IRMT: MEDICINAL PLANTS PROJECT The overall goal: To promote, conserve, raise awareness and continue research into medicinal plants as started by the Roerichs at the Urusvati Himalayan Research Institute in 1930. Background of the Medicinal Plant Research at the IRMT “…The object of the Scientific Station will be research in the fields of Natural Science and Philology. A plantation, scientifically conducted, can yield highly significant results in the fields of medicine. …In regard to the site of the Station, I believe that the Sikkimese Section of the Himalayas and even the British Kumnon though very well fitted for cultivation, would present serious difficulties due to the heavy monsoons. Therefore in my opinion the best suited section of the Himalayas, offering at once the altitude and fertility, should be close to Sutlej, not far from Simla. This locality is admirably adapted not only by its unique natural resources but because of its proximity to such a center as Simla with all its scientific and educational possibilities…” Thus wrote Nicholas Roerich in 1928 at Darjeeling, after returning from their famous Central Asiatic Expedition which traversed the whole Central Asia. At the end of the year, the family left Darjeeling and moved to their new home in Naggar, situated at the picturesque Kullu Valley. Here, the Urusvati Himalayan Research Institute started its research work in different fields of science and culture. “On these mountains the rarest medicinal plants and grasses are centered, and the variety of botanic species is unexcelled.” (excerpt from Helena Roerich’s letter) “Extensive biological and botanical explorations of the Himalayan region are in progress, and it is hoped to extend these explorations to the various regions of the Middle East and India. A Botanical Research Laboratory, extensive plantations and experimental botanical gardens are in the process of being organized. …The Institute staff cooperates in this research with native practitioners and collectors. A Herbarium of medicinal plants is constantly being enriched. One of the first projects to be inaugurated will be a plantation of medicinal plants, for which purpose the Kullu Valley affords special possibilities. A Cancer Research Laboratory is nearing completion, in which new and local cures will be experimented.” …. Thus wrote George Roerich in 1930, at the beginning of the Institute’s work. George Roerich, Director of the Urusvati Himalayan Research Institute, with his coworkers, Tibetan Amchis (healers) during their research work in the Institute. Naggar, 1930-ies Urusvati Himalayan Research Institute conducted several expeditions in Kullu, Chamba, Kangra valley, Lahul, Spiti and Ladakh regions, where existing botanical species were collected and properly documented. A huge trunk containing this Herbarium is lying at the Urusvati Institute, expecting experts to sort it out. Importance of this Herbarium is enormous, as it may contain long ago extinct species. Documentation cards from the Roerichs botanical expedition to China and Manchuria (1934-35) are also being the part of the IRMT archive, presenting great value for the contemporary botanists. Sustainability of the Herbal Industry in India The herbal industry in India is enormous (estimated annual turnover of 500 million US$) and the trends suggest that it is going to grow much, much bigger. Although this is good news for the herbal industry, the lack of sustainable harvesting methods is raising concerns for the future of many valuable medicinal plant species. The medicinal properties of most Himalayan medicinal plants exist in the root, which means that when they are harvested in the wild, the whole plant, including its root, is pulled out the ground and it cannot grow again the following year. It is because of this, and the growing demand for these herbs from both domestic and foreign markets, that many medicinal plants are being over-harvested and threatened in their natural habitat. The long-term availability of medicinal plants is of vital importance, not just for the herb-collectors who depend on it to earn a living, but also for the future of India's traditional system of medicine, ayurveda, which is rapidly growing in popularity both in India and abroad. Conservation of these plants is therefore of utmost importance. Ex-Situ Cultivation of Medicinal Plants One of the best ways to conserve threatened medicinal plant species is through ex-situ cultivation, in other words cultivation of the plants in fields away from their natural habitat. Ex-situ cultivation of medicinal plants is a relatively new concept to communities in the Himalayas, as there has never been a shortage in the mountains before. Now however, villagers are beginning to recognize the threat and understand the potential long-term consequences of over-harvesting medicinal plants, and this is resulting in a growing interest in ex-situ cultivation. To cultivate medicinal plants, instead of harvesting root-stock from the mountains for local herb-traders, local people (especially herb collectors) can be employed to collect seeds and root cuttings for propagation. In this way, the plants harvested in the wild can be multiplied and grown in nurseries. These plants will then start to produce their own seeds that are better adapted to ex-situ cultivation. Dependence on the plants growing in the mountains can then be reduced, and the natural stock can start to re-establish itself in the wild. Unfortunately though, relatively little is known in the villages about cultivation techniques, and a lot of research needs to be carried out into seed collection, propagation and growing methods. The proposed project plans to carry out this research and the valuable research and documentation started by Roerich at the Urusvati Himalayan Research Institute 75 years ago. Educational Herbal Garden established The Herbal Garden will be a display of indigenous medicinal plants for visitors to learn about as they walk between the lower museum and the Urusvati building. It will also be used as a research garden for experimenting with different propagation and growing techniques for medicinal plant species that we are not growing in the nursery. During the first year, we aim to grow 15 different species, concentrating on those that are most rare and valuable. Each species will be planted in a single bed and will have a corresponding display board giving information on its different names (local, Hindi, English and botanical), its natural habitat, its medicinal uses and other relevant information. Great care will be taken to present the herbal garden in a sensitive and attractive manner. The beds will be raised using woven willow sides, and will be well nourished with good quality vermicompost. The paths will be well defined and kept in good order. All materials used in creating the herbal gardens will be purchased from sustainable sources, and where possible will be bought from women’s self help groups working with local NGOs. At this moment, 13 species of medicinal plants were planted at the herbal garden: 1. Kaman Bhed One of the main focuses of the Urusvati Himalayan Research Institute was to document medicinal plants and collect samples to make a herbarium. These plants were collected, not just from the Kullu Valley, but throughout the Himalayan region, north into Tibet and towards Mongolia. The result of this research was a huge herbarium, which for the last seventy years was stored in a trunk hidden in a room in the Urusvati building. Herbarium is still in a very good condition. During Phase I of the project, we aim to create a database and preserve the herbarium for future exhibition in the Urusvati building. The IRMT started this work in cooperation with Altai State Medical University from Barnaul, Altai, Russia, with whom we have signed MOU of mutual cooperation. Plans for exhibition of Roerich’s herbarium The complete preservation and documentation of Roerich’s herbarium will take at least one year, and at present there are no available rooms at the Urusvati building to put together an exhibition. Therefore in the first year of the project we will put together plans on where to exhibit the completed herbarium. As well as exhibiting the herbarium we will also create an exhibition to raise awareness of the project as a whole; the growing problem of valuable medicinal plants being over-harvested from the wild, the initiatives being taken by local NGOs and how the project being undertaken at IRMT is going to contribute towards the welfare of the medicinal plants and the local community. (These are only excerpts from the full version of the Project. If you are interested to know more or join the project, please write to the Director, IRMT at our email address or postal address) PHOTOGALLERY:
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