VIRBHADRA SINGH HONOURS RS GULERIA WITH `HIMACHAL KESRI` AWARD
Released on = January 16, 2007, 3:16 am
Press Release Author = InfoMailers.com
Industry = Healthcare
Press Release Summary = R S Guleria discovers rare herb 'Argemone Mexicana' with anti-AIDS activity in Himachal Pradesh
Press Release Body =
Chandigarh, Chandigarh, India, Tuesday, January 16, 2007 :: Mr R S Guleria, President, Aromatic Plant Growers Association of India (APGAI) & Herbs Antique Research Botanical (HARB) Society, has been bestowed with the 'Himachal Kesri' Award for his tremendous contributions to the field of Ayurveda. This award was presented to Mr Guleria by Mr Virbhadra Singh, Chief Minister, Himachal Pradesh at a function in Dharamshala on January 12, 2007. The 'Himachal Kesri' Award was conferred upon Mr Guleria by leading Himachal newspaper Himachal Kesri. The five member elite jury for the award was chaired by the editor-in-chief of Himachal Kesri. The 15 other leading achievers from various other fields were also honoured on the occasion. The title of 'Himachal Herbal King' was also conferred upon Mr Guleria by the HP Chief Minister on the occasion.
Mr Guleria has recently discovered a rare herb 'Swarnkshiri' or 'Argemone Mexicana' in Himachal Pradesh. This rare herb is known to possess anti-HIV properties and is being eagerly studied by the scientific community to achieve a viable anti-AIDS medicine. Before Mr Guleria's discovery the plant was thought to have died out in India. HARB Society will plant over 1000 'Argemone Mexicana' in Himachal Pradesh and plans large scale cultivation of the herb in the near future.
'Argemone Mexicana' is basically found in America. In India it is found in Kashmir and is known as 'Hirvi' or 'Euphorbia Thamsoniana'. This plant is two to four feet high, has sharp thorns and secretes yellow milk-like substance when punctured. Its flowers are yellow in colour and appear between December and March. The fruit is long and rounded and has black seeds. The fruits dry in summer season and give birth to new plants in winters. Its Seed Oil is beneficial for skin diseases. The herb is drunk in a lime juice solution for malaria. Application of its roots is beneficial for scorpion bite. Its solution with milk or ghee is applied to eyelids for eye-diseases. Its juice along with milk is given to leprosy patients. This solution is known to provide strength.
Dharamshala based NGO, HARB Society is an organization dedicated to promoting Ayurveda, the welfare of farmers & Himachal Pradesh, Mr Guleria's home state. The society has already completed preparations for launch of numerous medicines from over 300 Herbs & Medicinal Plants. These include Ayurvedic medicines for diseases like Diabetes, Asthma, Stone, Joint Pains, Heart Ailments, Eye Diseases, Mental Disorders, Digestive problems and Kidney Diseases.
Speaking on the 'Himachal Kesri' Award, Mr Guleria said, "It is great pleasure to me to realize that my humble efforts in discovering long lost herbs to further research and development in Ayurveda are beginning to bear fruit. The honours & recognition bestowed upon me are a testimony to my endeavor of bringing Ayurveda to its former glory and helping farmers & youths find prosperity in Himachal Pradesh. Such honours motivate me to continue my work and strive to scale further milestones on the path to our goals. We, at HARB, hope that very soon we will be able to bring the benefits of Himalayan Herbs and Medicinal Plants, the natural treasure of our motherland, to the common man in the form of Ayurvedic Medicines that are affordable and readily available."
Mr Guleria was recently honoured with the 'Pride of Ayurveda' Award by Ayurveda Vishva Parishad, founded by Independent India's first President late Mr Rajendra Prasad in 1957. 19000 Himachal youth have found employment in their home state thanks to the untiring efforts of Mr Guleria for 3 years. Mr Guleria is confident that the figure could go beyond 1 lakh if the state government were to declare Himachal a 'Herbal State'. Mr Guleria is shouldering the campaign of utilizing Himachal Pardesh's barren lands for cultivation of Herbs & Medicinal Plants. Over 1500 farmer families are currently associated with campaign by HARB Society and scientists from varied fields are also supporting his cause.
The five-member jury is headed by Mr Praveen Roy, a renowned journalist. The other members of the jury include educationists, social workers and senior journalists.
The other 15 persons who were also honoured on this occasion included Ms Indu Bala, State level Basket Ball player; Mr Navneet Marua for iradication of drugs; Mr Ajeet Mahajan for his efforts in Co-operative Movement; Mr Shyam Rattan Dixit, Geo Scientist; Mr Harsh Mahajan, Minister, Animal Husbandary (HP Govt); Dr Paramjit Singh Ahuja, Director, IHBT Palampur; Mr Dinesh Malhotra, Director, Information and Public Relations, HP; Mr Zahoor H. Zaidi, former SSP, Kangra; Ms Rachna Gupta, Bureau Chief, Dainik Jagran, Shimla; Mr G C Pathania, former Editor, Doordarshan Shimla; Mr Gaurav Bisht, Journalist, The Hindustan Times, Dharamshala; Dr Vinay Mahajan, Chairman, Tagore Hospital, Jallandhar; Mr Tarun Shridhar, Director, HP Tourism; Dr Roshan Lal Bali, Astrologer, and Dr K D Lakhanpal, President, HHOGA for Rural Development.
For more information, please contact::
HERBS ANTIQUE RESEARCH BOTANICAL SOCIETY H.O. 'Apna Ghar', Village Metti, P.O. Gharoh, Teh. Dharamshala, Distt. Kangra (H.P.) INDIA -176215
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