab

its th

ey a

re a

ffect

ed s

ever

e al

lerg

ies

on th

eir

body

and

ski

n fro

m sp

ider

’s to

xic

saliv

a et

c. T

his

tradi

tiona

l med

icin

e is

pre

fera

bly

used

on

such

case

s. 2.

Indi

gest

ion:

See

ds a

ppro

x 10

gms

are

clea

ned

prop

erly

and

soa

ked

over

nigh

t in

one

cup

Tabl

e 1 C

ontin

ued.

......

...

Tabl

e 1 C

ontin

ued.

......

...

5286 Promit Kumar Ghosal et al.

Page 11: QUINTESSENCE OF THE CONVENTIONAL MEDICINES OF AN …

Tabl

e 1 C

ontin

ued.

......

...

Tabl

e 1 C

ontin

ued.

......

...of

wat

er in

an

earth

en p

ot; d

ecoc

tion

thus

obt

aine

d is

giv

en a

fter

mea

l to

redu

ce a

cidi

ty.3.

Pic

kle:

Ten

der

leav

es a

re c

lean

ed a

nd g

rind

thor

ough

ly o

n a

ston

e til

es, p

aste

thus

obt

aine

dis

serv

ed ra

w a

fter a

ddin

g a

pinc

h of

salt

with

rice

-mea

l as p

ickl

e. It

is sa

id th

at it

may

incr

ease

the

dige

stiv

e ca

paci

ty.

58Sc

opar

iaC

hini

-jhar

(To)

Terr

es-

Seed

1. M

outh

-ulc

er: D

ried

seed

s 2-

5gm

s are

soak

ed in

a c

up o

f wat

er in

a b

rass

pot

ove

rnig

ht a

nddu

lcis

L.

Saga

r chi

ni/

trial

/&

deco

ctio

n th

us o

btai

ned

is u

sed

to g

urgl

e tw

ice/

thric

e in

a d

ay o

r tw

o. F

or a

cute

ness

of t

heB

on D

hone

(B)

Her

bLe

afco

nditi

on, m

ore

conc

entra

ted

deco

ctio

n is

app

lied

with

a s

mal

l cot

ton

ball

inte

rnal

ly o

n th

eLi

coric

e wee

d (E

)pa

rticu

lar a

rea

to r

educ

e re

dnes

s an

d bu

rnin

g se

nsat

ion.

3. W

arts

: Ten

der l

eave

s 5-

6 cr

ushe

d on

blac

k st

one

with

a fe

w d

rops

of w

ater

and

pas

te th

us o

btai

ned

is a

pplie

d ex

tern

ally

as

poul

tice

on w

arts

hea

d. T

he w

arts

are

det

ache

d fro

m th

e sk

in a

fter 1

-2da

ys a

s pa

ste

beco

me

drie

dan

d ar

e re

mov

ed a

utom

atic

ally.

59So

lan-

Sola

num

Gui

nder

iase

(To)

Terr

es-

Leaf

Cou

gh &

Col

d: i)

Fres

h le

aves

8-1

0 ar

e cl

eane

d pr

oper

ly a

nd c

rush

ed a

long

with

2-4

Pip

lee

acea

eni

grum

L.

Kak

mac

hi (B

)tri

al/

&(P

iper

mul

lesu

a) a

nd e

xtra

ct th

us o

btai

ned

is g

iven

@1t

sp fo

r 3-4

tim

es in

a d

ay to

redu

ce m

ucus

.B

lack

Nig

ht-

Her

bFr

uit

ii) F

ruits

abo

ut 1

0gm

s ar

e cl

eane

d an

d sq

ueez

ed in

bet

wee

n pa

lms,

extra

ct th

us o

btai

ned

is g

iven

shad

e (E

)@

1Tsp

alo

ng w

ith 1

Tsp

hone

y an

d ½

tsp

past

e of

Bon

-ada

(Rhi

zom

es o

f Kae

mpf

eria

rotu

nda)

for

2-3

times

in a

day

alo

ng w

ith C

hai (

Tea)

to re

duce

cou

gh.

60C

apsic

umG

ojam

uri (

To)

Terr

es-

Frui

t1.

Veg

etab

les:

Fru

its e

ither

in a

who

le o

r par

t of i

s chi

pped

into

smal

l pie

ces a

re u

sed

in d

aily

frut

esce

nsN

aga-

mor

ich

(B)

trial

/fo

od se

para

tely

alo

ng w

ith a

pin

ch o

f sal

t and

or p

ickl

e. 2

. Bev

erag

e: F

ruits

8-1

0 ch

ippe

d an

d or

L.B

ird P

eppe

r (E)

Shru

bha

lf-cr

ushe

d an

d ar

e us

ed a

s on

e of

the

ingr

edie

nts

for

the

prep

arat

ion

of lo

cally

ava

ilabl

eho

mem

ade

alco

holic

drin

k m

ade

from

Mar

ua (E

leus

ine

cora

cana

) kno

wn

as E

u.61

Ster

cul-

Abr

oma

Myc

ring

(To)

Terr

es-

Leaf

Con

stip

atio

n an

d In

dige

stio

n: L

eave

s 5-

6 ar

e cl

eane

d pr

oper

ly a

nd c

rush

ed o

n a

ston

e pe

stle

iace

aeag

usta

(L.

)U

latk

ambo

l (B)

trial

/an

d sq

ueez

ed; e

xtra

ct th

us o

btai

ned

is g

iven

@2T

sp o

nce

afte

r sun

set t

o cl

ear b

owl s

yndr

ome.

L.f.

Dev

il's c

otto

n (E

)Sh

rub

62U

rtica

-La

porte

aPa

gra (

To)

Terr

es-

Roo

t1.

Pro

long

ed fe

ver:

Part

of ro

ot is

cut

app

roxi

mat

ely

2-3i

nche

s, th

en g

rinde

d w

ell w

ith a

ston

ece

aecr

enul

ata

Bic

huti

(B)

trial

/m

orta

r and

squ

eeze

d; ju

ices

thus

obt

aine

d is

giv

en @

1ts

p w

ith e

qual

am

ount

of G

ur (J

agge

ry)

Gau

d.St

ingi

ng T

ree

(E)

Shru

btw

ice

daily

pre

fera

bly

in e

mpt

y st

omac

h to

get

relie

f fro

m p

rolo

nged

feve

r.2.

Fib

er fr

om b

ark

is u

sed

for m

akin

g co

rdag

e.63

Verb

e-C

allic

arpa

Gis

ing

(To)

Terr

es-

Bark

Pneu

mon

ia: B

ark

or p

art o

f bar

k is

bru

ised

on

ston

e w

ith fe

w d

rops

of w

ater

and

squ

eeze

d;na

ceae

arbo

rea

Bon

mol

a (B

)tri

al/

extra

ct th

us o

btai

n is

giv

en @

1ts

p w

ith e

qual

am

ount

of h

oney

for 3

days

to th

e pa

tient

Roxb

.B

eaut

yber

ryTr

eesu

fferin

g fro

m p

neum

onia

.Pl

ant (

E)64

Cle

dend

rum

Bha

tpat

ta (

To)

Terr

es-

Roo

t1.

Dia

rrho

ea: F

resh

root

bar

k ab

out 1

Tbs

soak

ed in

wat

er a

nd in

fusi

on th

us o

btai

n is

giv

en w

ithin

fortu

natu

mG

hent

u (B

)tri

al/

&a

pinc

h of

tabl

e sa

lt an

d su

gar m

olas

ses t

o cu

re th

e di

seas

e. 2

. Ski

n di

seas

e (E

czem

a): F

resh

leav

esL.

Hill

glo

rySh

rub

Leaf

abou

t a h

andf

ul o

f are

cru

shed

on

a gr

indi

ng s

tone

and

pas

te th

us o

btai

ned

is d

irect

ly a

pplie

d on

bow

er (E

)th

e af

fect

ed b

ody

part(

s) a

nd w

ait t

ill it

drie

d up

. 3. F

ever

(Mal

aria

): A

han

dful

of F

resh

leav

esar

e cr

ushe

d on

a g

rindi

ng s

tone

and

ext

ract

thus

obt

aine

d ar

e fil

tere

d, a

nd th

e fil

trate

is g

iven

Quintessence of the conventional medicines of an endemic tribe of West Bengal, India 5287

Page 12: QUINTESSENCE OF THE CONVENTIONAL MEDICINES OF AN …

Tabl

e 1 C

ontin

ued.

......

...tw

ice

a da

y w

ith a

littl

e ho

ney

to c

ure

mal

aria

l fev

er. T

he d

rug

is c

ontin

ued

till r

ecov

ery.

N.B

.: D

urin

g th

e tim

e of

wor

ld w

ar II

, the

sold

iers

who

wer

e po

sted

at N

orth

Ben

gal a

rea

suffe

red

due

to e

pide

mic

of s

ever

e m

alar

ial f

ever

and

eve

ryda

y hu

ge n

umbe

rs w

ere

lost

thei

r life

; how

ever

,it

was

fou

nd th

at th

ose

who

use

d B

hatp

atta

in th

eir

day

to d

ay li

fe th

ey s

urvi

ved.

Tot

os le

arne

dth

is a

nd s

ince

then

they

use

this

as

a m

edic

inal

pla

nts

for

the

dise

ase.

65Pr

emna

Dam

roo

(To)

Terr

es-

Bark

Thro

at-s

ore:

Bar

k or

par

t of b

ark

and

the

ripen

ed fr

uits

are

mix

ed to

geth

er a

ppro

xim

atel

y in

equ

alba

rbat

a W

all.

Bea

rded

trial

/&

ratio

and

grin

d on

a s

tone

pla

tform

then

squ

eeze

d; e

xtra

ct th

us o

btai

n is

then

mix

ed in

a c

upex

Sch

auer

Prem

na (E

)Cl

imbe

rFr

uit

of lu

kew

arm

wat

er fo

r gur

gle

to re

lief f

rom

tons

il an

d th

roat

-pai

n.66

Vite

x ne

gund

oSe

wal

i (To

)Te

rres

-Le

afH

eada

che:

Bid

i (a

loca

l cig

ar) i

s pre

pare

d fro

m su

n dr

ied

leav

es 2

-3 k

ept i

n ‘T

arap

ata’

(Mac

aran

gaW

all.

exN

ishi

nda (

B)

trial

/de

ntic

ulat

a le

aves

) an

d sm

oked

by

adul

ts to

get

rel

ief f

rom

gid

dine

ss a

nd in

cas

e of

pre

gnan

tSc

haue

rC

hast

e tre

e (E

)Sh

rub

wom

an a

fum

e of

the

sam

e is

inha

led

for 2

-3tim

es a

ccor

ding

ly.67

Zing

-A

lpin

iaJa

gai (

To)

Terr

es-

Frui

t1.

Vom

iting

: Fre

sh fr

uits

1 o

r 2 a

re c

olle

cted

, cle

aned

and

thus

giv

en ra

w w

ith li

ttle

salt

toib

era

mal

acce

nsis

Deo

tara

or K

ula-

trial

/st

op v

omiti

ng. 2

. Who

le p

lant

is u

sed

loca

lly a

s fo

dder

to c

attle

.ce

ae(B

urm

.) R

osc.

njan

(B) M

alac

caH

erb

Gin

ger (

E)68

Kae

mpf

eria

Bhu

i-Cha

mpa

/Te

rres

-Rh

i-Fr

actu

re o

f Bon

es: A

pas

te is

pre

pare

d by

mix

ing

fres

h rh

izom

es a

s req

uire

d (d

epen

ds u

pon

inju

ry)

rotu

nda

Bon

-ada

(B)

trial

/zo

me

of th

is p

lant

, app

roxi

mat

ely

50gm

s of K

auni

(Set

aria

ital

ic) p

owde

r with

few

dro

ps o

f Eu

(Loc

ally

L.In

dian

Her

bav

aila

ble

hom

emad

e co

untry

liqu

or m

ade

from

Mar

ua i.

e. E

leus

ine

cora

cana

) alo

ng w

ith b

ruis

edC

rocu

s (E)

Tim

bur (

bark

late

x of

Zan

thox

ylum

arm

atum

) as a

bin

ding

age

nts.

The

who

le m

ixtu

re th

us o

btai

ned

is u

sed

as a

ban

dage

mat

eria

l on

the

fract

ured

par

t of t

he b

ody.

Afte

r co

verin

g w

ith th

e ab

ove

past

e th

e fra

ctur

ed p

arts

are

tied

with

supp

ort o

f tw

o or

mor

e sp

lit b

ambo

o cl

um st

em o

r ste

m b

ark

of A

gedi

(Cis

sam

pelo

s Per

eira

), to

has

ten

heal

ing

of fr

actu

re. P

oulti

ce is

cha

nged

dai

ly u

p to

21-2

2day

s. A

s st

ated

the

rhiz

ome

is w

orke

d as

coo

ling

agen

t to

get r

elie

f of s

prai

ns.

(To

– To

to; B

– B

enga

li; E

– E

nglis

h)

the following order – name of the family– scientific name of the plant –vernacular name – parts use –prescription.Observation:

Results and DiscussionAfter critical scrutiny of the

information given in the table 1, it isobserved that 68 plant species belongingto 65 genera under 39 families ofAngiosperms are used by 123 differentways by the Toto populace of the state.Among these 104 usages undertraditional medicinal prescription arecategories into 34 groups. A statisticalanalysis of the usages of the plants bythe Toto tribe is given in the table 2, Fig.1, below.

From the table 2 is observed thatGastric disorders and Skin Diseases arethe most common ailments among theToto tribe, followed by Cough & Cold,Constipation, Sores-Wounds & Ulcersand Fever.

It is very interesting to note that,among different plant parts leaf and thetender shoots are used in most of thecases (39 prescriptions). A conspectusof the usages of the different plant partsare given in the table 3, Fig. 2.

ConclusionToto tribe is the one and the only

endemic endogamous tribe of the state.But at present with the pace ofcivilization this endemic tribe of the stateis continuously face the westernizationand as result a huge acculturation in theirdaily behavioral life takes place. Atpresent most of the Toto people give uptheir traditional dress and start to wearwestern dress and blindly follow thewestern culture to fulfill every needs oftheir life, they also give up their age oldtraditional medicinal practices which areentirely based on the natural resources.Instead of that they are now mostlydepends on the western medicine totreat their ailments. The Toto medicineand their medicinal practice is a vast

5288 Promit Kumar Ghosal et al.

Page 13: QUINTESSENCE OF THE CONVENTIONAL MEDICINES OF AN …

to a complex diseases like ophthalmic problem andcardiac diseases. So, it is hope that, though this study isnot a complete study in every respect many lacuna istheir which are not reached here due to shortage of time,human resources, funding, etc. various barrier whichauthor have to face. But it is a small leap towards thetraditional medicinal study among the Toto tribe and I amsure that this makes enthusiastic to many youngresearchers to complete the work of Toto tribe.

AcknowledgementA special word of thanks to DR. Sunit Mitra, Asso.

Prof. & Head of the Dept. (Botany) Ranaghat College,Nadia, West Bengal for the patience he has shown toundertake the analytical part of this study and also wishto express indebtedness to all the members and familiesof the Toto tribes of the studied area for their cooperation,valuable support to carry out this research.

ReferencesChatterjee, M. (2013). Jalpaiguri zillar veshaj sampod porichiti:

prosongo byaboharik dik. Kiratbhumi, jalpaiguri zillasankalan 2nd part. Pp.276.

Haldar, B. (2013). Jalpaiguri zillar swastha o chikitsha byabostha.Kiratbhumi, jalpaiguri zilla sankalan 2nd part. Pp.299.

Jain, S.K. and R.R. Rao (1977). A handbook of Field & Herbariummethods. Today & Tomorrow’s Printer Publisher, New

Fig. 1: Numerical Analysis of the TOTO Prescription.

Fig. 2: Statistical analysis of different plant parts use.

science and this science has no written documentation agroup of people who are designated as “Pao” (medicineman or woman) maintain this medicinal knowledgecompletely based on their regular practice and byancestral inheritance system. These vast knowledge willbe vanish entirely with the death of these people as thepresent younger generation of the Toto society are notbother at all about their culture and medicinal practice.So, to document this vast knowledge system this type offield exploration is one and the only functional tools whichadopted here. The present survey reveals that Toto tribeis ethno-botanically very sound as they able to treatvarious types of ailments (39 in numbers) and the listincludes simple and minor ailments like gastric disorder

Quintessence of the conventional medicines of an endemic tribe of West Bengal, India 5289

Page 14: QUINTESSENCE OF THE CONVENTIONAL MEDICINES OF AN …

Delhi, India.Jain, S.K. and V. Mudgal (1999). A hand book of Ethnobotany.

M/s Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh.Majumdar, B. (1993). Cultural and Economic Transformation of

a Small Tribe in the Sub-Himalayas- A Study of the Totos,unpublished Ph.D. Dissertation, University of NorthBengal.

Majumdar, B. (1995). Poschimbonger khudrotama janagosthi:Toto. Uttarbongo prosongo. Pp.15. Bengal studies series,1:.

Majumdar, B. (1998). The Totos: cultural and economictransformation of small tribe in the sub Himalayan Bengal:Academic Enterprise.

Majumdar, B. (2010). Toto upojatir sanskritik poriprekshit,byadhi o chikitsa. An anthology on educational & culturalaspects with inhabitants of North Bengal; lokayat anginauttarbanga, Pp.48-59.

Majumdar, B. (2013). Jalpaiguri zillar lokochikistsa o lokoveshaj.Kiratbhumi, jalpaiguri zilla sankalan 2nd part. Pp. 290.

Mitra, A K. (1951). District Census Handbook. Jalpaiguri.Appendix VII & VIII. Directorate of Census Corporation.West Bengal.

Mudgal, V., D.C. Pal, R.N. Kayal and S. Saha (1999).Ethnobotany Of Totopara, M/s Bishen Singh MahendraPal Singh.

Nandi, R. (2013). Jalpaiguri jelar bonoushadhi. Kiratbhumi,Jalpaiguri zilla sankalan 2nd part. Pp.263.

Sanyal, C. (1973). The Meches & The Totos two sub-himalayantribes of North-Bengal. University of North Bengal, NorthBengal studies series, 1:.

Sarkar A.K., M. Dey and M. Mazumder (2017). A ComparativeStudy of Tree Species Composition of Panjhora ForestBeat and Sipchu Forest Beat of Chalsa Forest Range, WestBengal, India. J. App. Biol. Biotech., 5(2): 45-52.

Sikdar, J.K. (1981). New plants records for West Bengal fromJalpaiguri district, J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc, 78: 103-106.

Sikdar, J.K. and D.N. Samanta (1983). Herbaceous Flora(excluding Cyperaceae, Poaceae and Pteridophytes) ofJalpaiguri district, West Bengal - A cheek list, J. Econ. Tax.Bot., 4(2): 525-538.

Sikdar, J.K. (1984). Contribution to the flora of Baikunthapurforest Division Jalpaiguri district (West Bengal), J. Econ.Tax. Bot., 5(3): 505-532.

Sikdar, J.K. and R.S. Rao (1984). Further contribution to theflora of Buxa forest division Jalpaiguri district (WestBengal), J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc, 81: 123-148.

Toto, Dhaniram (2012). Toto janjatir samah jiban sanskriti,Duarser bone-badare: Uttarbongo prosongo. Pp.73.

Webliography:www.alipurduar.gov.inwww.bdomadarihatbirpara.org

Table 2: Conspectus of the usages of the plants species bythe Toto tribe.

Sl. Use No. of % in respect toNo. use total information1 Abdominal Pain 2 1.802 Abscess 1 0.903 Animal Bites 1 0.904 Anti-dandruff 1 0.905 Asthma 2 1.806 Bleeding 4 3.707 Blood Pressure 3 2.808 Body ache 2 1.809 Boils & Blisters 1 0.9010 Bronchitis & Pneumonia 3 2.8011 Constipation 6 5.7012 Cooling agent 2 1.8013 Cough & Cold 7 6.7014 Dental diseases 4 3.7015 Diarrhea & Dysentery 3 2.8016 Eye diseases 3 2.8017 Fever 5 4.8018 Fracture of Bones 2 1.8019 Gastric disorders 10 9.6020 Gout & Joint pains 2 2.8021 Gynecological problems 4 3.7022 Headache 2 1.8023 Insect Stings 3 2.8024 Jaundice 4 3.7025 Mouth diseases 4 3.7026 Measles & Pox 1 0.9027 Piles & Fistula 1 0.9028 Scabies 1 0.9029 Skin Diseases 10 9.6030 Snake Bites 1 0.9031 Sores-Wounds & Ulcers 6 5.7032 Sprain 1 0.9033 Vermifuge 3 2.8034 Vomiting 1 0.90

TOTAL 104

Table 3: Conspectus of the usages of the plant parts.

Sl. Plant parts No. of %No. use Value1 Flower 1 1.102 Fruit 10 10.603 Latex 1 1.104 Leaf 36 38.305 Root/Root Bark/Rhizome 10 10.606 Seed 9 9.607 Stem/Stem Bark/Spine 19 20.208 Whole Plant 8 8.50

5290 Promit Kumar Ghosal et al.

Page 15: QUINTESSENCE OF THE CONVENTIONAL MEDICINES OF AN …

www.censusindia.gov.inwww.census2011.gov.in www.d-maps.com/carte.php?num_car=31184&lang=enwww.indikosh.com/dist/jalpaiguri

www.jalpaiguri.gov.inwww.latitude.to/articles-by-country/in/india/163612/totoparawww.wbdma.gov.inwww.wbprd.gov.in

Quintessence of the conventional medicines of an endemic tribe of West Bengal, India 5291