Community Magazine April 2019

104 Community Magazine Peleh the BoyWonder Have You Ever Wondered… Child Prodigy PelehWunder – more commonly known as Peleh the BoyWonder Are there plants that can help save people’s lives? H ealing with medicinal plants is as old as mankind itself. Healing properties can be found in barks, seeds, fruits, and other parts of the plants. Until quite recently, plants were our main source of medication. Practically all of the most widely used drugs in use today have an herbal origin. The most widely used painkiller, aspirin, originated from the bark of a willow tree. Vincristine, an extract of the rosy periwinkle, is very effective against types of leukemia. Quinine, from the bark of the quinine tree, can cure malaria. Ginseng is used to cure many medical conditions, including heart problems and diabetes. Lungwort, an herb, is used to treat asthma, while the seeds from the opium poppy are used as powerful painkillers. Even today, scientists are still researching the valuable healing properties of plants for use in conventional medicine. Heart of the Matter Digitalis is an important heart drug that comes from the leaves of foxgloves. Foxgloves are short-lived perennials. Although very beneficial when used in small amounts, digitalis can be deadly if taken in large doses. Willow Tree Aspirin originated from the bark of a willow tree.