Traditional and Medicinal Uses of Vetiver

Abstract

In the India the vetiver plant is known as the “Khus” or “Khus-khus” and is used both in medicine and in thernindustry of perfumery, of frozen foods and refrigeration in the preparation of all kinds of drinks. The grass isrncharacterized by a sweet and pleasant flavor combined with a little earthy. On the other hand is a very fresh herb hasrna cooling effect similar to some other herbs such as mint or peppermint. Vetiver is a tall, tufted, perennial, scentedrngrass with a straight stem, long narrow leaves and a lacework root system that is abundant, complex and extensive.rnIt has versatile uses, particularly as an inexpensive yet effective and eco-friendly tool to combat soil erosion.rnMedicinal and aromatic plants (MAP) are two related groups of plants having in their part chemical constituentsrnwhich are active in curing ailments (i.e. MP) or in providing flavors and/or fragrances (i.e. AP). Harvested vetiverrnleaves, culms and roots are utilized after some degree of processing in various ways, e.g. as input of agriculturerelatedrnactivities (mulch, compost, nursery block / planting medium, animal feed stuff, mushroom cultivation,rnbotanical pesticides, and allelopathy), handicraft and art works, medicinal applications, fragrance, input ofrnconstruction-related activities (roof thatch, hut, mud brick, vetiver-clay composite storage bin, veneer / fiber board,rnartificial pozzalans, ash for concrete work, and straw bale), containers (pottery, melamine utensils, waterrncontainers), bouquet, energy sources (ethanol, green fuel), industrial products (pulp and paper, panel), andrnmiscellaneous other utilization