Healing Plants of the Rain Forest

Many people today are allergic to the medicines that we use in hospitals or prescription drugs given to us by our doctors. Also many people have found different plants that do the same things as mass produced medication that we use today. Here are many different plants that treat different problems and diseases that people have world wide today.

The inner bark of the small palm tree contains chemicals that help prevent infection pain. A humorous name for this tree is the give and take plant.

The leaf of the cecropia tree is used in a tea to help treat hypertension and diabetes.

Ginger is known as a flavoring agent but also used to treat indigestion, gas pains, stomach aches, colds, motion sickness and morning sickness. Basically you boil the root to make a tea to treat all of these illnesses and pains. It could also be chewed. For muscle aches soak a towel in hot ginger tea and place on sore area.

Aloe Vera is well known to treat rashes, wounds and sunburn but aloe also speeds up the healing time of wounds. Also treats hair loss!!! Taken in large amounts may be toxic!!

Mexican heather is boiled to make a tea to either drink or to bathe people who have dynasty, infertility or fatigue.

Lemmon grass is made into a tea to treat fevers, colds and coughs. The extract of lemon grass shows to have antibacterial and antifungal qualities.

Coco beans contain chemicals that treat asthma and caffeine and Theobromine which are both stimulants.

Jackass bitters is used for many things including: intestinal parasites, malaria, fungus, ringworm and a wash to prevent wounds from infection. Also can be used to get rid of head lice. Can be used to treat diabetes.

Castor oil has been used as a laxative since ancient times. The leaves of the castor plant can be used as a poultice for wounds. THE SEEDS OF THIS PLANT HAVE A DEADLY POISON!!!! DO NOT USE UNLESS EXPIERENENCED IN DOING SO.

Cowfoot or ixkibix has been used for many years to slow or stop excess bleeding after childbirth and to cure heavy menstrual bleeding. A tea made from the bark can be used as a birth control but used for nine months or longer can cause permanent infertility!!!

Annatto was the source of pigment in lipstick and is still used today as a food coloring. A tea made of the leaves can treat diarrhea and bleeding ulcers also leaf poultices can be used on wounds.

The red hibiscus has been used to treat many bleeding disorders such as postpartum and hemorrhage. It also can prevent miscarriage.

Senna is made into a leaf tea, which is used for urinary tract infections and kidney ailments.

Banana leaves are commonly made into apoltice and applied derectly to a wound or burn.

The Trumpetflower contains atropine and scopolamine that may be used to open the airway in an asthma attack but an overdose may also cause hallucinations and possible death.

Jimsonweed also treated asthma and was thrown into the fire and inhaled to alleviate symptoms. Sometimes it was even rolled into cigarettes and smoked to treat asthma attacks.

Rosy periwinkle is the basis for a new medication vincristine that is used to treat childhood leukemia.

A tea of Sorosi vine or condiamor is useful as a bath to treat ticks and lice. As an oral medication it can be used to prevent dysentery and painful menses.

The Contribo flower is a huge flower that smells like rotting meat. It has been a popular treatment for colds, the flu and indigestion. Unfortunately it contains aristolich acid that can damage the kidney.

The gumbo limbo tree bark can be used as a poultice to treat rashes and snakebites.

Garlic contains allicin, which has been shown to reduce cholesterol levels and to reduce pallet adhesiveness. This in turn reduces the risk of heart attack and stroke.

Ginkgo contains glycosides, which are powerful antioxidants, which are effective in increasing intellectual capacity and vitality in aging people.

Feverfew contains parthenolide, which has been used to treat migraine headaches. Chewing a fresh leaf is the most effective method of treatment but may cause mouth ulcers.

Native Americans used the purple coneflower as a treatment for viral illness. It stimulates white blood cells and helps produce healthful compounds like interferon and properdin.

Cranberry juice is useful in the treatment of urinary tract infections by making it difficult for bacteria to stick to the cells lining the bladder.

Saw Palmetto contains factors, which inhibit the production of prostaglandin’s, which may be used in the treatment of benign prosaic hypertrophy.

The roots and rhizomes of Valerian have been used as a sleep aid for thousands of years.

Hawthorne is useful in treating heart failure.

Lemon balm has been shown to be effective in treating the herpes virus.

St. John’s Wort is used as an antidepressant.

Mammosa, a member of the eggplant family, is used to treat sinus infections.

Witch hazel is used to: make itch of insect bites disappear; Native Americans used witch hazel for tea.

Willow A. cures headaches B. prevents and cures malaria C. found near water.

Sweet flag is a water loving plant that is used both as candy and treatment for stomachaches.

Marsh mallow sooths sore throats also used as a powerful charm against witchcraft.

Chamomile teas treat upset stomachs and very high and high fevers.