FOLK MEDICINAL WISDOM

Some of the folk medicinal treasures found in Chittoor district in Andhra Pradhesh are given here:
Tagubothulaku Natu Mandu (Psidium gujava) -Myrtaceae (Medicine for alcohol addicts) Leaf juice is secretly added with alcohol and given to the person who is addicted to alcohol. The person starts vomiting and feels irritation. If the therapy is repeated two or three times, the person develops a sort of aversion towards alcohol.

Vavili (Vitex negundo) and Allamu (Zingeberoficinale) (Onti Talanoppi - Migraine) Juice extracted from the leaves of vavili and rhizome of allamu is mixed in equal proportions and few drops of the juice are instilled into the nostrils to cure migraine.

Kanuga (Pongamia pinnata) – Fabaceae (Keella noppulu & Ollu noppulu - Arthritis and Body Pains) The root bark boiled in gingely oil is stored in earthen pot and given to patients suffering from chronic body pain and arthritis. The oil is given both internally and applied on the affected parts also.

Jatamansi - (Nardostachys jatamansi) –Valerianaceae (Gundello nemmu -Pneumonia) Decoction of the root powder is given two or three times a day and it is continued until the fever subsides. Wheat powder mixed in Calotropis leaf juice is applied on the chest to prevent pleurisy.

Saraswathi aku (Centellaasiatica) - Apiaceae(Teliviki - Brain Tonic)Dried plant is powdered along with Piper nigrum seeds in 10:1ratio and a mixture of 2 to 3 spoons of the powder and a glass of cow’s milk is given early morning.

Seeds of Sompu (Foeniculum vulgare), leaves ofTamala paku (Piper betel) and Honey (Recheekati - Night blindness) All the plant parts in equal proportions are added with honey to make paste. The paste is kept in a clean bottle and the paste is applied on the eyes daily.

Cotyledons of Gacchakai (Caesalpinia crista), roots of Reppala (Wrightia tinctoria) and seeds of Pokalu (Areca catechu)(Moorcha - Epilepsy) The plant parts in equal proportion are mixed with old jaggery and made into paste with water. A soap nut size paste is given daily for a fortnight.

Leaves of Veduru (Bambusa arundinacea) - Graminae(To remove a dead child from the womb)Leaf paste mixed with water is given to women for whom delivery becomes difficult leading to the death of the child in the womb.

Adavimalathi (Aganosma dichotoma) - Apocynaceae(Mutrasayamlo rallu - Stones in the urinary tract and bladder)Root powder is given with milk in the early morning for a period of two weeks.

Tulasi (Ocimum sanctum) – Lamiaceae (Chali jwaram - Malaria) A glass of root decoction is given twice a day to subside the malarial fever in 4 or 5 days.

Gurivinda (Abrus precatorius) - Fabaceae(Pandu rogam - Leucoderma) Leaf juice is applied on the white patches and exposed to the sun for an hour. Within two to three months the white patches will disappear and turn into the colour of the skin.

Ravi (Ficus religiosa) - Moraceae(Nallamanduku virugudu - drug addicts (Bhang and Opium)Decoction of stem bark is given for relief.

Vayuvidangalu (Embelia ribes), fruits of Terminalia chebula, Terminalia bellerica, Emblica officinalis and latex of Calotropis gigantea (Sanna jeevalu rakunda - To drive away rats, scorpions and mosquitoes) The plant parts are dried and powdered when the powder is burned its fume drives away mosquitoes, rats and scorpions.

Root bark of Kasinatha (Cassia occidentalis) - CaesalpiniaceaeEnugukalu (Filariosis) A spoonful of paste made with ghee is given twice a day and Mimosa pudica leaf paste is applied on the affected feet until relief is achieved.

Fruit rind of Dhanimma (Punica granatum), Punicacease, Alum and Camphor (Rommulu gattipadataniki - Large, Hard breast) The fruit rind is made into paste with alum and camphor in 8:2 proportion. The paste is applied over the breast late in the evening and bandaged. The bandage is removed in the morning. This is repeated for a period of two weeks.

Nelausiri (Phyllanthus amarus) – Euphorbiaceae Pasiricalaku (Jaundice)A spoonful of paste is given early in the morning on an empty stomach along with buttermilk. This is repeated, depending upon the condition of the patient, for a week ora fortnight.

Stem bark of Tellamadhi (Terminalia arjuna) – Combretaceae (Rakthapotuku -Hypertension)Bark decoction with milk is given to the patient in the early morning.

Leaves of Saraswathi aku (Centella asiatica), dried rhizome of Allamu (Zingeber officinale) and fruits of Pipallu (Piper longum) (Clear Voice) The plant parts mixed in equal proportions are dried in shade and powdered. Half a spoonful of powder with honey is given for forty days.

Leaves of Banyan (Ficus bhengalensis)(Healing wounds and binding damaged tissues) The tender leaves are warmed in fire and wrapped around the wound or any deep cut and then the wound or deepcut is bandaged.

Latex of Banyan (Ficus bhengalensis) and fruitdecoction of Myrobalan (Terminalia chebula)(Healing wounds) The wound is washed with the Myrobalan fruitdecoction and the entire wound is drenched with the latex obtained by cutting the new branches of Banyan tree. The fresh latex is poured on the wound by holding the cut branches on the wound. For noothi or chronic ulcer, the latex is taken internally daily in a prescribed quantity.

Courtesy: www.indianfolklore.org/pdf/newsletter/ifl_13.pdf