Nagpur: Lilies, roses and jasmine used to blossom in the household garden of Bhagyashre Kashikar in Ram Nagar some six months ago. Now, these have been replaced by gulvel, mandukparni, mint, and tulsi.
“I got these herbs from a social organization promoting natural and ayurvedic herbs. They are quite helpful especially to avoid viral infections,” she said.
Importance of maintaining immunity with the use of ayurvedic herbs and traditional medicines are in trend across the country during Covid-19 time. But in Nagpur, people are a step ahead. Apart from groups and individuals providing organically grown fruits, vegetables and medicines, the city has institutions providing package of ayurvedic herbs to the households for their kitchen garden and experts giving live demo on how to make chyawanprash.
Recently, one such workshop on chyawanprash making was held at Aura Park, 40km away from city, where 30 individuals from different fields learned the ‘recipe’ of chyawanprash. Chyawanprash has been included in the national clinical management protocol based on ayurveda for Covid-19.
“The chyawanprash making workshop was a success as all 30 seats were booked in advance,” said Ambarish Ghatate, organizer. The Aura Park is known for growing more than 400 herbs. All these herbs are plucked right in front of the participants, and entire process of making Chyawanprash is carried out in front of them. During the workshop, Dr Poonam Madan, MD in ‘Rasa Shastra’, shared the first-hand information about the medicinal plants which is used in chyawanprash and a scientific process of making. Excited with the response of the first workshop, the group is now planning to hold ‘Vana-Aushadhi Darshan’ next week. Similar workshop was held on October 31 at Aarogya Sadhana Kendra in Deendayal Nagar.
Mukund Sherekar, who coordinated the event, said ancient concepts from ayurveda are getting global acceptance during the pandemic. “The concept of maintaining healthy body and mind and avoid falling ill at the first place is the base of Ayurveda. We are finding more people trying to grow herbs at home and staying healthy with their regular use,” he said.
Several groups, including Manas Ayurveda, are providing a package of 14 very commonly used herbs that could be grown in kitchen gardens.
Naturopath Dr Sadhana Kanoje who runs Natural Organic Food Process Marketing & Research Co-op Society Ltd, said that people are adopting organic way of life. “Pure and organic food grown in natural way itself is the best medicine against infections like Covid-19. At our society, we are providing organic spices, vegetables, fruits, cereals and flour. The demand has grown multifold in pandemic,” she said.