munga daru

The roots, leaves, flowers, fruits and the bark of this tree are very well known for their nutritional and medicinal values in the Birhor community and beyond.

Medicinal values for: Joint pains or gout, blood pressure, digestive and skin disorder

• Leaf: A paste of leaves (sakam) mixed with mustard oil (sorso sunum) and heated when applied to sprained joint areas gives immediate relief. The juice (ros or rasa) obtained from fresh leaves (baleʧ sakam) poured in the ear (lutur) is a quick remedy for relief from ear pain. It is also good to control blood pressure but too much consumption should be avoided.
• Fruit: The drumsticks (munga siʈi) prepared as a culinary item is considered to keep away joint pains or gout problems among the elders.
• Flower: In the blooming months, the Birhor cook the flowers (baha) of munga daru. They boil (hõɽeʧ) them first then cook them in mustard oil (sorso sunum).
• Root: The root (rehet) is used for the treatment of digestive and skin disorders.
• Bark: A bark (baklaʔ) decoction is spread inside the home for prevention and removal of snakes.