mo ranu

mo ranu is a plant with medicinal value to the Birhor community.

Interesting fact: mo means ‘swell(ing)’ in Birhor, ranu means a ‘paste mixed with flour and rolled into balls to use as a beer starter’ or ‘medicine’ more generally.* In other words, the name of the plant means ‘medicine for swelling’.

Medicinal values for: swellings, weakness

• Root: Paste prepared from the roots (rehet) of the plant is mixed with the lukewarm oil (lolo sunum) and applied on the affected part. This is usually used for the elderly, sometimes for small children too.
• The aqueous extract of the root (rehet) is mixed with an equal amount of country liquor of mahua and given once a day for 2 days for curing weakness.
• Leaf: To get quick relief, a small amount of paste (made from leaves (sakam) and stalk is mixed in water (daʔ) and given to the affected person to drink on an empty stomach (eken-te laiʧ) in the morning. The results show relief from pain and settling down of the swollen area.
• Plant: A plant paste is given for quick delivery and as tonic to weak pregnant women for 10-15 days.