Demand goes up for herbal medicines

[sajiv]

Demand goes up for herbal medicines

Karwar: The fear of Influenza A(H1N1) has created panic among the people in Uttar Kannada district and people were now turning to ayurveda for herbal medicines like eucalyptus oil and amrutha balli.

An ayurveda medicine manufacturing company from Karwar distributed a mixture of herbal extracts to the people free of cost on Sunday and the police had a tough time in controlling the crowd.

Over 5,000 people were supplied the mixture, sources from the company said.
Prices soar

Now, the price of eucalyptus oil had shot up to Rs. 100 a bottle from Rs. 8.

Similarly, the ordinary surgical masks sold Rs. 300 a piece. Even the demand for onion and garlic had gone up.

The outbreak of A(H1N1) had an unlikely victim in the amrutha balli. The rare herb is on the verge of extinction with people going in search of it in the Western Ghats.