Agro-climatic conditions in the Nilgiris is on a par with those in Europe for growth of herbs
Kerala students made a field study at the homoeo medicinal plants cultivation and research garden at Emerald, near Ooty. -DC
Ooty: Kerala students took in-situ lessons on the homoeopathic herbal wealth of the Nilgiris as experts in the field opined that Nilgiris has the potential to blossom into the homoeo herbs capital of the nation.For the near 50-odd students from ANSS Homoeopathic Medical College in Kottayam, Kerala, Tuesday was the day to a have look at herbs being used in homoeo medicines as they visited the Homoeopathic Medicinal Plants Cultivation and Research Garden of the Central Survey of Medicinal Plants Collection (CSMPC) unit at Emerald, near here.
Dr Ram Jyotish, reader at the college, said this was a very useful field study as the students who so far have only heard about homoeo herbs being used in homeopathic medicines, could see them in the field and study their traits and ecology.“Generally, homoeo herbs are known as Euro weather-liking herbs as they grow well in European countries. The nearly 85 species of such herbs that grow in the Nilgiris, show that the agro-climatic conditions in the Nilgiris is on a par with those in Europe and this aids the growth of homoeo herbs here,” he added. “If steps are taken to raise these homoeo herbs in large quantities across the Nilgiris to supply to the homoeo pharma industries, the Nilgiris will become the homoeo herbal capital of the nation,” he added.
Dr Jyotish added that a survey showed that the homeopathic medicinal field registered a near 10 per cent growth in recent times. More people, especially those in the creamy layer, now opt for homoeo drugs as they are free from side-effects besides curing the disease in an effective way, he pointed out. Dr S. Rajan, field botanist at CSMPC, said the unit in Emerald has sourced 85 species of homoeo herbal plants from abroad and raised them in the Emerald research garden over the years.
“We research the growth module and supply the raw materials needed for homoeo drug standardisation studies. So far, we have not initiated any commercial activity in a big way. But our research over the years shows that homoeo herbs grow well in the Nilgiris. Of course, it has vast potential to become a homoeo herbal capital, if herbal medicinal growers and homoeo pharma industries join hands for the purpose,” he added.
Rare herbs grow in Nilgiris
Dr Jyotish said some rare homoeo herbs such as the California poppy which is very effective in treating sleep disorders, grows well in the Nilgiris. Dr S. Rajan said Comfrey and Ammi visnaga, rare homeo herbs useful in treating skin ailments and kidney stones respectively, are found to grow well in the Nilgiris.
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