In its effort to boost plantation drive in the national Capital, the Delhi Government’s Parks and Garden Society has asked its hospitals and education institutions, including schools and colleges, to plant medicinal herbs in their green areas. This is expected to help the denizens in reaping the maximum health-related benefits from the plantation drive. The department has identified 20 such medicinal plants and has published a leaflet explaining the importance of these medicinal plants.
The 20 important herbs identified by the park and garden society has suggested that herbs like arjun, ashwagandha, amla, brahmi, lemongrass, shankhpushpi, shatavari, isabgol, henna, neem, vaijayanti, vinca, bhui amla, adrak, giloy, aloe vera, tulsi, patta ajwain and pudina should be planted. The leaflet gives an account of the herbs along with their specific dosages for specific diseases. It also gives details about how these herbs should be consumed.
The leaflet suggests that the ashwagandha herb can be used to control anxiety and depression, insomnia, infertility and arthritis. It says that 3 grams of ashwagandha powder and 2 gms of giloy powder with a glass of lukewarm milk twice a day would not only relieve one of weakness but also help in increasing the immune system.
For diabetes, anaemia, bleeding disorder and conjunctivitis, the leaflet has recommended a daily dose of 3 grams to 6 grams of amla powder with 10 ml to 20 ml of fresh juice. It says that the daily use of amla would enhance one’s immunity, maintain youthfulness and delay ageing process. It says if fresh amla is not available, then half a spoon of its dried powder be
consumed with lukewarm water or honey.
For fever, cold and cough, sinusitis, muscular pain and neuralgia, it has suggested a daily dose of 3 grams to 5 grams of lemon leaf powder with 1 drop to 3 drops of the lemongrass oil. All one needs to do is to clean 2 to 3 leaves of fresh lemongrass and cut them into pieces. The same have to be kept in a kettle. Then boil them with two cups of water for 5 to 15 minutes and then drink the same as tea.
In case of chronic diarrhoea and dysentery, constipation and infection of nail bed, it has suggested usage of 5 to 10 grams of isabgol husk. It says that one spoon of shatavari powder with two cups of milk should be taken daily to cure general weakness, fatigue, irregular menstruation and menopausal syndrome in women because it contains phytoestrogen in natural form.
To increase brain power, the leaflet has suggested the use of fine powder of brahmi dried leaves with shankhpushpi plant and roots of mulethi. It said that a half or one spoon of this powder with an equal quantity of sugar candy along with cow’s milk twice a day would enhance one’s brain power.
For malaria, fever, cough, common cold and mental peace, it has recommended the use of tulsi leaves. The leaflet said the plantation of tulsi creates an atmosphere that repels mosquitoes, which are the main carriers of malaria. It says that pudina is a natural antioxidant and one should drink mint tea and use its paste in food curries.