Traditional knowledge of ethnomedicine in Jaunsar-bawar

जौनसार बावर जड़ी बूटीओ में धनी धनी है । इसकी प्राकृतिक छठा और सौंदर्य ही केंद्र नहीं नहीं बल्की यह जड़ी बुटिओं का भी भंडार साबित हुवा है । कुछ स्थानीय नुस्के नीचे अंग्रेजी लिखे है ।

In Jaunsar-bawar area (Chakrata tehsil of Dehradun district), different kinds of medical practitioners (priests, magicians, exorcists and quacks) abound. Many cures are effected by one or more persons treating a single patient at a time or in succession. In traditional societies, herbalists and midwives frequently acquire their skills from their mothers or other close relatives. In most of these rural societies, their localities are almost bereft of modern health facilities. In such a situation, they use their traditional knowledge about the locally available plants to cure many diseases. In this paper, an attempt has been made to see how these ethnomedicines are useful in Jaunsar-bawar to maintain their healthy life.

In Jaunsari (Jaunsar-bawar), many people have chronic ill-health or are less healthy than they should be, because of the assault of multiple infections, viz., bouts of fever, attacks of jaundice consequent to virus infection, skin affections of various kinds and so on. Their impact is often felt seasonally and irregularly, causing suffering to the patients from time to time and ultimately endangering their lives.

1.Ajuga bracteosaHindi – Neelkanthi orNilkhanti: नीलकंठी

disease :Ear ache/ कान दर्द

Treatment / Preparation of Medicine:The juice of Nilkhanti leaves is dropped into the ear cavity. नीलकंठी का जूस निकाल ले

Dose: 4-5 drops twice a day, for three days.
चार से पांच बूंद दिन में दो बार


nilkanti

2.Allium cepa Onion: प्याज

disease:Loose motions /दस्त

Treatment / Preparation of Medicine:Onion (pyaz) and mint (pudina) are boiled in water. A cup of this mixture is given to drink.( प्याज उबाल कर पिये या भून के खाये । )

Dose:Twice or thrice a day, up to three days. ( तीन दिन तक दो - दो बार दिन में )

onion

3.Cuminum cyminum , Hindi - Zeera Trachyspermum ammi ,Hindi - Ajowan / अजवायन

disease:cold / ठंड लगने पर

Treatment / Preparation of Medicine:A tea made up of zeera seeds and ajowan is given.अजवायन की चाय बनाकर पिये

Dose:Twice a day, for two to three days/ दिन में दो बार और तीन दिन तक इसका सेवन करे ।

4.Eleusine coracana ,Hindi – Kodhu, Manduva / मंडुवा /काोधो

disease:Typhoid /

Treatment / Preparation of Medicine:Kodhu leaves are crushed to pulp and mixed with water and jaggery or sugar.

Dose:Two spoons of this mixture are used once daily, for two to three days.

5.Grewia optiva,Hindi – Bimal,Local name – Bhimal,bihu.: बिहू ,

disease:Bone fracture

Treatment / Preparation of Medicine:Turmeric and wheat flour are fried and put on the affected part and then the bark of Bimal is placed on it and bandaged.

Dose:Daily bandage up to one month.

6. Hedychium spicatum,Hindi – Kachoor

disease:Stomach aches Rheumatism Arthritis.

Treatment / Preparation of Medicine:Kachoor’s bark is boiled in water. The decoction, mixed with jaggery, is drunk

Dose:twice in a day, up to three to four days.

7.Hedychium spicatum, Hindi – Kachoor

disease:Swelling of body

Treatment / Preparation of Medicine:The dry fruit is powdered and mixed with jaggery or sugar and this mixture is eaten.

Dose:Twice a day, for one week.

image is shown in above section.

8.Moringa oleifera syn.,M. pterygosperma,Hindi – Sondhi,Local name – Sondi

disease:Scorpion and snake bite

Treatment / Preparation of Medicine:Powder of Sondhi leaves is prepared and is administered orally.

Dose:Once a day, for one month.

9.Nicotiana tabacum,Tobacco

disease:Scabies

Treatment / Preparation of Medicine:The juice of tobacco leaves is applied on the affected part.

Dose:Two times a day, for four days

10.Pinus roxburghii,Hindi – Chir,Local name – Khaida

disease:Sprain

Treatment / Preparation of Medicine:Fresh khaida gum is applied on the affected part.

Dose:10-15 days.

11.Saccharum spontaneum,Hindi – Kushka,Local name – Kusha

disease:Pus formation

Treatment / Preparation of Medicine:Pulp of crushed leaves of Kushka is applied on the affected part and this pulp is kept stuck there until the patient is cured of the ailment.

Dose:For fifteen days.