Medicinal Plants in Rajasthan :

Rajasthan has large number of medicinal plants naturally growing in some areas of Rajasthan. Flora of the general surface of the hills is rich during rains and is composed mainly of small herbs.Biodiversity of Rajasthan is related with the Aravalli hills. Forests cover more than half of the total forest area in the state. These forests occur on a variety of rock formations. Conservation of medicinal plants is receiving increased attention in view of resurgence of interest in herbal medicines for healthcare all across the globe. Recently, several studies have been conducted on Ayurvedic crude drugs for cure of digestive diseases, leprosy and skin diseases, malaria and paralysis.

1. Acacia catechu :Get-langhan (Santhal) :

 Locality : Lavalong (Chatra)

Use : Root made into a paste and  applied on the joints for seven days for rheumatism.

2. Cassia tora Chakar (Oraon) ;Chakunda (Khond)

 Localityc : Singhani (Hazaribagh town)

Use :  Root made into a paste and along with the powder prepared from the horn of a cow, given orally once daily in high fever and to a patient who is unable to speak and hear.

3. Hibiscus rosa – sinensis Urhul (Santhal)

 Locality : Chatra

Use : Flower bud made into a paste which is prescribed in impotency, once daily on an empty stomach for seven days.

 4. Terminalia alata Karaka (Khond) ; Aswan 

Locality :  Singhani (Hazaribagh Town)

Use :  Two to three leaves from a fresh twig made into a paste and given three times a day for one day in vomiting and loose motions.

5. Xeromphis spinosa Dudri (Munda) ;Nisawala (Birhor)

 Locality : Dhajadhari Pahar (Koderma)

Use : Stem bark made into a paste and mixed with goat’s milk and country liquour. This is prescribed in rheumatism once daily on an empty stomach for 15 days.

6. Ageratum conyzoides (Namin-ing) :- Leaves and fruits used to prevent bleeding.

7. Calotropis gigantea (Akon) : The milky juice used as purgative; leaves after crushing are applied on the burn injury or swelling; the bark of the root given for dysentery.

 8. Ocimum sanctum (Tulsi): Leaves used for cold and cough.

9.  Piper longum (Piplu) : Root used in improving digestion.

10. Polygonum strigosum (Bihalangani): Leaves used for skin diseases.

11. Leucas aspera Gayas :

 Locality: Ramgarh

Use : The leaf paste fried and applied on the forehead to relieve pain.

12. Shorea robusta Sal (Udaipur) :

Locality : Kumbhalgarh

Use : Small quantity (5g) of powdered jhuna(resin) taken with hot milk to relieve chest pain and stomachache.

13. Ageratum conyzoides (Sohkha ) :

During typhoid fever and high body temperature, a paste made from leaves, ginger and mustard seed is placed on skull, over the position of the brain, to bring down the temperature of the patient

14. Azadirachtaindica Neem (Byrnihat ) :

Diarrhoea and dysentery, leaver along with barks of Aegle marmelos, Shorea robusta and leaves of Phlogacanthus thyrsiflorus are mixed together with a few more plants, boiled, stored in a bottle and used for diarrhea and dysentery.

The market for Ayurvedic medicines is estimated to be expanding at 20% annually in India. Factors contributing to the growth in demand for traditional medicine include the increasing human population and the frequently inadequate provision of western (allopathic) medicine in developing countries.