MEDICINAL PLANT - TRICLISIA sp.

 Medicinal Plant - Triclisia species: Triclisia sp. in Dimasa language is called Duser plant. It is slender woody liane which is found extensively in Dima Hasao district of Assam, specially in Umrangso. From the time immemorial people are woody vines to cure their disease. When I have conducted survey here with my students then number of things came to light. The people of this area use the water extract of the plant to cure the diseases like- Jaundice , Malaria etc. Moreover water extract of the Duser plant has high quantity of minerals and that helps in keeping them physically fit.

 

The tree generally grows in dense forest area of the region, they are liane means they are rooted in the soil but the woody stem take vertical support of woody plants to encircle around it.The villagers cut the woody vine twice. First cutting in the selected portion and the second cutting is given around one hand above the first cutting and water rushes out very fast (generally in summer) which can fill bottle easily. The water extract is then collected and used for curing many disease like - Jaundice , Malaria and any other liver related ailments. Till date there is no medicine against Jaundice but the people of this locality are using water extract of the plant is found to be successful. These water activates the liver and help the person to become healthy within a short period of time.

Other benefits found from the water extract are as follows-

1) The water is very cold and people consume it in water scarcity hills regions of Dima Hasao , Assam.

2) The water also helps in curing eye infection

NATURAL CURE: ALUMIKRI PLANT (Begonia roxburghii A.DC)

 

  NATURAL CURE:  ALUMIKRI  PLANT (Begonia roxburghii A.DC).

 

Dima Hasao is one the most naturally beautiful district of Assam. People of this district practice herbs and leaves of the plants for the treatment of their diseases . The reason is that the medical centre is very far away from the basti and villages and people are relatively very poor but the traditional values and the knowledge about the plant that has been passed to them by their forefather is commendable. Out of many herbs , leaves , barks and trees they use for the treatment , I have selected right now Alumikri plant.

Alumikri plant’s scientific name is Begonia roxburghii  A.D.C and belongs to the family Begoniaceae. It  is very much widely distributed in the DimaHasao District of Assam and specifically found extensively in Umrangso. The plant grows well in the moist and shady places and generally they flourish near the bank of the river or sides of a canal where it is where it is moist, rainy and shady. Every part of the plant is very important for the villagers. Alumikri is the house hold name in the district and it is considered to be very sacred. Any ailment related to stomach when occurs among the villagers then Alumikri has the answer for it. Different types of ailment of the stomach like severe stomach pain, Loose Motion, Dysentery and Diarrhea then the people of this region consumes tuber of Alumikri  and within a short period of time they regain their previous health.

Plant generally attains a height of about one  feet . The plant has a  tuber and that tuber has a high medicinal property. People takes out a very little portion of the tuber from the plant and grind it with little amount of water . After grinding properly it is mixed with little bit more water and then filtered. After the filtration they keep the filtrate and throw away the residue and with the filtrate they cure different types of ailment related to stomach.

Other than that of medicinal value the plant also finds a place among the people of Dima Hasao as vegetable. The leaves are sour in taste and have many recopies                  for its curry preparation. The plant leaves has high accumulation of minerals and nutrients in it. And inclusion of this plant in their diet keeps the villagers away from diseases.

The stem of the plant has huge water store in it , so when people go for tracking they eat the stem to get warter. Plants also bears red fruits which are also eaten by the people

Medicinal Dose  : At first small portion of Alumikri plant’s tuber is made paste with little bit of water, then it is filtered and filtrate is taken. In the filtrate 100ml of water is mixed and the mixture become ready to be used as medicine. Generally villagers take two spoonful of the prepared mixture in the morning as well as in evening.

This  plant can also be grown in villagers houses in pot. For that we have to keep the plant in shady places and regularly give needed dose of water.

BY- Santanu Nandi Purkayastha