From
time immemorial, the value of herbs food and medicine has been fully
recognized a appreciated. To rejuvenate the body and beau the skin, herbs
and some spices have been used over the centuries I royal families and
even among commoners, specially by women.
Though a desert state.
Rajasthan is surprisingly rich in herbal wealth, spices and vegetables.
The whole Aravalli mountain ranges are well stocked with shrubs and herbs
of price less worth and high medicinal values. Some of the rare and
indigenous species are Adusa (Adhatoda zeyionica), Aloy (Aloy Barbados)
Aagandh (Withania somnifera), Kateri (Solanum indicum), Barhmi (Bacopa
monnier), Gokharu (tribulus terristris). Thor (Euphorbia spp.), Carissa
congesla), Lajwanti (Aeschynomene indica), Musli (Cenculings orchyoides),
Shankh buti (Indigifera linifolia) Sarpagandha (Rauvolfia serpentina).
Collection
and sale of the produce of medicinal plants in hilly areas is a major
source of income for tribal families.
Ginger, turmeric, garlic,
onion are commonly grown in plains and semi arid region. Species like
coriander, cumin, fennel, chillies, aniseed and fenugreek are grown in
Jodhpur, Jaipur, Kota and Pali districts.
The state also contributes 40
percent produce of Isabgol of the country which is exported to Nepal,
U.S.A. and the Gulf region. The main areas producing this crop is Nagaur
and Sirohi districts. In some pockets, flouriculture is an important
source of income. Pushkar (Ajmer) is famous for rose farming, whereas
Bhilwara district is known for sunflower. The desert fruit - Khajoor is
promoted by the Date Tree Research Centre, Bikaner.
Neem
(Azadirachta indica), a tree of multiple use, grows profusely throughout
the state. To preserve the block of floral-herbal wealth, efforts have
been made by various agencies. The Forest department has set up a Herbal
Garden at Udaipur as well as Jaipur. Similarly, the Department of
Ayurveda also maintains Herbbal Parks at Kishangarh, Mangliawas (Ajmer),
Banswara and the tribal area of Udaipur. Some private individuals and
pharmacies also possess herbal plantation farms in many villages of
Rajashtan. Apartment all these, the state is taking a lead in exporting
and manufacturing herbal medicines in the country. Herbs, plants and roots
substances which are effective in various ways in cleaning the blood,
building tissue and aiding digestion.