Wonder Plants: The World of Healing Plants and the Ways We Use Them
Plants are all around us: ubiquitous to both indoor and outdoor spaces, features of life’s most meaningful moments and on our plates at every meal. They’re Earth’s dominant life form, making up eighty percent of our planet’s total biomass. And they have the power to nourish, heal and even cure us of illness: twenty-five percent of today’s pharmaceuticals are plant derived.
They’re as unique and changeable as any living organism, and some plants are immediately recognizable for their powers to heal and treat. (We’ve probably all put aloe on a sunburn, or had a cup of chamomile tea to help us relax before bed).
But some plants aren’t household names, even though their healing properties have saved lives and altered the course of human history itself. That’s why we’ve decided to shine a big ray of light on wonder plants. So read on, and prepare to be astounded by these exceptional plants and the way they have touched our lives!
The Pacific Yew Tree
Native to the northwest region of North America, the Pacific Yew Tree was utilized as an anti-inflammatory by indigenous American people for generations. Scientists began exploring the tree as a potential cancer treatment in the 1960s, leading to Paclitaxel. It may not be a household name across the board, but since its FDA approval in the 1990s, this medication has been a vital part of chemotherapy support for many cancers, including lung, ovarian and breast cancer, as well as kaposi sarcoma, a cancer found predominantly among those with HIV or AIDS.
Source: Native Plants PNW
The Cinchona Plant
A real game-changer, the bark of the Cinchona plant was originally used to create quinine to treat and prevent malaria. Documented use of quinine as an antimalarial dates back to at least the 1600s, with the first records of use provided by Spanish Jesuits stationed in South America. Synthetic quinine was first synthesized in a lab in 1944. However, naturally derived quinine is still the most commonly used compound for quinine medications, as it’s more economically scalable. Since the 1940s, medications derived from quinine have been used to treat malaria, lupus and arthritis. It’s hard to overstate the significance of quinine! The Cinchona wonder plant has saved countless lives throughout history and drastically improved the life expectancy of those with lupus as well.
Source: Awkward Botany
Turmeric
Turmeric, the wonder root! We absolutely adore this magical plant, and not just in curry. Turmeric is renowned for being a widely well-tolerated supplement for issues like inflammation, and it’s thought to support the health of those suffering from joint-related arthritis, skin issues and more. Eating turmeric is commonly considered the best way to reap its benefits- which is great, because it’s delicious!
Source: Homestead & Chill
The Birch and White Willow Trees
Did you know that aspirin is actually salicylic acid? Nor did we, until quite recently. But wait: did you know that it’s derived from willow and birch trees? We were amazed, too! It turns out, the salicylic-acid rich bark of these trees has been used medicinally since ancient times: very ancient, with documented use dating back to ancient Egypt and Sumer. The anti-inflammatory aspirin is used to reduce fevers, headaches and more- it can even lower one’s risk of cardiovascular events like heart attack. And topical salicylic acid is a mainstay treatment for a wide array of skin conditions, both common and less-than-common.
Source: Woodland Trust Organization UK
Air Purifying Wonder Plants
Do you love NASA? So do we! Talk about a natural treasure. And it may surprise you to know that the good folks at NASA are also plant enthusiasts, just like us! So much so, in fact, that they compiled a list of the very best air purifying plants as part of their Clean Air Study. It contains quite a few Léon & George mainstays, like the Silver Evergreen, the Snake Plant, and the Peace Lily. So although your gorgeous houseplants may not be the stuff of life-altering medical cures, you can be assured that they are good for you, all-around. Next time you give your plants a misting or watering, let them know how much you appreciate their friendship, or sing your praises: they respond to sound, and who doesn’t love being showered with affection?
Find your new wonder plant today- take a look at our Air Purifiers collection!
Source: Léon & George
L’Alchimie Botanique
A collection of all natural plant care essentials, including plant mist and foliar feed, naturally-derived fertilizer, and black olive soap for keeping plants clean, pest and fungicide free.