On account of increasing number of medical practitioners in the Siddha, Ayurveda and Unani medical systems and a rising growth in the production of medicines, the demand for medicinal plants and herbs is also increasing despite there is lack of a supporting system for cultivation of plants, revealed a study conducted by the Centre for Traditional Medicines and Research (CTMR) in Chennai.

The demand for traditional medicines has increased so much with more number of ISM wings in government primary health centres under NRHM scheme and opening up of centres in ESI hospitals in addition to private Siddha and Ayurveda hospitals, and spas. But, in view of the rise in demand, no proactive step has been taken to cultivate medicinal plants to meet the requirement, the study reveals.
 
According to CTMR research, if proper measures are taken the Siddha medicine manufacture sector in Tamil Nadu will not struggle for non-availability of medicinal plants and herbs.

“The increasing demand is not completely met by cultivation as of now. Only a few species are cultivated and that too for exports and for phyto-pharmaceutical extraction companies. A systemic planning for cultivation and spreading the list of species to be grown may help the drug manufacturers to meet their requirements and the plant growers to promote their produce”, says Dr T Thirunaarayanan who directed the research study.
 
As a solution to the growing problem, CTMR puts certain suggestions before the authorities. According to them, all the plants required by manufacturing units can be grown in different agro-climatic zones of Tamil Nadu. A judicious mixture of them if cultivated in limited area, marketing would not be a problem. Since most of the units in this sector in Tamil Nadu are PSUs, cooperative societies and trusts, they go by tender processes and lowest quotations. Consolidation by way of a growers’ society or producer company, supported by government or NABARD, will help the cultivators actively participate in the tender and market the produce in a profitable way.

In the research, the Centre finds one fact that the social media has popularized Indian herbs and their benefits across the globe, hence there is an increase in demand for herbal medicines worldwide. Further, the promotion of Siddha medicines by the government of Tamil Nadu to counter epidemics like dengue, swine flu, malaria, etc. has also accelerated the demand for medicinal plants.