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Tying or Hanging of Plants to Body to Cure Diseases: an Esoteric Method of Treatment

Meem Mustarin Shandhi
Department of Pharmacy, University of Development Alternative, Lalmatia, Dhaka1207, Bangladesh

Tania Khatun
Department of Pharmacy, University of Development Alternative, Lalmatia, Dhaka1207, Bangladesh

Nupur Mondol
Department of Pharmacy, University of Development Alternative, Lalmatia, Dhaka1207, Bangladesh

Samiun Alam Patwary
Department of Pharmacy, University of Development Alternative, Lalmatia, Dhaka1207, Bangladesh

Khoshnur Jannat
Department of Pharmacy, University of Development Alternative, Lalmatia, Dhaka1207, Bangladesh

Mohammed Rahmatullah*
Department of Biotechnology & Genetic Engineering, University of Development Alternative, Lalmatia, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Oral administration and topical application of plant paste, decoction, juice and fermented plants are the usual methods of treating diseases in traditional phytotherapeutic practices. Other less common modes of phytotherapeutic practices are tying of plants to the body, wearing plants or plant parts in the form of garlands, and wearing amulets containing a tiny section of a plant or plant part. The less common modes of plant-based therapy can be considered esoteric ways of treating diseases, which are practiced by folk medicinal practitioners in Bangladesh. We herein describe two such esoteric methods of treatment. The first comprises wearing a garland of small branch pieces of Achyranthes aspera on the head to cure jaundice. In the second treatment, one inch piece of root of Heterophragma adenophyllum is tied around the waist with a string to cure waist pain. Whether any cure from such esoteric treatments result from volatile components emitted from the plant parts or merely reflect a placebo effect is an open question but which merits further studies, since such treatments are practiced in different parts of the world.

Keywords: Folk medicine, Esoteric, Gopalganj, Bangladesh

Location: In Bangladesh

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Development of Host and Medicinal Plants

Commodity: Medicinal Plants

Objectives:

Among various esoteric usages of medicinal plants observed in our studies is the use of plants in amulets, which are then worn around the waist, neck or wrist, and use of numerology and verses from holy books along with plants. In this study, we document the use of two plants, which are tied to the body to cure jaundice and waist pain. It is to be noted that besides tying the plants to the body, the plants were not administered to the patient in any way like oral or topical and the plants were not used in the form of decoction, juice or paste.

Methodology:

Information was collected from Kiron Chandra Mondol, Debashur village, Gopalganj district, Bangladesh, male, age 75 years, and by religion belonging to the Hindu religion. Interviews were conducted with the help of a semi-structured questionnaire and the guided field-walk method as described by Martin and Maundu. In this method, the FMP took the interviewers to locations from where he collected his medicinal plants, pointed out the plants, and described their uses along with providing the local names. Plant specimens were collected, pressed and dried in the field and later identified at the Bangladesh National Herbarium in Dhaka. Informed consent as to dissemination of any information provided by the FMP including mentioning the FMP’s name, age, religion and gender was obtained followed by interviews conducted in Bengali. Plant specimens were deposited with the Medicinal Plant Collection Wing of the In the first instance 101 small pieces of a branch or branches of Achyranthes aspera were stringed together to make a garland, which was put on top of the head. The garland was made to such a size so as to not slip over the head down to the neck or below, but would remain over the top of the head. The garland was put in the morning. As the morning led into the evening, the FMP claimed that the garland would grow larger and larger and fall from the head to the neck and ultimately slide down to the ground. In conjunction with this event, the yellow coloration in the eyes and skin, indicating that the patient has jaundice would disappear, that is the jaundice would be cured. There was no reasonable answer from the FMP as to why 101 pieces of the branch were used to make the garland and not more or less. However, in the Vedic ritual of horse sacrifice, the horse was decorated with 101 pearls. so the number 101 has significance in the Hindu religion. Interestingly, Achyranthes Aspera has been reported to be used for jaundice treatment in traditional medicines. Hepatoprotective activity of aerial parts of the plant has been seen against paracetamol-induced hepatotoxicity. To our knowledge, this is the first reported use of Heterophragma Ascophyllum to reduce waist pain. The Chakma tribe of Bangladesh uses the plant against piles and constipation [36]. Any analgesic activity of the plant is yet to be studied.

Strange as it may seem and on the surface unexplainable, tying of the plants to the body to cure diseases is also practiced in other countries besides Bangladesh. In Bangladesh, roots of the plant Mimosa diplotricha are worn around the neck in the form of a garland for treatment of jaundice; roots are put in an amulet and tied around the waist to prevent snake bite. A garland consisting of 1 cm long root pieces of Boerhaavia diffusa is also worn around the neck in some parts of India for jaundice. With time, the garland gets larger in size with a concomitant decrease in jaundice. In Arunachal Pradesh, India, pieces of bark of Alstonia scholaris are worn around the neck in the form of a garland to cure jaundice. While a placebo effect cannot be ruled out, it is apparent that studies need to be conducted in a scientifically established manner as to the efficacy of this type of esoteric treatment on the actual cure of the disease. It is quite possible that the garlands might be producing a chemical or some sort of aroma (chemical-derived), which is useful in alleviating the disease or disease symptoms.

Source of Information: Journal of Medicinal Plants Studies 2019; 7(2): 131-133

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Jaundice. Branches are cut into 101 small pieces and the pieces are made into a garland. The patient has to wear the garland in the morning around the head; it will become bigger as the day goes and at the end of the day it falls off by itself because of the larger size.

Waist pain. One inch of root is cut and tied around the waist.

Knowledge Management: Journal