Natural Remedies Flashcards
Salicin
Acts like aspirin, good for pain relief, gout and osteoarthritis
Comes from Bark of white willow
Widespread on river banks
Warm and humid environment
Native to Europe and west/Central Asia
Survives in pH 5.5- 8.0
6- 18 C and precipitation of 500- 800mm
Quinine
Kills malarial parasites in red blood cells
Dried bark of cinchonas evergreen tree
Tropical Andean forests of western South America
Cool, humid mountainous conditions at elevations of 1200-3000m
Soils with abundant organic matter and good moisture- holding capacity + pH 5.5- 6.5
No frost
Colchicine
Used in treatment of cancer and gout
Autumn crocus
Warm Mediterranean climate
Native to woodland and alpine tundra in central and southern Europe, North America and Middle East
Deep- well drained soils needed with pH 6.5 and good moisture retention
Temperatures 10- 22C
Precipitation 350- 700mm
What is opium
It is latex produced in the seed pods of the opium poppy
Scientific name- papaver somniferum
Composition of opium
Alkaloids contain basic nitrogen and known as opiates that include morphine, codeine and thebaine. All but thebaine are used as analgesics for pain relief without loss of consciousness
Somniferum is sleep- bringing referring to sedative properties of the plant
How opium is produced
Seedpod is cut with a multi- bladed tool, then opium ‘gum’ ooze out then the semi dried gum is harvested with a curved spatula and then dried in wooden boxes. Then opium resin is rolled into balls for sale
Use of Morphine from opium poppy
It is an alkaloid in opium poppy.
Raw opium contains 8- 14% morphine
It may be used directly or chemically modified to produce synthetic opioids such as heroin
Growing conditions of opium poppy
Dry warm climates
Vast majority grows in a narrow 4,500 mile stretch of mountains across Central Asia from turkey through Pakistan and Burma
Native to southeast Europe and Western Asia
Best temperature 30- 38C
Long day photo responsive plant, so a lot of sunlight needed
Precipitation 150- 300mm per year
Can grow in a variety of soils eg clay and sandy loam but best soil is sandy loam soil
PH 6- 7.5
Where opium is produced legally
India
Turkey
Australia
How much opium is produced annually
2000 tons
Opium production in Australia
Generates $120m annually
Only Tasmania produces opium
49% of world’s legal supply
Where is opium grown illegally
Burma
Afghanistan
Colombia
Opium production in Afghanistan
In 2010 groups in Afghanistan produced 90% of the worlds illegal opium using clandestine labs hidden in the country’s topography
2016 area under opium poppy cultivation in Afghanistan increased by 10% which increased production from 3,300 to 4,800 tonnes
2 most significant modern day medical uses of the opium poppy
Morphine- extracted from opium resin. Most effective in relief of severe pain, particularly pain which is associated with cancer- related pain symptoms. Acts as a standard against which pain killers are measured
Codeine- extracted from opium, prescribed as relief of moderate pain and cough suppression. Psychoactive and habit forming
Top consumers of morphine
Austria
Canada
Denmark
USA
How illegal trade can be stoped
Reduction of rural poverty through sustainable natural resource management eg nuts and fruits will bring a lot of profit to farmers
However, farmers who have switched to traditional crops say that prices have fallen
legalise opium production for medical purposes (will also eliminate shortage of painkillers in developing countries)
However, corruption and increase in illicit opium production. There’s surplus of legal opium + price on legal opium is three limes lower than on illicit opium
Destruction of opium crops.
Taliban gets more than $100 million from taxing opium farmers. 2012 poppy eradication campaign- 102 afghan solders and civilians dies from attacks by drug traffickers and Taliban insurgents. Takes away incomes
How many households are dependent on production of growing illicit drug crops
191,500 rural households depend on the growing of illicit drug crops. But only 30% had received some form of agricultural assistance (seeds, fertilisers and irrigation) according to UNODC
Strategies to reduce opium consumption
Educating youth. Longer initiation into drug can be delayed, less likely to begin of if it does, wont become an addiction
Media campaigns are not effective. Highlight side effects of using drugs and specific practices such as injecting drugs. Drugs are glamorised eg heroine chic
Treatment and rehabilitation- counselling, guidance, motivation, social integration.
Criminalisation of opium abuse. From 1920 many ACs criminalised production, trade, possession and sale of drugs. However it just increased underground economy
How many drugs have components which are coming from nature
50% of prescription drugs are based on a molecule that naturally occurs in plants
Estimated worth of internal trade in medicinal plants
$60 billion per year
How many people in developing world rely on traditional medicines + china
80%
Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) 30- 50% of total medicine consumption in China, 90% in rural areas
Ratio of traditional healers to population and ration of doctors to population in sub- Saharan Africa
Ratio of traditional healers to the population ratio 1:500
Medical doctors to population ratio 1:40,000
Harvest of medicinal and aromatic plants in Nepal
20,000 tons worth $18- 20 million are traded every year
90% are harvested in uncontrolled fashion which can lead to extinction of several species
How over- harvesting affects genetic diversity
Erosion of genetic diversity occurs due to over- harvesting—> reduce population size—> extinction
Which plants are the most vulnerable due to over- harvesting
Slow- growing
How many plants are threatened and endangered due to over- harvesting
4000 plants species are threatened and 14 are listed as endangered by the CITES, these plants include yew which contain taxol (anti- cancer drug)
