----There is an option. In place of carrying so many protection tools one can travel with senior Traditional Healers aware of treatment of every problem. I feel ashamed while walking with full protective measures and they walk in front even without country shoes. Madhav Gadgil ji has truely named them as Bare Foot Taxonomists.
Once we were on foot in forest and met Leopard (Tendua). Without any delay I tried to climb on Sterculia urens tree by fear, ignoring the fact that Leopard is also a good climber. Due to protective meausres and smooth trunk I failed. The Healer remained still and showed to Leopard that Sterculia is his territory, and he is not ready to surrender. After few long minutes Leopard changed the path. I visit to forest with my long jungle torch generally used by American police. It is of no use in protection from wild elephants, sloth bear, leopard and even leeches. regards Pankaj Oudhia On Tue, Aug 17, 2010 at 11:14 AM, Pankaj Kumar <[email protected]>wrote: > This thread reminds me of one very hilarious discussion with eminent > taxonomists. Mr. U.C.Pradhan, Dr. Sarat Misra, Dr. S.P.Vij, Dr. C.Sathish > Kumar, two doctors from Nepal and me and my friend Jeewan were there on a > field work in a oak forest in Pokhara, Nepal. Sathish Sir, all of a sudden > said, "you know Pankaj we all are THIRD CLASS TAXONOMISTS thats why we are > getting leeches". I couldnt make out at first why he said. Then he > explained: > > *1st CLASS TAXONOMISTS*: WORKS IN AC ROOM, ASKS HIS OR HER STAFF TO GATHER > INFORMATIONS AND THEN PUBLISHES ON HIS NAME. > *2nd CLASS TAXONOMISTS*: GOES TO FIELD IN A CAR, NEVER GETS OUT, ASSUMES > WHAT CAN BE FOUND IN THE AREA AND PUBLISHES ON HIS NAME, OR SOMETIMES EVEN > PUBLISHES OTHER'S DATA!! > *3rd CLASS TAXONOMISTS*: GOES TO THE FIELD ON FOOT, DOES HARD LABOUR, MOST > OF THE TIME DOESNT FIND MUCH INFORMATION TO PUBLISH, EVEN IF HE OR HE DOES, > THE ARTICLE GET REJECTED!! > > So thanks to all those of our third class taxonomists here, who have the > leech experience and thats just because they go to field and I am glad that > field botany is still alive in India. Inspite of all our personal > differences, I am glad to see on one side, Dr. Gurcharan who has been > contributing pics from his recent trips in J & K; at the same time, Valke > sir, who is a non botanists, still goes to field collect informations and > shares them here. This is really a nice place to be. > > So, LONG LIVE LEECH EXPERIENCES!! till those experiences are there, it > means we are going to field. > > Secondly, precaution can always help you from keeping away from such > things. LONG SOCKS MADE OF TERECOT could help, wearing full sleeves shirt is > always recommended, hat or cap is useful, put a cotton ball in your ears. > Odomos cream, or tobacco water, or dettol is always helpful as repellent. > Please remember, 50% of the issues are psychological and hence you can get > rid of it by controlling your mind. In dehradun we have leeches inside our > campus, so to get rid of the apprehension I sometimes used to walk in the > forests, barefooted, at one point of time, I even use to catch some leech > and put it on my arms, to check how it felt when it bites.....and gradually > I got rid of this psychological apprehension. Issues are there only when > some of persons are truly allergic to leech. You cant help in that case!! > > Regards > Pankaj > > > > On Tue, Aug 17, 2010 at 8:52 AM, lavkumar khachar < > [email protected]> wrote: > >> Dear Friends, >> >> One of the reasons why I hesitate going to the Eastern Himalaya and the >> Western Ghats to see the marvellous burst of flora during the rains is the >> presence of leeches. I am highly allergic to them though fascinated by them. >> While reading through this discussion, which like the leeches themselves is >> getting rather bloated (with opinions in place of blood) I just could not >> resist adding my bit to all that is being said. Might not white shoes, >> socks, leggings as Vijaya is wearing, and trousers help in attracting less >> leeches? After all, it is the warmth of the body that triggers them into >> action and white will reflect light as against heat. Earlier we were told >> that soaking socks in brine kept the pests from climbing on. Might it not be >> better than Dettol? >> >> Just an aside to amuse you and nothing to do with leeches: in the >> photograph, note the Forest Guard terribly conscious of being in the >> photograph standing to attention! We Indians love to be in the picture and >> possibly my writing this is metaphorically a result of this national >> failure. >> >> Lavkumar Khachar. >> >> >> On Tue, Aug 17, 2010 at 6:59 AM, Vijayasankar >> <[email protected]>wrote: >> >>> Dear all, >>> >>> The discussion happening here is a very healthy one and thank you all for >>> sharing the personal experiences. The discussion here is about a perticular >>> issue and not about a medical system. No one has blamed any system. Each >>> medical system has its own merits and demerits, and whatever is compatible >>> to us we are bound to use. I have seen allopathic doctors using ayurvedic or >>> homeo medicine for certain ailments. It is also not uncommon that even >>> popular ayurvedic physicians using modern medicine/treatment for various >>> ailments. As we all know, certain systems are very effective in certain >>> ailments. >>> >>> Raghu ji, thanks for sharing the pictures. We used to use the similar >>> socks but white, made of cotton material (i know its not water proof but it >>> helps aeration, good for tropical habitats, and also easy to see any insect >>> as the background is white. we spray dettol over the socks and shoes to keep >>> leeches away). Attached a picture showing leech-proof socks (in photo: >>> Dr.Ravikumar). >>> >>> Thank you all once again for participating in the healthy discussion and >>> sharing your experiences. This is the strength of our group. >>> >>> With regards >>> >>> Vijayasankar >>> >>> >>> On Mon, Aug 16, 2010 at 3:32 PM, nabha meghani <[email protected]>wrote: >>> >>>> Ah, they look like "Gamaschen" to me. We used to wear Gamaschen, when >>>> trecking in Alps, going thru kneehigh snow. Our Gamaschen had some hook >>>> like >>>> things, to attach them to the boots, they were not pushed into the boots, >>>> to >>>> prevent the snow going into the boots. Somewhat like in the first Foto. >>>> I had forgotten my Gamaschen totally, must be *resting* somewhere in a >>>> corner. It was looooong looooong ago, that I used them. >>>> regards >>>> nalini >>>> >>>> ----- Original Message ----- >>>> *From:* raghu ananth <[email protected]> >>>> *To:* Vijayasankar <[email protected]> ; promila >>>> chaturvedi<[email protected]> >>>> *Cc:* Yazdy Palia <[email protected]> ; Pankaj >>>> Kumar<[email protected]>; Gurcharan >>>> Singh <[email protected]> ; Neil Soares <[email protected]> ; >>>> [email protected] >>>> *Sent:* Monday, August 16, 2010 6:43 PM >>>> *Subject:* Re: [efloraofindia:44534] Elephant Apple tree in the rain >>>> forest >>>> >>>> Photo attachments - Participants of Butterfly meet wearing Leech >>>> guard. Miao, Arunachal Jul 2010. >>>> >>>> A professional kind.. >>>> http://www.mosquitohammock.com/AntiLeechSocks.html >>>> >>>> >>>> Regrds >>>> raghu >>>> >>>> ------------------------------ >>>> *From:* raghu ananth <[email protected]> >>>> *To:* Vijayasankar <[email protected]>; promila chaturvedi < >>>> [email protected]> >>>> *Cc:* Yazdy Palia <[email protected]>; Pankaj Kumar < >>>> [email protected]>; Gurcharan Singh <[email protected]>; Neil >>>> Soares <[email protected]>; [email protected] >>>> *Sent:* Mon, 16 August, 2010 10:07:35 PM >>>> *Subject:* Re: [efloraofindia:44474] Elephant Apple tree in the rain >>>> forest >>>> >>>> >>>> Dear Vijay shankar ji/All >>>> >>>> We carried antisepic germicidal - Dettol this time in Assam. Later we >>>> used anti leech socks >>>> in Arunachal. Leeches can neither penetrate inside not climb up the >>>> socks. >>>> (Rs. 100/- per pair of anti leech socks). >>>> >>>> Some time back., I thought of sharing our leech bite moments in the >>>> Western ghats. Will do it soon. >>>> >>>> Regards >>>> Raghu >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> ------------------------------ >>>> *From:* Vijayasankar <[email protected]> >>>> *To:* promila chaturvedi <[email protected]> >>>> *Cc:* Yazdy Palia <[email protected]>; Pankaj Kumar < >>>> [email protected]>; Gurcharan Singh <[email protected]>; Neil >>>> Soares <[email protected]>; raghu ananth <[email protected]>; >>>> [email protected] >>>> *Sent:* Mon, 16 August, 2010 8:17:01 PM >>>> *Subject:* Re: [efloraofindia:44474] Elephant Apple tree in the rain >>>> forest >>>> >>>> Dear Yazdi ji, >>>> >>>> Thanks a lot for sharing your personal experience, really a horrifying >>>> one, but educative to others. Good to know that finally Homeo helped you. >>>> We >>>> have also used Arsenicum for the porpose, it really works well. >>>> >>>> With regards >>>> >>>> Vijayasankar >>>> >>>> >>>> On Mon, Aug 16, 2010 at 7:02 AM, promila chaturvedi < >>>> [email protected]> wrote: >>>> >>>>> Prof. Sing, >>>>> On my visit to Namdapha in last March, leaches found me an easy target. >>>>> But there is no relief in my joints pain or swelling even getting bitten >>>>> so >>>>> mercifully. >>>>> Promila >>>>> >>>>> On Mon, Aug 16, 2010 at 9:52 AM, Yazdy Palia >>>>> <[email protected]>wrote: >>>>> >>>>>> Dear Vijayashankar Ji, >>>>>> For heavens sake do not go to an alopath for tick allergy. I was once >>>>>> stung by a poisonous tick due to which I had a swelling on the feet. I >>>>>> went >>>>>> to a doctor after 3 days of swelling. He was a family friend and >>>>>> prescribed >>>>>> avil. The swelling immediately subsided. After a month or so, I developed >>>>>> the same symptom due to another sting, of which I was not aware. The >>>>>> symptoms were terrible, red patches from head to toe, chest pain and a >>>>>> drop >>>>>> in blood pressure. I got it treated, however the third time it happened, >>>>>> the >>>>>> reaction was so severe that I almost died. The systolic pressure dropped >>>>>> to >>>>>> 45 and I could not even stand. The doctors told me that I had to live in >>>>>> a >>>>>> sterilized atmosphere or the next time I will be dead before reaching the >>>>>> hospital. My Homeopathic doctor just laughed over it and prescribed >>>>>> Arsenicum Album. >>>>>> I am now totally free of the symptoms, we continue to have a lot of >>>>>> ticks in the summer due to my deers but nothing happens to me now. I have >>>>>> never visited an alopath since then. >>>>>> Regards >>>>>> Yazdy. >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> On Sun, Aug 15, 2010 at 11:34 PM, Vijayasankar < >>>>>> [email protected]> wrote: >>>>>> >>>>>>> I am allergic to ticks. the bitten spots will be itching for a month >>>>>>> or so, can't resist scratching all the time, that ultimately cause >>>>>>> wounds! >>>>>>> (so i think leeches are better than ticks). Heard of people using neem >>>>>>> oil, >>>>>>> neem soap bath, paste of Andrographis paniculata leaves etc etc to >>>>>>> manage >>>>>>> tick bites and related allergies. Ticks are plenty (sometimes rains from >>>>>>> twigs in hundreds when you shake the branch/leaves while walking in the >>>>>>> forest) in dry forests and grasslands. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> However i am not allergic to leeches. But if once i see them on me, i >>>>>>> can't concentrate in my work in the field, will spend lot of time in >>>>>>> checking for and removing them. Will always feel like leeches climbing >>>>>>> on >>>>>>> and entering into the socks, bleeding, etc etc. so frequently check >>>>>>> the shoes and inside socks. Not yet developed the resistence in mind, >>>>>>> will >>>>>>> have to learn from people like Yezdi ji, Pankaj... >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Thanks Neil ji for the useful tips. Hope Oudhia ji also will come up >>>>>>> with his own experience and traditional herbal remedy for the problem. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> With regards >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Vijayasankar >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> On Sun, Aug 15, 2010 at 12:16 PM, Pankaj Kumar < >>>>>>> [email protected]> wrote: >>>>>>> >>>>>>>> I also dont mind leeches climbing on me, but there are risks if some >>>>>>>> one is allergic to it. It almost dissolves a part of the flesh on >>>>>>>> allergic >>>>>>>> persons, and secondly, if it goes inside ur ears then its really bad. >>>>>>>> Quercus forests in Himalaya can be one of the place where you can find >>>>>>>> leeches for sure and for sure people will be happy if you are >>>>>>>> collecting >>>>>>>> them. By the way, why dont you breed it Oudhia sir!! >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> Pankaj >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> On Sun, Aug 15, 2010 at 10:21 PM, Gurcharan Singh < >>>>>>>> [email protected]> wrote: >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> I have not seen leeches in nature except for few at Pachmarhi back >>>>>>>>> in 1977, but remember that when we were small children persons would >>>>>>>>> roam in >>>>>>>>> our area with collection of leaches, find a sick man, put leaches on >>>>>>>>> the >>>>>>>>> back of sick man. The leaches would suck bad blood (what we were told >>>>>>>>> as >>>>>>>>> children), slowly swell up and fall down. >>>>>>>>> Not seen such healers for a long time. Perhaps Dr. Oudhia can >>>>>>>>> throw some light. >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> -- >>>>>>>>> Dr. Gurcharan Singh >>>>>>>>> Retired Associate Professor >>>>>>>>> SGTB Khalsa College, University of Delhi, Delhi-110007 >>>>>>>>> Res: 932 Anand Kunj, Vikas Puri, New Delhi-110018. >>>>>>>>> Phone: 011-25518297 Mob: 9810359089 >>>>>>>>> http://people.du.ac.in/~singhg45/<http://people.du.ac.in/%7Esinghg45/> >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> On Sun, Aug 15, 2010 at 10:12 PM, Neil Soares < >>>>>>>>> [email protected]> wrote: >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> Hi, >>>>>>>>>> Had posted this attachment on the 'birdsofbombay' website. It may >>>>>>>>>> help. >>>>>>>>>> With regards, >>>>>>>>>> Neil Soares. >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> --- On *Sun, 8/15/10, Yazdy Palia <[email protected]>* wrote: >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> From: Yazdy Palia <[email protected]> >>>>>>>>>> Subject: Re: [efloraofindia:44449] Elephant Apple tree in the rain >>>>>>>>>> forest >>>>>>>>>> To: "Vijayasankar" <[email protected]> >>>>>>>>>> Cc: "raghu ananth" <[email protected]>, >>>>>>>>>> [email protected] >>>>>>>>>> Date: Sunday, August 15, 2010, 9:43 PM >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> Hello friends, >>>>>>>>>> I do not use any leech guard, we just get bitten, they suck and >>>>>>>>>> drop >>>>>>>>>> by themselves. It bleeds for some time and then stops. We have >>>>>>>>>> plenty >>>>>>>>>> of them now, it will increase during the north east monsoon. If >>>>>>>>>> you >>>>>>>>>> try to stop the bleeding, some irritation on the spot occurs which >>>>>>>>>> can >>>>>>>>>> last for a few months. Not harmful in any way. >>>>>>>>>> It bleeds as long as the sputum remains in the wound and then >>>>>>>>>> stops by >>>>>>>>>> itself. However, tobacco juice is a very safe way of preventing >>>>>>>>>> the >>>>>>>>>> leeches from climbing on to your limbs. >>>>>>>>>> Regards >>>>>>>>>> Yazdy. >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> On Sun, Aug 15, 2010 at 10:07 AM, Vijayasankar < >>>>>>>>>> [email protected]<http://us.mc339.mail.yahoo.com/mc/[email protected]>> >>>>>>>>>> wrote: >>>>>>>>>> > Dear Raghu ji, >>>>>>>>>> > >>>>>>>>>> > What kind of leech guard do you use? >>>>>>>>>> > >>>>>>>>>> > We used to spray dettol as leech repellant over the white >>>>>>>>>> foot-sac >>>>>>>>>> > (knee-size spl socks). This works good in keeping leeches away. >>>>>>>>>> But we have >>>>>>>>>> > to keep spraying dettol at some time intervals. >>>>>>>>>> > >>>>>>>>>> > Just wanted to know if any other methods are in use. >>>>>>>>>> > With regards >>>>>>>>>> > >>>>>>>>>> > Vijayasankar >>>>>>>>>> > >>>>>>>>>> > >>>>>>>>>> > On Fri, Aug 13, 2010 at 10:21 PM, raghu ananth < >>>>>>>>>> [email protected]<http://us.mc339.mail.yahoo.com/mc/[email protected]>> >>>>>>>>>> wrote: >>>>>>>>>> >> >>>>>>>>>> >> Elephant Apple tree in the rain forest >>>>>>>>>> >> white flowers, green fruits, height of the tree 50 - 60 feet, >>>>>>>>>> >> ( Leeches are everywhere in the wet forest floor under this >>>>>>>>>> tree. They >>>>>>>>>> >> easily detect our presence and seen fast approaching towards >>>>>>>>>> us. Leech guard >>>>>>>>>> >> is a must.) >>>>>>>>>> >> Jaipur (Assam) >>>>>>>>>> >> 18 Jul 2010 >>>>>>>>>> >> Regards >>>>>>>>>> >> Raghu >>>>>>>>>> >> >>>>>>>>>> > >>>>>>>>>> > >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>> >> >
