Imagine forests, gardens, parks, planted with each tree carefully selected for a medicinal benefit. Trees to alleviate pain or manage chronic illnesses such as diabetes. Trees to provide food as well as medicine. All these trees are with us today. All the research has been done. No one simply had not yet joined up the obvious links. This reference book shows the way.
Such forests may support isolated communities; inform mainstream health systems; may supply unique drugs to hospitals; may provide incomes for rural communities and could empower women in the work force.
To imagine such a forest after reading this book will not be hard. Furthermore, after reading this book you cannot imagine anyone cutting down such a forest ever as it will have more value standing, flourishing and producing, and hence the trees will be protected by the people it will serve.
Many reports and papers note that over 50% of all modern medicines are derived from natural sources, such as trees. If so, then why do so many people have little or no knowledge of it or have access to beneficial medicine? The most basic example is the Willow tree that provides salicylic acid to make aspirin.
For Paul, a qualified naturopath and herbalist from Australian Traditional Medicine Society (1988), it is clear that knowledge, dissemination and education is required. The World Health Organization (WHO) has long been advocating Alternative and Complementary Medicine as a solution to the developing world's health issues. Therefore, it is not a matter of effectiveness but rather of enhancing awareness of the possibilities, also for the developed world with their medical challenges.
The measure of an ethical society is the ability to deliver healthcare to all its people regardless of race, social status or location. Growing 'pharmacies' near villages, towns and cities and the education necessary to access effective use of them, will enable a powerful change to occur.
Tree Medicine, a reference book, includes the remarkably easy methods of processing the leaves, bark, roots of trees into medicinal extracts, tisanes, and ointments. It is to inspire the reader to grow and learn and act.
With the many challenges humanity faces today, imagine planting a medical forest, and becoming a Medical Forester.
