Medicinal Plants Face Extinction

re: Medicinal Plants Face Extinction

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re: Medicinal Plants Face Extinction

Zy — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 20:31:07 GMT

The herbs being wiped out are the slower growing wild perennials that are harvested for their roots (such as ginseng, licorice, sarsaparilla, marshmallow, osha, kava, bupleurum, wild indigo) and/or bark (such as pygeum, elecampane, cat's claw, Pau d'Arco, slippery elm); especially in very poor countries. They have difficulty recovering from such repeated stress.

Anyone who disagrees must either be ignorant of the facts or must be in denial for some reason(s).

re: Medicinal Plants Face Extinction

Tabs — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 11:56:59 GMT

I find it amazing that nobody has pointed out that we live in a web. Wherever a thread is pulled or broken, everything is affected. The dodo is long gone and now it seems some of the flora is disappearing too. They ate the fruit of some very long lived trees, but they are not being replaced because the dodos are no longer eating their fruit. What plants or animals rely on these trees? In Australia we have native bees, hundreds of different species. Different species pollinated different plants, but when European bees were introduced mass hybridization started to occur, they compete for the resources of the less aggressive Australian species, and who do you think wins out? Nobody mentions the fact that all plants are symbiotic with fungi (which are not plants or animals) bacteria, viruses and other microscopic organisms. Who's collecting these? Isn't it better to be care takers for what we have in all its magnificent complexity and we should all guard these treasures,directly or indirectly, city or country?

As for those who are critical of Dr M, he is a little commercial, but how else is he to subsidize your views on this site?

re: Medicinal Plants Face Extinction

Dr Rik — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 23:58:37 GMT

Population pressure creates constraints;

There was a movement to do ecologically appropriate landscaping on whatever property you own or control.

The tradition is a tree, a lawn, and a row of flowers.

This proposed using the local Universities with the local Nurseries to landscape with local species. Even in an urban area, much of the ecosystem is preserved. In Arizona, everyone goes desert, in Hawaii, go with the local jungle species (no bamboo). This actually has gotten some traction with a lot of people. There are entire communities in Washington that the elk just run freely through.

BUT, it's sad how many people insist that lawn and garden look just like the one in the magazine.

re: Medicinal Plants Face Extinction

ShivaShankaranverizon — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 17:02:09 GMT

"It’s important to remember, though, that while herbs can often be helpful, and typically are not harmful (especially compared to prescription drugs), they are still frequently only addressing your health challenges on a superficial level -- and it is uncommon for them to effectively treat the cause of your health challenge."

This is a profound mistake. Generally, it is the pharmaceutical form that addresses only the symptoms.

It is the whole herb in its natural form that addresses the cause of disease by effecting the underlying

physiological issues. The above belief may be the last sacred cow of the pharmaceutical companies

to die; though if they could only kill off all the plants beforehand...

Shiva

re: Medicinal Plants Face Extinction

itsonlyme — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 11:52:57 GMT

making this earth a better place to live by preserving the many plant options for healing that GOD created is very important, and one good way we can help make quality of life viable. I think refusing to spend money in the hundreds of pharmacies cropping up everywhere is another way. We now have more of them than we do grocery stores, they are the new religion, one on every corner. Another way is to respect life of all ages...unborn, old, physically, and mentally challenged, everyone has a contribution to make, even if its just that they are there to be cared for, and bring out our GOD given love, compassion and kindness making us better people along the way. I am very concerned about the USA with regards to its morality, overun with greed, and drugs, both legal, and illegal and the poor choices we have for paying presidential candidates [no more Lincolns will every be elected in this country], none that are among frontrunners have any morals or decency. I also see that they promote a climate for more control over us in every area, making sure we will have money for medical care, so that the herd will be able to buy drugs, and visit approved, government educated, medical "professionals" and "experts"who can manage all the conditions they created for them, and help them suffer from.I almost feel that what I used to think is no longer true....that its nice to live a long life, as long as you are healthy and can enjoy it...but who wants to live without freedom? I am afraid we will be forced to eat the poison food, and drink the poison water, take the poison drugs for our own good, and become property of the state...:(

re: Medicinal Plants Face Extinction

Planet Science — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 05:49:17 GMT

3. Yes, the big pharma/chemical/weapons making companies have been scouting the planet for plants containing potentially patentable chemicals of medicinal value. Yes, they have been removing plant matter both legally and illegally for decades, often deceiptfully consulting with indigenous communities to find out which of those plants are used for medicinal purposes. (For interesting cases of where the indigenous communities have successfully (?) fought back re intellectual property rights, check out cases in Western Australia). A lot of money has been spent, not because they are certain of a return, but because they are certain that if they don't, they will lose the opportunity for a financial gain if the genes are lost from the planet.

4. Yes, the Rothschilds are most likely funding such schemes, but given that they have typically made their greatest fortunes from disputes that they have started and then supplied both sides with the wherwithall to spend the people's money to maintain the dispute, be careful how you react. The best defense against the private accumulation of the wealth of knowledge and resources in relation to the natural world is to keep the information in the PUBLIC DOMAIN, which means making keeping publicly funded tertiary education available to everyone (and making sure everyone has the access to the education needed to get that far should they choose).Demand Publicly funded research, so that the information cannot be hidden from you or used to exploit you.

5. Yes, your food is your most important source of medicinal plant material. Choose well when you buy, support your local growers, demand safe food, eat produce that is in season, become informed - don't get sucked into the arguments that polarise people who essentially want the same things, look for comprehensive solutions to problems that involve urban management, water management, waste management, energy management - and get informed and grow what you can at home, you'll love it.

re: Medicinal Plants Face Extinction

Planet Science — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 05:27:25 GMT

1. There are already seven seed banks around the world (eg the centre for legumes is in Perth, Western Australia) with extensive and ever increasing stores of genetic material, particularly the major food plant species. These are not privately owned, and the material is there to (hopefully) retain biodiversity of these impoertant food species. They are necessary because the world is being covered by urban sprawls, and other exploitation of habitat (be clear, overpopulation is still THE number one issue for survival of the species and the REST of the planet). Genes of particular benefit (eg increased yield, disease resistance, drought or salt tolerance) are usually bred into existing commercial lines using traditional methods (boy bits meet girl bits etc) but increasingly by gene technology that can skip many generations of breeding without the compromise of inclusion of unwanted other genes. Still in its infancy (maybe early childhood) this technology provides us with the opportunity to continue to enjoy some of the fooods we love that are currently under threat (bananas, coffee, chocolate to name a few of my essentials!).

2. Most of our modern medicines have been derived, at least originally, from plants. Many are now synthesised, and new more effective versions produced in laboratories, but without the original from the plant, it wouldn't have happened. Maintenance of biodiversity is important, for many more reasons than just making medicine for the plague species (I also happen to think we're rather special and clever enough to come up with REAL solutions to our problems). We must accept that it is up to each and every one of us in the environment in which we live, in the environments from which our products and services come from, that biodiversity is preserved IN THE PUBLIC DOMAIN, for all. Don't blame someone else for environmental destruction if you live in a city, if where your house stands there used to be species that are now endangered or extinct!

re: Medicinal Plants Face Extinction

Barbara Charis — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 03:10:23 GMT

Dr. Mercola was right! When an illness arrises...ask what you are doing wrong? What caused the problem? The wrong food is usually the culprit in most cases. 95% of mankind's health problems stem from eating wrong. Each person is unique and needs to find, which foods are bio-chemically right for his or her system.

Every problem I have faced...I have overcome by simply eliminating the food or foods which have caused it...arthritis, cancer,migraines, obesity, etc. I don't run to a doctor and ask for a panacea.

I am not into religion, but I do believe in a Higher Power...and ask for guidance. Prayer has worked for me, every time.

re: Medicinal Plants Face Extinction

randor — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 02:46:05 GMT

Time to embrace Homeopathy. You can treat the entire planet with a single ounce of the substance. This would also save us from the destruction of endagered animals like tigers to harvest their penis or rhinos to harvest their horns so horny old Chinese dowagers can get a stiffy.

re: Medicinal Plants Face Extinction

curious7 — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 02:12:32 GMT

This is the reason why we need to make sure we do all we can to be healthy. It is no accident medicinal plants are being destroyed, "Big Pharma" wants to make more money regardless of how they do it. I wonder how we as common people are helping in this?

re: Medicinal Plants Face Extinction

Fenderman — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 00:13:08 GMT

"Behold! I give you all seed bearing herbs!".....Genesis

re: Medicinal Plants Face Extinction

Ien in the Kootenays — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 18:54:38 GMT

I agree that herbs ought to be used in conjunction with a whole foods good diet.

And indeed, not all Nature is benevolent. The poison did killed Socrates was all

natural, organically grown and free of preservatives.

With that out of the way, there are organizations that use the market power of exotic

herbs to preserve the environment, not deplete it. The Peruvian gorvernment for

instance keeps a sharp eye out for Una de Gato,(Uncaria Tomentosa), and requires

permits for export. A vine will grow back in about 4 years if enough of it is left.

The following refers to a company I do business with, so if that is against your principles

you can stop reading now.

Companies like Amazon Herb Company are working actively with indigenous communities

to preserve the forest and make sure harvesting is done sustainably. In some cases plantations

are started, for instance for Graviola and Camu Camu trees.

For third party endorsement, Mike Adams has some nice articles on this company at his website,

More here: http://wildhealing.net

re: Medicinal Plants Face Extinction

BEaHealthy — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 18:25:01 GMT

I've been an avid reader,proponent and customer of Mercola for several years now. I've often wondered why he doesn't include herbal therapies when addressing alternatives for many chronic problems. I now have the idea that its because he knows very little about real clinical herbalism. Let me remind the good doctor that this type of medicine was the ONLY type of medicine before the first 1/4 of the 20th century. After that the drug companies infested the rank and file and relegated true herbal medicine to the fringes.

I can tell you that as a professional clinical herbalist, I see mostly see people who have been through the mill of what modern medicine has become and come to me in their desperation to try something else. Using sophisticated combinations of herbs (mostly chinese formulae), diet modifications and qigong, I have been able to attain results that not only resolve the chronic problem, but also other "stuff" that the client had become resigned to live with.

So please, Dr. Mercola, with all due respect--be carefull about being so dismissive of something of which you obviously have had little experience. I guarantee that many of your following are themselves closet herbalists and happy to have someone like you on their side.

re: Medicinal Plants Face Extinction

sully — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 17:15:36 GMT

Why do people who disagree with Mercola usually get negative points????