Developing the medicinal plants sector in India

[Guest guest]

this paper was just forwarded to me by a colleague

full paper available here: http://www.ethnobiomed.com/content/2/1/32

 

Kala, et al. Developing the medicinal plants sector in India. Journal of

Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine 2006, 2:32

 

ABSTRACT

The medicinal properties of plant species have made an outstanding

contribution in the origin and evolution of many traditional herbal

therapies. These traditional knowledge systems have started to

disappear with the passage of time due to scarcity of written

documents and relatively low income in these traditions. Over the

past few years, however, the medicinal plants have regained a wide

recognition due to an escalating faith in herbal medicine in view of

its lesser side effects compared to allopathic medicine in addition

the necessity of meeting the requirements of medicine for an

increasing human population. Through the realization of the

continuous erosion of traditional knowledge of plants used for

medicine in the past and the renewed interest at the present time, a

need existed to review this valuable knowledge of medicinal plants

with the purpose of developing medicinal plants sectors across the

different states in India. Our major objectives therefore were to

explore the potential in medicinal plants resources, to understand

the challenges and opportunities with the medicinal plants sector,

and also to suggest recommendations based upon the present state of

knowledge for the establishment and smooth functioning of the

medicinal plants sector along with improving the living standards of

the underprivileged communities. The review reveals that northern

India harbors a rich diversity of valuable medicinal plants, and

attempts are being made at different levels for sustainable

utilization of this resource in order to develop the medicinal plants

sector.

 

Caldecott

todd (AT) toddcaldecott (DOT) com

www.toddcaldecott.com

[Guest guest]

Yoga which was practically unkown a couple of decades earlier is now

getting very popular as source for better health allover the

world.Similarly people are fed up with the use of inorganic fertilisers

and pesticides are increasingly looking for organic foods.Wellness industry

is also using ayurvedic formulations in their products.It is time

government prepares an action plan to promote the production of medicinal

plants on a war footing together with the production infrastructure both for

mamufacture of medicines and cosmetic products .If this sector of agro

based industry is properly harnessed and directed it has rich potential

for export.In addition India is the only country in the world to be with

this rare knowledge what is needed is to translate our rich ancient

knowledge into fuctioning industry.Swami Ramdeo recently talked about export

possibilties for fruit a nd vegetable juice after his UK visit.

 

 

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> The medicinal properties of plant species have made an outstanding

> contribution in the origin and evolution of many traditional herbal

> therapies.