500 herbal Gardens to give push to AYUSH medicinal system : CM

• 250 AYUSH Wellness Centers to be started in state in current FY

The state government intends to provide world class health facilities in its institutions besides it is also emphasising to promote the ancient Ayurveda system in a big way.

Introduction  of AYUSH  therapies  in  prevention  of  disease, treatment of subclinical conditions and chronic ailments  can  add  a  new  dimension  to the healthcare  system. Better  management  and prevention  of  many  lifestyle  disorders  like diabetes  and  hypertension  with the AYUSH system has now opened  new vision in the healthcare  system.  Potentials of alternative medicines in rejuvenation, anti-aging and cosmetology have been underutilized. AYUSH can boost mental health in a much more holistic manner than the modern health system.

Chief Minister, Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said that the present State Government is also striving hard to promote this ancient system of medicine in a big way. As many as 250 ‘AYUSH Wellness Centres’ will be started in the State during the current financial year, so that people of the State could derive benefit of this system of Indian medical science. Treatment to various ailments will be provided through different packages in these centres.

In addition to this, as many as 500 new Herbal Gardens will be developed in collaboration with Rural Development, Panchayati Raj, Education and Forest departments in different parts of the State. These gardens will not only produce quality herbal medicines, but will also emerge as an added attraction to the tourists visiting the State, said Sh. Sukhu.

After the initiation of National Rural Health Mission in the year 2005, the ancient medicinal system got a big fillip which revolutionized the concept of Mainstreaming of AYUSH and Revitalization of Local Health Traditions utilizing the untapped AYUSH workforces, therapeutics and principles for the management of community health problems.

The Chief Minister said that under the ‘National AYUSH Mission’, farmers will be encouraged to create clusters of medicinal plants. This will provide an opportunity to the farmers to opt cultivation of medicinal plants to supplement their farm income. Since, Himachal Pradesh is well suited for cultivation of a variety of medicinal plants and crops and this will go a long way in strengthening the rural economy of the State, he added.

Modern  healthcare  facilities  are  highly professional  in  nature,  but  are  not  easily available to the poor people and have many side effects  besides being  very  costly. Ayurveda provides healthcare within the physical and financial reach of rural India. Some of the Ayurvedic medicinal plants and spices are widely used as home remedies in India for a wide range of common ailments. The common users of Ayurveda are individuals suffering from chronic intractable diseases