INTACHThe heriTage Club NewsleTTer

VOl. 10 No. 4

CONTENTS

Indians believe that the knowledge of medicinal plants is older than history itself. There are many plants and trees that are used for deriving medicines. From the bark to the root, from the seeds to the shoots, some trees and plants have a lot to offer. With its rich biodiversity, our country is a repository of medicines sourced naturally. In fact, some plants that grow in the wild also have medicinal properties!

Come, let’s explore the unique ways in which medicines can perform miracles.

india has a varied and vibrant living heritage, which includes traditional

systems of medicine. For centuries, our country has been known for its alternative medicinal therapies. every state in the country has something different to offer as far as medicinal herbs and therapies are concerned. From Kashmir to Kanyakumari and from rajasthan to sikkim, there is no state which does not have its own traditional medicinal practices.

india is known to be the land of sages, who were a storehouse of knowledge on traditional medicinal practices and accumulated medicinal information

down the ages—drawing from knowledge that had already been evolving for millennia in the forests of india.

with rapid urbanisation and preference for allopathic medicines, the demand for traditional medicinal practices has decreased. however, in many parts of the country, local communities and tribes still continue with these traditional practices. This knowledge is passed down from one generation to another. it is indeed a part of our rich living and natural heritage, and needs to be safeguarded.

Miracle MedicinesOCTOber - DeCeMber 2013

Miracle Medicines 1history of Traditional Medicines 2Medicines from the North east 3Magical Medicines 4Nurturing Nature, Kitchen Cures 5Power of Plants 6, 7regional wonders 8activities 4 u 9, 10heritage News, subscription Form 11

Prize winners, what’s Next? 12

MOUNTAIN MAGICThe himalayas are known for their nature’s bounty of medicinal herbs. it has unique trees and herbal plants which have helped to cure many an ailment.

it has been mentioned in the ramayana too. lord hanuman is supposed to have brought sanjee-vani buti from the great himalayas in order to heal the wounds of lord ram’s brother lakshmana.

Harkirat, VII, Gyan Bharati School, New Delhi

AMAzING AyUrvedA ayurveda is a traditional medicine system native to india. The term ayurveda is derived from two sanskrit words- ‘ayus’ meaning longevity and ‘veda’ meaning knowledge. ayurveda was among the first medical systems to advocate an integrated approach towards matters of health and disease.

P. Sri Bhargavi, IX A, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan’s Public School, Hyderabad

THE GHAT STORYThe Western Ghats is very rich in medicinal wealth. There are

around 700 medicinal plants in the forests and hills of the Western Ghats. Some of these are used

for traditional and folk medicinal practices.

Hi Friends, Medicines can heal,

medicines can cure….but do plants heal?? I know, I am sure…

I N d I a N N a T I O N a l T r u S T f O r a r T a N d C u l T u r a l H E r I T a g E

Illustration by: Paridhi Aggarwal, X, Delhi Public School, Maruti Kunj, Gurgaon

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The history of traditional medicines in India can be traced back to ancient times. In fact, India is known to be the land of miraculous cures and remedies.

History of Traditional Medicines

Medicine Storyindian medicine has a very long history. its earliest concepts are set out in the Vedas, especially in the atharvaveda which dates back to the 2nd millennium bC.

During the Mauryan and gupta period, indian medicine reached its peak. under the Mughals, the system of medicine which flourished was unani. several hospitals were also established by the Mughal rulers and nobles.

with the coming of the british to india, new forms of modern medicine were introduced. allopathic medicines became the mainstay.

Charak Samhita and Sushrut SamhitaThe ‘golden age’ of indian medicine from 800 bC to 1000 aD was marked by the production of two medical treatises- the Charak Samhita and Sushrut Samhita, attributed respectively to Charak, a physician and sushrut, a surgeon.

The Charak Samhita mentions around 500 medicinal plants and the Sushrut Samhita mentions around 760.

These classical sanskrit encyclopaedias on medicine are among the foundational and formally compiled works of ayurveda. Dhairyansh Dangara, IX D, All Saints Sr. Sec. School, Ajmer

UNANI MedICINeunani medicine is greco-arabic in origin and was evolved around 980 aD in Persia. The comprehensive knowledge of this treatment as a healing system was collected by hakim ibn sina.Practitioners of this form of medicine in india can practice as qualified doctors.an outstanding physician and scholar of the unani medicine, hakim ajmal Khan (1868-1927), championed the cause of the unani system in india. Krishna Prakash, IX, Visakha Valley School, Visakhapatnam

SIddhA MedICINesiddha medicine is one of the oldest medical systems known to mankind. it originated in the state of Tamil Nadu. The word siddha comes from siddhi, meaning an object to be attained perfection. The world siddha Day is celebrated on 14th april. Paridhi Aggarwal, X, Delhi Public School, Maruti Kunj, Gurgaon

DID YOU KNOWIn 1920, the Indian National Congress Convention

at Nagpur recommended that Ayurveda should be the national system of medicine, and in 1921,

Mahatma Gandhi inaugurated the Ayurvedic & Unani Tibbia College in Delhi.

ACTIvITyImagine yourself to be an assistant of Charak. What herbs did you observe him use and which ailment would he have used this for? Also, who would be the lucky one whom he would have liked to cure?

Illustration by: G. Rashmi, X, Bharatiya Vidhya Bhavan's Public School, HyderabadBackground Illustration by: Sagarika Agrawal, VI, Delhi Public School, Sector 45, Gurgaon

Natural cure, we are always sure...

Charak and Sushrut gave us remedies that

were pure...

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Medicines from the North East The tribal people and ethnic races throughout the world have developed their own cultures, customs, cults, religious rites, taboos, legends and myths, folktales, medicinal plants etc. Numerous wild and cultivated plants play a very important and vital role among these cultures.

MySTIfyING MeGhAlAyAall the tribes of Meghalaya use traditional methods of treatment. These medicines are widely accepted by the local people. Cassandra Odami Rynjah, IX, B.K. Bajoria School, Shillong

There is an age-old belief among the Khasis of Meghalaya that a particular germ infects the infants and newborns. This is called Niangsohpet-niang meaning germ and sohpet meaning navel in Khasi dialect. The Khasis make a herbal concoction called Ka Dawai Niangsohpet to eliminate the germs from the body.

MIzO TrAdITIONAl heAlING SySTeMThe traditional healing systems of the Mizos are based on intense observation and belief. The use of medicinal plants for curing ailments has been an age-old custom among the Mizo tribes.

NAGA fOlk MedICINeNagaland is known for its rich biodiversity. it is also blessed with numerous herbal trees and plants that are used for medicinal purposes. generally, the traditional knowledge of herbal medicine is confined to local medicine men. The lotha-Naga tribes inhabited the hilly tracts of Nagaland are known for curing many ailments using locally grown herbs.

The lekok plant found in Nagaland is known for its astringent and digestive properties. it is used to treat bronchitis, skin diseases, leprosy and asthma. Sungjemkala, VIII, John Douglas School, Kohima

a traditional herb used by the ao-Naga tribe is Repjee. it is found all over the state cultivated in Jhum fields and kitchen gardens. its leaves and roots have medicinal value. Maonglemla, VIII, John Douglas School, Kohima

TANTrA ANd MANTrA IN SIkkIMThe Tantric form of religion and medicine was introduced in sikkim by guru Pamasambhava, commonly known as guru rimpoche. in this tantric form of healing, lord buddha is evoked as Ugyen Menla.

MIrACle Of MANIpUr The Chameleon plant, also known as Toningkhok in Manipuri, is known for its medicinal properties. The leaf extract of this plant is used for treating dysentery. V.M. Subhasri, VI , Revoor Padmanabha Chetty’s Matric Hr. Sec. School, Chennai

MIShING MedICINeThe Mishing community of assam and arunachal Pradesh have a unique medicinal system of their own. The Mishings use different herbs in the form of fresh drug, crushed juice derived from the herb, and powdered medicine. These herbs are locally available.

lepChA ANd BhUTIA heAlING SySTeMSThe lepchas believe in the existence of certain semi-divine beings or guardian spirits, which are respected in the form of a huge tree or sacred groves. it is believed that if they are disrespected, people may suffer from serious illness and death. The Totola tree is highly respected in lepcha culture.

The bhutias have trained specialists known as Pau who practice Phuphi, a ritual wherein they go into a trance and communicate with the spirits to discover the root cause of an illness.

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VOl. 10 No. 4

heAlING TreeSBanyan: This tree is called ‘bar’ in hindi. The seeds of the banyan are used to make a tonic, and the sap can heal wounds. it has antiseptic and astringent properties.

asoka: The bark of this tree is used to make a lotion which has astringent qualities and is used to heal open wounds.

arjuna: The extract from the bark of this tree is used as a clinical treatment for hypertension. a powder from the bark, taken orally, is a valuable cardiac tonic.

amaltas: The powdered bark of this tree has high medicinal properties and is effective against dysentery, skin rashes and jaundice.

Bael: The roots of this tree are used to cure many ailments. The leaves are used for curing diabetes and deafness.

Magical Medicines India is a land of plenty. Herbal plants and trees are found in every corner of the country. Medicines are derived from these herbs and are used for curing various ailments. Even the most common plants have some medicinal qualities. In fact, even fruits and vegetables have medicinal value.

helpfUl herBSTulsi: it is commonly found in all parts of the country and its leaves are used for curing a number of diseases including diarrhoea, bronchitis and arthritis.

Neem: Neem leaves are the best antiseptic. They are used for curing skin ailments as well as chicken pox.

Henna: henna leaves have astringent properties. They are used for curing wounds, ulcers, cough, fever, and anaemia.

Curry: Curry leaves have antiseptic properties, and used for curing burning sensation, skin diseases, vomiting, among other ailments.

dO IT yOUrSelfw Find out which local species of plants are used for

medicinal purposes.

w Try to understand the ailments that each of these plants cure, as well as the method by which the medicine is made.

w Collect samples of these plants. You can make a scrapbook and document each of these plants, their scientific and local names, where they are found, and what they are used for.

WhO AM I?1. I am bitter, I am better I am green, I am mean I am used to cure ailments and help your skin

get some sheen _________________________________2. Indian weddings are incomplete without me I give a special colour for all to see __________________________________3. My fruit is sour, but I am a miracle by far I am good for the hair Withmeyoudon’tneedanyspecialcare __________________________________

fASCINATING frUITSamla: The fruit from the amla tree is a cure against diabetes. it is also used for treating hair and scalp related problems.

anar: This sweet fruit is a cure for many ailments including gastric disorders, anaemia, and earache.

Shehtut: Known as mulberry in english, it is used in folk medicine as a cure against ringworms.

Illustration by: Disha Swami, IX, VVDAV Public School

Illustration by: Neha Arora, X,

Green Wood Sr. Sec. School,

Rampur

Background Illustration by: Neha Arora, X, Green Wood Sr. Sec. School, Rampur

Illustration by: Sabhya Gupta, V, Bal Bharati Public School, Rohini,

Delhi

Did you know?The National Flower of India—Lotus—

also known as kamal has unique medicinal properties. The leaves are used for

fightingbacterialinfections.Thepetalsare used for curing snake bites and

scorpion stings.

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Nurturing NatureAround 2000 plants have been described in Ayurveda. The World Conservation Union’s Red List has named 352 medicinal plants of which 52 are critically threatened and 49 are endangered.

Prabhat Khirwar, XI, Sardar Patel Vidyalaya, New Delhi

Dr. sudha is a big name in field of ayurveda in Kerala. she established the sarada ayurvedic Pharmaceuticals in the Thrissur District of Kerala. she has done a lot of work on tribal medicines.

Aryan, VII A, Saraswati Public School, Jagadhri, Yamunanagar

There is a statue dedicated to sushruta at the Patanjali Yogpeeth institute in haridwar. The signage mentions the sushruta samhita as ‘the best and most outstanding commentary on medical science produced in india.’ it has claimed to have discovered the sanjeevani buti - the magical herb of india.

Harjeet Hundal, Dyal Singh Public School, Jagadhri, Yamunanagar and Shivani Sharma, VII , Delhi Public School, Sec. 45, Gurgaon

in Jamnagar, ayurveda is very popular. Dr. Pranjivan Mehta established the shri gulab Kunwarba aurvedic society and College called Dhanvantri Mandir in 1946.

Metalia Hardir, VIII, Bhavan’s Shri A.K. Doshi Vidyalaya, Jamnagar

Kumar Chhetri is a unique personality from Darjeeling. he has been associated with natural remedies for many years. he treats people using natural remedies.

Ritiesh V., IX, Etasi Timpany Steel City School, Visakhapatnam

Zandu bhattji after whom the famous Zandu Pharmaceuticals is named was an ayurvedic physician. he used to prepare medicines from plant and tree extracts.

Jahanvi Tankaria, VIII, Bhavan’s Shri A.K. Doshi Vidyalaya, Jamnagar

in ayurveda, cinnamon is used as a remedy for diabetes, indigestion and colds, and it is often

recommended for people with the kapha dosha.Ananya Tiwari, IX, Ajanta Public School, Gurgaon

Ajwain is used in india as a remedy for indigestion and colic. it is used for relieving asthma and

arthritis. The seeds have high medicinal value. Sushma N., IX A, D.A.V. Public School, Sec. 14, Gurgaon

Papaya is a wonder fruit. it is widely used to cure toothache, headache,

Jaundice, kidney stones and ringworm.

Aryan Khanna, VII, Delhi Public School, Ambala

Alsi is a wonder herb. it is known to enhance intelligence and boost

memory power. Drops of alsi oil are used for curing

dryness in eyes. Madhav Sachar, IV D, V.V.D.A.V. Public

School, Vikaspuri, New Delhi

Fenugreek is used for curing diabetes. it is

also a great metabolism booster.

Pallavi A. Nair, IX C, V.V.D.A.V. Public School, Vikaspuri, New Delhi

Khus Khus is used in curing burning sensation, ulcer, skin infections and vomiting.

Oshin Kunwal, IX A, Pine Hall School, Dehradun

Curry leaves have digestive properties. it is rich in Vitamin a and Calcium. a paste made by grinding the bark of the tree is used as an

antiseptic to treat skin eruptions. Muskan Mahendru, IX, Delhi Public School, Ambala

garlic is well known for its medicinal properties. in addition to keeping the heart and blood vessels

healthy, garlic is used to lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels. garlic contains 100 chemically

active compounds. it fights cancer too. Jitendra Choudhary and Jayshree Rajput, Global Indian

International School, Surat;

Ramadugu Anuritha, IX H, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan’s Public School, Hyderabad

Hing has been used for centuries to cure many ailments. in ayurveda, it is considered

to be one of the best spices for balancing the vata dosha.

Mariam Mammen, IX C, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan’s Atmakuri Rama Rao School, Hyderabad

Saunf or fennel is a yellowish green herb which is cultivated

throughout india as a leaf vegetable and seed spice. it is

used as a digestive. Mansi Kapoor, X, D.A.V. Public School,

Suknara, Kangra

Kitchen Cures

Illustration by: Mouna Gupta, Ryan International School, Sohna Road, Gurgaon

Illustration by: Dhairyansh Dhangra, IX, All Saints

Sr. Sec. School

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VOl. 10 No. 4

PowEr of PlaNTs ASOkA

leaves of the asoka Tree have anti-bacterial properties. it is helpful in fighting fever,

cold, and infections. The methanol extracts from the tree are also a

cure against rheumatic arthritis. a preparation made from the extracts of this tree is used to cure uterine

infections.

Ananya Chenab, VI, Delhi Public School, Sec. 45, Gurgaon

BrAhMIBrahmi is used as a nerve tonic and

as a sedative for relieving stress. extracts from its leaves are used for

making hair tonics and oils. Bhuvaneshwari M., IX, Sri Seshaas

International Public School, Salem

SArpAGANdhAThe leaves are greenThe plant makes a person

calm and sereneblossoms have a violet tinge

in whiteThe herb is a remedy for rashes

due to insect bite

Sabhya Gupta, V A, Bal Bharati Public School, Rohini, Delhi

AMArANThamaranth is a herb found in india.

botanists have discovered the nutritious value of the leaves and

seeds of this plant. it is high in protein, calcium, folic acid and

vitamin C. it is a very good source of energy.

Shashank Shankar, V, Scholars Home, Dehradun

dArUhArIdrAdaruharidra is a famous ayurvedic herb in

use since Vedic times. it is useful for curing diseases related to the skin, ear, nose, and

throat. it also regulates the metabolism, and maintains liver health. it is a natural

antidote for toxicities. Shivani Negi, IX, Raksha Anusandhan Vidyalaya,

Dehradun

peepAlThe Peepal Tree has great medicinal

value. its leaves serve as a laxative as well as a tonic for the body.

it is especially useful for people suffering from Jaundice. it is also

used for curing mumps and many skin disorders.

Nikunj Goel, V B, V.V.D.A.V. Public School, Vikaspuri, New Delhi

JAMUN Jamun fruit is used in ayurveda for curing ailments

related to kapha and pitta. it is used as a liver stimulant, coolant and digestive agent. its

hypoglycaemic property is used for lowering blood sugar. The fruit is also used in the siddha system of

medicine. Yogita, VIII, Mukand Lal Public School,

Yamunanagar

GUrMArgurmar is known as a miracle fruit. it is

known as ‘sugar killer’ or ‘destroyer of sugar.’ it grows in the tropical forests of india and has been used for over 2000 years in traditional systems of

medicine. it is used for curing diabetes and is also known for its anti-fungal

properties. Rohan Sethi, VII D, Gwalior Glory High School, Gwalior

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PowEr of PlaNTs RAMPHAL

a miraculous tree is ramphal. scientific research has shown that it is a very

useful herb, and is not only being given to cancer patients in india but all over

the world. Juice extracted from its fruit is particularly beneficial for curing cancer.

Shreeyanshmaan, VIII, D.A.V. Public School, Bhubaneswar

kAChNArThe Kachnar is a beautiful tree with many medicinal

properties. its bark has astringent properties and is used as a blood purifying agent. Kachnar is used to cure asthma, skin diseases, diarrhoea, sore throat and ulcers. The buds

and roots of this tree can cure digestive problems.

Avantika Tewari, IX, Navy Children School, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi

BAelOne tree about which the rishis who developed ayurveda had a deep knowledge was the Bael tree. The science of ayurveda

values the bael tree for its medicinal properties.

K. Haritha Reddy, VIII, The Aditya Birla Public School, Tadipatri, Andhra Pradesh

The fruit, leaves and roots of the bael plant are used as a medicine to control diarrhoea, gives strength to stomach, liver and heart.

Sanya Pawah, X, Maharaja Sawai Man Singh Vidyalaya, Jaipur

AMlAThere is an interesting story behind amla. it is believed that a hermit named Chyawan drank the soup of amla and became young. it is used in making Chyawanprash and other ayurvedic formulations. it is used for curing

weakness and boosting immunity.

Kanika Kanaujiya, VIII B, Sunway School, Rampur

AMAzING AlOe verA!!what a fascinating plant, our aloe Vera!

it is probably present everywhere in my area

a medicinal plant with fleshy leaves, so succulent,

its use in herbal medicine is indeed very frequent

Aratrika Pal, VII, The Heritage School, Kolkata

NATIve NeeM The Neem Trees is known as ‘sacred tree’, ‘heal all’, ‘nature’s drugstore’,

‘village pharmacy’, and ‘panacea for all diseases.’

Devpriya Verma, VI, D.A.V. Sr. Sec. Public School, Naraingarh, Ambala

The two most effective medicines in the siddha system for curing dengue fever is the juice

extracted from papaya and the Neem tree.

V.S. Priya, IX, Arunachalam Higher Secondary School, Thiruvattar, Kanyakumari

The Neem tree has been an integral part of ayurvedic medicine for over 5000 years. The

bark and roots of this plant also has medicinal value.

Diksha Mehta, IX F, D.A.V International School, New Delhi

Neem is used in the preparation of many herbal concoctions. it is also used to cure Chickenpox. it is most beneficial for skin problems.

Bhavika, X F, P.K.R. Jain Sr. Sec. Public School, Ambala Illustrations by: Bhuvaneshwari M., IX, Sri Seshaas Intl. Public School, Adivaram, SalemBackground Illustration by: Lakshita Seth, IX, Hans Raj Model School, Punjabi Bagh, New Delhi,

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VOl. 10 No. 4

TAMIl NAdU a herb known as Keezha Nelli in Tamil is used for its medicinal value. it is used in ayurveda to cure stomach, kidney and liver related problems.

Maharayazhini C., X, Shri Venkateswara Matric Higher Secondary School, Thanjavur

Kelanilli is used as a treatment for skin ulcers, sores, swelling, and itchiness. it is also used for curing gastro-intestinal disorders, diarrhoea, constipation and dysentery.

Kiran, VII, C.M.S. Seven Wells, Chennai

Vallarai is a wonder herb. Drinking milk with Vallarai powder is helpful in killing stomach worms.

M. Padma Priyaa, VIII, Shri Venkateswara Matric Higher Secondary School, Thanjavur

kArNATAkA The leaves of the ekkee plant popular in Karnataka are used for curing skin ruptures. it is useful for curing skin irritation in men, women and children.

Roopa Pattyal, VIII, R.L.S High School, Dharwad

GOAadki is a wonder herb and is in use since the Vedic age. Juice extracted from its leaves is used in curing eye related diseases. its root extracts are useful against intestinal problems.

Vidula and Tanya, Sharada Mandir School, Panaji

kerAlA The Kokum fruit is used in ayurvedic recipes and is considered to be a natural remedy for sores and ear infections. Kokum infusions are also used in ayurveda to treat piles, dysentery, improve digestion and paralysis. Adityakrishna Malhotra, VI, Sharada Mandir School, Panaji

Kerala has traditionally been the source of a rich variety of medicinal plants and herbs. some famous ayurvedic hospitals like shree Dhanvantari ayurveda, Kottakkal arya Vaidya sala, and Krishnendu ayurveda resorts provide ayurvedic treatments.

K. Sreenidhi, VIII, Pallavi Model School, Secunderabad

UTTAr prAdeSh lakshmi Taru is an indian medicinal plant which has been discovered in Varanasi by the h.h. sri sri ravishankar laboratory. it is used for killing mosquitoes and some disease causing bacteria.

Atul Yadav, IX, Navy Children School, Visakhapatnam

Mustak of Nagarmotha (nut grass) is one of the widely known herbal plants in uttar Pradesh. it is useful for curing abdominal pain and cramps, and for strengthening the digestive system.

Oshi Agarwal, VIII, Suditi Global Academy, Etawah

UTTArAkhANdOne of the commonly grown herbal plants in uttarakhand is amla. it has antibacterial properties. The leaf, bark and fruit of the amla tree are used to cure many ailments.

Bhoomi Sate, VII, Ryan International School, Sohna Road, Gurgaon

hAryANA haryana has a great history of medicinal plants. local people in the state use natural remedies to cure many diseases. The natural remedies are derived from herbs, shrubs, trees, flowers, and climbers.

Misha Suri, VII, Delhi Public School, Sec. 45, Gurgaon

rAJASThAN Tribal people and ethnic races have developed their own cultural and healing systems. in rajasthan, the bhils, Meenas, garasias, Kalbelias and Kathodias have practiced their own medicinal system for centuries. Neha Wadhwani, X, Alok Senior Secondary School, Udaipur

regional wondersEvery Indian state can boast of a variety of herbal plants and trees. Some of them are unknown to mankind; others are being grown commercially to aid in alternative systems of medicine.

A fIShy STOry bathini fish medicine is available in the southern indian city of hyderabad. The therapy is conducted every year on the auspicious Mrigashira Karthi day of the hindus. The fish has to be taken for three consecutive years.

Parul Chintapally, VII, Delhi School of Excellence, Banjara Hills, Hyderabad

Illustrations by: Nishtha Aggarwal, VIII, Model Academy School, Jammu

Background Illustration by: Navika Rajput, X, Pine Hall School, Dehradun

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activities 4 U

A traditional herb of the Ao-Naga

tribea) Mulethib) Repjee

Leaves of this tree cure Rheumatic Arthritisa) Asokab) Bael

This plant is high in proteins

and vitaminsa) Kachnar b) Moringa

This fruit is known as ‘sugar

killer’a) Gurmarb) Bamboo

This food ingredient is

known to reduce cholesterol levels

a) Garlic b) HingA wonder herb

of the Vedasa) Adki b) Alsi

Tree Of lIfeThe concept of the ‘Tree of Life’ features in many religions and is symbolic of eternal life and the end of suffering. Make your own ‘Tree of Life’ in the space given.

fINd yOUr WAy!!!The herbal garden has lots to explore....given below are some clues for you to find out the name of the herb/plant. every answer gets you 10 points.

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VOl. 10 No. 4

activities 4 U

NATUre’S MIrACleindia is a land of herbal medicines. given below are some jumbled words, can you guess the names of these miraculous gifts of nature?

1. DwhsagaaNah___________________________

2. lTirhaPa_________________________________

3. hiKaiaKs_________________________________

4. JiThMNaahs______________________________

5. uNaiPD__________________________________

drAW A herBAl leAfChoose any one herbal plant you are familiar with and draw its leaf. Also write two sentences about the plant.

_________________________________________

_________________________________________

_________________________________________

herBAl GArdeNS IN INdIA1. herbal garden of the ayurvedic Medical College of

sampurnanand sanskrit university, Varanasi2. National institute of unani Medicine, bengaluru3. ausadhiya Poudh Vatica / Model Medicinal Plants

garden, Pantnagar 4. azad hitech herbal garden, Kanpur5. botanical garden, Chandigarh 6. Dhanvantari and sanjivani herbal garden, Junagadh7. institute of himalayan bio-resource Technology

(Csir), Palampur8.  Jawaharlal Nehru govt. Medicinal botanical garden,

gandhinagar 9.  Medicinal Plant garden, Jabalpur10. North-east ecological Park, Jorhat. There are also other government botanical gardens all across the country.

I CUre, I heAl, ANd I AM SACred....

I beautify the aangan of almost every Indian household. I purify the air. I symbolize peace, piety and virtue. I am used to cure digestive ailments and skin problems. Who am I?

_________________________________

“Nature, time and patience are the three great physicians”- Bulgarian proverbShivangi Shukla, X, Navy Children School, Chanakyapuri, New delhi

IdeNTIfy herBAl leAveS

________________ __________________

________________ __________________

MAke A herBAl pOTpOUrrIWhatyou’llneed:1. Drawstring bag made of muslin, cotton, silk or

lace2. Aromaticleavesandflowers(likerosesand

lavender)3. Dried herbs4. Herbal oil 5. For the bulk add cinnamon sticks, dried leaves

anddriedflowerpods

Background Illustration by: Shaweta, X, Spring Dale Senior School, Amritsar

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Heritage NewsGreeN ACTIvITIeS By OUr herITAGe ClUBS

The heritage club of r.N Podar School, Mumbai conducted slogan writing competition on topics like protect your nature and insure your future and trees will be history and life will be mystery!!

Sri Sankara Vidyashramam, Chennai celebrated the green Consumer Day on 28th september 2013. The students drew pencil sketches and charts to highlight “ the three r’s “- reduce, reuse & recycle to bring awareness among the youngsters and protect our earth.

delhi Public School, Sec 45, gurgaon celebrated the earth Day on 22nd april 2013. The children had tremendous fun enacting the Chipko movement by hugging their partners as they gained knowledge about this revolutionary movement in a bid to save our ecosystem. This helped them to comprehend, how human activities like deforestation, hunting and poaching have destroyed their habitats and led to their extinction.

we welcome our new heritage clubs from Visakhapatnam, Chandigarh, Delhi, Kolkata, goa, ghaziabad, Pune, hyderabad and Mumbai to our iNTaCh heCs family.

Did you know?Ethno-veterinary medicine is an ancient knowledge to promote health of animals.

Mrigayurveda is an ancient text that describes medical treatment of animals.

K.S. Shyam Sundar, Little Scholars Matric. Hr. Sec. School, Thanjavur

The students of delhi School of Excellence, Banajara Hills, Hyderabad decorated the heritage board on the topic ‘Trees’. The students came up with varied ideas like state trees of india, healing properties of trees, trees as a natural dye etc. The budding artists and photographers also sketched and photographed trees in their neighbourhood.

Answers – Page 4: 1. Neem 2. Mehndi, 3. Amla; Page 9: 1. Repjee, 2. Adki, 3. Asoka, 4. Moringa, 5. Gurmar, 6. Garlic; Page 10 – Nature's Miracle: 1. Ashwagandha 2. Triphala 3. Shikakai, 4.Manjishtha 5. Pudina; Identify Herbal leaves: 1.Neem 2.Pudina, 3. Tulsi, 4. Bael ; Who Am I: Tulsi

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VOl. 10 No. 4

references1. C.P. Khare, indian Medicinal Plants:

an illustrated Dictionary2. rama shankar, M.s. rawat, r.

Majumdar, D. baruah, and b.K. bharali, Medicinal plants used in traditional medicine in Mizoram, world Journal of science and Technology 2012, 2(12):42-45

3. rama shankar, gs lavekar, s Deb, bK sharma, Traditional healing practice and folk medicines used by Mishing community of North east india, Journal of ayurveda and integrative Medicine, 2012, 3 (3): 124-129

4. ashok Kumar Panda and sangram Mishra, some belief, practices and prospects of folk healers of sikkim, indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge, 2012, 11 (2): 369-373

WhAT'S NexT?prIze WINNerS

Do you have any ideas, comments or suggestions to make Young iNTaCh more interesting? we welcome any thoughts on what themes you would like us to select for the upcoming issues of Young iNTaCh.

Please write to:

Purnima dattheritage education and Communication service (heCs)indian National Trust for art and Cultural heritage (iNTaCh)71, lodi estate, New Delhi 110003Tel: (011) 24641304, 24645482, Fax: (011) 24611290email: intachhecs@gmail.com, website: www.youngintach.org

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January-March 2014Post- India’s PrideThe use of post as a means of communication has played a major role in india’s history. The post as well as the telegraph service was started formally by the british in the 18th century, and have ever since become an important tool for long-distance communication.

write to us in about 100 words on any one of the following:• Interestingpostandtelegraphofficesandpostalheritagebuildings

in your city or town.• Kindsofpostandtelegraphserviceslikemoneyorder,inlandletter,

postcards, telegram, etc.• UniquestampsofIndiafromyourphilatelycollection.

You may accompany your entry with a sketch, painting, illustration or a personally designed postcard or stamp of your town or city.

last date of entries: November 15, 2013

April-June 2014Majestic Mountains

Mountains are known for their beauty and resilience. They have played an important role in indian history. write to us in about 100 words on any one of the following:

• Amythorstoryassociatedwithalocalmountainorhillorevenarockformation in your region.

• Anexcitingexperienceofrock-climbingorvisitingamountainpeak.• Theroleofahilloramountainrangeinthehistoryofyourregion.• AuniquestoryofanIndianmountaineerorarockclimber.

with your entry you may also send us an interesting sketch, illustration or a personally clicked photograph.

last date of entries: February 15, 2014

iNTaCh was established in 1984 and has dedicated all its efforts to the conservation and preservation of india’s vast natural and cultural heritage. The primary objectives of iNTaCh, as stated in its Memorandum of association is to create and stimulate awareness among the public for the preservation of the cultural and natural heritage of india and respect and knowledge of past experience and skills.To know more about iNTaCh, visit: www.intach.orgrecognizing the importance of heritage education, iNTaCh set up the heritage education and Communication service (heCs) in 1998. since then heCs has initiated several different types of training programmes for different target groups: the public, professional groups, city and local authorities, our iNTaCh chapters, school and college teachers and students. The aim of these programmes is to make citizens aware of their role in the conservation and preservation of our natural, cultural and living heritage. To know more about heCs projects and publications, visit: www.youngintach.org We are grateful to the Ministry of Culture for sponsoring Young INTaCH, a quarterly heritage newsletter for and by children that has about 75,000 readers and the number keeps on going higher with each issue.

CreditsPurnima Datt

research, Content development and Compilation Chandni sengupta

Editing bashobi banerjee

Printing and design Colorcom advertising

Circulation and Subscription Moby sara Zachariah

acknowledgementNaina bhan

Sponsored by the Ministry of Culture, Government of India

Harkirat, Vii, gyan bharati school, New DelhiP. Sri Bhargavi, iX, ramadugu anuritha, iX, g. rashmi, X bharatiya Vidya bhavan’s Public school, hyderabadKrishna Prakash, iX, Visakha Valley school, Visakhapatnamdhairyansh dangara, iX D, all saints sr. sec. school, ajmerParidhi aggarwal, X, Delhi Public school, Maruti Kunj, gurgaonSagarika agrawal, Vi, Shivani Sharma, Vii, ananya Chenab, Vi, Misha Suri, Vii, Delhi Public school, sector 45, gurgaonSungjemkala, Viii, Maonglemla, Viii, John Douglas school, KohimaCassandra Odami rynjah, iX, b.K. bajoria school, shillongV.M. Subhasri, Vi , revoor Padmanabha Chetty’s Matric hr. sec. school, Chennaidisha Swami, iX, Pallavi a. Nair, iX, Nikunj goel, V, Madhav Sachar, iV, Sumedha, iX V.V.D.a.V. Public school, Vikaspuri, New Delhi Neha arora, X, green wood sr. sec. school, rampurSabhya gupta, V, bal bharati Public school, rohini, DelhiPrabhat Khirwar, Xi, sardar Patel Vidyalaya, New Delhiaryan, Vii, saraswati Public school, Jagadhri, YamunanagarMetalia Hardir, Viii, Jahanvi Tankaria, Viii, bhavan’s shri a.K. Doshi Vidyalaya, Jamnagarritiesh V., iX, etasi Timpany steel City school, VisakhapatnamHarjeet Hundal, Dyal singh Public school, Jagadhri, YamunanagarMuskan Mahendru, iX, aryan Khanna, Vii, Delhi Public school, ambalaJitendra Choudhary and Jayshree rajput, global indian international school, surat, Oshin Kunwal, iX, Pine hall school, DehradunMansi Kapoor, X, D.a.V. Public school, suknara, KangraMouna gupta, ryan international school, sohna road, gurgaon Mariam Mammen, iX, Sheryl anna Biju, Vi, bharatiya Vidya bhavan’s atmakuri rama rao school, hyderabadananya Tiwari, iX, ajanta Public school, gurgaonSushma N., iX, D.a.V. Public school, sec. 14, gurgaon

rohan Sethi, Vii, gwalior glory high school, gwaliorYogita, Viii, Mukand lal Public school, YamunanagarBhuvaneshwari M., iX, sri seshaas international Public school, salemShivani Negi, iX, raksha anusandhan Vidyalaya, DehradunShashank Shankar, V, scholars home, Dehradun Shreeyanshmaan, Viii, D.a.V. Public school, bhubaneswarK. Haritha reddy, Viii, The aditya birla Public school, Tadipatri, andhra PradeshSanya Pawah, X, Maharaja sawai Man singh Vidyalaya, Jaipurdevpriya Verma, Vi, D.a.V. sr. sec. Public school, Naraingarh, ambalaV.S. Priya, iX, arunachalam higher secondary school, Thiruvattar, Kanyakumari diksha Mehta, iX, D.a.V intl. school, New DelhiBhavika, X, P.K.r. Jain sr. sec. Public school, ambalaaratrika Pal, Vii, The heritage school, Kolkataavantika Tewari, iX, Navy Children school, Chanakyapuri, New DelhiKanika Kanaujiya, Viii, sunway school, rampurlakshita Seth, iX, anjali dayal, iX hans raj Model school, Pubjabi bagh, New Delhi Maharayazhini C., X, M. Padma Priyaa, Viii, shri Venkateswara Matric hr. secondary school, ThanjavurKiran, Vii, C.M.s. seven wells, Chennairoopa Pattyal, Viii, r.l.s high school, DharwadVidula and Tanya, sharada Mandir school, Panajiadityakrishna Malhotra, Vi, sharada Mandir school, Panaji K. Sreenidhi, Viii, Pallavi Model school, secunderabadatul Yadav, iX, Navy Children school, VisakhapatnamOshi agarwal, Viii, suditi global academy, etawahBhoomi Sate, Vii, ryan international school, sohna road, gurgaonNeha Wadhwani, X, alok sr. sec. school, udaipurParul Chintapally, Vii, Delhi school of excellence, banjara hills, hyderabadNavika rajput, X, Pine hall school, DehradunNishtha aggarwal, Viii, Model academy school, JammuShaweta, X, spring Dale senior school, amritsarK.S. Shyam Sundar, little scholars Matric. hr. sec. school, ThanjavurShivangi Shukla, X, Navy Children school, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi

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HEY!!! ALOE VERA HOW ARE YOU USEFUL FOR HUMANS??

SO WHAT! YOU ARE USEFUL FOR THEIR SKIN. I AM USEFUL FOR THEIR TEETH AS WELL AS CURING MANY DISEASES.

USEFUL! YES! I AM VERY USEFUL AS I HELP TO BEAUTIFY THEIR SKIN.

OLDER THAN ME? HA ! HA ! HA !

YES, AKBAR’S WIFE USED TO TREAT HER SKIN WITH ME.

DON’T LIE !!I AM MUCH OLDER THAN YOU.

HOW ???

EARLIER WHEN THERE WERE NO BRUSHES, THE PEOPLE USED ME FOR BRUSHING.

WELL ! IF THAT IS THE CASE THEN WE MEDICINAL PLANTS ARE USEFUL FOR HUMANS IN THE PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE.

TRUE !!! NOT ONLY WE BUT MEDICINAL PLANTS LIKE TULSI ETC. ARE ALSO USEFUL.

VERY WELL SAID !!!

HEY NEEM! DON’T TRY TO COMPARE WITH ME I AM MUCH OLDER THAN YOU.

CONVERSATION BETWEEN

NEEM AND ALOE VERA

In the next page do write a similar conversation between any two medicinal plants of your choice.Try and make it interesting !

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Make your own innovative sketch bringing out the functions of some medicinal plants.

CONVERSATION BETWEEN

AND

Heritage education and communication Service,

indian national truSt for art and cultural Heritage

Sponsored by the Ministry of Culture, Government of India