Background:
In several recent surveys, it has been found that more people suffer
because of over and indiscriminate use of synthetic drugs, chemicals and antibiotics, particularly
with regard to issues like drug sensitivity, resistance, immune disturbances, and economic
burdens, ultimately leading to a weak prognosis of a large number of diseases, eventually
defeating the purpose of medicinal efficacy. We propose the old age use of scientifically
validated natural compounds of plants and their products for a strong immune system
along with a successful treatment regimen which can be effective as well as safe without side
effects.
Objective:
The aim of the present work is to evaluate the various medicinal uses and applicability
of Chlorophytum borivilianum, Chlorophytum tuberosum and Curcuma longa as
natural plant-based ingredients by tribal communities.
Methods:
A survey was carried on the rural folks who used natural botanicals for alleviating
their several common disorders successfully. Chlorophytum species of Liliaceae and Curcuma
of Zingiberaceae are traditional rare Indian medicinal herbs widely used in the indigenous
system of medicine since ancient time. A total number of 196 individuals were interviewed
which included both men and women, in which the main objective was to explore the
different forms of these medicinal plant species used with water or with milk by tribal folk
for their wide range of common ailments such as pain in joints, loss of appetite, cold, sore
throat, fever and general weakness.
Results:
The tribal people were found to use these plants for many of their problems such as
physical weakness, natal and postnatal problems, lactation problems, cold and fever, sore
throat, inflammation, joint pain, etc. Many of them (60-80%) were able to overcome their
varied health problems to a great extent such as inflammation (69.4%), joint pain and arthritis
(66.6%), sore throat and cold (87.5%), physical weakness (66%), natal and postnatal
problems (75%).
Conclusion:
The findings strongly support the use of natural compounds for a safe and effective
means of treating loss of appetite, general weakness, pain of the joints, inflammation
and other related ailments by the people of tribal areas of Border States of MP and Maharashtra,
having little access to modern health care facilities.
