Picrorhiza kurroa

Picrorhiza kurroa is one of the major income generating non-timber forest products found in the Nepalese Himalayas. It is one of the oldest medicinal plants traded from the Karnali zone. Known as Kutki, it is a perennial herb and is used as a substitute for Indian gentian (Gentiana kurroo).^[1]

Habitat

It is found in the Himalayan region from Kashmir to Sikkim at an elevation of 2700-4500m^{[citation needed]} and in Nepal, found abundantly between 3500 to 4800m. It is found far away from the community and takes from hours to days to walk to its growing habitat. It has been reported that Picrorhiza has been harvested to near extinction.^[1][2]

Description

Leaves: 5–15 cm long leaves, almost all at the base, often withered.^[1] Leaves are coarsely toothed, narrowed to a winged stalk.
Rhizomes of the plant are 15–25 cm long and woody.
Flowers: small, pale or purplish blue, borne in cylindric spikes, spikes borne on almost leafless erect stems. Flowers about 8 mm, 5-lobed to the middle, and with much longer stamens.
Fruits: 1.3 cm long.

Usage

The rhizome has a long history of use in Indian Ayurvedic medicine for the treatment of digestive problems. Other uses have been proposed (eg for asthma, liver damage, wound healing, vitiligo) but the medical evidence is not yet conclusive. It appears to be relatively safe based on its long history of traditional use.^{[3] [2]}

References

External links