Table 1 Medicinal plants and formulations of the Deb barma clan healer
Serial number | Scientific name (voucher specimen number) | Family name (perennial/annual) | Local name (english name) | Parts used | Disease, symptoms, formulations, and administration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Andrographis paniculata Nees MPCW-UODA 3032/2013 | Acanthaceae (Annual) | Boner kalomegh (Green chirayta) | Leaf | Malaria. Juice obtained from crushed leaves is orally taken. |
2 | Justicia adhatoda L. MPCW-UODA 3033/2013 | Acanthaceae (Perennial) | Shada bashok (Malabar nut) | Leaf | Skin infections. Young leaves are made into a paste and applied as poultice over infected area. |
Tuberculosis. Juice obtained from crushed leaves is orally taken. | |||||
3 | Justicia gendarussa Burm. f. MPCW-UODA 3036/2013 | Acanthaceae (Perennial) | Kala bashok (Black adusa) | Leaf, stem | Coughs. Leaves are boiled in water. ½ poa (local measure, 4 poas approximate 1 kg) of the decoction is taken orally thrice daily. |
Malaria. Crushed leaves and stems are boiled in water followed by drinking the water daily till cure. | |||||
4 | Aerva sanguinolenta (L.) Blume MPCW-UODA 3038/2013 | Amaranthaceae (Perennial) | Iodine pata (Kapok bush) | Leaf | To stop bleeding from external cuts and wounds. Leaves are crushed between the fingers and applied to cuts and wounds. |
5 | Crinum latifolium L. MPCW-UODA 3039/2013 | Amaryllidaceae (Perennial) | Gruna, bon roshun (Milk and wine lily) | Bulb | Chest pain (symptoms: pain in the chest area, usually external muscle pain). Juice obtained from crushed bulb is taken orally. |
Bloating in cattle. Bulbs of Crinum latifolium are fed to cattle along with bulbs of Allium sativum. | |||||
6 | Centella asiatica (L.) Urb. MPCW-UODA 3040/2013 | Apiaceae (Perennial) | Thankuni (Asiatic pennywort) | Leaf, stem | Stomach disorders (stomach pain, flatulency). Juice obtained from crushed leaves and stems is taken orally. |
7 | Alstonia scholaris (L.) R. Br. MPCW-UODA 3044/2013 | Apocynaceae (Perennial) | Chaitan (Blackboard tree) | Leaf sap | Whitish layer formation on tongue. Leaf sap is mixed with honey and applied to tongue. |
8 | Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott. MPCW-UODA 3046/2013 | Araceae (Perennial) | Fan kochu (Taro) | Tuber | Rheumatic pain. Dried and powdered tubers are taken orally. |
9 | Borassus flabellifer L. MPCW-UODA 3047/2013 | Arecaceae (Perennial) | Taal (Palmyra palm) | Sap | See Hyptis suaveolens. |
10 | Asparagus racemosus Willd. MPCW-UODA 3048/2013 | Asparagaceae (Perennial) | Shotomul (Indian asparagus) | Whole plant | All diseases. Whole plant is put in an amulet which is to be tied by the patient around the waist with a piece of thread and worn till the disease is cured. |
11 | Ageratum conyzoides L. MPCW-UODA 3049/2013 | Asteraceae (Perennial) | Ujaru (Mexican ageratum) | Root | Stomach disorders. Juice obtained from crushed roots is orally taken. |
12 | Garcinia cowa Roxb. MPCW-UODA 3050/2013 | Clusiaceae (Perennial) | Kau fol (Cowa-mangosteen) | Fruit | Coughs, cold. Fruits are eaten. |
13 | Terminalia arjuna (Roxb. ex DC.) Wight & Arn. MPCW-UODA 3053/2013 | Combretaceae (Perennial) | Arjun (Arjun tree) | Bark | Chest pain due to heart disorders (symptoms: chest pain more so when walking or working, feeling of constriction of heart, breathlessness), burning sensations during urination, bone fracture. |
Bark is boiled in water followed by drinking the water for chest pain and burning sensations during urination. Paste prepared from bark of Terminalia arjuna and clove of Allium sativum is applied as poultice over the fractured area. | |||||
14 | Terminalia bellirica (Gaertn.) Roxb. MPCW-UODA 3055/2013 | Combretaceae (Perennial) | Bohera (Beleric myrobalan) | Fruit, leaf | See Phyllanthus emblica. |
15 | Terminalia chebula Retz. MPCW-UODA 3056/2013 | Combretaceae (Perennial) | Horitoki (Chebulic myrobalan) | Fruit, leaf | See Phyllanthus emblica. |
16 | Sansevieria hyacinthoides (L.) Druce MPCW-UODA 3058/2013 | Dracaenaceae (Perennial) | Dudh raj (Iguana tail) | Leaf | Snake bite, snake repellent. Juice obtained from crushed leaf is applied to snake-bitten area. Leaves are kept in rooms to repel snakes. |
17 | Jatropha curcas L. MPCW-UODA 3060/2013 | Euphorbiaceae (Perennial) | Kangala (Physic nut) | Leaf | Tooth ache. Leaves are chewed and the leaf juice swallowed. |
18 | Phyllanthus emblica L. MPCW-UODA 3061/2013 | Euphorbiaceae (Perennial) | Amloki (Indian gooseberry) | Fruit, leaf | Bleeding from gums, loss of appetite, headache. Unripe fruits are chewed to stop bleeding from gums. Dried fruits of Phylanthus emblica, Terminalia bellirica and Terminalia chebula are soaked in water followed by drinking the water to increase appetite. Fruits of Phyllanthus emblica and wood of Santalum album are made into a paste with rose water and applied to the forehead for headache. |
Paralysis. Juice obtained from a combination of crushed leaves of Phyllanthus emblica, Terminalia bellirica and Terminalia chebula was massaged on the paralyzed area. | |||||
19 | Phyllanthus reticulatus Poir. MPCW-UODA 3062/2013 | Euphorbiaceae (Perennial) | Khaukora (Sour grapes) | Stem | Diarrhea in children. Stems are twisted and tied loosely around the neck of children. |
20 | Senna alata (L.) Roxb. MPCW-UODA 3063/2013 | Fabaceae (Perennial) | Daud pata (Candle bush) | Leaf | Eczema. Juice obtained from crushed leaves is topically applied. |
21 | Hyptis suaveolens (L.) Poit. MPCW-UODA 3064/2013 | Lamiaceae (Perennial) | Tukma (Pignut) | Fruit | Physical weakness, sense of hotness in head. Powdered fruits of Hyptis suaveolens are mixed with tal mishri (sugar obtained from sap of Borassus flabellifer) and taken orally. |
22 | Leucas aspera (Willd.) Link MPCW-UODA 3065/2013 | Lamiaceae (Annual) | Deo kolosh (Common leucas) | Flower | Coughs in infant. Juice obtained from crushed flower is mixed with mother’s milk and orally administered. |
23 | Ocimum gratissimum L. MPCW-UODA 3066/2013 | Lamiaceae (Perennial) | Shada tulsi (African basil) | Leaf | Rheumatic pain, coughs, mucus. A piece of cloth is soaked with juice obtained from crushed leaves is tied to areas affected by rheumatic pain. Juice obtained from crushed leaves is taken with honey for coughs and mucus. |
24 | Allium sativum L. MPCW-UODA 3067/2013 | Liliaceae (Annual) | Roshun | Bulb | See Crinum latifolium. |
See Terminalia arjuna. | |||||
25 | Lawsonia inermis L. MPCW-UODA 3070/2013 | Lythraceae (Perennial) | Mehedi (Henna) | Leaf | Cuts and wounds, cracked skin, diabetes, burning sensations during urination. Paste of leaves is applied to cuts and wounds or cracked skin. Juice obtained from crushed leaves is orally taken for diabetes and burning sensations during urination. |
26 | Melastoma malabathricum L. MPCW-UODA 3072/2013 | Melastomataceae (Perennial) | Luiki (Malabar melastome) | Leaf | To stop bleeding from external cuts and wounds. Crushed leaves are applied as poultice over cuts and wounds. |
27 | Azadirachta indica A. Juss. MPCW-UODA 3073/2013 | Meliaceae (Perennial) | Neem (Nim tree) | Leaf, bark | Itches, ringworm. Leaves of Azadirachta indica are boiled in water and then made into a paste with rhizomes of Curcuma longa. The paste is applied to affected areas of skin after taking a bath. |
Helminthiasis. Powdered bark is taken orally with table salt. | |||||
Chicken pox. Paste of leaves of Azadirachta indica and rhizomes of Curcuma longa are applied to pustules. | |||||
28 | Ficus hispida L. MPCW-UODA 3074/2013 | Moraceae (Perennial) | Shada dumur (Hairy fig) | Fruit | Diabetes. Dried and powdered fruits are eaten regularly. |
29 | Moringa oleifera Lam. MPCW-UODA 3075/2013 | Moringaceae (Perennial) | Sajna (Horseradish tree) | Leaf, stem | Jaundice. Juice obtained from crushed leaves and stems is taken orally. |
30 | Psidium guajava L. MPCW-UODA 3077/2013 | Myrtaceae (Perennial) | Peyara (Guava) | Leaf bud, fruit | Tooth infections, loss of appetite. Leaf buds are boiled in water followed by gargling with the water for tooth infections. Fruits are chewed and eaten to stimulate appetite. |
31 | Plumbago indica L. MPCW-UODA 3079/2013 | Plumbaginaceae (Perennial) | Agun pata (Scarlet leadwort) | Leaf | Pain. Leaves are fried in any oil and ghee (clarified butter) and massaged on the painful areas. |
32 | Persicaria glabra (Willd.) M. Gómez MPCW-UODA 3080/2013 | Polygonaceae (Perennial) | Kathali kot (Denseflower knotweed) | Leaf sap | Conjunctivitis. Leaf sap is applied to eyes. |
33 | Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms MPCW-UODA 3084/2013 | Pontederiaceae (Perennial) | Pana kochuri (Common water hyacinth) | Root | Feeling of hotness in head. Roots are soaked in water and kept on top of head. |
34 | Paederia foetida L. MPCW-UODA 3085/2013 | Rubiaceae (Perennial) | Padri gota (Skunk vine) | Leaf | Diarrhea. Leaves are boiled in water followed by drinking the water. |
35 | Aegle marmelos (L.) Corr. MPCW-UODA 3086/2013 | Rutaceae (Perennial) | Bael (Bengal quince) | Leaf | Stomach disorders, watery stool, loss of appetite. Young leaves are chewed followed by drinking water for stomach disorders. Juice obtained from crushed leaves is orally taken for watery stool. Leaves are chewed to increase appetite. |
36 | Santalum album L. MPCW-UODA 3087/2013 | Santalaceae (Perennial) | Shada chandan (East Indian sandalwood) | Wood | See Phyllanthus emblica. |
37 | Scoparia dulcis L. MPCW-UODA 3088/2013 | Scrophulariaceae (Perennial) | Boner dhonia (Goatweed) | Whole plant | The Deb barma clan prepares a wine from fermenting the whole plant and drinks it. |
38 | Smilax macrophylla Roxb. MPCW-UODA 3089/2013 | Smilacaceae (Perennial) | Kumira lota | Stem | Weakness, tremor in hands or legs. Crushed stems are mixed with water. The water is taken orally in the form of a sherbet. |
39 | Physalis micrantha Link MPCW-UODA 3092/2013 | Solanaceae (Annual) | Bon morich, Pagla pata (Cape gooseberry) | Leaf | Infections between the fingers of legs from working long hours in water. Crushed leaves are applied to infections. |
40 | Pouzolzia zeylanica (L.) Benn. MPCW-UODA 3096/2013 | Urticaceae (Perennial) | Lajon turi (Graceful pouzolzs bush) | Leaf | Skin infections, skin disorders. Crushed leaves are applied as poultice on the affected areas of skin. |
41 | Clerodendrum viscosum Vent. MPCW-UODA 3097/2013 | Verbenaceae (Perennial) | Bhatir pata, Vite gach (Hill glory bower) | Leaf | Jaundice, helminthiasis. Juice obtained from crushed leaves is taken orally. |
42 | Lantana camara L. MPCW-UODA 3099/2013 | Verbenaceae (Perennial) | Motmoti (Spanish flag) | Leaf | Flatulence. Juice obtained from crushed leaves is taken orally. |
43 | Alpinia nigra (Gaertn.) Burtt. MPCW-UODA 3102/2013 | Zingiberaceae (Annual) | Tara (Galingale) | Stem | Being possessed by ‘genies’ or ‘ghosts’. Stem is tied with a thread around the waist and worn in that position till the patient is ‘cured’. |
44 | Curcuma longa L. MPCW-UODA 3105/2013 | Zingiberaceae (Perennial) | Holud (Turmeric) | Rhizome | See Azadirachta indica. |