A LITTLE ABOUT PLANT MEDICINE
Plants have been used to treat diseases going back at least 65,000 years! The first known written records of the use of medicinal plants was done by the Egyptians, Aztecs, Incas and Sumerians and date back at least 5,000 years. Egypt, India and China still rely on herbal medicines. Twenty five percent of today’s pharmaceutical drugs still have plant ingredients and/or derivatives from PLANTS. Among the 120 active compounds currently isolated from higher plants and extensively used in modern medicine today, 80 percent show a positive correlation between their modern therapeutic use and the traditional use of the plants from which they are derived.
Some of the use of botanicals in modern medicine:
*An enzyme from the Papaya (Carica papaya) that helps to shrink or dissolve ruptured disks in the spine.
*The use of Taxol (Paclitaxel), derived from the bark from Pacific Yew tree against several types of cancer.
*The use of the Rosy Periwinkle, (Vinca rosea), from Madagascar against childhood leukemia,
*Capsaicin from Cayenne pepper (Capsicum fruticosum), to treat the pain of arthritis, shingles, and circulatory health.
*Pilocarpine, (from the Pilocarpus shrub in the Amazon rainforest)
*Arecoline, from the Betelnut (Areca catechu) to treat glaucoma.
*The cancer treatment drug Topotecan is extracted from Camptotheca (Happy tree).
*Curare (from which d-turbocuarine is isolated) and that is used as a general anesthesia and to treat muscular disorders.
More simple compounds are available to us through holistic venues. Doing research on easily obtainable, cultivatable, organic live plants and dried herbs to create home made alcohol extracts is very rewarding. Survival Health. Self sufficient, sustainable health products. Naturally occurring, medically valuable, plant extracts- made bioavailable to you.
Check out this short list of commonly used herbs… Very short list compared to what is really out there in terms of PLANT MEDICINE.
~Turmeric – Natures Prozac
~Passionflower – Natures Xanax
~Cayenne Pepper – Natures Coumadin
~Diatomaceous Earth – Natures Parasite Buster
~Lemongrass – Natures Fever Reducer
~Echinacea - often used in tinctures or powders to reduce symptoms of the common cold and flu. It is also used for infections, particularly those of the kidney.
~Garlic - used to reduce cholesterol levels and blood pressure, as well as for treating infections. It can be taken fresh, as a powder, as oil or as a juice.
~Ginger - commonly used to reduce nausea, to reduce symptoms of colds and chills through sweating and to boost circulation. It can be taken fresh, dried, or as oil.
~Gingko - most commonly used to improve memory. Gingko improves circulation, particularly to the brain, though it is also used to regulate irregular heartbeats and to reduce symptoms of dementia. It is usually taken as a tincture or an infusion.
~Ginseng - used to boost the immune system and decrease fatigue. It is also used for lungs conditions such as coughs, and to reduce blood pressure. The root is taken as a powder, tincture, or decoction.
~St. John's Wort - used as an anti-depressant, for anxiety, irritability and exhaustion. It can also be used topically for burns and inflammations. St. John’s Wort is usually taken as an infusion, tincture or cream.
~Lavender - popular as aromatic oil, and can be used to treat a wide variety of ailments from exhaustion to headaches, and indigestion to depression. It is commonly taken as an infusion, tincture, mouthwash, cream, lotion, massage oil, chest rub, hair rinse or oil.
~Chamomile - a popular herb used for indigestion, stress relief, anxiety, and insomnia. It is also used for asthma and bronchitis. It can be taken as an infusion, tincture, ointment, inhalation or mouthwash.
…. The list is long! There is SO MUCH to learn!
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It is truly amazing how plant medicine is easily available to us- and yet, we are so indoctrinated with the idea that only an M.D. can prescribe complicated blends of man made chemicals to treat natural illness.
Time to open up our minds to what is naturally occurring and able to be grown- medicines. It seems that everything we ever needed for life is provided on Earth…. It’s a shame what has been happening to this great resource, at the hands of greed. Time will tell.
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WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT PLANT MEDICINE?
Check out a few resources… by no means an exhaustive list! It is beyond amazing, the medicine chest we have naturally occurring on earth!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_plants_used_in_herbalism
https://www.unh.edu/health/ohep/complementaryalternative-health-practices/herbal-medicine
http://www.projectnoah.org/missions/8473287
https://www.anniesremedy.com/chart.php
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