Many prescriptions today are derived from plants that have been cultivated for centuries because of the medicine they contain.
To early settlers, God and His divine creations held all the answers for mankind.
If one would listen, Nature had cures for any ill.
Even without modern medicine, they had an advantage when using Nature as medicinethe keen power of observation.
Many of the medicinal properties attributed to wild plants were gleaned from simply observing their effects.
Some wild plants had general medicinal properties such as blood purifiers or liver tonics.
to know how to use a plant, folk medicine looked to God.
A belief first published by German mystic Jakob Boehme, became the basis for use of medicinal wild plants.
A plant with large toothed-leaves like toothwort became a folk remedy for toothaches.
Boehme provided numerous examples of plants resembling human and animal features.
Modern Use of Medicinal Plants
Today, use of medicinal plants is big business.
Many take herbal supplements for a variety of reasons from depression to weight loss to menopausal issues.
Then as today, the value of wild plants and their medicinal properties is still respected and practiced.
The difference today is scientific study and federal regulation.
The question remains if the claims of these medicinal properties are true.
Rainforests alone provide the basis for over25 percent of Western drugs and supplements.
However, some folk medicine cures also have potential use that science bears out.
More common examples exist as well.
Science has confirmed many folk remedies of purple coneflower or Echinacea.
Salicyclic acid derived from willow bark is a precursor for formulation of aspirin.
Of course, not all uses for medicinal plants have been proven.
As one noted botanist once said, All plants are edible once.
Always use caution when investigating uses of medicinal wild plants.
If in doubt, consult a doctor or a pharmacist.
There is often confusion between the differences between these various practices of plant medicine.
Common Annuals and Perennials
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Some anecdotal reports also suggest garlic is able to lower blood pressure and act as an antioxidant.
Milk thistle (Silybum marianum)
It increases liver function.
It has been used in Europe as an antidote to liver toxicity from mushrooms or alcohol.
It can also be effective against hepatitis and may help to lower cholesterol.
Poppy (Papaver somniferum)
It is grown as an ornamental in practically any climate.
It is a reseeding annual and will survive in areas of extreme climate changes and poor soil conditions.
This resulting material is rich in the analgesic morphine.
Cannabis is able to control glaucoma, neuropathic pain, severe nausea and clinical depression.
Cannabis is a reseeding annual which grows similar to other invasive weeds, hence the nickname.
Violets are the traditional token of love.
Violets have powerful perfumery qualities and the fresh Violet flowers and leaves are used to make absolute perfume material.
Coriander is an aromatic, annual herb; it only grows up to three feet in height.
It is a hairless plant with umbels of delicate white or pink flowers which blossom through June and July.
Coriander also produces seeds which turn from green to brown and earns the plant the synonym coriander seed.
Valerian roots are commonly above ground.
Valerian is a native of Europe and some parts of Asia; it is now naturalized in North America.
For medicinal use, the flowers should be cut back so that the roots absorb all the energy.
In homeopathy, common foxglove is also used for depression, migraine and insomnia.
However, it is extremely important to take note of the following cautions when using common foxglove medicinally.
One pets a patch of yarrow leaves just for the gentle pleasure of its touch.
Some herbalists use yellow yarrow, but most stick to the white.
Energetically, yarrow is known as a protective plant.
Famously, yarrow stalks were used to throw the I Ching in ancient China.
Common Trees
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Willow (Salix spp.)
Willow is a species of deciduous trees and shrubs which contain salicylic acid, the active ingredient in aspirin.
Mimosa (Mimosa tenuiflora)
Mimosa is an effective treatment for a variety of emergency skin injuries.
It initially produces analgesic properties which last for a few hours.
In a 1997 report titled Pharmochemistry of New Compounds from South American Plants, Anton, et al.
In most cases injuries to the skin were fully healed in weeks.
Cinchona bark, (Cinchona spp.)
It is the major source of quinine which at one time was the only treatment against malaria.
Bolivians had been using the bark traditionally for generations but was first discovered by Europeans during the 17th century.
It took almost two hundred years after the health effects were discovered to isolate the active ingredient, quinine.
Throughout this time, enormous sums were paid for treatment.
These are just a few of the many plants that contain substances used in medicine.
Chemical compounds vary from plant to plant even within species, and identification can be tricky.
Always consult your doctor before taking any new medicine.
