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Medicinal Plants in the Western Ghats of India

Also known as the Sahyadri hills, the Western Ghats is a region that stretches nearly 1,000 miles along the western side of India. The area is considered one of the world's top ten biodiversity hot spots, according to Conservation International, and it's home to over 5,000 species of plant. Plants are an important component of traditional Indian medicine, called Ayurveda, and many plants throughout the region are being tested for worldwide use.

  1. Bael

    • Bael (Aegle marmelos) is a medium-sized, fruit-bearing tree native to the dry forest of the Western Ghats. It grows to nearly 60 feet in height; it has a slender and graceful habit, thorny branches and fragrant flowers. Bael bears smooth-skinned fruit that superficially resemble pears, yet its fruit has an extremely hard outer skin. In Ayurveda, or traditional Indian medicine, bael is a powerful treatment for a wide-range of physical complaints, from sinusitis and dry eyes to dysentery and parasites. Its most popular application is in the treatment of chronic constipation or intestinal blockage.

    Brahmi

    • Sometimes called water hyssop, brahmi (Bacopa monnieri) is a creeping herbaceous perennial. It's often found in wetlands and swampy areas of the Western Ghats. The plant is recognizable by its small, succulent leaves and dainty white flowers, which appear in abundance in the spring. All parts of the brahmi plant are considered medicinal and have a wide range of applications. Most commonly used as a mental tonic, brahmi is reputed to have anti-anxiety and cognitive enhancing properties, as well as sedative qualities and positive effects on memory.

    Jyotishmati

    • Found throughout India, jyotishmati (Celastrus paniculatus) is a large, climbing shrub common to the lower altitudes of the Western Ghats. The plant has abundant foliage, with oval-shaped leaves and small greenish flowers. Although all aerial (above ground) parts of the plant are considered medicinally valuable, it is the seeds that are prized above the rest. Oil expressed from the seeds has anti-convulsant properties, as well as being a febrifugal (warming) tonic that is useful in treating gout and rheumatism. Although it is a popular remedy in India, jyotishmati is extremely unpalatable and bitter so is often combined with sweet herbs and sugar during preparation.

    Kutaj

    • Kutaj (Holarrhena pubescens) is a small tree native to the tropical areas of the India. It is a deciduous tree with rough, reddish-brown bark and oval-shaped, lightly serrated leaves that are approximately 4 inches in length. Kutaj trees growing in the Western Ghats tend to produce a great abundance of seeds, although their overall growth is quite low, totaling less than four inches per year. Although all parts of the plant are medicinal, it is mainly the bark and roots that are utilized in Ayurveda. It is most often used to treat diarrhea and dysentery, including amoebic dysentery.

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