Grade 8 Medicinal plants

Medicinal plants:
Medicinal plants are those plants that can be used for curing various diseases and infections. Not only they help us to have good heath, they can also be great source of income.
Thus it is important to have proper knowledge on various aspects of medicinal plants such as:
1. Appearance of medicinal plant
2. Utility part
3. When they grow
4. Where they grow
5. When they mature
6. when to collect.

Processing Medicinal Plants:
 It refers to the collection of raw materials of medicinal plants and develop it in a product of therapeutic value.

Pre-production: It involves proper cultivation, harvesting collection, weighting etc. It is the activities carried out before the production.

Production: It involves crushing, sieving, milling, cooking, drying, extracting etc.

Post-production: It involves proper packaging, storing and distributing. It is the activities carried out after the production.

Packaging: It is the science of protecting products for storage, distribution.
Objectives:
Physical protection: To protect from shock, vibration etc.
Barrier protection: To protect from oxygen, water, dust etc
Information Transmission: To transmit information like: packaged and expiry date, amount, ingredients etc.
 Convenience: Add convenience in storing, handling, distribution, opening, closing etc.

Storage: It is the science of storing and preserving medicinal plant and their healing power for further use.
Elements to be consider:
1. Depending upon the medicinal plant they should be kept in sunlight or shade.
2. Never crumble medicinal plants until you use.
3. Use dry, clean and tight packaging objects.
4. Store in dark and cool room.
5. Timely monitoring.

Distribution and selling of medicinal plant products:
Once the medicinal products are processed and packaged , it is necessary to sell them. One can distribute from general consumer to various medicinal industries. If the customer are nearby, one can directly sell them. Moreover, one can take help of intermediaries for effective distribution.

Cost and Revenue management:
When the medicinal plants are sold, it generated revenue. It is important that proper information in regard to generated revenue is recorded. It helps to analyse the cost and revenue generated and identify if we made any profit.