Traditional healing methods with special reference to Manipur
- Part 3 -

Dr K Paochunbou *

A Kabui Salang Maiba during Gaan Ngai Celebrations in Imphal in December 29 2009

A diabetic patient is advisable to include some herbal products in his daily food-items such as turmeric having high curcumin contents, gooseberry (amla) cinnamomum, onion, mint, tulsi, cholang (Allium stracheyi Baker), garlic and honey. A patient can be encouraged to eat green leaves in raw form including carrot during meal and it would help a great deal in improving the vision of eyes.

Based on the report, in the State of Rajasthan, there is a big village within one of the 32 (thirty two) districts and the whole population in the village had adopted goat rearing farming system as the location has fodder potential and the community used to drink goat milk and eat goat meat (Chevon) on a daily basis, and the people preferred goat meat over mutton because of its chewability. The goat meat is more lean having low cholesterol and it is relatively good for diabetic people who prefer low energy diet.

Goat milk is said to play a role in improving appetite and digestive efficiency. Goat milk is easy to digest than cow milk because of small fat globules and is naturally homogenised. Goat milk is a non-allergic as compared to cow milk and it has anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties and can be used for treating urogenital diseases of fungal origin.

A research study team of the Scientists on diabetes had conducted among the whole villagers and they have conducted series of blood tests designed to detect diabetes and no diabetic patient was detected so far and this research had achieved a medical major breakthrough in diabetes and this is the documentary evidence to show that goat milk is the best remedy for diabetes. Folk medicine to treat diabetes on a long-term implication is the only option. Special emphasis focused on herbal drink is found most reasonable. A mixture of banana stem, local cucumber and ginger in a drinkable form as a herbal drink is good for diabetes. But the bitter parts of fruits including cucumber are traditionally not allowed to eat or to drink the juices in raw form by the folk medicine healers.

But Scientists know that the bitter taste is caused by a toxin- "tetracyclic trieterpenoid cucurbitacin compound" and such toxin can cause vomiting of blood, severe diarrhoea, severe ulcers, fatal, stomach inflammation and hypertension. Therefore, it is advisable to remove the bitter part of a local cucumber grown in the hill areas only to make a herbal tea as described above.

Bitter gourd, turmeric rhizome having 7.3% curcumin content and leaves of cinnamomum tamata (tezpat) should be boiled for 10 minutes to drink the decoction daily for diabetic patients. They have anti-diabetic effects. A diabetic patient should take folk medicine otherwise herbal medicine only to replace synthetic drugs as far as practicable.

Type I diabetes will make you feel very sick quickly because you cannot survive for long without insulin. People who have type I diabetes must give themselves shots of insulin every day just to stay alive. Insulin cannot be taken by mouth because it is protein which would be destroyed by the digestive juices in the stomach. Therefore, it has to be given by injection. The insulin is injected into the fatty tissue just under the skin. From the fatty tissue, it is absorbed into the blood-stream where it begins to do its work.

Most insulin comes from either beef or pork pancreas, although today there is also chemically made insulin which is identical to human insulin. There are many types of insulins available on the market. All are classified, however, according to how long they act in the body. The human insulins begin and finish working more quickly than other types of insulin. Beef insulin take the longest to start working and last the longest. Doctors prescribe a particular type or combination of insulin depending on the individual patients's needs. Some patients get along well on one injection of long acting insulin per day. Other do better with two or three injections per day possibly different types of insulin at different times of the day.

Bitter gourd (Karela) contains high dosage of "Plant insulin". Green tea boosts "insulin action" A cup of green tea can boost the action of insulin. Green tea leafs-half boiled is preferrable. If a diabetic patient has blood-pressure, green tea is highly advisable to take on a daily basis. But synthetic drugs should be avoided. It is strictly observed that allopathic- medicine should be completely avoided for patient of high blood pressure accompanied with diabetes when green tea is considered most helpful to drink twice or thrice daily.

As garlic is capable of normalising both high and low blood sugar levels, it is used in the treatment of diabetes. A patient should eat 5-6 or more cloves of garlic between food twice daily. Not only does garlic tend to lower high blood pressure, but it also raises one who is too low. A diabetic patient must take turmeric having high curcumin contents everyday between meal either raw or cooked at least 5-10 gms. In the light of the remarkable scientific discovery, it is possible that garlic consumption promotes longevity

Decoction of roots of the sensitive plant (Mimosa pudica) is beneficial to cure diabetes if patient drinks it as a herbal tea twice daily. Amla is a pale green fruit rich in Vitamin-C. Almost four-fifths of this fruit contains moisture. The one fifth contains 13.7 percent carbohydrates, 3-4 percent fiber, 0.5 percent minerals, 0.1 percent fat. It also contains some other elements like calcium, phosphorus, iron and vitamin. Its juice mixed with honey promotes better vision and body vigour. It is also helpful in the secretion of insulin in the diabetic patients. Now there is a need to try to achieve a plant-based traditional remedy against type I insulin-dependent diabetes.

Tribals are lagging in the quest to exploit traditional remedies, otherwise folk medicines against diabetes. Tea plants are grown well in almost all tribal villages which would boost insulin action like Indian gooseberry, neem, bitter gourd, jamun and insulin plant, gurma, anjeer, bael, tinospora cordifolia, coriander and others. The cornerstone of treatment in diabetes is undoubtedly diet. Daily additional basic diet includes- amla, jamun, sweet orange, lemon, apple, papaya, pomegranate, cashewnut, garlic, onion, soybean, groundnut, maize, millet, cucumber, watermelon, ginger, turmeric, mint, aloe vera, pea, hoary basil, tomato, carrot, radish, banana-stem, broccoli, ash-gourd, tree tomato, blackgram, curry leaf & others.

If one gets such basic requirements, there is a high chance of being stopped of insulin shots. High blood pressure exacerbates the risk of diabetes and vice versa. This is a few hypotheses which have to be proved by the outcome of the research study. One needs to remember that fat is found in foods, such as, red-meat, oils, nuts, milk and other dairy products, fish and poultry, snacks and desserts. Monounsaturated fats proved as the healthiest. These fats are found in olive oil, and canola oil.

Polyunsaturated fats are found in vegetable oils such as safflower oil, corn oil, and soyabean oil. Whereas, saturated fat which is found in meats, dairy products and tropical vegetable oils {such as palm oil and coconut oil) is the least healthy type and the ones that one should avoid. Foods contained highest in saturated fat include red-meat, poultry skin, butter, whole milk products, ice-cream, cheese and some baked goods. I have some diabetic patients who have stopped shots of insulin through herbal remedies.

Treatment on kidney failure (renal failure) with traditional herbal medicine as a new perspective

There is a wonderful plant species known in botanical name as (Oreopanax xalapensis. L). A plant of promising medicinal value which is growing wild in Manipur, Nagaland, Assam and Meghalaya. This plant is highly efficacious in the treatment of kidney failure with 100% success if detected early. But someone may get confused to identify the real one, as there are five similar species and one of them is considered as the best one to cure the renal failure. So, proper identification is much required before treatment starts off.

Pluck the fresh green leafs and boil them for 15 to 20 minutes and drink the decoction daily until complete healing is achieved. In 2004, I have treated one woman with this simple herb and she was fully recovered and she is still alive. I have treated two women also and series of clinical test conducted and both have recovered and they are working actively in their respective fields. Any interested traditional healer whose area of expertise is to heal renal failure may contact them to get comprehensive accounts for further research documentation.

Concluded ...