The Himalayas are commonly referred to as the heart of nature’s pharmacy, where each valley, forest, and mountain slope conceals the plants and trees that have centuries of experience stored within them. While the world tends to speak of the cedar or pine for their beauty, there are some of the Himalayan trees which are lesser known, yet eager to become known in all their glory for their healing powers.
One of them is the Rhododendron arboreum, or buransh as it is called locally. These flowers are appreciated for their vibrancy of color, but few beyond the region realize that the flower juice extracted from them has a natural application in the health of the heart, fatigue, and even blood pressure. Locals have it in summer to cool the body, and yet its medicinal application is confined mainly to the Himalayan belt.
Another significant tree is the Himalayan yew (Taxus wallichiana), which grows unobtrusively in the upper altitudes. This tree carries chemicals that have been utilized to create life-saving cancer medicines. As significant as it is, however, it remains underutilized, and much of the world is not even aware of how this tree might alter the course of medicine if it is safeguarded and researched with caution.
The Indian horse chestnut (Aesculus indica) is yet another Himalayan gift. Traditionally, the seeds and bark are used for treating stomach ailments and pains in the joints, while its extracts reduce swelling and inflammation. Home remedies are often prepared by the villagers from it, but in the world elsewhere, it takes a backseat compared to more commercial ones, hence remains a treasure untold.
The Himalayan cypress tree (Cupressus torulosa) is another tree that has very deep healing energy. To cure cough and cold as well as skin diseases, leaves and resin of the plant is converted into traditional medicine. It also has antimicrobial properties that are just beginning to be studied by modern science.
And last but not least, the Walnut tree (Juglans regia), which is famous for its healthy nuts, is hiding many more secrets. It is employed to keep teeth healthy, and leaf extracts possess antifungal and antibacterial activities. In rural Himalayan society, the tree is both food and medicine, yet in other places, its medicinal properties are hardly recognized.
The Himalayan forests are packed with such treasures, trees that stand unobtrusively as sentinels of health, wisdom, and heritage. But most of them are unknown to the world today, found only by villagers and practitioners who have coexisted with them for centuries. While discussions on sustainable living and nature cures become louder, it is perhaps time the world looks towards these ancient Himalayan trees, for they not only contain medicine, but also speak of how connected humans are to nature.