The Ethnopharmacognosy of Foods and Foodways & the Evolution of Human Diets

Food Ethnopharmacognosy : Evolution of Regional Diets and Functional Dietary Phytochemical PatternsDr. Cedric Barrett Baker, Pharm.D., R.Ph Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice Dept . Of Pharmacy Practice / Ctr. for Clinical Research CCR-15 Mercer University, College of Pharmacy, Atlanta,Ga.Email: cedric@yak.net

Guest Lecture : Botanical Medicines & HealthInstructor : Dr. Cassandra Quave Emory University Center for the Study of Human HealthAtlanta , Georgia April 9th 2015 2:30pm

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Dedication to (the late great) John Milner , Ph.DChampion of enlightenment !

Incomparable mind!

Great human being ! Helped a lot of people all over the world ! A true mentor and friend to me - God bless John and Mary Fran sempre !

Whole & Holistic Models the body is the great whole and the process by which the body digests food is a smaller center of wholeness within the body (Nutrition is one perspective on the wholeness of the body.) You can apply this concept to refer also to a human being as a small center of wholeness within the great whole of the biosphere of the planet Earth T. Colin Campbell from Whole p 53 (2013)

Table of Contents Food-Medicine Continuum in the Evolution of Human Diets : New Paradigms & Models !

Dietary Phytochemicals, Traditional Diets/Dietetics, Epigenomics & Dietary Patterns

Pleiotropic Phytochemistry & Phytopharmacological Synergy of Bioactive Food Components

Traditional Caloric Restriction Methodologies with Prescribed Fasts and Traditional Dietetics

Human Culture and Plant Co-Evolution and the Evolution of Consciousness : Ethnopharmacognosy of Traditional Healers in Asia and the New World

Conclusions

Early human diets

2015 ?

Obesity A Global Pandemic Worldwide number of individuals overweight is now equal to the number that are in the opposite position of suffering from starvation !Projections for 2015 are ~ 2.3 billion people will be overweight and ~ 700 million will be clinical obese (WHO 2008)Obese class 1 BMI 30-34.9Obese class 2 BMI 35-39.9Obese class 3 BMI 40.0 or > (WHO 1998)

Food-Medicine Continuum in the Evolution of Human Diets : New Paradigms / Models Food-Medicine Continuum in Local Ethnobotany

Traditional Regional Cusines

Traditional Dietary Patterns

Traditional Medicinal Foodways

Spice use as condiment and botanical medicine

Phytochemistry of Taste !

Functional Phytochemicals in Homonoid and Early Human DietsZoopharmacognosy and Diet Evolution to Ethnopharmacognosy Primates self-medicate with plant-foods / Humans have evolved spicesDr. Eloy Rodriquez & Dr. Richard Wrangham posit Zoopharmacognosy (term-concept)

Spice use in Southeast Asia

The Phytochemistry of Taste

Spice use world-wide

what humans regularly ingested , somewhere between 80-220 plants with an estimated 80,000 220,000 secondary metabolites , modified multiple physiological processes in a concerted manner. The understanding holds promise for the fields of medicine and biology not because it is a new insight , but because it is an ancient process that shaped human physiology.

Dr. Kevin SpelmanEcological Pharmacology : Humans and plantscoherently couple through phytochemistry. Unified Energetics 2006. 2(5) p. 40-45 (2)

Dr. James "Jim" DukeThere is no fine line between spice and herb, and futhermore, no true line between herb, spice, foods, and medicine.+

Dr. Dennis McKenna on Phytochemicals as Secondary Metabolites

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Dr. Nina Etkin on Spices : the Pharamacology of the ExoticSpices differ from other domesticated and commercialized plant species in at least one pharmacologically significant way : the marked organoleptic qualities that signal the presence of allelochemicals, which have been bred out of many cultivated food plants

(Curcuma longa) Turmeric Zingiberaceae

Used as a food-medicine in India & Southeast Asia for > 3,000 years1st century introduced to Greeks by Arab spice traders as yellow ginger Cultivated in China since 7th century~1200 CE brought to Africa and later to the CaribbeanFound in Germany since 1150 CE first known as Indian saffron -----------------------------------------------------Used as a key ingredient in South & Southeast Asian rice dishes & curries

Long history of use in North & Central Africa as component of sofrito sauces which are used to season chicken & poultry dishes

In Morocco used to flavor Couscous and as a component of the la-kama spice mix

Used as a substitute for saffron in sweet dishes and to color various dishes

Used in soups (lentil) & spice mixtures

Essential oil used in liqueurs to improve flavors such as in stomach bitters

Turmeric oleoresin used in food industry as a spice in soups , sauces , and instant meals

Spices in Medicinal RecipesMedieval Materia MedicaDrug for strengthening the breathing Red rose without stems 6 parts Long galingale (galangal) 5 parts Clove 3 parts Mastic 3 parts Nard 3 parts Asarum 3 parts Cinnamon , inferior 2 parts Yew 2 parts Saffron 2 parts Mace 1 part Common cinnamon 1 part Cardamom 1 part Lesser cardamom 1 part Nutmeg 1 part

From the AQRABADHIN -The Medical Formulary of Al KindiAl-Kindi (c.800-870 CE) born in Kufa , Iraq Medieval botanist , chemist , and pharmacist (3)Recipe . 97 Nabatiyya : Chicken Broth with ItriyaOldest recipe of pasta in soup in Mediterranean DietItriya-first hard grain pasta in Mediterranean Cooking-----------------------------------------------------------------------Chickens --( 2 ) put in pot with finely chopped white onion , olive oil , chick peas (crushed) stick of Chinese cinnamon , Good piece of cheese , salt to taste seasoned with spices All crushed in the mortarDry ground coriander (seeds)Ground black pepperChinese cinnamonGalangalSpikenardClovesNutmegLong pepperGinger3 handfuls of Itriya10 dirhams of rose water (11)

FunctionalFoodsMedicinal Foods

Medical Foods (Rx)

Dietary supplements

Bioactive food components

Adapted from

Cannabis indica

New medicines from old medicinesCBDA Cannabidiolic acid is main component of glandular hairs (up to 15 %) selective Cox2 inhibitor IC50 2.2uMCannabinoid acids possess no psychotropic activity

Do not send Cheech & Chong to harvest the glandular hairs !

Traditional Thai dietetics cannabis leaves are a substitute for hot basil

Dietary Patterns in Regional CusinesTraditional Dietary patternsTraditional Regional CusinesMediterranean Diets

Asian Diets

Vegetarian DietsSardinia vs Malta

Okinawa vs Japan (rest of)

Loma Lindians

Traditional FoodwaysTraditional Horticulture & AgricultureTraditional Food processingTraditional Southeast Asian Horticulture & Agriculture

Rice cultivars in the Phillipines (~4,000) vs Thailand (17,000)

Neem fences throughout Asia

Traditional knowledge loss in Karen tribes of Southeast Asia Native American Jerusalem Artichokes (Helianthus tuberosus)

Cocoa tea vs Tri-mate in Bolivia

Green tea vs Black tea

Indian Chai vs Kashmiri Chai

Indian curries vs Thai curries

Traditional Knowledge and Plant Domestication in Horticulture/Agriculture ______________________Karen village in the North of ThailandThailand Traditional Karen Noelle Johnson in research with the Karen in Northen Thailand found ~ 50 edible wild plant species via Karen traditions in the geographic areaOut of the ~ 50 wild plant species-- 31 have significantly declined in use (over the last 10 years)-- 7 had locally disappeared ( become extinct )-- 17 were locally cultivated in household gardensDr. Johnson concluded her most important finding was a redefinition of the term Extinction !

Long-neck Karen tribe 2005In the Shan states Burma (Myanmar) These people are fiercely trying to hold their traditions against a lot obstacles.

There may be many reasons for the loss of traditional knowledge !

The Evolution of Human Spice Use

Prehistory ~50,000-60,000 years ago humans wrapped their food in leaves to retain juices , keep ashes off , sometimes enhance flavor , and to tenderize and preserve meat , and perhaps treat disease. (1) Dr. Jim Duke

Spices start appearing in the historical records of many cultures approximately 5,000 years ago !

Looking at this 5,000 year old historical evolution brings us to the present use of spices in functional food science and biomedicine .

Habanero 100,000-500,000 SU Thai 50,000-100,000 SU Cayenne-Tabasco 30,000-50,000 SU Jalapeno 5,000-15,000 SUGreen Bell Pepper 0 SU

The Phytochemistry of TastePhytochemistry of spicesPhytochemistry of tasteGingerols, zingerone

Allins, allicin, DAD, DAT

Curcuminoids

Caradmom (monoterpenes) 1,8 cineole (2 to 44 %) limonene (2 to 14 %)

Capsaicinoids

Aromatic, pungent (m or l), slightly bitter

Pungent , burning (characteristic)

Mild aromatic, slightly pungent

Aromatic, slightly pungent, spicy, mildly burning

Mild fruity to pungent, spicy and burning

Chile Pepper Phytochemistry & Phytopharmacology

Capsaicinoids Cardiovascular BioactivityAnti-aggregant , Antioxidant , Anti-arrythymic ,Ca+ channel blockers , decreases tachycardia decreases ischemia , Cyclooxygenase inhibitorVasodilator ,Dihydrocapsaicin Anti-Hypercholesterolemic Scoville units--------------------------------------------------------------------- Pain reliefCapsaicin 69%Analgesic , Anti-inflammatory , Antiseptic H.pylori 16,000,000Quercetin - Cox-2 inhibitor Dihydocapsaicin 22%--------------------------------------------------------------------- 15,000,000AntiobesityThermogenic + Antiangiogenic = Antiobesity agent Nordihydro (NDHC)----------------------------------------------------------------- 7%Cancer Chemoprevention 9,100,000Inhibits carcinogen activation Homodihydro Attenuates lipid peroxidation/oxidative DNA damage (HDHC) 1%Inhibits tumor cell proliferation 8,600,000Apoptosis induction in cancerous & premalignant cellsInhibition of angiogenesis and metastasis

Ginger Phytochemistry & Phytopharmacology

Gingerols [4][6][7][8][10] Gingerol [6] main constituent GingerolBioactivity of GingerolsNF-kB [6] prior tmt. supresses IkBa phosphorylation inhibits TRAIL induced NF-kB activation

COX-2 decrease transactivation (COX-2)Inhibits PGE(2) production

iNOS - attenuation of NF-kB mediated iNOS gene expression Zingeberene----------------------------------------------------------Zingeberene - Inhibits rhinovirus (35% EO)--------------------------------------------------------[6] Shogoal decrease tumor viability via microtuble destruction -----------------------------------------------------------------------------Ginger pharmacological bioactivity (inhibits H. pylori growth -bacteriostatic)antimicrobial , analgesic , antipyretic , antiemetic , anitulcer , anxiolytic , antihypertensivecardiotonic , hypoglycemic , antihyperlipidemic , anti-inflammatory , immunostimulant-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------(1,6,17,21)Shogoals [4][6][8][10][12] Shogoal

isles of Ternate and Tidore , whence merchants bring thir spicie drugsJohn Milton - English poet

Indonesia

Nutmeg Phytochemisty & Phytopharmacology (1,6,17)

Myristicin Anesthetic , Anti-aggregant IC 50 = 250 uM Anti-inflammatory , Anti-oxidant 25-100mg/kg oralCa+ channel blocker IC 50 = 88 uMHallucinogen *-----------------------------------------------------Borneol Anti-inflammatory , Analgesic ,Hepatoprotectant------------------------------------------------------Limonene Anti-cancer , Anti-mutagenic , Anti-tumorFungistatic , Antiseptic , Antiviral , Antibacterial -------------------------------------------------------

Plants & Phytochemicals in the Evolution of the Human Diet PlantsPhytochemicals10 -100 million species of organisms on planet earth

250,000 300,000 species of plants (estimated) 6 % explored

80 - 220 plant species in early human diets (estimated)~ 1,000 to 10,000 phytochemicals per plant (estimated)

139,000 (known) secondary metabolites/phytochemicals estimated at 15% of total plant chemical constituents

80,000 to 200,000 phytochemicals in early human diets

Evolution of Human DietsAsian Diet / Diets---------------------------------Traditional Japanese DietOkinawan Diet greater use of spicespurple sweet potato widely consumed--------------------------------------------Traditional Thai DietThai curry bases wet curries/fresh spicesAt the top of biodiverse use of herbsand spices in world-wide dietary patterns very high vegetable intake very high & diverse fruit intake--------------------------------------North-vegetable oil base

Central-coconut oil base

South-tamarind paste/ghee base

The Evolution of Human Diets : Case Studies of Regional CuisinesTable of ContentsExamples Dietary patterns in health and disease Blue Zones

Biocultural niche construction in regional cuisines

Asian diets and Mediterranean diets

Latin American dietsEpidemiology and Geography of Diets/Dietary Patterns

Xenohormesis & Phytochemical Synergy in Diets / Dietary Patterns & Regional Cuisine Construction

Epidemiology and Hawaii in Asian Foodways & Transmigrations

Superfoods from the Incas and Aztecs : Quinoa to Mole

Modern Day Traditional Materia Medica for ~ 70- 80% of the World : Food and Medicinal Plants

Zingiberaceae use in SE Asia & Spices in Early Wines from China to the West : Ethnopharmacognosy & Food

Ancient Herbal Wines : China Syria - Egypt From China to SyriaEgypt10,000 15,000 years ago

Spices in fermented wines of various bases

Most likely used as tonics

Anti-cancer bioactivity in actual sampled products~5,000 years ago

Extensive use of spices

Much of the later Greek medical knowledge came from Egypt

Ancient Uses of Spices Medicinal & Ancillary UsesEgypt 3,000 BC - garlic in use spices used in mummy prep.

Greece ~400 BC - Hippocrates formulary included : cinnamon , coriander , mint , saffron , thymeRome Claudius & Neros surgeon general used ginger for stomachic problemsChina ~3,000 B.C. - ginger in use

Aztecs chile pepper used with cacao for black mole

Mayans chile pepper used for asthmaIndia ~3,000 BC black pepper used in cooking

Assyrians- ~3,000 BC used :sesame spice in wine(~650 BC) used:anise , cardamom , coriander , cumin , dill , garlic , myrrh , poppy ,thyme , saffron , and turmeric

Babylonians - ~700 BC used :cardamom , coriander , garlic ,saffron , thyme , and turmeric

Medical Ethnobotany of Spices as Traditional Functional/Medicinal Food Components Southeast AsiaZingiberaceaeTurmeric ( Curcuma domestica ) Thai Khamin (~40 varieties in Thailand)Found in practically all Thai curries , temu lawak Malay variety used for stiff muscles and jaundiceGinger ( Zingiber officinale ) Thai Khing (found in almost all kitchens of SE Asia) in Zingiber Tea -Thailand in Jamu - rheumatic pain-key component of many JamuMalay tonic tea grated ginger ,quail eggs & honey General tonic & aphrodisiacChinese Key ( Boesenbergia pandurata ) Thai - Krachai / used in mixed veg. fish soups & curries Galangal Thai Kha - ( Alipinia galanga ) in Zingiber tea - indigestion , gas, diarrhea & dysenterySoutheast Asia Traditional Cuisine & Medicine has a transnational focus on complex plant mixtures for traditional functional / medicinal foods & phytomedicines Spices especially from the Zingiberaceae family form a major part of this traditional food-medicine continuum.-----------------------------------------------------------------------------Traditional Thai Medicine (Thailand) Zingiber Tea1 thumb length ginger & galangal10 mls ginseng extractJuice of lemon 15mls of honey or bee pollenstimulates digestion,cure flatulence ,constipation,Indigestion / decongest lungs , sinuses + bronchi due to colds + allergies , general tonic ,regulate menstruation + aphrodisiac------------------------------------------------------------------Traditional Thai Medicine / Jamu / Ramaun

-------------------------------------------------------------Uses multiple ingredients in a single preparation for pleiotropic pharmacological effects different pharmacological effects from different ingredients------------------------------------------------------------------Jamu - Turmeric in almost all Jamu as a blood tonic, pain killer, anti-inflammatory found in 16 jamu for womens health. Galangal = 12 kinds have documented use in Jamu

(Boesenbergia pandurata) Thai krachai Chinese key Thai finger root Traditional Thai Spice / Functional Food Component

Krachai common ingredient in Thai soups and seafood curries

Traditional Thai Cuisine digestive traditionally included in the diet to aid sluggish digestion , flatulence , and indigestion

In Traditional Thai Medicine rhizome used for : oral inflammation , tooth and gum disease diarrhea dysentery Also as a diuretic

Tea from Krachai leaves is used in cases of food poisoning and allergic reactions to food.

This rhizome lowers HCA production specifically through inhibition of the first step of enzymatic activation of HCAs

Global Cancer BurdenAt an ecologic level, there was a suggestive inverse correlation between spice consumption and all cancer (excluding non-melanoma skin cancer) age standardized. (6)IHS Study & other studies support data that show India & SE Asia have some of the lowest cancer rates and are among the highest consumers of ginger and turmeric in the world.India ~ 380,000 tons-yrIndonesia~ 192,500 tons-yrThailand~ 170,00 tons-yr

IHS study turmeric & ginger consumption 95%

Ginger intake per person grams/monthNew Dehli 41.7g/moMumbai 58.3g/mo.Trivandrum 37.3g/mo.

Spices, India, Southeast Asia and EpidemiologyGinger production 2008

NF-kB

Plants & Phytochemicals : Chemopreventive & Pharmacological TargetsPlants & PhytochemicalsChemopreventive & Pharmacological targets10-100 million species of organisms on earth

250,000 300,000 species of plants (estimated) 6% explored

139,000 (known) phytochemicals secondary metabolites * est. at 15% of total

30,000 (known) terpenes16,800 (known) alkaloids9,000 (known) phenolics6,800 (known) flavonoids50,000 (known) phytochemicals with 3 or > bioactivities linked to targets20,000 plant species used in ethnomedicine world-wide

10,000 health modifier genes

500 (known) phytochemical cancer modifiers

350-400 (known) pharmacolgical targets

12-20 epigenetic health modifiers phytochemicals (known)

Dietary Phytochemicals, Traditional Diets / Dietetics, Epigenomics, & Dietary PatternsEpigenetic health modifiers phytochemicals/ histone acetylation modulation and/or HDAC/HAT activitiesPlants sourcesS-allylmercaptocysteine, Allyl mercaptan, Diallyl disulfide (DADS)

Resveratrol

Quercetin

6-methylsulfinyhexylisothiocyanate

Curcumin

Theophylline

Garlic

Dark Grapes , peanuts, mulberries

Apples, onions , nuts , berries , tea

Japanese horseradish (wasabi)

Turmeric

Black & Green tea

Hormetic PhytochemicalsEGCG-EC,EGC,ECG .etc

Curcumin curcuminoids

Gingerols

Resveratrol-stilbenes

Phytopharmacology of Dietary Phytochemicals : Hormesis & SynergyHormetic doses vs Pharmacological doses

Botanical Natural ProdTurmeric/Curcumin (curcuminoids)

Ginger (gingerols)

Chile peppers (capsaicinoids)

Green Tea (EGCG)TurmericCurcuminoidsGinger (gingerols)Chile peppers (capsaicinoids)Green Tea (EGCG)Cardamom Cox-2 inh (1-8 cineole) 3o% of oilCinnamon-Cox-2 inh (cinnamaldehyde)6k-30k ppm

NF-kB modulators/ Cox-2, Cox-1 inhBotanical Natural Prod

Intermission Break

Test Product SN Marker compound Cox2(PGE2sec) Cox1(TXB2sec) IC50/ug/ml IC50/ug/ml---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Advil/Ibu ibuprofen 0.6-0.7 0.1-0.2BayerASA/ASA acetylsalicylic acid 1-2 0.3-0.4Celebrex celecoxib 0.05-0.06 3-4----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Turmeric raw root powder 1000Capsicum annuum var annuum Cox-2,Cox-1 inhibition In Vitro NSAIDSRx vs Botanical Natural Products ()

CuraMed (EuroPharm) Curcumin extract (BCM-95) 45patients (38females 7males) 38 finished 7 dropped out. 28 joint assessment for tender joint count, swollen joint count, and duration of morning stiffness3 tmt protocols BMC-95 curcumin (500mg) BID for 8 weeks 59.9%SS IMPBMC-95 curcumin + diclofenac 50mg BID x 8 weeksDiclofenac 50mg BID x 8 weeksResults : Pilot study shows BCM-95 reduced DAS28 & ACR scores in pat with RA alone or in combination with diclofenac. Intake levels of 500mg BID x 8weeks with few adverse effects. Only BCM-95 alone sig decreased CRP levelsSpecial Curcumin Extract from Turmeric Shows Promise in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients in Pilot Trial-Research Review

Practical Applications of Functional Nutrition in Primary Health CareThai Functional / Medicinal Beverage * Roselle / Hibiscus Tea

------------------------------------------------------------Hibiscus tea ACE inhibitor , diuretic- bioactivity---------------------------------------------------------------Antihypertensive Diuretic AntihypercholesterolemicNatural Standard rates Grade B antihypertensionClinical evidence lowers diastolic & systolic blood pressure in mild to moderate HTNOne study found comparable hypotensive effect with Captopril

Functional Dietary Patterns

(29 , 33 , 34, 35 , 36 , 37)

Cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum C. zeylanicum and cassia C. aromaticum)Phytochemistry - Cinnamaldehyde 6,000 to 30,000 ppm - main constituent -

Comparing 49 herbs & spices Cinnamon potentiated insulin activity in vitro > 20 fold higher than any other compound or plant

Dose dependent effects similar to insulinPleiotropic synergy in PC bioactivity of Cinnamon components for metabolic syndrome (type 2 diabetes, dyslipidemias, HTN, CVD)

One beta blocker (epicatechin)3 diuretic compounds6 calcium channel blockers

Precaution - Drug interactions with insulin & other anti-diabetic Rxs.

Medical Ethnobotanical Non-Diabetic Uses of Bitter Melon in Asia China reduce body temp, tonic , tmt constipation antiflatulence agent Cambodia leaves used to combat fever & deliriumIndonesia decoction of the leaves is used to tmt constipation & expel intestinal wormsMalaysia a poultice of the powdered leaves is applied to burnsPhilippines juice expressed from the green fruit is used tmt of chronic colitis & dysenteryCambodia, Laos , Vietnam use cooked fruit to tmt colds & cough

Family - curcubitaceae Phytochemistry (main)Genus momordica Charantin , Vicine , P-insulinSpecies charantia

Habitat Medical Ethnobotany - tropical and subtropical vine Used in traditional medicine to widely grown in India , China , prevent and treat diabetes in SE Asia , Africa , and the China , India , and SE Asia Carribbean Momordica charantiaBitter melon

Bitter melon ( Momordica charantia )

Phytopharmacology

Charantin and mormordin- hypoglycemic effects

Vicine inhibits glucose absorption

P-insulin- reduces blood glucose levelsLectin components insulinomimetics (they mimic insulin)

Bitter melon ( Momordica charantia )

Phytotherapeutic aspects

Reduces blood sugar ,

Improves glucose tolerance ,

reduces HgA1c

Increase glucose utilization

Anti-viral

Inhibits H. pylori

Traditional Caloric Restriction Methodologies in Prescribed Fasts and Traditional DieteticsRamadan

Coptic fasts

Traditional Dietetics & Caloric Restriction

RamadanStudies show weight loss with attendant health benefits in well-conditioned physically active men who fast during Ramadan vs non-fasters & HDL increase

Studies show in overwt , normal wt. , and under wt. all have wt. loss most pronounced by % in the overweight.

Traditional Caloric Restriction Methodologies with Prescribed Fasts and Traditional DieteticsCoptic fast

More of a caloric restriction fast vs prolong fast

Health benefits shown in some studies

Blue Zones & EpidemiologyJapan / okinawaItaly / SardiniaSocial closeness

Dietary pattens unique to Okinawa vs the rest of Japan

Caloric restriction in traditional dieteticsBMI on traditional diets vs nutrition intervention

Dietary patterns and social patterns unique to Sardinia

Caloric restriction in traditional dietetics

History of Medical Ethnobotany and Ethnopharmacy of Food : Ancient to Modern

Human Culture & Plant Co-Evolution and the Evolution of Human ConsciousnessBiocultural niche constructionPlant chemistry & cultureRegional Moles in Mexico

Regional curries in SE Asia

Regional tagines in Maroc

Regional pasta dishes in Italy Regional yogurt dishes worldwide !Zingiberaceae family and neuroprotection in food-medicine co-evolution of Southeast Asian foodways

Thai curries as tonics

Chai teas as tonics

POM mango as a new tonic

The Alchemists of Afek

Shamanic use of ginger in New Guinea

In the Bimin-Kuskusmin tribe plants and fungi play the most central role in sacred life

3 ginger, tobacco, and mushrooms are believed to possess their own spirit unlike the majority of plants known to this tribe.

Jamu Dreams & Yage SongsTraditional Indonesian botanical MedicinesAmazonian traditional medical schools Many Indonesians believe that some of the older Jamu recipes were received by people while in trace, or through dreams

one fact is certain : dreams, mysticism of one sort or another, and even magic, are an integral part of Indonesian traditional medicine. the shamans sing to the plants, or the spirits in them, and are in turn sung back to.

These songs or icaros, are said to map the vibrational essence of the plants ( The plant comes and talks to you, it teaches you to sing, ) curandero Don Solon Tello Lozano

Sacred Traditions : Oral & WrittenHoly bible Unani-tibb/ ayurvedic & zoroastrian traditions Their fruit will serve for food and their leaves for healing. Ezekiel 47:12

PomegranateZoroastrians hold the fruit as sacred and it is used in their rituals

Hadith of prophetic medicine relates that Muhammed PBUH advised his followers to eat this fruit to purge envy

Vedic tradition holds the sweet juice to be restorative , the root bark given to expel worms.

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Conclusions

Our future medicines , especially for chronic disease , perhaps will be multi-component phytochemical mixtures that resemble good, quality food.Dr. Kevin Spelman Quote from ,Ecological Pharmacology : Humans and plants coherently couple through phytochemistry.Unified Energetics 2006 2(5): p. 40-45

Many Thanks to Dr. Cassy Quave Emory Univ. *Un grande molto grazie Dr. Eloy Rodriquez Cornell Univ.

Dr. Jim Duke MUIH & Green Farmacy Garden Dr. Michael Tims MUIH Dr. Kevin Spelman MUIH

Dr. Dennis McKenna Univ. of Minn. Twin CitiesKat Harrison Univ of Missouri KC

Mercer Univ. College of Pharmacy - Dean Matthews