India has rich diversity of medicinal plants. The supply base of 90% herbal raw drugs used in the manufacture of Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani & Homoeopathy systems of medicine is largely from the wild. This wild source is speedily shrinking day-by-day. Therefore, there is a need for conservation and to sustain use of medicinal plants. Cultivation is clearly an alternative to maintain the present collection of medicinal plants from the wild. From prehistoric days, plants are used for shelter, food and medicine. The use of plants for medicinal purposes is as old as our civilization. Herbs have been used for uncounted time for various purposes like healing the sick and infirm. Most of the people still continue to use herbs to benefit their bodies. People thought that herbs keep the body in tune with nature as it maintains proper balance. Many scientific studies are still continuing with modern research following the lead of old folklore and herbal uses to help finding new western medicine. Man has also been aware of the effects of Herbs on the body, mind and emotion.
