Medicinal plants in the natural landscape

Question 1

What does the safe usage of plants that can provide medicine and food require?

Answer 1

• positive identification
• knowing how to prepare them for eating
• knowing any dangerous properties they might have
• familiarity of botanical structures is vital

Question 2

What is birthwort used for in traditionl medicine? In what countries?

Answer 2

• to treat arthritis and ease childbirth

- China, and Ancient Greece before that

Question 3

What is the name of the compound that was isolated by IDR researchers from Quassia amara (a small red flower native to central and south America, and had anti-malaria activity in test tubes and in animal studies?

Answer 3

Simalikalactone E (SkE)

Question 4

What was the Himalayan mayapple (Podophyllun hexandrum) the original source of?

Answer 4

Etoposide (a powerful anticancer compound)

- has been in the market in the US since 1983

Question 5

What is vital for proper functional communities that support each other?

Answer 5

• Careful selection and placement of plant species

Question 6

What is the goal of a therapeutic forest?

Answer 6

People’s spiritual needs are met. The mimicry of natural forest systems is important

Question 7

What are examples of soil building species?

Answer 7

legumes (clovers, alfalfa, lupins, berries)

Question 8

What are some dynamic accumulators?

Answer 8

dandelion, yarrow, comfrey, linden trees and others known to accumulate sub-soil nutrients

Question 9

What is the purpose of aromatic species in therapeutic and edible forest gardens?

Answer 9

to confound pests

Question 10

What is the purpose of nurse plants?

Answer 10

to grow up quickly to shelter young/ vulnerable species

Question 11

What species lacks scents to attract insects, and the digestive acids used to dissolve insects is reduced in the elongate pitcher (this space allowing for mothers and juveniles to stay together for several weeks)?

Answer 11

Nepenthes hemsleyana

Question 12

What are Agrimony? Where are they native to?

Answer 12

upright perennials/ spikes of yellow flowers/ up to 60cm native to Europe, introduced to North America

Question 13

What is the medicinal use of Agrimony?

Answer 13

stops bleeding of all sorts, helps relieve pain as a wound herb (“ tightens and tones tissues/ also relaxes tension, both physical and mental”)

Question 14

What is the distribution of birch?

Answer 14

B. pendula is native to northern temerate regions of Eurasia, B. papyrifera is native to North America

Question 15

What are the medicinal used of birch?

Answer 15

mainly works on the urinary system to remove waste products

Question 16

What is the distribution of cherry (Prunus avium)?

Answer 16

Native to Europe/ British Isles, introduced to North America

Question 17

What is the medicinal use of cherry (Prunus avium)?

Answer 17

good for gout or arthritis. Fruit stalks and inner bark used for treating coughs, sore throats and brinchitis

Question 18

What is the distribution of chickweed (Stellaria media)?

Answer 18

native to Europe and Asia, now found as a weed in North America

Question 19

What are the medicinal uses of chickweed?

Answer 19

soothing, nutritious and cooling herb, with a reputation for clearing stubborn, long-lasting conditions. Special affinities for the eyes, lungs and chest

Question 20

What is the distribution of raspberries?

Answer 20

Britain and northern Europe, up to the Arctic circle and in much of Asia and North America

Question 21

What is the medicinal use of raspberries?

Answer 21

fruits/ antioxidants, leaves and bark used to make tea to treat diarrhea

Question 22

What is mullein and what is its distribution?

Answer 22

• a biennial plan that grows in the first year as a rosette of downy leaves and sending up a tall spike with yellow flowers in their second summer
• native to Europe, northern Africa and Asia, naturalised in North America

Question 23

What are the medicinal uses of mullein?

Answer 23

the flowers, infused in oil are a remedy for earache and other nerve pain/ leaves and flowers make a tea to relieve dry irritable coughs/ has an affinity for the spine and helps in setting bones

Question 24

What is red clover and what is its distribution?

Answer 24

• a herbacious, short-lived perennial plant with purplish-red flowers and a single pale chevron on the leaves
• native to Europe and naturalised in North America

Question 25

What are the medicinal uses of red clover?

Answer 25

flower heads with upper leaves, collected in early summer are used for chronic constipation, skin complaints and bronchitis. Has been included in many anti-cancer formulae and helps balance hormone levels during menopause (relieves hot flashes)

Question 26

What is St.John’s wort and what is its distribution?

Answer 26

• a yellow-flowering perennial herb with extensive creeping rhizomes (if soil conditions stay the same, they stay there, if they change then they will die)
• Native to Europe and naturalised in North America

Question 27

What are the medicinal uses of St. John’s wort?

Answer 27

flowers and leaves used for treating depression and anxiety. it strengthens the nervous system and digestion, protects the liver, is antiviral and reduces pain

Question 28

What is the distribution of wild-rose and what are its medicinal values?

Answer 28

• native to central North America

- flowers used to emilinate kidney/gall stones. antiseptic

Question 29

What is the distribution of willow and what are its medicinal uses?

Answer 29

• mainly Europe and North America
• bark contains salicin and asprin-like compounds/ used to treat pain and inflammation, helps to lower fevers, can be used as a gentle pain reliever for headaches, arthritis, gout, rheumatism, muscle aches and lower back pain. honey is good for general health

Question 30

What is the distribution of golden rod and what are its medicinal uses?

Answer 30

• mainly in North America
• roots used in treatments of burns, tea from flowers used to treat fevers and snake bites and leaf extracts are diuretic and antispasmodic

Question 31

What is the organic compound found in magnolia and its medicinal use that has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for 5,000 years?

Answer 31

Magnolol - an organic compound that is classified as lignin; a kind of polyphenols/ anticancer potential of magnolol for lung cancer treatment