KUDCHI - Buch - Ham
a research in traditional heal
(Holarrhena antidysenterica)
Kalyan Kumar Mahata (Apu)
Kudchi (kud-chi) is an Asian- African desiduous shrub. It belongs to Apocynaceae plant family. It is known as Bitter Oleander or Dysentery Rose Bay. It generally grows in tropical Himalayan region and wild in the mountain ranges. The ivory tree or kurchi is an Indian infertile land shrub with a bitter taste of its latex and bark, the flowers are four petal small and white with a mystic essence of odour of its kind which is unmatched in any country in the sub continents. In ancient time body talc was made of kudchi flower ashes. That prevents skin rashes and makes smooth odourless body skin.
The kudchi is a medicinal plant. The alkaloids present in the bark are - conamine, conkurchina, connessimine, kurchine, conarrhinine , holarrhinene, isoconcessimine etc. The 'Tellicherry Bark '(known in English) or connessi Bark commonly known as KUDCHI OR KADA CHHUL. The name of kudchi is found in old manuscripts as KUTAJA BARK in Sanskrit. There are other names of kudchi, they are KALINGA and INDRAYAVA. The seeds (beej, muzi) are called Indrayava or Indra's seeds in Sanskrit. (In Malayalam kudchi is described as KUTAKAPPLA). The alkaloid of kudchi is conessive which is used for Diarrhoea. The latex or toxin of kudchi leaves are highly holistic treatment for mild cut, burnt and inflammation of dermis.
The BON KUD- CHI flower is cosidered as holy flower. The garlands of kudchi flower is unique for its appellation to the RADH-E region in India. The stick of the stem is said buch ham or toda where the flowers are bloom. The kudchi is also pronounced as kul-chi or kuichi that relates with wallawalleche <bol-chul>বো ল ছা ল , बो ल छा ल - the attitude (wallachian of Romania in central Europe where the plant is found and mojor plantation was there earlier now it is partly grown in Euro - African region) which is a knowledge seeking tour and travel for quench the thirst of ever asking questions and discover the diversity of nature and land.
