Manipuri awaphadigom (Eryngium foetidum) for curing of paralysis due to high blood pressure

L Nabachandra Singh and M Sumarjit Singh
Eryngium foetidum is a tropical perennial herb in the family of Apiaceas. Its scientific name literally translates as “foul smelling thistle”. It is native to Mexico and South America, but it is cultivated worldwide, sometimes being grown as an annual crop in temperate climates.
It is a small herb, commonly growing in wild form in many parts of the State, Manipur i.e., widely grown both in the hills and valley. The herb is aromatic and perennial with thick sharped leaves. The leaves are simple, alternate, smooth and shiny with prominent midribs, bordering with sickled edges. The roots are thick and superficial with fibrous rooting habit. The long flower stalk bears sharp spines, while the flowers are aggregated into compact bracts.
Eryngium foetidum is widely used in seasoning, marinating and garnishing in the Caribbean, particularly in Panama, Puerto Rico and Trinidad and Tobago Guyana and in Peru’s Amazon regions. It is also used extensively in Thailand, India, Vietnam, Laos, and other parts of Asia as a culinary herb. Erygial is a chemical compound isolated from Eryngium foetidum.
Prof. M. Sumarjit Singh, Department of Agronomy, COA, CAU, Imphal has investigated about the use of eryngial for the treatment of a number of ailments such as fevers, chills, vomiting, burns, fevers, hypertension, headache, earache, stomachache, asthma, arthritis, snake bites, scorpio stings, diarrhoea, malaria and epilepsy. The main constituent of essential oil of the plant is eryngial (E-2-dodecenal). Pharmacological investigations have demonstrated anthelmintic, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anti-convulsant, anti – clastogenic, anti-carcinogenic, anti-diabetic and anti-bacteria activity.
Mr. Oinam Brajamani Singh, aged 70 years old Upokpi village of Bishnupur District was a paralysis patient due to high blood pressure stroke in the month of December 2017. The right side of the body was paralysed and could not move at all. Under the guidance of Prof. M. Sumarjit Singh, his daughter, Mrs. Yumnam ongbi Tababi Devi from Awang Heinoubok of Bishnupur district, looked after her father. So, she used Eryngium foetidum as her father’s medicine. She used to take about 100g of Eryngium foetidum and made paste mixing with 10 ml of water. She mixed with a small quantity of salt in the 10 ml of liquid which she used to collect and served her father after breakfast and before dinner every day. Now, her father could become in the normal position and cured the paralysis. It can be mentioned that L. Ibochou from Kangla Sangomsang, Imphal East also recovered from his illness in a similar way.
Considering the success story of using Eryngium foetidum in treatment of paralysis, it can be concluded the Eryngium foetidum (local name in Manipuri- Awaphadigom) is a very good plant which could save many people’s life without any cost.


College of Agriculture, CAU(Imphal), Manipur
For further details contact:- Public Relation & Media Management Cell, CAU, Imphal