“Agar firdaus bar roo-e-zameen ast, hameen ast-o hameen ast-o hameen ast”
– Amir Khusro
“If there is a paradise on earth, it is this, it is this” and it is this. These words were spoken for the beautiful Kashmir Valley by the renowned poet Amir Khusro. Not only was he referring to the absolute beauty that valley has to offer to the eyes, but also the heavenly herbs and flora that are nestled in the laps of this pristine valley.
There are many regions in the Indian subcontinent that are biodiversity hotspots and we are extremely fortunate to have plants that are rich not just in their nutritional value but also are source of medicinal value. Our culture has always centred around using these plants in various forms to derive benefits out of them. Well recorded in our scriptures, this herbal realm of our culture is something that has interested the West too in the recent years.
Jammu and Kashmir too, is filled with a huge treasure trove of herbs and medicinal plants.
However, with the onset of modern-day science and leaps mankind has taken in the field of medicine, the importance and significance of medicinal plants has apparently died down; and so has the sacred knowledge about the same which had been passed through the generations. The people of Kashmir had forgotten the treasures growing in their own backyard.
An endeavor to revive this lost art was made by authorities in the town of Handwara in North Kashmir with the establishment of a “Herbal Garden”. With the locals, the district administration and the Forest department contributing with unparalleled enthusiasm, a beautiful garden with a wide variety of herbs and medicinal plants was set up. It not only gave the locals a rich exposure to these herbal plants native to North Kashmir, but also educated them on the benefits they provided both to the ecosystem and when used for domestic purposes.
Talking about a few such medicinal plants, about 46% of plants in the valley of Jammu and Kashmir are endemic to the region and are already being used in medicines, aromatherapy and cosmetics with lot of potential still left to be explored. For instance, the local tea of Kashmir, the famous Kahwah is known for treating respiratory diseases, a running nose or a common cold. Another effective remedy against common cold is Khambeer, which is made from the fermented petals of Kashnur Gulab found in the valley of Kashmir. Also, herbs such as Baber and the resin of the deodar tree are effective against skin problems.
Handoon is another local plant found in the UT which is used to treat fever and headaches. The paste of an endemic herb, Gautheer when mixed with oil can be used as a hair tonic and is also effective against stomach pains. Hapet Gogej is a rare herb of the valley which helps in strengthening muscles and treating boils and blisters.
Since times immemorial, the people of the region have been using roots, rhizomes, flowers, bark, seeds, leaves and fruits of these plants to treat different ailments. The traditional hakims and healers of the valley have been utilising these plants to meet the needs of the population; and as part of oral traditions, this wisdom has been transmitted from one generation to another. At times, they combine two or more plants together for treatment of certain ailments such as the powdered rhizome of Dioscorea Deltoidea is mixed with the roots of Berberis lycium for treating ulcers.
The herbal medicines have the potential to transform the economy of this region. It is not just a game changer in terms of employment opportunities for the youth but will also conserve and repair the fast-degrading ecosystem, courtesy rampant development and pollution. With the focus in today’s time, slowly shifting from synthetic drugs to ones which have been derived from herbs; the herbal medicines have carved a niche for themselves and attained a unique status of their own. This can act as a source of revenue for the local communities who are well versed with the benefits of the endemic plants and their usage in the aromatherapy and as base ingredients in various cosmetic products. The Herbal Clinic in Handwara is one such small step with the hope that it turns out to be a leap for this rich treasure of Kashmir.
