On the 12th Day of Christmas My True Love Sent to Me….Counting Down the Eco-Wellness ABC’S of Medicinal Rainforest Plants!

BACKGROUND FACTS:

-Rainforests make up less than 2% of the earth’s surface and 6% of its land mass yet contain 50% of the total world’s animals and plant species
-Rainforests exist on every continent except Antarctica – some are temperate – some are tropical
-Rainforests help to regulate both global temperatures and weather patterns as well as the water levels of rivers whilst maintaining the supply of fresh drinking water around the world
-Rainforests supply 20% of the Earth’s oxygen
-Rainforests are also a major source of new medicines. The total number of medicines derived from rainforest plants is over 7000 which is about 25% of the total usage of medicines used by people worldwide
-At present less than 1 % of rainforest plants have been tested for their medicinal properties
-Of these, over 2000 tropical rainforest plants have potential anti-cancer fighting properties
-Currently, 40% of all pharmaceuticals used in the USA are derived from rainforest resources

Now let us test your eco-wellness knowledge of today’s medicinal Rainforest Plants – Here are but a few examples:

ANNATTO TREE – OIL EXTRACT USED EXTERNALLY TO PREVENT UV RAY BURNS AND REPEL INSECTS AND USED INTERNALLY TO TREAT HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE

ARAROBA TREE – POWDER EXTRACT USED EXTERNALLY TO TREAT PSORIASIS AND CHRONIC ECZEMA

CINCHONA/QUINA TREE – BARK EXTRACT IS USED AS A POTENT ANTI-MALARIAL AGENT KNOWN AS QUININE

CLAVILLIA HERB – USED TO TREAT INFECTIONS CAUSED BY VIRUSES, BACTERIA, FUNGI AND PARASITES

COCOA TREE – ALL PARTS OF THE TREE ARE USED TO TREAT ANXIETY, FATIGUE, FEVER, COUGHS, KIDNEY STONES, AND EXTERNAL CUTS AND BRUISES

CURARE LIANAS VINE – USED AS AN ANESTHETIC AGENT AND TO TREAT BRUISES, FEVER, EDEMA AND KIDNEY STONES

LEMONGRASS – ANTIBACTERIAL AND ANTIFUNGAL AGENT USED TO TREAT FEVERS, COLDS, AND COUGHS

MADAGASCAR PERIWINKLE – ANTI-CANCER PROPERTIES USED TO TREAT LEUKEMIA AND HODGKIN’S DISEASE

MAMMOSA – USED TO TREAT SINUS INFECTIONS AND LESIONS CAUSED BY VARIOUS SKIN CANCERS

PACIFIC BLEEDING HEART – ROOT EXTRACTS KNOWN AS TINCTURE IS USED TO TREAT EXTERNAL BRUISES AND SPRAINS AND INTERNALLY TO SOOTH DAMAGED NERVES

SAW PALMETTO BERRIES – USED TO TREAT CERTAIN URINARY PROBLEMS

SOROSI VINE – USED EXTERNALLY TO TREAT TICKS OR LICE ON THE SKIN AND INTERNALLY TO TREAT PAIFUL MENSTRUATION AND DYSENTERY

TRUMPET TREE – ALL PARTS OF THE TREE ARE USED TO TREAT RESPIRATORY ILLNESSES AND RHEUMATISM

WILD YAMS – TUBER EXTRACTS USED IN BIRTH CONTROL PILLS

In conclusion, as we celebrate this holiday season with tasty chocolate treats – remember its source and its medicinal properties. HAPPY ECO-WELLNESS HOLIDAYS!