ABOUT THE BOOK:
The system of herbal medicine known as Ayurveda has been followed in India from time immemorial. The germ plasma for this science, which is now receiving worldwide attention, can be traced to the most ancient of Sanskrit texts known as the Vedas. While identifying all the important medicinal plants that have been mentioned in the Ayurvedic texts along with their medicinal properties and uses the authors have also tried to give appropriate references to the Sanskrit texts where their names appear. Along with the latest accepted Latin names, their Sanskrit and Hindi equivalents have also been listed in most cases in addition to the local names.
Near about 700 species of important medicinal plants form the real back bone of Ayurveda. In addition to these plants that are commonly found in Kerala and many other states, the authors have also devoted some space to the medicinal plants of the Himalayan and the northern regions, to those that have been in use by the tribals and to medicinal mushrooms. It is for the first time a comprehensive compilation of this nature is appearing in India or any other country of the world, supported by colour photographs of excellent quality.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
C.K.N. NAIR graduated from the University of Travancore; was India Government's Postgraduate Exchange Student in China at he National Central University, during 1943-1945; did his Doctorate programme at Cornell University, USA from 1946-1949; received a special training in radioisotope procedure at he Oak ridge Institute of Nuclear Studies. Since his return to India in 1950, Dr. Nair has held several important positions in the Country. He was the Head of the Radioactive Tracer Unit of the National Chemical Laboratory of Indian under the Government of Kerala, where he was Principal, dean of the Faculty of Agricultural, University of Kerala for many years. He continued to be actively associated both with the ICAR and CSIR. He was a member of the Executive Committee of the Central Indian Medicinal Plants Organization of the CSIR in the Sixities. He has represented India in several international conferences in the USA in the U.K in Europe and in countries of the East. The Government of Kerala appointed He as special officer to report in toto and the Kerala Agricultural University came into being in 1972. The government of India appointed Dr. Nair as the Directory of Rubber Research Institute of India under the Rubber Board in 1972 from which position he retired in 1978. Author of numerous research papers pertaining to their guided thesis work. Dr. Nair's retirement occupations include intensive studies in science and literature.
N. MOHANAN graduated from the University of Kerala in 1979. his postgraduate studies were conducted also in the University of Kerala, during 1979-81. he joined as a Scientist in the Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute Palode, Thiruvanathapuram in the year 1983 at the very inception of the Institution. He did his doctorate programme at the University of Calicut, the subject of his studies being Floristic Study of Development of the Arboretum and Conservatory for rare plants of TBGRI. His special interest is Plant Taxonomy and identification of medicinal Plants. Mohanan has visited the Royal Botanic Garden, U.K. to make a special study on in situ plant conservation. |
