Nardostachys jatamansi DC. — The Indian Nard

Medicinal plants constitute a group of industrially-important crops which hold a great value for domestic use as well as for export to many other countries. Plant-based drugs are being increasingly preferred in medical sciences with a growing tendency worldwide towards a shift from synthetic to natural-based products. Utilizing plant parts of several drug-based plants in curing specific ailments has been in vogue from ancient times in Ayurvedic, Unani and Siddha-the indigenous system of medicines in India. Apart from India, these systems of medicines are also prevalent in China, Korea and many other West and Southeast Asian countries. India is also fortunate: to have a rich heritage of information available from tribal areas in the form of folklore medicine.