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Use of Inorganic Substances in Folk Medicinal Formulations: a Case Study of a Folk Medicinal Practitioner in Tangail District, Bangladesh

Md. Ashrafi Haque
Department of Pharmacy, University of Development Alternative, Dhanmondi, Dhaka-1205, Bangladesh

Mridul Kumer Shaha
Department of Pharmacy, University of Development Alternative, Dhanmondi, Dhaka-1205, Bangladesh

Salah Uddin Ahmed
Department of Pharmacy, University of Development Alternative, Dhanmondi, Dhaka-1205, Bangladesh

Rumana Akter
Department of Pharmacy, University of Development Alternative, Dhanmondi, Dhaka-1205, Bangladesh

Hafizur Rahman
Department of Pharmacy, University of Development Alternative, Dhanmondi, Dhaka-1205, Bangladesh

Sujan
Department of Pharmacy, University of Development Alternative, Dhanmondi, Dhaka-1205, Bangladesh

Chakravotry
Department of Pharmacy, University of Development Alternative, Dhanmondi, Dhaka-1205, Bangladesh

A.H.M. Nahid Imran
Department of Pharmacy, University of Development Alternative, Dhanmondi, Dhaka-1205, Bangladesh

Md. Tarequl Islam
Department of Pharmacy, University of Development Alternative, Dhanmondi, Dhaka-1205, Bangladesh

Rajendra Chandra Das
Department of Pharmacy, University of Development Alternative, Dhanmondi, Dhaka-1205, Bangladesh

Mohammed Rahmatullah
Department of Pharmacy, University of Development Alternative, Dhanmondi, Dhaka-1205, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Bangladesh has a number of traditional medicinal systems like homeopathy, Ayurveda, Unani and the folk medicinal system. The latter three systems mainly rely on medicinal plants in their various formulations for treatment of diverse ailments. Various Ayurvedic formulations contain inorganic substances like gold, silver, lead, mercury, arsenic, zinc, tin, copper and sulfur along with medicinal plants. It was the objective of the present study to determine whether folk medicinal practitioners also use inorganic substances in their formulations. Towards that a survey was carried out in Tangail district to learn more about the use of inorganic substances in folk medicinal formulations. One practitioner was observed to use elements like gold, mercury and sulfur in his formulations. The elements were used in combination to prepare an ingredient known as makardhwaj – a known Ayurvedic formulation. Makardhwaj was not prescribed singly but always in combination with medicinal plants. Altogether, the practitioner was observed to use 51 medicinal plants distributed into 32 families. These plants were used in 46 different formulations for treatment of a variety of diseases like jaundice, respiratory difficulties, rheumatism, stop bleeding from cuts and wounds, leucorrhea, debility, gastrointestinal disorders, fever, pain, urinary tract disorders, skin disorders, sexual disorders, oral and tongue lesions, infections, edema, menstrual disorders, cardiovascular disorders, helminthiasis, chicken pox, gonorrhea, and progressive loss of eye sight. Makardhwaj was used in eight out of the 46 formulations. The preparation of makardhwaj appeared to be quite complicated in that pure gold, mercury and sulfur was blended for 6-7 hours every day over a period of 7 days followed by mixing with red flowers of Bombax ceiba tree, drying, and cooking in a glass flask for 24 hours. The use of makardhwaj suggests that at least some of the folk medicinal practitioner’s formulations possess Ayurvedic influence, which is not surprising considering that both types of traditional medicinal practices have co-existed side-by-side in Bangladesh for centuries.

Keywords: Medicinal plants, Folk medicine, Tangail, Kaviraj, Bangladesh

Location: Tangail district, Bangladesh

Start Date: 00-00-2011

End Date:

Program Area: Development of Host and Medicinal Plants

Commodity: Medicinal Plants

Objectives:

A preliminary survey was carried out in Tangail district of Bangladesh and it was learnt that one folk medicinal practitioner of Gachabari village in Tangail district uses inorganic substances in his medicinal formulations. Accordingly, a detailed interview of the practitioner was carried out to document both his usage of medicinal plants as well as his use of inorganic substances for treatment of different ailments.

Methodology:

The present survey was conducted at Gachabari village of Tangail district, which is located in the central north region of Bangladesh. A preliminary survey conducted within the district revealed the presence of one folk medicinal practitioner or Kaviraj, who used inorganic elements in at least some of his medicinal formulations. Informed consent was initially obtained from the Kaviraj, Mr. Suvas Chandra Sarkar, by religion Hindu and aged 58 years to publish his name and his medicinal formulations nationally and internationally. The Kaviraj mentioned that he had been practicing for the last 25 years. The survey was conducted during 2011.

Interview of the Kaviraj was done with the help of a semi-structured questionnaire and the guided fieldwalk method of Martin (1995) and Maundu (1995). In this method, the Kaviraj took the interviewers on guided field-walks through regions (primarily forest regions and fallow lands) from where he collects his medicinal plants, pointed out the plants and described their uses. Detailed formulations were obtained in later evening sessions from the Kaviraj. Interviewers were conducted in the Bengali language, which was spoken by both Kaviraj as well as the interviewers. Plant specimens were photographed, collected and dried in situ, and then brought back for identification at the Bangladesh National Herbarium at Dhaka. Voucher specimens were deposited both at the Bangladesh National Herbarium and the Medicinal Plant Collection Wing of the University of Development Alternative.

Source of Information: American-Eurasian Journal of Sustainable Agriculture, 5(4): 415-423, 2011 ISSN 1995-0748

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

1.

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Taken together, the present Kaviraj’s formulations contained a number of novel aspects. Some of the formulations showed distinctive Ayurvedic influences, while other formulations consisted of using bird or insect products, and in one instance, merely soil clinging to a particular medicinal plant’s roots. Although there exists a tendency to dismiss folk medicinal practices by a number of modern scientists and allopathic medicine practitioners, folk medicine takes a holistic approach to cure and scientific researches need to be conducted on a number of these folk medicinal treatments to verify their efficacy. In our previous reports we have on numerous occasions demonstrated that many of the use of medicinal plants by folk medicinal practitioners have been validated through modern scientific research. The present Kaviraj’s formulations (at least some), is expected to be validated when proper scientific studies are conducted.

Knowledge Management: Journal