[MPWG] Why do we spend etc

Mon Aug 3 15:21:40 CDT 2009

Hi All:
I have enjoyed reading all the comments and input.

Diana, why would you think you are intruding?  Thank you for confirming how
disturbing the transgenics topic is.

John, I  took some time to explore the healing seekers website.  Perhaps you
could describe your background and input with Healing Seekers?

BIoprospecting is currently experiencing a good deal of activity.
Madagascar periwinkle in particular (and featured on the healing seeker
website), figures prominently in drug development and transgenic medicinal
plant development.

My question is, how does drug discovery contribute to preserving local
ecologies and indigenous medical systems?  Why can't we have a pluralistic
medical society, instead of implying that indigenous medical practices are
only valid to the extent that they are assimilated or integrated within the
paradigm and epistemology of western medicine?

In other words, why can't we enjoy  cultural, intellectual and biologic
diversity?  This doesn't mean we can't work together.  In any marriage, you
must first have mutual respect and independence.  That is the essential
foundation for developing a relationship that is functional, healthy
and nonexploitive.

And, especially, we need a system of research and research funding that is
not patent-driven.   The private/corporate/ ownership of life forms and DNA
sequences has slipped into our legal system by default.  It is predicated
only on a legal precedent from a Supreme Court ruling in 1980 that was based
on laws written before the design of new life forms and genetic engineering
were even imagined.  Even if a researcher has unselfish motives (which I
imagine is usually the case), s/he is still usually working within a system
of corporate-university alliances that leads to patenting and market
control.  It's a system problem.

Most people are unaware that it is even happening.

best regards,
Gena

Gena Fleming, MS, LAc
NCCAOM Diplomate Oriental Medicine
www.plantbyplant.com

2009/8/2 John James <jamesjw4 at gmail.com>

> Y'all,
> Thank you for sharing so much information and ideas.  It pleases me to know
> more people are aware of the value of medicinal plants to the world.  If I
> may, please allow me to share a non-profit organization with which I am
> involved called Healing Seekers (www.healingseekers.com).  This group
> films healing practices used by intact indigenous cultures and creates
> documentaries to teach the public.  So much of this knowledge is being lost
> and we hope to play a role in preserving it.  I believe you will enjoy the
> trailers on the website.
> Best regards,
> John
>
> John W. James
> Healing Seekers/CuraCaza
> 336 655-3568
>
> True religion is real living; living with all one's soul, with all one's
> goodness and righteousness. - Albert Einstein
>
>   On Sun, Aug 2, 2009 at 7:04 AM, marguerite uhlmann-bower <
> 3moonsisters at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>>  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
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> 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.org with 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.
>>
>>
>
>
>
> --
> John W. James
> 336 655-3568
>
> True religion is real living; living with all one's soul, with all one's
> goodness and righteousness. - Albert Einstein
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> 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.
>
>
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