Article Citation:
Dibakar Mishra
An ethnoveterinary survey of medicinal preparations used to treat painful delivery and retention of placenta in domestic cattle in Polasara block, Ganjam district, Odisha, India.
Journal of Research in Biology (2015) 5(2): 1659-01666
Journal of Research in Biology
An ethnoveterinary survey of medicinal preparations used to treat painful delivery and retention of placenta in domestic cattle in Polasara block, Ganjam district, Odisha, India
Keywords:
Ethnoveterinary treatment, traditional healers, medicinal plants, gynec, Polasara.
ABSTRACT:
. The present study aims to emphasize the local traditional herbal treatment used for two major gynec problems: painful delivery and retention of placenta in domestic cattle. Data collection was done through individual survey, pre-structured questionnaires, group discussions and field study on ailing animals, their method of treatment by local healers, plants materials collection, methods of drug preparation, dose and modes of drug administration with repetitions in the subsequent periods for verification of accuracy. Altogether 12 plant species belonging to 10 families used in 10 preparations and 14 plants belonging to 13 families used in 12 preparations for treatment of painful delivery and retained of placenta respectively. Mostly single plant preparations are used for treatment. Almost all the plant parts like whole plant, root, rhizome, leaves, flowers, fruit, seeds, seed-oil, bark etc are used in the preparations. Findings are encouraging i.e. percentage of success in treatment is above 90%, elderly people have more knowledge of traditional herbal treatment, and traditional herbal practitioners use single plants or plant parts for drug preparation to treat these aliments.
All these plants of ethnoveterinary importance and herbal preparations need to be popularized for their wide application and acceptance.
1659-01666| JRB | 2015| Vol 5 | No 2
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Authors:
Dibakar Mishra*
Institution:
Department of Zoology, Polasara Science College, Polasara, District: Ganjam, Odisha, 761 105 India,
Corresponding author:
Dibakar Mishra
Web Address:
http://jresearchbiology.com/documents/RA0490.pdf
Dates:
Received: 11 Nov 2014 Accepted: 2 dec 2014 Published: 18 mar 2015
Journal of Research in Biology
An International Scientific Research Journal
ORIGINAL RESEARCH
ISSN No: Print: 2231 –6280; Online: 2231- 6299
INTRODUCTION:
Ancient man has learnt the art of treatment of his pets and domestic animals from close observation of the animal behaviors to cure themselves from the available plants and plant parts in their natural surroundings. Prolonged observation and experimentations with the ailing animals have turned the ancient man, a natural healer. This practice was transferred through generations only by words of mouth and it may disappear because of rapid socioeconomic, environmental and technological changes and as a result of the loss of cultural heritage under the guise of civilization. Indigenous knowledge derived from interaction between people and their environment and is characteristic of all cultures. It spans the entire range of human experience, including agriculture and animal husbandry (Lateef et al., 2003).
Ancient Indian manuscripts like the Rigveda, Garuda Purana and Agni Purana were later created where in documentation of this natural method of treatment was made. There are descriptions of methods of treatment with potential plants and herbs. In due course of time this valuable medicinal science has almost on the decline.
There are more than 2500 plants used for treatment of different ailments described by the ancient Indians which is now only with a few people living in the rural belts. These methods of herbal folk medicines are now commonly called as Ethno-veterinary Medicines (EVMs). A group of people who practice with these medicines in the present time are called as the “Pashu Vaidya” or the traditional healers. This method of treatment is widely accepted by the rural community due to its economy and less or no side effects. Traditional Healers (THs) (Chendel et al., 1996; Ganesh et al., 2007) are regarded as very respectable persons in the rural community.
Further, in India livestock plays a very important role in the farmer’s life. These animals are helpful in farming, transportation, manure, food and drink in the form of flesh and milk etc. Hence livestock plays a key factor for the rural economy in general and the farmers in particular. Animal breeding being the most important factor for the economic growth of the rural mass, there are at times problems related to gynecology of the animals. The present study aims at surveying the folk herbal treatment methods in case of painful delivery and retention of placenta after delivery of the domestic cattle especially the cows and buffalows. As many of these animals suffer a lot during delivery process, even some die of either severe pain or problems in delivery system. THs are asked to treat the animals much before the time of delivery and surprisingly their preparations are very much effective. Necessary steps are taken to document the preparations because documentation of these traditional knowledge followed by their evaluation are of much importance for their future use.
MATERIALS AND METHODS:
Polasara Block is present in the North-east part of Ganjam district of Odisha state with co-ordinates 19°42'23"N & 84°49'10"E. The block covers a total area of 280.07sq.km. including 26 Gram Panchayats, 139 villages and one NAC. 43.9% of the total area is covered by forest (Figure.1). Kond and Saura (Sabar) are the major tribal inhabitants of this area. Agriculture and animal keeping are the main source of economy of the rural inhabitants of the area. They mainly depend upon the locally available herbal medicines for treatment common veterinary ailments. For major problems they rely upon the THs. For severe problems a few visit the veterinary centers which are far away from their locality.
The present ethnoveterinary medicinal survey was done during 2010 and 2013 with extensive field work. Assistance of the THs, village heads, local teachers and elderly persons (40-70 years of age) was taken to understand and document various herbal practices for treatment of the above animal problems. Data regarding causes, symptoms, mode of treatment, plants/ plant parts used, method of preparation of the
herbal medicines, dose and mode of administration of the preparations were collected during the initial phase through pre-structured questionnaires, group discussions and personal interviews. Plant samples were collected which were later identified with “The Flora of Orissa” (Saxena HO and Brahmam M., 1994-96). Data thus collected were screened and recorded for future observations.
During the second phase herbal medicines recorded were administered with the ailing animals with the consensus and help of the local THs to get concurrent results which were recorded for analysis. Case history, occurrence of the cattle gynec problems, effectiveness of the prescriptions, dose & duration of drug administration, standardization of the herbal plant materials used by the THs etc were taken into account to get an accurate data. In 2013 similar experiments were made with the suffering animals with the help of THs to get confirmed results. Details of medicinal plants used in this study are presented with botanical name followed by family in italics within parentheses. (Mishra, 2011)
RESULTS:
As both the ailments are linked together it was easy to study the cases in detail with convenient. The present study revealed that 12 plant species belonging to 10 families were used in 10 preparations for treatment of painful delivery whereas 14 plants belonging to 13 families used in 12 preparations to treat retained of placenta by the THs of the study area. Only the most effective and frequently used preparations were taken into account. Details of the preparations those were frequently used with remarkable results are described under.
A.Painful delivery:
10-20 ml. decoction of Acacia nilotica L. (Mimosaceae) bark, mixed with luke warm ghee is drenched to the pregnant cow and buffalo if there is late in delivery or when the animal cannot tolerate labor pain due to its weakness or prolonged pain.
Achyranthes aspera L. (Amaranthaceae) root is ground with water to make a drink for the cow twice a day for 7 to 10 days for easy delivery.
nfusion of bark of Anogeissus latifolia Roxb. (Combretaceae) is made twice daily.
100-200 grams of tender leaves of Bamboosa arundinacea (Retz.) Wild. (Poaceae) are given to the pregnant animal twice daily for about one month before the expected date of delivery.
Cuminum cyminum L. (Apiaceae) and Brassica rapa L. (Brassicaceae) seeds at 1:1 (v/v) are roasted and ground to paste with a little water given to the pregnant animal for prolapse of uterus before delivery.
Leaves of Grewia asiatica L. (Tiliaceae) are boiled with Thymus serphyllum L. (Apiaceae) seeds to prepare a decoction which is drenched once or twice at an interval of 30 minutes if there is prolonged labor.
50grams dried leaves powder of Acacia nilotica L. (Mimosaceae), 200grams cow butter and 100grams of jaggery are mixed to paste and is given weekly to the pregnant cattle in the last trimester for facilitating smooth delivery.
50 – 100 ml of seed oil of Hellianthes annus L. (Asteraceae) is drenched to the pregnant cattle daily for smooth delivery.
Whole plant of Portulaca oleracea L. (Portulaceae) is fed to the pregnant animal along with regular fodder for smooth delivery.
Tender leaves of Dendrocalamus strictus (Roxb.) Nees (Poaceae) are fed to the pregnant animal regularly for painless delivery.
B.Retention of Placenta:
Seven flowers of Solanum melongena L., a piece of Alangium salviifolium (L. f.) Wangerin (Alangiaceae) root and seven rice grains (Oriza sativa L. (Poaceae) are ground together with little amount of water and administered orally. It is also said that if all the above materials are tied together with the rope of the cow the placenta is discharged smoothly.
10 grams of Achyranthes aspera L. (Amaranthaceae) root are boiled with half glass of water to be reduced to half and administered orally to the animal.
10 grams each of Anethum graveolens L. (Apiaceae) and dry ginger (Sonth)( Zingiber officinale Rosc. (Zingiberaceae) boiled in 1 cup of water. It was cooled and strained. The filtrate if mixed with 40 - 50 grams of jaggery and administered orally.
Paraboiled rice pudding in luke warm condition is fed to the animal.
3 to 4 pieces of Abutilon indicum (L.) Sweet (Malvaceae) root (3-4 inches each) ground with water and administered orally.
Whole plant of Cissus quadrangularis L. (Vitaceae) is crushed into paste and given orally to facilitate removal of placenta.
Seed paste of Tribulus terrestris L. (Zygophyllaceae) is given orally facilitate early and easy removal of placenta.
50grams of dried flowers of Madhuca indica J.F.Gmel. (Sapotaceae) mixed with 100grams jaggery in the form of a bolus is given to the cattle after delivery for easy removal of the placenta.
10-15 fresh fruits of Ficus racemosa L. (Moraceae) are given directly or mixed with fodder for easy and quick removal of placenta of the cows.
A bunch of fresh leaves of Saccharum officinarum L. (Poaceae) are given to the animal for quick removal of placenta.
Handful of fresh leaves of Juglans regia L. (Juglandaceae) are fed to the pregnant cattle once daily for at least one month before the E.D.D. for easy and quick removal of placenta after delivery. This works well for expulsion of retained placenta after painful delivery.
Decoction of Adiantum incisum Forsk. (Adiantaceae) whole plant is used for easy release of placenta.
There are a number of treatments practiced by the local people for the ailments under study, but the most effective, easily available and time tested preparations were selected. Medicinal preparations were made from bark, root, leaves, seeds, fruits, flowers, rhizome, whole plant and seed oil. Representation of
these plant parts are depicted in figure-2. In majority of cases fresh plant parts are used to treat the animals. Further statistics on Ethnoveterinary knowledge (EVK) among different age groups from 18 years to above 60 years of age was taken. The result ranged from 12.59% in the age group of 18-30 to 58.97% in the age group of 60+ (Figure-3). Percentage of effectiveness of the treatments was also studied to evaluate the efficacy of the treatment (Figure-4).
DISCUSSION
Folk beliefs, traditional knowledge, skills, methods, and practices used for curing animal diseases and as well as maintenance health conditions of animals, forms the basis of Ethnoveterinary science. (Wanzala, et al, 2005).
Traditional veterinary knowledge although on the decline, the present study provides a hope that it has not yet completely disappeared. Agriculture and animal husbandry are the major occupation in the area which contributes to the economy of the local people a lot. Most of the methods of treatment are based on traditional knowledge and beliefs of the local people.
Socio-economic conditions of the rural people of the study area are not well and hence they cannot take absolute care of their domestic animals. Further, as these animals form a part of their family they cannot even ignore them. Delayed delivery with severe pain in the cattle is observed in the present study. There may be a number of reasons for this ailment like, dystocia, vaginal prolapse, under-weighed, twins, mal-nutrition, uterine prolapse, injuries in the birth canal, abnormal position of the calf inside the womb, previous history of abortion etc. locally available plants are used for early painless delivery of the cattle.
Use of different parts of the herbs prove that not a single part of the plant is useless and they are very accurately used by the THs which further prove their experience though they are not so well educated. In the
present context, it was also observed that the rate of success of these preparations is above 90% which is encouraging enough to bring back its belief.
Use of Cuminum cyminum L. and Grewia asiatica L. for treatment of painful delivery in cattle are described by Muhammad Ishtiaq et al (2006), Achyranthes aspera L. by Dashahre A.K. (2014), Anogeissus latifolia Roxb. by Kamble S.Y. et al (2010).
Retained placenta occurs due to many cases like dystocia, with milk fever, and with twin births. In most circumstances, the nutritional mismanagement of mature cows for proper body condition also increases the occurrence of retained placenta. (Charles Guard, 1999)
For treatment of retained placenta, different authors like Manjusha Wath and Sangeeta Jambu (2014), Yadav et al., (2014), Ranjana Rajkumari et al., (2014), Lakshminarayana Vand Narasimha Rao G M. (2013) and Abbasi A.M. et al., (2013) have contributed a lot. Use of plants like Achyranthes aspera L., Anethum graveolens L., Abutilon indicum (L.) Sweet, Saccharum officinarum L. and Ficus racemosa L. were discussed by different authors at different times. Similarly different plant and non-plant preparations were used for easy expulsion of the retained placenta like salt water, soap water, salty soap water, donkey dung etc. (Moreki J. C. et al, 2012). Similarity in the use of plants and plant parts across the geographical barriers indicates the validity and efficacy of the preparations. However dose, duration and mode of administration may be different. This may be due to the geographic as well as climatic differences.
Most of the preparations are based on single plant or plant part. Almost all the required plants are readily available in the locality. However elderly persons and the THs are of the opinion that availability of these medicinal plants is gradually decreasing day by day due to rapid deforestation. It was also observed that female section of the society especially the house-wives are the in-charge of care of the animals. They keep the animal-shed clean, provide food and fodder in time as well as prepare the medicinal doses as per the instructions of the THs. Most of the house-wives are well versed with the EVK. Although the knowledge of Ethnoveterinary treatment is available with many elderly persons but they rely upon the traditional healers.
Ethnoveterinary treatments need very less money and can be prepared with ease and comfort from the readily available local plants. Easy access, economic, time-tested and cultural association of the plants especially the medicinal plants have kept this valuable branch of science alive till date. Emotional attachment with the domestic animals make them like family members, hence proper care of them is a regular phenomenon which makes these preparations fast acting.
Most of the THs are males, reason behind this is that females are rarely allowed to participate in outdoor activities but it is observed that elderly house-wives have knowledge of medicinal plants and some common preparations.
It was also observed during the course of study that, persons interviewed to get the statistics of EVK are mostly illiterates and educated informants have less knowledge about this, which is mainly due to modern education system.
EVM or the herbal preparations have been identified with multiple effects on the animal systems without any side-effect on the physiology of the ailing animals especially the cattle. They are very often prepared from a single plant but cases have also been detected that multiple plant preparations are also in use. The naturally available bio-chemicals in these medicinal plants have direct effect on animal systems, and perhaps these chemicals do not affect adversely as they are naturally proportionated. Ethnoveterinary science, the scientific investigation of plant use by indigenous cultures for food, medicine, pesticides, clothing, shelter and other purposes has not yet been given full credit with its counterpart, the modern veterinary medicines. Although it has crossed the political boundaries between
the nations and its efficacy has been proved in many countries, it has not yet got is appropriate weightage.
CONCLUSION:
Ethnoveterinary medicine (EVM) is important in animal health care in developing countries. It has become a recognized field of research that includes traditional veterinary theory, medicines, surgical methods, diagnostic procedures and animal husbandry practices. Animals and plants are integral part of their culture, belief, religion, magico-religion and traditional pharmacopoeia. Traditional practices still remain prevalent in villages. This is a clear indication of their faith in the folk medicine. But in the process of modernization, this knowledge is vanishing very rapidly. Rapid urbanization, industrialization, use of print & electronic media for wide advertisement of the modern synthetic drugs has distracted the present man from the benefits of EVM. Advanced research on plants of excessive medicinal values may lead to new sources of drugs.
Integration of modern medicine, traditional knowledge and use of science and technologies with a systems biology approach can be most suitable in this regard. Moreover, plants of ethnoveterinary importance and herbal preparations need to be popularized for their wide application and acceptance, for which promotional approaches need attention so that their full potential can be utilized for safeguarding cattle health.
The present study establishes the efficacy of the traditional method of animal treatment with Ethnoveterinary medicines. The rate of success clearly indicates the effectiveness.
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practices for treatment of foot and mouth disease in Polasara block, Ganjam District, Odisha, India.; Journal of research in Biology, 1(7): 543-549
Moreki JC, Tshireletso K and Okoli IC. 2012. Potential Use of Ethnoveterinary Medicine for Retained Placenta in Cattle in Mogonono, Botswana; J Anim Prod Adv 2(6): 303-309
Muhammad Ishtiaq Ch, Khan MA and Wajahat Hanif. 2006. Ethno Veterinary Medicinal Uses of Plants from Samahni Valley Dist. Bhimber, (Azad Kashmir) Pakistan, Asian Journal of Plant Sciences, 5(2):390-396
Ranjana Rajkumari, Nirmala RK, Singh PK, Das Ajit Kumar, Dutta BK, Pinokiyo A. 2014. Ethnoveterinary plants used by the Chiru tribes of Manipur, Northeast India; IJTK, 13(2): 368-376
Saxena HO and Brahmam M. 1994-1996. The Flora of Orissa. Orissa Forest Development Corporation Ltd., Bhubaneswar. Vol. 1-4.
Wanzala W, Zessin KH, Kyule NM, Baumann MPO, Mathias E and Hassanali A. 2005. Ethnoveterinary medicine: A critical review of its evolution, perception, understanding and the way forward. Livestock Research for Rural Development, 17(11): 1–31.
Yadav SS, Bhukal RK, Bhandoria MS, Ganie SA, Gulia SK and Raghav TBS. 2014. Ethnoveterinary Medicinal plants of Tosham block of district Bhiwani (Haryana) India, Journal of Applied Pharmaceutical Science, 4(06) : 040-048
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Figure-2: Plant parts used.
Figure-3: Status of ethnoveterinary knowledge.
Figure-4: Rates of success of the EVM
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