Inter. J. of Phytotherapy / Vol 4 / Issue 2 / 2014 / 63-66.

e - ISSN - 2249-7722
Print ISSN - 2249-7730

International Journal of Phytotherapy

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HERBAL REMEDIES USED BY THE TRIBAL PEOPLE OF JHABUA

DISTRICT, MADHYA PRADESH FOR THE TREATMENT OF
JOINT DISEASES
Vijay V. Wagh*1 and Ashok K. Jain2
1

G.B.Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development,

Garhwal Unit, Post Box-92, Srinagar, Garhwal, Uttarakhand.
2
School of Studies in Botany, Vikram University, Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, India.
ABSTRACT
The present study deals with survey on ethno - medicinal plants of Jhabua district in Madhya Pradesh. A good
number of plant species are being used by tribal and rural people for the treatment of joint diseases e.g. rheumatism,
gout and arthritis. In this study, 35 ethno medicinal plant species belonging to 32 families and 35 genera were
recorded. Out of 35 plant species, 16 are used for curing arthritis 11 for rheumatism and 08 for gout. Vitex negundo is
a popular herb frequently used by the local tribal people for many joint diseases.
Key words: Herbal Remedies, Tribal People, Jhabua, Joint Diseases.

INTRODUCTION
Ethnobotany deals with the inter-relationships
between plants and people [1] in their anthropological,
ecological, and botanical dimensions, and is designed to
analyze past and present human societies and their
ecological, genetic, evolutionary, symbolic, and cultural
interactions with plants [2]. Ethnobotany is gaining more
attraction today due to its importance in two current areas
of research, industrial (in the search for patentable
resources); and regional biodiversity (to help preserve the
environment, and to reintegrate humans and their cultural
diversity into this context). Inventorying the knowledge,
resource usage, and practices of human societies that
inhabit natural forest areas bring with it considerations
about conservation, for these societies retain considerable
knowledge about local biological diversity. Recording the
uses of plant resources that these societies make has
contributed to our current knowledge of tropical forest
biodiversity and can be of significant importance to the
sustainable use of natural resources [3].

The people of rural India, by and large, are still

dependent on traditional medicines for their healthcare
and treatment of diseases. These have developed through
experience and fragments of Ayurvedic, Yunani and tribal
systems of medicine were assimilated and transferred
from generation to generation. These thus may called
Folk medicine.
Gout, rheumatism and arthritis are some painful
joint diseases. Arthritis is more frequent in females, while
gout occurs mostly in males, due to abnormal uric acid
metabolism. The cause is due to raised serum uric acid
level and deposition of urate crystals in cartilage and
articular cartilage of joints. Recurrent attacks pains and
swelling of the joints with crippling effects in some cases
have also been observed in various joint diseases. Acute
gouty arthritis occurs with increase or decrease in the
serum uric acid level by 1 mg [4].
Jhabua is the district head-quarter, situated in
western part of Madhya Pradesh and situated at 22' 47N

Corresponding Author:- Vijay V. Wagh Email: vijaywagh65@gmail.com

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Inter. J. of Phytotherapy / Vol 4 / Issue 2 / 2014 / 63-66.

latitude and 71' 35 E longitude. It is situated on the Malwa

Plateau of Vindhyan mountain ranges on the bank of
"Bahadur Sagar" lake at the height of 360 meters from sea
level. As per the latest census, the total population of
Jhabua district is around 13, 94,345 comprising 12 Blockdivisions of 8 tehsils. Most of the village habitants of
Jhabua belong to tribal communities like Bheel, Bhilala
and Pataya. Some blocks of the district comprise thick
forest which shelter a good number of plant species of
medicinal importance. Local tribal are mostly dependent
on forest for their daily needs.
Ethnobotanical studies on medicinal plants of
Madhya Pradesh were carried out by many worker such
as [5-20]. The present paper provides ethnomedicinal
information on some important plant species used by the
tribal communities of Jhabua district to cure the joint
diseases.

Observations are based on surveys conducted in

tribal dominated areas of Jhabua district during June
2007- May 2010. Group interviews were organized
bringing plants from selected locality and showing them
or taking local medicine men into the forest, as suggested
by Jain [21]. Information regarding plant i.e. local name,
parts used, method of drug preparation, dosage etc. was
gathered from the tribals as well as medicine men
Badwa. The collected plant specimens were identified
taxonomically with the help of regional flora and other
authentic published literature. Herbarium specimens
prepared following the standard method [22] and have
been deposited in Institute of Ethnobiology, Jiwaji
University, Gwalior (M.P.).
RESULTS
Detailed information about various species along
with diseases and drug preparation is given in Table 1.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Table 1. List of plant species used by the tribals of Jhabua district
Herbarium
Local
Botanical name and Family
Disease name
number
name
Alstonia scholaris (L.) R.Br.
JBA-70
Saptaparni
Arthritis
(Apocynaceae )
Amorphophallus paeniifolius
Jangali
JBA-131
Rheuamtism
(Dennst) Nicolson (Araceae)
Bhuta
Argemone mexicana L.
JBA-210
Katseriya
Gout
(Papaveraceae)
Aristolochia indica L.
JBA-215
Isharmul
Rheumatism
(Aristolochiaceae )
Boswellia serrata Roxb. ex
JBA-293
Salad
Arthritis
Colebr. (Burseraceae)
Buchanania lanzan Spreng.
JBA-327
Achar
Rheumatism
(Fabaceae )
Celastrus paniculatus Willd.
JBA-412
Kangan
Rheumatism
(Celatraceae)
Cissus quadrangularis L.
JBA-235
Gathiya
Arthritis
(Vitaceae)
Cleome viscosa L.
JBA-127
Kuslya
Arthritis
(Cleomaceae)
Costus speciosus (J. Koeing)
Jangali
JBA-189
Gout
Sm (Costaceae )
Aadu
Curculigo orchioides Gaertn.
JBA-133
Kali musli
Gout
(Hypoxidaceae)
Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.
JBA-75
Dub
Arthritis
(Poaceae )
Elephantos scaber L.
JBA-256
Gaujihawa
Rheumatism
(Asteraceae)
Eucalyptus umbellata Dum.
(Myrtaceae )
Euphorbia neriifolia L.
(Euphorbiaceae)
Ficus benghalensis L.

JBA-12

Lipta

Arthritis

JBA-136

Thuvar

Arthitis

JBA-65

Bad

Gout

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Drug Preparation
Glassful bark decoction is given orally
twice a day daily.
Corm paste is applied on affected
parts.
Seed oil is boiled with mustard oil and
massaged over the affected parts.
Root decoction is given twice a day.
Gum is fried in sesamum oil and
massaged on affected parts.
Stem bark paste is massaged over
limb.
Seed oil is applied externally on
affected parts.
Whole plant paste is bandaged on the
affected parts.
Leaf paste is bandaged on swelling.
Rhizome paste is applied externally on
affected parts.
Root paste is applied over swelling.
Decoction of whole plant is given
orally twice a day.
Two teaspoonful root powder is
administered orally twice a day.
Leaves are crushed and mildly heated
and gently massaged over affected
parts.
Stem is mildly heated and the gel is
applied externally.
Latex is massaged on affected area.

Inter. J. of Phytotherapy / Vol 4 / Issue 2 / 2014 / 63-66.

(Moraceae)
Ipomoea carnea Jacq.
(Convolvulaceae)
Lannea coromandelica
(Houtt.) Merr.(Anacardiaceae)
Leea asiatica (L.) Ridsdale
(Leeaceae)
Madhuca longifolia var.
latifolia (Roxb.) Chevalier
(Sapotaceae)

JBA-34

Umarichata

Arthiritis

JBA-424

Moyan

Rheumatism

JBA-426

Nanli
Danhi

Arthritis

JBA-06

Mahua

Gout

JBA-117

Aaledi

Arthritis

JBA-464

Sehajana

Rheumatism

JBA-116

Kanfuta

Arthritis

Root paste is applied on affected parts.

JBA-547

Chitawal

Gout

Root paste boiled in mustard oil and

massaged over affected parts.

JBA-57

Arandi

Rheumatism

Seed oil is massaged on limb.

JBA-182

Pilu

Gout

JBA-549

Reetha

Arthritis

JBA-481

Kusumda

Arthritis

JBA-540

Rajbala

Gout

JBA-02

Rohan

Arthritis

JBA-155

Giloy

Arthritis

5 ml stem decoction is given orally

twice a day.

JBA-196

Jangali
Piyaz

Rheumatism

Bulb paste is bandaged on the affected

part.

JBA-421

Nirgudi

Rheumatism

Leaf hot fomentation is used.

Wattakaka volubilis (L.F.)

Stapf (Asclepiadaceae)

JBA-565

Kadwa
dudi

Rheumatism

Woodfordia fruticosa (L.)

Kurz (Lytharaceae)

JBA-154

Dhawai

Arthritis

Morinda pubescens Sm.

(Rubiaceae)
Moringa oleifera Lamk.
(Moringaceae)
Physalis minima L.
(Solanaceae)
Plumbago zeylanica L.
(Plumbaginaceae)
Ricinus communis L.
(Euphorbiaceae)
Salvadora persica L.
(Salvadoraceae)
Sapindus emarginatus Vahl
(Sapindaceae)
Schelcheria oleosa (Lour.)
Oken. (Sapindaceae)
Sida cordata (Burm. f.) Borss.
(Malvaceae )
Soymida febrifuga (Roxb.) A.
Juss. (Meliaceae)
Tinospora cordifolia (Willd.)
Miers ex Hook.f. & Thoms.
(Menispermaceae )
Urginea indica (Roxb.) Kunth
(Liliaceae )
Vitex negundo L.
(Verbenaceae)

Latex is applied on affected areas.

Stem bark decoction is given orally
thrice a day.
1 gm root powder mixed with mustard
oil is taken orally twice a day.
Seed oil is applied on affected parts.
Fruit grounded with Ricinus communis
oil and the formed paste is massaged
over affected parts.
Bark is pounded in water and the
extract is given orally twice a day.

Root bark is ground with mustard oil

and bandaged on swelling.
Fruit pulp is massaged on affected
part.
Seed oil is heated mildly and
massaged over affected parts.
Root paste is mildly heated and
applied externally.
Stem bark boiled in mustard oil and is
massaged twice a day.

Whole plant is macerated with water

and mustard oil is added, formed paste
is used.
Leaf paste is massaged over affected
parts.

The common man can easily afford to take the treatment

without side effect. Out of 35 plant species enumerated
above, 16 plant species are used in arthritis 11 in
rheumatism and 08 in gout. Vitex negundo (Nirgudi) is a
popular herb frequently used by the rural people for many
joint diseases.
Based on the initial reconnaissance survey and
group discussion, it was found that information on the
medicinal use of plant is mostly confined to elder people.
Younger generation is ignorant about the vast medicinal
resources available in their surrounding and is more

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

Present study reveals that in absence of modern
health facility people living in area depend on plants for
medicinal purposes. In this study 35 plant species
belonging to 32 families distributed in 35 genera were
recorded (table1). These plants are used for curing joint
diseases, viz., arthritis, rheumatism and gout. The plant
species used by the rural people for the treatment of
various joint diseases are very common, easily available
everywhere and low cost. Their mode of preparation and
mode of administration are also simple and convenient.

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Inter. J. of Phytotherapy / Vol 4 / Issue 2 / 2014 / 63-66.

inclined towards the conventional medicines. It was also

found that the tribal practitioners are hesitant to disclose
their knowledge.
The indigenous knowledge system of herbal
practice is still very rich and available among tribal
community of Jhabua district (Madhya Pardesh). The
establishment of modern medicinal health centers is in
progress in many rural areas that may gradually change
the existing pattern of indigenous knowledge system of
health care. Hence it is necessary to document the
traditional knowledge of useful plants and their
therapeutic uses before being lost forever from the
community.

It is significant to mention here that as the

treatment given by tribals is found very effective. Hence
there is need to raise awareness among people about this
flora and to assist them for cultivation and conservation of
the plant to local people of the area to meet their own
medicinal needs.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The authors are grateful to University Grant
Commission for providing a financial support. Thanks are
also due to Divisional Forest Officer, Jhabua (M.P.) for
extending facilities during the field work. The cooperation
of tribals of Jhabua is deeply acknowledged.

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