2017

Dr Hk S Arshad Raza

AHL Herbal Pharma

1/1/2017

10 Most Profitable Medicinal Herbs

A Pakistani

Perspective

Ginseng:

Wild-simulated ginseng

presents the best

opportunity to

successfully cultivate and

market ginseng for profit.

Ginseng seeds will only sprout after two years natural

storage (stratified seed). Many folks prefer our roots which

are two or three year old entire roots (the ginseng root must

remain whole to grow, unlike the goldenseal root which can

be cut into sections/rootlets).

Ginseng has fairly stringent environmental requirements. It

requires at least 70 percent shade. The soil must have

enough base nutrients (15-20 percent base saturation) to

meet its needs, but not so much that the soil pH exceeds 6

(liming is out of the question unless pH is too low). The soil

must be moist, but well-drained. To achieve this, the organic

matter content has to be pretty high. Heavy clays and very

sandy soils are poor for ginseng. Ginseng does not compete

will with other plants, so vegetation control is necessary.

Vaccinium myrtillus “bilberry” is a species of shrub

with edible fruit of blue color, commonly called "bilberry"

The bilberry is the king of small and tasty fruits - a tiny

explosion of

intense

flavour

compared to

its blander,

plumper

relative, the

blueberry.

Scutellaria Baicalensis:

Scutellaria

baicalensis (Chinese

Skullcap) is a traditional

chinese medicine for

the purposes of

cardiovascular and

cognitive health as well

as longevity. It appears

to be a good source for

flavonoid compounds,

and some components

are quite potent.

Salvia miltiorrhiza

Danshen 丹参, one of the

most commonly used

Chinese herbal medicines

(CHMs), has a long

history of clinical

application for treating

cardiovascular and

cerebrovascular diseases. It

has nearly 2000 years

history for therapeutic use

in China. Currently, the

annual demand of Danshen

raw materials

was over 10,000 tonnes globally (8,000 tonnes in China and

2,000 tonnes in the other

countries) (Wei, 2002).

Gotu Kola Centella Asiatica :

Gotu kola is regarded as perhaps the most spiritual of all

herbs in India. Growing in some areas of the Himalayas, gotu

kola is used by yogis to improve meditation.

Due to great medicinal importance of Centella asiatica in the

preparati

on of

different

pharmac

eutical

compoun

ds, this

plant

has been

overexplo

ited and

marked

as

threatened plant species by

the International Union for Conservation of Nature and

Natural Resources (IUCN), and also as an endangered plant

species

Withania

Sominefera:

Ashwagandha (Withania

somnifera) is also known as

subcontinent ginseng is an

annual to perennial,

branched wonder herb with

multiple medicinal

properties. It is widely

grown in drys parts of

subtropical regions of India.

All plant parts of

ashwagandha have

medicinal properties and re

used in preparation of various drugs, however, roots are

mainly used for preparation of vital tonics. It is Aphrodisiac,

tonic, rasayan drug, general tonic in arthritis and debility

from old age. It is used in anxiety, depression, phobias,

alcoholic paranoia, schizophrenia etc. This crop has already

brought under cultivation and being cultivated by the

farmers.

Horny goat Epimedium

Horny goat weed, or epimedium, is an ornamental herb from

Asia and the Mediterranean. The rise to popularity of the

horny goat weed as a remedy for erectile dysfunction has

been phenomenal.

The herb is now a

byword not only in

traditional Chinese

medicine but even

in the Western

World’s

mainstream

medical industry.

The increasing

demand for a solution to sexual wellness problems has led to

a proportional demand for alternative medications. There

are still people averse to taking in commercialized erectile

dysfunction medications and who would want to try the

effects of herbal solutions first like the horny goat weed.

MUSHROOMS:

oyster:

Exotic mushrooms are enjoying a high level of demand.

Oyster

mushrooms,

a type of

exotic

mushroom,

are one of the

easiest exotic

mushrooms

to grow. They

can grow in

about six

weeks’ time,

and are currently selling for about $6 a pound wholesale and

$12 a pound retail. They’re fairly easy to grow, they grow

quickly, Oyster mushrooms are grown from mycelium

(threadlike filaments that become interwoven) propagated

on a base of steam-sterilized cereal grain (usually rye or

millet). This cereal grain/mycelium mixture is called spawn

and is used to seed mushroom substrate.

Shiitake

Among various

cultivated species

of mushrooms,

Shiitake variety has

a good demand

among consumers

for its taste.

Presently, China

and Japan are the

bulk producers of this prized mushroom variety.

Shiitake mushrooms (Lentinus edodes) have many

nutritional and

medicinal benefits. The cultivation of log-grown shiitake

mushrooms encourages

forest farming and can be an opportunity for farmers

interested in developing an

additional enterprise.

Reishi:

Reishi mushrooms, or

Ganoderma lucidium, is

well-known as the King

of Herbs and

the Mushroom of

mortality. It has earned its reputation due to its ability to

promote vitality and overall

body balance, strengthening

the immune system and

preventing a wide range of

diseases. Throughout

Chinese history dating back

2000 years, Reishi

mushrooms were widely

used for medicinal and

health purposes.

With more than 400

bioactive compounds, Reishi has attracted the attention of

researchers world-wide. Evidence of its efficacy is shown to

the extent that it is officially accepted for use in

conventional medical sectors in some countries.

The demand for Reishi mushrooms continues to escalate due

to the wide range of pharmacological properties found in

this ancient herb. There is a wide range of available products

from which to benefit from Reishi’s potent properties

including, supplements in all forms, Reishi coffee, Reishi tea,

Reishi spore oil, Reishi shampoo and Reishi hand cream.