Ethnomedicinal Plant Knowledge of the Mullu Kuruma Tribe of Wayanad District, Kerala
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Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge Vol. 7(4), October 2008, pp. 604-612 Ethnomedicinal plant knowledge of the Mullu kuruma tribe of Wayanad district, Kerala VP Silja 1, K Samitha Varma 1 & KV Mohanan 2* 1Department of Botany, Zamorin’s Guruvayurappan College, Calicut 673 014, Kerala; 2Department of Botany, University of Calicut, Calicut 673 635, Kerala E-mail: [email protected] Received 10 October 2006; revised 5 June 2007 Mullu kuruma tribe is a very prominent tribal group of Wayanad district of Kerala state with unique culture and ethnobotanical practices. The study has revealed the use of 136 plant species for traditional medicinal purposes by the tribe. They use about 14 plants for the treatment of skin diseases, 10 for inflammation, 3 as abortifacient, 9 for dandruff, 11 for dysentery, 6 for piles, 7 for epilepsy, 19 for asthma and other bronchial diseases, 11 for anaemia, 4 for constipation, 1 for tuberculosis, 8 for jaundice and other liver diseases, 6 for burns, 7 for leucorrhoea, 2 for migraine, 5 for wounds, 3 for malaria and 13 for urinary complaints and kidney stone. Key words : Ethnomedicine, Medicinal plants, Mullu kuruma tribe, Wayanad, Kerala IPC Int. Cl. 8: A61K36/00, A61P1/02, A61P1/08, A61P1/16, A61P9/14, A61P11/00, A61P13/00, A61P17/00, A61P15/00, A61P25/00 The use of medicinal plants in the treatment of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, respectively bound it on diseases was conceived by tribal people thousands of the East, Coorg district of Karnataka on the North, years ago. Ethnic groups are the repositories of the Malappuram district of Kerala on the South and knowledge of herbal medicine. Many tribal groups Kozhikode and Kannur districts of Kerala on the have been using several plant or animal products for West. The gate ways to Wayanad are three narrow medicinal preparations and these medicines are mountain passes in Western Ghats, namely known as ethnomedicine. Generally, tribal groups Thamarasseri pass, Kuttyadi pass and Periya pass utilize local herbs for different ailments after centuries of trials. Various plants parts are used for medicinal preparations. They collect these plants from near and around their settlements. It is noticed that a plant is used for a disease in different ways and for different types of diseases. Apart from common plants, some fungal species are also seen to be used as medicine. The study area is situated in the Wayanad district of Kerala state (Fig. 1). The name Wayanad is believed to have been derived from Vayal nadu meaning the land of paddy fields. Wayanad, situated in the western ghat region of Kerala always had an allure to the people from the plains. Wayanad is a plateau with an altitude varying from 700 to 2100 m from sea level ensconced among Western Ghats. The difference in altitude of each locality within the district presents a variation of climatic condition in different places. Nilgiris and Mysore districts of ___________ *Corresponding author Fig. 1 Location map of the study area SILJA et al .: ETHNOMEDICINAL PLANT KNOWLEDGE OF MULLU KURUMA TRIBE OF KERALA 605 from Kozhikode, Vadakara and Kannur, respectively. fish hunters while the Kattu naikas are honey and Total geographical area of Wayanad is 2124 km 2, forest produce collectors and makers of baskets and which comprises 5.48% area of Kerala state. This implements. Mullu kurumas , in appearance are region is biogeographically highly valuable with a medium statured and broad chested with skin colour significant extent of tropical moist forests 1. Wayanad varying from light to dark brown (Fig.2). They live in lies between North latitude 11 ˚27 ´ and 15 ˚ 58 ´ and East huts with high foundations, mud walls, bamboo doors, longitude 75 ˚ 47 ´ and 70 ˚27 ´. The small hills are full of and strong roof thatched with grass and straw. They plantations like tea, coffee, pepper and cardamom, are mostly agricultural labourers and some are while the valleys have a predominance of paddy cultivators. They hunt with bow and arrow, muzzle fields. The difference in altitude of each locality loading guns and spears. Mullu kurumas are non within the district presents a variation of climatic vegetarian, but their staple food is rice; commonly conditions. The soil of Wayanad district is mainly consume pulses, fruits, roots and tubers. They also loamy type and generally shows wide variation in take alcoholic drinks, generally, toddy and arrack. depth and texture with a very high content of organic They have the institution of the Muppan (head man), matter and slightly acidic pH2. who presides over the meetings of the elders and Noolpuzha village panchayat, the geographical area administers their social affairs can be identified by the of data collection of the study is situated on the silver bangle worn on his right arm. They have Calicut- Mysore National Highway, about 15 km velichapad (priest), who in consultation with the head from Sulthan Bathery town. It lies on the eastern side man officiates at ceremonies, makes offerings and of Wayanad district and belongs to Sultan Bathery acts as medicine man. taluk . Like other portions of Wayanad, Noolpuzha also belongs to Nilgiri Biosphere. 45% of the total population comprises tribals and most of them are schedules tribes. Mullu kurumas form a very prominent tribal group of the area. Fifty two tribal groups have been reported from Kerala 3. Due to peculiar pattern of their settlements and traditional occupation, they are concentrated in certain regions of the state 4. Kurumas , Paniyas , Kattunaikas , Adiyas and Kurichyas are the major tribes of Wayanad region of Kerala. Kurumas , one of the numerically dominant hill tribes of Malabar region till the middle of the 17th century, practiced slash and burn agriculture and their social organization had the characteristics of primitive communism in which social stratification and class Fig. 2 Mullu Kuruma tribes contradiction were non-existent 5. Kurumas are the dominant scheduled tribe Table 1 Details of the ten Mullu kuruma colonies studied community in Wayanad district. The principal Name of the Number of Name and age of Name of occupation of the kurumas was wood cutting and the colony houses in head of the family proper place collection of minor forest products 6. A group of the each colony kurumas , referred to as Mullu kurumas is Manmadamoola 18 Bhasavan (90) Muthanga 7 concentrated in the Wayanad district of Kerala . There Kalladikkolli 26 Paithal (75) Thottamoola is a view that the prefix may have originated from Pampan kolli 22 Kannan (50) Naikkatti Mula (bamboo), which provides them with an Manimunda 21 Gopalan (62) Manimunda Pilakavu 24 Annu (85) Pilakkavu important occupation. Two other groups of kurumas Marod 38 Karimban (70) Naikkatti known as Then (honey) kurumas (also known as Mathamangalam 25 Villan (50) Mathamangala Kattu naikas or Shola naikas ) and Urali kurumas m (also known as Betta kurumas ) are also present in Valluvadi 35 Sanku (60) Valluvadi Kottoor 40 Anarthan (58) Nenmenikunn Wayanad. Mullu kurumas are presently cultivators u and hunters. The Betta kurumas are wood cutters and Kottanod 27 Krishnan (55) Kottanad 606 INDIAN J TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE, VOL 7, No. 4, OCTOBER 2008 Table 2 Medicinally important plants used by the Mullu kuruma tribe Plant name, Family Local name Uses Abrus precatorius L. Fabaceae Kunni Leaf decoction is applied in the affected portion in inflammation; fresh fruit decoction is taken three times daily to induce abortion. Acacia sinuata (Lour.) Merr. Mimosaceae Powdered pods are used in all cases of skin diseases. The powder is used against Cheenikka dandruff. Acacia nilotica (L.) Willd. ex Del. Mimosaceae Tender leaf pulp is taken internally in dysentery. Karuvelam Achyranthes aspera L. Amaranthaceae Leaves are used as vegetable for piles. Root paste is applied on the forehead in Kadaladi headache. Acorus calamus L. Araceae Vayambu Rhizome paste is taken internally for epilepsy and worm infection. Adhatoda zeylanica Medic. Acanthaceae Leaf juice and root decoction are taken internally for asthma and cough. Adalodakam Ageratum conyzoides L. Asteraceae Kattappa Leaf juice is taken internally in dyspepsia and anaemia. Aegle marmelos (L.) Corr. Rutaceae Koovalam Leaf juice is used for constipation. Dried powder of fruit and seeds is used in the treatment of chronic dysentery, dyspepsia and intermittent fever Aerva lanata ( L.) Juss. Amaranthaceae Cherula Whole plant extract is used for stomachache. Allophylus serratus (Roxb.) Kurz Sapindaceae Leaf paste with turmeric is applied for fracture and sprains. Mukkannan periyila Aloe vera (L.) Burm. f. Liliaceae Kattarvazha Leaf pulp is used for the preparation of hair oil for dandruff. Amaranthus spinosus L. Amaranthaceae Plant paste is applied on the point to remove thorns. Mullan cheera Amorphophallus paeoniifolius (Dennst.) Corm pieces are fried in ghee and used internally in the treatment of piles. Nicols. var. paeoniifolius Araceae Kattu chena Anacardium occidentale L. Anacardiaceae Oil from young and mature nut is applied on the affected portion in the treatment Kasumavu of cracks on foot. Annona squamosa L. Annonaceae Aatha Leaf paste mixed with paste of turmeric is applied externally for inflammation. Fruit is edible and is effective in the treatment of tuberculosis. Andrographis paniculata (Burm. f.) Wall ex Leaf juice is used as syrup in the treatment of liver diseases. Nees Acanthaceae Kiriath Areca catechu L. Arecaceae Kavungu Young leaves and young fruits are used for the preparation of oil used in the treatment of burns and sprains. Aristolochia bracteolata Lam. Aristolochiaceae Leaf paste is applied on the affected portion in the treatment of inflammation, Karalakam boils and eczema. Aristolochia indica L. Aristolochiaceae Leaf juice mixed with rhizome juice of Zingiber officinale is used for blood Karalakam clotting. Decoction of roots and fruits is for the treatment of intermittent fever and poison. Artemisia nilagirica (C. Clarke) Pamp. Inhalation of smoke from leaves and flowering twigs is effective in the treatment Asteraceae Kattukarpuram of asthma and bronchitis.