Dr.Padmanandan, senior Siddha physician of the Govt. Hospital, Denkanikottai, Krishnagiri District organized a traditional medicine awareness programme on 5th Sept, 2009 along with Centre for Traditional Medicine and Research, Chennai. The main objective was to create awareness about the medicinal plant resources available in the dense forests and adjoining areas of the taluk and their sustainable utilization.
The Local body vice-chairman Mr.Kalam presided over the function. Apart from local residents and volunteers, farmer members of the MYRADA farmers club took part in the programme.
Dr.T.Thirunarayanan explained the concept of Hospital Medicinal Plants Gardens and Kitchen Herbal garden and requested the general public to utilize the garden created in the Govt. Hospital for identification purpose and understanding the medicinal use of each of the plant grown in the garden.
Dr.Padmanandan took the participants to the demo garden where 150 species of medicinal plants are grown.
Vaidya.S.Usman Ali enumerated a list of 10 plants of commercial value, which can be grown in the land owned by the farmers with minimal water and also suggested a live fence with Bonduc nut, a hardy climber which can prevent entry of elephants into the cultivation area. He in fact suggested growing the plant all around the villages bordering the forest. Gymnema, Coleus, Aswagandha, Long pepper and Asoka were the Key species recommended for cultivation.