By Dr Arvind Kumar
Nature has endowed us with varieties of flora and fauna which also contain many herbals. Sea buckthorn is such herbal plant which possesses many medicinal values. It grows on hill slopes, riversides, lakes, seashores and other wastelands. In the Indian Subcontinent it is visible in high-altitude regions ranging from 2000 metres to 5500 metres above sea level while in Europe it exists in lower reaches. It is a plant of cold regions of Asia and Europe.
Apart from Ladakh region of J&K, sea buckthorn is found in plenty in Lahaul-Spiti, upper Kinnuar and Pangi areas of Himachal Pradesh. It is also found in Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh. According to broad estimates, the maximum of about 11500 hectares of area in Ladakh is under sea buckthorn.
In view of the medicinal virtues of this ancient plant many countries are vying for exploiting it for medical and financial gains. China is reported to possess about 90 per cent of the earth’s total sea buckthorn crop. Canada, Finland, Germany, Sweden and the United States are engaged in expanding their crop base.
There lies a natural fertile ground for sea buckthorn in the sands of the Indus Valley and along the Nubra, Shyok and Suru rivers, apart from the vast and dry plateau of Changthang and the far-flung Zanskar.
Sea buckthorn is reported to be rich in medicinal values containing vitamins and nutrients. If converted into juice the sea buckthorn is a tonic that cheers up. Quite a few countries have turned it into anti-aging facial cleansing creams with some companies advertising it as a ‘secret ingredient’. It is considered good for adverse skin conditions like eczema and burns. It can check gum bleeding and stabilise a disturbed stomach. It can relieve us of cough and pain and energise blood circulation.
Like sea buckthorn, there are numerous other herbal plants gifted by nature to humanity. Our ancient lterature, particulrly the Ayurveda, contains many allusions to different kinds of medicinal herbs grown in the Himalayas. There is a need to rediscover the ancient wisdom and preserve these herbal plants from extinction.
The former President of India, APJ Abdul Kalam set the precedent of growing herbal plants in the gardens of Rashtrapati Bhawan. The MPs and ministers are allotted big spacious bugalows endowed with lush green lawns. Such herbs can be grown in such bungalows and the Ridge in the NCR.
The vast expanse of the Yamuna River bed can be utilized for such purpose. In stead of erecting concrete buildings in this River bed, ponds, artificial lakes and other water conservation mechanisms can be developed there to conserve rainwater in this season of monsoons.
