The Dron Ayurvedic Medical College & Hospital herbal garden has undergone a major expansion with the addition of 120 new medicinal plant species, inaugurated by the College Principal and the Head of the Dravyaguna Department.
Why a Herbal Garden Matters
In Ayurvedic education, Dravyaguna (the science of Ayurvedic pharmacognosy) is one of the foundational subjects. Students must identify, classify, and understand the therapeutic properties of hundreds of plants. A live garden makes this tangible and multisensory.
Key Plants Added
- Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) — adaptogen, nerve tonic, rejuvenator
- Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri) — memory enhancer, used in neurological conditions
- Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus) — women’s health, galactagogue, rasayana
- Guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia) — immunomodulator, liver conditions
- Haritaki, Bibhitaki & Amalaki — the three fruits of Triphala
- Tulsi, Neem, Turmeric, Ginger — kitchen herbs with profound therapeutic roles
“A student who has held Ashwagandha root in their hands and smelled Tulsi fresh from the garden will never forget their properties.” — Dr. A. K. Gupta, Head of Dravyaguna
Practical Learning
Students from First to Final Year rotate through the herbal garden as part of Dravyaguna practicals. They learn plant identification, seasonal collection, basic processing (drying, churna preparation), and classical quality markers from Ashtanga Hridayam and Charaka Samhita.
The expanded garden now covers over half an acre. Plans are underway for a composting unit and a micro-propagation facility for rare endangered herbs.
