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The use of plants as source of medicines and human sustenance has been in vogue since antiquity. India has a rich heritage of use of plants as medicines. India systems of medicines utilize 80 percent of the material derived out of plants. There are over 2500 plant species in India having documented medicinal value. Global estimates indicate that 80 percent of population can not afford the products of the western pharmaceutical industry and have to rely upon the use of traditional medicines mainly derived from plants. The literature on medicinal plants is quite vast, scattered and not available at one place. A great necessity was felt to have relevant literature at one place providing multi-disciplinary information on such resources.

This book is based on personal explorations made by the author in all parts of Himachal Pradesh supported by collections, identification, compilation of information on traditional knowledge gathered during surveys, covering status of existing resources, utilization potential, conservation needs, cultivation efforts in herbal gardens and establishment of Herbaria at IRISM, Jogindernagar and at Dr. Y.S. Parmar University of Horticulture & Forestry, Nauni, Solan. The book covers around 700 species of medicinal and aromatic plants of Himachal Pradesh, representative of not only the western Himalaya, but also of the entire Hindu Kush Himalaya region. The plants described in detail cover Latin name, family, common and local names, distribution in Himachal Pradesh, description of the plant, parts used, market rate, chemical constituents, formulations, uses and cultivation notes. Sketches and colour photographs in the book will facilitate identity and comprehension by the readers. Appendices include information on commercial plant available for trade and drug industry, annual outturn of raw material during the past five years, endangered species, plants for phyto-chemcial industry, dhoop and incense, tans and dyes, essential oils, plants causing health hazards, having ethnomedical importance and the species suitable for incorporation in cropping systems in different climatic zones of the state. Separate chapters have been devoted to collection, cultivation and policy issues.

This book will serve as a useful companion to the students, researchers, teachers, industrialists, collectors, cultivators, foresters, planners, nature-lovers, those interested in biodiversity of the Himalayan regions and above all the students and practitioners of India systems of medicines?Ayurveda, Unani, Homoeopathy, Pharmacognosy and Ethnomedicines.

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Dr. Narian Singh Chauhan (born 1950); M.A. (Public Administration), M.Sc. (Forestry) Hons., Ph.D. (Bio-Sciences), D.Sc. (Complimentary Medicines), F.E.S. (Fellow, Society of Ethnobotanists) is known as messiah of medicinal plants in Himachal Pradesh. Presently, he is working as Associate Professor-cum-Senior Research Officer since 1989. He is handling various research projects as Officer Incharge and has completed the Desert Development Project of Spiti Cold Desert. Dr. Chauhan has been responsible for highlighting the medicinal and aromatic plants of Himachal Pradesh across the world. He has pioneered in establishing Herbarium and Herbal Gardens at Ayurveda Research Institute, Jogindernagar and Dr. Y.S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni-Solan. As an expert, he has been associated in all the committees and sub-committees under the Govt. of Himachal Pradesh covering plant resources in general and medicinal and aromatic plants in particular. He is the resource person for the state department of forests, Ayurveda, Industry, H.P. Science, Technology and Environment Council, HIMCON, H.P. Productivity Council and government institutes/departments from neighbouring states. He has acquired training in angiosperm, taxonomy, ethnobotany, cultivation of medicinal and aromatic plants and conservation of biodiversity. He has directed various training programmes in medicinal and aromatic plants for educated employed youths, subject matter specialists, horticulture development officers, Ayurvedic doctors, NGOs, women organizations and forest officials.

Dr. Chauhan is guiding students for postgraduate degrees and is an examiner for M.Sc., Ph.D. degrees for various universities. He has written 2 booklets, 5 bulletins and more than 70 papers. He is also an expert in evaluating projects on medicinal and aromatic plants for G.B. Pant Institute of Himalayan Ecology and Development, Almora, and resource person for International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), Kathmandu, Nepal and various other organizations. He has also prepared a video film on 'Marvals of Himalayan Herbs' funded by SAARC Information Centre, Dhaka. For his distinguished services in the field of medicinal and aromatic plants, he was conferred the Degree of Doctor of Science (D.Sc.) by the Open International University for Complimentary Medicines, Colombo, Sri Lanka during the World Congress on Integrating Medicine in November 1997. His name was also recommended for nomination to various awards by the American Biographers Institute during 1998.