Calotropis Plant, a Desert Beauty and a Future Hope

Some plants are very well known with the power of resistance, sustainability and adaptation to the challenging climatic conditions and hard terrians. One of those unique plants is the Calotropis.

The healthier and fresh shine of the leaves and flowers attract the attention of the desert’s visitor, especially when the visitor is an explorer. Many people know this plant only as a source of poison, unedible and uselss but to me it is an asset of biodiversity, treasure of healing molecules and food for some animals like goat, deers, and some beetles and other insetcts. The flowers are a rich source of the nectar both for the humming birds and the bees along with other insects.

Calotrops plant had been using by the indigenous healers for different health problems both in animals and the human. Raikas traditionally drink camel milk from a folded aak leaf; aak (Calotropis procera) produces a milky resin and, sometimes, the tip of the leaf is broken so that this resin will mix with the camel milk, improving its health effects. Raika herdsmen may subsist on camel milk for weeks at a time during long migrations.https://www.fondazioneslowfood.com/en/ark-of-taste-slow-food/kumbhalgarh-camel-milk/

The milk of the clotropis plant is also use for dermititis and injuries healing both in animals and the humanbeing. The leaves and also the milk of the plants work as insect repellents. I have personal experience using calotropis leaf as insect repellent, which really works. The leaves especially work in the treatment of the wounds in the camels. http://nopr.niscair.res.in/bitstream/123456789/32101/1/IJTK%2014(3)%20447-453.pdf

Personally, I’m in love with the beauty and strength of this unique flora. I’m quite sure that this plant will play a very crucial role in the health and wellbeing of human and Mother Earth at large. The beauty glittering flowers and shiny leaves attract the attention of a desert explorer and give a great calmness to the soul.

Let we try to understand the nature, beauty and treasures hidden, and to care our Mother Earth. Please respect the health of the nature, do not throwing rubbish and plastic in the beautiful deserts. Try to understand, each flora and fauna on the desert is part of the whole cycle of the nature, if one of them is diminsh the whole cycle will affect. https://youtu.be/2NmxUgvtCXM