Patalkot: Valley of Miraculous herbs and tribal culture

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By Dr Deepak Acharya

Since time immemorial, people have gathered plant and animal resources for their needs. Examples include edible nuts, mushrooms, fruits, herbs, spices, gums, game, fodder, fibers used for construction of shelter and housing, clothing or utensils, and plant or animal products for medicinal, cosmetic or cultural uses. Even today, hundreds of millions of people, mostly in developing countries, derive a significant part of their subsistence needs and income from gathered plant and animal products. Gathering of high value products such as mushrooms, medicinal plants also continues in developed countries for cultural and economic reasons.

Among these uses, medicinal plants play a central role as traditional medicines used in many cultures and tribes.

Deep in the heart of Central India there is a wild, forest surrounded by sheer, 1,200 foot cliffs. The Patalkot forest is so well hidden that people on the outside didn't even know it existed. It is a very special place, rich with plants and animals. The natives who live there know how to collect and grow the plants they need for food, clothing and building their homes. They also have a special skill that has been passed down every generation. They know the secrets of the medicine plants. Patalkot was becoming famous for its treasure of medicinal plants. With the discovery Patalkot's treasures though some other things began to happen. The natives are generous with their knowledge and offer their medicinal secrets with open hearts. This is how their people have always survived, by sharing information and supplies with each other. People who came to the forest, however, saw a way to profit from this. They brought in teams of harvesters to strip the forest clean of valuable herbs. They sold them on the outside for great profit. Whole sections of forest were cut to gain easier access to collection sites. In trade they gave the people portable radios that blared through the forest, frightening off wildlife and quickly replacing the communal music that bound the tribes together. Then loggers began cutting down the trees.

Patalkot is known for its richness of medicinal flora. This valley is covered with tropical forests, which are supposed to be rich in biodiversity. However subtropical hill forests are found in few areas. Some of the economically medicinal plants are on the verge of extinction. The endemic and rare flora is also found in the region.

Few important and highly effective medicinal plants of this valley includes: Addhajira (Chaff Tree), Bach(Sweet Flag), Adusa (Malabar nut), Bel (Bail fruit tree), Ajgandha, Lahsun (Garlic), Gwarpatha (Indian Aloe), Choulai (Amaranth), Soorankand (Corm), Kalmegh (Andrographis), Sarifa (Custard apple), Pili kateri (Mexican poppy), Narbod/ Satavar (Wild Asperagus), Kachnaar (Variegated mountain ebony), Punarnava (Spreading Hogweed), Shivlingi, Khatua (Sprout leaf plant), Palas (Flame of Forest), Akona (Madar), Papita (Papaya), Van Karonda, Ajwain (Bishop's weed), Teeti (Feted casia), Amaltaas (Pudding pipe tree), Brahmi (Indian pennywort), Safed musli, Hadjori, Neebu (Lemon), Jangali Piyaz (Indian squill), Jaljamani, Sankhpusphi, Dhania (Coriander), Kalimusli, Kalihaldi, Amarbel (Dodder), Gautichai (Lemon grass), Doob grass (Doggrass/creeping cynodon), Nagarmotha, Shisam (Indian red wood), Dhatura(Thorn-apple), Gulmohar (Gold mohur), Karanj, Baichandi (Wild Yam), Amla (Emblic-myrobalam/Amla), Safeda (Eucalyptus), Dudhi, Bargad, Bad (Banyan), Gular, Peepal (Pipal tree), Anantmul ( Indian sarparilla), Chandrajot, Narangi (Lantana), Musakani, Mahua, Aam (Mango), Pudina (Mint), Chuimui(Sensitive plant), Gulbans (4'O clock plant) Ban Karela (Bitter gourd), Munga (Horse redish tree), Bach (Cowhage), Meethi Neem, Van kela, Kaner (Oleander), Tulsi (Basil), Bhuiaonla, Chitavar (Rove colour leadwort), Amrud (Guava), Sarpagandha, Arandi (Castor), Shitaab, Semul (Silk Cotton tree), Patharchata (Indian rockfoil), Bhilwa, Cheeval, Pithkarenti, Makoy (Black night shade), Bhatkataiyan, Sahdehi, Chiraita(Chiretta), Jamun(Jambol), Imli (Tamrind), Sagon(Teak tree), Arjun (Arjuna), Baheda (Beleric-myrabolam), Harra (Myrabolam), Giloy/Guduchi, Banda (Vanda/orchid), Sahadehi, Adrak (Ginger), Ber (Plum), etc.

Over-exploitation of plants like safed musli, chironji, sarpagandha and bach has made them endangered species. Some plants like Sieges beckia are also found in this valley. My aim is to spread knowledge on plants and their ethnomedicinal importance. I am trying my best to put information on the uses and conservation of medicinal plants of Patalkot valley (see http://dracharya.tripod.com/patal). But, so far, just like so many, biodiversity of Patalkot is also threatened. I am in process to document the medicinal plant found here. It is need of the hour to prepare a plan for conservation of medicinal plants as well as documentation of indigenous knowledge of tribes. It should be so designed that the children and youth can play an important role in the process. Unfortunately, not only are we facing the problem of pollution, biodiversity extinction but the country is also passing through a crisis of character. In this alarming situations, there is still a ray of hope because the children and youth have maintained their morale. I pray God to give everybody the desire and commitment to save their nature and its resources.

Dr DEEPAK ACHARYA, Department of Botany, Danielson College, Chhindwara, MP - 480 001, India. Phone: + 91-7162-246159, Mobile: +91 9826171340; Fax: +91-7162-248454 email: deepak@patalkot.zzn.com RESEARCH INTERESTS: Microbial activity, Ethnobotany and Environmental Education; EDUCATION & RESEARCH: MSc PhD, Publication: Published 20 research papers and more than 100 popular articles in various Journals/ magazines/ newspapers of repute. URL: http://dracharya.tripod.com

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