Herbal medicine is an age-old practice. Nonetheless, with only 10 percent of the earth’s estimated 250,000 species of higher plants considered medicinal, and the lower plants still unexplored, plants will continue to be the sleeping giant of drug development, and serve mankind in the days to come. Nepal Himalaya–a sacred heaven of potent medicinal plants, and Nepal–rich in traditional medicinal systems such as Ayurveda, Amchi, Unani, Naturopathy, Homeopathy, etc. relies heavily on plants for medication. In addition, the plant-based medicinal knowledge acquired in Nepali villages from the forefathers and own experiences is also a valuable asset of mankind. In this context, where documenting such scattered information and their dissemination to the appropriate audience is essential, it is also a challenge, especially when these information continue to swell up with time. Despite a few publications on this topic, a huge compilation of this kind had, therefore been long awaited in Nepal. The present compendium, which includes plants–indigenous or exotic of high growth potential, and having medicinal uses of one or other kind, serves as a repository of knowledge for those wishing to pursue works on this topic. Inclusion of a large number of Nepali and English names of plants, and the brief meaning of medical terms have added value to this book. The authors who are rightly placed to document work of this kind deserve appreciation for their tiresome work.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Puran Prasad Kurmi
Mr Puran Prasad Kurmi belongs to baripur –5 f Kapilabastu District. he obtained his graduation in Biology from university of Gorakhpur, India in 1975/ he joined His majesty’s Government of Nepal service in 1978 at department of Medicinal Plants. Since then he has been actively involved in researching various fields of botany such as ethnobotany, commercialization of medicinal plants, plant taxonomy, mass propagation and cultivation of medicinal plants, etc. However his major area of interest being plant taxonomy, he had spend almost 15 years for exploring, collecting and identifying plants in Nepal, for which he has traveled almost throughout the country on foot. This interest has now made him country’s one of the very few highly experienced plant taxonomists. he has recorded few new species for Nepal. Mr. Kurmi has visited India, Thailand and Sri Lanka for advanced training in plant taxonomy. He has attended numerous seminars and Conferences on science and technology. He is an active member o Nepal Botanical Society.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Sushim Ranjan Baral
Born in August 1956 at Bastipur Village of Siroha District, Sushim Ranjan Baral did his graduation in Biology from tri Chandra College, kathmandu in 1978. He joined his Majesty’s Government of Nepal service at Department of Medicinal Plants in 1979. After a gap of about two years he furthered his study at Tribhuvan University, kathmandu, and returned to work on completion of his MSc in 1983, However, his desire for further study took him to Beneras Hindu university, India, Where he obtained his Ph.D. in 1989 ounder the able guidance of Prof. H.D. Kumar an eminent scholar of Botany /Forestry of the contemporary period. Dr. Baral traveled extensively almost throughout Nepal on foot during botanical expeditions. He is a Forestry Information Officer at the Department of Forest research and Survey. He has received training in editing and publishing in England and Indonesia , and project monitoring and evaluation at the University of the Philippines at Los Banos. His fields of interest are Non-timber forest product of Nepal, and rehabilitation of degraded lands of the Himalaya. He also likes to disseminate scientific information to a wide range of audiences. he ahs authored a book entitled An Enumeration of the Algae of Nepal –only one of more than 25 research papers in national and international journals; led more than 10 research projects, and edited about 70 volumes publications that include Journals, Proceedings, Monographs, magazines, Booklets, etc, including Environment and Biodiversity: In the Context of South Asia, Environment and Agriculture at the Cross-road of the new Millennium (Vol I), and Environment and Agriculture: Biodiversity, Agriculture and Pollution in South Asia (Vol II.) He had edited Banko janakari-a International Journal of ecology. Dr. Baral is a Life member of some professional and social organizations such as Nepal Botanical society (NBS), Ecological Society (ECOS), and Nepal Red Cross Society. he was former Vice-president of NBS (1992-1994), and founding treasurer (1992-1996); general Secretary (1997-2001) and Vice –President (2002) of ECOS. He has received Prabal Gorkha Dakshin Bahu-a medal from the late King Birendra for his contribution in organising the International Conference of Environment and Agriculture in Kathmandu.
There are no reviews yet.