From ritual to regulation: The ban on Nerium oleander L. in Kerala temples - A factual overview with an Ayurvedic perspective

Government-run Travancore and Malabar Devaswom boards overseeing Kerala’s 2500 temples have instituted a comprehensive ban on the usage of Nerium oleander L. flowers. Here, the authors examine the transition from traditional rituals to formal regulations, concerning the use of N. oleander in temples across Kerala. Traditionally revered in various religious ceremonies, N. oleander , a plant with both toxic and therapeutic properties, has recently faced a ban due to its potential health risks. This article provides a comprehensive factual overview of the reasons behind the ban and it delves into the Ayurvedic perspective on N. oleander , discussing its medicinal applications and the risks associated with its improper use. Although the toxicity of Nerium has been proven, the restriction on it has to be revisited on multiple levels, to fully comprehend the negative impact, this can have on the future of traditional medicine practice.