Ethnobotany: Medicinal Plants and Cultural Heritage in Himalayan Region by Almora Book Depot, Mall Road, Almora, Uttarakhand, 2023
The study aimed to document traditional uses of medicinal flora and home remedies which are helpf... more The study aimed to document traditional uses of medicinal flora and home remedies which are helpful in boosting immunity, fighting against COVID-19 and other related diseases. Most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, cough, tiredness and loss of taste or smell. Less common symptoms are sore throat, headache, aches and pains, diarrhoea, a rash on skin, or discoloration of fingers or toes, red or irritated eyes. Serious symptoms are difficulty in breathing or shortness of breath, loss of speech or mobility, or confusion and chest pain. The present study was conducted in the Haldwani region of Nainital district, Uttarakhand. All the information was collected through conducting field survey and interviewing people of different age groups. A questionnaire survey technique was applied to gather information on different home remedies and plant ingredients which are traditionally used as a medium to boost immunity and to cure cough, cold and fever.
During the study it was observed that ingredients of about 17 species of herbs, 10 species of shrub, 6 species of trees are applied domestically to prevent from COVID. Beside some other supplements like Honey, Bitter gourd juice, powder of cordyceps mixed with milk, green tea, kadha, and chyawanprash are also reported as immunity booster. Fruit part of plants was found excessively used to increase immunity using Piper nigrum, Citrus limon, Phyllanthus emblica, Carica papaya, Syzygium cumini, Rubus ellipticus, Momordica charantia, Illicium verum and Hippophae rhamnoides. Leaves of Ocimum tenuiflorum, Cinnamomum verum, Tinospora cordifolia, Carica papaya, Azadirachta indica, Withania somnifera, Nyctanthes arbor-tristis, Justicia adhatoda, Mentha x piperita and Hippophae rhamnoides and root elements of Tinospora cordifolia, Rubus ellipticus, Glycyrrhiza glabra, Withania somnifera, Justicia adhatoda, Inula racemosa, Clerodendrum serratum and Picrorhiza kurroa.
Maximum 76% people stated that Zingiber (Ginger) spice boost highest immunity while 56% informers answered Syzygium (Clove) spice is the next after Zingiber. Curcuma (Turmeric) also contributes about 48% followed by Piper (Black pepper) spice (44%). The Trachyspermum (Ajwain) spice, Cinnamomum (Cinnamon), Allium (Garlic), Foeniculum (Saunf), Amomum (Black cardamom) and Cuminum (Cumin) also improve the capacity of the immunity and are reciprocated by 26%, 18%, 16%, 14%, 12% and 6% respectively.
These plants/herbs can be incorporated in our day-to-day life as a food, flavoring agent or food supplement to boost immunity, fight diseases or future challenges like COVID-19. Thus, the study concluded that indigenous knowledge on home remedies and conservation and cultivation of such medicinal flora can be a better solution to improve immunity and to fight against serious diseases.
Keywords: Home remedies, Immunity booster, COVID-19, Medicinal flora.
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immemorial. It is believed that organizing Havan or Homa brings happiness, peace and prosperity in the family.
Its social and scientific importance has also been mentioned in the Vedas. It is also mentioned in the Vedas that
when aromatic plants are burnt in the sacred fire (Havan), different types of aromas are released from it. These
aromatic fumes are beneficial in destroying the airborne microorganisms present in the surrounding environment
which cause diseases in the human body and animals. Apart from this, the smoke of Havan also destroys many
types of plant pathogens. In the present investigation, a total of eight incense plants of Kumaun Himalaya have
been studied. These plants were collected during field surveys. Thereafter, herbal Havan material was prepared in
the laboratory. A composition and formulation of crushed parts of incense plants was prepared using traditional
methods. The need for conservation of these important plants in the area and their cultivation in large quantities
was also discussed. Apart from this, the therapeutic uses and chemical properties of these plants were also studied.
Key words: Incense plants, formulation, Havan material, therapeutic uses, study area
ancient age, it was performed many times in a day by the Vedic people. Agnihotra was an important part of their routine life.
Fumes of Yagya purify the surrounding environment by removing foul odors replaced with various volatile organic compounds.
But in the modern time it is performed only on some special occasions like ceremonies, festivals and on other worships.
Ancient time people were uses various medicinal plants for curing harmful diseases by performing fumigation method.
Present study is focused on the medicinal plants which are applied to perform a very ancient religious practice of the Kumaun
Himalaya and effect of their components when offered in Agnihotra as Havan material or their medicinal uses. A questionnairebased survey was conducted in major religious places of Almora for collecting the information on plants used in the worship
on different occasions. In result a total of 34 medicinal plants are recorded from four major religious sports of Kumaun. Out
of which maximum 24 plants are applied in the worship of lord Shiva at Jageshwar shrine. Apart from this, 29 such medicinal
plants along with their chemical constituents have also been studied which are mentioned in the Vedic text and these are
applied in Agnihotra. This study will be important in preserving this plant-based Vedic practice of Kumaun as well as these
important medicinal plants and an attempt has also been made to emphasize the plants which are used in making incense and
Havan material.
Keywords: Medicinal plants, Vedic rituals (Agnihotra), common diseases, volatile component, major religious spots of
Kumaun.
During the study it was observed that ingredients of about 17 species of herbs, 10 species of shrub, 6 species of trees are applied domestically to prevent from COVID. Beside some other supplements like Honey, Bitter gourd juice, powder of cordyceps mixed with milk, green tea, kadha, and chyawanprash are also reported as immunity booster. Fruit part of plants was found excessively used to increase immunity using Piper nigrum, Citrus limon, Phyllanthus emblica, Carica papaya, Syzygium cumini, Rubus ellipticus, Momordica charantia, Illicium verum and Hippophae rhamnoides. Leaves of Ocimum tenuiflorum, Cinnamomum verum, Tinospora cordifolia, Carica papaya, Azadirachta indica, Withania somnifera, Nyctanthes arbor-tristis, Justicia adhatoda, Mentha x piperita and Hippophae rhamnoides and root elements of Tinospora cordifolia, Rubus ellipticus, Glycyrrhiza glabra, Withania somnifera, Justicia adhatoda, Inula racemosa, Clerodendrum serratum and Picrorhiza kurroa.
Maximum 76% people stated that Zingiber (Ginger) spice boost highest immunity while 56% informers answered Syzygium (Clove) spice is the next after Zingiber. Curcuma (Turmeric) also contributes about 48% followed by Piper (Black pepper) spice (44%). The Trachyspermum (Ajwain) spice, Cinnamomum (Cinnamon), Allium (Garlic), Foeniculum (Saunf), Amomum (Black cardamom) and Cuminum (Cumin) also improve the capacity of the immunity and are reciprocated by 26%, 18%, 16%, 14%, 12% and 6% respectively.
These plants/herbs can be incorporated in our day-to-day life as a food, flavoring agent or food supplement to boost immunity, fight diseases or future challenges like COVID-19. Thus, the study concluded that indigenous knowledge on home remedies and conservation and cultivation of such medicinal flora can be a better solution to improve immunity and to fight against serious diseases.
Keywords: Home remedies, Immunity booster, COVID-19, Medicinal flora.
immemorial. It is believed that organizing Havan or Homa brings happiness, peace and prosperity in the family.
Its social and scientific importance has also been mentioned in the Vedas. It is also mentioned in the Vedas that
when aromatic plants are burnt in the sacred fire (Havan), different types of aromas are released from it. These
aromatic fumes are beneficial in destroying the airborne microorganisms present in the surrounding environment
which cause diseases in the human body and animals. Apart from this, the smoke of Havan also destroys many
types of plant pathogens. In the present investigation, a total of eight incense plants of Kumaun Himalaya have
been studied. These plants were collected during field surveys. Thereafter, herbal Havan material was prepared in
the laboratory. A composition and formulation of crushed parts of incense plants was prepared using traditional
methods. The need for conservation of these important plants in the area and their cultivation in large quantities
was also discussed. Apart from this, the therapeutic uses and chemical properties of these plants were also studied.
Key words: Incense plants, formulation, Havan material, therapeutic uses, study area
ancient age, it was performed many times in a day by the Vedic people. Agnihotra was an important part of their routine life.
Fumes of Yagya purify the surrounding environment by removing foul odors replaced with various volatile organic compounds.
But in the modern time it is performed only on some special occasions like ceremonies, festivals and on other worships.
Ancient time people were uses various medicinal plants for curing harmful diseases by performing fumigation method.
Present study is focused on the medicinal plants which are applied to perform a very ancient religious practice of the Kumaun
Himalaya and effect of their components when offered in Agnihotra as Havan material or their medicinal uses. A questionnairebased survey was conducted in major religious places of Almora for collecting the information on plants used in the worship
on different occasions. In result a total of 34 medicinal plants are recorded from four major religious sports of Kumaun. Out
of which maximum 24 plants are applied in the worship of lord Shiva at Jageshwar shrine. Apart from this, 29 such medicinal
plants along with their chemical constituents have also been studied which are mentioned in the Vedic text and these are
applied in Agnihotra. This study will be important in preserving this plant-based Vedic practice of Kumaun as well as these
important medicinal plants and an attempt has also been made to emphasize the plants which are used in making incense and
Havan material.
Keywords: Medicinal plants, Vedic rituals (Agnihotra), common diseases, volatile component, major religious spots of
Kumaun.
During the study it was observed that ingredients of about 17 species of herbs, 10 species of shrub, 6 species of trees are applied domestically to prevent from COVID. Beside some other supplements like Honey, Bitter gourd juice, powder of cordyceps mixed with milk, green tea, kadha, and chyawanprash are also reported as immunity booster. Fruit part of plants was found excessively used to increase immunity using Piper nigrum, Citrus limon, Phyllanthus emblica, Carica papaya, Syzygium cumini, Rubus ellipticus, Momordica charantia, Illicium verum and Hippophae rhamnoides. Leaves of Ocimum tenuiflorum, Cinnamomum verum, Tinospora cordifolia, Carica papaya, Azadirachta indica, Withania somnifera, Nyctanthes arbor-tristis, Justicia adhatoda, Mentha x piperita and Hippophae rhamnoides and root elements of Tinospora cordifolia, Rubus ellipticus, Glycyrrhiza glabra, Withania somnifera, Justicia adhatoda, Inula racemosa, Clerodendrum serratum and Picrorhiza kurroa.
Maximum 76% people stated that Zingiber (Ginger) spice boost highest immunity while 56% informers answered Syzygium (Clove) spice is the next after Zingiber. Curcuma (Turmeric) also contributes about 48% followed by Piper (Black pepper) spice (44%). The Trachyspermum (Ajwain) spice, Cinnamomum (Cinnamon), Allium (Garlic), Foeniculum (Saunf), Amomum (Black cardamom) and Cuminum (Cumin) also improve the capacity of the immunity and are reciprocated by 26%, 18%, 16%, 14%, 12% and 6% respectively.
These plants/herbs can be incorporated in our day-to-day life as a food, flavoring agent or food supplement to boost immunity, fight diseases or future challenges like COVID-19. Thus, the study concluded that indigenous knowledge on home remedies and conservation and cultivation of such medicinal flora can be a better solution to improve immunity and to fight against serious diseases.
Keywords: Home remedies, Immunity booster, COVID-19, Medicinal flora.