Researcher Explores Native American Herbal Remedies
May 29,2013
Many modern medicines have their origin in natural remedies, and some researchers say traditional herbal cures hold clues for modern medicine. A pharmacology professor who studies Native American healing is sharing what he has learned.
Hikers often explore the foothills of the Angeles National Forest, but this group of hikers has a purpose. They are learning how Native Americans used the local vegetation in their healing, including plants like Yerba Santa, adopted by early Spanish settlers for lung problems.
The hike is led by James Adams, who teaches pharmacology at the University of Southern California.
“The science of pharmacology originally was the science of going out, talking to traditional healers, finding out which plants they used in their healing, and then taking those plants back to the lab to figure out why they work,” Adams said.
Aspirin, for example, was derived in the 19th century from salicylic acid, a long-time remedy for pains and fever found in plants like willow and meadowsweet. It was developed and marketed by the German company Bayer.
Adams says each society has developed a form of medicine based on plants.
“Of course, in India, they have Ayurvedic medicine. In China they have traditional Chinese medicine. In the Arab countries, they have traditional Arabic healing. The Jews have traditional Judaic healing, on and on. Everybody has their own traditional healing that depends on plant medicines,” Adams said.
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