There have been many dark times in history. Knowing how to use botanical medicine undoubtedly helped many to survive when medical help as we know it today was not available. A wonderful body of knowledge (that some dismiss as folk tales similar to myths) has come down to us from centuries of experiment and observation. It's short-sighted to ignore this treasure trove, especially since research and clinical trials continue to substantiate claims of the benefits of many plant substances.
Medicine is used to treat and prevent illness; botanical means derived from plants. In every society, indigenous fruits, berries, flowers, leaves, bark, and roots of plants have been used to strengthen, soothe, alleviate, and cure. Many pharmaceutical drugs doctors prescribe today are plant extracts. Most of us know some of them.
Other remedies are familiar. Limes and lemons were discovered to prevent and reverse scurvy, an illness that affected sailors on long sea voyages or explorers in arctic regions. Long before Vitamin C was isolated, citrus fruits were carried along to prevent bleeding gums, loosened teeth, muscular weakness, and eventual death from this deficiency disease. This disorder was unknown to people on shore who had access to fresh fruits and vegetable.
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.
Today there is a large market for herbal remedies. Midwives send mothers-to-be to health food stores for red raspberry tea (uterine toning), ginger (morning sickness), or herbal iron supplements. Nursing mothers take fenugreek to boost milk production. Insomniacs seek out chamomile, passion flower, and hops. People fight fatigue with blue green algae, guarana, ginseng, and gota kola.
Tea tree oil is sold as an antiseptic, a fungal fighter, and get rid of head lice. Neem oil is used for oral health, to prevent and cure fungus infections, and even as birth control. Tea tree oil comes from Australia, neem from India, pau d'arco from South America, ginseng from the Far East and from America, pine bark from France, and chlorella from Japan. Every country and continent has its beneficial plants which are becoming globally popular as information spreads and 'folklore' is investigated.
Food is the best medicine, they say, and we now know that onions and garlic have healing properties, that broccoli sprouts can fight cancer, that cultured foods improve digestion, and that green drinks can restore health. 'The body will heal itself' is another old saw which researchers are finding is true, if nutritious foods are provided. Plants hold the key to better health and to survival in hard times.
No one today should be ignorant about plants that can serve as food and medicine in emergencies. Learning about the benefits of plants make gardening more fun and a healthy life more possible. The world of growing things is just waiting to be explored and exploited. There are books on the subject, a lot of informative websites, and a long, long tradition of herbal lore to inspire you in this do-it-yourself health program.
Medicine is used to treat and prevent illness; botanical means derived from plants. In every society, indigenous fruits, berries, flowers, leaves, bark, and roots of plants have been used to strengthen, soothe, alleviate, and cure. Many pharmaceutical drugs doctors prescribe today are plant extracts. Most of us know some of them.
Other remedies are familiar. Limes and lemons were discovered to prevent and reverse scurvy, an illness that affected sailors on long sea voyages or explorers in arctic regions. Long before Vitamin C was isolated, citrus fruits were carried along to prevent bleeding gums, loosened teeth, muscular weakness, and eventual death from this deficiency disease. This disorder was unknown to people on shore who had access to fresh fruits and vegetable.
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.
Today there is a large market for herbal remedies. Midwives send mothers-to-be to health food stores for red raspberry tea (uterine toning), ginger (morning sickness), or herbal iron supplements. Nursing mothers take fenugreek to boost milk production. Insomniacs seek out chamomile, passion flower, and hops. People fight fatigue with blue green algae, guarana, ginseng, and gota kola.
Tea tree oil is sold as an antiseptic, a fungal fighter, and get rid of head lice. Neem oil is used for oral health, to prevent and cure fungus infections, and even as birth control. Tea tree oil comes from Australia, neem from India, pau d'arco from South America, ginseng from the Far East and from America, pine bark from France, and chlorella from Japan. Every country and continent has its beneficial plants which are becoming globally popular as information spreads and 'folklore' is investigated.
Food is the best medicine, they say, and we now know that onions and garlic have healing properties, that broccoli sprouts can fight cancer, that cultured foods improve digestion, and that green drinks can restore health. 'The body will heal itself' is another old saw which researchers are finding is true, if nutritious foods are provided. Plants hold the key to better health and to survival in hard times.
No one today should be ignorant about plants that can serve as food and medicine in emergencies. Learning about the benefits of plants make gardening more fun and a healthy life more possible. The world of growing things is just waiting to be explored and exploited. There are books on the subject, a lot of informative websites, and a long, long tradition of herbal lore to inspire you in this do-it-yourself health program.
About the Author:
When searching for botanical medicine refer to our homepage as a good source of information. To learn more, see the recommended website http://natmedsol.com right away
No comments:
Post a Comment