The Mother Nature has given us countless bounties ... some we understand of and some that are still hidden in the deep secrets waiting to be exposed and waiting to improve our lives. Among these bounties is jatropha curcas, the physic nut. It is one of the most popular herbs and the term jatropha curcas is really a "genus" covering some 175 plants together. The name comes from Greek words for Iatros suggesting physician and trophe significance nutrition. So physic nuts or Jatropha, from the kingdom plantae is being studied widely for it can be put to many usages in our daily lives.

To begin with, jatropha curcas is finding great approval all over the world as a bio-doesel. The jatropha curcas seeds can be crushed to acquire the oil and this can be utilized as a bio-fuel. The residues can be used as fertilizer or as a feed for electricity creating plants. And this permits a sustainable development. Not just the seeds, but the plant as a whole is well fit to satisfy the growing environmental issues. And why just the bio-diesel, it can be utilized as aviation fuel, automobile fuel and a host of other usages from other parts of the plants. The stems of this plant discover usages in basket making, decorative purposes, and tanning leather and obtaining dyes. The plant even discovers use in medicines for cough, balm lotions, toothpastes, cosmetics and is even utilized to produce excellent quality paper. The plant is, therefore, being put to nearly every use possible.

Though it puts the worry of having a sustainable source of energy at hands to a back burner, yet it needs to be nurtured and cared for to allow for a healthy plant growth. And it has been observed that the jatropha curcas plants tax our water resources. So, they are grown in areas with a lot of rains. This cuts the concern on the water resources, enables water preservation and human effort too. Because the irrigation financial investment is only one time expense of time, money, effort and resources, it is being accepted as a sustainable option worldwide.

But it is not all gift - goodie about the plant. The jatropha curcas plant has harmful content. It has lectin, saponin, phorbol, toxalbumin curcin and is a trypsin inhibitor. In easy words, it can be harmful and in severe conditions, even deadly to take in unattended plant. The seeds need to be appropriately roasted and treated before being used in any consumable usage. Since it has become feasible to treat the poisonous content, the plant intake has actually also been rising. To satisfy the increasing needs, the plant has actually to be grown through different clinical methods like in-vitro and ex-vitro propagation. This permits rapid development and for establishing disease and bug resistant ranges of the plant. And a healthy crop will mean more fuel and better environment on the whole.

It remains in our hands to reside in harmony with the nature, and it is our options that identify the result of the interaction we have with the nature. If we pick environment friendly items, we enrich our lives. So, choosing Jatropha can be the initial step in enhancing the wealth called environment.