MSSRF WORKING PAPER 14

MSSRF / 2020 / WP / 14 World Environment Day June 2020

Beyond COVID-19: Promoting Local Health Traditions and Health Foods for Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biodiversity

MSSRF

M S Swaminathan Research Foundaton M S Swaminathan Research Foundaton

Published online by MSSRF, Chennai, June 2020. Working Paper: MSSRF / 2020 / WP / 14

N Anil Kumar, E D Israel Oliver King, V V Sivan, Prashant Kumar Parida, Kartk Charan Lenka, V Shakeela, Jayesh Joseph, R V Bhavani, B Jayashree

Design:DILEEP K (MSSRF) Beyond COVID-19:

Promoting Local Health Traditions and Health Foods for Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biodiversity

MSSRF / 2020 / WP / 14 World Environment Day June 2020

N Anil Kumar, E D Israel Oliver King, V V Sivan, Prashant Kumar Parida, Kartk Charan Lenka, V Shakeela, Jayesh Joseph, R V Bhavani, B Jayashree

M S Swaminathan Research Foundaton 3rd Cross Street, Insttutonal Area, Taramani Chennai 600 113, Summary

The severity of the impact of COVID-19 on human health security is huge and expected to contnue for a few more years in many parts of the world. A major reason for emergence of new viruses and diseases is destructon of forests and loss of biodiversity. This paper examines the critcality of Local Health Traditons (LHTs) and environmental health to boost immunity and conservaton of biodiversity. The need for revitalizaton of the age-old healthcare practces and homestead-level conservaton of biodiversity for a post-COVID India is discussed. As case points, MSSRF interventons and their impact in promotng conservaton, cultvaton, consumpton and community-centric commerce of biodiversity in three bio- cultural diversity hotspots of India are described. A set of ten recommendatons is given to address some of the policy gaps in promotng the LHTs and conservaton of biodiversity in homesteads. The recommendatons can help in efectve implementaton of the objectves of Natonal Nutriton Mission, POSHAN Abhiyaan, Natonal Health Policy (2017), Natonal Health Mission, and the Natonal Biodiversity Act (2002). These recommendatons, we hope, willbeneft translaton of present policies and initatves into efectve practces to protectlocal health and biodiversity heritage of India and strengthen primary healthcare support services. I. INTRODUCTION II. Green-health Programme

Human beings are provided with fve principal MSSRF’s Green-health programme started at defensive barriers to protect their body against diferent periods in Wayanad (), Koraput disease: physical barriers such as skin, body (Odisha) and Kolli hills (Tamil Nadu) during 1998 secretons and mucous membranes and specialized to 2005 and focused on implementaton of eforts immune cells in the blood, granulocytes and such as (i) Rejuvenaton of Local Health Traditons, lymphocytes (Terry L. Levin, 2018). The secret of (ii) inventory, collecton, multplicaton and health is in protectng and enhancing these fve documentaton of medicinal ; (iii) promoton natural barriers coupled with maintenance of of medicinal rice Navara in Kerala; (iv) survey sound emotonal, social and economic practces. and documentaton of wild food plants; and (v) Nature keeps diverse proteins and genes at the promoton of millet-based health foods. microscopic level in the form of fora, fauna, and ecosystems– and landscapes at the macroscopic Project 01: Rejuvenaton of Local Health level-biodiversity to boost nature-human health Traditons systems. Through evoluton, biodiversity has been used in multtude ways in the form of perfume, The core objectve of the programme was to clothing, cosmetcs, housing, food, beverages, revitalize and promote tme-tested primary medicine and as a source of vital energy to body, healthcare and nutriton practces among local mind and materials for spiritual / religious and social community men and women. The programme was rituals. These practces and rituals among human aimed to promote sustainable use of medicinal groups in diverse locatons resulted in the origin and edible wild and litle-known nutrient-rich and existence of cultural diversity. The symphony in diversity in the three hotspots. The actvites were the nature-culture relatonship is called bio-cultural promoted through trained women Self Help Groups diversity. The core regions of bio-cultural diversity (SHG) and farmers’ forums under the supervision in the world are the Amazon Basin, Central Africa, of traditonal healers, ayurvedic physicians, and Indo-Malaysia (Peter Howard and Thymio botanists and nutriton experts and have resulted Papayannis 2007). in the revitalizaton of many primary healthcare traditons, household level herbal collectons and M S Swaminathan Research Foundaton (MSSRF) consumpton of medicinal and wild edible plants, has been working in three ‘Bio-cultural diversity and establishment of herbal gardens in these three hotspots’ of India - the Wayanad region in Kerala, hotspots. The programme started in late 2000 and Koraput region in Odisha and Kolli Hills in Tamil Nadu, contnued for about 10 years in Wayanad district of with the objectve of revitalizing non-codifed Local Kerala and was then replicated in Koraput district Food and Health Traditons such as home remedies, of Odisha. use of medicinal and nutritonally rich rice, millets and wild foods. The need for rejuvenaton of Home Remedy and Primary Health Care System: Local Health Traditons (LHT) and the approach case study from Odisha required for drawing on the local environment and biodiversity to boost immunity are discussed The traditonal healers of undivided Koraput District in thispaper. A set of ten recommendatons is also are called Disaris. The wealth and knowledge of made to address policy gaps in promotng the LHTs, the medicinal plants among the Disaris are based and conservaton of biodiversity in homesteads. on hundreds of years of belief and observatons. Studies conducted from 2006 to 2009 found that these Disaris carry practcal knowledge on the use of medicinal plants for the preventon of malaria. There are several groups/associatons of traditonal 5 healers belonging to Paroja, Bhumia and Bonda Home Remedy and Primary Health Care System: communites in Koraput, Rayagada and Malkanagiri case study from Kerala districts of Odisha who claim to possess the knowledge to treat many primary health care issues. Under the Kerala programme, a total of 28 SHGs The informaton on malarial cure was documented were formed –22 in Wayanad and six in Calicut. from the Disaris and other local people who have Out of 180 members belonging to 18 SHGs, 126 traditonal knowledge of medicinal plants (Poonalet were women belonging to the poorest class. The al. 2011, Swain 2014). selected groups, each group comprising 10–12 women from resource-poor families, received Plants parts: The whole plant of Andrographis intensive training for about eight days over a period paniculata along with leaves of Nyctanthes of eight months for the preparaton of a set of 34 arbortrists and stem of Tinospora cordifolia are herbal formulatons. These formulatons were crushed together to make the decocton. in fve categories: Choornam (powder), Lehyam (colloid form), Thailam (oil form), Gulika (tablet Decocton preparaton process: Take about 100g form) and powdered seed mixture (Annexure 1). of Andrographis paniculata, 100g of Nyctanthus One of the Lehyams was Chyavanaprash prepared arbor-tristris leaves and 100g of Tinospora cordifolia by using 47 diferent ingredients (Table 1). The stem. Put them together in a pot. Add 500ml water trainees prepared these formulatons for catering and boil it in mild fre for half an hour to one hour to their healthcare needs and marketed them tll the quantty of decocton is reduced to around locally. Nine products were found to have high local 150ml. Keep it overnight; the decocton is ready to demand. The quality of the new formulatons was use in the next day morning. The practce is that a assessed before marketng with the help of reputed family prepares the decocton based on the need of research organizatons. One of the formulatons all its members. In some villages, the preparaton is ‘Navadhanya mixture’ was found to be nutritonally done at once for all households. richer than many similar products in the market as per the results of analysis by the Central Dosage: An adult person needs 10 to 15ml based Food Technological Research Insttute, Mysore. on the health conditon. Similarly, for a child, the dosage can vary from 5ml to 10ml based on the age group. This decocton should be taken once in a week along with a teaspoon of honey. Every person has to take four tmes a month and for three months contnuously.

Evidence from a campaign on the preparaton and usage of this decocton in and around 15 malaria- prone villages of Kundra block of Koraput district and also in the Bonda Hills of Khairput block, Malkangiri district showed that no fresh malaria cases were reported within a period of six to nine months in those villages. It was also observed that cases of skin disease were reduced to a great extent in those villages (Swain 2014). People stll have the practce of usage of this decocton to prevent malarial infecton.

6 Table 1: Ingredients in the Chyavanaprash Lehyam

Sl. No. Local Name (Malayalam) Binomial Name 1 Munja root Premna serratfolia L. 2 Koovala root Aegle marmelos (L.) Corrêa 3 Payyani root Oroxylum indicum (L.) Benth. ExKurz 4 Kumizhu root Gmelina arborea Roxb. 5 Paathiri root Stereospermum tetragonum DC. 6 Kurunthot root Sida alnifolia L. 7 Orila root Desmodium gangetcum (L.) DC. 8 Moovila root Pseudarthria viscida (L.) Wight& Arn. 9 Kaatuzhunnu root Vigna radiata (L.) R. Wilczek 10 Thippali root Piper longum L. 11 Cheruthippali root Piper longum L. 12 Vanthippali Piper chaba Trel. & Yunck. 13 Naikkurana root Mucuna pruriens (L.) DC. 14 Cheruvazhuthana root Solanum violaceum Ortega 15 Cheruchunda Solanum indicum L. 16 Karakkadakasringi Pistacia chinensis subsp. integerrima (J. L. Stewart ex Brandis) Rech. f. 17 Keezharnelli Phyllanthus niruri L. 18 Munthiringa Vits vinifera L. 19 Adapathiyankizhangu Holostemm aada-kodien Schult. 20 Pushkaramoolam Inula racemosa Hook.f. 21 Akil Dysoxy lummalabaricum Bedd. ex C.DC. 22 Kadukkathodu Terminalia chebula Retz. 23 Amruthu Tinospora cordifolia (Thunb.) Miers 24 Kaatumuthira root Dolicho strilobus L. 25 Jeevakamidavakam Malaxis rheedii B. Heyne ex Wallace 26 Kacholam Kaempferia galangal L. 27 Muthanga Cyperus rotundus L. 28 Thazhuthama Boerhavia difusa L. 29 Kaatupayar root Vigna vexillata (L.) A. Rich 30 Sathavarikkizhangu Asparagus racemosus Willd. 31 Amukkuram Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal 32 Chitelam Heracleum rigens Wall. ex DC 33 Chengazhineerkizhangu Kaempferia rotunda L. 34 Chandanam Santalum album L. 35 Palmuthakku Ipomoea mauritana Jacq. 36 Adalodakam Justcia adhatoda L. 37 Kakkathondi sepiaria L. 38 Nellikka Phyllanthus emblica L. 39 Neyyu Ghee 40 Then Honey

7 41 Nallenna Gingelly oil 42 Sarkkara Locally made Sugar 43 Koovanooru Maranta arundinacea L. 44 Thippali Piper longum L. 45 Nagappoovu Mesuathwaitesii Planch. & Triana 46 Elam Eletaria cardamomum (L.) Maton 47 Ilavangam Cinnamomum malabatrum (Burm.f.) J.Presl

Project 02: Inventory, Collecton, three other insttutes, 15,000 plants to disaries, Multplicaton and Documentaton of 2,500 plants to Primary Health Centres (PHC) and Medicinal Plants the district government hospital, conducted 14 plant campaigns in 12 villages at household level Inventory and documentaton were carried out and distributed around 9,000 plants, undertaken in both Wayanad district, Kerala and Koraput plantaton of around 5,000 plants on the roadside district, Odisha. MSSRF’s botanical garden in and barren land in Kundra Gram Panchayat (GP) Wayanad has an actve collecton of 300 species and supplied around 17,000 plants to the Forest and Koraput, an actve collecton of 350 species. A Department. In Wayanad, during the period 2000 nursery has been set up in these gardens to raise to 2012, MSSRF provided seedlings of 50 species of all important plants used in primary healthcare, to medicinal plants of high potental to households of supply identfed medicinal plants to households, 158 SHG members to set up home herbal garden promote community level medicinal plant gardens as part of promoton of herbal healthcare practces. and commercial cultvaton (tables 2-4). Over the Most of the households are stll utlizing the plants last ten years, MSSRF, Jeypore centre, Odisha, for addressing various minor ailments at household has provided approximately 6,000 seedlings of level. medicinal plants to 65 schools, fve colleges and

Table 2. List of Medicinal Plants recommended for Home Herbal Gardens (Kerala)

Dashapushpa Malayalam name Binomial Name Family Uses Cheroola Aerva lanata Amaranthaceae Ten fowers/plants used Karuka Cynodon dactylon Poaceae during festvals and in folk Kayyonni Eclipta prostrata Asteraceae medicine preparatons Mukkut Biophytum reinwardti Oxalidaceae Muyalcheviyan Emilia sonchifolia Asteraceae Nilappana Curculigo orchioides Hypoxidaceae Poovamkurunthal Vernonia cinerea Asteraceae Thiruthali Ipomea obscura Convolvulaceae Valli Uzhinja Cardiospermum halicaca- Sapindaceae bum Vishnukranthi Evolvulus alsinoides Convolvulaceae Thrikadu

8 Inchi Zingiber ofcinale Zingiberaceae • Help to clear Kurumulaku Piper nigrum Piperaceae excess kapha or Thippali Piper longum Piperaceae mucous from the body. Support respiratory func- tons. Improves digeston. Helps in weight manage- ment. Hruswa Panchamoolam Njerinjil Tribulus terrestris Zygophyllaceae Five non-tree ingredients Cheruvazhuthina Solanum violaceum Solanaceae of Dashamoolarishtam, Kandakaarichunda Solanum xanthocarpum Solanaceae recommended for abdom- inal and gastrointestnal Orila Desmodium gangetcum Fabaceae discomforts Moovila Psuedarthria viscida Fabaceae

Vallipanchamoolam Paalmuthukku Ipomea mauritana Convolvulaceae Five important vines used Naruneendi Hemidesmus indicus Asclepiadaceae in ayurveda in various Chitamruthu Tinospora cordifolia Menispermaceae medicinal preparatons Maramanjal Coscinium fenestratum Menispermaceae Aaduthodappaala Tylophora asthmatca Apocynaceae Panchakolam Thippali Piper longum Piperaceae Five important heat gen- Kaatuthippali Piper mullesua Piperaceae eratng ingredients used Kaatumulaku Piper trioicum Piperaceae in herbal product formu- latons Chethikkoduveli Plumbago indica Plumbaginaceae Chukku Zingiber ofcinale Zingiberaceae Panchathikthakam Chitamruthu Tinospora cordifolia Menispermaceae Five biter plants used in Veppu Azadirachta indica Meliaceae ayurveda Aadalodakam Justcia adhatoda Acanthaceae Putharichunda Solanum anguivi Solanaceae Padavalam Trichosanthes cucumerina Cucurbitaceae Thrikantakam Cheruvazhuthina Solanum violaceum Solanaceae A group of three thorny Chethikkoduveli Plumbago indica Plumbaginaceae plants used in ayurveda Vizhal Embelia ribes Myrisinaceae

9 Table 3. List of Medicinal Plants for Community Herbal Garden (Across India)

Malayalam name Scientfc name Family Use Nalpamara Arayal Ficus religiosa Moraceae Group of four fg trees, Athi Ficus racemosa Moraceae whose powdered bark is Ithi Ficus microcarpa Moraceae used for skin care Peral Ficus benghalensis Moraceae Thriphala Kadukka Terminalia chebula Combretaceae A group of three fruits, help- Nelli Phyllanthus emblica Euphorbiaceae ful in weight loss, acts as a Thanni Terminalia bellirica Combretaceae detoxifer, cures digestve Issues, helps in fghtng infectons and enhances immunity; ben- efcial in maintaining oral hygiene, eye health; helpful in treatng gastric ulcers and urinary tract infectons Thrigandha Akil Dysoxylum malabaricum Meliaceae Group of three fragrant Chandanam Santalum album Santalaceae trees frequently used in Rakthachandanam Pterocarpus santalinus Fabaceae ayurveda Brihatpanchamoolam Koovalam Aegle marmelos Rutaceae Five tree roots used for the preparaton of Dasamoolar- Munja Premna serratfolia Lamiaceae ishtam in ayurveda

Palakappayyani Oroxylum indicum Bignoniaceae Paathiri Stereospermum Bignoniaceae tetragonum Kumizhu Gmelina arborea Verbenaceae Panchapallavam Mavu Mangifera indica Anacardiaceae Five plants whose tender Njaval Syzygium cumini Myrtaceae leaves are used in ayurveda Mathalanarakam Punica granatum Lythraceae Vilaarmaram Limonia acidissima Rutaceae Koovalam Aegle marmelos Rutaceae

10 Table 4: List of Commercially Important Medicinal Plants recommended for cultvaton

Names and family Uses 1. Amalpori Plants used in Allopathy and ayurveda. Reserpine is used to treat high blood pressure. It also is used to treat severe agitation in Rauwolfa serpentna patients with mental disorders. Apocynaceae 2. Asokam

Saraca asoka Skin diseases, uterine disorders, germicide, stomach ache

Caesalpiniaceae 3. Chandanam

Santalum album One of the most valuable tmber used to extract the sandal oil

Santalaceae 4. Chitamruthu

Tinospora cordifolia Vomitng, antdiabetc, cardiac, indigeston, foot crack

Menispermaceae 5. Ekanayakam

Salacia frutcosa Very well known ant diabetc plant

Celastraceae 6. Jyothishmathi Seeds promote intestnal health. The seed oil used for massage. The oil is used to alleviate skin inflammation Celastrus paniculatus

Celastraceae 7. Karimkurinji Antinfammatory, analgesic, antcancer, antmicrobial, antdiabetc and hepatoprotectve Strobilanthes ciliates

Acanthaceae 8. Karimuthukku The young shoots and leaf stalks can be cooked and eaten. The tubers, which are poisonous, have antbacterial and antmicrobial Adenia hondala propertes and are used in Ayurvedic medicine for the treatment Passiforaceae of skin disorders and to treat hernias 9. Koovalam Antdiarrhoeal, antmicrobial, antviral, radioprotectve, antcancer, ulcer healing, antgenotoxic, diuretc, antfertlity and Aegle marmelos ant-infammatory propertes Rutaceae 10. Maramanjal Used for eye and skin diseases, infammaton, wounds, ulcers, abdominal disorders, jaundice, diabetes, fever, general debility, Coscimium fenestratum skeletal fractures. Menispermaceae

11 11. Menthonni Used in the treatment of gout, infertility, open wounds, snakebite, ulcers, arthritis, cholera, kidney problems, itching, Gloriosa superb leprosy, bruises, sprains, hemorrhoids, cancer, impotence, Colchicaceae smallpox, sexually transmited diseases, and many types of internal parasites. 12. Moovila It is used in the treatment for asthma and nervous dysfuncton.

Pseudarthria viscid

Fabaceae 13. Naagadandhi It is a blood purifer, paste of dant roots and seeds are used to reduce edema and pain. Both act as analgesics to relieve pain. Baliospermum montanum This herb has antpyretc propertes and used to treat fever. This . Euphorbiaceae herb is also anti-inflammatory and used to reduce inflammation 14. Neermaruth Widely used for treatment of cardiovascular diseases, including heart diseases and related chest pain, high blood pressure and Terminalia cuneata high cholesterol. It is also used for earaches and diseases of the Combretaceae urinary tract 15. Paachot Antdiabetc

Symplocos cochinchinensis

Symplocaceae 16. Palakapayyani The root bark of plant is astringent to the bowels, cooling, aphrodisiac, tonic, increases appette, useful in fevers, bronchits, Oroxylum indicum intestnal worms, vomitng, dysentery, leucoderma, asthma, Bignoniaceae infammaton 17. Panthappain The species is rich source of Sambrani which is used to cure various bronchial ailments. The resin powder is given orally Canarium strictum to cure rheumatism, fever, cough, asthma, epilepsy, chronic skin disorders, syphilis, and hernia and also helps to improve Burseraceae complexion 18. Rakthachandanam Used in traditional herbal medicine as an antipyretic, anti- inflammatory, anthelminthic, tonic, hemorrhage, dysentery, Pterocarpus santalinus aphrodisiac, ant-hyperglycaemic Leguminoceae 19. Thippali Used to treat chronic bronchitis, asthma, constipation, paralysis of the tongue, diarrhea, cholera, chronic malaria, viral hepatitis, Piper longum respiratory infections, stomachache, bronchits, diseases of the Piperaceae spleen, cough, and tumors. 20. Vayambu Rhizome is used for treatng ulcers, infammaton of the stomach lining (gastrits), diarrhea, intestnal gas (fatulence), upset Acorus calamus stomach Araceae 21. Vizhal Used as antibacterial, antfertlity actvites, antprotozoal, abdominal disorders, lung diseases, constpaton, indigeston, Embelia ribes fungus infectons, mouth ulcer, sore throat, pneumonia, heart Myrsinaceae disease and obesity, analgesic, ant-infammatory, antoxidant

12 Project 03: Evoking Renewed Interest in Thermal retenton test comparing Navara and other Navara - A ‘2500 years old’ Medicinal Rice rice varietes suggested only marginal diferences in the heat retenton between the varietes. The Navara rice is in cultvaton in Kerala for about 2,500 pilot efort to clinically evaluate the efcacy of years since the tme of Susruta, the Indian pioneer Navara rice (yellow awnless) in collaboraton with in medicine and surgery. Navara is reported to the Insttute of Applied Dermatology, Kasaragod have multple uses- much nutritous, balanced and was also successful. When evaluated, the muscle safe food for people of all ages. Rice paste of this tone, muscle strength, tendon refexes, range of variety is recommended for external applicaton to movement and balance of functonal abilites of th rejuvenate muscles. According to Ayurveda, body the hemiplegic patents at baseline, 7 day, and th massage with boluses made out of Navara (Navara on the 14 day afer having kizhi, the intra quartle kizhi) rice along with the roots of a much popular range values showed beter range in patents who medicinal plant Bala (Sida alnifolia var. alnifolia) received Navara kizhi. These preliminary results in boiled milk ofers vitality and immunity. In local called for profling these varietes for the presence health care system Navara is also used internally in of specifc components responsible for the ailment like diarrhoea, diseases of urinary organs, unique characteristcs and to defne its benefts in also externally as an applicaton to muscle wastng, hemiplegia and other neuromuscular disorders (Anil burns and scalds. Kumar et al. 2003, 2004, Yasmin 2006, Aggithayaet al. 2014). MSSRF had undertaken a detailed survey of this variety in Kerala during 2003-2010 and reported for Project 04: Survey and Documentaton of the frst tme, occurrence of four distnct subtypes Wild Food Plants for Improving Nutriton within Navara, which include awned and awnless Security black- glumed and yellow-glumed grains. Later, a collaboratve mode of varietal selecton was held A study during the years 2002-2005 revealed that in this varietal complex with farmer partcipaton- tribal groups of Wayanad have extensive knowledge wherein scientsts worked together with farm regarding wild food and using a wide array of plants men and women to strengthen farmers’ informal and animals with variatons amongst diferent tribal research and development system. All four types groups. There were 372 wild edibles accessed of Navara were evaluated for their performance by tribe communites, which include 102 leafy in diferent felds. In the partcipatory varietal greens, 19 species of Dioscorea, 40 species of wild selecton, farmers were not just providers of land mushrooms, 5 species of crabs, 39 species of fshes or labour to do experiments, but also were partners and fve types of honey (Ratheesh Narayanan et al. in the research process and played an actve role in 2004, Anil Kumar et al. 2011). actvites where the emphasis was on learning from farmers. Two genera – Taro and Dioscorea – contribute much of the diversity of wild tuber crops and A project during 2005-2008, mobilized more serve as a ‘life saving’ plant group to marginal farmers at cluster level for Navara cultvaton farming and forest-dwelling communites, during and tried to develop and promote seven value- periods of food scarcity. Balakrishnan et al. (2003) added products. Chemical prospectng revealed reported collectons of 10 species of Dioscorea that the crude hexane extracts of Navara awned and seven less well-known varietes of it from the and awnless (both yellow and black types) had southern part of . They reported shown the presence of a component fracton and several morphologically distnguishable forms this was high in both unpolished and polished in species such as D. pentaphylla, D. wallichii, samples. It was studied that the compound is a D. hamiltonii and D. belophylla. Among the diferent type of aliphatc ester. Another compound fracton species of Dioscorea, Nallanoora (D. pentaphylla was also unique in a lesser percentage in Navara. var. pentaphylla) is the most commonly consumed

13 tuber. Among the various tubers, D. hamiltonii, containing amino acid content in fnger millet is D. oppositfolia and D. pentaphyllavar pentaphylla equal to milk protein (Antony, Sripriya, and Chandra are the varietes most frequently consumed. They 1996). Interestngly, fermentaton of fnger millet consume nine kinds of dioscorea tubers, in which increases the percentage of free amino acids, as the most preferred ones are Kavalakizhangu (D. protein binding phytates are degraded during oppositfolia) and Noorakizhangu (D. pentaphylla the fermentaton process, thereby improving the var. pentaphylla). They consider the Noorakizhangu bioavailability (Antony et al. 1996). and Kavalkizhangu to be rich in ‘Podi’ (starch) and ‘Kozhuppu’ (fat) and the Narakizhangu (D.wallichii) When it comes to the fat content, the fat from to be rich in ‘Naru’ (fbre). fnger millets contains linoleic acid, an essental faty acid (Hegdeet al. 2005). The fat content of Noora and Kavala do not need any detoxifcaton fnger millet (1.5-2.0 per cent), although low, is high before cooking. Wild dioscorea species are stll a in polyunsaturated faty acids (PUFA) (Antony et major source of food for forest-based communites al. 1996). PUFAs are preferred over saturated faty like Katunaikka. The communites who are acid because they reduce the risk of cardiovascular dependent on wild dioscorea for their food classify disease. each member of this genus, based on characteristcs like edibility, taste, colour, size, the directon of For the third macronutrient, carbohydrates, fnger growth, fbre content, cooking propertes and millet contains starch as the main consttuent. occasionally the proliferaton underground. Kamath and Belavady (1980) found that small Katunaikka calls these tubers as ‘Kalasu’ and the millets are superior to rice and wheat as a source of present study revealed that they know about 21 dietary fbre. The total dietary fbre in fnger millet diferent Kalasu. Among the varietes known to (18.6 per cent) was higher than that in sorghum them, Vennikalasu (D. hamiltoni), Hehkkukalasu (D. (14.2 per cent), wheat (17.2 per cent) and rice belophylla), Kavalakalasu (D. oppositfolia) are seen (8.3 per cent) (Kamath and Belavady 1980). Worth in interior evergreen and moist deciduous forests, notng that adequate fbre intakes have potental and Erakalasu (D. wighti) in rocky grasslands. health benefts such as normalizaton of bowel Noorakalasu (D. pentaphylla), Narakalasu (D. movements and helps maintain bowel health, wallichii), Hendiridaekalasu (D. bulbifera) are found lowering of cholesterol levels, helping control blood in wayside bushes and Boojikavalakalasu (D. pubera) sugar levels and aiding in achieving healthy weight in marshy areas. (Schneeman 1999). For these reasons, minor millets could be excellent ingredients for the preparaton of The Katunaikkas collect dioscorea from almost all fbre-rich healthier bread products (Malleshi 1993). these places, but more frequently from the forests and other such unmanaged habitats (Balakrishnan Diabetes consttutes a severe health problem in and Anil Kumar 2017). India. WHO reported that in 2000, 31.7 million people sufered from this ailment and by 2030 incidence is predicted to rise to 79.4 million (WHO Project 05: Promoton of Millets as Health 2020). Diets containing Kodo millet (Paspalum Food scrobiculatum) and fnger millet (Eleusine coracana) four have been found to have potental benefts Compared to rice the main staple food in India, to mitgate or delay the onset of diabetes-related millets have higher protein and micronutrient complicatons since they can reduce blood glucose, content (Table 5). The common feature of minor lower blood cholesterol and protect against millets is that lysine is the most limitng amino alloxan-induced oxidatve stress in diabetc rats and acid and therefore millet-based diets should be these positve efects are atributable to the fbre complemented with legumes to fulfl protein needs and antoxidant phenolics found in these crops (Iqbal et al. 2006). On the other end, the sulfur- (Hegdeet al. 2005).

14 Starchy foods, which are digested gradually and are occurs when diets are based mostly on staple followed by a lower blood glucose response, are foods and include litle meat (WHO 2002). This can more benefcial to health and for the management be seen in India where meat consumpton is very of diabetes and hyperlipidemia (Wolever 1990). low and depends heavily on income class (Hopper They have a so-called low glycemic index (a measure 1999). Given the high prevailing levels of iron of the efect of carbohydrates on blood sugar defciency anaemia in the country, atenton should levels). Some of the products produced by using be paid to the iron content of crops used as a staple minor millets have a low glycemic index, meaning food. Mainstreaming minor millets as a nutritous 55 or lower (University of Sidney 2011). food can bring substantal benefts in addressing iron defciency anaemia in India. For example, laddu, an Indian sweet which is an integral part of most Hindu festvals and celebratons, Table 5 shows that compared to rice and wheat, prepared with foxtail millet, has a glycemic index barnyard and litle millet especially contain much of only 24, whereas other products prepared with more iron. Iron from plant source is less easily minor millets have a higher glycemic index. These absorbed than iron from a meat source, but are, for example, ragi laddu made of fnger millet, processing the fnger millet will improve its iron which has a glycemic index of 68, classifying the availability (Sripriya et al. 1997). Including ascorbic product in the category of the medium glycemic acid-rich fruits with a meal can enhance uptake of index (56-59) (Foster-Powell, Holt, and Brand-Miller minor millets’ non-heme iron (UNICEF, WHO, and 2002). As a reference, products such as white bread, World Bank 2012). cornfakes and doughnuts have a high glycemic index (>70). Consumpton of fnger millet based The nutritonal status of 60 school children of age diets has been reported to result in signifcantly group 11–14 years children, fed for three months lower plasma glucose levels than consumpton with ragi (fnger millet) or foxtail millet was also of diets based on rice or wheat due to the higher assessed under the IFAD-NUS project. Children fed fbre content of fnger millet (Lakshmi Kumari and with millet showed an improvement in weight and Sumathi 2002). haemoglobin level compared to the control group fed with rice. Haemoglobin level was signifcantly The great advantage of millets becomes even increased in the groups fed with millets to the more apparent when iron (Fe) and calcium (Ca) extent of 32-37.6 per cent (Bergamini et al. 2013). content are considered. Compared to rice and wheat, fnger millet is extremely high in calcium, When it comes to vitamins, Table 5 shows that the highest content among all cereals (334 mg foxtail millet, in partcular, is rich in vitamin B1 per edible porton) (Gopalan et al. 1989). Of this (thiamine) (0.59 mg per 100 g). The ribofavin 334 mg, only 162 mg/100 g is bioavailable in the (vitamin B2) content of millets is generally higher raw grain, however, processing by fermentaton than rice, whereas rice and wheat are generally and germinaton improves its bioavailability to higher in niacin (vitamin B3). 227mg/100 g (Sripriya et al. 1997).

Finger millet could be used to overcome the calcium defciency in a rice based diet. Investgatons under a project on neglected and underutlized species (NUS) supported by the Internatonal Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) – IFAD-NUS project,to assess nutriton/health outcomes have also shown that in Karnataka state, women’s adequate dietary level of calcium was directly linked to their consumpton of fnger millet (Bergamini et al. 2013). Iron defciency

15 Table 5 : Nutrient compositon of minor millets and other cereals (per 100g edible porton)

Food Protein Fat Carbo- Ca Fe Vitamin Vitamin B2 Vitamin B1 B1 (g) (g) Hydrate (g) (mg) (mg) (mg) (mg) (mg) rice (brown) 7.9 2.7 76 33 1.8 0.41 0.04 4.3 wheat 11.6 2 71 30 3.5 0.41 0.1 5.1 maize 9.2 4.6 73 26 2.7 0.38 0.2 3.6 sorghum 10.4 3.1 70.7 25 5.4 0.38 0.15 4.3 pearl millet 11.8 4.8 67 42 11 0.38 0.21 2.8 fnger millet 7.7 1.5 72.6 350 3.9 0.42 0.19 1.1 foxtail millet 11.2 4 63.2 31 2.8 0.59 0.11 3.2 proso millet 12.5 3.5 63.8 8 2.9 0.41 0.28 4.5 litle millet 9.7 5.2 60.9 17 9.3 0.3 0.09 3.2 barnyard millet 11 3.9 55 22 18.6 0.33 0.1 4.2 kodo millet 9.8 3.6 66.6 35 1.7 0.15 0.09 2 Source: Hulse, Laing, and Pearson (1980)

III. DISCUSSION: REVITALIZING LOCAL HEALTH HERITAGE AND STRENGTHENING TRADITIONAL MEDICINE SYSTEM

1. Biodiversity and Human Health environment and human health synergistcally as one health to fght many of the human health Biodiversity is a major link between environment, problems. One of the six building blocks WHO medicine and human health. Although areas of rich described for a Health System Framework is a biodiversity may have a high number of pathogens, well-functoning Health Informaton System that biodiversity and the services they provide can ensures producton, analysis, disseminaton and have the capacity to serve as a protectve factor use of reliable and tmely informaton on health to prevent transmission of infectous diseases that determinants, health systems performance and threaten both wild species as well as the people health status (WHO 2007). A natonal informaton who depend on them (WHO & CBD 2015). In the system with reliable informaton data sources on human-dominated anthropocene epoch where the services of biodiversity and LHT for health thus disruptons in the natural environment have becomes an urgent need for countries where the become rampant, the emergence of many more large majority of people depend on traditonal pathogens like COVID-19 in the future cannot be medical systems. ruled out. Unfortunately, biodiversity heritage and health linkages are not widely recognized or valued in developing low cost plans and programmes for 2. Revitalizaton of India’s Local Health & the Sustainable Development Goal of good health Food Traditons and well being for all (SDG 3). The Indo-Malaysian region, in partcular, the Indian The research and communicaton needs are subcontnent is popular for the well documented enormous for modern society to understand the examples of world cultural and health heritage. interlinkage of human and animal health. However, India with diverse geographies and climates as well the local health traditons across the globe have as a high human populaton has higher biological recognized clearly this determinant and treated and cultural diversites. India has one of the largest

16 healthcare systems in the world for addressing the 60 points. A major success factor of Kerala state primary, secondary and tertary healthcare needs. is considered as the integraton of the pluralistc The country also has age-old non-insttutonal healthcare systems with the promoton of health healthcare with the actve partcipaton of around awareness and rights (Madore et al.2018). 1 million traditonal healers and around 200 million informed households and use of over 7,500 plant WHO Traditonal Medicine Strategy 2002–2005 species (Arima 2018). Ayurveda, Sidha, Unani, Yoga, has provided detailed strategic directon to achieve Naturopathy and Swa-Rigpa systems of medicine four integrated objectves (pertaining to policy; originated in this region. Diverse methods of safety, efcacy and quality; access and ratonal use) improving immunity measures in both codifed and with well-defned outcome indicators for the key non-codifed systems ranging from herbal water/ performance of this sector. The top priority is ‘to tea and Choorna, Lehya and Kashaya - the health build the knowledge base for actve management of supplements to complex rejuvenaton therapies are Traditonal and Complementary Medicine through known in India. appropriate natonal policies’. An expected outcome of this objectve is ‘Strengthened knowledge There are about 60,000 plant species reported generaton, collaboraton and sustainable use of globally with their medicinal, nutritonal and TM resources’. Arima and Harilal (2018) discussed aromatc propertes. Plants and microbial diversity in greater detail the marginalizaton of LHTs in India together serve as the single greatest source of and the policy gaps and inconsistency in integratng natural product drugs to date. Origin from natural LHT within natonal and local community-centred products can be traced in 75 per cent or more in the pluralistc healthcare systems. antbacterials, antvirals and antparasitcs approved by the USFDA between 1981 and 2010 (WHO & 3. Sustainable producton and consumpton CBD 2015). The number of plant species used of Health Foods in the Indian Systems of Medicine areAyurveda: 1,200-1,800 species, Siddha: 500-900, Unani: 400- The prevalence of zinc defciency, that can result in 700, Swa-Rigpa: 300 and the Folk system: 7,500;the growth retardaton, diarrhoea, immune defciency, annual required quantty of raw drugs is about skin and eye lesions, delayed sexual maturaton 2,000 tons from 178 species with consumpton and behavioural changes (WHO 2000), is very high of over 100 metric tons. These therapeutc areas in South Asia where it varies between 34 per cent together produce about 25,000 efectve plant- and 73 per cent (Caulfeld and Black 2004). Natonal based formulatons and are commonly used by a risk of zinc defciency in children under 5 years in large majority of rural and indigenous people of India is very high (Black et al. 2008). One-quarter of India (Sen & Chakraborty 2017). Although India the total Indian populaton is at risk of inadequate has an estmated 7,500 plant species recorded zinc intake, and therefore it is recognized as a public with diverse folk medicinal usages, only a fracton health problem (Black et al. 2008). of these have been studied scientfcally for the pharmacological potental or the health benefts. Including minor millets in diets might contribute Sen & Chakraborty (2017) reported local trade of to fulflling zinc needs. Finger millet contains more than 1,500 herbals as dietary supplements or more zinc than rice but its bioavailability is lower ethnic traditonal medicines in India. However, the (Hemalatha, Patel, and Srinivasan 2007). Finger eforts are stll not enough to provide good health to millets are rich sources of phytates, which form all with a low cost or revitalizelocal health traditons complexes with zinc, iron and calcium and reduce of the country. India’s score on the Healthcare their bioavailability. However, processing fnger Access and Quality (HAQ) in 2019 was 41.2, which millet can reduce the presence of those complexes is lower than neighboring Bangladesh and well considerably and enhance the zinc bioavailability below the global average of 54.4. However, within (Sripriya, Antony, and Chandra 1997). It is known India, states like Goa and Kerala scored more than that food-processing procedures such as heat

17 treatment (cooking), fermentaton, germinaton, hilly region of Malabar lies in the global biodiversity maltng and soaking, as well as treatment with hotspot of the Western Ghats, which is one of the phytase, can improve zinc bioavailability in foods rich centres of endemic, endangered biodiversity by decreasing the amount of dietary phytate or its and cultural diversity of the country. lesser-phosphorylated derivatves (Agarwal 2001).

Millets are also important due to their hardiness, One of the famous examples of herbal health food in resilience to varied agro-climatc dangers and India and marketed vigorously is “Chyavanaprash” importance in marginal agriculture MSSRF has whose main ingredient is gooseberry. Its sale promoted millets as a strategic crop to address reportedly registered a record high of INR 800 the food and partcularly nutritonal security of the crores (double the amount of previous years) communites. Over the last two decades, MSSRF has during the frst month of the Corona pandemic. The successfully demonstrated integrated management potental of such herbal food or “nutraceutcals” of millets covering conservaton, cultvaton, has not been fully capitalized for achieving global consumpton and marketng dimensions through health security. Similarly, many wild food plants community-based demonstratons, outreach and are in use for their excellent functonal health infuencing public policy (King 2018, Stefano et value. Fresh or processed collected foods have al. 2015, Veronica et al. 2017, Jessica et al 2019). health-promotng and/or disease-preventng When assessing the role of NUS in food and property beyond the basic nutritonal functon. nutriton security, it should be stressed that other characteristcs than just the caloric content of the Despite challenges at various levels of the supply plant should be taken into consideraton. Minor chain, increasing awareness on the healthy diets, millets in fact play an important role in the food and favorable policy environment related to food nutriton security of the poor, due to their excellent and nutriton provides ample opportunites for content of micronutrients, minerals, vitamins sustainable producton and consumpton of health and fbres. Based on that, they should be rather foods. called ‘Nutri Millets’. Minor millets also contain all essental amino acids needed for an adequate diet 4. Home Remedies and Bio-diverse (FAO 1995). Homesteads

Worldwide, at least 30,000 plant species are known Homesteads and home remedy system are also to various human societes as edible from long popular in India. For instance, traditonally in past, but most of these species remain neglected almost all homes, spices and condiments are or under-utlized by the modern world (FAO, an integral part of food recipes. Spices are now 1982, 1984, 1989; Falconer, 1990). In India, over proved to be anant-cancer treasure house. The 4,500 inhabitant ethnic communites, developed popular examples are turmeric and ginger for a multtude of foods, drinks and medicines out of the ant-cancerous compound curcumin, and as every possible genetc resource. For example, the a breast cancer super food respectvely. Likewise, Malabar region (the south Western Ghats and piperine in pepper is known for its acton in coasts of the states of Kerala, Karnataka and Goa) is inhibitng invasion of tumours, and the fruit extract a historical global maritme destnaton known for of garcinia, a common ingredient in fsh curries in its rich diversity of spices like black pepper, ginger, central Kerala is rich in hydroxy citric acid that is turmeric, and cardamom, and medicinal plants. now being promoted for weight loss and as an ant- Malabar region is recognized as the Centre of Origin cancer extract. This traditonal wisdom of Indians of black pepper (Piper nigrum), which used to be to consume food and beverages with medicinal referred as the “Black Gold”, and its trade brought ingredient(s) has proven to provide many health in the Romans, Arabs and much later the colonial benefts. powers to this region, and the rest is history. The

18 The cultural knowledge including the LHT associated of organic farming. All the three sector actvites with biodiversity utlizaton is getng eroded at a lead to conservaton of biodiversity in situ, on-farm faster pace across most of the developing regions. and ex-situ of-farm levels. With this approach, This is mainly because of the change in societal sustainability can be achieved, and it will help values, as well as a change in the way health care companies protect long-term viability of businesses practces being promoted. This has resulted in the by reducing supply risk and securing a social license loss of traditonal knowledge and practces related to operate in the market. to wild PGR management and local level extncton of many of the medicinal plants and wild edibles.

The loss of habit of consumpton of diverse foods from both cultvated and wild sources has had serious repercussions on the nutriton status of tribal communites, especially of women and children. The advent of the modern system of medicine, neglect of traditonal health care practces and commodifcaton of herbal health products are the other major reasons. This demands focused atenton on the preservaton of the bio-cultural diversity and revitalizaton of the herbal health care heritage with back-up of scientfc studies, behavioural changes, and capacity development programmes for conservaton and promoton of local biodiversity and LHT.

5. Promotng a C4 Contnuum for creatng an economic stake in conservaton

When intensifcaton practces happen in a socially and environmentally benign manner with an inclusive approach in food, health and nutriton producton and supply chain system, it can be called sustainable biodiversity business. Sustainability in the supply chain occurs when management practces and governance impact positvely on the social, economic and environmental outcomes throughout the lifecycles of goods and services. Sustainable commerce can be beter illustrated through a 4C contnuum promoted by MSSRF.

In this approach, commerce is done with the primary aim of creatng an economic stake in conservaton through optons in livelihood security of small and marginal farmers, and promoted through a consumpton patern that enhances biodiverse diets, ensures food and nutriton security, and drives cultvaton practces which avoid hazardous chemicals and based on principles

19 IV. RECOMMENDATIONS:

Some of the policy gaps and the potental projects that could help translate the Natonal Health Policy (2017) and Biodiversity Act 2002 recommendatons for revitalizing LHTs and improving Human and Ecosystem health are outlined here.

1. Need a natonal commitment to revitalize locaton-specifc, culturally signifcant and tme- tested health care and sustainable food producton traditons. Integratng local health traditons and traditonal medicine in the sustainable development and health agenda of the world can beneft both biodiversity and human health. The report by WHO & CBD (2015) discussed in detail the critcality of developing and providing cost-efectve, safe and efcacy and quality proved traditonal medicine and involvement of traditonal healers in building up the health care system with new knowledge. Adequate investment and efectve integraton between diferent departments that deal with food and nutriton and primary healthcare promoton are required to improve Human & Ecosystem health.

2. Re-orient primary health care service priorites from an exogenous approach to an endogenous approach where the focus is the promoton of healthy foods and traditonal medicine. WHO recognizes traditonal medicine as an integral part of Local Health Traditons, and as the “total of the knowledge, skill, and practces based on the theories, beliefs, and experiences indigenous to diferent cultures,whether explicable or not, used in the maintenance of health as well as in the preventon, diagnosis, improvement or treatment of physical and mental illness”. The approach should be treatng synergistcally the human-animal -environmental health as ‘one health’ to fght against any human health problems. The twin goal of improving the human immune system and the environmental health system must be the foremost priority to safeguard the most vulnerable people against the killer pathogens in the future.

3. Consttute Primary Health Services Coordinaton Commitees at the district level with Collector as Chairman and health, nutriton and herbal experts from diferent systems as members. This body can lead in developing comprehensive primary healthcare & wellness packages with special atenton to tribal and rural areas. The Commitee also needs to coordinate streamlining and integratng policies and programmes of AYUSH, Natonal Rural Health Mission, Integrated Tribal Development Programme, Natonal Nutriton Mission, Natonal Livelihood Mission and Natonal Biodiversity Mission which are currently aimed at promotng integrated healthcare and nutriton.

4. Support projects that are aimed at documentaton of LHTs and Village-level Herbal Knowledge Registraton on aspects such as immunity increase, seasonal food recipes, disease-specifc recipes, Health boostng foods, and collecton of the employed herbals. Building district-level databases by protectng the intellectual property rights of the knowledge providers will help Access and Beneft Sharing. Phytochemical validaton of the local registered knowledge on such herbs and recipes needs to be undertaken in collaboraton with the indigenous knowledge providers and scientsts.

20 5. Organize Trainers’ training and Certfcate programmes through scientfcally designed curricula to build a cadre of barefoot LHT practtoners and custodian farmers who can engage in primary health services covering health, nutriton, sanitaton, hygiene, safe drinking water, and waste management-oriented actvites. This can be done as part of the Skill India program by involving agencies like the Natonal Council for Skill Development, Natonal Medicinal Plant Board, and domain-specifc NGOs. The skilled trainers can assist the health professionals for all primary health care services at household and community level.

6. Promote “Green Health” practces at every home with knowledgeable elderly people, trained primary health practtoners, custodian farmers, tribal and rural youth and women SHG members to focus on micro-nutrient rich (naturally or chemically bio-fortfed plants) and immunity- boostng herbals in the Home Gardens. Few state governments have unleashed plans for strengthening community-based producton systems of millets, household producton of fruits and vegetables. This can be part of the promoton of the concept of Local Health Heritage villages or Biodiversity Heritage Sites proposed in the Natonal Biodiversity Act (2002) wherein biodiversity is mainstreamed in producton of food and nutriton, healthcare, and livelihood needs.

7. Establish Herbal & Wild Food Gardens in every district, with emphasis on locaton-specifc medicinal and nutriton-rich plant species that are managed in partnership with knowledgeable local community members including traditonal healers. Such botanic gardens can promote as many satellite gardens at the community level. The master garden and its network gardens can ensure the availability of nutrient-rich food species, a refuge of the genetc variability in wild or semi-wild foods, orphan crops, and forest foods and can engage in educatng all the critcal stakeholders about the sustainable management of such bio-resources. To our knowledge, there are no organized gardens or eforts in India that directed towards saving the wild and Neglected and underutlized species of food value in an integrated manner. Eventually, state-level networks of herbal healers and herbalgardens with the purpose of exchange of herbal knowledge and medicinal plants can be established.

8. Value chain development for certfed primary health-boostng foods, products, nutraceutcals by organizing a cadre of trained Women Self Help Groups in the form of herbal producer organizatons. They can engage in promotng conservaton, cultvaton, consumpton, and local level commercializaton of herbals and PGRs of food, nutriton and therapeutc value. They need to be trained in the identfcaton of genetc diversity in nutridense crops, medicinal plants, wild food plants, and documentaton of traditonal knowledge and practces associated with such resources, along with preparaton, storage and marketng aspects of the herbal health products - Nutraceutcals.

21 9. Promote integrated scientfc research in nutriton, health and well-being to achieve health innovatons and nutriton-products from the traditonal and ethnomedicine system through a trans disciplinary approach (by involving traditonal health care practtoners and physicians of multple medical sciences) to understand the bidirectonal linkage between undernutriton and immunity issues and the role of Nutriton and Herbal remedies for a healthy life. Research in the labs needs to focus on efects of mult-micronutrients on immunity and in medical health conditons, which make nutrients and herbal molecules of therapeutc value to both macro and micronutrients, multple vitamins and minerals. Private sector and domain-specifc NGOs with support of bodies like Department of Science and Technology and Department of Biotechnology (Government of India) may take up such projects.

10. Identfy and designate Bio-cultural Diversity Heritage Sites where dynamic integraton of cultural diversity and TK happens in the healthcare and food producton systems. This can be done based on the locaton-specifc traditons in herbal healing and availability of practsing herbal healers, and richness in curatve and culinary diversity. The sites should also qualify for rich on-farm availability of genetc diversity in nutri-dense crop varietes and livestock breeds that are conserved in a dynamic way for beter nutriton and resistance to disease vulnerabilites.

22 V. CONCLUSION

The bold ideas outlined in the Natonal Health It is to be appreciated that the Bharatya Poshan Krish Policy (2017) need to be urgently translated into Kosh launched by the government of India in late on the ground acton for strengthening the various 2019 proposes to strengthen cultvaton of region- legally recognized healthcare systems and fnding specifc diverse crops across 127 agro-climatc zones possibilites of establishing an integrated healthcare of the country1. The proposed development of a system in the country. Food Atlas as well as documentaton of promising practces for POSHAN Abhiyaan shouldinclude Achieving the goal of ending preventable infectous documentaton of nutria-dense local biodiversity diseases, and eradicatng malnutriton by 2030 and LHT. (SDG3 & SDG 2) will be a formidable task in the post-COVID-19 world. The ‘Health for All’ goal The COVID-19 pandemic crisis is an opportune tme was perceived to achieve by adoptng preventve to seriously refect on our indigenous traditonal measures, immunizaton, and acquiring the knowledge systems based on local biodiversity and capacity to access treatment and good nutriton at focus on improving the immunity and nutriton an individual level. status of our people to face future challenges.The objectves of the Natonal Health Policy, Health Equally signifcant is the importance of protectng Mission, Nutriton Mission, Poshan Abhiyan, and the wild landscapes, ecosystems and species Biodiversity Act (2002) all need to be seen holistcally diversity to succeed in this goal. This is possible if and an integrated approach evolved. The primary there is a transformaton in the healthcare system healthcare system stands to gain by integratng the by making the traditonal healthcare sector as the vast knowledge base across the country that draws fourth ter of the natonal healthcare system. As on our rich biodiversity, to develop decentralized Darshan Shankar, Chairman of the Foundaton for and sustainable healthcare management systems Revitalizaton of Local Health Traditons noted, this that can efectvely cater to the needs of our large would help to cover the primary healthcare needs populaton. of 40-50 percent of India’s populaton with only a fracton of the allocated budget that goes to the insttutonal health system (Darshan Shankar 2020).

1 PRESS INFORMATION BUREAU Bharatya Poshan Krishi Kosh(BPKK),(2019), Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India 6 Dec htps:// pib.gov.in/Pressreleaseshare.aspx?PRID=1595250

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26 Annexure 1: List of 34 Herbal Formulatons produced for consumpton and marketng by women SHGs

SI. NO. Product Type & Name Plants Used Uses of The Formulaton CHOORNAM (Powder form) 1 Thriphalachoornam Nellikka-Emblica ofcinalis Cough, eye dis- ease, Piles, Const- Thannikka-Terminalia bellirica paton Kadukka-Terminalia chebula 2 VasapushtadiChoornam Adalodakam(fower)-Adhatoda beddomei Cough suppres- sant Chukku-Zingiber ofcinale

Kurumulaku-Piper nigrum

Thippali-Piper longum

Iratmadhuram-Glycyrrhizia glabra 3 Danthachoornam Mavila-Mangifera indica Tooth powder

Thulasiyila-Ocimum tenuiforum

Marakkari-Charcol

Uppu-Salt 4 Ashtachoornam Chukku-Zingiber ofcinale Vomitng, Diar- rhea, indigeston Kurumulaku-Piper nigrum and other stom- Thippali-Piper longum ach problems

Ayamodakam-Carum coptcum

Indhuppu-Potassium chloride

Jeerakam-Cuminum cyminum

Karinjeerakam- Nigella satva

Kayam-Ferula asafoetda

Chukku-Zingiber ofcinale 5 Thaleespathradichoor- Thaleespathram nam Kurumulaku-Piper nigrum Vomitng, Cough, Asthma Thippali-Piper longum

Karuvappata-Cinnamomum zeylanicum

Elakka-Eletaria cardamomum

Kalkandam

27 6 Thrikaduchoornam Chukku-Zingiber ofcinale

Kurumulaku-Piper nigrum Cough, Asthma, Throat pain etc. Thippali-Piper longum

LEHYAM (colloid form) 7 Muthiralehyam Fried muthira-Dolicos biforus Rheu- matsm, Karippet- Jaggery Back Fried jeerakam-Cuminum cyminum pain, Urinary Elakka-Eletaria cardamomum stone

8 Uluvalehyam Fried uluva-Trigonella foenum-graecum Pregnancy care

Jaggery; Fried Jeerakam-Cuminum cyminum

Elakka-Eletaria cardamomum 9 Thumbalehyam Thumba fower-Leucas aspera Post-delivery care and improving Jaggery; Elakka-Eletaria cardamomum breast milk Grambu-Syzygium aromatcum

10 Aswagandhalehyam Amukkuram (Withania somnifera) General health tonic Jaggery; Ghee & Honey 11 Kumarylehyam Aloe vera; Jaggery; Alium satvum Uterus disease

Honey; Ghee 12 Muringalehyam Moringa oleifera General health tonic for children Jaggery; Ghee; Honey 13 Nellikkalehyam Emblica ofcinale; Jaggery; Ghee; Honey; Piper General health nigrum; Eletaria cardamomum; Cinnamo- tonic for all mum zeylanicum 14 Inchilehyam Zingiber ofcinale Cough and diges- ton Ghee &Eletaria cardamomum 15 Kariveppilalehyam Murraya koenigii; Zingiber ofcinale Diarrhea, indiges- ton and other Citrus acida; Jaggery abdominal issues. Ghee & Honey

28 16 Brahmi lehyam Bacopa monnieri; Centella asiatca Brain tonic for school going chil- Clitoria ternatea; Tinospora cordifolia dren and insane Withania somnifera; Asparagus racemosus babies.

Cyathula prostrata; Maranta arundinacea

Acorus calamus; Ghee; Honey

Jaggery; Piper longum PAIN BALM 17 Balm Coconut oil; Lac; Eu- Head ache, Body pain calyptus

Cymbopogon citra- tus; Commiphora mukul

THAILAM (Herbal Oil) 18 Bhrungarajathailam Eclipta prostrata; Tinospora cordifolia Hair tonic

Emblica ofcinalis

Glycyrrhiza glabra (Iratmadhuram)

Coconut oil; Cow milk 19 Bhoomi amalakithailam Phyllanthus niruri; Vitex negundo Skin disease

Azadiracta indica; Coconut oil

Curcuma longa 20 Thinthranithailam Tamarindus indicus; Alpinia calcarata Ant Rheumatc and Ant infam- Coconut oil matory 21 Sahadevithailam Vernonia cinerea; Allium satvum Head-ache, joint pain and balk pain Coconut oil; Camphor 22 Thulasithailam Ocimum tenuiforum; Commiphora mukul Ear pain and puss

Coconut oil 23 Neergundithailam Vitex negundo; Calotropis gigantea Joint pain, Rheu- matc pain Cocos nucifera root; Coconut oil

Ricinus communis; Camphor 24 Dandhathailam Eugenia caryophyllata; Acorus calamus; Toothache and ear Alium satvum; Coconut oil pain

29 25 Murivenna Pongamia pinnata; Piper betle Burn, fracture, skin diseases, pain Erythrina indica; Moringa oleifera etc Oldenlandia auricularia; Aloe vera

Alium satvum; Asparagus racemosus

Coconut oil; Starch water 26 Prasavaraksha kuzhambu Coconut oil; Sida alnifolia var. alnifolia; Cen- Post-delivery care tella asiatca and skin care

Curcuma longa

GULIKA (Tablets & Capsules form) 27 Sahadevigulika Piper nigrum; Pave- Vomitng, diarrhea and ta indica; Vernoni fever in children. acinerea; Leucas aspera; Ocimum tenuiforum 28 Thilanagarathigulika Sesamum indicum; Digeston Zingiber ofcinale

Piper nigrum; Cumi- num cyminum 29 Villwapathradigulika Eagle marmelos; Diabetes Azadiracta indica

Piper nigrum; Catha- ranthus roseus

Ocimum tenuifo- rum; Gymnema sylvestre 30 Udaravrinanashini Curcuma longa; Ulcer Honey 31 Arshovinashini Cassia fstula; Vits Piles vinifera

Terminalia chebula; Curcuma longa 32 Marmanigulika Terminalia chebula; Skin disease Tinosporacordifolia

30 33 Uragulika Centella asiatca; Ulcer, piles, stomach Bacopa monnieri pain, digestve and gastric problems, fever; Eclipta prostrata; also for treatment of Coleus aromatcus ailments in animals. Vernonia cinerea; Carum coptcum (Ayamodakam)

Alium satvum; Feru- la asa-foetda

Myristca fragrans; Acorus calamus

Piper nigrum; Picrorrizha kurroa (Kadukurohini); Galls on Qeurcus infecto- ria (Mayak)

Curcuma longa; Zingiber ofcinale

Piper nigrum & Indhuppu

HEALTH SEED MIXTURE (9 Seeds powder)

34 Navadhanya Mixture Njavara rice; Barley; General nutrient rich Wheat; Maize food for all, and espe- cially babies and diabet- Ragi; Jowar; Ground ics nut; Horse gram

Green gram

31 M S Swaminathan Research Foundaton 3rd Cross Street, Insttutonal Area, Taramani Chennai 600 113, India MSSRF Tel: +91 (44) 22541229, +91 (44) 22541698 htps://www.mssrf.org/

32