Science Behind Myth

Indian mythology’s most famous medicinal herb, Sanjivani Boot is now being studied by scientists for its most gifted quality ,being able to survive even without water

The booti that finds mention in the Ramayana for resurrecting laxman does not die, even without water it just curls up and loose color; becoming brown in the absence of moisture, it however, regains its original green color within hours of coming in contact with water: unable to pin point what helped this four inch fern to stay alive for the last 300 million years, scientist now hopes to inject same gene into the country’s food crops to make them naturally resistant against famine, drought and snow found in many parts of the country, the plant is exhaustively used by tribal’s to treat heat stroke , jaundice and menstrual irregularities. Tribal’s in Tamil Nadu, Orrisa and West Bengal soak the huge quantity of this plant in water overnight. The plant is then discarded and the water drunk to cure burning sensation during urination, dysentery and venereal disease

“Sanjivani” (scientific name Selaginella Bryopteris ) belongs to the pteridophyta group of ferns.