The concepts of Asia's traditional medicines might sound alien to Western ears, but some of them are starting to evolve to fit scientific investigation.

Bhubaneswar: Though Odisha possesses a vast stock of medicinal plants, it still loses an annual revenue to the tune of Rs 500 crore due to absence of a herbal market.

India

The traditional medicines directive of the European Union is discriminatory. (Editorial)

A new molecule from curcumin, a chemical component of the golden-hued Indian spice turmeric, helps build brain cells after stroke, research has found.
Turmeric is used in curries and for the rich colour it imparts to food. Turmeric also has a long history of use in Ayurvedic medicine.

Paul A.

LONDON: A ban on sale of Ayurvedic and other herbal medicines will take effect across Europe from May 1 following a European Union directive introduced as a response to growing concern over adverse effects of such alternative medicines.

Users and promoters of such medicines have called the EU directive, called the Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products Directive, 2004/24/EC,

India is a veritable emporium of herbs. The inhabitants of India knew of the medicinal use of plants from time immemorial. Under the impact of state-sponsored economic development programmes and processes of modernization, the traditional cultures of tribal communities have begun to change. Deforestation and the replacement of natural forests by commercial teak-sal plantations have in many areas reduced the availability of forest produce including vegetables, fruits and meat.

Kohima, Dec 26: Five herbal gardens have been established this year in Nagaland to conserve medicinal plants, popularizing use of local medicinal and aromatic plants among others.

LUCKNOW: If you rely on herbal tonics to keep yourself healthy, here's a piece of advice from professor Thuppil Venketesh, the 'leadman' of India.

"A lot of herbal medicines contain high amounts of heavy metals like lead and arsenic.

DINDIGUL: Organically grown medicinal plants would not only fetch better income to farmers but also scale down costs. Medicinal properties would be high in the organically grown plants when compared to conventionally grown ones, said P. Subramanian, Professor of Environmental Sciences, Tamil Nadu Agriculture University, Coimbatore.

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