Trees of Mexico Sea grape Medicinal Usesfor Glucose Lowering, Ulcers, Asthma

By Liliana Usvat    
Blog 327-365

Names: Sea grape (English), Uva de Mar (Spanish), Sak tabka'an (Maya), Coccoloba uvifera,  Polygonaceae 
Family. Native to America coasts.  Coastal Sea-grape shrubs have stout branches, seldom a distinct trunk.  Inland it can grow up to 4 meters high lovely tree; enjoys full sun with sandy or limestone soil, resists draught well. Sea-grape's fragrant white flowers spikes give bees and ants a feast.  Fruits clusters are filled  fleshy wild grapes, great food for birds, bats, and mammals.

Duration: Perennial, Evergreen

Edible parts of Sea Grape:

Fruit - raw. A sweet but rather insipid flavour. The fruit is about 6mm in diameter.
 
Uses

Coccoloba uvifera is most often used in landscaping, as well as a dune stabilizer and coastal windbreak. Tall sea grape plants are used to make a light barrier between coastlines to protect sea turtles
The reddish fruits of the sea grape may be eaten raw, cooked into jellies and jams, or fermented into sea grape wine^. 
Sea grape wine may also be fermented into sea grape vinegar, which is also useful in cooking.
The sap of the sea grape is used  for dyeing and tanning of leather.
It is sometimes used as a subject for bonsai.

 History
 
The first botanical names of the plant were assigned in 1696 by Hans Sloane, who called it Prunus maritima racemosa, "maritime grape-cluster Prunus", and Leonard Plukenet, who named it Uvifera littorea, "grape-bearer of the shore", both of which names reflect the European concept of "sea-grape", expressed in a number of languages by the explorers of the times. The natives viewed it as a large mulberry.

Reforestation and Beach Stabilization

It is moderately tolerant of shade, but will grow towards the sun. It’s very tolerant of salt so it is often planted to stabilize beaches.
 
Plants can be used for ground cover, spaced about 60cm apart each way.

Propagation of Sea Grape:

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in the autumn in a greenhouse. It can also be sown in spring in a greenhouse in a sandy compost. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots as soon as they are large enough to handle and grow them on for at least their first winter in a greenhouse. Plant out in the spring or early summer after the last expected frosts and give some protection in their first winter. Division in spring or autumn. Layering. 

Medicinal Uses
 
- Astringent, antidiarrheal, antidysentery.
- Studies suggest antibacterial, antifungal, photoprotective and glucose lowering properties. 
juice and decoction of wood, bark and roots are used to treat dysentery, hemorrhages, venereal disease.
- Applied externally for rashes and skin afflictions.
- Decoction of leaves used to treat asthma, hoarseness and to wash wounds.
- Astringent roots and bark used in traditional medicine of Puerto Rico and the Caribbean.
- In the Dominican Republic, decoction of leaves used for menopausal symptoms, diarrhea, tumors, anemia, skin irritations, asthma. 
-The plant also has antiviral effects, particularly against influenza. The stems are a pungent, bitter, warm herb that dilates the bronchial vessels whilst stimulating the heart and central nervous system. The stems are also antitussive, diuretic, diaphoretic, febrifuge, hypertensive, nervine, tonic and vasoconstrictor. 
 - In the Yucatan, alcohol added to tea made from bark of sea grape is taken for ulcers.
- In French Guiana, astringent juice from whole plant, known as "Jamaica kino", used to treat diarrhea and dysentery. Decoction of stem used for intestinal disorders.
- Study of fruit of Coccoloba uvifera for in vitro antioxidant capacity showed free radical scavenging and antioxidant properties which may be due to the presence of phytochemicals in the fruit such as anthocyanins, ascorbic acid, phenolic compounds, and flavonoids.
- Glucose Lowering: Case studies have shown glucose lowering effect with daily ingestion of tea brewed from Coccoloba uvifera leaves. There is concern for lowering the blood sugar too much, especially with concurrent use of pharmaceutical hypoglycemics

Preparation of Leaf Extract: 
 
  Preparation of leaf extract is done by immersing coccoloba uvifera leaves in water, heating the water to boiling for about 4 hours. This brewing time must be just enough to dissolve the compound from the leaves. The active compounds are resistant to the low gastric pH and high temperatures.

Links

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coccoloba_uvifera 
http://www.stuartxchange.com/SeaGrape
http://www.naturalmedicinalherbs.net/herbs/e/ephedra-distachya=sea-grape.php

Cecropia Tree Medicinal Use for Obesity, Diabetes Asthma, Kidney Disorder

By Liliana Usvat
Blog 304-365

One of the most interesting symbioses in the rainforest exists between the Cecropia tree and the Cecropia ant (Azteca sp.) The Cecropia trees recruit ants to live in them and protect the tree.  

The ants drive off herbivorous insects, attack herbivorous vertebrates, and remove epiphytes and competing plants.  Their wastes also provide a lot of nitrogen to the plant.   The plant provides them with housing (inside hollow stems) and gylcogen-rich  bodies.  At least, that's the simple explanation of the relationship.

The Cecropia leaf is quite popular among the Amazonian Indian tribes who use it for its anti-inflammatory qualities in the treatment of lung, kidney and rheumatic inflammations. For instance, these tribes prepare a tea made of leaves to treat respiratory problems and diabetes. 

It is further used to cure liver disorders and to stimulate menstruation. People from Trinidad take these leaves as a remedy for colds, fever, flu, snake and scorpion bites. The Palikur indigenous people resort to Cecropia leaves when they need to take care of bruises, wounds, bone fractures and mostly to clean the genitalia and relieve the pain felt after childbirth.

Cecropia is a Neotropical genus consisting of sixty-one recognized species with a highly distinctive lineage of dioecious trees.

The genus is easily identified by its large, circular, palmately lobed leaves, about 30–40 cm in diameter and deeply divided into 7-11 lobes. The trees consist of very few branches, usually with candelabrum-like branching system. In Costa Rica, three-toed sloths are often spotted easily in Cecropia trees because of Cecropias’ open, leafless branches compared to other trees. 

Cecropia trees have a hollow trunk and branches, which are divided into a series of chambers by partitions. The tree produces special structures in velvety-brown glandular patches under the leaf stems, providing nourishment for Azteca ants, which defend the leaves.

Common nameTrumpet tree, embauba, trompettier, snake wood, yagruma, bois cannon, Yagrumo hembra, ambay, sandpaper tree.


FamilyMoraceae (Mulberry family).

Medicinal Uses

The trumpet tree or embauba is widely used in traditional medicine throughout Central and South America.Virtually every part is used – bark, roots, sap, leaves and fruit – to treat a diversity of ailments. 

Each country has different uses for extracts of this plant, such as treatment for bronchitis and snakebites in Trinidad and a cure for diabetes and hypertension in Guatemala.

Recent scientific research on the trumpet tree has shown 

• potential for treating obesity, as well as 
• bacterial infections and 
• cancer. 
• The tree is regularly used throughout the world by herbalists for treating respiratory disorders and 
• diabetes.

Suriname's traditional medicine. - 

• The leaves of Embauba are used against: albumin in the urine and 
• have a good effect on the urinary passages, 
• bladder and 
• kidney disorders.

Tea made from the leaves is used as

•  a cure for asthma, 
• cough and 
• other upper- respiratory complaints such as bronchitis, 
• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), 
• emphysema, 
• pulmonary sarcoidosis.

Trumpet tree is also used to treat 

• high blood pressure, for 
• childbirth and 
• menstruation and 
• to strengthen the heart.

The other parts of the plant are also useful: 

• the bark decreases mucus, 
• the roots ease bile problems and 
• the fruit greatly soothes the skin thanks to its emollient qualities.

 In many parts of Latin America, Cecropia tea is considered to be 

• a miraculous cure for asthma and apparently it is brewed from its leaves.
• Cecropia has a beneficial effect in patients who suffer from type 2 diabetes. 

Dosage
Tincture: 1 - 3 ml daily
Infusion (herbal tea): 1 - 2 cups daily

Plant Chemicals

Trumpet tree has among its plant chemicals: glycosides; lipids; alkaloids; flavonoids; isoorientin; chlorogenic acid; tannins; resins; ambain; cecropin; cardenolid; leucocyanidin; methyl-salicylate; proanthocyanidins; ursolic and stearic acids. The latex contains an alkaloid, cowleyin.

Reforestation

Cecropia trees are common in the rainforest - and in the tropical dry forest as well.  The trees are often seen along the roadsides as well. They are related to the mulberry tree.  

They often invade disturbed areas (hence their presence on roadsides) and are considered a pioneer species.  They don't do well in the shade; in the rainforest they depend on the appearance of openings due to treefalls, landslides, fires, etc.  

They are very quick-growing and shed the lower limbs (this shedding epiphytes as well).  In addition to the ants, the Cecropia trees have a number of chemical defenses including latex ducts (which gum up the mouthparts of feeding insects) and tannins.

Wayfaring Tree Viburnum lantana Medicinal Uses

By Liliana Usvat
Blog 271-365

Other Name Viburnum lantana

The Viburnum lantana is a medium to large, deciduous shrub that is native to Europe and western Asia. This multi stemmed, spreading shrub grows 10 to 15 feet high and produces a somewhat rounded outline. Its thick, green leaves are opposite, simple oval to lanceolate, and are 2 to 5 inches long with finely serrated margins and white, silky-haired undersides. Clusters of creamy white, 5 inch, flat-topped flowers canvas the shrub from May to June. Berries are green, flushed with red, then turn black in early fall, often showing all three colors at once. The fruit can be eaten either raw or cooked. Common uses of this tree include rootstock and twine.

Wayfaring Tree is covered in stunning creamy white flat-top flowers at the ends of the branches in mid spring. It has dark green foliage throughout the season. The large fuzzy pointy leaves turn an outstanding deep purple in the fall. The red fruits are held in abundance in spectacular clusters from late summer to late fall. The smooth gray bark is not particularly outstanding.

Landscape Attributes

Wayfaring Tree is a multi-stemmed deciduous shrub with a more or less rounded form. Its relatively coarse texture can be used to stand it apart from other landscape plants with finer foliage.

This is a relatively low maintenance shrub, and should only be pruned after flowering to avoid removing any of the current season's flowers. It is a good choice for attracting birds to your yard, but is not particularly attractive to deer who tend to leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Wayfaring Tree is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• General Garden Use
• Accent
• Hedges/Screening
• Mass Planting

Reforestation

An easily grown plant, it succeeds in most soils but is ill-adapted for poor soils and for dry situations

Propagation
Propagate by seed, softwood and semi-hardwood cuttings

Suggested planting locations and garden typesHedging & Screens Low Maintenance Wildlife Gardens

Wildlife

Bees, butterflies and hoverflies visit the flowers. A variety of bird species including blackbirds, fieldfares and waxwings eat the berries, as do the Dormouse and the Wood Mouse.

Medicinal Uses

Gemmotherapy is a modern method of draining the organism. It uses plant bud extract and other embryonic plant tissues to open cellular detoxification pathways. It employs buds, inner bark, rootlets, or very young shoots of plants from various woodland trees and shrubs. They are harvested in the spring, throughout the period of cellular division and plant growth. During this stage they contain the highest concentration of active growth factor hormones, auxins, and gibberllins. These hormonal agents contain valuable informative matter required for the drainage of various organs and tissues at the cellular level.

 

In order to extract the embryonic substance from the fresh buds, fresh plant material is macerated in a solution of 50/50 glycerin and alcohol for three weeks. It is then filtered and diluted. It is prescribed in the fist decimal potency for maximum effect. Gemmotherapy extends the drainage of toxins beyond the excretory organs. It takes in the detoxification of the skin, bones, heart, and nervous system. Gemmotherapy can be used alone or in combination with other modalities.

 

Viburnum lantana is used for :Asthma, chronic spasmodic rhinitis, hyperthyroidism, bronchitis

Viburnum Lantana is a remedy for chronic allergies that are evolving towards asthma, eczema, or chronic spasmodic rhinitis. It is the intermediate remedy between Rosmarinus Officinalis and Ribes Nigrum. This remedy is indicated for conditions such as hyperthyroidism, smoker's cough with blood in sputum and some types of rheumatoid arthritis.

Indications

• Acute Asthma
• Asthma
• Basic Support for Allergies
• Cigarette Coughs
• Coughs
• Eczema
• Hyperthyroidism
• Rhinitis
• Support for Symptoms Due to Smoking

Maidenhair Tree Ginkgo biloba Medicinal Uses

By Liliana Usvat
Blog 259-365

Botanical.com recognizes Ginkgo biloba as "the oldest living tree on the planet that's been used safely for over 3000 years. " The paleontologists and evolutionists are also much interested in the Ginkgo although, as already stated, no wild localities are known where the trees grow, it has been discovered by its fossil remains to have been once widely scattered over the face of the globe. 

Buddhist monks cultivated the tree from about 1100 AD for its many good qualities." Plant collectors from the West eventually were sold on Ginkgo biloba trees and brought specimens home.

It is uncertain whether the maidenhair tree still persists in the wild and at present there are no conservation projects in place. 







Cultivated trees are found throughout the world, however, and a multi-million dollar industry has cashed in on the leaves' medicinal properties 

Maidenhair Tree

• Known as a 'living fossil', the Ginkgo biloba is one of the world's oldest living tree species: it was around 350 million years ago!
• The word ginkgo comes from the Chinese yinxingmeaning 'silver apricot'. It was named the maidenhair tree in England because the leaves look similar to the native maidenhair fern.
• The fruit smells of rancid butter during the ripening process.
• Native to Xitianmu Mountain in Zhejiang, China. Scattered in broadleaved forests up to 1,100m altitude.
• The maidenhair tree is listed as ‘endangered’ by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

Medicinal Uses

• Ginkgos are grown as hedges in China to supply the leaves for western herbal medicine. The leaves contain ginkgolides, which are used to improve blood circulation to the brain and to relieve Alzheimer’s, tinnitus and Reynaud's Syndrome. It is usually Europe’s number one selling herbal medication.
• Ginkgo has been studied as a possible treatment for dementia and Alzheimer's disease
• Seeds and leaves treat diseases such as Asthma and Tuberculosis
• The ancient Chinese people believed that roasted seeds could help prevent drunkenness. Even today, roastedGinkgo seeds can be found at many Chinese and Japanese wedding celebrations in order to prevent people from getting too drunk.
• Today, we use Ginkgo biloba extract (GBE) for two main reasons: to increase blood circulation and 
• to rid the body of free radicals, which can improve bodily functions greatly. Free radicals have been found to be part of the cause in most cancers. 
• Ginkgo biloba can also benefit people who have Glaucoma, 
• Tinnitus, 
• Cerebral Insufficiency, 
• Macular Degeneration, 
• Male Impotence, 

The seeds (baigo) are most used in Traditional Chinese Medicine, the leaves in western medicine. 
In Japan the seeds are called ginnan. The Japanese way of using Ginkgo as a medicine originates from the Chinese tradition.

The seeds' medicinal use is mentioned in the 'Great Herbal' Pen Tsao Kang Mu compiled by  Li Shih-chen (1578) which in still in use in TCM.  

Dr. C.A. Stuart and Dr. F. Porter Smith translated and researched this herbal and used it as a working base for their publication of 'Chinese Medicinal Herbs' (1911).  In their work they write: "The seeds are supposed to benefit asthma, coughs, irritability of the bladder, blenorrhoa and uterine fluxes. 

Eaten raw they destroy cancer and are counter-vinous. Cooked they are said to be peptic and anthelmintic, and are similarly used by the Japanese to promote digestion.  In some cases they appear to cause peculiar symptoms of intoxication."

They also mention the use of the wood for seals used as charms by quacks in the treatment of disease.

Kaempfer mentions the seeds as an aid for digestion and bladder. Thunberg writes in Flora Japonica (1784) that the seeds are eaten raw or roasted in Japan and in 1819 Franz von Jaquin notes in 'Ueber den Ginkgo' the use as a digestive aid.

The earliest record of the use of the leaves as a medicine is said to be mentioned in the Chinese Materia Medica Shen Nung Pen Tsao Ching (which should originate from about 2800 BC or from the Han dynasty [206BC-220AD]) as an aid for blood circulation and the lungs. This record cannot be confirmed however  because the original of this work has never been found. 

Dian Nan Ben Cao (Lan Mao) (1436) mentions the use of the leaves for skin treatment, head sores and freckles. They are also used for chilblains and as a wound plaster. 

The internal use is first mentioned in the Ben Cao Pin Hui Jing Yao (1505) by Liu Wen-Tai as used against diarrhea. 

Description

Deciduous tree up to 40m tall. Bark grey, furrowed, corky. Leaves characteristically fan-shaped, up to 12cm across, divided into two lobes, bright yellow in autumn, spirally arranged along long shoots. Each tree has either male or female flowers (dioecious): male flowers catkin-like, hanging down (pendulous) and yellow, up to 8cm long; female flowers smaller and on pedicels up to 4cm long. Fruits maturing following autumn, drupe-like, light yellow decaying to purplish-black. Pollinated by wind.

Fragrant, inconspicuous, dioecious. Flowers will not appear until trees are older than 20 years (Dirr) or 40 years (Jacobson).

Reforestation

Thrives in moist, well-drained soil, but tolerates poor, compacted soil, as well as heat, drought, salt spray, and air pollution.

It is well worth planting a ginkgo for the next generation. While slow to grow when young, with advancing age the ginkgo becomes a striking tree with interesting winter form and even more interesting foliage.

This species has merits that are well known. Virtually pest-free and incredibly tolerant of urban conditions, there are Ginkgo specimens that are centuries old living in cities around the world.

"The Maidenhair tree is sacred according to the Buddhist religion and has been cultivated for many centuries in China and Japan, especially in the grounds of temples" (Cafferty).

One could even argue that Ginkgo is a species native to Ontario, as fossil records show that this tree was indeed indigenous here millions of years ago.

For all the virtues of Ginkgo, some will avoid it due to the messy and stinky fruits. Washing off the smelly outer flesh reveals a delicious nut prized by many in Asia. Fruitless, male cultivars are available in numerous shapes and sizes.

Ginkgo has a fairly slow growth rate, but this shouldn't be reason to avoid planting them. Patience when growing this species is more than rewarded in the long-term. Unfortunately, too many landscape plans call for fast-growing trees that are structurally weak and short lived. Ginkgo is a tree that should be considered a sound investment that can be planted with confidence for the long term.

Propagation

• by seed, collect in fall (cold stratification is benefical)
• can also be done by softwood or semihardwood cuttings, collect in early summer
• cultivars are propagated mainly by grafting

Resilience

Extreme examples of the ginkgo's tenacity may be seen in Hiroshima, Japan, where six trees growing between 1–2 km from the 1945 atom bomb explosion were among the few living things in the area to survive the blast. Although almost all other plants (and animals) in the area were destroyed, the ginkgos, though charred, survived and were soon healthy again. The trees are alive to this day.

History

The Ginkgo nuts are mentioned in Japanese textbooks from 1492 and later for use at tea ceremonies as sweets and dessert. In the Edo-period (1600-1867) common people began to eat them as vegetable and ingredients for pickles.

 In the 18^th century the nuts (called ginnan) became used as a side dish when drinking sake. Today they are used (grilled or boiled) in chawan-mushi (a pot-steamed egg dish) or in nabe-ryori (Japanese fondue). The grilled nuts are still often eaten in Japan when drinking sake.

Sweet Gum Liquidambar styraciflua Trees Medicinal Uses

By Liliana Usvat
Blog 248-365

Have you planted a tree today?
What about this year?
What about last 10 years.
What about in your life?

Here is an ideea. Plant Liquidambar styraciflua.

 Liquidambar native to warm temperate areas of eastern North America and tropical montane regions of Mexico and Central America. Sweet gum is one of the main valuable forest trees in the southeastern United States, and is a popular ornamental tree intemperate climates. It is recognizable by the combination of its five-pointed star-shaped leaves and its hard, spiked fruits.

This plant's genus name Liquidambar was first given by Linnaeus in 1753 from [the Latin] liquidus, fluid, and the Arabic ambar, amber, in allusion to the fragrant terebinthine juice or gum which exudes from the tree. Its specific epithet styraciflua is an old generic name meaning flowing with styrax (a plant resin)

The earliest known published record of Liquidambar styraciflua is in a work by Spanish naturalist Francisco Hernández published posthumously in 1651, in which he describes the species as a large tree producing a fragrant gum resembling liquid amber, whence the genus name Liquidambar. In Ray's Historia Plantarum (1686) it is called Styrax liquida.

Medicinal Uses

The common name for the sweetgum tree's medicinal product is liquid-amber.

When made into a balsam or salve, it is used for 

• skin conditions, 
• hemorroids, 
• ringworm scabies and 
• frostbite. 
• Sweetgum salves have a minor antiseptic value, 
• but work well as an anti-inflammatory. 
• Taken internally, liquid-amber has stimulant and expectorant effects. 
• It is also used internally for sore throats, 
• coughs, 
• colds, 
• asthma, 
• bronchitis, 
• cystitis, 
• vaginal discharge,
• strokes, and is it indicated to 
• have an effect on some cancers.

Medicinal Trees Kola (Cola nitada, C. acuminata)

By Liliana Usvat
Blog 206-365

Have you planted a tree in your life?
What about this year?
Have you considered a fruit tree in your vicinity, or in your back yard?

Do you get a lift from a carbonated soda? The large kola trees of tropical West Africa, the West Indies, and South America are responsible. Their dried seeds, which contain much caffeine, provide the stimulant in some medicines. But they also provide an energizing ingredient in many soft drinks.

Kola nut is a caffeine-containing nut of evergreen trees of the genus Cola, primarily the species Cola acuminata and Cola nitida.

Medicinal Uses

• Chewing kola nut can ease hunger pangs. Kola nuts are often used to treat whooping cough and asthma.

• The caffeine present acts as a bronchodilator, expanding the bronchial air passages.
• Phosphorus: A study on the mineral content of kola nut (Cola nitida) suggested that Cola nitida has a high content of phosphorus (411.43mg/kg); theoretically, concurrent use may increase levels of phosphorus in the blood. 
• 

• : , kola nut may interact with monoamine oxidase inhibitors
• Dietarypotassium: A study on the mineral content of kola nut (Cola nitida) suggested that Cola nitida has a high content of potassium (3,484.67mg/kg) (22); theoretically, concurrent use may increase levels of potassium in the blood.
• Sedatives- kola nut may cause insomnia, anxiety, and nervousness. Preliminary research reported prolonged sleep latencies and suppression of REM and stages 3 and 4 sleep
• Ma huang- a combination of ma huang and kola nut may have additive weight loss effects 
• Hormonal agents : Animal research has demonstrated that stem bark from Cola nitida decreased gonadotropin release, both luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), causing ovulation . Another animal study on the pituitary cells of rats demonstrated that Cola nitida inhibited LH release and had no effect on either FSH or rat pituitary cells. According to animal evidence, Cola nitida may compete with natural estrogen and/or progesterone by binding to steroid receptors   
• Antineoplastics: Kola nut has been shown to contain phytoestrogenic compounds that may dose-dependently exert cytotoxic effects against breast cancer cells in vitro

History

The use of the kola nut, like the coffee berry and tea leaf, appears to have ancient origins. It is chewed in many West African cultures, individually or in a social setting, to restore vitality and ease hunger pains. Kola nuts are an important part of the traditional spiritual practice of culture and religion in West Africa, particularly Nigeria.

 Kola nuts are used as a religious object and sacred offering during prayers, ancestor veneration, and significant life events, such as naming ceremonies, weddings, and funerals. They are also used in a traditional divination system called Obi divination. For this use, only kola nuts divided into four lobes are suitable.
 
They are cast upon a special wooden board and the resulting patterns are read by a trained diviner. This ancient practice is currently enjoying increased growth within the United States and Caribbean.

In the 1800s, a pharmacist in Georgia, John Pemberton, took extracts of kola and coca and mixed them with sugar, other ingredients, and carbonated water to invent the first cola soft drink. His accountant tasted it and called it "Coca-Cola". Cocaine (not the other extracts from the Peruvian coca leaf) was prohibited from soft drinks in the U.S. after 1904, and Coca-Cola no longer uses kola nor cocaine in its original recipe.
 

Curiosities

Kola nut consumption was compared to alcohol consumption for its potential neural effects.
Cola acuminata and Cola nitida and crude extract of kola nut may stimulate gastric acid secretion