Five Important Indian Medicinal Plants for Curing Various Disorders with Special Reference to Sciatica

Medicinal plants have been curing various disorders in human being from the time immemorial. Allopathic drugs sometimes show negative effect or side effects but herbs are safer and easy to access. The herbal treatments are cheap as compared to allopathic drugs. Sciatica is a common disorder by ...Medicinal plants have been curing various disorders in human being from the time immemorial. Allopathic drugs sometimes show negative effect or side effects but herbs are safer and easy to access. The herbal treatments are cheap as compared to allopathic drugs. Sciatica is a common disorder by its name but the sufferer only knows the pain. Sciatica is a debilitating pain in the buttock which may radiate into the legs. Traditional healers in India practice and apply few medicinal plants for curing this ailment. I shall describe few of them.

SYMPTOMS OF SCIATICA: Very intense pain in buttocks area and along the sciatic nerve; Tingling and numbness; Muscle weakness affecting walking.

DESCRIPTION OF FEW HERBS USED IN SCIATICA

1.

NAME: Abrus precatorius Linn.

FAMILY : Fabaceae

ENGLISH NAME: Jaquirity

HINDI NAME: Ratti

DESCRIPTION: A perennial twiner with pale purple or pink flowers, paripinnate compound leaves; Leaflets 10-20 pairs, opposite, linear oblong, membranous.

USE IN SCIATICA: Seed extract applied over the painful body part relieves the pain. 60- 180 mg seeds are taken for the preparation of extract. Whole plant extract also relives the nervous disorder. Seeds of the plants are analgesic. Leaves crushed with Allium sativum is applied on the affected area for relieving the pain.

Direct use of seed sometimes causes dysentery; Seeds should be boiled in cow-milk before using it. After peeling it off, it should be washed in boiled water.

Seeds contain: Lupeol acetate, Sitosterol, Gallic acid, Orientin, Iso-orientin, Leuteolin, Kaempferol, Taxalbumin, Alkaloid abrin.

OTHER USES : - Leaves of the plant mixed with sugar is good in Laryngitis. - 5 gm root boiled in milk is given to infertile male. -White leprosy is cured with the leaf extract of the plant mixed with roots of Plumbago zeylanica. - Hair growth is promoted when the extract of whole plant is applied over the scalp. - Fresh extract of root the plant is good in cough.

2.

NAME: Allium sativum Linn.

FAMILY : Liliaceae

ENGLISH NAME: Garlic

HINDI NAME: Lahsun

DESCRIPTION: A small herb with half tunicated bulb; leaves flat linear grasslike, flower white on a globose umbel.

USE IN SCIATICA: Bulb contains an essential oil in which chemicals like Allyl disulphide and Allyl- propyl disulphide are present. Dried buds of Allium sativum is good in Sciatica. 40 gm buds of the plant mixed with 500 ml milk is boiled in 4 litre water. Extract is prepared and given to patients of Sciatica. It is adviced that a patient suffering from Sciatica should intake 4 buds of garlic everyday in the morning. It relieves the pain. Extract of bulb mixed with Jaquirity leaf relives pain. Juice of the leaves mixed with Mentha (Mentha arvensis) oil cures pain.

Bulb contain: Allyl disulphide, Allyl- propyl disulphide, Poly sulphide. Allicin (antibacterial): Allicetion- I and Allicetion- II (antibiotics).

OTHER USES :

• Bulbs are given before dinner in fever
• Bulb taken with luke warm water in the morning cures diabetes. - Bulb extract is good for heart and given to patients who have suffered strokes.
• It is good in Laryngitis. - 10-20 drops of bulb mixed in milk is given in worms. - Whole plant is good in cough. - Bulb fried in edible oil is good in earache. - Bulbs crushed and fried in Mustard oil is good for curing boils, itches and other skin problems. - It cures ring worm. - 10gm bulb mixed with Ghee and Honey is good for physical fitness.

3.

NAME: Nyctanthes arbor-tristis Linn.

FAMILY : Oleaceae

ENGLISH NAME: Tree of Sorrow/ Night Jasmine

HINDI NAME: Harshringar

DESCRIPTION: A large shrub or small tree, rarely 20-30 feet high. Leaves rough opposite, flowers aromatic, tastes bitter.

USE IN SCIATICA: Bark of the plant is useful in curing sciatica. Extract of the bark is prepared and applied over the painful parts. Lukewarm leaf extract of the plant mixed Karpur relieves the pain. Decoction of leaf mixed with Ginger and Garlic is applied in sciatica.

Leaves and Stem Contain: Beta- sitosterol, Nyctanthic acid, Iridoid, Glycerides of Lignocetric, Linocetric etc.

OTHER USES :

• Leaf extract is good in dandruff. - Leaf extract is given in worms.
• Bark of the plant is good in cough and other respiratory diseases. - Seeds crushed in water are applied on bald head. It promotes regeneration of hair. - 5 gm bark powder added in betel leaf (Pan) is given 3-4 times a day to patients of Asthma. - In severe fever, leaf extract mixed with ginger extract and honey is said to be good. - Leaf extract is purgative for infants.

4.

NAME: Piper longum Linn.

FAMILY : Piperaceae

ENGLISH NAME: Long Pepper

HINDI NAME: Pipar, Badee Peepar

DESCRIPTION: A slender under shrub, creeping or rooting below, branches rambling, root is erect and thick, leaves are delicate, heart shaped, tastes acrid.

USE IN SCIATICA: Bark of the plant is useful in curing sciatica. Extract of the bark is prepared and applied over the painful parts. Lukewarm leaf extract of the plant mixed Karpur relieves the pain. Decoction of leaf mixed with Ginger and Garlic is applied in sciatica.

Leaves and Stem Contain: Beta- sitosterol, Nyctanthic acid, Iridoid, Glycerides of Lignocetric, Linocetric etc.

OTHER USES :

• Leaf extract is good in dandruff. - Leaf extract is given in worms.
• Bark of the plant is good in cough and other respiratory diseases. - Seeds crushed in water are applied on bald head. It promotes regeneration of hair. - 5 gm bark powder added in betel leaf (Pan) is given 3-4 times a day to patients of Asthma. - In severe fever, leaf extract mixed with ginger extract and honey is said to be good.

5.

NAME: Curcuma longa Linn.

FAMILY : Zingiberaceae

ENGLISH NAME: Turmeric

HINDI NAME: Haldi

DESCRIPTION: A herb about 2-3 feet high with fleshy rhizomes of yellow-orange colour inside. Tuber thick cylindrical, leaf large, long petioled; flower in compound spikes, yellow.

USE IN SCIATICA: Rhizome of the plant is crushed and mixed with Piper longum and Alium sativum. This combination is applied over the affected part.

Rhizome contains: Active curcumin compound, turmeric oil, terpenoides etc.

OTHER USES :

- 5 gm rhizome powder added in milk and boiled to cure cough and cold. - Rhizome powder mixed with butter and applied over the skin to cure wounds and ringworm. - It is good in diabetes. Rhizome powder mixed with fruit powder of Emblica officinalis and honey is given thrice a day. - Rhizome is chewed in cough. - Rhizome extract is good for eyes. 2-3 drops of extract is poured into eyes to cure various eye related disorders. - Rhizome of the plant and roots of Aloe vera are crushed together and applied over the breasts. It relieves pain in breasts. - Curd and rhizome of the plant is given in fever. - It is good for removing swelling of muscles.
YOGA-ASANAS SUGGESTED FOR SCIATICA: Headstand, Shoulderstand, Anantasana, Salabhasana, Malasana.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: I am grateful to Dr M K Rai, Department of Biotechnology, Amaravati University for his support. I wish to acknowledge Miss Poorvi S Reddy, Bangalore for encouragement.

REFERENCES:

1. Ayurved ka Pran: Vanoshadi Vigyan, Ved Mata Gayatri Trust Publication (2003).
2. Plants of Patalkot by Dr Deepak Acharya (in Press)
3. Medicinal plants of chhindwara by Dr Deepak Acharya (2003)