Wayside beautification kills medicinal plants

A group of women engaged in clearing the wayside plants may be a common sight in all parts of the state.

But a lesser known fact is that this beautification process by the members of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) causes the extinction of some of the precious medicinal herbs camouflaged among bushes. And scratching their heads in search of the next doze of medicines are traditional ayurveda practitioners.

This is evident at least in Cherthala taluk in Alappuzha district, an area which can trace the history of traditional medicine back to five centuries, feel some practitioners.

“At least 25 varieties of herbs were available in plenty in the area earlier known as Karappuram and most of the practitioners of ayurveda could prescribe them. But now it is difficult to find herbs of our choice," said Dr Kuttikkat Chandrasekharan (Ithihas) of Cherthala.

The land has a rich tradition to boast of as none other than Itti Achuthan, a distinguished ayurvedic physician, lived here during the second half of the 17th century.

He was one of these three contributors to the ‘Hortus Malabaricus,’ a 17th century comprehensive treatise which deals with the medicinal properties of the flora of Kerala compiled by Hendrik van Rheede, the Governor of Dutch Malabar.

Itti Achuthan belonged to the traditional Ezhava ayurvedic vaidyan family Kollat of Kadakkarapally near Cherthala.

“Most of these herbs lie among the bushes and MGNREGS workers who clear it off are ignorant of their medicinal value. Many plants, including kurunthotti (Sida acuta), thottavadi (Mimosa pudica), kadalchurukki (Borreria articularis), kayyonni (Eclipta prostrata) and poovamkurunnil (Vernonia cinerea) are rich in medicinal value and are useful against various illnesses. But this indiscriminate cleansing is one of the reasons for the loss of invaluable herbs,” said Ithihas, a representative of the third generation of ayurveda practitioners.

However, the block panchayats in the area from Aroor to Ambalappuzha have identified the problem and started countering the loss.

“We have decided not to engage in that kind of activities under these MGNREGS and begun the steps to start a nursery of herbs,” said Dileep Kannadan, president, Pattanakkad block panchayat.

The opinion is shared by Kanjikkuzhy block panchayat president R Priyesh Kumar, “We would not give permission to clear the wayside plants. Now, we plan to cultivate medicinal plants and trees along with vegetables in barren lands,” he said. “We have not received any complaint of this sort,” Thykkattusser i block panchayat president P C Vinod Kumar said.