Pharma Forestry: Field Guide to Medicinal Plants

Pharma Forestry : Field Guide to Medicinal Plants provides information on all related aspects of medicinal plants. Distribution, identification, medicinal uses, cultivation, marketing and legal aspects have been discussed in the book for the benefits of all concerned. The book is written in a simple language and lucid style. Forests are getting degraded for the want of protection and heavy biotic pressure day by day and hence possibility of an ecological disaster cannot be ruled out considering the role of forests in maintaining the life-support system of the earth. Forests are also the storehouse of medicines and hence its degradation will affect the availability of the medicinal plants. Unavailability of medicinal plants may endanger the health of millions of people who rely on them for their health. Ayurveda, the oldest plant-based health system, is fully dependent on forests. Besides its considerable role in the maintenance of health of the people in remote areas, the cultivation and conservation of medicinal plants provides a way for involving local people in forest protection and thereby raise their income and socio-economic status. The rural people are involved even in the joint forest management. The book aims at spreading the message that a tree saved is better than a tree planted. The book is well illustrated with about 200 coloured photographs of medicinal plants which are worth million words as they help in their identification. In addition, the detailed information on the cultivation of about 26 commercially important medicinal plants, notes on cultivation of some other important medicinal plants, and legal and market dynamics provided in the book will generate awareness among all the concerned. Glossary of the medical and botanical terms will help in its easy understanding. The model estimate of cultivation of the medicinal plants will help the farmer entrepreneur to take up the medicinal plants cultivation. The book will help in making the country greener and countrymen prosperous and healthier. It will serve not only as an excellent reference material but also as a practical guide for vaidyas, pharmacists, researchers and students in the field of pharma industry.