A safe and scientific approach to the problem is the use of antivenom. The same is true of bites from bees, bumble bees, lizards, scorpions, spiders, toads and wasps. Western countries are fully geared to the use of antivenoms in all contexts. We also should do the same. Haffkeine Institute, Mumbai, produces polyspecific antivenom for Naja naja (cobra), Echis carinatus (common viper), Vipera russeli (Russel’s viper) and Bungarus caeruleus (krait), the common poisonous snakes. This is because many a time the victim does not know which kind of snake (sometimes even whether it was a poisonous snake at all) that bit him/her, and the use of polyspecific antivenom is a way of playing safe. Administering the antivenom when the offending snake was not poisonous has its own drawbacks, such as allergenic reactions, but the risk is considered worth taking. Our body seems to show an immunological response to snake venoms, as some people who were bitten by snakes more than once (presumably by the same species of snakes), reported progressively less severe effects of envenomation. Folkelore has, that small but incremental doses of snake venom over a period of time would make one immune to snake bites. For all that is known, snake venom through the oral route is just another protein to be digested in the highly acidic environment of the stomach.

        It is hard to believe that any plant product can actually confront any venom in the blood and neutralise any of its components. But plants certainly have a role to play in the management of the symptoms such as inflammation, pain, affected tactile sense, etc., and in keeping the victim in better comfort, in addition to giving the very essential psychological support. Faith seems to be as important as medical management here.

        There is a large number of people, particularly in the rural areas, who claim to have treated successfully venomous snake bites and saved lives. Our survey in this area leaves a feeling that these successful case histories are actually related to non-poisonous snakes.

        We have interviewed a number of village ‘experts’ who treat venomous bites and prepared a list of plants used by them (Appendix 21). These 19 species also include plants indicated in literature for use in the treatment of venomous attacks. The personnel contacted are listed under sources of information. The actual potential of these plants needs a thorough evaluation.

        The fear of snakes and death consequent upon a snake bite, seems to be evolutionarily fixed on the human mind. Even in impossible urban situations, people jump away from ropes, mistaking them to snakes. A frayed electric cable is far more potentially dangerous than a poisonous snake, but the severity of this danger has never been fully realised, even after innumerable fatal accidents.

EDIBLE AND/OR MEDICINAL OIL RESOURCES IN ANCIENT INDIA

        Right from the times of Charaka and Sushrutha, a number of species were identified as sources of oil for edible and medical purposes. These are important as several Indian medicines are oil based and because oils have diverse therapeutic effects. Since a number of additional plant oil sources have come into use in recent times, and as a number of traditional oils fell into disuse, it became necessary to separate the ancient sources from the modern and the list of 87 species is given in Appendix 22. A detailed study of the chemistry, quality, quantity, distribution within the plant and the potential uses of these species is needed.

AROMATIC PLANTS

AROMATIC COMPOUNDS

ESSENTIAL OILS

ROLE OF AROMATIC COMPOUNDS IN PLANT BIOLOGY

DISTRIBUTION OF AROMATIC COMPOUNDS IN THE PLANT BODY

EXTRACTION OF AROMATIC COMPOUNDS

ESSENTIAL OIL INDUSTRY

ECONOMIC USES OF AROMATIC COMPOUNDS

USE OF AROMATIC PLANTS IN MEDICINE

THERAPEUTIC PROPERTIES OF EXOTIC (CULTIVATED/NATURALISED)PLANTS

Species occurring in a region (or country) fall into one of three categories:

a) Native species: these have originated in the region; for example coconut, ridge gourd, cinnamomum, cardamomum, turmeric, ginger, pepper, betel leaf, rice, etc., are native to India (may also be native in a few other neighbouring countries);

b) Exotic (introduced): species native of other regions or countries, introduced into a different region; two subcatagories can be recognised in these:

i) Exotic, (cultivated): these species have gone into cultivation, some of them a long time ago, due to their economic importance as food or horticultual plants. It is difficult to convince the common man that they are actually not our own. Some examples for India are potato, tomato, carrots, asafoetida, pineapple, papaya, sweet potato, groundnut, onions, pomegranate, etc.,