The relevance of Vrukshayurveda for organic cultivation of medicinal plants

Abstract

Ayurveda was theorized few thousand years back and is practised upto this day. So as like the medical science for humans (Ayurveda) similar science Vrikshayurveda was also developed for plants. Vrikshayurveda mainly deals with various aspects of trees regarding procuring, preserving, treatment of seeds and planting materials, method of irrigation, selection of soil, bio fertilizers and techniques for healthy growth and productivity of plant and plant disease etc. Today, we are facing lot of health hazards due to chemical fertilizers and pesticides in human beings like Digestive ailments, Cancer, Physical and Mental ailments, Reproductive abnormalities, Immune suppression, Hormone disruption etc. It does because of our traditional practices of farming have been more or less replaced by modern techniques, which are mainly dependent on chemicals for disease free and vigorous plants.  Not only human health, these are causing destructive effects on environment like contamination of air, soil, ground water and declining of beneficial soil micro-organisms. It is necessary to validate effectivity of several ancient practices in the organic production and managing medicinal plant diseases. An effort is made here to review Vrikshayurveda literature related to agro techniques which can be used in the development of effective medicinal plants. It also highlights the current status of research and recent trends in the field of Vrikshayurveda related to organic production.