Ayurveda become a globally popular healthcare system leading to constant rise in the demand for herbal medicines resulting in increased world herbal trade which stands at US$ 120 billion and is expected to reach US$ 7 trillion by 2050. As majority of Ayurvedic medicines are plant based, this demand has resulted in a huge pressure on the traditional sources of raw materials. Obviously, the wild sources are not able to meet the demand of raw materials. To overcome this situation alternate sources of raw materials like cultivated fields are look for supply. Dwindling forest cover, unscientific and exploitative collection leads to loss of supply source and threat to germplasm. Germplasm conservation and cultivation seems to be the best way forward for sustainable utilization of medicinal plants. Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera Dunal) is widely used, prioritised Ayurvedic herb having annual demand 7000 tonnes/yr but its actual production is 1500 tonnes/yr. It grows naturally in subtropical region and is collected from wild and fields. Its rampant collection has once leaded to critical pressure situation on its germplasm. This was noticed and a lot of effort was put in for its sustainable production. There is lot of evidence we will discuss in the various research field of Ashwagandha like Agronomic research, Phytochemical and Clinical research and Market Linkage. Ashwagndha due to such sustained and concerted multi-disciplinary effort has come near to a sustainable use mode. It is thus logical to extend the Ashwagandha model to other high demand medicinal plants and its feasibility.

Ashwagandha (Withania somniferaDunal

A quality drug is central to the success of any therapeutic plan. The quality of drug is determined right from the collection to delivery to the patients. The commonest problem involving the medicinal plant stating materials is intentional or unintentional substitution and adulteration owing to multiple reasons like unavailability, higher costs, unfair trade etc. This trend was also present in the olden days, as evident from the concept of substitute drugs (Pratinidhi Dravya) as available in Yogratanakara, Bhavaprakasha and Bhaishajyaratnawali. Therefore, Charka and later Acharyas also have dealt with authentication and standardization of herbal drugs and formulations in detail by using four Pramanas (tools of knowledge) Ch.Vi.8/87. Nowadays the concept of substitution is entirely converted into intentional and unintentional malpractices of adulteration. The established authenticity parameters for plant material identification and standardization like organoleptic, physical, chemical and genetic parameters are relatively inaccessible for routine use. Not withstanding the accuracy and usefulness of these lab parameters and delay in the development of easy to perform parameters for reasonable drug authentication. These adulteration malpractices spoils the market of herbal industries. In this article we discuss about concept of substitution in ancient Ayurveda and at present intentional and unintentional adulteration practices.

People are just as happy as they make up their minds to be. The state of mind defines ones healthy or unhealthy status. Human body and mind are always interlinked for the existence of life. Any alteration in functioning of body or mind gives formal invitation for various disorders. Ayurveda treatise has inculcated the importance of Manasika Bhava like Krodha (anger), Shoka (grief), Bhaya (fear) etc. at every influential place. In the present survey study, the inevitability of Manasika Bhava in Anurjatajanya (allergic) diseases is verified with the generated evidences. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates 300 million individuals have asthma worldwide, a figure that could increase to 400 million by 2025 if trends continue. This is paralleled with a rising prevalence of skin allergies along with life threatening allergies like food allergies, drug allergies and anaphylaxis and more complex forms. This survey study end up with the result that, over 96% of the total registered allergic patients were with one or more abnormal Manasika Bhava.