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Honey bee publish details |
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Ama Akha Pakha |
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Odia |
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Taming Termites and Cumin to Zzzzzz … |
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221211 Garlic paste for healing cracks
During winter, skin of the feet, toes and heel crack due to dry climate. Consequently, bleeding occurs and it pains while walking. Farmers in district Jagatsinghpur, Odisha crush garlic without adding water. These crushed garlic cloves are heated a bit and applied on cracked feet. This is done before going to bed. After three to four such applications the cracks heal.
Community practice
Commn: Prahallad Rout, Talanga, Cuttack, Odisha
Garlic promotes healing through its reduced nociceptive1 (Kumar et al., 1999: Indian J Exp. Biol., 37(7): 662-666), anti-microbial, immune-stimulating properties (Resch et al. (1995): Fortschr Med., 113(20-21): 311-315). Transient Receptor Potential (TRP), stress sensor ion channels are activated by raw garlic (Macpherson et al. (2005): Curr Biol., 15(10): 929-934) that plays major role in Ca²+ ion transport (a ubiquitous second messenger).
221212 Natural sleep inducing agent
Labourers who work continuously for a long time during the day and for several days in a month get fatigued. They are not able to sleep well some times. Farmers in this region combat fatigue by taking cumin and bananas. They roast ‘jeera’ (Cuminum cyminum L.) and grind it into a fine powder. One spoonful of jeera powder is mixed with one ripened banana and given to the fatigued patient. This acts within a couple of hours and induces good sleep.
Community practice
Commn.: Baikuntha Pradhan, Barapur, Tigiria, district Cuttack
Cumin is known for its action against Pentylenetetrazole indicating its role in enhancing Gamma Amino butyric acid (GABA) neuroreceptors (Almeida et al., 2011) thereby enhancing somnolence. Fructose, a natural sugar which is directly absorbed in intestine for providing energy, is readily available in Banana. Almeida et al. (2011), Molecules, 16: 2726-2742.
221213 Natural Shampoo
Old men and women in villages of Angul district use a natural soap for washing their hair. This natural soap is nothing but the leaves of ‘Bhindi’ (Lady’s finger, okra, Abelomoschus esculentus (L.) Moench). They take these leaves and grind them into paste on a stone slab. Then they apply this paste on the scalp and wash it when it turns dry. This makes hair clean and keeps the mind cool, says Dhaneswar Pradhan, an 80 year old farmer from Kantapada village; who has been using this since childhood.
Community practice
Commn: Dhaneswar Pradhan, Kantapada, district Angul
The plant is known for its role in lipid metabolism and has high vitamin C content (Gacche et al., 2010). These constituents might interfere in formation of oleic acid derived from sebum so as to minimize inflammatory reaction at stratum corneum. Okra shampoos are available in the market.
Gacche et al. (2010), Indian Journal of Natural Products and Resources. 1 (3): 306-313. HB 18(2) reported practice on treating hair problem.
221214 Taming Termite through goat droppings and neem
Farmers of Mendhasala use neem leaves (Azadirachta indica A. Juss) along with dropping of goats to eradicate termites. One kg of neem leaves and an equal quantity of goat excreta are mixed and crushed. A total of 50 kg of this mixture is spread over 100 decimals of land.
This effectively eradicates termites from the soil, says Sri Harihar Samantray, who has been practicing this for the last 40 years.
Community practice
Commn: Harihar Samantray, Mendhasala, district Khurda
Umeth et al (1999: The Journal of Agricultural Science, 133: 403-407) has described the well known impact of neem leaves over termite control.
221215 Herbal solution to increase fruit set
To increase the production of vegetables like pumpkin, brinjal, pointed gourd etc., farmers in Baranga area of Cuttack use “Juani Pani” - a herbal solution spray. It is prepared by taking 100 gm of Juani i.e. ajwain (Carum copticum (Linn.) Benth.) in a liter of water. The solution is kept overnight. It is then sprayed over the plants.
“The fruit production almost doubles by this spray,” says Kishore Sahoo. He learnt this from his father, Late Padan Sahoo, who used this method for over 30 years. Late Padan Sahoo used to prepare “Juani Pani” or “Phala Pani” and distribute to other farmers in his area free of cost.
Community Practice
Commn.: Kishore Sahoo, Dadhapatna, Baranga, district Cuttack
Veterinary
221216 Controlling ticks in cattle.
Tick infestation is a very widespread problem in cattle. Ticks suck blood and cattle become anemic. Farmers of “Kolha” tribal community take the fresh root of a plant locally called as “Apamaranga” (Achyranthes aspera L.) and tie around the neck of the tick infested cattle. This is supposed to ward off ticks from the cattle.
Community practice
Scout: Dr Tapas Ranjan Mohapatra, Routpada, district Balasore
Leaf extracts of Achyranthes aspera L. had showed highest larvicidal activity against cattle ticks like Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus, Anopheles subpictus Grassi and Culex tritaeniorhynchus (Zahir et al. (2009): Parasitology Research, Vol. 105 (2), 453-461).
221217 A wild chilli that heals
“Kolha”, a tribal community uses a wild variety of chilli locally called as “Dhanua Lanka” (Capsicum frutescens L.) to heal animal wounds They make a paste of 25-50 g of this wild variety and apply on the cut wound. Wound gets healed very fast.
Community practice
Scout: Dr Tapas Ranjan Mohapatra, Routpada, district Balasore
Capsaicin, an antimicrobial compound present in chilli binds to nociceptors1 and enable lessening of pain by depleting Substance P (Mason et al. (2004): Primary Care, 328 : 991).
221218 Prevention of Ranikhet disease in poultry.
Ranikhet disease (RD) in poultry is a dreaded disease of viral origin. This disease takes a heavy toll if not prevented. Tribal farmers prevent this disease by feeding fried onions (Allium cepa L.) to the birds. “It should be given every six months,” says Rajendra Nayak. He has been practicing this traditional method for the last six years and getting good results.
Community practice
Commn.: Rajendra Nayak, Sabar Sahi, Andharua, Bhubaneswar
Scout: Dr. Balaram Sahu
The antiviral properties of onions are well established with specific reference to ADS and RNA virus (Goren et al., (2003): US patent Application 20030026859.
221219 Turmeric water bath for controlling lice
Lice infestation in poultry birds hinders body growth. Lice suck blood and cause a drop in egg production and also stunted growth in birds. To control this, tribal farmers use turmeric water bath. Pabitra Nayak of village Andharua takes two spoonful of turmeric powder and adds to half bucket of water and mixes well. The infested poultry birds are then given bath by this turmeric water. “After just one bath, lice infestation is controlled,” says Nayak. He has been controlling lice infestation in poultry birds by this organic method for last six years.
Community practice
Commn.: Pabitra Nayak, Sabar Sahi, Bhubaneswar
Scout: Dr. Balaram Sahu
The plant has efficacy against ectoparasites like scabies (Charles and Charles, (1992): Tropical and Geographical Medicine 44(1-2):178-81).
221220 Mahua flowers relieve bullocks from stress
Farmers in Rairakhol area use dried mahua flowers; Madhuca longifolia (Koenig) J. F. Macbr. var. latifolia
(Roxb.) Chevalier and horse
gram to rejuvenate fatigued bullocks. They take a handful of Mahua flowers along with half kg of horse gram and soak in water for few hours. This is then boiled in water and given to the bullocks. “By eating this, bullocks
work wonderfully,” says Sadananda Pradhan, a farmer of village
Badabahal. He says that the recipe is popular particularly in the rainy
season.
Community practice
Commn.: Sadananda Pradhan, Badabahal, Sambalpur
Scout: Dr. Balaram Sahu
The analgesic properties of Mahua flowers (Chandra (2001): Indian Journal of Pharmacology 2001; 33: 108-111) is likely to play role in relieving muscular pain in bullocks. |
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| Volume No. |
Honey Bee 22(1) & 22(2) 34-35, 2011 |
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