Study and research on medicinal plants should be promoted, said renowned novelist Dr Na D’Souza.
He was speaking after inaugurating a workshop on medicinal plants organised by State Medicinal Plants Authority in Sagar town recently.
Western medicinal system offers immediate relief from pain and ailments but has side affects. However unani, ayurveda and other oriental medicinal systems which use herbs and other products available in nature as prime ingredients are free from side affects, and enhance resistance power at affordable price, he remarked.
Subsidies and incentives should be provided for farmers who opt to grow medicinal and aromatic plants. Native medicine practitioners should get organised. Also exchange of ideas and experiences between practitioners of native and western medicine should increase, he opined.
Addressing the gathering, Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forest S Venugopal informed that saplings which have medicinal value will be planted in the afforestation programme undertaken by the government.