Potted medicinal plants growing in the terraces and balconies of city-dwellers may help address one of Ayurveda's big challenges - disappearing medicinal plant species as green spaces shrink.
The Arogya Expo, being held alongside the 6th World Ayurveda Congress at Pragati Maidan here, is a minefield of information for people to wish to not just grow Ayurveda plants for home-made remedies but help conservation efforts.
Stalls set up by partners of the National Medicinal Plant Board (NMPB) are displaying and selling medicinal plants, such as Aonla (gooseberry), Aloe Vera, curry leaf, lemon grass, Tulsi, Ajwain, hibiscus, Brahmi, Ashwagandha, Arjuna and Rudraksh, to the visitors at prices ranging from Rs 5 to Rs 100.
"Ayurveda plants like Brahmi, Sadabahar, Stevia, Tulsi, Ajwain, Ashwagandha and lemon grass can easily be grown in balconies and on terraces," said Meenakshi Negi, Deputy CEO of the NMPB.
There are leaflets that provide information on how to grow these plants at home and care for them. There is also plenty of information on the medicinal uses of various plants, curative properties, their formulations and dosage.
For example Arjun, a plant which can be grown easily in homes, is known to be effective in managing conditions including heart disease, hypertension and diabetes; similarly Giloe can be used to treat stomach ulcers and for building immunity.
"Apart from disease, the focus is on suitability of the climate of Delhi to support growth of certain plants, she said, adding, "Sale of Ayurveda plants has been a regular feature of all the Arogya Expos and as has been the experience it is one of the biggest attractions for the visitors."
The plants will be supplied by Delhi Parks and Garden Society, the State Forest Department and partners from states including Uttarakhand and Andhra Pradesh.
Negi also said that a new feature of the Arogya Expo is an exhibition being put up by NMPB on 'Medicinal Plants listed in the Charaksamhita' for the cure of various ailments.
"There is also a display of live plants, dry samples, and photographs of rare species, along with their descriptions and therapeutic uses. The plants will be displayed as per the classical categorisation given in the Charaksamhita (a foundational text on Ayurveda)," she noted.
Another new feature of the Expo is a seminar on "Integrating Medicinal Plants with Forestry". There will be around 250 participants from state forest departments, State Medicinal Plants Boards, faculty and students of different Ayurveda colleges, Delhi University and other experts.
"A major objective of Arogya Expo is to showcase the benefits and emerging trends in the AYUSH sector and register Ayurveda in the minds of consumers," said A Jayakumar, of the World Ayurveda Foundation which is organising the event in collaboration with Department of AYUSH, Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, and the Delhi government.
