Plant medicine

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Safe Trip to Eden: Ten Steps to Save Planet Earth from the Global Warming Meltdown David Steinman See book keywords and concepts

Rauwolfia is a natural plant medicine from India and was the first high blood pressure drug; it is widely known today as the medication Reser-pine. The natural female hormone drug progesterone that offers women the chance for hormone balance is derived from diosgenin, a steroidal chemical found in wild yam, a dietary staple of New Guinea's rain forest natives. Less than 1 percent of tropical forest species have been thoroughly examined for their chemical compounds. A typical four square-mile patch of rain forest contains as many as fifteen hundred species of flowering plants.

Adaptogens: Herbs for Strength, Stamina, and Stress Relief David Winston, RH(AHG), and Steven Maimes See book keywords and concepts

To better understand herbal safety, let's look at classifications of plant medicine from Cherokee medicine. In this system, there are three categories of herbs: foods, medicines, and poisons. Adaptogens are considered food or medicine herbs; none are considered poisons. 1. Food Herbs: These herbs are safe, gentle in action, and have very low toxicity. They are unlikely to cause an adverse response. Examples of food herbs include lemon balm, hawthorn, ginger, linden flower, chamomile, and lycium.

1000 Cures for 200 Ailments: Integrated Alternative and Conventional Treatments for the Most Common Illnesses Marshall Editions See book keywords and concepts

Soy phyto-estrogens as well as the phytoestrogens found in celery, parsley, whole grains (flax in particular), and alfalfa are weak estrogens that may be helpful. plant medicine that contains estrogens includes Dong Quai, licorice root, chaste berries, and black cohosh.

Plant Spirit Healing: A Guide to Working with Plant Consciousness Pam Montgomery See book keywords and concepts

As Stephen Buhner says, "To carry the power of plant medicine you must be trustworthy, your word to the plant relations should be inviolate. As in all relationships, trust is built on keeping one's word. The more trustworthy you are the more the plants will tell you and consequently the more power and responsibility you carry." When the plant spirit gives you its healing gift, you may experience it in various ways. Almost always there is some type of merging between you and the plant. The plant may step inside you or perhaps the plant spirit will hand you an object.

In Stephen Buhner's study of sacred plant medicine he says, "I found that many cultures believe that all plants have their own songs. It is felt that the power of Spirit, the plant, or that of healing is experienced and expressed as a song. It is believed that each plant possesses a song that must be learned; power to heal is given by the conveyance of that song." David Winston, a carrier of the Southern Cherokee tradition, says, "We believe each species of plant (not each plant) has a song. Once you know the song the plant will tell you everything it knows.

The big vitamin scare: American Medical Association claims vitamins may kill you (opinion) Mike Adams, the Health Ranger See article keywords and concepts

Conventional medical researchers almost never test plant medicine using full-spectrum nutrients. Why? Because they don't understand the concept of nutritional synergy. The bottom line? Only fools believe research about nutrition that comes from the American Medical Association or its journal. Conventional medical researchers declaring that vitamins are worthless is about as credible as Bush Administration climatologists claiming there's no such thing as global warming. With the publication of this research, the distortion of health reality is now complete.

Adaptogens: Herbs for Strength, Stamina, and Stress Relief David Winston, RH(AHG), and Steven Maimes See book keywords and concepts

In his book, plant medicine in Practice, Mitchell mentions two favorite formulas using eleuthero. The first combines one part eleuthero with two parts fresh milky oat tincture. He recommends thirty drops of this mixture, four times per day, for people whose nervous systems are debilitated after illness or injury. The second formula combines two parts eleuthero with one part licorice and one part American ginseng. Mitchell suggests sixty drops of this formula for increasing energy. Mitchell is not only a superb physician but he also is a philosopher and wise man.

Interview with Chris Kilham, the Medicine Hunter, author of Hot Plants Mike Adams, the Health Ranger See article keywords and concepts

Kilham: Well, I go to different parts of the world where I research plant medicine. So let's say maybe I would go to Southern India and research ashwaganda, which is a very high value plant they use in the Ayurvedic system of medicine, and see everything about it -- from how it's grown to how it's prepared, maybe how it's dispensed in clinics, talk with traditional healers, talk with medical doctors, see its use in a variety of settings, really understand, kind of get a global understanding of the plant -- and then translate that knowledge here in the marketplace.

How to grow your own pharmaceuticals Mike Adams, the Health Ranger See article keywords and concepts

In fact, the word "pharmaceutical" means "plant medicine." The word "pharma" has the same root used in the word "farming," of course. So medicines really do have their origins in plants. It's only through the atrocious politics of pharmaceutical companies today that people have forgotten the plant origins of medicine. What I'm hoping to do is help you get back to the plants, because the plants have the healing characteristics that we need. For widespread adoption, we need something that works without soil.

Interview with Chris Kilham, the Medicine Hunter, author of Hot Plants Mike Adams, the Health Ranger See article keywords and concepts

Over time, I became more informed, more expert in the category, combined a genuine of plant medicine with a love of travel, discovered that I had a facility for doing field work, studied the works of the great ethnobotanists, really learned about the works of some of the true experts in the field, and eventually found that I could do this work well and deliver the goods. Mike: What a wonderful way to explore and discover your passion for professional life. Kilham: It's been so amazing.

The Healing Power of Rainforest Herbs: A Guide to Understanding and Using Herbal Medicinals Leslie Taylor, ND See book keywords and concepts

Cruz, one of Brazil's leading medical herbalists, reports erva tostao is "a plant medicine of great importance, extraordinarily beneficial in the treatment of liver disorders." It is employed in Brazilian herbal medicine to stimulate the emptying of the gallbladder, as a diuretic, for all types of liver disorders (including jaundice and hepatitis), gallbladder pain and stones, urinary tract disorders, renal disorders, kidney stones, cystitis, and nephritis.

Medical Herbalism: The Science Principles and Practices Of Herbal Medicine David Hoffman, FNIMH, AHG See book keywords and concepts

All of this is not meant to imply that whole plant medicine has nothing to offer in the treatment of infection! In fact, herbal treatment has much to contribute. Various herbal remedies can: Boost the immune response, helping the body to rid itself of pathogens by either deep or surface immune system stimulation. Exert direct antimicrobial effects against offending organisms. To be effective, the plant constituent must reach the site of infection, which is not always easy. Tone and strengthen tissue, organs, or whole systems affected by the infection.

The Encyclopedia of Popular Herbs Robert S. McCaleb, Evelyn Leigh, and Krista Morien See book keywords and concepts

However, the focus of research in the twentieth century shifted away from the study of whole plants toward single "active principles" and synthetic chemicals. plant medicine research in the United States came to a virtual standstill as doctors and scientists turned increasingly to potent medicines fabricated in the laboratory. The medicinal use of plant drugs declined, although single pure plant chemicals were still in use. Soon, pharmacists and doctors no longer needed to know about the plants themselves, and courses on plant medicines disappeared from medical and pharmacy schools.

When Healing Becomes A Crime: The Amazing Story of the Hoxsey Cancer Clinics and the Return of Alternative Therapies Kenny Ausubel See book keywords and concepts

Department of Agriculture (USDA), where he founded a world-class database on plant medicine. He also collaborated for many years with the National Cancer Institute as part of a modest government program for drug discovery from natural products including plants. Along with a small handful of other botanical explorers, Duke helped lead the way to plant medicines that have produced pharmaceutical drugs such as the cancer drug Taxol from the Pacific yew tree. During this period, the NCI reputedly screened about 10 percent of the plant species of the world, including all those in the Hoxsey formula.

Healing with Plants in the American and Mexican West Margarita Artschwager Kay See book keywords and concepts

Likewise, when individuals choose medicine today, they may continue to use traditional treatments but also may be attracted by new remedies because of convenience, effectiveness, safety, or more philosophical concerns. A plant medicine may be superseded by another that is easier to obtain, making it no longer necessary to search out a cactus for its root when one can get a weed from the backyard. A less-effective plant medicine for headache may be replaced when a better one is neatly packaged and readily available at the grocery store.

The ABC Clinical Guide to Herbs Mark Blumenthal See book keywords and concepts

Traditional plant medicine as Treatment for Diabetes. Diabetes Care 1989;12(8):553-64. Baj A, Bombardelli E, Gabetta B, Martinelli EM. Qualitative and quantitative evaluation of Vaccinium myrtillus anthocyanins by high-resolution gas chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography. / Chromatogr 1983;279:365-72. Belleoud L, Leluan D, Boyer Y. A study on the effect of anthocyanosides on nocturnal vision in air traffic controllers, [in French]. Rev Med Aeronaut Spat 1966;18:3-7. Belleoud L, Leluan D, Boyer Y.

Miracle Cures: Dramatic New Scientific Discoveries Revealing the Healing Powers of Herbs, Vitamins, and Other Natural Remedies Jean Carper See book keywords and concepts

The astonishing fact is that we all have easy access to a simple plant medicine that impeccable research shows can help protect the most important organ in our body, our brain, the source of our humanity and personality, from deteriorating as we get older and creating major personal and societal misery. Yet very few Americans, outside research circles, have ever heard of it. DR. JERRY COTT'S MIRACLE "Ginkgo Stopped My Mother's Decline" Dr.

The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Andrew Chevallier See book keywords and concepts

In 1785, he published Account of the Foxglove, documenting dozens of carefully recorded case histories, and showing how foxglove's powerful (and potentially dangerous) active constituents, now known as cardiac glycosides, made it a valuable plant medicine in the treatment of dropsy. Cardiac glycosides remain in common use to the present day.Yet despite this clearcut example of the possibilities inherent in a marriage of herbal medicine and scientific method, conventional medicine was to take another path in the 19th century.

We tend to underestimate the medical skills of apparently undeveloped communities - particularly during the so-called Dark Ages in medieval Europe - but it is evident that many people had a surprisingly sophisticated understanding of plant medicine. For example, recent excavations at an 11th-century monastic hospital in Scotland revealed that the monks were using exotic herbs such as opium poppy (Papaver somniferum, p. 242) and marijuana (Cannabis sativa,p. 180) as painkillers and anesthetics.

The Complete Encyclopedia of Natural Healing: A Comprehensive A-Z Listing of Common and Chronic Illnesses and Their Proven Natural Treatments Gary Null, Ph.D. See book keywords and concepts

This herbal remedy has produced remarkable results in the treatment of Alzheimer's and other age-related degenerative diseases, and consequently, has become the leading prescribed plant medicine in numerous countries. In fact, in France and Germany, ginkgo biloba currently ranks in the top five medications used overall. That's not the case here, where, unfortunately, the conventional medical community is generally ignorant of the vast assortment of herbs that possess medicinal capabilities.

The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Andrew Chevallier See book keywords and concepts

If this is a taste of what is to come, we can expect remarkable discoveries from the world of plant medicine. There is, however, a key problem in the pharmaceutical industry's approach. It is geared to the development of isolated plant chemicals, which can then be synthesized and patented. With a patent, a company can make a profit, recouping the massive investment required to research and develop new medicines. Herbs, however, are whole, naturally occurring remedies.They cannot and should not be patented. Even if the major pharmaceutical companies were able to find an herb such as St.

Miracle Cures: Dramatic New Scientific Discoveries Revealing the Healing Powers of Herbs, Vitamins, and Other Natural Remedies Jean Carper See book keywords and concepts

One reason is a misunderstanding of the diverse nature of natural remedies. plant medicine often seems foreign and unscientific to Americans because a botanical remedy does not conform to the "magic bullet" theory that a specific chemical fights only one specific disease or symptom. This theory is the foundation of the development of modern human-made pharmaceuticals. But it falls apart when one dissects the more subtle and broad therapeutic effects of plants. It is true that researchers usually identify and extract active pharmacological chemicals in plants.

Yet such a plant medicine is used throughout Europe and the Far East as a potion of considerable ancient and modern reputation for treating age-related decline in mental functions. Its use is slowly but surely making its way into Memory the offices of doctors and the highest scientific circles in this country. It is called ginkgo biloba, and its beneficial effects on blood circulation and brain function make this herb a remarkable medicine.

Healing with Plants in the American and Mexican West Margarita Artschwager Kay See book keywords and concepts

These facts must be emphasized: just as any biomedical pharmaceutical can under certain circumstances be dangerous, there can be untoward reactions to any plant medicine. One cup of a tea might help: more may make one sick.

They may purchase the plant medicine in some Arizona supermarkets. A paper presented at a conference on traditional medicine in 1984 reported research that was conducted at the School of Dentistry in Zacatecas: successful treatment of dental problems (including loose teeth, gingivitis, bleeding gums, and toothache) with an extract of /. dioica. Phytochemistry. Various uses for /. curcas have been reported, including extensive medicinal applications (Duke 1985:253-54). It is a strong purgative that can cause depression and collapse. The toxin is hydrocyanic acid.

However, in the United States, plant medicine is a billion-dollar business. Health food stores, yerberias, and large grocery chains carry hundreds of different medicinal herbs. Mexican Americans can purchase packets of flowers, roots, or leaves labeled with Spanish common names, together with traditional booklets in Spanish describing purpose and preparation. The inventory is not static: for FIGURE 1 Agave americana.

In fact the knowledge never disappeared in this region, although the popularity of plant medicine waxes and wanes. Today there is new interest—even a sense of crisis—as whole biomes (major biological communities) are being destroyed. Searches of the Amazonian rain forest for plants that could provide new drugs are appropriately being recommended (Balick 1990), but we also need to learn about the potential of plants in our backyard that have already been used in folk tradition.

A less-effective plant medicine for headache may be replaced when a better one is neatly packaged and readily available at the grocery store. A dangerous plant purgative may be dropped when a mild cathartic is procurable. Old medicines may be discarded, replaced by the new; or they may go underground, continuing in a healing tradition parallel to the official system but with a different theory of disease, different kinds of persons designated to conduct treatments, and different materials for healing (see Kay 1978). All of these processes have taken place in the American and Mexican West.

Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine, Revised Second Edition Michael T. Murray, N.D., Joseph E. Pizzorno, N.D. See book keywords and concepts

If you use this effective plant medicine, hold your nose and quickly drink a 2-ounce shot of the juice. The dosage of other forms should approximate this dose. Gymnema sylvestre Gymnema sylvestre, a plant native to the tropical forests of India, has long been used as a treatment for diabetes. Recent scientific investigation has upheld its effectiveness in both Type I and Type II diabetes.969' Gymnema sylvestre appeared on the U.S. market a few years ago, hyped as a "sugar blocker.

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