*Jharkhand : A treasure of herbal plants and forest produce * http://ranchiexpress.com/herbal/ ------------------------------
Going by the percentage of green cover over the state of Jharkhand, even if the people started purely living on the industries based on herbal plants and other forest produce, the prosperity would rain on them without doubt, for the state of Jharkhand is undoubtedly a treasure trove of herbal plants and forest produce. Their sustainable utilization would of course provide the people a healthy livelihood, for the medicinal and aromatic plants are high value cash crops and the agro climatic zone of Jharkhand is best suited for the cultivation of such plants. Due to side effects of chemical medicines, people are turning towards the herbs. Baba Ramdev, during his visit to Ranchi asked the people to go in for the herbal medicines because such plants were found in ample amount in the State. More than 1,500 herbal plants are found in the country and a huge plants are found in the country and a huge chunk of them are found in Jharkhand. Amazing are their therapeutic values, as the plants, which all look so simple and green carry wonderful results on the human health carry wonderful results on the human health only after proper application. *Sarpagandha *is used for the treatment of the mental patients. It is also used in blood pressure, cholera and so on.Height of the plants is 30 to 75 cm and length of its leaves is 10 to 15 cm. It also shines. Its fruit is called drupe, which is blue and black in colour. *Ashwagandha* is also found in the state, which is used in increasing the physical strength, haemoglobin and increasing the RBC in human body. Besides, it is also used to cure arthritis, body swelling, and other ailments. Height of the plant is 3 ft and the length of its root is 30 cm. *Moosh* is used in the treatment of diabetes, asthma, piles, skin disease, jaundice, urinal problem and lucoria. It increases the facial exposure and cures stomach problem. *Shatawar* that cures anaemia is also found in the state. Wach herb is used in the treatment of cough, hysteria, urinal problem and skin disease. It also increases the mental ability and cures vein problems in the body. * Kalmedh* is used in any type of blood discorder, malaria, and skin diseases. It is also known as Chiraita and used to keep the stomach cool. *Ghritakumari* herb is used for the treatment of any disease in uterus and stomach. Besides, there are other species of herbs in Jharkhand. These herbs are being used right from the ancient time. In addition to the herbal plants with their therapeutic values, in the forests of Jharkhand we also have trees of immense commercial value, which had been sustaining the lives of the villagers, particularly the tribals for several centuries down the line.
