Nature’s way of healing

HAWAII— I am here in Honolulu, Hawaii attending the “Bromeliad in Paradise” World Bromeliad Conference hosted by the Bromeliad Society with my horticulturist friend Ray Ong and one of my science teachers, Alejandro Alanano.

For nature lovers, Hawaii is one place on earth to explore. One will be amazed at the unique flora and fauna you can find throughout the islands. Over 70 million years, Hawaii developed species of plants and animals in isolation from the rest of the world. The original species came through wind, waves and wings. There are only two mammals native to Hawaii – the Hawaiian Monk Seal and the Hawaiian Hairy Bat. Hawaii is home to many different species of birds, the most famous of, which is the Nene or Hawaiian goose, the state bird of Hawaii.

When the Polynesians arrived in Hawaii, they brought with them many new species. This process increased drastically with the arrival of the Europeans. The unfortunate effect is that many of the native Hawaiian species are now endangered or have become extinct.

One interesting feature of the Hawaiian flora is how the locals give importance to medicinal plants. According to history, the ancient Hawaiian knowledge of medicine was practiced by several different and distinct classes of Kahunas. The Hawaiians recognized two categories of disease: those caused by forces outside the body, and those caused by forces within. The illnesses from within were treated by the kahuna haha (medical diagnostician), kahuna lapa`au (medical doctor) or the kahuna la`au lapa`au (herbalist).

The Kahuna la`au lapa`au began training at the age of five in the home of his or her mentor. Over a period of approximately 20 years they learned about the medicinal plants, their effect on the body, where they grew and how to prepare and administer them. There are a few Kahuna la`au lapa`aus who practice today, and their array of medicinal plants still include those plants used by the ancient Hawaiians, with the addition of some modern plants such as Aloe Vera and comfrey.

This reminds me of my friend Dr. Vicenta “Ting” Escobar’s book for children that nature’s drugstore could mean a healthier life, a longer life, more than the benefits money could buy from the corner drugstore in town.

Dr. Escobar, the modest medicinal plant wizard

Dr. Escobar finished her Doctorado en Farmacia as full scholar at the Cultura Hispanica, Universidad Complutense de Madrid from 1962 to 64. She has made a thorough study on medicinal plants, particularly their effectiveness compared to the drugs bought in a drugstore. She has often been invited to major international pharmacognosy conferences in Europe and Asia.

Instead of costly medicine, fevers of viral origin can be lowered by a medicinal plant called lagundi (Vitex negundo). I was very impressed by Dr. Escobar’s skills in explaining the science of plants and drugs in such simple but profound statements. She starts: “Josepho’s mother is a pharmacist. Some pharmacists work in drugstores where your mother usually buys medicines when you are sick. Other pharmacists work in drug laboratories where medicines are prepared – so that your mother can buy these medicines later in the drugstore.”

“While other pharmacists – like the mother of Josepho, work in what you can call Nature’s Drugstore, she studies how effective some medicinal plants are in comparison with the drugs that can be bought in the drugstore. She also tries to learn how medicinal plants were used by ancient people before and if their traditional uses are really valid even in our modern age. She also teaches students who are studying to be pharmacists the use of medicinal plants. The subject is called Pharmacognosy.”

You need knowledge to use nature’s drugstore

You need money to buy medicines, but you need knowledge to use Nature’s Drugstore. This drugstore is found in our surroundings – in the gardens, fields, beaches and forests, where plants grow. Learning about medicinal plants is easy, especially when it is something that we can make use of in our everyday life.

Most healthy boys seldom get sick so that they hardly need medicines at all. However, children sometimes fall and get a bump or a bruise… or sometimes accidentally get cut or wounded…or sometimes touch a hot object and get burned. In these instances, they need medicines.

The story continues: “Josepho’s favorite plant, because it is very effective is Aloe Vera. It is also known as Sabila – but since it is best to get accustomed to using the scientific names of plants, we better always refer to it as Aloe Vera…”

People began to pay attention to Aloe Vera when it was thought to be a hair growth stimulant. The use of Aloe Vera for burns has been studied and proven in scientific comparative clinical trials done in the College of Pharmacy of the University of Pennsylvania.

“When going to excursions…Josepho usually brings a leaf along. The cut end seals itself after being cut. When needed, you just cut anew and press the juice out. In the kitchen shelf of Josepho’s house, there is always a well-cared-for Aloe Vera plant. It is a living, growing, handy and beautiful source of first aid for burns.”

How Aloe Vera impressed Josepho’s doctor, carpenter and uncle

“Once, Josepho fell from the concrete stairs of their house. He got a bad cut in his forehead. As you probably know, head wound tend to bleed profusely and the bleeding is difficult to stop… Yet, Josepho’s mother was able to stop the bleeding of his wound by applying enough juice of the Aloe Vera.”

On another occasion, there was a carpenter working in the house of Josepho. It so happened, that one galvanized iron sheet fell across his legs. Both his legs were wounded. Josepho recommended the use of Aloe Vera. But the carpenter insisted that Josepho ask his mother for the medicine. Dr. Escobar then came and assured him that the medical plant is effective. However to convince him, she proposed applying Tincture of Merthiolate on one leg and Aloe Vera on the other. Which do you think healed faster? The leg where Aloe Vera was applied. From then on, the carpenter was another adherent in the use of medicinal plants.

Even the family of Josepho’s Tita Cita who came to visit from Spain became believers. You see, his Tito Fernando had a sore in his lips that had not healed for about a week. Using Aloe Vera, the sore healed very rapidly. Within two days, it was dry. When they went back to Spain, the one thing they did not forget to bring along were the seedlings of Aloe Vera. We are told they are now growing nicely in their veranda in Madrid.

Antiseptic properties of garlic, kamachili, gumamela, sambong and alagau

The antiseptic properties of plants could be scientifically attributed to the compounds they contain like essential oils, tannins, coloring matters, organic acids, phenolic compounds and oleoresins.

It is usually easy to know if a plant contains essential oils. Essential oils are also known as volatile oils since when you crush a plant containing it, a fragrant odor emanates or volatilizes. Thus, plants which emit a strong fragrant odor usually contain essential or volatile oils and are usually antiseptic.

The Fragrance of Garlic – You might not agree that the smell of Allium sativum (garlic) is fragrant. Garlic contains a volatile oil. It is effective against bacteria that infect wounds. Its activity is equivalent to about 15 Oxford penicillin unit per milligram. The fresh raw juice of garlic is used as an antiseptic for wounds. It controls suppuration or pus formation and prevents gangrene or septic poisoning. It is also applied for ringworm, scabies, pimples and insect bites. Inserted to the hole of an aching tooth, it is an emergency remedy for toothache.

Tannin in Kamachili, Gumamela for Boils, Mumps, etc. – Tannin precipitates proteins from solutions. The white pinkish edible pods of Pithecolbium dulce (kamachili) are useful. The leaves, when applied as plasters, allay the pain in wounds and sores. They prevent infection.

The coloring of Hibiscus rosasinensis (Gumamela) is responsible for its antiseptic action. Its brilliantly colored flower buds, mashed to a paste, are used as an application to boils, swellings, tumors and even mumps.

Blumea balsamifera is locally known as sambong. The leaves, when crushed, are applied externally as a styptic on wounds especially those caused by mites in a disease called scabies or galis aso. It also makes a very soothing wash for skin with rashes.

Oleoresins are a mixture of oils and resins. This is found in Premna odorata or alagau, a small, hairy tree with somewhat heart-shaped leaves which when boiled in water is used for washing parasitic infections of the skin, bathing babies and others with sensitive irritated skin.

Dr. Vicenta Escobar in the Philippines

Right after her studies in Madrid, Dr. Vicenta Escobar was very determined to build up her crusade on the use of medicinal plants. From 1974-79, she was project proponent and consultant of the Medicinal Plants Project of the Bicol River Basin Development Program. This resulted in clinical trials showing the effectiveness of a medicinal plant.

She has been invited to represent the Philippines in various scientific conferences. Adults and children cannot but be fascinated with Dr. Escobar. Her loquacity and profound understanding of science and nature is carried out in a wide range of researches, which has helped the country.

(For feedback email to [email protected])