 |
Kathmandu,Saturday January 29, 2000 Magh 15th, 2056.
|
Promote
herbs
It
is indeed quite unfortunate that the country has not been able to give
due priority to identify and promote herbs with medicinal properties.
The use of herbal plants to cure or alleviate painful symptoms of
various ailments is not uncommon in many parts of the country. People,
especially in rural parts of the country still resort to various
herbal plants whenever they are afflicted with health problems. For
example, the use of banmara juice for sudden cuts or wounds, ranisinka
dust for stopping bleeding , kamleghans paste or juice for nettle
burns and ghodthapre for a number of stomach complaints and even
headaches and high temperatures are quite common methods of treatment.
Herbal care for bronchitis, heart problems and even cancer have been
declared possible by scientists.
Notwithstanding
the rich store of herbal plants, we have not been able to utilise them
properly. It is indeed quite disappointing. In fact, this sector
requires a good deal of study and research. Although Ayurvedic
medicines based on various herbal plants have been in circulation
since long, innovative research has not been carried out to promote
herbal medicines. In the present world of multiple complexities,
allopathic medicines manufactured with modern scientific techniques
alone are not enough to fight diseases. Therefore, the use of
alternative methods is inevitable. For this reason also,
identification and promotion of medicinal herbs are essential.
According
to a report brought out last year by the Department of Forest, there
are some seven hundred species of medicinal herbs. The fact that a
portion of these herbs yielded as much as 25 million rupees in
revenue during the last fiscal year alone indicates the potential of
herbs in Nepal and that this could be realised if due initiative is
taken to develop this sector. It is sad that more than 90 percent of
the total herbal output goes out of country as “raw
material”. At present, not more than five percent is believed to be
used in the country. India, Japan and Germany are the major importers
of Nepali herb products, with India taking a hefty 80 percent share.
If
on the one hand, this is the situation, then on the other, the country
spends as much as 4 billion rupees every year on the import of foreign
medicine. Also, there are some 11 thousand brands of medicines
currently being used in Nepal, of which 30 to 40 percent is said
to be of “low quality”. This is too serious to be ignored.
Forest officials have pointed out the need for special arrangements to
check illegal and irregular trading in medicinal herbs. This indeed
deserves government attention. The promotion of herbs, both medicinal
and for other uses, only consolidates Nepal’s position in respect to
public health care, besides providing employment to many and thus
contributing to the national economy.
Other Stories
|
