Medicine Plants

 

South Africa has over 3oooo species of plants in its biodiversity and about 3ooo of them get used as medicinal plants and about 350 of them get used in daily life of many indigenous people.

Those plants were once a primary source of medicine to provide humanity with remedies and are still used in 50% of all drugs as clinical pharmacy throughout the world.

Well know plants in clinical use are quinine, morphine, codeine, aspirin, atropine, reserpine and cocaine, other plant medicine derive from taxol or vincrine that have been developed.

South Africa’s contributions to the world are famous Cape Aloes, Buchu and Devils claw, which are growing wildly and are used in traditional medicine and often seen on the streets, sold by Rastaman or Sangomas.

The philosophy behind those plants is that they are coming from the future to help today for tomorrow and not from the past.

I would like to introduce the most common once with the benefits and medicinal properties.

 

Deadly Nightshade                                                               

The Healing properties of Deadly Nightshade or Atropa belladonna are to ease abdominal problems and motion sickness. It has been used as a medication since ancient times for heart issues and Parkinson; its extracted alkaloids are used as skin patches. It is highly poisonous and should not be taken eaten.

It is used to relax muscles and can be used to relieve cramps, spasms, and other gastrointestinal issues, including irritable bowel syndrome making it useful in treating conditions like Parkinson's disease.

It is used as an antidote of mushroom or chemical poisoning.Due to its toxicity, belladonna should only be used when one knows exactly what one does or did enough research about it.

In the past, belladonna was also used cosmetically by women to dilate their pupils, which was believed to make them look more attractive.

 

Quinine tree   

The "quinine tree," is known as the Cinchona tree, is a source of quinine, a key ingredient in anti-malarial drugs. 

Quinine, derived from the bark, has been used for centuries to treat malaria and has also shown potential for treating other conditions like muscle cramps and certain heart irregularities and some neurological disorders.

Anti-inflammatory and pain reliever and is known as cardio depressant activity being used for its anti-arrhythmic properties. While the "quinine tree" is often traditional used for treating coughs, diarrhea, it has been used as well to treat malaria and fever. Quinine can cause side effects, including nausea, vomiting, and headache when taken to much, people use cinchona for cancer, hemorrhoids, malaria, muscle cramps, varicose veins, and many other conditions.

Poppy seed        

Opium is the air dried latex obtained by cutting the unripe fruit capsule of the Opium poppy and as alkaloid turned into codeine.

The world consumption of opium for medicinal purpose only, is over 200 tons per year. Morphine treats all pain issues and is been used as cough syrup. Opium has ancient tradition since the Romans and Creeks used to induce sleep and to give relief to pain. Opium was even thought to protect the user from being poisoned. Its pleasurable effects were also noted. Opium tincture is used to treat diarrhea. It belongs to the group of medicines called narcotics. When narcotic’s is used for a long time, it becomes a habit-forming, causing mental or physical dependence. Heroin binds to receptors in the brain and produces feelings of euphoria. Its structure mimics that of a natural neurotransmitter and taps into the brain’s communication system, interfering with the nerve cells that send, receive, and process information.

Yew tree 

Traditional healers use the bark, branch tips, and needles to make medicine. Yew tree is used for treating diphtheria, tapeworms, swollen tonsils, epilepsy, muscle and joint pain or rheumatism, urinary tract conditions, and liver issues. For females it is used for starting menstruation and causing abortions. The berry flesh is used by herbalists to treat a variety of ailments including cystitis, headache and neuralgia. In more recent times scientists have discovered that extracts of yew have anti-cancer properties. Pharmaceutical companies make Taxol, a prescription drug for the treatment of breast and ovarian cancer, from the bark of the yew tree.

Taxol inhibits mitosis in cells, which keeps cancer cells from multiplying. It's now the drug of choice for some breast cancers, ovarian and lung cancer. The Christians called it the tree of life which the Druids held sacred even in pre-Christian times. They no doubt observed the tree’s qualities of longevity and regeneration. Drooping branches of old yew trees can root and form new trunks where they touch the ground. Thus the yew came to symbolizes death and resurrection in Celtic culture and the yew wood is known as the material from which longbows were made, Archers used these hard woods to its devastating effect.

Aloe Vera  

Aloe Vera is a very versatile plant with many uses, including soothing burns and wounds, reducing inflammation, improving skin issues and helps with digestion. It's also used for constipation relief and helps to manage blood sugar levels. Aloe Vera gel is well-known for its ability to soothe burns and wounds, potentially accelerating healing. It helps to relieve itching and inflammation associated with various skin conditions like eczema due to its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. Aloe Vera juice can act as a natural laxative and help relieve constipation and promotes healthy digestion, reduce bloating, improve gut health and helps lower blood sugar levels in people with diabetes.

Aloe Vera is used as beauty product as soap, shampoo and in health drinks that have with antioxidant and antibacterial properties. Aloe Vera benefits can include reducing dental plaque, accelerating wound healing, improving skin barrier function, and managing blood sugar.

 

Bitter Amara

All parts of the plant can be used in combination to restore the appetite, stimulate digestion and combat fevers, including malaria. A tea made from the infused leaves is used to bathe the skin of measles patients. It is also used as a mouthwash after tooth extractions.

The bitter texture of the plant is called Quassimarin. This has a range of medical properties including anti-leukemia, anti-tumor, astringent, digestive, febrifuge and laxative tonic. 

Quassimarin has been shown to stimulate the secretion of gastric juices, increase the appetite and aid digestion. It has been used successfully in the treatment of anorexia nervosa and is also used in the treatment of malaria and various fevers. A decoction of the bark is used as a blood purifier and used in remedies for treating diseases of the spleen, liver (cirrhosis), and urinary tract.  A decoction of the wood is used in lotions as a wash for persistent venereal ulcers and as a wash to rid the skin of external parasites such as agouti lice and as a treatment for measles and smallpox.

In the late middle ages it was used as an easily obtainable home remedy for cramps and inflammations, usually in the form of a tonic. Today the medicinal plant is used as part for symptoms of the gastrointestinal tract: These include not only bloating or abdominal cramps, but also feeling of fullness or nausea.

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