Echinacea

You may have heard of this purple cone-shaped flower called echinacea. There are nine known species native to the United States and Canada, though the species most commonly used for medicinal purposes is the echinacea purpurea. According to the medical center at the University of Maryland, Native Americans named this plant due to its prickly spine, of which they believed to resemble the spine of an angry hedgehog. Though seemingly named to intimidate, the plant is truly not scary at all. The source of medicine lies within the flower rather than the stem, and the plant itself is extremely popular within the medical community. It is highly regarded for its aesthetic beauty, its traditional use, as well as its close association with other flowers such as the marigolds, chrysanthemums, and daises.

 In its history, echinacea has most commonly been used to treat the common cold, but it has also been known to cure many more serious conditions than this. In the 1800s, doctors in America recommended the use of echinacea to treat scarlet fever, syphilis, malaria, blood poisoning, and diphtheria. Though these ailments are all now extremely rare in our American society, the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine states that when the echinacea plant is consumed in tincture form, it can not only reduce pain, but stimulate the immune system to more effectively fight respiratory infection, fever, skin irritations, acne, or boils.  Herbalists also use this herb to treat a variety of symptoms, including candida, urinary tract infections, ear infections, athlete's foot, and slow-to-heal wounds.

Echinacea is such a powerful medicinal plant because of its innate chemical properties. Its healing effects lie within the chemical makeup of polysaccharides, glycoproteins, alkamides, volatile oils, and flavonoids. The flower of the echinacea purpurea is said to have one of the largest concentrations of immune-boosting properties, as compared to the root of the plant and the other plants within its genus.

When used under safe conditions and in appropriate amounts, echinacea has the ability to heal much more than commonly thought. It could be the gateway to the discovery of other wonderful medicinal plants or the solution to a dreary day. Because it is an entirely natural medicine, it can connect us back to the Earth, to the source of health and human vitality. Echinacea may just be the solution to manifesting more value in medicinal plants.

References:

http://nccam.nih.gov/health/echinacea/ataglance.htm

http://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/herb/echinacea

How Fungi Can Save the World

 Although they may not look very intimidating, mushrooms hold healing properties that could not only uphold the entirety of the ecosystem, but also the well-being of every human being. According to “The Ecologist,” an online resource for environmental news and case studies, “the potential of fungi for medicine, filtering polluted water, controlling pests and even biofuels, is truly staggering.” Because of these discoveries of the powerful properties of fungi, humans now have the potential to implement their uses in order to find health and balance throughout themselves and throughout the ecosystem. 

In his article titled, “Case Study: how mushrooms can save forests,” journalist David Hawkins describes the essential relationship between fungi and the stability of the forested lands. His main focus is on the research conducted by renowned mycology scientist Paul Stamets, who is well-respected for his research on the interconnections between the fungi’s mycelium membrane and forest soils. In 2009, Stamets gave a TED talk on his microbial research which included the six ways that mushrooms can save the world. Stamets’ career has led to evidence of fungal strength, resistance to disease, sentient actions, communication with the ecosystem, anti-viral properties, and immune system support. These qualities serve two vital purposes: to improve the health of human beings and to restore the health of the biotic community. Fungi, specifically mushrooms, have the potential to heal otherwise impossible cases, such as polluted and disease-ridden systems. Throughout the article, Hawkins exemplifies the research of Stamets as innovative evidence that mushrooms can save the health of our planet.

This literature provides new, impressive research within the realm of health. Not only can mushrooms cleanse, heal, and balance soils within forests, they can also provide medicinal purposes for human beings. Instead of abusing conventional medicine, individuals can utilize the natural anti-viral properties, immune system support, cleansing of toxins, and restorative health that mushrooms naturally provide. 

Humans only need to know and take advantage of their curative properties in order to propagate widespread well-being. If they are so inclined, they can also help improve the health of the ecosystem by purchasing fungi for less fortune human beings. Stamets encourages the purchase of a “Life Box,” a design of his making which comes supplied with fungi and plant seedlings. When watered, the box grows into a small, healthy ecosystem. He mainly supplies these boxes for people living in rural, arid places of Africa, where the people use the tiny ecosystems to grow the main food source for their community. Although not everyone who reads literature on the healing potential of mushrooms will choose to purchase a Life Box, the knowledge that they are available and entirely profitable can change lives.

Recently, health trends have shown an increased interest in natural medicine, such as that from shiitake mushrooms, which has claims to prolong the lives of those with cancer or other life-debilitating diseases (American Cancer Society). This natural medicine may have less health risks for human beings than conventional medicine because it comes straight from the Earth and has been proven helpful through centuries of traditional healing medicine. Because of the increase in usage, people are also less likely to pollute the water or the land with conventional medicine. Mushrooms are healers, and an entirely sustainable solution to improving the health of the human and biotic communities.

Although many people remain skeptical and opposed to the use of fungi as a healing substance, this may be due to conventional, institutional forms of learning that have prevented more progressive knowledge.  The creative expression of this knowledge of fungi through environmental literature such as Hawkin’s article has facilitated learning in otherwise unheard of ways. It creates an understanding of environmental experiences and values through improved knowledge of the abilities of natural medicine. So far, this knowledge has benefited the human population and the biotic community greatly in regards to improved health. With more research and a greater following, fungi may be the healthy solution to our changing world.  

Hawkin's article can be found here: http://www.theecologist.org/campaigning/wildlife/363301/case_study_how_mushrooms_can_save_forests.html

Stamets' 2009 TED Talk can be found here: http://www.ted.com/talks/paul_stamets_on_6_ways_mushrooms_can_save_the_world.html 

A Documentary on Medicinal Plants

Throughout my research on the value of medicinal plants, I stumbled upon this short documentary titled "Healing with the Herbs of Mother Earth." When conventional medicine is ubiquitous in our American culture, it can be easy to forget that many other cultures around the world depend on medicinal plants for their livelihood. Especially in the case of indigenous communities, as is the case in this film, plants are used to help and to heal people with infinite value. I recommend watching this film as a creative and informative expression of innate value in the products of the Earth.

In the film, daughter Irma Poma follows the medicinal plant lessons of her mother, Angelica Canchumani, in the Central Valley of Peru. As an indigenous healer, Angelica feels connected to the plants in the surrounding forest and the healing properties that they possess. The documentary follows the lifestyle of Angelica as she serves the ill people in her indigenous community. By showing the great value in natural healers, the film is able to highlight the importance of interaction with medicinal plants.

The film begins with an interview of Angelica’s daughter, who describes the traditional knowledge of her mother as one of the most coveted treasures in this world. Irma explains that she is intentionally learning from mother because she realizes that the traditional act of healing is slowly becoming a dying practice in the cities. As Irma follows her mother through the forest behind their home, she translates from the native Quechua to Spanish in order to explain each property of the plants that Angelica isolates as medicinal. Many of the plants have healing properties for fear or spiritual heart conditions, which -- contrasting to many western cultures -- are viewed a serious illness. From the plants that they gather, the mother and daughter plant a garden in their backyard. They describe the growth of the medicine as a symbiotic process, where the plants need each other in close proximity in order to thrive. After a few months, once their plants are strong and full, Angelica performs a healing ritual on an eight year old girl who is stricken with fear. Through the use of tinctures from the plants the intestines of a sacrificial guinea pig, Angelica is able to understand the struggles of the child and saves her from the crippling fear. 

This documentary has the potential to be very influential to viewers curious about natural medicine. The mother and daughter protagonists of the film highlight on the power of knowledge within a community, where the females are the healers and sources of health. All of the plants that they describe are abundant and native to that area, showing innate value in their propagation and use, but also value in sustainable, local use of natural lifeforms. The film encourages the wildness of nature, the conservation of nature, and the spiritual connections with ourselves to the land.

The film can be found for free online via this weblink: http://www.cultureunplugged.com/play/7386/Healing-with-the-Herbs-of-Mother-Earth

What about hemp?

There is a terrible misconception in regards to the hemp plant. Although many believe it to be equivalent to the marijuana drug, hemp is as harmless of an herb as the basil sitting on the kitchen counter. In reality, hemp is a super-plant with multitudes of medicinal qualities and the ability to positively effect public perception and usage.


The main difference between hemp and marijuana is the concentration of THC within the plant. According to the Arizona Industrial Hemp Council, while marijuana is advertised and sold based on its chemical complexes of THC (at approximately 3%-20%), hemp in general contains less than 0.5% THC. This concentration is not enough to cause any normal psychoactive reaction in a human being. A standard dose would require smoking10-12 hemp cigarettes in a time span of just a few minutes. The rapid influx and high temperature of vapor, gas, and smoke "would almost be impossible for a person to withstand."

Hemp also contains chemical compounds unique to the plant that effectively block any sort of human reaction to the THC. Within the plant, another cannabinoid, known as CBD, inhibits normal uptake of THC, forming a natural distaste towards smoking the plant at all.

Historically, human beings have not been known to smoke hemp. In fact, the plant is mainly known for its medicinal and nutritional properties. Hemp did not become popular in North America until after the Second World War, when the fiber was seen as an amazing resource for the new industrial push. Hemp is currently valued as an industrial commodity, processed to create paper products, textiles, and clothing.

 More recently, the plant has been valued for its many nutritional uses such as in the form of seed, oil, milk, power bars, and pasta. Hemp is known as a "super-food" of the health food world, containing 24% protein in a serving and more essential fatty acids, such as omega-3 and omega-6 than any other seed. The high concentrations of beneficial amino acids such as arginine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, are unique to this plant and significantly elevate its medicinal value.

After historic and nutritional analysis of this plant, it is clear to see that public perception of the hemp plant is very skewed. A valuable solution to this environmental problem would be to reevaluate what is already known. Much of the time, common knowledge comes about by word of mouth and perseverance of social values. Such simple research can unveil truths otherwise ignored. With this, it would not only be more beneficial, but also more truthful to say that hemp is a medicinal wonder.

                                                                     

Resources:

http://azhemp.org/Archive/Package/Legal/legal.html

http://nimbinwave.com/facts/hemp-seed-nutrition

http://www.naturalnews.com/031334_hemp_seeds_nutrition.html

http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/ncnu02/v5-284.html

Introduction

There seems to be several lingering questions about the value of medicinal plants in our society. Throughout recent history and due to the monopoly on conventional medicine, these types of plants and their uses have been subjects of social and political controversy. Much of the time, these plants fail to be seen as medicine due to the major societal disconnect with nature itself. This blog is intended to answer questions, provide historical context, and offer solutions to viewing these plants in a positive light.  Each post will focus on a specific plant or property of that plant and will be explored within cultural, nutritional, environmental, and economic dimensions.

Medicinal plants are inherently special: a healthy and healing property of the Earth's ecosystem services. Through this perspective, this blog can provide insight into the value of the plants and the potentials of human use.


                                 

Basil Around the World

 

Basil is such a basic herb -- or at least that is what we have grown up thinking. It is the foundation for pesto and the key to making dazzling bruschetta, but its true value is in its medicinal properties.

The name of the plant -- "basil" -- is derived from the Greek word basilikohn, meaning royal. One serving of basil provides 60% of the daily need for Vitamin K (potassium) and facilitates a healthy calcium bond within human bones. It contains other essential nutrients such as iron, potassium, fiber, and manganese. All of these help support anti-bacterial processes, cardiovascular health, and anti-inflammatory calming. Many naturopaths suggest using basil to treat conditions such as influenza, diabetes, bronchitis, headaches, fever, stress, stomach ache, and the common cold. Basil acts as a super-plant, and this knowledge makes it all the more delicious.

                                                                                   

Basil grows around the world, exemplifying its ability to easily process and adapt to various climates. There are several different variations within the species, such as Thai Basil, Sweet Basil, and Holy Basil. In India, the Tulsi basil is known as a gift of hospitality, while in Italy the Sweet Basil is valued as a symbol of love. Holy Basil is advertised throughout health food stores as the healthiest herb around, relieving stress meanwhile healing heart and immune systems. With the ability to revitalize entire body systems and communities, basil is sadly undervalued and deserves more of our attention and communication.

This special herb is always a good medicine to have on hand as well as a beautiful addition to either the garden or a sunny kitchen counter.  It is one of the many examples of plants acting as a positive contributor to the ecosystem in multiple forms. The flowers of the basil attract bees and other insects, allowing for the spread of pollen and encouraging their livelihood, while the roots secure the soil in its place and the leaves provide for a liveable community and habitat. The basil plant is a wonder in the world of medicinal plants, and could quite possibly be one solution to the spread of happiness and calm throughout the world.

References:

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/266425.php

http://www.naturalstandard.com/news/news201101044.asp