The significance of utilizing Himalayan flora to enhance animal health and well-being cannot be overstated. In an era marked by a growing preference for natural and holistic approaches to animal care, there is an intensified focus on solutions originating from the Himalayan region. This article embarks on a journey to uncover the multifaceted benefits that Himalayan flora offers to animals, surpassing the prevalence of chemical-based solutions.
Founder/CSO
Daskdan Innovations
Herbal remedies are at the centre of phytotherapy, a practice that is nearly as old as human civilisation itself and focuses on the medicinal properties of plants. It is at the centre of traditional medical systems and has played a crucial role as a fundamental component in the process of healing in a wide variety of nations and civilisations. This practise has been passed down through the practitioners of Ayurvedic medicine, Unani medicine, and traditional Chinese medicine. These schools of medicine make use of a wide variety of plants, plant parts, and derivatives, all of which have their own unique therapeutic benefits. The shared dependence of these various systems on the phytobiome that thrives within the Himalayan vastness is what brings them together as a single entity.
As we go deeper into this investigation, a fundamental relationship between the flora of the Himalayas and the health of animals begins to emerge. This connection sheds light on the increasing significance of Himalayan flora in a world that seeks alternatives that are in harmony with the natural order of the world. In addition, the vast biome that comprises the Himalayas has the potential to act as a veritable treasure trove for the research and development of novel feed additives that improve animal health without the use of artificial substances.
Phytotherapy, which refers to the practise of using plants and substances produced from plants for therapeutic reasons, plays an important part in the effort to improve the health of animals in the Himalayas. This is a significant part of the function that Himalayan plants play in maintaining animal well-being. The Himalayan Flora, which is home to over 25,000 different species, turns into the main attraction. This botanical diversity accounts for fifty percent of India’s endemic flora and ten percent of the world’s known species, which highlights the importance of the topic. Notably, over 1200 of these plants have been used medicinally for millennia and continue to play an important role in traditional medical practises such as Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha, and Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Because of the abundance of plants in the Himalayas, there is the possibility of developing novel, plant-based treatments to improve animal health. These treatments would be in line with the principles of responsible and sustainable animal agriculture, and they would be of value to both animals and the environment. Himalayan plants have a long history of use as medicine, but their potential as alternative treatments is only beginning to be realised. This is especially true in areas where rural communities struggle to overcome economic challenges and inadequate access to contemporary medical care. The exceptional biodiversity of the Himalayas, in conjunction with the one-of-a-kind difficulties of the region, has contributed to the development of a long-standing practise of employing the native flora for remedial reasons.
Traditional medicinal practises, such as Ayurveda, have withstood the test of time and found a place of resonance in the field of animal care thanks to the abundance of botanical resources. Ayurveda, which has its origins in India around 6000 BC, integrated its guiding principles to veterinary medicine, giving treatment, management, and animal welfare the highest priority. The inclusion of Ayurvedic botanicals for animal well-being was given credence when King Ashoka in 1463 BC established the first veterinary hospital in the world.
In addition, approximately one quarter of all human medications are derived from plants. Due to the diversity of biological roles that phytochemicals play, there has been a major uptick in interest in the role that phytochemicals play in human health and disease during the past two decades. At the moment, research efforts are being put towards determining whether or if there is a connection between phytochemicals and animal health. There is a possibility that novel molecules that can treat animal ailments could be found in the abundant phytochemical content of the Himalayan phytobiome. It is in the nature of animals themselves to have the intrinsic ability to recognise plants that have medicinal potential. The study of zoopharmacognosy, in which animals seek for herbs for the purpose of disease prevention and therapy, demonstrates animals’ capacity for self-directed natural healing. The Himalayan flora emerges as a beacon for fostering animal welfare that is in tune with the equilibrium of nature as a result of this multidimensional interplay between ancient knowledge and contemporary investigation.
About Naveed A. Chikan
Naveed A. Chikan is a cancer biologist turned entrepreneur and the founder/CSO of Daskdan Innovations, a pioneering animal health start-up in Srinagar, Kashmir, India. With a mission to introduce plant-based alternatives to antibiotics/chemicals for food-producing animal farmers, Naveed at Daskdan has secured a $100k grant for his proof-of-concept development. His prior experience includes working in rational drug discovery for cancer biology.
