Choosing plants for a garden can be a matter of asthetics, for consuming as food, or for their healing properties.
Common Annuals and Perennials
Garlic (Allium sativum) grows as a bulb and is an effective pest repellant along with its use in medicine. Peter Josling, who directs the Garlic Center in Great Britain, performed a study which showed garlic was able to prevent the common cold in almost two thirds of volunteers. Some anecdotal reports also suggest garlic is able to lower blood pressure and act as an antioxidant. Topical garlic preparations, as well as cannabis, are being studied in an attempt to treat the antibiotic resistant staph infection known as MRSA.
St. John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum) grows in the wild as a weed and can be as effective as some antidepressants in fighting depression, with lower side effects. Independent studies conducted by Klaus Linde at the Center for Complementary Medicine Research in Muncih, Germany showed similar outcomes with St. John’s Wort and commonly prescribed antidepressants after 12 weeks of daily use.
Feverfew (Chrysanthemum parthenium) is commonly grown as an ornamental plant but has shown to be effective as a treatment for migraines because of its ability to restrict the release of serotonin. It acts in similar manner to acute migraine medicines as an anti-inflammatory agent which acts specifically on blood vessels located in the brain. Feverfew is taken as a daily supplement, however, and is not very effective for on-demand treatment of acute or rapid onset migraines.
Milk thistle (Silybum marianum) increases liver function. It has been used in Europe as an antidote to liver toxicity from mushrooms or alcohol. It can also be effective against hepatitis and may help to lower cholesterol.
Poppy (Papaver somniferum) is grown as an ornamental in practically any climate. It is a reseeding annual and will survive in areas of extreme climate changes and poor soil conditions. When the mature seed pods are scored with a knife, they will bleed a milky sap which is collected and dried. This resulting material is rich in the analgesic morphine. As reported by M. D. Merlin of the University of Hawaii, use of opium from poppies dates back as far as 4,000 B.C.
Marijuana (Cannabis sativa), although used throughout history as an intoxicant, also has a variety of health benefits which are being researched and proven effective outside of the United States. Cannabis is able to control glaucoma, neuropathic pain, severe nausea and clinical depression. One compound found in cannabis, cannabidiol, inhibits the growth of cancer cells as reported by the Universita di Napoli e Universita di Salerno, Italy. Cannabis is a reseeding annual which grows similar to other invasive weeds, hence the nickname.
Common Trees
Willow (Salix spp.) is a species of deciduous trees and shrubs which contain salicylic acid, the active ingredient in aspirin. In the 5th century, Hippocrates included the willow bark as a relief for fever in his writings on medicine.
Mimosa (Mimosa tenuiflora) is an effective treatment for a variety of emergency skin injuries. It initially produces analgesic properties which last for a few hours. It contains novel tannins and minerals that have protective qualities, as well as assisting in the rebuilding of skin cells. In a 1997 report titled “Pharmochemistry of New Compounds from South American Plants”, Anton, et al. reported a preparation of powder was used successfully in the response to a natural gas explosion in San Juanico, Mexico where thousands of burn victims were treated. In most cases injuries to the skin were fully healed in weeks.
Cinchona bark, (Cinchona spp.) is the major source of quinine which at one time was the only treatment against malaria. Bolivians had been using the bark traditionally for generations but was first discovered by Europeans during the 17th century. The source for the malaria transmission by mosquito was not discovered until 1898 by Sir Ronald Ross and, until then, the illness remained largely a mystery. It took almost two hundred years after the health effects were discovered to isolate the active ingredient, quinine. Throughout this time, enormous sums were paid for treatment. Due to xenophobic natives and a series of unfortunate events, Europeans were only able to obtain the bark from Bolivia. In 1860 a British botanist named Clements Markham was finally able to cultivate cinchona trees from about three hundred stolen seeds, thereby creating a supply within the means of every citizen.
These are just a few of the many plants that contain substances used in medicine.
Chemical compounds vary from plant to plant even within species, and identification can be tricky. For this reason it is absolutely necessary to consult a professional if you think a medicinal plants would be appropriate for your own treatment. Always consult your doctor before taking any new medicine.
Marks, G and Beatty, W. The Medical Garden: 1971 Scribners
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