Anju Kani

I am Kani from the Western Ghats. Our knowledge of medicine comes from living closely with the forest, not studying it from a distance. You learn the plants by walking with elders, observing what grows where, and noting how the forest changes after rain.

One of our most recognized contributions is our knowledge of Arogyapacha, a plant with powerful restorative properties. Our community understood how to use it long before scientists arrived. It was used to recover strength during long treks and to reduce exhaustion in difficult terrain.

This knowledge later led to the development of the drug Jeevani. But what is often lost is that the plant's effect depends on timing, preparation, and dosage. The leaves are not gathered at random. The season, maturity, and method of preparation decide whether the plant restores energy or has no effect.

The forest is also part of the formula. Arogyapacha does not grow in isolation. It grows in a specific microclimate, and knowing how to find it matters as much as knowing how to use it. That is why the knowledge system includes geography and weather, not only remedies.

This was not discovery. It was recognition of an existing pharmacological system shaped by centuries of interaction with the forest. The science is practical, tested through repeated use, and carried by people who depend on the forest for survival.