It's human nature to want to be free of disease. This is fortunate, because throughout history mankind has used botanical medicine to stave off illness or to speed recovery. A rich heritage of 'folklore' has come down to us today. In spite of the dismissal of many in the medical profession or the pharmaceutical industry, herbal remedies have a huge following, and clinical studies have validated many of the claims historically made for plant materials.
Medicine is something used to prevent and treat disease. 'Botanical' means derived from plants. In all cultures, people have discovered that flowers, leaves, berries, roots, and bark have strengthening, soothing, and curative properties. Many pharmaceutical drugs prescribed today are derived from plants. Most of us are familiar with some botanical remedies.
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.
People gathered rose hips during war time and still do today. The red seed pods contain a lot of vitamin C and bioflavanoids. Carrots were eaten by fighter pilots to boost their night vision. American ranchers watched wild horses gnaw the bark from trees and realized this was an effective way to dispel worms. Dandelion greens have long been used as a spring food after a long winter without fresh vegetables. Desert dwellers discovered the benefits of aloe vera, jojoba, and yucca.
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.
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.
Much of our food is vegetation. What we call herbs are simply nutrient rich plants. If food is the best medicine, as the old folks say, it makes sense to eat wisely and know the benefits. Garlic and onions are both food and medicine. Garden produce, eaten fresh and whole, is known to be good for us. A diet of shelf-stable, processed foods is not considered a healthy one.
No one today denies that plants are medicinal. It's good to learn ways in which wild or garden plants can keep us healthy. Knowing the benefits of garlic, fresh berries, and salad herbs brings new meaning to a home garden, and the fields and forests are open to those who want to learn their secrets.
Medicine is something used to prevent and treat disease. 'Botanical' means derived from plants. In all cultures, people have discovered that flowers, leaves, berries, roots, and bark have strengthening, soothing, and curative properties. Many pharmaceutical drugs prescribed today are derived from plants. Most of us are familiar with some botanical remedies.
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.
People gathered rose hips during war time and still do today. The red seed pods contain a lot of vitamin C and bioflavanoids. Carrots were eaten by fighter pilots to boost their night vision. American ranchers watched wild horses gnaw the bark from trees and realized this was an effective way to dispel worms. Dandelion greens have long been used as a spring food after a long winter without fresh vegetables. Desert dwellers discovered the benefits of aloe vera, jojoba, and yucca.
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.
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.
Much of our food is vegetation. What we call herbs are simply nutrient rich plants. If food is the best medicine, as the old folks say, it makes sense to eat wisely and know the benefits. Garlic and onions are both food and medicine. Garden produce, eaten fresh and whole, is known to be good for us. A diet of shelf-stable, processed foods is not considered a healthy one.
No one today denies that plants are medicinal. It's good to learn ways in which wild or garden plants can keep us healthy. Knowing the benefits of garlic, fresh berries, and salad herbs brings new meaning to a home garden, and the fields and forests are open to those who want to learn their secrets.
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