Author : José Waizel-Bucay
Research Department
Escuela Nacional de Medicina & Homeopatía|
Instituto Politécnico Nacional
Mexico City, 07320
The purpose of this work is to allow the reader to know quickly and in a summarized form, different aspects of the 700 plants that are used by homeopathy (that grow wild or cultivated) in temperate world zones for the remedies elaboration, such as: their common and scientific names (includes the synonyms), botanical family. Their habitat and form life, the part of the plant used and if they are prepared from fresh or dried form material and some bibliographical references for further information.
Since ancient times, humans have found plants to be a useful resource for satisfying several of their needs, not only the most basic one for food but also, among others, for obtaining relief from illness and disease. There have never been a people or culture that has not left oral or written testimony regarding its use of plants for this latter purpose, or that has not searched the surrounding flora for possible remedies for disease. Since Paleolithic times update, the search has continued without interruption, first, based only on intuition and trial-and-error, and later, by observing the similarities between the shapes of some of the fruits, seeds and flowers and the nature of the disease or the shape of the affected organ. At present, the exploration of flora continues in an empirical manner, keeping popular wisdom and conviction, knowing that a big proportion, over 75%, of flora still remains unexplored (Waizel & Waizel, 2009).
Format Design of the checklist and description of the elements of the text
Homeopathic Remedy Name: These names were taken from the consulted references and reviewed -between others-, from Bharatan, et al.
Scientific Name(s) / [Botanical Family]: The scientific names presented −comprises the species name, and the complete plant or abbreviated taxon author’s name, e.g., L. = Carl Linnaeus−. In some cases, -after the “=” symbol the relevant scientific synonyms are added-. These names were reviewed as far as possible from Bharatan (op. cit.) and from the following Internet Data Bases:
a) The Missouri Botanical Garden’s VAST (VAScular Tropicos),
b) The International Plant Names Index (IPNI),
c) The Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS) and/or from:
d) USDA, ARS, National Genetic Resources Program. Germplasm Resources Laboratory.
subsp. = subspecies, a lower taxonomic rank than species.
var. = variety, a taxonomic rank below subspecies and above form.
x = hybrid between 2 different species, or varieties, etc.
Sometimes two or more family’s names are cited for a plant, it means that will be placed indistinctly in one or more families. About the current denomination of the botanic families: Compositae = Asteraceae; Labiatae = Lamiaceae; Gramineae = Poaceae; Cruciferae = Brassicaceae; Leguminosae = Fabaceae; Umbelliferae = Apiaceae, being the second name the present-day.
Common Name(s): The common names are mentioned in different languages or just in English. The square brackets “[ ]” indicate the language. In the case of the Chinese, Japanese or Russian, are transcribed.
Life form: Epiphytes: air-borne plants that form symbiotic relationships with host plants.
Fungi. Includes microorganisms such as yeasts and molds, as well as the more familiar mushrooms.
Herbs: small, fragile plants lacking woody stems, which can be annual, biennial or perennial (e.g., grasses).
Lianas: woody plants that take the form of vines supported on tree and shrubs.
Shrubs: woody perennials having several stems branching from a base near the soil surface.
Trees: large woody perennial plants having an upright single trunk, branching into a crown.
Weed: low-lying broad-leaved plants.
Parts Used: Show the vegetable part or organ employed in the remedy manufacture, and in some cases, if are used starting from Fresh or Dried material.
Habitat: It indicates the main regional habitat, and may not properly represent the total distribution of the species, e.g., USA = United States of America.
Cosmopolitan = an organism found in most parts of the world.
Naturalized = A plant adapted or acclimated to a new environment or introduced and established as if native.
Reference(s): As mentioned in abbreviated form. There are cited in complete plant form in the References chapter, for instance: Comisión, 1988 = Comisión Editora de la Farmacopea Homeopática de los Estados Unidos Mexicanos. 1988; USA = American Institute of Homeopathy. The Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia of the United States of America. n.d. = no publication date.
Example : Abies canadensis
Scientific Name(s) / [Botanical Family]: Abies canadensis Mill. = Abies canadensis (L.) Michx. = Picea canadensis (Mill.) Britton, Sterns & Poggenb. = Picea canadensis (Mill.) Link = Picea glauca (Moench) Voss = Pinus canadensis L. = Tsuga canadensis (L.) Carrièrre. [Pinaceae].
Common Name(s): Tuya del Canada [Spanish]. Alberta white spruce, American white spruce, Black Hills spruce, Canadian spruce, hemlock spruce, porsild spruce, weastern white spruce, white spruce [English]. Épinette blanche, pruche du Canada, sapin du Canada [French].
Life form: Tree. Parts Used: Bark, leaf, shoot, bud / Fresh. Habitat: North America.
Reference(s): Bharatan, 2002; Remedia/at, 2010; Tiwari, 2013; USA, 1979.
Author
José Waizel-Bucay, Biologist (B Sc., M Sc. & Dr. Sc.), is Professor and Senior Researcher in the Escuela Nacional de Medicina y Homeopatía (National Medicine & Homeopathy School) dependent of the Instituto Politécnico Nacional (National Polytechnic Institute), in Mexico City, where 34 years ago, he works in Medical Botany area, also was the founder of the Medicinal Plants Scholar Herbarium.
He has published articles and several lectures. He was also the Coordinator and contributor of the book: 1) “Las Plantas Medicinales y las Ciencias, una visión multidisciplinaria” [The Medicinal plants and the sciences, a multidisciplinary vision].
He also wrote (as single author): 2) “Las Plantas y su Uso Antitumoral. Un Conocimiento Ancestral con Futuro Prometedor” [Plants and their antitumoral use. An ancestral knowledge with promising future],
3) “La Medicina por Medio de las Plantas. Su recorrido a través de las culturas y la Historia” [Medicine across Plants. His journey throughout the cultures & history].
And 4) “Plantas de zona templada empleadas en Homeopatía”.
The four books were published in Spanish by the Instituto Politécnico Nacional, in Mexico City.
It is available as an eBook (kindle) and as a paperback form.
Please read it description and information in Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07X3YXMVC/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_VGFxEb5BAVZGJ
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