The Daffodil or Lent Lilly (Narcissus pseudonarcissus L. of the Liliaceous family) is a flowering plant that originates from “southern Europe, Asia, and North Africa” (Enna and Norton). By tradition the Daffodil was used for inducing vomiting, topically for joint pain, and for hysteria and epilepsy (Enna and Norton). As medical and plant sciences have progressed, Galantamine an alkaloid produced by the Daffodil has been researched for its interactions with the nervous system in reliving the symptoms of Alzheimer’s (New Drugs). While Daffodil’s medical benefits are just starting to be realized, for its neurological effects and other possible uses it is poisonous to humans. The toxic substances produced by the Daffodil can cause nausea, diarrhea, “Daffodil itch”, lower heart rate, and neurological dysfunction. (Enna and Norton)
History
The Narcissus pseudonarcissus was used as early as the first century, as a topical treatment for “wounds and sprains”. (Enna and Norton) The Daffodil common name according to documents only appeared around the 16th century, possibly derived from asphodel or affodyl. (Dalton) The accepted scientific name came in 1933 from the “MONOGRAPH OF NARCISSUS, SUBGENUS AJAX” by H. W. Pugesley which can be found on the Dafflibrary website. The Daffodil flow was so widely prized during the 1920’s to 50’s in England that British rail created a rail system, for the sole use of sightseers and flower pikers, called the “Daffodil specials”. (Dalton) I was not able to find a definitive statement about locations where they are grown now from just one, or academically reliable sources, they seem to be grown all around the world. One site I browsed across mentioned Arkansas and California specifically as large commerc...
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...many plants. (Enna and Norton)
Summary
There is much more research to be done on the Daffodil for nervous system disorders, fighting cancers, or other as yet undiscovered uses. It may not be the magic drug or a cure all we would hope for. But it is a step forward that is giving family members more valuable time with their loved ones and some comfort for those who have been afflicted with these diseases.
Works Cited
Dalton, Jan. "The English Lent Lily." n.d. thedaffodilsociety.com. .
Enna, Salvatore Joseph and Stata Norton. Herbal supplements and the brain: understanding their health benefits and hazards. Upper Saddle River, N.J: FT Press, 2012.
"New Drugs." The American Journal of Nursing 101 (2001): pp. 24AAAA+24CCCC. .
...o treat many conditions; an ancient Chinese emperor prescribed it to cure conditions such as gout and malaria, soon its healing properties were heard around the world and the use of cannabis as a medicine spread like wild fire to many other regions (Earleywine, p. 168). In fact marijuana was legal in the United States till 1942 when against the medical communities recommendation it was removed from the list of acceptable medications. Today there are numerous studies being conducted on the effects of medical marijuana and scientists have proven its effects on treating many symptoms. According to Dale H. Gieringer in his book Medical Marijuana Handbook he states, Marijuana is proven to be effective as an anti-nauseant and an appetite stimulant for people going through chemotherapy and as an analgesic for patients suffering from chronic pain (Gieringer, p. 39).
Marigolds “Marigolds,” written by the author Eugenia W. Collier, begins with the main character, Elizabeth. The story is told in first person, being told by Elizabeth when she gets older. “Marigolds” takes place in Maryland during the Depression. The reader can tell it is the time of the Depression because in the story it says, “The Depression that gripped the nation was no new thing to us, for the black workers of rural Maryland had always been depressed.” Both the setting and time in this short story are important.
Although most public information on drugs is funded by anti-drug organizations, hopefully we will still learn the true facts about marijuana. The brain is the most complicated part of the human body. I will begin by explaining certain parts and their functions. In doing this I hope to give a better understanding of our brain while implicating the possibilities of chemical induced complications “The brain with its 15 billion neurons and nerve cells operates using chemical and electrical messages” (Swanson, 1975).1 This is how we perceive our senses. Differences in the way our brain translates these messages can impair perception.
Monarda fisctulosa had various uses for the Native Americans. This multipurpose plant may also be known as Bee Balm, horsemint, wild oregano, or many more. The most common name is bee balm due to the multitude of bees that are drawn in; some rest on the back side of flower petals, while others spread pollen between the plants. In total, there is approximately fifteen known species currently growing. The parts of the plant can be consumed in a variety of ways. The plant was, and still is, used to treat many issues and illnesses. This paper will describe the characteristics of Monarda, and the many uses for the leaves and flowers.
John Steinbeck’s, The Chrysanthemums, was published in 1938 in a book of short stories, entitled The Long Valley. The Chrysanthemums has been a rather powerful draw for scholars because of its wide gap for interpretations and analysis of its main protagonist character, Elisa Allen and also the unique descriptions used to portray the deeper meaning behind the setting of the story. Themes of sexuality, oppression of women, as well as other numerous types of conflict portrayed in this rather somber short story have made it a popular study among scholars and students alike. Steinbeck also uses literary elements including a dramatic tone, rich symbolism, and personification which increase the stories feeling and value exponentially. Steinbeck was critically acclaimed for his portrayal of the “common man” through his ability to illustrate in a “realistic style rich with symbolism,” the essence of life in the 1930’s (Price, Victoria).
In the story the Marigolds, by Eugenia W. Collier, Lizabeth has a younger brother named Joey.the story takes place in the Great Depression era. Lizabeth and her brother were the only people left in their household. They had a neighbor that was an old mean lady named Mrs. Lottie that was always working on her Marigolds in her garden. Elizabeth and joey always threw pebbles at Mrs.Lottie garden just to make her mad. Years later Mrs. Lottie died from old age. In the short story, Marigolds by Eugenia W. Collier the theme is that Lizbeth need to learn how to grow up. This theme is developed through the characters, the writing style, and the plot elements.
The end of child innocence is a significant part of transitioning into young adulthood. This is illustrated in “Marigolds,” a short story written by Eugenia Collier, that takes place in a small town trapped in poverty during the Great Depression. The main character Lizabeth is a fourteen-year-old girl who is playing with her brother and neighborhood friends and just being kids when she simultaneously encounters an experience that teach about compassion, which eventually helps her step into adulthood. Through Lizabeth’s childhood experience, Collier portrays that maturity is based on compassion and overcoming the innocence of childhood.
3rd Ed. New York; Plenum Medical, 143-57 Watson, S. J., Benson, J. A. & Joy, J. E. (2000). Marijuana and medicine: Assessing the science base. Archives of General Psychiatry, 57, 547-552. Tashkin, D. P. (1990).
If you reversed . . . the point of view from Rose Lee to Catherine Jane the
“In the evolving landscape of neurological research, a plant-based diet may help in treating symptoms of anxiety and depression.” Neal Barnard, M.D. Unfortunately, depression affects a staggering 9.5% of the adult population. As a result $83 billion are lost in productivity each year. Research suggests that a Western Diet, high in fat and animal protein contributes to lower cognitive abilities and mood disorders. Thus, adopting a vegetarian diet is an excellent choice for many people because it improves overal health. As a matter of fact, studies have shown that when individuals improve their physical health, they become more physically and socially active and their overall quality of life improves.
N,N-dimethyltryptamine(DMT) is a psychoactive chemical in the tryptamine family, which causes intense visuals and strong psychedelic mental affects when smoked, injected, snorted, or when swallowed orally (with an MAOI such as haramaline). DMT was first synthesized in 1931, and demonstrated to be hallucinogenic in 1956. It has been shown to be present in many plant genera (Acacia, Anadenanthera, Mimosa, Piptadenia, Virola) and is a major component of several hallucinogenic snuffs (cohoba, parica, yopo). It is also present in the intoxicating beverage ayahuasca made from banisteriopsis caapi. This drink inspired much rock art and paintings drawn on the walls of native shelters in tribal Africa- what would be called 'psychedelic' art today (Bindal, 1983). The mechanism of action of DMT and related compounds is still a scientific mystery, however DMT has been identified as an endogenous psychadelic- it is a neurotransmitter found naturally in the human body and takes part in normal brain metabolism. Twenty-five years ago, Japanese scientists discovered that the brain actively transports DMT across the blood-brain barrier into its tissues. "I know of no other psychedelic drug that the brain treats with such eagerness," said one of the scientists. What intrigued me were the questions, how and why does DMT alter our percep...
The Greeks and Romans learned about herbal medicine from these early civilizations. They also recorded them in books. We know of these works because they are translated into Arabic. Monks in Europe studied and grew plants for medicinal use. They translated the Arabic and that helped them with the plants. The first drugstores were in Baghdad (which is present day Iraq) in the 9th century (Smith 1). In the 13th century, major trade of herbs and spices occurred in London. Since there were no standards, bad quality herbs and wrong substitutes were often sold. Carolus Linneaus introduced the binomial system of plant nomenclature in 1753 (O’Sullivan 1). This helped identify plants scientifically, which helped to avoid mistakes between different plants.
It is important for us to learn a much as we can about hallucinogenic plants. A great amount of scientific literature has been published about their uses and effects, but the information is locked away in technical journals. No matter whether we believe the use of hallucinogenic plants is right or wrong, they have played an extensive role in human culture and probably will continue to do so.
Herbal remedies’ qualities are widespread availability, lower cost, effective for chronic conditions. Herbal remedies are the use of plants or plant extract to treat a person’ overall health. Herbal treatments are prominent for developing countries for instance, “in Africa up to 90% and in India 70% of the population depend on traditional medicine to help meet their health care needs” (Wachtel-Galor & Benzie, 2011), due to their low cost and availability. Herbal remedies have gained attention in the past decades, and expanding their uses due to the increased interest of natural therapies (Wachtel-Galor & Benzie, 2011). Herbs used on the remedies grow in the wild throughout the world, therefore making it easy to
Health claims are booming in today’s world. Many of these consumers are being misled by advertising and believe that their choice will benefit their health. Although herbal medicines have been in existence throughout human evolution, I have chosen to take a deeper look into these health practices. I’m curious if this is just another health claim or if there are actual benefits to taking these medicines.