Understanding Uses Of Botanical Medicine
All through history, people have sought ways of staying healthy or recovering from illness. Our rich herbal tradition is testimony to centuries of experimentation, observation, and conclusions. As medical doctors and drug manufacturers began to dominate health care, this ancient wisdom was dismissed as 'folk lore'. However, continues use as well as scientific research continues to validate the benefits of botanical medicine.
Actually, much of mainstream medicine (something used to prevent or treat maladies) is derived from plants. Quinine, one drug many people know, is an extract of tree bark used to alleviate the symptoms of malaria. All over the world, bark, roots, leaves, fruit, flowers, and berries are used to strengthen, soothe, alleviate, and cure.
During long voyages of exploration on land and especially on sea, men learned that a diet of preserved meats and dried beans lacked nutrients needed for health. Scurvy was a disease that afflicted sailors or arctic travelers. It was discovered that the juice of fresh lemons and limes could prevent this condition or cure it if it were not too advanced. The Royal Navy of Great Britain made citrus fruit a part of the supplies for every ship.
During war time, rose hips (red seed pods) were collected and used as a source of Vitamin C, the nutrient that prevents scurvy. Carrots were fed to fighter pilots to boost their night vision. These were local and renewable sources, as were dandelion greens and other wild foods. Ranchers in the American west used the bark of certain trees to worm their horses. Desert peoples found aloe soothing for the skin and healing for the stomach.
Herbal remedies have never lost favor with country people. Today the market is huge for natural remedies. Some popular western herbs are red raspberry leaves, ginger, chamomile, fenugreek, ginseng, passion flower, and milk thistle. Hundreds more are known and used in Chinese, Indian, Central and South American, and African home remedies.
Every continent and country has its own botanical wonder drugs. Pau d'arco is considered a panacea in South America. Tea tree oil from Australia is used world-wide as an antiseptic and a fungicide. Neem, considered a cure-all in India, is used to fight fungus infections, oral problems, and a multitude of other disorders. Researchers in France discovered the benefits of pine bark and grape seeds. Japan farms chlorella, a single cell algae with proven health-enhancing properties.
Plants are food as well as medicine. Herbs are essentially vitamin and mineral rich plants that have properties that can boost or restore well-being. There is an old saying: 'Food is the best medicine'. This is true, especially when people take the trouble to learn which foods are truly nutritious. In general, eating plants in their fresh, whole state or in carefully prepared dried or extract form is best. When foods are processed, maybe to make them more palatable or shelf-stable, they often lose their beneficial nature.
No one, even the medical profession, denies that plants are medicinal. Learning which garden-grown or wild-gathered plants are good for us - and good for what ails us - is sensible and may even one day be life saving.
Actually, much of mainstream medicine (something used to prevent or treat maladies) is derived from plants. Quinine, one drug many people know, is an extract of tree bark used to alleviate the symptoms of malaria. All over the world, bark, roots, leaves, fruit, flowers, and berries are used to strengthen, soothe, alleviate, and cure.
During long voyages of exploration on land and especially on sea, men learned that a diet of preserved meats and dried beans lacked nutrients needed for health. Scurvy was a disease that afflicted sailors or arctic travelers. It was discovered that the juice of fresh lemons and limes could prevent this condition or cure it if it were not too advanced. The Royal Navy of Great Britain made citrus fruit a part of the supplies for every ship.
During war time, rose hips (red seed pods) were collected and used as a source of Vitamin C, the nutrient that prevents scurvy. Carrots were fed to fighter pilots to boost their night vision. These were local and renewable sources, as were dandelion greens and other wild foods. Ranchers in the American west used the bark of certain trees to worm their horses. Desert peoples found aloe soothing for the skin and healing for the stomach.
Herbal remedies have never lost favor with country people. Today the market is huge for natural remedies. Some popular western herbs are red raspberry leaves, ginger, chamomile, fenugreek, ginseng, passion flower, and milk thistle. Hundreds more are known and used in Chinese, Indian, Central and South American, and African home remedies.
Every continent and country has its own botanical wonder drugs. Pau d'arco is considered a panacea in South America. Tea tree oil from Australia is used world-wide as an antiseptic and a fungicide. Neem, considered a cure-all in India, is used to fight fungus infections, oral problems, and a multitude of other disorders. Researchers in France discovered the benefits of pine bark and grape seeds. Japan farms chlorella, a single cell algae with proven health-enhancing properties.
Plants are food as well as medicine. Herbs are essentially vitamin and mineral rich plants that have properties that can boost or restore well-being. There is an old saying: 'Food is the best medicine'. This is true, especially when people take the trouble to learn which foods are truly nutritious. In general, eating plants in their fresh, whole state or in carefully prepared dried or extract form is best. When foods are processed, maybe to make them more palatable or shelf-stable, they often lose their beneficial nature.
No one, even the medical profession, denies that plants are medicinal. Learning which garden-grown or wild-gathered plants are good for us - and good for what ails us - is sensible and may even one day be life saving.
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