ADILABAD: Despite the deluge of vitamins and painkillers that are flooding the market, people still consume the rare ‘thasi’ gum also known as ‘karaya’ gum extracted from chirman trees (Sterculia urens) as they believe that it will work like a natural medicine and cure many health problems especially those connected with the knee, waist, neck and spinal cord.
Consumers also feel that pregnant and lactating women benefit from the consumption of ‘thasi’. A favorite pain-reliever made with the ‘thasi’ gum is when it is ground with jaggery and made into balls like ‘laddoos’.
The Adivasis collect the ‘thasi’ gum from the chirman trees deep in the forests of Digrass and Dharva in Maharashtra and sell it at the nearest towns. There is a good demand for ‘thasi’ gum as some people still prefer to use traditional medicines to treat themselves and their family members.
Mr Mohammed Hamidullah Anwar of Bhukthapur of Adilabad said they offer a snack made with ‘thasi’ gum mixed with kaju, kismis and badam and stir fried with ghee. This is traditionally given to pregnant or lactating women to ease their pains especially in the spinal cord post-delivery. This also helps reduce fat. He said 1 kg ‘thasi’ gum is sold for Rs 800 but the Adivasis sell the same quality and amount for Rs 400 at roadside markets.
Mr Subhash of Kauta village said ‘thasi banka’ is very popular even today among the rural people and Adivasis especially who believed its worth was equivalent to gold.
The Adivasis believe firmly that ‘thasi’ gum will cure many health problems especially knee pains and joint pains. It energises the body and reduces the weakness if taken with jaggery or mixed with dried fruits.
