People opt for medicinal plants from Raj Bhavan

by ABDUL RAUF BEIG
Posted on 2009-06-03
PANAJI- The forest department’s endeavour to undertake plantation of medicinal plants at the Raj Bhavan complex despite odds and create awareness of their utility for treatment of various ailments appears to have found takers with a number of people coming forward to take home these plants for medicinal use.
The plantation of medicinal plants the Raj Bhavan complex was undertaken in 2003, when Mr Kedar Nath Sahani was the state governor. After he ceased to be the governor the plantation was almost forgotten for some time, but has been revived about a year ago. The forest department manages the plantation.
Among the medicinal plants that were being grown in the plantation that extend up to two hectares of the land at the entrance of the Raj Bhavan complex are Rauvolfia Micrantha locally known as zamidari, which has medicinal use in treating hypertension, fever, giddiness and ophthalmia.
There is also a plot where Aloe Vera is grown. This plant has been well known for centuries for its healing properties and is used commonly in treating skin problems including wounds, burns, or scald and even speeding recovery time after surgery.  It is also used for treating allergic reactions and dry skin.
Other medicinal plant that are grown at the plantation are hydrocotyle asiatica (locally known as brahmi) and which is used as brain tonic; dryophylum calycinum (paanphuti) used as antiseptic; aeorus calamus (vekhand) used in treating snake bites, epilepsy and diarrhoea.
Also grown in the area are piper lougum (pippali) used for treating chronic bronchitis, cough and cold; drypetes roxburgluti (local name – puttranjiva) and used for treatment of fever, catarrh. It is also used as laxative and as diuretic. Another plant that is grown is vinca rosea (sadaphuli), which had anti-carcinogenic properties and could also be used for treating diabetes, diarrhoea and abdominal ulcers.
According to Mr Vishwanath Budge, the range forest officer in-charge of the plantation, there is good demand for aloe vera from the people. The produce of the plantation is also taken away by the Ayurvedic College at Shiroda, he added. Among the trees that have grown are amla, kokum, jambul and chandan, he added.
The forest official, however, said that raising the plantation in the complex has not been easy as the land allocated for the purpose was a bit rocky and it was difficult to dig pits. He also said that wild animals like porcupines, jackals and peacocks either eat the plants or destroy them.
Stating that part of the area has been fenced, Mr Bugde felt that there was immediate need for complete fencing the plantation in order to ensure that all the planted plants grow without hassles.