Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge Vol. 3(1), January 2004, pp. 72-79 Ethno-medico-botanical survey of Kalahandi district of Orissa Sobhagini Nayak, Soumit K Behera and Malaya K Misra* Ecology & Floristics Laboratory, Department of Botany, Berhampur University Berhampur 760 007, Orissa Email: malayakmisra @ rediffmail.com Received 18 March 2003; revised 4 July 2003 The paper provides information on the use of plant crude drugs for various diseases prevalent in tribal communities of eight villages under Thuamul Rampur block of Kalahandi district, Orissa. It deals with 39 plant species under 36 genera belonging to 26 families. The local names, the method of preparation and mode of use of the medicine are mentioned. The tribal communities of the area totally depend on the herbal drug for their primary health care, which is attributed partly to their socio-economic and cultural conditions. Keywords: Ethno-medico-botany, Herbal drugs, Kalahandi district, Tribal community. Orissa with its diversified topography, Khakesh, Ampadar, Upper Chirka, variable climatic condition, vast forest Ranipandar, Beja-ghati, Bhaghmari, area and large rural population including Gopalpur and Saisurni. Hills and forests tribal communities provides an interesting cover this block. area for ethno-botanical studies. Kalahandi district (19º 12’-20º 27’ N, 82º Tribes such as Paraja, Kandha, Kutia 31’-83º 48’ E) is situated in the northern Kandha, Tekeria and Jhadia inhabit the part of Orissa. The Thuamul Rampur Thuamul Rampur block. These people block of Kalahandi district, where this mostly depend on shifting cultivation and work was carried out is situated towards domestication of animals such as cattle, the south of the district and is surrounded goat, pig and buffalo for their livelihood. by Rayagada, Koraput and Nawarangpur Moreover, they collect non-timber forest districts in the east, south and west, products for their daily use and for sale. respectively. The Thuamul Rampur block The tribes of this area are socio- under Dharmaghar sub-division is divided economically backward and most of them into 10 Gram Panchayats. This block are below the poverty line. They depend spreads over 41.44 x 104 ha and includes on the traditional medicines for their twelve villages, viz. Benakhamar, D. primary health care. It is observed that the Chepataghat, Goilkhoighati, Kuspari, forests of this area are degrading and __________ reducing rapidly along with the medicinal *Correspondent author. herbs, threatening the health service of NAYAK et al: ETHNO-MEDICO-BOTANICAL SURVEY OF KALAHANDI DISTT OF ORISSA 73 the tribes, as they are not in a position to Enumeration take the help of the modern health 1. Aegle marmelos (L.) Corr. facilities. (Rutaceae) Though investigations on the ethno- L.N. ─ Bela; Oriya — Bel; Nayak 12. medico-botany on some districts of the a) Ripe fruit pulp is considered as a state have been made, no report is digestive agent. available on Kalahandi district 1-10. In the b) Crushed leaf paste is applied to present communication, an attempt has cure burn injuries. been made to collect the ethnomedicinal c) Leaf extract along with water is information available with the tribal taken orally as an antipyretic. communities of the Thuamul Rampur 2. Andrographis paniculata (Burm.f.) block of Kalahandi district, Orissa. Wall. ex Nees (Acanthaceae) Oriya — Bhuineema; Nayak 34. Materials and Methods a) Leaf paste is applied on the forehead for 2-3 hours to relieve During 1999, field trips were continuous headache. conducted to the villages, namely D. b) Paste of about 5 gm leaf is taken Chepataghat, Goilkhoighati, Kuspari, orally along with water twice Khakesh, Ampadar, Upper Chirka, daily to cure dysentery and Benakhamar, Beja-ghati under Thuamul diarrhoea. Rampur block of Kalahandi district, 3. Annona squamosa L. (Annonaceae) Orissa and the ethnomedicinal data were Oriya — Sitaphal; Nayak 84. recorded 4-7, 11. First hand information on a) Decoction of seed is taken medicinal uses of plants was collected orally as abortifacient. from native health practitioners and other b) Paste of seed or leaf is applied persons of either sex having knowledge on hair for killing lice. on herbal medicines in different villages c) Leaf or seed paste is applied under study. Plant specimens collected locally to cattle to cure cuts and during the survey were dried, processed wounds. and identified with the help of the flora of 4. Argemone mexicana L. the state12 .The voucher specimens were (Papaveraceae) deposited in the Herbarium of the L.N. ─ Dragugach, Oriya — Department of Botany, Berhampur Odasamari; Nayak 33. University (BOTB), Berhampur, Orissa. a) The leaf juice is mixed with The plants are enumerated common salt and water (1:1) alphabetically and the family names are and applied locally in ringworm, given within parenthesis. The local scabies, and skin diseases. names (L.N.), Oriya names and field b) Paste of seeds is cooked, and oil number of the species followed by the is extracted which is used to uses of the plants are described under cure skin diseases of both each species. human beings and cattle. 74 INDIAN J TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE, VOL 3, No. 1, JANUARY 2004 5. Azadirachta indica A. Juss. b) The fruits are crushed and the (Meliaceae) paste is taken orally in very L.N. ─ Neem, Oriya — Nimbo; small quantity in case of Nayak 47. constipation. a) Leaf decoction is applied locally c) Stem bark is ground and applied to cure wounds. on the forehead to cure b) Neem leaves along with sal headache. (Shorea robusta Gaertn.f.) 9. Dioscorea bulbifera L. leaves are boiled in water, and (Dioscoreaceae) the decoction is cooled and L.N. ─ Pitkanda; Nayak 75. stored in bottles and taken once a) Root powder is applied or thrice a day to cure diarrhoea externally in cases of hernia and and dysentery. hydrocele. 6. Calotropis gigantea R. Br. b) Tuber powder is applied on (Asclepiadaceae) scorpion bite wound. L.N. ─ Arakh, Oriya — Arakha; 10. Grewia abutilifolia Vent. ex A. L. Nayak 52. Juss. (Tiliaceae) a) The latex is used to cure Oriya ─ Dhamana; Nayak 19. toothache, ringworm and piles. Bark juice is given in dysentery. 11. Adhatoda zeylanica Medic. b) Dried root powder is taken (Acanthaceae) orally with cold water to cure L.N. ─ Basak, Oriya ─ Basang; diarrhoea. Nayak 14. 7. Cascabela thevetia (L.) Lippold a) Leaf decoction is used for [=Thevetia peruviana (Pers.) Merr.] bathing children to prevent skin (Apocynaceae); L.N. ─ Koniyar, diseases. Oriya ─ Kaniyar; Nayak 11. b) Leaf smoke is inhaled for a) Mature seeds are used as an asthma. abortifacient and as purgative in 12. Lannea coromandelica (Hout) Merr. rheumatism and dropsy. (Anacardiaceae) b) Fruit latex is applied in nail Oriya ─ Mohi; Nayak 105. infection. Equal amount of stem bark of this c) Leaf paste mixed with castor oil tree and Erythrina variegata L. are and after little warming applied pounded and about 100 - 150 ml of thrice daily for 2-3 days on extracted juice is given to the patient external injuries as a pain suffering from diarrhoea and alleviator. dysentery. 8. Cassia fistula L. (Caesalpiniaceae) 13. Leonotis nepetifolia (L.) R. Br. Oriya ─ Sunari; Nayak 66. (Lamiaceae) a) Decoction of fruit is used in L.N. ─ Kantasido, Oriya ─ Tipiri; rheumatism. Nayak 39. NAYAK et al: ETHNO-MEDICO-BOTANICAL SURVEY OF KALAHANDI DISTT OF ORISSA 75 a) Plant ash is used to cure administered as eye drop in paralysis; plant paste used in conjunctivitis. skin diseases. b) The fruit juice is given orally b) Leaf paste is applied locally to in skin diseases. cure joint pain. c) Fruits are dried and ground c) Leaf steam bath is taken to and taken orally for better cure swelling after delivery. digestion and stomach trouble 14. Mallotus philippensis (Lam.) and to stop vomiting. Muell.–Arg. (Euphorbiaceae) 18. Phyllanthus fraternus Webster Oriya ─ Sundari; Nayak 21. (Euphorbiaceae) a) Leaves are considered Oriya — Bhuianla; Nayak 101. appetizer. a) Paste of whole plant is made in b) Diluted paste of seed and fruit water and given once in is administered orally in morning for a fortnight to cure urinary and menstrual jaundice. disorders. b) Plant paste is given orally c) Red glandular hair powder thrice daily to cure dysentery. along with ghee is applied 19. Pongamia pinnata (L.) Pierre locally to cure boils and (Fabaceae) blisters. Powder is taken orally to cure dysentery and L.N. ─ Karnji, Oriya — Karanja; constipation. Nayak 108. 15. Michelia champaca L. Leaf paste is used to cure round (Magnoliaceae) worms and skin diseases. Oriya ─ Champa; Nayak 13. 20. Pterocarpus marsupium Roxb. Leaf decoction is used to cure eye (Fabaceae) diseases. L.N. ─ Bija, Oriya — Piasala; 16. Mollugo pentaphylla L. Nayak 17. (Aizoaceae) a) Water is kept overnight in the L.N. ─ Pitasag, Oriya ─ Pitasaga; wooden container made out of Nayak 58. the wood and drunk in the Whole dried plant is crushed and the morning for cooling effect. paste is applied locally on wounds, This is also recommended to scabies and for different skin cure diabetes. diseases. b) Decoction of bark is 17. Phyllanthus emblica L. (=Emblica administered orally in officinalis Gaertn.) stomachache. (Euphorbiaceae); L.N. ─ Aenla, c) Gum obtained from bark is Oriya ─ Amla; Nayak 92. applied over cracks of lips. a) The fruit is washed, ground 21. Rauvolfia serpentina (L.) Benth. and 1-2 drops of juice are ex. Kurz (Apocynaceae) 76 INDIAN J TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE, VOL 3, No. 1, JANUARY 2004 L.N. ─ Patal goruda, Oriya — d) Root decoction is applied Patalagoruda; Nayak 32. externally in sores, swelling a) It is used for treatment of and abscess in cattle. insect bite, fever and 25. Solanum virginianum L. dysentery. (Solanaceae) b) Root (about 3 gm) decoction Oriya — Bheji, Baigan; Nayak 45. along with ginger (4-15 g) is given before meals in the a) Dried plant powder is smoked morning to expel intestinal to cure toothache.