It is an alpine herb native to India and Pakistan in the Himilayan mountains area and it is also endangered due to overharvesting like other medicinals such as Goldenseal..etc.

Some of the common names are Kutki nd Katuka. It is widely used in Ayurvedic medicine. Research has indicated that it is similar to silymarin and could be used for liver diseases.

I would like to find someone who can get me seeds or live plants.

Does anyone know if it would survive in Minnesota ZONE 4a. I am assuming it may since it is an alpine species but i could be wrong since many Himalayan herbs are zones 6,7,8,9.

Is there anyone out there that can help me out?

While you are there, check out the "Other Exchanges" list as well.

And, here's link to Seed Savers Exchange

http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/suggest/msg0510120424602.html?17

Maybe try here?

RE: Crazylady -- Can you repost? clip this post email this post what is this?
see most clipped and recent clippings

Posted by crazylady Norfolk (My Page) on Fri, May 19, 06 at 11:43

Wow - I started to report about an hour ago, when there were no replies. Then we had a power cut and I've only just got back.
Here's the link to my post on the UK Forum: http://www.uk.gardenweb.com/forums/load/ukgard/msg050753242095.html?3, which explains that you don't need the Phytosanitary Certificate now for small lots of seeds such as you would be exchanging between gardeners. The link to the APHIS site is at the end of this post so you can check the new rules yourself.

As I also said in my original post, I joined GW in the first place to swap seeds with people in other countries, so I could try new plants I couldn't get locally. Exchanging seeds with people in your own area isn't so much fun, as they only have the same seeds as you do.

I know when I used to trade via GW, I swapped seeds with people in over 25 different countries, but I haven't found anywhere else where I can meet so many people as I used to on GW.

GW couldn't be held responsible for what individual members did, provided it was made clear at the top of the Forum that members were expected to obey the laws which applied to them - which it already does, at least on the European Exchange.

I do know that some people in the US don't want to exchange seeds with people in other countries, so if we had a separate International Seed Exchange Forum, it would be a place for members, inside the US and elsewhere, who were looking for seeds from around the world.

Here is a link that might be useful: US Seed Import Rules for Small Lots of Seed