“Medicinal plants for the future sustainability
of Himalayan people”
Globally, Medicinal plants have been used in various
systems of medicine for curing range of diseases and aliments since time
immemorial. World Health Organization (WHO) has estimated that
approximately 80% of the world population still depend on herbal medicine for
for their primary health care needs. WHO assessed that around 21,000 plants
having the medicinal potential around the world. Age old Indian Vedas and Puranas
such as Rigveda, Atharveda, Ramanaya, Mahabharata, Charak Samhita, Susshruta
Samhita highlights the usefulness of medicinal plants. As per National
Medicinal Plant Board (NMPB) assessment more than 7000 species are estimated to
have medicinal usage in folk and traditional medicine health care in the
country. Whereas, about 2,700 plants species are
reported to be used in the codified Indian Systems of Medicine viz. Ayurveda (1800 species), Siddha
(500 species), Unani (400 species) and Amchi (300 species).Medicinal plants are
not only provide the primary healthcare needs of thousands of dependant
populace but also support the livelihood of many indigenous communities. In
India, about 1178 species of medicinal plants are estimated to be in trade of
which 242 species have annual consumption levels in excess of 100 metric
tons/year. The domestic demand of medicinal plants has been estimated 1.95 lakh
MT for the year of 2014-2015 and export demand of medicinal plants has been
estimated 1.34 lakh MT during 2014-2015. However, more than 90% of the species used in trade
continue to be collected from the wild, and nearly 66% are being gathered
through destructive and un-sustainable way to full fil the demand of the herbal
industries. This has brought several plants at the verge of extinction. The Indian Himalayan
Region (IHR) is the major repository of medicinal plants. The region as a whole
support nearly 50% of the total flowering plants in India, of which 30% are
endemic to the region. A review of existing biodiversity information of IHR
reveals that there are approximately 18,440 plant species of which 1748 are
medicinal plants, 675 wild edibles, 279 fodder species, 155 sacred plants and
118 essential oil plants with medicinal values.
Himachal
Pradesh is a biodiversity rich Himalayan state of IHR, it is popularly known as
the Devbhumi "Land of the Gods". The landscape of state is
characterized by snow capped mountain, lush green forest, rich biological
resource, diverse agroclimatic zones, mesmerising horticulture orchards and
culturally diverse populace. It was
adobe of the various rishis, munies and scholars, who studied the medicinal
plants of the region. Around
800 species are estimated to be used for some or the other medicinal purposes
within and outside the State. Medicinal plants are being used by indigenous
communities of the state for their primary health care needs. Traditional
wisdom of community on medicinal plants play key role in the treat various
diseases particularly in the rural areas of the state. Where the primary heath care services are not
properly available. Medicinal plants sector has been identified and prioritized
by the state government for boosting the economy of the state. It will not only
provide livelihood opportunities to people of the state but also generate ample
amount of employment option particularly for the younger generation. The forest
dependant indigenous communities of the state have several rights over forest
such as collection of non timber forest proudcts (NTFP) including medicinal
plants from the wild. These rights are known as bartan and holders of
these rights are called bartandars. However, unsustainable extraction of
medicinal plants from the wild, diverse anthropogenic interventions,
disinterest of traditional indigenous knowledge etc. are the main reasons for
the depletion of medicinal plant resources and associated knowledge in the
state.
In Himalayan region particularly in Himachal Pradesh several farmers have adopted the medicinal and aromatic plant cultivation as livelihood option. Mr. Jahan Singh is one of the farmer of Shangarh village of Sainj valley, cultivating Kutki/Kadu (Picrorhiza kurroa) in 3 acre land. Similarly, Mr. Dheeraj Sharma of Suppa village of Chamba district is cultivating Picrorhiza kurroa, Aconitum heterophyllum , Bergenia ciliate, Cinnamomum tamala,, Valeriana jatamansi,, Angelica glauca, Podophyllum hexandrum etc. medicinal plants . Mr. Trithaj Raj Thakur of Solangnalla village of Manali has also started cultivation of Picrorhiza kurroa and Aconitum heterophyllum. Himachal Regional Centre of the institute is supporting such medicinal plants cultivators and promoting other farmers for cultivation of medicinal plants. These interventions will not only help to increase the farmers income but at the same time organic medicinal plants cultivation will reduce the pressure on wild genetic resource of the such threatened medicinal plants in IHR (Photo 1 & 2).
Presently, the entire world is facing the Pandemic
COVID 19 problem, under this global health emergency situation, Govt. of India
is hopeful that the Indian traditional medicinal system will provide the
solutions to overcome COVID 19 Pandemics. Therefore, Ministry of AYUSH
(Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy), Government of
India is planning to start the clinical trails of four traditional medicines to
treat coronavirus infection. The selected herbal medicines are Ashwagandha
(Withania somnifera), Yashtimadhu or Mulethi (Glycyrrhiza glabra),
Guduchi Pippali or Giloy (Tinospora cordifolia) and AYUSH-64. These
medicines were invented for the treatment of malaria. AYUSH-64 is developed
with the composition of Picrorhiza kurroa, Swertia Chirayita, Alstonia
scholaris, Caesalpinia Crista species. Most of the selected herbal species
are only occur in the Himalayan region, these herbs are immunomodulators,
therefore, they may play key role for curing this life threatening infectious
disease.
Excessive
extraction of high value medicinal plants from wild has depleted the wild stock
of such species. Therefore, cultivation is the only way to conservation of
genetic stock of such valuable species. In addition to this, documentation of
medicinal plant diversity, assessment of bio-chemical and genetic variability,
value chain development, standardization of agro-techniques and propagation
protocols, strengthening of medicinal plant trade and enterprises, capacity
building of stakeholders and legal reforms are urgently required for the
holistic development of the medicinal plant sector in the Himalayan region. The
article concludes that the medicinal plant sector would be a potential vehicle
for the future sustainability of Himalayan people.
