#Herbs/Medicinal plants |
#HISTORY OF HERBS
Medicinal Plants have been used in human history from the start of the human existence.Humans have been using many herbs and plants for the seasoning of their food for a long time,many of those herbs are found to be having medicinal qualities.
Medicinal Plants have been used in human history from the start of the human existence.Humans have been using many herbs and plants for the seasoning of their food for a long time,many of those herbs are found to be having medicinal qualities.
PRE-HISTORIC USE OF HERBS
As per the record written in human history Sumerians started the study of herbal plants.They created tablets of clay with lists of hundreds of medicinal plants (such as myrrh and opium). The Ancient Egyptians in 1500 B.C. wrote about Ebers Papyrus,which had data collection of over 850 plant medicines including castor bean, aloe, garlic, juniper,and cannabis.
In India, Ayurveda has its own special importance.Herbal plants are used as medicine and been in use since time immemorial.Earliest Sanskrit writings such as the Rig Veda, and Atharva Veda are some of the earliest available documents detailing the medical knowledge that formed the basis of the Ayurveda system.Many other herbs and minerals used in Ayurveda were later described by ancient Indian herbalists such as Charaka and Sushruta during the 1st millennium BC. The Sushruta Samhita related to Sushruta in the 6th century BC mentions seven hundred medicinal plants,sixty four preparations from mineral sources and fifty seven preparations based on animal sources.
In India, Ayurveda has its own special importance.Herbal plants are used as medicine and been in use since time immemorial.Earliest Sanskrit writings such as the Rig Veda, and Atharva Veda are some of the earliest available documents detailing the medical knowledge that formed the basis of the Ayurveda system.Many other herbs and minerals used in Ayurveda were later described by ancient Indian herbalists such as Charaka and Sushruta during the 1st millennium BC. The Sushruta Samhita related to Sushruta in the 6th century BC mentions seven hundred medicinal plants,sixty four preparations from mineral sources and fifty seven preparations based on animal sources.
#Conservation of medicinal plants
The conservation of medicinal plants is very important as far as its increasing demand is concerned.According to a recent research herbal ingredients are major part of many modern medicines and about 80 percent of the population of the world depends on it. In United States of America about 25 to 40 percent prescribed drugs have ingredients that are derived from medicinal plants.The market for natural products is booming very fast.This is making a huge pressure on flora and fauna of even the remotest of areas and areas such as Himalayas.Its also been noticed that the local population starts exploiting their resources just for their financial gain.The over usage of the local resources leads to over harvesting,habitat degradation and habitat loss.
Conservation methods of Medicinal Plants
1.IN SITU CONSERVATION
IN SITU conservation is the on site conservation of the medicinal plants in its natural habitat.It can be done by either protecting it from illegal harvesting and deforestation,or by letting the habitat protect it by making some eco zones.It helps in eco balanced developement and balanced bio diversity.
IN SITU conservation is the on site conservation of the medicinal plants in its natural habitat.It can be done by either protecting it from illegal harvesting and deforestation,or by letting the habitat protect it by making some eco zones.It helps in eco balanced developement and balanced bio diversity.
2.Ex-situ conservation
The totally offsite conservation of any medicinal plant out side its natural habitat is called ex situ conservation. In ex situ conservation,the medicinal plants are brought from its natural but threatened habitat to a new location.The new location can be a wild location in a remote area or in lab conditions under human observation.
The totally offsite conservation of any medicinal plant out side its natural habitat is called ex situ conservation. In ex situ conservation,the medicinal plants are brought from its natural but threatened habitat to a new location.The new location can be a wild location in a remote area or in lab conditions under human observation.