Vol. 10, Issue 6 (2021)

Author(s):
Nawazish and Thaneshwari

Abstract:
This review paper indicates the findings on the traditional medicines of cold desert Ladakh which has a very huge potential to treat various ailments among the tribal communities and its possible uses all over the continent. Ladakh is a dry and hilly region so it harbours the optimum environment required by these medicinal plants to thrive. In Ladakh they can be grown in summer season in open field condition while in winter it can be grown under protected structures because in winter, the temperature falls below zero. In earlier days, healthcare was mainly dependent in the traditional system of medicine which is popularly known as amchi system of medicine. These plants have a wide range of essential uses including therapeutic value with minimum side effects. Till now, these essential herbs were only found in the remote mountains but these days, with the collaboration of various institutes, they are being commercially cultivated. These include Rhodiola rosea, Lavendula angustifolia, Inula racemose, Achillea millefolium, Delphinium brunonianum. The market for medicinal plants in India is growing exponentially each year and it is expected to be of a great value by the year 2026. In the near future, it is expected that the export of these commodities will not only benefit the local people but to the people all around the world.