Herbal Plants: There is a treasure of life-giving herbs on the Himalayan mountain. Even today, most of the medicines used for treatment in Ayurveda are being produced in the lap of the Himalayas, but many herbs have become extinct due to climate change. Recently, the International Union for Conservation of Nature has also added 3 medicinal plants found in the Himalayas to its red list. The names of these 3 medicinal plants are Mesotropis pelita, Fritilloria cirrhosa and Dactylorhiza hatagiria Mesotropis pelita. In an article, we will tell you how important these herbs are for human health, where these plants grow and why they are on the verge of extinction.
What is the use of these herbs
Mesotropis pelita, Fritillaria cirrhosa and Dactylorhiza hatagiria, included in the IUCN Red List, consider Mesotropis pelita to be rich in medicinal properties. Know here what are their benefits.
Fritillaria cirrhosa (Himalayan fritillary) – It is an evergreen bulbous herb. Based on the research done in 22 to 26 years, a 30 percent decline has been recorded in the availability of these herbs. The reason for this decline is poor germination capacity, high trade value, large scale felling of trees and illegal trade. In view of all these challenges, the IUCN has added the Himalayan Fritillary to the Red List. In China, this herb is used for diseases such as bronchial disorders and pneumonia. In traditional Chinese medicine, it has also been described as a medicine for cough and infection.
On the other hand, Dactylorhiza hatagiria (Salampanja) is also threatened by deforestation, climate change and livestock grazing. In Ayurveda, this herb is used in the treatment of dysentery, fever, cough and colic. This herb is found not only in India, but also in the Himalayan mountain ranges adjacent to Afghanistan, Bhutan, China, India, Nepal and Pakistan.
News Reels
Mesotropis pelita used to grow in Uttarakhand
Mesotropis pelita, also known as Patwa, is one of the three herbs included in the Red List by IUCN. It is an evergreen shrub, which grows in the hilly areas of Uttarakhand. Even today, in the lap of the Himalayas, there is a rich store of many such medicines. A research done in the year 1998 has shown that the number of species with medicinal properties in the Himalayas is 1,748, but due to climate change many of them have become extinct and some are being conserved. It has also been told in this research that many species are declared extinct on the basis of availability in a limited area of less than 10 kilometers and are included in the Red List.
why are herbs disappearing
In the midst of climate change, the worst effect is happening on nature itself. On one hand agriculture is getting affected, on the other hand such Himalayan species are becoming extinct due to global warming. Meanwhile, in a research on the Himalayan species becoming extinct, it has been told that medicinal species are also becoming extinct due to continuous deforestation, habitat fragmentation and forest fires. A special type of oil is extracted from the leaves of these plants, which are used in medicines as synthetic antioxidants derived from natural resources.
What do experts say
In the latest report published in The Hindu, Harsh Singh Chauhan, a member of the Species Survival Commission and Medicinal Plant Specialist Group involved in IUCN, states that the Himalayan region is a biodiversity hot-spot in itself. Despite this, the data of many species has not been collected yet. Only by evaluating these medicinal plants, we can determine their conservation, so that these species can be protected.
Let us tell you that Dr. Chauhan had identified 6 species with medicinal properties some time ago, including 6 varieties including Himalayan Trillium Govanianum (Himalayan Trillium) and Trillium Tsonosaki (Kyun-Yon-Yong-Cho). These herbs have also been recognized as extinct medicines.
Disclaimer: Some of the information given in the news is based on media reports. Farmer brothers, before implementing any suggestion, do consult the concerned expert.