Dyah Citra Wardani: Medicine from plants

MEDICINE FROM PLANTS

Even prehistoric people knew that some plants could be used as medicine. As history has moved on, more plants have been used, either to cure illness or at least to treat the symptoms. Surprisingly, any of these plants are poisonous. But if used in small quantities, they can be very useful.

Castor Oil

Castor oil is a simple medicine that many people use. It comes from the seeds of a plant that people frequently grow in their own homes.Castor Oil is a very pale yellow liquid that is extracted from castor seeds (Ricinus Communis). It is an anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant oil which has been used for centuries for its therapeutic and medicinal benefits. It is believed that most of castor oil's benefits are derived from its high concentration of unsaturated fatty acids. Although it has a strong and rather unpleasant taste, castor oil is used in cosmetics, soaps, textiles, medicines, massage oils and many other everyday products.

Castor oil has been used both internally and externally for thousands of years due to its many wonderful health benefits. Since it can strengthen the immune system, castor oil is considered a great remedy to treat the following major illnesses and ailments:

Multiple Sclerosis
Parkinson's Disease
Cerebral Palsy
Hair loss
Pain from Arthritis and Rheumatism

It has also been found to help with many everyday problems such as:

Yeast Infections
Constipation
Gastrointestinal Problems
Menstrual Disorders
Migraines
Acne
Sunburn
Athlete's Foot
Ringworm
Skin Abrasions
Inflammation

Castor Oil is also commonly used to induce labour, so pregnant women should always consult a doctor before using it.

The disadventages of Castor Bean or ricinus communis, is widely cultivated for castor oil and is also used as an ornamental plant. Both the use of this guide will direct you to the fact that this plant has a deadly contents: ricin.

Ricin is present in low levels in every part of the plant, but most are concentrated in the seed layer. Seedpoisoning rare and usually involve the kids and pets, but the seed poisoning is deadly. At least three seeds are green with brown marks, can kill a child who swallowed them.

Castor bean poisoning symptoms include nausea, abdominal cramps, vomiting, internal bleeding, and renal and circulatory failure. Many people suffer from allergic reactions to dust from seed and may have a cough, muscle pain and difficulty breathing. Exposure to dust is the most common in areas where the seed is processed for commercial use. In ancient times, castor beans used in ointments.

Nightshade

Beside the castor oil, we have to know the other plans which can used for medicine,such as nightshade, deadly nightshade is an extremely dangerous plant with black cherry-like berries. Monks used to grow it and would make a drug from its roots. This drug stimulates the heart, nerves and muscles. Its other name is belladonna, which means fair lady-a strange name for such poisonous plant. Perhaps this is because a face cream was also made from deadly nightshade. Deadly nightshade is an annual plant that grows between 2 and 4 feet (0.6 to 1.2 meters). You'll recognize the dull, dark green leaves and purple bell-shaped, fragrant flowers, which bloom from mid summer through early fall. Deadly nightshade berries are green when they are formed and transformed into a shiny black as they mature. They are sweet and juicy, which makes them tempting for kids. The plant requires rich, moist soil to thrive, and grows wild in some regions of the world, but in the United States is limited to cultivation. Not all animals are affected by the deadly nightshade. While it is deadly to humans and some animals, horses, rabbits and sheep can eat the leaves without harm, and birds feed on berries.

Foxgloves

Foxgloves are another kind of poisonous plant from which useful drugs can be made. Latin name: Digitalispurpure, digitalis, which is the biologist’s name for the foxglove, is used to treat some heart problems, Other uses: Growing up in a park for theprotection of the homeand yard. Foxglove-Digitalispurpure-Also knownasFairyGloves,FairyFingers, orDead Men's Bells. ADruidsacredherbassociatedwith the"little people".

Caution: This plant is poisonous and should be used by qualified personnel.
Aromatherapy&HealthUses:Themedictionheart, digitalis, derivedfromthis plant. and used for congenital heart defects. Foxgloveis a plant thatis highly toxicand there forevery dangerousin high doses.

In addition toplantswe have explainedabove, there are many more plants that can be usedas a medicine, such as:ginger, turmeric, lemon juice, kumis kucing, mahkota dewa, and others.

In the early years of this century it was discovered that some microscopic plants could also produce very powerful medicines. In 1926 Alexander Fleming discovered that a mould called penicillium produced a substance which killed germs. This substance, penicillin, was developed in the second World War. it saved the lives of millions people who might otherwise have died of infection.

TENSES

In this text there are some tenses have used, suc as simple present tense and present perfect tense. We will explain about present perfect tense.

PRESENT PERFECT TENSE

Present perfect tense are tenses used to explain a certain did or event in the past, but there is the conection with now or to give new information or to annonce a recent happening.