Mumbai, Aug 2 - For the past half a century, naturopath Raj Merchant has pursued two goals in life - nurturing Mumbai's only nursery of herbal plants and chasing away the avaricious land mafia eager to grab his 1.5 acre property in a prime suburban neighbourhood.

While the land mafia is more or less kept at bay now, Merchant's 50-year labour of love has seen the nursery bloom with over 500 common and exotic plants, bushes, herbs, creepers, flowers and fruits, each with unique medicinal properties.

Tucked away amidst three multi-storied buildings, a stone's throw away from Malad station in north-west Mumbai, the 'Merchantwadi' is next to an army depot.

'The military presence around makes me feel very secure. Plus, to keep intruders away, I have five dogs on the property,' Merchant, 65, told IANS in an interview.

Not without reason - the 65,000 sq feet (or 1.5 acre) property is worth a whopping Rs.1.3 billion (Rs.130 crores) at current recessionary rates in Mumbai.

At first sight, Merchantwadi appears a rather unkempt, thick, overgrown green jungle, a rarity in itself for Mumbaikars. At one corner is a large cottage in which the entire Merchant joint family lives, a small shed makes up his clinic.

The property is separated from the neighbours by tin sheets that create a noisy racket when heavy rains lash. 'I call it sweet music,' Merchant smiled.

Walking in the nursery, he pointed to an ordinary creeper of money-plant. 'This is one of the best remedies to stop blood from oozing out of any wound. Crush some leaves and blood will stop flowing out,' he said.

Last month, a banker SOSed Merchant saying his 12-year-old son had a deep gash on his wrist after he broke a glass bottle, it was bleeding profusely and boy was feeling giddy.

Calmly, the naturopath asked him if he had a money plant at home, to which the banker replied in the affirmative. 'Just take a few leaves, crush them and apply them on the wound, call me later,' Merchant advised.

An hour later, the relieved banker called to say that bleeding had stopped completely. Merchant asked him to continue applying the money plant leave for 2-3 days more.

A fortnight later, the cut had healed, the deep wound had disappeared, what was visible was only a hairline streak in its place which will also completely heal in a few weeks, Merchant said.