As the ayurvedic industry is facing a severe shortage of raw materials, the Ayurvedic Drug Manufacturers Association (ADMA) has chalked out a detailed plan to solve the problem under which medicinal plants, especially endangered plants, will be cultivated throughout the country.

Christened as "Big Push Theorem", Gugul tree will be cultivated as a first step. The ADMA has roped in National Medicinal Plant Board (NMPB) for this purpose and talks are on with the forest departments of Rajasthan and Gujarat.

"Big Push Theorem is our new idea to solve the problems of scarcity of raw materials in the industry. ADMA, National Medicinal Plant Board (NMPB) and forest departments of Rajasthan and Gujarat are in talks to cultivate Gugul trees as a first step to start a new flow of regeneration of renewable plant herbs," ADMA general secretary Ranjit Puranik said.

The new plan aims at regeneration of almost all necessary plants and herbs to ensure the smooth flow of much needed herbs for medicine preparation. The thrust is on regeneration through cultivation and as a part of this strategy rare and endangered medicinal plants will be focus of this project. The first step in this direction will be the plantation of Gugul tree, one of the best known Ayurvedic herbs widely used in Indian Ayurvedic medicine, Puranik said.

Giving details about the plan, Puranik said, it will be introduced first it in the forest regions of the country. Gugul is endemic to Rajasthan and Gujarat, so we selected these two states. The tree yields the gum resin after 7-8 years and the average yield is 250 grams per plant. Talks with the forest department of both states so far have been fruitful and the project is on right track and will be executed in this year itself, he said.

Puranik regretted that there have been no steps for the last 10-15 years for ensuring the continuity of raw material for making medicines. When asked why Gugul is being planted first, Puranik said its yields is used extensively for treating arthritis, dermatological problems, blood purification, rheumatism etc and traditionally used for a variety of imbalances such as intestinal inflammation, diarrhoea and urinary disorders.

B S Sajwan CEO NMPB said, "The project is sure to boost the industry's need and we have a meeting scheduled for June 11, 2007 with the state governments. We in our capacity as plant board have to make sure the availability of herbs. The aim is to target endangered species of plants and control the situation. We are also looking into more policies to better the current scenario; thrust is to be given into research. After this project is executed, we will turn our attention to Ashok tree."

He said that the NMPB would provide all necessary support and finance the project titled Project Gugul that will be implemented by the state governments. The project will be aided by the industry, forest department, NGOs and civil society.