PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Haridwar
Though 1,300 medicinal plants are recorded in Uttarakhand, Patanjali claims to have recorded 1,011 medicinal plants in tribal areas of four districts alone. The organisation’s scientists and researchers are now working in all 13 districts of the State to find more medicinal herbs. With its teams achieving positive results, the organisation expects to break the record of 1,300.
Under Acharya Balkrishna’s leadership, the Patanjali teams visited various rural areas in Dehradun, Chamoli, Pithoragarh and Udham Singh Nagar districts. The team learned various important aspects on interacting with the local tribals. The team led by Balkrishna visited 122 villages in 14 Tehsils where researchers talked to those who have traditional knowledge. A total of 216 tribal healers were also identified during the campaign. The scientific documentation of 238 medicinal plants was carried out on the basis of interactions with these tribal healers. The Patanjali teams interacted with Jaunsari, Bhotiya, Tharu, Buxa and Van Raji tribals.
Balkrishna said that the traditional knowledge of nature and medicinal plants with the tribals is a priceless heritage of humanity. “Patanjali is working to scientifically preserve this heritage which is dying out in tribal areas. Studies so far in a limited area have resulted in identification of 1,011 medicinal plants and now our teams are working round the clock to identify medicinal herbs in all the 13 districts of the State,” he added.
