Did you know, pharmacy companies around the world are always looking to plants as medicine?
Plants, a major kingdom of life, have evolved molecules for their benefit. We humans may also benefit from plants’ abilities to transform sun and water to make unique compounds for our needs and wants.
According to Texas Parks and Wildlife, about 25 % of many prescription drugs are from plants. And, many of those plants are found right here in Texas, some outside your door.
From cancer to heart disease, plant’s powers are included into those drugs. Many early humans discovered beneficial elements of plants. As global pharmacies continue to evolve, plants may save lives.
CAUTION: NEVER EAT OR DRINK ANYTHING FROM ANY UNKNOWN PLANT, AS YOU MAY BECOME DEATHLY ILL!!
Beauty Berry (Callicarpa americana)
This native Texan was used by Native Americans to make a tea treating joint pain.
Yaupon Holly (Illex vomitoria)
The species name: vomitoria may give you a clue. A thick tea brewed from leaves and berries made you throw up. Vomiting, may be useful if you ate or drank something you were warned against. Also, the female plant’s leaves, is one of the very few North American plants to have caffeine. Yaupon is now used as a decorative plant right outside our doors! Caffeine is the active molecule in tea, coffee, chocolate; some medicines, and sodas, that makes you alert.
Caffeine has probably changed human history with its chemistry.
Eastern Red Cedar
(Juniperus virginiana)
This plant was brewed for coughs, colds, parasites, and canker sores.
For further reading, you may consult Peterson Field Guide to Medicinal Plants by Steven Foster and James A. Duke; or The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. There are also many interesting books and research on the subject of plants as medicine.