Plant Detective
Summary: Flora Delaterre, plant detective, investigates one medicinal plant per program, including recent science, traditional uses, efficacy, risks, and lore. Delaterre's investigations take her around the globe, from Sri Lanka to Siberia, from the Appalachian Mountains to the rainforests of the Northwest, from research laboratories to your backyard. A production of Montana Public Radio since 1996. Program duration: 1:29
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Podcasts:
Prized medicine in Asia & new help for alcoholism. Keywords: Kudzu, Pueraria lobata, Southern, Dust Bowl, Asian, introduced, food, textiles, cold, flu, fever, headache, drunkenness, heart disease, menopause, vine
Immunostimulant good for cold & flu. Keywords: White cedar, arbor vitae, Thuja occidentalis, Northeastern U.S., cough, menstruation, rheumatism, counterirritant, bacterial infection, warts, herbs, medicinal plants
Clothes, shelter, and medicine for Northwest indigenous people. Keywords: Bark, leaves, red cedar, Thuja plicata, rot-resistant, canoes, shingles, cough, cold, diarrhea, rheumatism, wounds, herbs, medicinal plants, phytomedicinal
Internal & external antispasmodic; helps people quit smoking. Keywords: Lobelia inflata, pukeweed, vomitwort, emetic, relaxant, muscle spasm, cough, asthma, Indian tobacco, nicotine-like, medicine, phytomedicinal, nausea
From cure-all to kill-all, it's still spiritual medicine for Natives. Keywords: Tobacco, Nicotiana, phytomedicinal, plants, medicine, herbe sainte, Jamestown, Cotton Mather, slavery, sweat lodges
Traditional vermifuge holds promise for prostate cancer, diabetes. Keywords: Pomegranate, Punica granatum, parasites, worms, tapeworm, rind, juice, astringent, antibacterial, antifungal, diarrhea, candida, antioxidant, herbs, medicinal plants
Many corydalis species are medicinally active. Keywords: Pain, tremor, tic, nervous system, European, Chinese, North American, Golden Smoke, Scrambled Eggs, herbs, medicinal plants, phytomedicinal, Percy Julian
Oil from the heartwood fights infection. Keywords: Sandalwood, Santalum, perfume, religion, tree, aromatherapy, urinary tract, herpes simplex, gonorrhea, poaching, India, Hawaii, Australia, calming, phytomedicinal, herb
Stimulates bile production in 30-60 minutes. Keywords: Artichoke, Cynara cardunculus, liver, fat, jaundice, gallstones, antioxidant, cholesterol, diuretic, deodorant, Arab, phytomedicinal, herb, medicinal plant
Abortifacient, but knowledge of safe use has been lost. Keywords: Pennyroyal, Mentha pulegium, fleas, digestion, repellent, menstruation, childbirth, abortion, fatal, essential oil, herbs, medicinal plants, phytomedicinal
Used in cardiac drugs into the 1970s; uterine stimulant. Keywords: Scotch broom, broom, Cytisus scoparius, stimulation, regulation, circulation, abortion, herbs, childbirth, medicinal plant, phytomedicinal, invasive, weed
Investigated for male contraception; the slave woman's friend. Keywords: Gossypium, cotton, herb, medicinal plant, phytomedicinal, gossypol, 1970s, side effects, infertility, slavery, abortion, green root, uterine contraction, childbirth
Both domesticated and wild are medicinal, but short-term only. Keywords: Gossypium, cotton, cottonseed oil, textile, livestock, tree, shrub, herb, root bark, uterine stimulant, childbirth, abortion, nausea, headache, lactation, side effects, pests
A tiny plant with many uses, especially preventing miscarriage. Keywords: vine, partridgeberry, Mitchella repens, herbs, phytomedicinal, medicinal plants, sore nipples, salve, menstrual difficulty, astringent, overharvest, pregnancy
Increases breast milk; herbalists still prescribe to lower blood sugar. Keywords: Goats rue, Galega officinalis, lactation, diabetes, metformin, fenugreek, phytomedicinal, medicinal plant, herb