[MPWG] Why do we spend etc

Sun Aug 2 06:04:14 CDT 2009

Hello Diana and everyone,
Yes, hearing something like this can be disturbing. As I was reading every
ones comments, I contemplated offering my experiences and came to the
personal decision that it was time to tell. Let me offer this truth I live
by, it is my sense that when we are informed, we are empowered. This then
enables us to make decisions and take specific action.

But yes, this capitalism ideal is such a 'power over' the people, rather
than empowerment of the people. This last point may touch sensitive values
in each of us because one, its a primary way to become successful in our
culture. With that said, please everyone take just 10 minutes to read a
little on Transition Town (TT)  http://www.transitiontowns.org/
I know we are a medicinal plant list serve yet this is TT is for all aspects
of life.

Marguerite

On Sun, Aug 2, 2009 at 3:11 AM, Terressentials <terressentials at mailworks.org
> wrote:

> Hi.
>
> Sorry to intrude on the dialog, but I just wanted to say that I found
> your email disturbing.  I was aware of the manipulation of food crops,
> but this -- manipulating medicinal herbs -- is frightening.  It's not
> surprising though.  Is nothing out of reach of the tentacles of greed?
>
> Thanks for forwarding the book link.
>
> Diana Kaye, co-founder, Terressentials
>
>
>
>
> ----- Original message -----
> From: "Gena Fleming" <genafleming at gmail.com>
> To: "Bob Beyfuss" <rlb14 at cornell.edu>, 3moonsisters at gmail.com,
> mpwg at lists.plantconservation.org
> Date: Fri, 31 Jul 2009 20:39:55 -0500
> Subject: Re: [MPWG] Why do we spend etc
>
> Thanks, Marguerite and Bob, for  your comments.
>
> It is important to recognize the origins of herbal knowledge coming from
> systems which respected Nature as sacred, and contemplated the intricate
> organization and delicate relationships found there, seeking to work in
> accordance with them.
>
> Because what I am seeing is renewed interest in botanical medicine (or
> medicine of botanical source), but insufficient understanding of the
> epistemologies of indigenous science that enlighten appropriate use of
> these plants.  I am hopeful that we will one day have a truly
> pluralistic medical society.
>
> As economic interest broadens for medicinal plants, we will need to
> contemplate how best to direct this.  Historically, the interest of the
> pharmaceutical industry has been in isolating compounds for drug
> development.  Doing this in the laboratory still left the natural source
> alone.   But now the interest extends to genetically engineering the
> medicinal plants themselves to become drug factories.  In other words,
> nature herself is being altered to manufacture drugs.    Because
> genetically engineered plants can contaminate non-modified plants, this
> threatens the continued existence of the original species.
>
> Medicine figures within a cultural context and can not be separated out.
> Medical philosophy parallels agricultural philosophy.  In order to
> assure the continued existence of unmodified medicinal plants, we will
> need extensive, local, sustainable, organic cultivation of medicinal
> plants. Hats off to Jean Giblette's group for working on this with
> Chinese medicinals.
>
> For an example of  some of the medicinal plants that had already been
> genetically modified ten years ago,  see:
>
> Transgenic Medicinal Plants by Y.P.S. Bajaj, published in 1999.
> Available for preview on Google Books.
>
>   "The plant species included are Ajuga reptans, Anthemis nobilis,
>   Astragalus spp., Atropa belladonna, Catharanthus roseus, Datura spp.,
>   Duboisia species, Fagopyrum spp., Glycyrrhiza uralensis, Lobelia
>   spp., Papaver somniferum, Panax ginseng, Peganum harmala, Perezia
>   spp., Pimpinella anisum, Phyllanthus niruri, Salvia miltiorrhiza,
>   Scoparia dulcis, Scutellaria baicalesis, Serratula tinctoria, Solanum
>   aculeatissimum, Solanum commersonii, Swainsona galegifolia, tobacco,
>   and Vinca minor. "
>
> Link to preview:
>
>
> http://books.google.com/books?id=qQ2OY9GF41wC&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_navlinks_s#v=onepage&q=&f=false
>
>
> best regards,
>
> Gena Fleming
>
>
>
>
> 2009/7/31 Bob Beyfuss <rlb14 at cornell.edu>
>
> > With hundreds of thousands of adverse reactions to prescription and
> > over the counter drugs each year including thousands of deaths
> > (acetaminophen, aka Tylenol, amoI ng other brand names, alone is
> > responsible for more then 400 deaths each year)  is it any wonder
> > Americans are looking for alternatives? Read the label of almost any
> > prescription drug or even just watch the TV commercials that list
> > common "side effects" some of which include death and you might wonder
> > why more people are NOT looking at alternatives, particularly herbs
> > with long history of folk use.
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > PCA's Medicinal Plant Working Group mailing list
> > MPWG at lists.plantconservation.org
> >
> >
> http://lists.plantconservation.org/mailman/listinfo/mpwg_lists.plantconservation.org
> >
> > To unsubscribe, send an e-mail to MPWG-
> > request at lists.plantconservation.orgwith the word "unsubscribe" in the
> > subject line.
> >
> > Disclaimer Any advice given on this list regarding diagnosis or
> > treatments etc. reflects ONLY the opinion of the individual who posts
> > the message. The information contained in posts is not intended nor
> > implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice relative to
> > your specific medical condition or question. All medical and other
> > healthcare information that is discussed on this list should be
> > carefully reviewed by the individual reader and their qualified
> > healthcare professional. Posts do not reflect any official opinions or
> > positions of the Plant Conservation Alliance.
> >
> >
>

-- 
Green Blessings,
Sincerely
Marguerite

May our walk be soft and gentle
as we gather our roots once again.

Marguerite Uhlmann-Bower, R.N., Herbalist
TheHerbalNurses™
10517 Turnpike Rd.
East Meredith, NY 13757
(607) 278-9635
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.plantconservation.org/pipermail/mpwg_lists.plantconservation.org/attachments/20090802/f6e521ed/attachment.html>