INDIRA GANDHI INTEGRAL EDUCATION CENTRE

An institution for Research, Development & Training

Set up in association with NRDC,Govt. of India, New Delhi

2^nd Quarterly Report :-

Traditional Medicine in Orissa Today

The Ancient and Modern Worlds Meet( A   Glance at the treatment by Traditional Medicinal Practitioners using herbal drugs)

For centuries, Traditional healers have been the main providers of primary health care to most Indians. Today, healers in India, Especially in the State of Orissa, still play crucial roles since- in addition to their roles as primary health care providers- they carry the burden of care for treating people with namely diarrhoea, headache, fever, abortion (spontaneous), joint pains. (For each symptom the following aspects will be considered: nature, treatment, efficacy of the treatment, cost.).

A thumbnail sketch of medicinal plants

Plants have been used as primary sources of medicine for thousands of years and were our very first medicines. Over 5,000 years ago, in our Vedic age (Traditional age) these all informations about traditional medicines was composed and recorded by the traditional Baidya, Kabiraj (Old   designation of Doctor) in Palm leaves.

Plants have medicinal qualities due to the substances they produce to protect themselves from insect pests and pathogens. We just “borrow” these substances to treat our own viral, fungal and bacterial infections. Many medicines are extracted from the roots, root bark, and bark of plants since these areas are the most vulnerable and provide a plant’s first line of defense against an invader.

Within seconds of an attack, plants begin producing and excreting a potent array of substances that are lethal or toxic to the invading virus, bacteria, fungus, insect – or even mammal. Individual plants can produce up to approximately 1,000 unique chemicals. Hence a natural anti-viral produced by a plant to defend itself can also be used by a human as an anti-viral.

Traditional healers in Orissa have been identifying, experimenting, and using these substances to treat patients for millennia. By combining forces with them, we have access to thousands of years of research results. This is commonly known as indigenous knowledge.

Many of today’s modern medicines are derived from plants. Over 25 pharmaceutical products are derived from Plants, and 74 % were first used by native cultures. The correlation between healer use and positive lab results is clear. Data clearly indicates that plants collected from healers provide more solid leads toward developing new drugs than random screening. Twenty-five percent of our present prescription drugs are derived from plants. The best knowns are quinine from the cinchona tree, morphine from the poppy, aspirin from the willow, digitalis from foxglove, vinblastine and vincristine from the rosy periwinkle and now cotexin from artemisia annua for treating malaria.

A thumbnail sketch of traditional healers in the Dist. Of sundargarh.

Sundargarh Dist has approximately 700 hundred traditional healers, 100 are in Sundargarh Urban Dist and 600 are in Sunargarh Rural. The average age of a healer is 50. Most are skilled and have been practicing for an average of 19 years. There is one healer for every 200 residents of Sundargarh town and one healer for ever 150 rural residents. Therefore, many more people receive health care from healers than conventional health workers. Many healers have participated in our seminar also.

These figures positively correlate with data from Orissa, India. Healers are already in place; health ministries do not have to assign them since virtually all villages have residential healers and traditional birth attendants. This is especially true in rural areas where modern medicine is much less available than in towns. Hence, combining forces with healers to combat diseases and promote public health makes very good sense.

Healers in Orissa are mostly herbalists, diviners, mediums, surgeons, midwives and traditional psychiatrists. The majority uses some of the many medicinal plants available in this region.

Healers have specialized knowledge for treating physical, cultural, and psychological ailments. Healers are accessible, affordable, usually have credibility, and in Orissa have as treasure trove of nature from which to collect efficacious plants.

Healers and doctors join forces in Sundargarh, Orissa.

Today in Orissa, traditional healers and modern physicians and health workers have combined forces in an exciting and promising program implemented by IGIEC. IGIEC is an innovative non-governmental organization (NGO) that links traditional healers, physicians and health workers, botanists, social In order for public health goals to be realized in India, healers should be active participants in the health system. This makes good sense, since each community has its very own indigenous healers. In Orissa, IGIEC has received community reorganization of its innovative work with traditional healers, and has received support from EC by positively

scientists, and people living with different diseases. IGIEC goal is to bridge the gap between traditional and western biomedicine by treating diseases with traditional medicine.

From our study, we marked that, healers responded enthusiastically to the initiative. They relished being taken seriously and treated like fellow professionals. This initial dialogue evolved into meetings where participants discussed how to treat various ailments, when to refer a patient to the hospital, public health issues, and how to cooperate with biomedical personnel. One day the subject was Jaundice (fever) disease.  

Bio-medical personnel soon observed that patients treated with Henna-Mehandi Plants generally had improved Jaundice (fever) disease, which is caused by taking polluted water and suffer mental effect, changes eye into yellow colour etc. The plant remedies soon became the community standard Jaundice treatment for patients who preferred herbal medicine. IGIEC work is an outstanding example of how positive results can be achieved the fight against common diseases i.e. namely diarrhoea, headache, fever, abortion (spontaneous), joint pains by synergistically combining local expertise, indigenous knowledge, and modern health workers to provide effective low cost treatment for people living with above diseases.

          Thumbnail sketch of treatment program

Traditional healers treating patients in their own private hospital or patient’s home with medicinal plants. Our field investigator reported that its treatment generally lengthens patients’ lives and that some patients who were in bad shape clearly improved after taking the traditional medicines. The medicines are more effective, however, if treatment is initiated during the early stages of diseases. The medicines are low cost, effectively treat selected opportunistic infections, readily available, and are provided to patients free of charge or with nominal charges. Given in the proper form and dosage, they are very safe.

Traditional medicines stop diarrhea, reduce fever clear up oral thrush, resolve skin rashes and fungal infections. Treating patients extends their longevity, improve the quality of their lives, and reduces the number of orphans since parents remain alive.

Though not a cure, the traditional medicines prolong life by combating pathogens similar to those that attack plants. At least now, patients in   this region have a low cost effective alternative to expensive imported therapies. Incidientally, these expensive new therapies often tend to lose their knockout punch over time. Hence, treating patients with traditional medicines has as much validity now as it did thousands of years ago. By having healers and doctors synergistically combine forces, new trails are being blazed which benefit everybody.  

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                                                       Presented by

     Indira Gandhi Integral Education Centre,

     P.O.Box-28, Station Road,At/Po. Brajrajnagar,

    Dist. Jharsuguda.,Orissa, pin-768 216, India.

Tele: 0091-6645-243310.e-mail : aswinipati@yahoo.com  

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2nd Quarterly Report  

 

Place and date:	Brajrajnagar, dt. 30.04.2003
Contract #	ASI/B7-301/970126-42.
Applicant name:	CEFPAS- Centre for Training and Research in Public Health.
Partner’s Name: Indira Gandhi Integral Education Centre, India

a Methodology/Resources employed v envisaged in Work Plan

Methodology used compared to methodology set out in Work Plan

-The second phase actions have been carried by Indira Gandhi Integral Education Centre (IGIEC) after the official starting date of the project (1st February 2003). We defined a project team composed by our previous group of Professional internal to IGIEC

-IGIEC internal staffs includes a Project Co-ordinator, a doctor and an IT&C expert for the virtual platform.

From the month of 1^st,February 2003 to the first phase of the project ’Preparatory step to project implementation. They have been developed at two level project management and communication and relationship with the international partners

Activities carried out compared to activities set out in Work Plan

-As per the Activities set out in work plan we had to implemented our work plan on Setting up of the local team work in each partner’s country, exchange of the methods, approaches, instruments and definition of target population and evaluation procedures.

Men,women and children that means total community was the target population of Hemgir Tribal Block of Orissa State. Activities carried out by our IGIEC were field studies, investigation, analysis of existing situation and also study on Traditional healers and with the help of PHC doctors. For this we have done by creating an elaborated collected data already. For this we had covered 10 villages of Hemgir Tribal block of Orissa State. The name of villages were namely Barbahali,Raichuan,KesharJhima, Dheknapani, Ankelbira, Samelbahal, JulumBahal, Kanika, Hemgirgarh & Tapria respectively. The identification of at least 5 Nos. of the common illness among the community peoeple are as follows: -

        *. The Common complaints of community are :

Diarrhoea: -

1.One Hemakedar(hemsagar /patragaja / patharkuchi ) leave with 25-nos.of black pepper and grind it with water. After taking ¾ dose the patients will cure from diarrhoea.

2. Collect the calotropis/arakh root and bark and black pepper and mixed it in equal ratio of Ginger/Adrkh juice and grind it. Prepare it like tablet and eat one tablet. After that you will cure. If you keep tablets with you then it will use any moment.

 

                            Headache: -

        Aloe Barbadensis or Ghee quary or Ghrit Kumari –Its juice control

The headache suffering from headache by Massaging on head. The juice is cold in nature.

 

Fever: -

1). Tulsi – holy basil: - Ocimum SP – 1.Ocimum basilicum, 2- Ocimum sanctum: -Control lever problem of children avoid fever. Take Tulsi seed in one glass of water kept it for one night then please drink the water with chewing the seed.

2. Nilgiri-Eucalyptus: -it’s oil or lozenges is used for malaria, typhoid, its leaves are helpful for intermittent fever. Doses are according the age of the patients.

3. Pongamia Pinnata or Karanj: - Grind black pepper plus Karanj seed and mixed with water and drink it for some days - cure intermittent fever.

4. Nimba (Azadiracta indica) stem bark 10 gm, Vilva( Aegle marmelos)root 10 gm, Amritha (Tinospora cordifolia) stem 10 gm,Sunthi (Zingiber officinalis) Rhizome 10 gm.

Method of preparation: Crush the ingredients and add 8 times their volume of water and boil and reduce to a quarter of the volume.

Dosage: 40 ml on empty stomach twice daily.

Indication: It is beneficial in reducing fever caused due to the vitiation of Kapha dosha.

Abortion (spontaneous): -

1.In first month One palas leave +cow milk ¼ litre + ¼ litre water = hot it till it will come to ¼ litre mixed ratio and then add some sugar candy and drink it in the first month after conceived. Please add extra one leave in every month and take the same process till delivery i.e for last months.

2. Collect the acacia bark 20 gm and hot it in one litre of water till will come into 150 ml of water. Then filter it with a cloth and aid sugar candy into it. The pregnant women should drink it two times daily for five days for a regular basis.

3. Collect the Dalimba (Pomogranate) bark 15 gm and hot it in ¼ litre of water till it come into 75 gm of water. Then filter it. After that the pregnant women should drink it for five days on a regular basis.

Joint pains: -

1. Kantkari (solanum xanthocarpum): - leaves are applied to relieve pain. Roots and seeds are used for pain in chest. Stem flowers and fruits are bitter and carminative and are prescribed for relief in burning sensation in the feet and pain.

2. Tulsi: - Ocimum SP – 1.Ocimum basilicum, 2- Ocimum sanctum: -

I ). Control joint pain- used its seed and leaves in cold water or massaging its oil on the body.

II). Control burning pain in urinal way- used its seed in cold water.

3. Nilgiri-Eucalyptus: - its oil gives relief from the pain of arthritis, and rheumatism. Rubbed on aching muscles or trauma sites to stimulate circulation and relieve pain and blood congestion.

4. PongamiaPinnataor-Karanj: - Its oil relive from joint pain by massaging on the body.

1. Nimba (Azadirachta indica) stem bark 40 gm, Jeeraka (Cuminum ciminum) fruit 10 gm., Musta (Cyperus rotundus) Rhizome 10 gm, Saindhava (Rock salt) Mineral product 10 gm, Pippali (Piper longum) fruit 15 gm

Method of preparation: Powder the dried ingredient well and prepare a fine powder. Dosage: 10 gm with warm water or honey. Indication: It is beneficial in joint pain and also swellings of joints or rheumatic complaints.

 

Cost: For each symptom the patients have to pay a few nominal charges. There is no any fixed rate

 

 

Resources used compared to those in budget and Work Plan

- The institution has allocated proper resources compared to those in budget and work plan.

 

        b Numerical Comparison of Actual v Targets

Compare results in numerical terms—actual v targets in Work Plan and Log frame as per Proposal or as prepared for Inception Report

-Compare to results in numerical terms actual v targets in work plan and logframe as per the proposal or as prepared for Inception Report, We have only targeted to community that is men, women, children with a clear performanance and we have succeeded in collecting the elaborate data through study, investigation through workshops in the months of February & March respectively. We have also went through the observation, interaction, rapport building, group sharing, facilitating the workshop & interactions with population in this three months in these 10 villages. Besides these 10 villages we have covered some other villages also to prepare a broad based study and investigation report.

 

    c Logical Framework update

Updated Logframe compared to that proposed in Proposal or at Inception Report stage with any data and qualitative comments inserted

-Yes, logical framework has been updated compared to that proposed in proposal or at Inception Report stage with any data and qualitative comments inserted.

    d Effectiveness to date

Has Management Adapted to Changing Needs?

-Yes.

Is the Level of Technical Expertise Sufficient?

-Yes.

Is the current Level of Management Capacity and Experience Satisfactory?

-Yes.

Are Deadlines met?

-Yes.

Are Reports produced on Time?

-Yes.

 

    e Impact to date

What is the Impact on Target Groups?

-The Target Groups are fully dependant on Traditional Medicine. So it was a chance for them to express, their thoughts ideology & experiences, which they had learned from their forefathers and from traditional doctors (Baidya, Kabiraj- traditional name of a doctor)

 

What is the Impact on Applicant and Partners?

-Excellent.

What is the Impact on the IT&C Sector?

-In the IT&C Sector it will be a vital and challenging role. The information will be reached door to door through Internet, e-mail, website and population of the world will be healthy by applying the Traditional Medicine system by spending a little money and by saving time which was impossible due to the lack of in formations

Is the Project Contributing to the Achievement of the Aims of the Programme?

-Yes.

    f Potential Sustainability

Has a Plan for Sustainability been produced?

-Yes, as plan for sustainability has been produced by production of their raw materials (medicinal) through the Cultivation of the aforesaid medicinal plants on a Technical basis.

What are the planned Multiplier Effects?

-We are focusing of our project area in Tribal areas villages, Hemgir block of Sundargarh District of Orissa State. We found many Traditional Medicine practitioners from 10 villages. As the target population are illiterate. So it is necessary for an institution to take up deeply research in the same fields and on plants and educate to the target population also. So in this way it will be effective Multiplier basis

What are the Post Project Financing Plans?

- To do more research & have project on this system with the help of the Revolving Fund or Donor Contribution or through establishment of a Company on medicinal plants not for profit basis

What are the Post Project Institutional Arrangements?

-Through the IT&C supporting on Information, Education & Communication arrangements it will solve the problems. Every institution should have their own arrangements that is VSAT, Infrastructure facilities, own domain name and have their own creative system on Traditional Medicines and have willingness to provide information to target group free of charge or on a nominal charge basis which will be appropriate

 

g Financial Status (Attach a summary of Budget/ Expenditure/ Remaining balance)

            - Please see enclosed Annex.

 

 

 

 

Contact person:	Mr. Aswini Kumar pati ( Chief Functionary)
Signature:

 

 

 

 

 

 

The result of the Project: Satisfactory.

Quantitative Terms:

1. No. Of Participants participate in the workshop. :

   -570 Nos. In each workshop.

2. No. of Meetings/workshop. : Two.

Qualitative terms:

1. Quality of the Organization: Satisfactory.

2 Quality of the meeting/workshop: Satisfactory.

 

FINANCIAL REPORT: -The expenditures indicated in the financial report for the 2nd quarter of the project "Traditional Medicine across European and Asian cultures" - Asia IT&C Programme (Contract number: ASI/B7-301/97/0126-42, Accounting number: ALA 97/0126) have been paid by the Indira Gandhi Integral Education Centre, India (IGIEC) to its staffs. In this Asia IT&C Programme, project on’Traditional Medicine across European & Asian Cultures'’, European Commission finance only the 50% of the expenses declared in the IGIEC 2nd Quarterly Report. The Further 50% has been financed with our own (IGIEC) funds.

 

 

 

Presented by

Indira Gandhi Integral Education Centre,

P.O.Box-28, Station Road, At/Po. Brajrajnagar,

Dist. Jharsuguda, Orissa, Pin-768 216, India.

Tele: 0091-6645-243310.e-mail: aswinipati@yahoo.com

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