Medicinal Trees Quassia (Quassia amara ) expel parasites and reduce fever

By Liliana Usvat
Blog 189-365

The wood of this tree from Mexico and Central and South America has been an item of commerce since the mid-1700s. The wood’s bitter extractive, which has been relied on to expel parasites and reduce fever, is water soluble. Thus in the 1800s it frequently was turned into popular “bitter cups.” The substance also has uses as an insecticide.

The genus was named by Carolus Linnaeus who named it after the first botanist to describe it: the Surinamese freedman Graman Quassi. Q. amara is used as insecticide, in traditional medicine and as additive in the food industry.

Common Names
 

• Bitter wood , 
• picrasma , 
• Jamaican quassia ( P. excelsa ), 
• Surinam quassia ( Q. amara ), 
• Amara species , 
• Amargo , 
• Surinam wood , 
• ruda 

Origin

Q. amara is native to Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Panama, Brasil, Peru, Venezuela, Suriname, Colombia, Argentina, French Guiana and Guyana. Q. amara is widely planted outside its native range.

Parts Used

 

Wood, leaves

Typical Preparations

 

Usually taken in the form of an infusion, in capsules, or tincture.

Medicinal Uses

• treatment for measles, 
• diarrhea, 
• fever, and 
• lice. 
• Quassia has antibacterial, 
• antifungal, 
• antifertility, 
• antitumor, 
• antileukemic, and 
• insecticidal actions as well

Traditionally Q. amara is used as a digestive, treat fever, against hair parasites (lice, fleas), and Mosquito larvae in ponds (and do not harm the fishes).
The component Simalikalactone D was identified as an antimalarial. The preparation of a tea out of young leafs is used traditionally in French Guyana.

In small doses Quassia increases the appetite large doses act as an irritant and cause vomiting;

A decoction used as an injection will move ascarides; for an enema for this purpose, 3 parts Quassia to 1 part mandrake root are used, and to each ounce of the mixture, 1 fluid drachm of asafoetida or diluted carbolic acid is added; for a child up to three years, 2 fluid ounces are injected into the rectum twice daily. 

Cups made of the wood and filled with liquid will in a few hours become thoroughly impregnated and this drink makes a powerful tonic.
 
The infusion is made by macerating in cold water for twelve hours 3 drachmsof the rasped Quassia to 1 pint of cold water, 2 OZ. of the infusion alone, or with ginger tea, taken three times a day, proves very useful for feeble emaciated people with impaired digestive organs.

The extract can be made by evaporating the decoction to a pilular consistence, and taken in 1 grain doses, three or four times daily, this will be found less obnoxious to the stomach than the infusion or decoction. Quassia with sulphuric acid acts as a cure for drunkenness, by destroying the appetite for alcoholics.

Dosing

Quassia wood has been used as a bitter tonic, with a typical oral dose of 500 mg.

Forestation
 

• Seeds and cuttings can be used for propagation of Q. amara. 
• Frost is not tolerated, but the plant is partially drought tolerant.
• A large amount of indirect light is recommended.

Medicinal Trees Dogwood (Cornus ) bark is used for ever, pneumonia, diarrhea, malaria, hemoroids, colic, ringworms

By Liliana Usvat
Blog 188-365


Dogwood (Cornus )

A medicine made from the bark of this tree native to the eastern United States often has been substituted for quinine.

Fruits

Cornus mas is commonly cultivated in Southeastern Europe for its edible berries, which can be eaten raw after slight bletting, turned into jams, and fermented into a wine.

Useful Parts of the Plant:

• Leaves
• Bark
• Ripe fruit

 

• Flowers
• Peel

Medicinal Uses

• Astringent, 
• febrifuge, 
• stimulant, 
• tonic

Cornus florida has been proven to prevent the spread of malaria. Their bark is rich in tannin and has been used as a substitute for quinine. During the civil war confederate soldiers would make a tea from the bark to treat pain and fevers, and dogwood leaves in a poultice to cover wounds


Dogwood bark is best used as an

• ointment for ague - A tincture can be made out of either the leaves or the bark of the plant and can be used to treat various ailments such as eczema, skin infections, intestinal parasites, veal skin, and gout and so on. 

The tincture should be prepared in the following: mix 50 g of the ground plant in 250 ml of alimentary alcohol. Filter this mixture for 15 days. It is advisable to consume about 10-15 drops of this tincture (after diluting in water) about three times a day.

• Cornus is also useful in treating colic.
• Making a tea out of dogwood has been found beneficial in bringing down high temperatures, and relieving body chills as well.
• Dogwood teas are also effective in inducing vomiting as well as bringing about relaxation in sick persons.  
• The bark of the dogwood can also be used to treat external hemorrhoids. All you need to do is to boil about 4 tablespoons of the bark in about 1 liter of water for about half an hour. Filter this mixture and then apply on the affected areas for relief. 
• The leaves of the cornus plant are also effective in treating ringworm. A decoction should be made by boiling cornus leaves along with hag berry leaves. Consume this decoction in order to treat ringworm. 

• malaria (substitute for quinine), 
• fever, pneumonia, 
• colds, and similar complaints. 
• Used for diarrhea.  The fruits were widely used to treat dysentery and diarrhea. The method for doing this is as follows. About 9 cornus fruits were mixed with some pears and nutshells and a tea was made from these. This remedy was found to be effective for diarrhea.

Externally, poulticed onto external ulcers and sores.

• Jamaican dogwood is a fairly potent sedative well known as a specific for migraine headaches, neuralgia, and for treatment of insomnia caused by pain , nervous tension, and stress. The bark is anti-inflamatory and antispasmodic and can be used in cases of dysmenorrhea (painful periods). Jamaican dogwood is a strong analgesic that can be used along with other herbs to treat the musculoskeletal pain of arthritis and rheumatism. Preparation Methods & Dosage :Most often as a decoction, also taken in tincture and caps.

Formulas or Dosages

Use only dried dogwood bark. Fresh bark upsets the stomach and bowels.
Infusion: steep 1 tbsp. bark in 1 pint water for 30 minutes and strain. Take 1/2 cup every 2-3 hours.
Tincture: take 20-40 drops in water, as needed.

Folklore
 
This tropical shrub grows wild in Central America and the northern parts of South America. The bark of the root works similarly to aspirin pain relievers by blocking an enzyme that produces inflammatory and pain causing chemicals called prostaglandins. It gained its nickname "fish poison tree" from the West Indian practice of using it to stupify fish to make them easier to catch. 

Other Uses

The flowers of the plant can either be eaten raw or used in the making of syrups, brandy or marmalade.

Twigs used as chewing sticks, forerunners of the toothpick. It was sometimes used as a substitute when Peruvian bark could not be obtained. 

Biochemical Information

Tannic and gallic acids, resin, gum, oil, wax, lignin, lime potash and iron
Forestation
 
Dogwood can be propagated without much difficulty by its seeds. The seeds of dogwood are sown in the fall into organized rows of sand or sawdust and the seedling usually emerge in the ensuing spring. If you are using clean seeds the germination rate is excellent, almost 100 per cent. In fact, the dormancy of the seeds is prevailed over by means of cold stratification treatments for about 90 to 120 days (three to four months) at around 4°C (39°F).

Alternately, dogwood may also be propagated by softwood cuttings taken from new growth in the later part of spring or early part of summer and rooted.

While the success of rooting can be as high as 50 per cent to 85 per cent, this method is not generally used by commercial cultivators.  Selected cultivable varieties are usually propagated by a method called T-budding in the later part of summer or by means of another method known as whip grafting in the greenhouse during winter months onto seedling rootstock.

Name
 
Cornus is a genus of about 30–60 species of woody plants in the family Cornaceae, commonly known as dogwoods.

Other Names of Cornus:

• Common dogwood (Cornus sanguinea)
• Flowering dogwood (Cornus florida)
• Pacific dogwood (Cornus nuttallii)
• Kousa Dogwood (Cornus kousa)
• Canadian Dwarf Cornel (Cornus Canadensis)
• Eurasian Dwarf Cornel (Cornus suecica)
• Cornelian Cherry (Cornus Mas)
• Golden Dogwood (Cornus Alba)
• Dogwood (Cornus Contoversa)
• Flaviramea (Cornus Stolonifera)

Joshua Tree treat arthritis, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, joint pain and inflammation

By Liliana Usvat
Blog187-365

The Joshua tree species, one of the longest-living plants on earth.

Approaching Grand Canyon West Arizona USA, travelers pass through a Joshua Tree forest, along Pierce Ferry Rd in Mojave Desert.

Name


The tree was first named by Mormon pioneers in the nineteenth century, who thought that the upturned branches resembled the arms of the prophet Joshua, pointing the way to the promised land.


Other names: Spanish bayonet, Mojave yucca, Banana yucca

Description
 
The Joshua tree is actually a species of yucca (Yucca Brevifolia), that can reach a height of 50 feet and is believed to live for up to 1,000 years although they are difficult to date accurately - as they are not proper trees, there are no annual growth rings.

A large cluster of white or greenish flowers can appear at the end of each stem from March to May, but this requires just the right combination of springtime temperature and moisture, and several years may pass without a major blooming. Plants start to form the familiar branched appearance when they are 6 to 10 feet tall and several decades old, with new stems forming only after a flowering.
 
 Joshua trees occur in patches across several Southwest states, wherever conditions of temperature, drainage and rainfall are suitable.

This tree has a top-heavy branch system, but also has what has been described as a "deep and extensive" root system, with roots possibly reaching up to 11 m (36 ft) away.

Forestation in Desert
 
Joshua trees are fast growers for the desert; new seedlings may grow at an average rate of 7.6 cm (3.0 in) per year in their first ten years, then only grow about 3.8 cm (1.5 in) per year thereafter.

New plants can grow from seed, but in some populations, new stems grow from underground rhizomes that spread out around the Joshua tree.

Propagation
 
Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse. Pre-soaking the seed for 24 hours in warm water may reduce the germination time. It usually germinates within 1 - 12 months if kept at a temperature of 20°C.

 Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in the greenhouse or cold frame for at least their first two winters.

Plant them out into their permanent positions in early summer and consider giving them some winter protection for at least their first winter outdoors - a simple pane of glass is usually sufficient.


Medicinal Uses
 
Native Americans and Mexicans also used yucca sap medicinally to treat arthritis, joint pain and inflammation. They used sap from the leaves in poultices or baths to treat skin lesions, sprains and bleeding.
 
Thus, constituents of the yucca are used today to treat osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

We know now that this soapy substance from the pithy insides of the yucca leaves and roots is because of their high saponin content. According to researcher Ken Wells (findarticles.com), saponins are the precursor to cortisone, which prevent the release of toxins from the intestines which restrict cartilage formation. 

Saponins have anti-tumor properties  

Other Uses

The roots of some types of yucca contain a natural detergent and were found to be effective for washing and shampooing. 

Interestingly, yucca extracts are used in beverages such as root beer and slurpies to provide the foamy ‘head.’ 

They are also used industrially in mining and ore separation, in preparation of emulsions for photographic films and extensively in cosmetics, such as lipstick and shampoo. 

The antifungal and antibacterial properties of saponins are important in cosmetic applications, in addition to their emollient effects. Yucca extracts are also used for ammonia and odor control in pig and poultry-raising facilities and in dog and cat foods (Pauling Institute).

Edible parts of Joshua Tree

Flowers - cooked. The flower buds, before opening, can be parboiled in salt water to remove the bitterness, drained and then cooked again and served like cauliflower. The opened flowers are rich in sugar and can be roasted and eaten as candy.

Fruit - cooked. The fruits can be roasted then formed into cakes and dried for later use. Root - raw, boiled or roasted.
 
Seed. Gathered and eaten by the local Indians