The “World Herbal Encyclopedia” is a monumental work by Acharya Balkrishna that aims to consolidate the vast and diverse knowledge of medicinal plants from around the globe into a single comprehensive resource. This ambitious project encompasses approximately 60,000 medicinal plants used in various traditional medicine systems worldwide, including Ayurveda, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Unani, and indigenous practices. The encyclopedia is meticulously compiled, drawing from over 600,000 bibliographic sources, including ancient manuscripts, folk formulations, and modern scientific research, to provide a holistic view of each plant’s medicinal properties and uses.

One of the unique features of this encyclopedia is its extensive linguistic documentation. It includes more than 1.2 million vernacular names and nearly 250,000 synonyms of these medicinal plants in over 2,000 languages spoken across the globe. This linguistic richness not only aids in the identification of plants but also preserves the traditional knowledge associated with them. Additionally, the encyclopedia introduces a new Sanskrit binomial nomenclature for approximately 60,000 plants, aligning them with modern botanical classifications while honoring their traditional roots.

The encyclopedia’s content is organized into multiple volumes, each dedicated to a specific group of plants, such as algae, fungi, bryophytes, pteridophytes, gymnosperms, and angiosperms. It provides detailed information on the morphology, habitat, distribution, and etymology of each plant, along with its medicinal uses, chemical constituents, and pharmacological properties. This thorough documentation bridges the gap between traditional herbal knowledge and contemporary scientific understanding, making it a valuable resource for researchers, practitioners, and students alike.

In addition to its textual content, the “World Herbal Encyclopedia” is richly illustrated with approximately 25,000 live paintings and 35,000 line diagrams, offering visual aids to assist in plant identification and understanding. These illustrations are particularly beneficial for those engaged in fieldwork or botanical studies. The encyclopedia’s comprehensive approach ensures that it serves as a definitive guide to the medicinal plants of the world, preserving ancient wisdom while promoting evidence-based practices in modern herbal medicine.