International E – Publication www.isca.me , www.isca.co.in i THE BAIGAS: ETHNOMEDICINALPRACTICES SINCE ANCIENT TIMES DR.RADHESHYAM NAPIT, M.Sc., Ph.D. (BOTANY) CENTRE FOR EXCELLENCE FOR INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE INDIRA GANDHI NATIONAL TRIBAL UNIVERSITY (CENTRAL INDIA), LALPUR, AMARKANTAK (M.P.), INDIA Mob-N.9993461373 Email: [email protected] 2016 International E - Publication www.isca.co.in International E - Publication 427, Palhar Nagar, RAPTC, VIP-Road, Indore-452005 (MP) INDIA Phone: +91-731-2616100, Mobile: +91-80570-83382 E-mail: [email protected], Website:www.isca.co.in © Copyright Reserved 2016 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored, in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, reordering or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher. ISBN:978-93-84659-74-5 THE BAIGAS: ETHNOMEDICINALPRACTICES SINCE ANCIENT TIME iii DEDICATED TO Hon’ble V. C. ֎PROF. T. V.KATTIMANI ֎ International E Publication www.isca.co.in THE BAIGAS: ETHNOMEDICINALPRACTICES SINCE ANCIENT TIME iv INDIRA GANDHI NATIONAL TRIBAL UNIVERSITY (CENTRAL INDIA), LALPUR, AMARKANTAK (M.P.), INDIA F O R E W O R D Ethnomedicinal Plants have always been a fundamental area of interest for tribal men. Ethnic people are repository of experience and knowledge on indigenous flora and fauna. Unfortunately, this traditional wisdom developed over years of observation, trial and error, is vanishing rapidly due to the assault of modern civilization into ethnic areas. This compilation lists 208 plants and their specific features.“The Baigas: thnomedicinal Practices Since Ancient Times”will further enrich the know-how of readers in the treatment of various diseases. The botanical name of each plant has been followed by their common names prevalent in different languages and then is provided with various aspects of their uses. The information is comprehensive and consolidated. Diseases cured by Ethno-medicinal plants are often one of the most dreaded ailments afflicting the mankind today. It’s like a slow poison which usually stays unnoticed and permanently in the human body; it slowly and steadily weakens the immune system and predisposes human beings for greater health hazards and clinical complications. The modern man looks optimistically towards genetic engineering for final resolution of the ailment but that is still a far cry. Till then, every individual suffering from any disease has to rely on the medical aid available for controlling the diseases. In the Indian system of medicine, there are many varieties of plants which have been traditionally used for control and cure of diseases. But the indigenous knowledge has not been scientifically and properly documented. Moreover, this information is fragmented and scattered. The first step International E Publication www.isca.co.in THE BAIGAS: ETHNOMEDICINALPRACTICES SINCE ANCIENT TIME v therefore is to collect and select the available information on plants that have been used since ancient times for curing many diseases. This compendium on “The Baigas: thnomedicinal Practices Since Ancient Times” is an honest effort to gather and compile the information scattered in Shahdol division of Madhya Pradesh such that it can serve as a ready–reckoner for any further work. I am sure that the compendium will serve as a good reference base for further researches, research scholars, study material for college students and will be useful to the people of different strata of society. Prof. Dr. T. V. Kattimani Vice-Chancellor IGNTU Amarkantak (M.P.), International E Publication www.isca.co.in THE BAIGAS: ETHNOMEDICINALPRACTICES SINCE ANCIENT TIME vi PREFACE Man has depended on plants from time immemorial. Our knowledge of the intimate relationship between early man and plants has come to us mainly through surviving tradition. This relationship which now forms the core of the interdisciplinary science i.e. Ethnobotany has attracted much attention, not only due to its great academic or historical importance, but also due to many economic applications in the day-to-day life of the indigenous population. I am thankful to all those persons from whom, I have gathered data on plants identification along with a large amount of photographs used in this book. I would also like to extend my thankfulness to all those who have offered assistance, encouragement and cooperation during the entire period of preparation and publication of this book. It is therefore extremely desirable to document this precious traditional knowledge before it is lost forever. The present book “The Baigas: thnomedicinal Practices Since Ancient Times” has been written with a view to give a glimpse of the rich treasure possessed by this region in its great ethnic diversity. Unlike a large majority of ethno-botanical researchers who confine themselves either to ethnomedicine or to one or more socio-economic aspects in their works, the present manual deals with almost all aspects of ethnobotany. Besides information of the land and the people and ethno-medicinal use of 208 plants species, indices to uses, families and local names as well as a glossary of words used by tribal people of Shahdol Region are also appended. The data presented are based on actual ethno botanical surveys conducted by the author for a period spread over more than three years i.e. 2015-2016 to collect a firsthand account of ethno botanically interesting species at flowering or fruiting stage. The description is supported by 05 figure and 80 photographs. As far as possible, technical terms have been avoided in plant descriptions to make reading more interesting for the readers. International E Publication www.isca.co.in THE BAIGAS: ETHNOMEDICINALPRACTICES SINCE ANCIENT TIME vii The author expresses his gratitude to Prof. Dr. T. V. Kattimani Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor, Indira Gandhi National Tribal University, Amarkantak Central India, who not only provided their valuable advice but also lended their immensemoral support and guidance for book writing, for granting permission to use the library and other facilities. I would also like to thank Dr. Vikash Kumar Singh, Dean faculty of Science and Computronics, IGNTU Amarkantak, for their best field study support, and thankful to all my colleague Dr. Aditi Pitaniya, Mr. Yatharth Saxena, Dr. Kunj Bihari Sulakhiya, Dr. Anita Nayak, and Mr. Ashish Pandey Mr. Pramod Verma’s moral support and also most thankful to all faculty member of Multitasking staff tribal medicineman and Dr. Moni Thomas JNKV Jabalpur. I further extend my acknowledgement to SFRI & TFRI Jabalpur for helping me in the identification of some of the plants and other facilities. Sincere appreciation and thanks to all tribes and traditional practitioners in general and more particularly to Mr. Lamu Baiga (Kursa, Anuppur) Shri Jonu Baiga (Frri Semar), Shri Moti Lal Baiga (Jaleshwar) Sukh Lal Baiga (Baihar) Anuppur, Mr. Arjun Singh herb traders, the tribal folk of Amarkantak region for their help and co-operation in various ways without which it would not have been possible to complete this arduous task. Last but not the least; I would like to thanks my parents-my father Late Shri Ram Kripal Napit & my mother Smt. Munni Bai, and member of my families. I have been so lucky in true sense to have enjoyed full cooperation of my wife Smt. Sandhya Sen and son Mr. Ashutosh (Arya) Sen for encouragement, moral support and unflinching patience during the completion of the book. Despite my sincere efforts, some errors and omissions might have escaped my attention. I shall appreciate these being brought to my notice for possible rectification. International E Publication www.isca.co.in THE BAIGAS: ETHNOMEDICINALPRACTICES SINCE ANCIENT TIME viii I do hope that this venture will stimulate further interest and curiosity among budding researchers. I also welcome remarkable comments and suggestion. iv.research scholars, students and fellow teachers, ethno botanists as well as in those engaged in work in different disciplines of plant sciences. Amarkantak - 2016 Dr. Radhe Shyam Napit International E Publication www.isca.co.in THE BAIGAS: ETHNOMEDICINALPRACTICES SINCE ANCIENT TIME ix CONTENTS Forward iv-v Preface vi-viii CHAPTER 1:BAIGA VAIDYAS 01-14 1.1 History of Baigas 1.1.1 Threatened Tribal of Baiga Community 1.2 Occurrence of Baiga Vaidya 1.3 Usage of Medicinal Plants by Baiga Vaidyas 1.4 Introduction of Baigas 1.4.1 Origine (Genetics) of Baigas 1.4.2 The Baiga culture 1.4.3 Tattooing tradition amongst Baigas 1.4.4 Forced Evictions 1.4.5 Language 1.4.6 Baiga foods 1.4.7 Social Status 1.4.8 Ornaments 1.4.9 Economic Status CHAPTER 2: ANCIENT HISTORY OF ETHNOBOTONY AND BAIGAS 15-31 2.1 Ethnobotanical knowledge and practices (EKP) 2.2 Reasons for decrease in EKP 2.3 Significance of ethnobotany and ethnomedicine 2.4 Ancient Baigas 2.5 The Baiga Tribe: Ideology and Activities Back to the top CHAPTER 3:ETHNOMEDICINAL PRACTICES AMONG BAIGAS IN AMARKANTAK REGION 32-39 International E Publication www.isca.co.in THE BAIGAS: ETHNOMEDICINALPRACTICES SINCE ANCIENT TIME x 3.1 Study Site - Amarkantak Region 3.2 Various treatment or methods applied by Baiga Vaidyas CHAPTER 4: MEDICINAL PLANTS USED BY BAIGAS IN DISEASE Description of Medicinal Plants and Diseases: 40-47 NAME OF DISEASES: 4.1 Plants for Paralysis, Rheumatic, and Arthritis 48-55 4.2 Plants for Cough, Coryza and Cold 56-59 4.3 Plants used as Analgesic 59-67 4.4 Plants for Skin Diseases 68-74 4.5 Plants used as Antipyretic 74-78 4.6 Plants for Venereal-Disease