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The search for herbal cures in the plant world is full of successes. Seemingly ordinary plants or common kitchen vegetables turn out to be herbal medicines. We humans are so lucky to have been blessed with a nurturing flora.
The plant world is older than mankind and for millennia of existence, some plants have evolved to become medicinal or to contain chemicals that are of healing value to the various diseases of humans. In the 1980’s, scientists have discovered that papain, a substance in the papaya plant, aids digestion and helps to heal infected wounds. Many plants have been used to strengthen the action of the heart. Squill (the Mediterranean sea onion), lily of the valley, oleander, and the strophanthus vine have been found to contain chemicals that help the heart. A substance in asparagus strengthens blood vessels. But one plant, the foxglove, used widely in Europe for centuries, has unusual value in strengthening the heart muscles. The active chemical, called digitalin, is one of the most valuable heart remedies known today. The foxglove plant is still widely grown in gardens for its tall spikes and bell-like flowers. Long before scientific medicine had drugs to relieve pain or to anesthetize (block off feelings in) patients during operations, people had found pain-killers in the roots,l eaves, and berries of certain plants. In Asia people used the poppy, from which opium was obtained. In South America, the Incas grew the coca from which cocoa and chocolate come). Coca leaves contain cocaine. Cocaine was found useful as anesthetic in dentistry and for eye operations. Today, Novocain, a synthetic drug, is used instead. It is cheaper than cocaine, and it is not habit-forming. Curare comes from a tropical climbing plant used by South American Indians. It was introduced into surgery in the 1930’s to relax stomach and instestinal muscles. It is still used to relax the muscle of polio victims who are trying to regain the use of their arms and legs. Hemlock contains a chemical that quiets unwanted muscular actions, such as spasms and convulsions. Belladonna was known among ancient Romans and now doctors use it in relaxing spasms in nervous stomachs. Atropine, a chemical extracted from belladonna us used in eye examinations to dilate the pupils. Another source of atropine is the jimsonweed. Before Europeans discovered America, Indian tribes of Arizona and Mexico smoked the leaves of the jimsonweed to relieve asthma. A chemical found in jimsonweed is used to relieve sea-sickness and air-sickness. Strychnos tree, well-known in India, is now used by doctors to stimulate the nervous system and the heart. Other plants are being tested to see if they will kill harmful germs. Scientists have found that the juices from buttercups, garlic, burdock, onions, lettuce, celery, and many other plants will kill common germs. The search for medicinal plants has been richly rewarding. But it must continue. Scientists need to study all the old herbals and the folklore of peoples from all over the world. Legendary cures must be tested to see if they really have healing powers. When a test seems to show a plant has such powers, scientists must look for the active healing chemical. Finally, there is the task of making the chemicals synthetically, so that supplies may be readily available for all people who need them.
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