snowbunny

This article was recently on CNN.com ---

BTW: I read that Vitex is among the most threatened.

Herbal Remedy Boom Threatens Plants

Report: Herbal remedy boom threatens plants
Friday, January 9, 2004 Posted: 9:44 AM EST (1444 GMT)



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LONDON, England (Reuters) -- Worldwide demand for herbal remedies is threatening natural habitats and endangering up to a fifth of wild medicinal plant species which are being harvested to extinction, a leading science magazine said.

A study to be published later this year by the conservation organization WWF warns that between 4,000 and 10,000 plants may be at risk.

"It's an extremely serious problem," study author Alan Hamilton told New Scientist magazine on Wednesday.

According to the research, the market for herbal remedies has risen by 10 percent a year for the past decade in North America and Europe and is now thought to be worth at least 11 billion pounds ($20 billion).

The findings are based on an analysis of the number of species at risk on the World Conservation Union (IUCN) Red List of threatened plants. Two-thirds of the 50,000 medicinal plants being used are harvested from the wild.

Hamilton, a member of the IUCN's Medicinal Plant Specialist Group, also contributed to a report which will be unveiled by the conservation organization Plantlife International next week.

Among the threatened plants are tetu lakha, a tree found in south India and Sri Lanka and used for anti-cancer drugs in Europe; an Indian root called saw-wort which is used for skin disorders and tendrilled fritillary, a Chinese plant used to treat respiratory infections.

"With demand and commercialization growing fast, the future of the wild plants which have helped most of humanity for centuries is now more uncertain than it has ever been," Martin Harper, of Plantlife, told New Scientist.

The group, which says the problem has been looming for years, blames the herbal medicinal industry for not guaranteeing the sustainability of supplies.

"It is time for the industry to join forces with environmental organizations to ensure that herbal harvests have a sustainable future," Harper added.

nobimbo

Interesting article, thanks for posting this. It is so scary to think that we are polluting and/or using up so much of the good stuff this planet has to offer us

Linda

__________________
dx pcos 1984, type II diabetes 2001, also hypertension
Met 2000mg since 2001, started Glucophage XR 4/22/04, then switched to Met ER 6/04; also: multi, Vit. C, Vit. E, B12/folic acid combo, fish oil & borage oil combo, garlic capsules, cinnamon, Vitex, calcium with magnesium/zinc, biotin, CoQ10, selenium,iron
Other meds: Verapamil and Altace(for blood pressure)
Started laser hair removal 7/29/03, completed 3/04 (it works!)
UAE for fibroid 3/24/03 and 3/16/04

IFBPreachersWife

So what is the solution? Is it possible to grow your own plants? (maybe a stupid question but would definitely be a solution!)

MyJourney

Regarding Vitex, I know for a fact thatit can be grown at home.

My mother has a thriving bush in her garden, and it seems that once I learned to identify the plant, I have been seeing more and more of it.

The problem is the preparation. Since the remedy that we are used to using is made from the fruits of the bush. It is a matter of harvesting and then making the powder/capsles/tincture .
But, I have a book on herbal remedies with a chapter devoted to extraction, so like anything, it's just a matter of learning.

Going back to the original point, since Vitex is a cultured plant there should be no problem buying the brand that you are used to.

__________________
Oshrat 32
DX 09/01
Got symptoms under control with no meds.

snowbunny

I think a good solution is not to buy 'wild-crafted' herbs. Growing your own is a great idea too!

Actually Vitex is among the most threatened plants, so there could, possibly, be a problem with one's brand. It's a good idea to make sure that the label doesn't read 'wild-crafted,' or that the label reads instead something akin to 'harvested from sustainable sources.'

Doobie

does the article mention "ecological wildcrafting"-- sounds good at first glance, but who knows what it really means. Many of my herbs have this label on the ingredients list.

__________________
Lisa, 35
DH 36
Dx 1995
thin cyster


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