Traditional medicinal knowledge about common herbs, and soils used for the treatment of headache (with special emphasis on Migraine) in Chhattisgarh, India

Research Note - Pankaj Oudhia
© 2001,2002,2003 Pankaj Oudhia - All Rights Reserved

Migraine is also known as Sunheadache or hemicrania in general. In Hindi it is known as Adhkapari or Adhasisi (Adha-half; Kapari or Sisi head). During my survey at Ajirma village of Sarguja district, I have noted a new name of Kuthua (Xanthium strumarium), as Adhasisi. The natives of this region are well aware of unique medicinal properties of Xanthium in case of hemicrania. It is a common practice in Chhattisgarh to name of herb on the basis of its healing properties for specific troubles. Dadmari is one of the promising examples. The meaning of Dadmari is Dad-ringworm; Mari to kill. In our state Dadmari holds a reputed position as sure cure for ringworm. The scientific name of Dadmari is Cassia tora. You can get more details from my article on Traditional medicinal knowledge about herbs used for the treatment of ringworm in Chhattisgarh, India. So, we are talking about the miracle healing properties of Xanthium in case of hemicrania. According to the Traditional Healer of Ajirma living at the base of Pikha hills, the prickly involucre and roots are tied on ears and neck of patients particularly the chronic patients.

Botanical differences between major Madhuca species.
Characteristics	Madhuca latifolia	Madhuca longifolia
1) Habit	A medium sized to large tree.	A large, evergreen tree
2) Stem	Usually with short, bole and large, rounded crown, 2.4-3.6 meters.	Short, 3.6 meters, with a dense, spreading crown.
3) Bark	Dark coloured or grey, cracked.	Yellowish grey to dark brown-red and milky inside, scaly.
4) Leaf	Clustered near the ends of branches, elliptic or elliptic oblong, coriaceous, pubescent when young, almost glabrous when mature.	Clustered near the apex, linear lanceolate, tapering towards the base, glabrous when mature.
5) Flower	Small, fleshy, cream coloured, sweet-scented, in dense, fascicles near the ends of branches.	Pale yellow, many small, with rusty, pubescent calyx and fleshy corolla, aromatic, in dense clusters near the ends of the branches.
6) Fruit	Ovoid, upto 5 cm long, greenish, turning reddish yellow or orange when ripe, 1-4 seeded.	Ovoid, 5 cm long, 1-2 seeded berry, yellow when ripe.
7) Seed	Brown, ovoid, smooth, shining, 2.5-3.6 cm long.	Compressed, yellow or light brown, shining, smooth.

According to him, if the headache is right sided then the prickly involucre is tightened in left ear and vice-versa. When the pain is shifting in nature, then the patients are advised to wear the garland of prickly involucre in neck. Although the prickly involucre can cause a damage to skin but generally the Traditional Healers advise the patients to wear it 24 hours for quick and permanent relief. One more interesting thing I have observed, was the use of red and black threads to tie the prickly involucre. The patients suffering from both mental illness and hemicrania are advised to use red strips. I have also seen the use of yellow and green stripes. But Traditional Healer refused to disclose the importance of yellow and green stripes. According to my field worker, the yellow is recommended for virgins and green for widows. I was really surprised by the deep knowledge of colour therapy present among the Traditional healers of Sarguja. Later when I consulted, and disclosed my observations, to the Traditional Healers of Bastar, they said they are well aware of use of red and black stripes but not about the green and yellow stripes. They also showed ignorance towards other colours.

I personally feel, that there is a strong need to search the science behind this. Use. Are really the green, and yellow coloured stripes having specific effect from treatment point of view or it is just symbols. I have consulted many scientific literatures with special reference to this colour therapy. The use of prickly involucre for hemicrania is found well documented in scientific literatures. Also in some books I have noted the use of red stripes for this purpose. But the references on other colours are not available. In Sarguja region, the Traditional Healers recommend to use of the freshly collected roots in similar manner of prickly involucre. The use of roots is preferred when the herb is at vegetative stage. According to them after starting of reproductive stage, the potential of roots decrease and at that time the prickly involucre became more effective. When I asked the Traditional Healers what will happen when we put both roots and prickly involucre as earrings. He replied he had yet not tried but this is a good idea and he assured me to use it in future. During my ethnobotanical survey to Chhattisgarh plains.

I have noted the infloresence and roots of Chirchita (Achyranthes aspra) are also used for the same purpose. But the natives informed me that this herbs is less effective as compared to Xanthium and one can use it during the season when Xanthium is not present in wastelands. In reference literatures, I have noted that the Xanthium is not an indigenous to India. It is an exotic herb and in India it is considered as harmful weed. I am really surprised. Now I am focusing my research on when Xanthium was seen for the first time in Chhattisgarh and how the Traditional Healers have gained the knowledge about its unique medicinal properties. Also , I am in process of searching the ethnobotanical literatures of that country from where it has originated. If the use of Xanthium is not well known to that country, then definitely the credit goes to the Traditional Healers of Chhattisgarh. It is a detailed research and I think it will require much time and patience. In my previous articles, I have mentioned that the Traditional Healers are in process of utilizing the obnoxious allergic weed Parthenium as medicinal herb. Like Xanthium, Parthenium is also an exotic weed. During my ethnobotonical survey to Bagbahera region of Chhattisgarh, one of my field workers informed me that Du-Singhia (Du-two; Singhia- thorns) is also effective in hemicrania and many natives are well aware of this use.

The Du-shinghia is Acanthospermum hispidum. It is again an exotic weed and found as wasteland weed in Bagbahera region. The use of the Acanthospermum against hemicrania is not documented in reference literatures. The native of Bagbahera, use white stripe to tie this herb as earring. They are not aware of the use of other colours (why only white) they have no answer). During my visit to Rajkot (Gujrat) for consultancy work , I have noted dense population of real Gokhru plants. According to my farmer Mr. B.N. Patel, this Gokhru is a common weed in both crop fields and wastelands. Gokhru holds a reputed position in all systems of medicine in India and is in high demand in national and international drug markets. The scientific name of Gokhru is Tribulus terrestris. Surprisingly, Mr. Patel was not aware of this highly demand herb. A research station of his town informed him that it is an obnoxious weed and can cause a great harm to his valuable crops. Mr. Patel have invested thousands of rupees in terms of agrochemicals and even his grand daughter has be come allergic to spray of agrochemicals. When I informed him about the potential uses of this so called harmful weed, as good entrepreuner he searched the market and now he is supplying and earning returns from this weed. He use labours to uproot the weed. The use of labour is generating an employment opportunity among unemployed youths. The uprooted plants are allowed to dry and then it is sold to nearby big cities.

The sincere follower of "Art of living" group of India, Mr. Patel is now planing and thinking to cultivate this so called weed. The manager of his farm informed me that the prickly fruits of Tribulus are used for hemicrania both internally and externally. After coming back to Rajkot, I asked the Traditional Healers of Chhattisgarh why Xanthium is only used externally for hemicrania. They are not of opinion that the Xanthium is harmful if taken internally. In reference literatures, I have noted that in many parts of India, the whole plant is used for the treatment of many diseases. According to these literatures, the root is bitter tonic and useful in cancer and strumous disease. The prickly fruit is considered cooling and demulcent and is given is small pox. In this way we can say that the internal application of Xanthium is not harmful but I have not found even a single reference on the internal use of Xanthium for the treatment of hemicrania. During my survey, I have noted the number of patients suffering from hemicrania is less in rural areas as compared to semi-urban and urban areas. Unfortunately, the patients of urban area are not aware of the rich traditional medicinal knowledge about herbs used in hemicrania present with traditional healers. According to my pharmacist friends, there is a good demand of allopathic drugs used for migraine and other related problems in Chhattisgarh. You will be surprised to know that a herbal company of Raipur, the capital of Chhattisgarh, is now planning to commercialised the use of the prickly involucre of Xanthium. During my stay at Sarguja region about 6 months, I have seen the miracle healing properties of Xanthium for migraine. As part of our course work, we regularly visit to the nearby villages and use to observe the ways of treating the patients, the traditional healers were adopting. Today, I am recommending the use of prickly involucre to my family friends but the pricks are creating problem. I am sure in future the Agricultural scientists will try to develop a thornless variety of Xanthium having same medicinal potential for the sensitive and cautious urban patients.

Last week when I was on campaign to aware the common people against the blind faith on ghosts and other similar creature, my friend Dr. Shailesh Jadhav, a lecturer at Science College, Raipur told me that the young newly emerged two-three leaves of Fudhar (Caltropis gigantea R. Br.) are effective and sure cure for any kind and degree of migraine. According to him, the old leaves are harmful and lethal if taken internally but at very young stage the leaves are used and given to patient suffering from chronic migraine with Juggery (Gud). In available literature, I have not found such effects mentioned. According to him, he has gained this knowledge from some Traditional Healers. I feel there is a need for scientific evaluation of this findings. Calotropis is one of the most common roadside weeds and the natives and Traditional Healers of Chhattisgarh, both, are well aware of its unique medicinal properties.

Like rice soils (please see my previous article), common soil is used externally to root out the problem of migraine. From the Traditional Healer of Dhamtari region. I have got promising method to stop the headache. He take soil, prepare a ball. The patient suffering from headache, is advised to put this ball in hot water and inhale the fumes till relief. This is very quick and effective method. The Traditional Healers prefer black (with high clay content soil, but according to him, every soil have this unique property to cure the headache, more or less. But the patients getting instant relief believe that the soil from healer’s hut is more effective as compared to other soils. In pelopathy or mud therapy, the aqueous paste of soil or mud is applied in affected part but the use of fumes of boiled water having raw soil is really interesting and surprising.

Makoy is a common weed found in Chhattisgarh abundantly. I am not much aware of its medicinal properties. Also I have noted that not many Traditional Healers take interest in this herb. During my ethnobotanical surveys in Rajnandgaon region , I have noted its use for chronic headache specially in case of hemicrania. The poultice of freshly collected Makoy leaves in combination of other herbs like Ber (Ziziphus jujuba), Kukronda (Blumea lacera), Wheat (Triticum aestivum) is applied externally. According to the native of the region, in abscence or unavailabilty of other herbs, Makoy alone can be used effectively. According to hem the fumes of dried leaves of Makoy is also effective. The scientific name of Makoy is Solanum indicum (Family Solanaceae; the potato family). I have found this botanical description about this socalled weed in botany literatures. It is a much branched, undershrub, 0.3-1.5 meter high (in Chhattisgarh we have observed more variations in heght), very prickly, Prickles large, sharp, recurved, stem stout, cover with stellate hairs; Leaves ovate, sub entire or triangular - ovate, lobed, sparsely prickly and hairy on both sides, base unequal sided; petiole prickly; Flowers in racemose extra axillary cymes; Corolla pale purple, clothed outside with purple hairs; Fruits berry, globose, dark yellow when ripe; seed minutely pitted. In different systems of medicine, Makoy holds a reputed position. As medicine, its root, leaves and fruits are most frequently used. According to Ayurveda, Makoy is heating, digestive, astringent to bowels, anthelmintic and removes foulness of the mouth; useful in cardiac troubles; also useful in leucoderma, fever, asthma, pain, bronchitis, vomiting etc.

While writing this detailed article, I consulted my mother. She is from Jabalpur region (Madhya Pradesh State). According to her, in Jabalpur her grand mother always recommend sugar syrup( locally chashni) for the treatment of Migraine. Using the sugar syrup an Indian sweet dish named Jalebi is prepared. This Jalebi is recommended to the patient. Every morning empty stomach (before brushing) take 250 gms of this sweet dish up to fifteen days, you will get rid from this problematic disease. It is a common practice in her region. From my childhood. I am seeing many patients getting relief from this problem. My mother is regularly and sincerely recommending it to family friendly. Very recently I have suggested this to my computer operator. This sweet treatment is surprising. There is a need to search the science behind this treatment.

Mahua is one of the important Non wood forest produces in Chhattisgarh. The oil prepared from Mahua flower is also a popular remedy for migraine. The oil is applied externally. I have observed the use of this oil against headache in almost every part of Chhattisgarh specially in Sarguja and Bastar region. The method of application of oil prepared from Mahua flower are entirely different in different parts of Chhattisgarh. In Bastar (Southern part of state) the oil is applied externally on affected part whereas in Sarguja (Northern part of state). The oil is applied inside the nose. It is general recommendation to put few drops (5-6 drops) of oil inside the patient’s nose can cure all types of headaches including migraine. In other parts of India, this oil is prepared in the same manner but in order to increase its efficacy the other herbs like mulethi, Sonth (dried ginger powder), and Baibirang (Embelia ribes) are added. The Traditional Healers of Chhattisgarh are aware of these herbs but according to them alone Mahua oil is enough to treat the problem. Mahua is a very important tree for the natives of Chhattisgarh. It is native to India and 5 species have been reported. The scientific name of Mahua is Madhuca latifolia syn. M. indica. Its English name is Butter tree. Every part of Mahua is very useful and possess miracle healing properties. I feel it is necessary to describe the botany of this useful tree here. According to reference literature, it is a medium sized to large tree; stem usually with short, bole and large, rounded crown; Bark dark coloured or grey cracked; Leaf clustered near the branches, elliptic or elliptic oblong; flower small, fleshy, cream coloured, sweet-scented, in dense fasicles near the ends of the branches; fruit ovoid, greenish, turning reddish yellow or orange when ripe; seed brown, ovoid, smooth,, and shining. You can get more ethnobotanical uses of this useful herb in my future articles.

There are hundreds of more herbs and useful formulas, effective against headaches. In my future articles I will try my best to give details. In most of the ethobotanical works done in past, the use of herb for particular ailment is mentioned but methods of use and precautions to be taken, are not mentioned in details. With present articles, I am trying to get the full details so that I t can be of great use for future generation when I will not be here to explain the methodology. I have decided to write more and more articles based on my ethnomedico surveys for the benefit of mankind. In this articles, I am trying to find the answers of many question. Fortunately The Traditional Healers of Chhattisgarh are with me and they are feeling free in disclosing their secrets for the benefit of whole world.