10 Secrets Of Ethnobotany, Revealed

Royal Paulownia, also called Empress Tree or Princess Tree.Paulownia tomentosa.This tree is named after Anna Pavlovna.Anna Pavlovna.Born in 1795, Anna Pavlovna was a Russian patriot, daughter of Czar Paul I, and wife of King William II of the Netherlands. She is also spelled Paulownia.

Rapid-growing, deciduous paulownias produce fragrant purple flowers and fuzzy, heart-shaped leaves. Though connected to Russia, they grow in China. This plant has a surprising family.Traditional medicine uses exist.Traditional medicine uses exist.

These trees also have major cultural significance in Japan.Japan holds major cultural significance for these trees. Custom dictates that when a couple has a girl baby, they plant this tree. The two grow up together; the tree grows taller than the human. When the girl reaches marriageable age, her family cuts the tree down. They carve the wood, called kiri, into beautiful items for her dowry.The wood, called kiri, is carved into beautiful items for her dowry in Japan.kiri.kiri.

The oak is one of the most internationally known and revered trees. Artwork spans from ancient to modern times, showing the leaf-and-acorn motif, which makes sense. With over 460 identified species, it is a huge genus that grows natively across the Northern Hemisphere and has since moved to the Southern Hemisphere.460 identified species.This genus grows natively throughout the Northern Hemisphere and has since been introduced to the Southern Hemisphere.

The Quercus.Quercus.The Quercus genus is set apart by a constellation of impressive attributes.impressive attributes.These attributes include one of the longest lifespans for a deciduous tree, reaching up to 1,000 years. The nut offers surprising nutrition to wild animals and humans. It provides very dense, durable hardwood for making furniture, wine barrels, and ships. The tree also shows amazing adaptability; few trees survive in two different hemispheres.

Ancient Druids considered oak trees sacred and often performed rituals in oak groves. One origin of the word “Druid” comes from an old Celtic term meaning “knower of the oak tree”.knower of the oak tree.Druids felt similar respect for mistletoe, which often grows on oaks in the British Isles.

The little yellow flowers of this plant relate to mustard and broccoli (the Brassicaceae family). This contrasts with the striking blue dye derived from the leaves after they are ground, fermented, and boiled. Many people think of Picts and Celts in ancient Scotland fiercely adorning their faces and bodies with woad. The color that once frightened Roman conquerors is called “Celtic Blue.” The movie Braveheart arrived many centuries too late to that party.Brassicaceae.People see the striking blue dye from the leaves after grinding, fermenting, and boiling them. Many think of Picts and Celts in ancient Scotland.Picts and Celts fiercely adorned themselves with woad.The hue that once frightened Roman conquerors is called “Celtic Blue.”Braveheart.Braveheart.

Historical records show that woad has been used.woad has also been grown and used.Woad has been grown and used in ancient and medieval Germany, France, Scandinavia, and Italy. Ancient Egypt also valued it for giving a distinctive shade to the linen wraps that covered mummies.distinctive shade.This shade was used on linen wraps enshrouding mummies.

You do not need to be Hogwarts Professor Pomona Sprout to know that mandrakes have a long and storied history.long and storied history.The Bible states Rachel conceived Jacob with a mandrake root concoction, overcoming her infertility. In ancient Greek mythology, Circe and Aphrodite also supposedly used it as an aphrodisiac.

Mandrake roots do not actually scream. However, their creepy look like the human body made past people think plants controlled humans. AndSome truth exists in that.: The alkaloids in this nightshade family memberis Solanaceae) cause mixed effects: excitement and sleepiness. They also cause hallucinations. The jury is still deciding if mandrakes affect fertility or virility, but herbalists agree no one should use this dangerous plantwithout knowledge and guidance.Description of 'Mandrake - What A Scream!' in the list '10 Secrets Of Ethnobotany, Revealed'

When you make a healing brew, you must know the poison level. Every pharmacist shares this knowledge: a drug must heal but not harm.

Osmanthusis a group of shrubs and small trees most people ignore. Its leaves look plain, and its flowers are tiny, but people instantly recognize itsintoxicating smell.It smells like peaches, apricots, and honey, plus floral notes hard to describe.

The species known as “sweet olive” or “tea olive,” is Osmanthus fragransIt blooms from August to October. This makes it a perfect match for theChinese Mid-Autumn Festival. (AKA Moon Festival), which typically falls in September. The dried flowers are ingredients in tea, wine, cakes, and jam. Some Chinese families place lit candles, fruit, and osmanthus-laced sweets on a small table or altar as a sacrifice to the moon, in exchange for the family’s continued good fortune.

Chinese folklore says a troublemaker named Wu Gang appears during the full moon, trying to cut down an osmanthus tree. Yutu, a jade rabbit and Chang’e's pet, distract Wu Gang. This saves the tree, which heals itself every moon cycle.

In the US, kudzu gets a name.it is called the vine that ate the South.This name comes from its super-fast growth. Kudzu spreads through three ways: underground roots, runners that root at the soil, and twining vines. This member of thePuerariagenus shares a family (Fabaceae) with peas, peanuts, beans, alfalfa, and carob. However, unlike those, it is not seen as an edible crop. Or is it?

Colloquially called kudzu roots, the nutritious rhizomes can be eaten like potatoes. You can bake, fry, powder, or sauté them.Several science studiesshow that the roots’ 70+ active compounds might help treat alcohol dependence, liver damage, menopause issues, and cluster headaches. Traditional Chinese medicine experts likely do not get surprised. They have used kudzu root for over 2,000 years for problems like heart disease, diabetes, diarrhea, and fevers.

For centuries, Christmas celebrators hid kisses under mistletoe sprigs. Where did that custom start?Several theories existThe goddess Frigg of Norse mythology was killed by an arrow made of mistletoe after it killed her son Baldur. She then decreed that the plant, likely European mistletoe, would kiss anyone walking under it, so it could never be used as a weapon.Viscum album.would kiss anyone walking beneath it, so it would never again be used as a weapon.

Druids in the British Isles, before and after Christianity, treated mistletoe as sacred and magical. It kept green leaves through winter. Cut from a tree with a golden sickle, it served purposes for human and livestock fertility, protection from witches, disease avoidance, and as a psychoactive aid for priests and priestesses.for human and livestock fertility, protection from witches, avoiding disease, and as a psychoactive aid for priests and priestesses. Druids did not know its evergreen nature came from it being a hemi-parasite.Druids did not know the evergreen nature of mistletoe came from it being a...Even the southern parts of Europe noticed mistletoe. Ancient Greeks saw it as a cure-all. The Romans, according to Pliny the Elder, used it to treat ulcers, epilepsy, and poison ingestion.Judaism and Buddhism both started around the sixth or fifth centuries BCE on the Asian continent. Judaism began in the Middle East; Buddhism started near what is now Nepal and northern India. The humble citron is also important to both.

Citrus medicasouthern parts of Europe.Ancient Greeks saw mistletoe as a cure-all. Romans, according to Pliny the Elder, used it to treat ulcers, epilepsy, and poison ingestion.

Judaism and Buddhism both started around the sixth or fifth centuries BCE on the Asian continent. Judaism began in the Middle East; Buddhism began near what is now Nepal and northern India. The simple citron...Although emus do not eat or poop out the seeds of their plant, this part of the Eremophila genus is native to Australia.In the 1990s, a study group at the Australian Native Plants Society found that the Adnyamathanha, a specific Aboriginal group, focused on a certain species, E. longifolia, for cultural and medicinal uses.

More serious research by the Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology studied the ethnobotanical value of 13 different Eremophila species.is Buddha’s hand or fingered citron.has wiggly, nubby segments resembling slender praying fingers.in Chinese.Buddhist monks brought this to China. The stocky tree and its fruit symbolize happiness, wealth, and longevity. They are popular Chinese New Year gifts because they promise a lucky year. Buddha’s hands appear as home altar offerings for certain groups in what was called...Indochina..

In Judaism, the...etrog.is the Hebrew word for citron.plays a major rolein the ancient Sukkot harvest festival. Some scholars think the Torah prescribed the etrog, the “fruit of a beautiful tree,” for the festival. Others suggest its heavenly scent or heart shape makes it important. Besides the holiday,...Jewish folk wisdom.also assigns various powers to the lemon-like fruit. These powers include overall female fertility, conception of a male child, and easing labor pains.

Emus do not actually eat or poop out the seeds of their namesake plant. This member of the...Eremophilagenus is native to Australia, like the birds. A study group in the Australian Native Plants Society found in the 1990s that the Adnyamathanha,...a specific Aboriginal group,focused on a specific species, E. longifolia,for cultural and medicinal uses.

More serious research.The Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacologystudied the ethnobotanical value of 13 different EremophilaAboriginal people use this species. They commonly use it for upper and lower respiratory infections, as a topical wash for skin problems and infections, and as an insect repellent.

Native Australian peoples used certain species for adhesives, varnishes, perfumes, and rituals. They also used it for tribal initiation rites, blessing newborns, and calming ancestral spirits.

Indigenous peoples in South America’s Amazon basin originally drank ayahuasca in various forms for religious and spiritual rituals. Ayahuasca remains in use today.This is especially inBrazil, Ecuador, Bolivia, Peru, and Colombia.The main ingredients include chacruna (Banisteriopsis caapiPsychotria viridis is the subject.Psychotria viridisBanisteriopsis caapi is the subject.Banisteriopsis caapi is a large, yellow-flowered vine. Various other ingredients sometimes swap in or out.

Ayahuasca is considered anentheogen.This substance has hallucinogenic and/or psychoactive effects. Shamans and religious leaders use this strong drink to talk with spirit worlds, gain insight, push out bad energy, and cause joy. Western medicine now studies if some of the plant's chemicals can help people.Some of the plant's chemicals could help people suffering from anxiety, depression, and PTSD.Ayahuasca could help people with anxiety, depression, and PTSD.