Sow medicinal herbs around your house to prepare for the coming adverse times

Instructions to Seekers

Medicines will be in short supply during coming adverse times. Therefore, medicinal herbs / plants need to be sown right away. It takes some time for the herbs to grow and become fit for use from the time they are sown. We need to learn the technique of preparing and using these home remedies. Therefore, it is essential that medicinal herbs be sown right away.

Note – This instruction is limited to only sowing medicinal herbs around the house. Instructions on sowing medicinal herbs on a larger scale in farms will be published shortly.Names of the herbs mentioned here are in Marathi (may differ from region to region) and their English / generic name is given in brackets.

1. Sow medicinal herbs in
the present weather right away

It would have been a good idea to sow most of the medicinal herbs at the onset of monsoons. However, since the adverse times are not far away, we cannot afford to delay sowing to the next monsoons. Generally, for sowing medicinal herbs, the seed of the herb, branch cutting, freshly sprouted saplings from the roots, rhizome (root) and saplings grown in a nursery are used. During winter, the likelihood of seeds sprouting and forming of secondary roots to the stem reduces in cold weather. Even growth of the sown bulb/rhizome is in the latent phase, Therefore, in case of severe cold weather, do not sow herbs from seeds, branch cutting of trees, rhizome; instead, use the saplings of readily available herbs. If the cold is not severe or cold weather subsides, sowing can be carried out by other means too. Such activities should be planned right away.

2. Carry out sowing immediately
by procuring saplings at the local level

A list of medicinal herbs to be sown for home remedies is given ahead. Saplings or mother plant of plants may have been sown by the some seekers earlier itself; for example, Korfad (Aloe Vera), Adulsa (Malabar nut), Nirgundi (Vitex Negundo), Desi Shevaga (Indigenous drumstick), Parijatak (Coral Jasmine). Some saplings are available in the nurseries of Agriculture Department , Agriculture Universities or privately owned nurseries; for example, Awala (Indian berry) of large size and good quality, Kagadi limbu (Paper lemon). Some saplings of medicinal herbs can be obtained from nurseries of local Ayurvedic colleges and Forest Department or existing ICAR centres. If the saplings of these herbs are readily available locally at a fair price, these should be procured and sown immediately. To avoid wasting time of each seeker in enquiring, seekers in a Kendra should plan mutually or one seeker should take the responsibility of enquiring about the availability of saplings within a set time-frame and inform the local seekers about the availability of sprouting saplings.

In case you are unaware about the techniques of sowing, learn them from a local expert and then sow. Detailed information on sowing is provided in Sanatan’s Holy text on cultivation of medicinal plants, which will be published soon.

3. Inform if saplings or mother plant
of medicinal herbs are available on a large scale

At some places, some medicinal herbs are available on a large scale; for example, in Konkan area, Aghada plant (Achyranthes aspera) is available on a large scale in the form of weeds. Its seeds can be collected for sowing. Around the bunding of some farms, plants of Nirgundi, Adulsa are grown on a large scale. The branch cuttingscan be made available for sowing. Fruits fall in large numbers under the trees of Hirda (Myrobalan), Behada (Terminalia bellirica or Bastard Myrobalan, Arjun (Terminalia arjuna). These can be used for sowing. Paanvel (Betel laves) is found in orchards. Saplings can be prepared from the branch cutting. In Konkan area, creepers of Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus) are noticed for a few days after the monsoons. These creepers may be present at some places in large numbers.

We have to sow medicinal herbs all over India. Those who have these herbs/plants must make them available to others. For this purpose, large scale production of sapling/seedlings will need to be undertaken. Therefore, responsible seekers in Kendras should send information to the District sevak about the seekers with whom the saplings of herbs or stalk/bulbs are available free-of-charge on a large scale. A Google-form requiring this information will be shared with all Districts soon. District sevaks should provide information on how to sow stalks/bulbs in the specified columns of the sheet.

4. If you are unable to procure
saplings, atleast notify your demand

If seekers are unable to procure saplings at the local level or the price of saplings is very high, they should notify their demand for saplings with the District sevak. The Google-sheet to collect the demand for medicinal herbs will be shared. The District sevak should fill their requirement in the specified column.

4A. Notify your demand only after thorough study

While notifying their demand, seekers should thoroughly study the aspects given ahead.

4A 1. Sunlight in and around the house

For satisfactory growth of herbs, good sunlight for at least 3 hours a day is essential. If someone wishes to sow herbs in the balcony, he/she should study whether enough sunlight is available there.

4A 2. Natural availability of herbs

Some medicinal herbs such as Adulsa, Kadu nimb (Neem tree), Aghada may be naturally available near the house or found to have been sown earlier. There is no need to request for saplings of these. Those who find these herbs near their house need not sow them again. Saplings which are available free-of-charge at the local level should also not be included in this demand.

4A 3. Size of the herb and availability of necessary space

In the list of medicinal herbs given ahead, herbs have been classified as per their sizes. Study how many herbs and of which size can be accommodated in the space available with you and then notify your demand accordingly. If the herbs/plants are to be sown in the balcony of the flat or house, select these in priority from the aspects A and B in the list. If enough space is not available with a seeker, he/she can sow different varieties of herbs in coordination with 2-3 seekers residing nearby.

4A 4. Necessity according to ailments

Herbs should be selected keeping in mind the ailments the family members are suffering from now or are likely to face in the future.

5. Set a time frame for
sowing and give a review of sowing

Seekers should complete the sowing of herbs, which can be sown now, setting a time frame of one month. The planning for sowing at the onset of the next monsoons should also be completed now itself. After sowing, give a review to the District sevak. A Google-sheet will be shared with all Districts regarding the review of this seva. District sevaks should fill the necessary information in specified columns. District sevaks should get this seva performed by the seekers in their Districts.

6. List of medicinal herbs
suitable for sowing as home remedies

Most of the medicinal herbs/plants given ahead are found all over India. These herbs are useful for most ailments people face in day-to-day life. These herbs are useful not only for preparing medicines, but also for another purpose. Their usage is given ahead in brief. Sow as many herbs as possible depending on the availability of space with you. The detailed usage of these herbs is given in Sanatan’s Holy text – ‘Properties of herbal remedies’ (Part 1 and 2).

A. Small herbs that can be sown in
earthen pots (These pots can be placed in the balcony)

Note 1 – Use sprouts of ginger which is matured and available in the market.

Note 2 – Use leaves of Pudina available in the market for cooking and sow stems that have roots.

B. Herbs in the form of creepers that
can be sown in earthen pots and need support

C. Herbs in the form of bushes that
can be sown in the land around the house

Note – Surati erand : The leaf has five extensions like the fingers and not the (Mogali) erand, which bears yellow round fruits and is used as bio-fuel.

D. Small trees/ plants that grow 10-15 ft.
tall and can be sown in the land around the house

E. Large trees/plants that can be
sown in the land around the house

Note : Ashok tree has many branches with tender leaves of copper colour and flowers like a bouquet, but not a fake Ashok sown as a decorating tree, which grows like a cone.

F. Roots (rhizome) used as food in case of
paucity of grains and for regular consumption

Note : This tree is found outside houses of most people who are from Kerala. The tree has rapid growth. It grows 5-7 ft. tall. The tree grows on its own without requiring any effort.

Colour photographs of herbs against which the symbol ‘*’ appears in the above tables are given in Sanatan’s Holy text – ‘Sow medicinal herbs’.