THE MEDICINAL IMPORTANCE OF FEW IMPORTANT PLANT SPECIES OF LAHAUL AND SPITI (COLD DESERT), SITUATED IN THE WESTERN HIMALAYAS

Vivek Kumar*

ABSTRACT

The present paper is focussed on herbal potential and medicinal value of the plants of the cold desert of Lahaul and Spiti which is situated in the western Himalayas. Most of the plant species of this area have medicinal importance; but very less information is available. Various field surveys and research were carried out for getting the herbal potential and medicinal value of the plants of the study area. The first hand information was recorded on the plants used as herbal remedies for the treatment of various diseases through personal interviews or personal contact with the local people of different remote localities. This is an effort to highlight the medicinal information of the studied medicinal plants of this area so that the population of these plants can be preserved from the natural habitat and their herbal benefits can be delivered for the betterment of the human beings and moreover society.

Keywords: Medicinal Plants, Herbal Potential, Treatment, Population.