North-East can be global herbal destination

Shillong, June 26: The North-East could soon turn out to be a major global herbal destination, with hundreds of herbal experts in the region staking a claim to the $65-billion world market for alternative medicines.

At least 300 tribal herbalists in Meghalaya have formed an institution - the Khasi School of Medicine - to promote and market the region`s more than 500 exotic medicinal plants.


"There are herbs available in the region having cures for ailments from cancer to burns and epilepsy to paralytic strokes, besides a host of other diseases," Alka Kharsati, a woman alternative medicine practitioner in Shillong, said.


"All we need is patronage from the Indian government to make this unorganised sector grow into a full fledged industry," said Kharsati, 35.



President A P J Abdul Kalam has taken a personal initiative to market the region`s rich biodiversity.

"The North-East has the potential to become a powerful economic zone if you tap the rich biodiversity available in the area in the right way," the President told herbalists from Meghalaya in New Delhi last week.


"You would get all the help and support to turn the region into a major herbal destination," he added.


Said John Karshiing, chairman of the Khasi School of Medicine: "Earlier, herbalists in the state were carrying out with their practice individually, but now more than 300 of them would be able to work under a common platform, share their expertise and skills in treating various ailments."


Already a number of herbalists in Meghalaya have got international recognition, and they receive patients from several countries. Many get cured.

"I have travelled to Britain, the US, France, besides other countries on invitations. People from countries like Spain came to my clinic for treatment," said John Wessly Kharduit, 49 and another tribal herbalist.


Anita Bali, 47, of San Francisco, was confined to the wheelchair with multiple sclerosis and doctors who treated her saw little chance of a cure. However, she was determined to find a healer.



Accompanied by her mother, Bali came to Shillong and met the herbal healer.



"Kharduit`s herbal medicines, physical therapy and fomentations have worked wonders. It seems miraculous that I can walk," she said. "Kharduit is doing God`s work."

Some practitioners claim they have the cure for AIDS, but the medical fraternity does not want to approve the medicine unless its power is scientifically proved.


"In remote areas where there are no medical doctors, it is herbalists like us who have been treating people for decades," Kharduit said.


"There are so many diseases we have cured with herbs but then with no proper research and documentation, our work goes unnoticed."

Bureau Report