Journal of Medicinal Plants Research Vol. 2(12), pp.

356-360, December, 2008

Available online at http://www.academicjournals.org/JMPR
ISSN 1996-0875© 2008 Academic Journals

Full Length Research

Indigenous medicine used for treatment of

gynecological disorders by tribal of chhattisgarh, India
Rajesh Shukla1*, Moyna Chakravarty2 and M. P. Gautam3
1
School of Studies in Anthropology, Raipur C.G., Chhattisgarh.
2
Pt. Ravishankar Shukla University Raipur C.G., Chhattisgarh.
3
Chhattisgarh State Forensic Science Laboratory, Police line Campus, Tikrapara Raipur C.G.
Accepted 22 November 2008

The present paper deals with the indigenous medicinal plants used by the tribes of various regions of
Chhattisgarh state. The tribals depend on the herbal medicines for curing various gynecological
disorders. Tribal do not approach doctors (physicians) due to lack of awareness and shyness or
hesitation. Herbal healers and their patients who receive the treatment for any gynecological
complication enquired the local names, parts used and method of administration. The binomial names
are enumerated with utilization of these plants. Further studies were suggested to validate the claims
and herbal drug development for treatment of such disorder.

Key words: Herbal medicine, gynecological disorder.

INTRODUCTION

Traditional remedies are part of the cultural and religious
life of the tribal. In this paper nature and range of
traditional medicines used for female complaints in
relation to gynecological conditions and disorders. A wide
range of herbal traditional medicines are used to regulate
the menstrual cycle, enhance fertility and as either abor-
tifacients or anti abortifacients. Plants and plant based
medicaments are the basis of many of the modern phar-
maceuticals we used today for our various ailments
(Abraham, 1981; Atal and Kapur, 1982). Nearly 80% of
the world population rely on traditional medicines for
primary health care, most of which involve the use of
plant extracts (Sandhya et al., 2006). In India, almost
95% of the prescriptions are plant based the traditional
system of Unani, Ayurveda, Homeopathy and Siddha
(Satyavati et al., 1987).
Study area
in deep forest area, and depend on the forest resources
for their livelihood. Data collected from the tribal
dominated areas. Major tribal group residing in study
area are Bhunjia, Kamar, Muria, Maria, Halba, gonds etc.
The present paper concentrate on the traditional medi-
cine or herbal medicines used by the tribal for various
gynecological disorders.
MATERIAL AND METHODOLOGY
The present paper is out come of extensive field survey of different
tribal villages of Chhattisgarh state during 2005 - 2006 to collect
information’s on medicinal uses of different plant species for
gynecological disorders. During field work, interviews were
conducted with local knowledgeable villagers, herbal healers called
Vaidhraj, Baiga, Gunia or Sirha (local physicians in Indian System
of Medicines), old women and patients. The gynecological
medicinal value of each plant was enumerated in the following
patterns; a. local name, b. part used, c. method of administration,
doses and d. botanical name.

For present study the data was collected randomly from
various parts of Chhattisgarh State. Chhattisgarh is
located between 17 to 23.7 degrees north latitude and
8.40 to 83.33 east longitude. Tribal people mostly inhabit
*Corresponding author. E-mail: rajks_anth@hotmail.com,
rds.anth@gmail.com
RESULTS
The data on medicinal plants for treatment of various
gynecological disorders was collected from local peoples
in Chhattisgarh, were analyzed. The enumeration and
utilization of these are described in Table 1.
The use of plant species as remedies is probably an
ancient as men himself. The medicinal preparations are
 Shukla et al. 357

Table 1. Plants used for gynecological disorders in Chhattisgarh.

1. Local Name Chir-chira

Botanical Name Achyranthus aspera
Part Used Root
Disease Easy Delivery
Method of Preparation Fresh and Dried root is grinded and decoction is made with water and
given to a pregnant women for relief in painful delivery.
Doses Half cup decoction is given once or twice at the time of delivery.
2. Local Name Ramdatoon
Botanical Name Smilex zeylanica
Part Used Root
Disease White Discharge
Method of Preparation A decoction is made with water and taken orally after completion of
menstrual discharge.
Doses One or half cup decoction is given once daily in morning for 3 days.
3. Local Name Karghi, Satavar
Botanical Name Asparagus racemosus
Part Used Tuber and stem
Disease Excess Bleeding during menstrual discharge and burning sensation
in urine
Method of Preparation Fresh and Dried root or stem is soaked in a glass of water for one
hour. Taken orally early morning in empty stomach.
Doses One glass daily up to 7 days.
4. Local Name Anantmool
Botanical Name Hemidesmus indicus
Part Used Root
Disease Milk secretion
Method of Preparation Paste of fresh root is prepared and taken orally in morning and
evening.
Doses Twice daily for 1-2 days.
5. Local Name Dudhi
Botanical Name Euphorbia hirta
Part Used Leaf
Disease Milk secretion
Method of Preparation decoction of fresh leaf prepared with milk, taken orally.
Doses Twice daily for 2-4 days.
6. Local Name Satavar
Botanical Name Asparagus racemosus
Part Used Tuber
Disease Milk secretion
Method of Preparation Fresh satavar tuber is taken directly with a powder of Anantmool
(Hemidesmus indicus) root and Doodhmongra (tuber). Powder is
made in 1:1:1. Taken orally in empty stomach in morning and
evening.
Half spoon powder and 1 -1.5 fresh root twice daily up to 8 days.
Doses
7. Local Name Dhawai
Botanical Name Woordfordia fruticosa
Part Used Flower
Disease Irregularity in Menstruation
Method of Preparation Half spoon of Powder of dried flower is mixed with Honey and taken
orally.
Doses One spoonful of the preparation taken daily up to 8 days during
menstrual periods.
358 J. Med. Plant. Res.

Table 1. Contd

8. Local Name Palas

Botanical Name Butea monosperma
Part Used Root and Bark
Disease Leucorrhoea
Method of Preparation Half spoon of Powder of dried flower is mixed with Honey and taken
orally.
Doses One spoonful of the preparation taken daily up to 5 days during
menstrual periods.
9. Local Name Ashoka
Botanical Name Saraca asoca
Part Used Bark
Disease Leucorrhoea
Method of Preparation Powder of dried Ashoka bark, Kachnar (Bauhinia veriegata) bark and
Rahiman bark in 1:1:1. One spoon powder is mixed with one glass
gruel of rice is taken orally.
Doses One glass of mixture is taken twice daily for 2-5 days.
10. Local Name Semhar
Botanical Name Salmalia malabaricum
Part Used Root
Disease Irregularity in Menstruation
Method of Preparation Powder of dried root is taken orally with water or with meals.
Doses One or two spoon powder is taken thrice daily up to 5 days.
11. Local Name Ashoka
Botanical Name Saraca asoca
Part Used Root
Disease Irregularity in Menstruation
Method of Preparation Decoction of Ashoka root, Arjun (Terminalia arjuna) bark, Rasna
(Blepharispermum subsessile) root and Giloy (Tinospora malabarica)
stem, filter the preparation. Filtrate is taken orally.
Doses Half glass decotation is taken twice daily for one month.
12. Local Name Ramdatoon
Botanical Name Smilex zeylanica
Part Used Root
Disease Red & White Discharge
Method of Preparation Powder of Red and white Ramdatoon is made. One or two spoon
Mishri (recrystalised cane sugar) is added with 20gms. powder and
taken orally.
Doses One spoon powder is taken twice daily for 20-40 days.
13. Local Name Sugandhi, Anantmool
Botanical Name Hemidesmus indicus
Part Used Root
Disease Vitality after Child Birth
Method of Preparation Powder of root is prepared and 10 gms. powder is taken orally.
Doses Thrice daily for 10 days.
14. Local Name Keokand
Botanical Name Costus speciosus
Part Used Rhizome
Disease Strengthening
Method of Preparation Powder of root is prepared and one spoon of root powder is taken
orally with cold water.
Doses Twice daily for 2-10 days.
 Shukla et al. 359

Table 1. Contd

15. Local Name Ramdatoon

Botanical Name Smilex zeylanica
Part Used Root
Disease Weakness during Monthly discharge, Giddiness
Method of Preparation Powder of Nagarmotha (Cyprus rotandus), Dhawai (Woodfordia
fruticosa), Tripatri (All root) and Ramdatoon is prepared and Half
spoon powder is taken orally in morning and evening.
Doses Thrice daily for 7 days.
16. Local Name Ramdatoon
Botanical Name Smilex zeylanica
Part Used Root
Disease Leucorrhoea
Method of Preparation Powder of 50gms. Ramdatoon, 50 gms. Nagarmotha (Cyprus
rotandus), 50gms. Aonla (Emblica officinalis), 50 gms. Padhmool, 25
gms. Tripatri and 50 gms. Mishri (recrystalised cane sugar) is
prepared. Half spoon powder is taken with one cup gruel of rice is
taken orally in morning and evening.
Twice daily for 21 days.
Doses
17. Local Name Tilwan
Botanical Name Wendlandia heynei
Part Used Flower
Disease Abortion
Method of Preparation Fresh flower is grounded with milk; a cup of grounded mixture is
taken orally from third day of mensural period.
Doses Once daily for 3 days.
18. Local Name Shivlingi
Botanical Name Diplocyclos palmatus
Part Used Seed
Disease Contraception
Method of Preparation Seed of Shivlingi, Sonth, Kalimirch, Putrajivi and Root bark of Vat is
made in powder. 2-5 gms. powder is taken with water or milk at night.
Once daily for 21 days. After completion or beginning of menstrual
Doses cycle.
19. Local Name Tejrai
Botanical Name Peucedanum nagpurense
Part Used Whole Plant
Disease Promoting Sexual Desire
Method of Preparation Powder of Tejrai, Bhojrai (seed), Tejpatra (leaf) and Mishri
(recrystalised cane sugar) is prepared. One spoon of powder is taken
with one cup milk at night.
Doses Once at night for 21 days.
20. Local Name Kalmi, Haldu
Botanical Name Adina cordifolia
Part Used Bark
Disease Burning Sensation in Urine
Method of Preparation Decotation of Haldu bark and Aonla (Emblica officinalis) bark is
prepared and kept in glass bottle. One glass of decotation is taken
orally.
Doses Twice daily for 5 days.
360 J. Med. Plant. Res.

Table 1. Contd

21. Local Name Kalimusli

Botanical Name Curculigo orchioides
Part Used Tuber
Disease Promoting Sexual Desire & Strengthening
Method of Preparation Powder of dried Kalimusli (Curculigo orchioides), Kalimirch and
Illaichi is prepared in tablet form. Two capsule is taken in morning
and evening after meal.
Doses Twice daily for 15 days.
22. Local Name Gular
Botanical Name Ficus racemosa
Part Used Fruit
Disease Contraceptive
Method of Preparation Flower is collected after doing rituals i.e. offer agarbatti, coconut,
flower and Gangajal (holi water of the Ganges) on Sunday or
Wednesday. Fresh fruit is used after contraception.
Doses Taken only once.
23. Local Name Maida
Botanical Name Litsea sebifera
Part Used Bark
Disease Leucorrhoea
Method of Preparation Bark of Maida and Safed Koria is taken in equal quantity and soaked
in one cup water overnight. Taken in empty stomach early morning.
Doses Once daily up to 5 days.

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