Wellness Curated
On Wellness Curated, Anshu Bahanda gets world renowned experts on physical and mental health to guide you pro bono. Packed with content that helps people to understand their bodies and minds better and to find relief from the pain and restrictions that have long prevented them from living their best lives, this show is a go-to resource for anyone who wants to improve their quality of life.
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Wellness Curated
Roots and Remedies: The Power of Local Herbs
Imagine a world where the remedies for our health issues lie not in a pharmacy, but in the roots, leaves, and flowers beneath our feet. In this episode of my new series— Healing traditions from across cultures, we venture deep into the mystical forests of Arunachal Pradesh, nestled in the eastern Himalayas, where nature’s ancient wisdom thrives. Our guide on this journey is none other than Dr Yanung Jamoh Lego, a 2024 Padma Shri awardee and a revered herbalist who has dedicated her life to preserving and practising the traditional healing methods of her ancestors.
Yanung’s incredible story begins with her own battle against numerous health challenges. When modern medicine failed her, she turned to the herbal knowledge passed down through generations in her family. Not only did she heal herself, but she also became a beacon of hope for her community, using the potent herbs of the region to treat ailments ranging from respiratory issues to stress.
In this episode, we discuss fascinating herbal traditions of Arunachal Pradesh. As Yanung speaks, you’ll be transported into a world where nature is revered as the ultimate healer, and where each plant holds a story, a history, and a divine connection. Whether you’re a believer in natural remedies or just curious about this ancient knowledge, this episode will leave you inspired and amazed at the healing power of nature.
Tune in to find out all about the secrets of Arunachal Pradesh’s herbal treasures, and learn how these time-honoured traditions could hold the key to better health and well-being for us all.
For a transcript of this show, go to https://wellnesscurated.life/roots-and-remedies-the-power-of-local-herbs-2/
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Anshu Bahanda: Can you believe that the answers to a lot of our health ailments could be in the roots, leaves and flowers that are growing at our feet? Today's episode, we're going to journey into Arunachal Pradesh— in the forests of Arunachal Pradesh in the eastern Himalayas in India. And these forests have a treasure trove of ancient wisdom which is waiting to be discovered. Amongst the custodians of this wisdom is Yanung Jamoh Lego. She's a 2024 Padma Shri winner and she's a true master of herbal remedies. She has helped many, many people with their health and their wellness. And we're going to talk to her today about how traditional herbal remedies from Arunachal Pradesh can help with issues like respiratory health, skin conditions, digestive problems and stress relief. We're also going to explore the roots of these practices and how these have been passed down over the generations. Welcome to the first episode of this season— healing traditions across cultures. Thank you, Padma Shri Lego, for taking the time to be here. It's an honour to have you here.
Dr Yanung Jamoh Lego: Thank you, madam.
AB: So the first thing I want to ask you is, from what I understand, in Arunachal Pradesh; there are over 26 tribes and over hundred sub tribes. And each of these has their own herbal tradition of healing. How did you decide that this is what you want to do? That this was your calling? Tell me about your journey.
Dr YJL: Yeah, actually it was the need of the time. And I myself was suffering from lots of ailments like asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia and colitis, tuberculosis and virus gastric ulcer.
I myself was suffering from all the ailments. Then I… I have been using all the other medical system, health systems, but it failed. And afterwards, lastly, I tried herbal medicine because my parents, my father used to relay to me about the medicinal values of all the herbs that were emitted from the deity body parts.So I tried it on myself first.Then it was... I got cured of all the ailments.Then I treated my children, my families, my neighbours, my villages.And like this, my interest also started growing from my inner heart and my mission started to serve the people through the herbs; for the suffering people.So many suffering people are there. And moreover, during that time there was no connectivity. It was in the forest, in remote areas. No medical facilities, modern medical facilities like that... And many factors were there and many problems were there; many constraints were there that led me to work in honour of all this. We have many tribes, they have their own mythology, they have their own folklores, and they have their own ailments and things like that. we all are related to nature and we tribal people, they were using herbs of various types for all the ailments. Like this only my interest grew when my patient was cured and the people were happy and they encouraged me like anything, like welfare. Now I am very much dedicated to this.
AB: Wonderful. So what age were you when you started?
Dr YJL: I started in 1995
AB: 1995 So that's about 30 years now that you've been doing this and it's such a big privilege to have got the Padma Shri, you know. So what I wanted to ask you, I believe this is orally taught from generation to generation. But now that you've got this award, would you do it differently for the next generation? Will you start teaching them differently?
Dr YJL: Yeah. Actually our tradition is passed through oral, through oral dialogue. During our festive occasion, the priests— special priests— my father was also one of the priests that used to sing the song. That song, our traditional song that indicates which plant came from the which deity's part like that. That's why all the medicine plants are related to the body part of the deity. That's why this type of oral wisdom is passed from generation to generation. But now I want to spread it to the new generation through literature, through social media and like the all-India radios and on the Facebook group, through YouTube channels and time to time awareness programme, conducting training programmes in villages through self help groups to the individual farmers, interested farmers like that. And I'm connected to each and every part of the individual as well as to the state and outside the state.
AB: Wonderful. I wanted to ask you actually. So like you're saying that it's believed that each herbal plant comes from a different part of the deity, right? It's almost like the herbs and roots have divine powers, right?
Dr YJL: Yeah.
AB: And you do rituals before using the remedies?
Dr YJL: Yes, yes. We perform rituals because... rituals are a must, it's mandatory to deal with nature because we tribal people consider nature the most powerful, supreme power. And the healing power comes from nature, not from any physician; that is considered. And nature selects those deserving candidates… Deserving healers. Nobody can become a folk healer until and unless nature approves them; unlike other comfort healing systems.
AB: So you're saying the healing power comes from nature? Absolutely. Now tell me what are any specific rituals or cultural practices that are involved in gathering these herbs?
Dr YJL: Yes, yes. We perform ritual before going to the wild forest, before collecting— collecting herbs. Because we pay respect to nature. We take permission from nature so that it can empower us with their power, healing power and let us... give the permit to collect the necessary herbs for healing people; healing people not for economic benefit, but for benefit purpose, like the service purpose. This is our ritual that we perform to nature before collecting any necessary item from the wild forest and that is mandatory. I myself used to perform rituals in a big way once every four years.
AB: Okay, once in four years, you do a ritual?
YLJ: Yeah, because I'm on a large scale. But when I go to the forest for collecting or to the river, to the forest, I first perform a ritual. That is mandatory.
AB: Oh, I see. Okay. And how do you identify and differentiate between the various herbs and their medicinal uses? Is that something that's just passed down the generations?
Dr YJL: Yeah. I don't have any words to explain how to identify the different parts. And that is through instinct and intuition. It is God-gifted. The gifted people will understand. And they can see that. They can differentiate the value of the roots and flowers and the leaves. But it cannot be taught in words to anybody.
It is from the inner self, from instinct and intuition.
AB: So do you communicate with the plants and the herbs? Do you feel like you can communicate with them?
Dr YJL: I can. When I go to the forest, all the plants say 'please', calling me, calling me. Then I heard them speaking to me. And I like that. I see the ailments, like my father used to tell me— all the signs of these ailments you check in the… In the plant itself. If you have the divine heart, divine mind, you can only see. Rest of the people cannot see.
AB: Okay, lovely. And tell me, what sort of ailments have you helped with? What kind of diseases have you helped with?
Dr YJL: All the ailments I'm doing, all the ailments. Everything is easy with nature. That's why animals are not suffering. Human beings are suffering because human beings are anti nature.
AB: Yes, yes, I agree 100%. We've forgotten that we're part of nature, right? Anything, anything, any ailment that people come to you with, you can help.
Dr YJL: Actually… Last part, I can tell you that everything is easy with nature.When you go...When you live your life comfortably with the season. There are four seasons in India.
The season means, every season also has meaning. If you go with the seasonal fruits and vegetables, I think you will never suffer. Because acidic and alkaline foods are available. Our body pH would be maintained. Otherwise, when we are... Nowadays, people are using only acidic food. That's why they are destined to suffer. They hardly use alkaline food items. Nature has given us this formula, a formulation to keep our body pH balanced naturally. But human beings are never pure of them. What is the meaning of season? We have four seasons in India. They quite have meaning and impact on human life, human health system.
AB: So you're saying that if we were to stick to seasonal and local fruit that would automatically cause a pH balance in our body.
Dr YJL: Yeah. Example, say cancer, when acid… When acidity increases in your body— say cancer will increase; when acidic comes down, cancer will come down. Like that. Any ailment will come up, it will be increased when your acid is increased. Like this— simple example.
AB: Okay. Okay. I also wanted to ask you, the people who come to you, is it because they believe in your naturopathy or is it because they, you know, they're in Arunachal Pradesh, they're removed from modern medicine. They don't know what's going on. You know, it's difficult for them to get to Delhi and Bombay and bigger cities. So what kind of clients do you get?
Dr YJL: Yeah, actually it is very tough to teach the human beings. And it is a very great achievement on my part that I have achieved the confidence of the people. Otherwise people never believed in herbal treatment. They have a suspicious mind. Still 70% of people, they don't believe, or rely on herbal treatment. They always go through allopathic treatment.
AB: Yes, you're right. And I was watching one of your videos on YouTube where you said that very often people come to you when you know, they've been told by the doctors they can't be helped. So as their last resort, they come to you.
Dr YJL: Yeah, yeah.
AB: And you help them.
Dr YJL: Yeah.
AB: What an amazing gift to have. Fabulous. I mean, I wish there were more people like you who had this incredible gift.
Dr YJL: That's why I'm trying my best to cure all the ailments; so that people believe me. People believe in my work. People believe in herbal work. Yes. Natural power— people believe in natural power. I'm trying my best. I'm dedicating so that people believe— their belief increases. So that people go back to nature again like earlier.
AB: I mean, Arunachal Pradesh has been famous for herbal cures. Because even in the Ramayana they talk about the Sanjeevani booti or the Arunachal Sanjeevani— which Hanuman goes and gets to cure Lakshman… When he's been gravely injured in battle. So I believe this Arunachal sanjeevani is used even today to cure people who are badly injured. Is that right?
Dr YJL: Yeah, yeah. Right. Very right.
AB: And you've had… You've used it on your client, on your patients?
Dr YJL: Yeah, yeah. There are... Sanjeevani, there are different types. There are… In my experience there are three types of sanjeevani available in our Arunachal Pradesh. Because they used to be available in the temperate region and in the tropical also some are available. But mostly it is available in temperate regions like Mechuka and Anini, Mayudia, all that place— high altitude.
AB: I see. There's also this misconception about herbal remedies where sometimes people think it's gonna cure everything. And there's another sort of group of people who think it's not effective at all. Are there any common misconceptions about herbal remedies that you would like to address to the audience today?
Dr YJL: That's why to clear the misconception, I'm putting myself into lots of practises to cure the people [from] different types of ailments through the herbs that I have already displayed in my YouTube channel, also my Facebook videos. So to earn confidence from the people. So human beings are very, very... Human beings— are not like animals. They cannot be taught easily. They don't learn easily. It's a very tough task to make them learn, to bring them into the confidence about herbal treatments.
AB: Wonderful. And you're doing amazing things for that. I believe your family forages for herbs in the forest every week. And then you very carefully prepare the remedies with your own hands and you use them for various different ailments. Is the preparation of the remedies very time consuming? Can you talk us all through the process?
Dr YJL: Yes, it's time consuming. It takes four to five days to prepare herbal remedies. Like on the first day you make rituals in collecting from the forest or from the selected areas. Then the next day it will be sorting out and then cleaning and washing. And then the next day it will be cut into pieces or crushed or grinded, whatever it may be. Then on the last day it will... the mixture will be made as per the ailment as per the condition of the patient. Like that. It is a process, a time taking process, four to five days at least, to prepare a medicine for a particular person, particular patient.
AB: Okay. And can you recommend any herbs or roots that will help people with some of the common ailments like colds, headache, digestive problems? Maybe those three.
Dr YJL: Okay, let me display you some… This is, we call it...
AB: Is that tamarind?
Dr YJL: This is for joint pain, joint pain. This is, we call it— Pyopa. In English… I don't know what do you call it
AB: What do you call it?
Dr YJL: Pyopa… Pyopa, in our language.
AB: Pyopa?
Dr YJL: For paralysis and joint pains And this is the seed; from the seed we make this powder.
AB: Okay.
YLJ: One pinch and you have to grind it. Then one pinch here on the tongue, then put it inside with water. Once a day like that.
AB: Once a day, okay. Just a pinch of it.
Dr YJL: Yeah, yeah. For sinusitis and migraine this is the most effective remedy. This is Leucas aspera [thumbai]. For sinusitis and migraine— migraine.
AB: Okay. Ah, this is.
Dr YJL: You can do this and wash, grind it, make infusion, add little water and put three doses, three doses once in a day or seven days or ten days...
AB: For sinus and migraine?
Dr YJL: Yes, migraine and BP also— blood pressure.
AB: Okay.
Dr YJL: This is what you say— multi use, antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal. This plant. And then for snake bites. This is Kaempferia, Kaempferia galanga [aromatic/ sand ginger]. For snake bites. For cough and cold— this is red ginger. For cough and cold.
AB: Okay. Cough and cold— red ginger. Red ginger.
Dr YJL: This is Paederia foetida [skunkvine]. This Paederia foetida is rich in iodine. Paederia foetida This is for all ailments— cough and cold and asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia, and thyroid It's rich in iodine, highly rich in iodine.
AB: Rich in iodine, okay.
Dr YJL: Yeah. Thyroid, we used to cure it within one month— thyroid.
AB: Wonderful.
Dr YJL: From this jackfruit, you know jackfruit?
AB: Jackfruit, yes.
Dr YJL: Our mythology says that it is came out from the breast of our deity, goddess, that's why it is used in breast problems, lactation problems, this is the belief.
AB: Any issues related to the breast?
Dr YJL: Yeah, that is breast problem, breast cancer, breast tumour and lactation problem like that. And this is Tinospora cordifolia [heart-leaved moonseed] It is believed that it was emitted from the veins of the sun deity— Sun God. Sun God.
AB: Okay.
Dr YJL: Tinospora. It is used for, in all ailments. All ailments. All the plants are related to some mythology and accordingly we just practise.
AB: Okay, so what I want to ask you in terms of harnessing the healing power of plants, of course quality and safety are two very important things. Now sometimes some of these plants react with modern medicine. So as an example, St. John's-wort, you can't have that. It has an effect if you're having modern medicine. Right? So how do we ensure people who are travelling down the herbal route; want to do herbal medicines… How do we ensure that one, it's the right quality and secondly that the safety is followed, that it doesn't interfere with anything else?
Dr YJL: Yeah, that is very essential, which is very important because when we collect the medicinal plant it should be from wild forest where there is no spread of chemical, chemical pesticides; away from any chemical application. And now I used to give seed supply to the farmer cultivator on buyback policy; because the selected farmer who is not using any chemical, particular chemical pesticides and like that, away from chemicals and it should be organically grown and naturally grown. That's my feedback. And because it is a health issue, that's why it should be highly hygienic, plus it should be organic and natural. And this I give importance to, and I give concern to the grower also, to the user also. So there should not be any side effects like that.
AB: You would advise that people always go to an expert to make sure there's no side effect. They don't do it themselves.
Dr YJL: The side effect is there when we take an excess dose, like this, Tinospora cordifolia; when you use, consume excess, beyond the limit, then it… You may become, I think, deaf, your hearing problem may increase or your eyesight may get weakened like that, and so Tinospora is like this. If it is overdose, it may induce vomiting tendency, or even diarrhoea, like that. Some side effects are there. That's why when we formulate, where we administer dose, we should be very much cautious. We should [have] concerns about the health of the patient and their health factors, their status, their dietary background. And so, so many factors come into consideration and after only we administer the medicine.
AB: So this is a very important message, Ms Yanung, is that these things are… The herbs are powerful, so they need to be taken properly under the right guidance, not just taken for the sake of it.
Dr YJL: Yeah.
AB: You know, there might be things that people take, like, as an example, ginger in their houses. I mean, in every house in India, they'll have ginger right, when there's a cold. So some things might be okay. But the more remote herbs, we should probably do it under physicians knowledge. Like a herbal expert's knowledge. Yes. Okay. The other thing I want to ask you is about personalisation. Now, [in] modern medicine, there's a tablet for a particular ailment. While from what I understand, herbal remedies are more personalised. Is that right?
Dr YJL: Yeah, yeah.
AB: Can you give us...
Dr YJL: Yeah, yeah. Yes. I agree with that one because, say, to say, for example, two asthma patients, 1 may have sugar diabetes background or he may have gastritis or BP, but other may not have. We, in that case, we need personalisation. After case study, properly case study observation.
AB: Would you say it's helpful for people to incorporate some herbs in their daily diet? Is there anything you'd recommend? You'd say, oh, this is very good for you?
Dr YJL: Yeah. Yes, yes, sure, sure. Because what I have experienced, the most important nutrient in our diet is iodine. We must incorporate iodine rich food, Vitamin C rich food, and protein rich food. That is, iodine rich food is… Is this one— paederia foetida, tomato, carrot, then drumstick; then rock salt, onion and sweet potato. And there are so many plants, vegetables we are using that are rich in iodine. And the vitamin C is rich in amla— emblica officinalis, and the lemon. And then third is protein— in soya bean, rajma dal, any pulses other than masoor dal, that one. That's why these three components are very essential. If we incorporate these three essential things— we'll never suffer. We should avoid animal products, sweet and jaggery, sugar and jaggery and chemical products. There will be no health issues. This is more important. India is rich in iodine export and vitamin C export items and protein. But Indian people are not using it. They are just looking for the outside, outside country food items and food style. That's why they are suffering. Otherwise we are rich in [these]. We can supply the iodine rich food throughout the world; we have that capacity. This plant is [available in] plenty here but people are not using it. Animals are using, they too are using, they are healthy. Nobody will suffer from cancer, nobody will suffer from gastritis and diabetes, and joint pains; and all the ailments will be eradicated due to these three components. This is the most important thing that I have experienced in my lifetime and I recommend it to the government also. Give me Harvard ambassador. I will share the picture of health in India and the entire world.
AB: Wonderful. So you're saying iodine rich food, vitamin C rich food and protein rich food. These three are very important. And tell me, what is your view on traditional herbal practices being incorporated into modern medical treatments? Do you think it'll happen or are there a lot of challenges?
Dr YJL: Yeah, I think it should be incorporated into modern medicine also. Because modern medicine has the advantage of controlling the ailment immediately. But herbal [medicine] have the advantage of… It takes time to cure, but it cures permanently. That's why we also need... In an emergency… Urgent, in an emergency, we need allopathic medicine, modern medicine— [this] medicine [is] very essential for immediate relief and for permanent cure, we need herbal medicine also. These two sectors should be incorporated with each other. [Is] what I say. I cannot individually make it a policy, but it should be… Government should take up this policy.
AB: Yes, but you know, it's a big, big thing that you've got the Padma Shri. That means the government is recognising the contribution made by you and, you know, and they're putting you on a world stage and saying, you know, she can make a difference. That's amazing. But before we leave our listeners today, I want you to tell us a personal story that highlights the impact of herbal remedies.
Dr YJL: Okay. One day it happened to one of our relatives in Silluk village. She went to the jungle, forest to collect some herbs. Then one small snake bit her and then she was immediately shifted to hospital. Then during that time I could not visit her because I was busy with a patient. Next day at 11: 00 a.m. I visited [her] in the hospital. I saw her hand was swelling like anything. It was coming up like this. Then I got frightened and I just rushed… I collected all the local medicine. And this one— white onion. This white onion and the red ginger I collected. Then the leucas aspera. Then this one— kaempferia, white onion, leucas aspera, [and] red ginger. I collected and I cleaned it. I made [for] her, to take it, and it was [for her to] put in the affected area also. And I make a nostril drop. This one put three drops here. And then because it has got antiviral value. So the snake poison was not… could not enter into her brain. When it's not, when it's not released to her brain, she will never die. So I put it on and within one night she got cured. And the next day she was released from hospital. And this is most effective for snake bites and...
AB: Amazing. Thank you so much for that wonderful story and for the insightful information. I'm going to come and visit you in Arunachal Pradesh next time I'm in India. I'm fascinated by this.
Dr YJL: You are most welcome.
AB: Thank you. Thank you for your time and thank you for being here. And thank you for all the work you do.
Dr YJL: Okay, thank you so much.
AB: Take care. To our listeners. Thank you for listening to this episode. This is the reason we do what we do. To give a voice, to give a global stage to people like her who do amazing work from a village in Arunachal Pradesh. And to give her a voice. And also for people who are looking for cures for the likes of cancer, there is a solution in herbal medicines. So we love this process of matching incredible healers with people who need it. Please subscribe to our podcast, Wellness Curated and my YouTube channel Wellness Curated by Anshu Bahanda, so that we can continue to get you incredible speakers for free. Thank you.
We hope you learned something new today. We hope we've got you a little closer to leading a healthier, happier life. Don't forget to tune in next time. Until then, stay well. See you soon.
