Allo: The Himalayan Giant Nettle

The Himalayan giant nettle (Girardinia diversifolia), commonly called Allo in Nepali has been a major source of income in many parts of the Himalayan region. It is a fiber yielding non-timber forest product (NTFP) which belongs to the botanical family Urticaceae. It has been harvested for many years in the Himalayan region for cultural, medicinal and economic purposes. The fiber has high economic value as it is considered superior to jute. Different parts of the plant such as roots, stems, leaves, and inflorescences are used to prepare traditional medicinal formulations to treat various diseases and ailments for the local people.