In order to obtain a cure for any illness, plants have been very as necessary as appealing to us, since ancient times. In Pakistan it is estimated that a 80% of its population depend on plant identification to cure themselves, a 40% in China. In technologically advanced countries like our own, it is estimated that 60% of the our population use medicinal plants habitually to fight certain ailments. In a survival situation a knowledge of plants could determine whether you thrive and survive or whether you die. Also, if you are eating plants and roots for food or other non medical purposes, accidental consumption of an inedible plant or root could cause unwanted symptoms. The high likelihood of negative side effects in the event of using an improperly identified plant or root makes identifying plants and roots of top importance.
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Its very important to know a variety of species from other regions when dealing with natural medicines and foods because you never know where you will be when you need to call upon theses skills. You never know what habitat you’ll end up in when you’re in trouble. If you didn’t know any edible or medicinal plants of where you are, your chances of survival severely decrease. Also, a larger knowledge of medicinal and edible plants will help to prevent the false identification plants.
Another important factor to know is that plants change as the seasons go by. Travelling in different seasons would make a huge difference when identifying medicinal plants. Plants bloom and change as the seasons go by. As the seasons go by and the plants change, so do the acting chemicals for the medicinal use in the plant. You might think that you are using the plant correctly, but the plant is different in each season, so you might be eating a plant and it could have the opposite effect than what was intended. Not knowing how the seasons affect the active ingredients in medicinal plants can be just as risky as an improper identification.
If I were a scientist I think it would be absolutely of the most importance to develop a relationship with the local peoples so in turn they could help me identify what plants are good and what plants are bad. The locales have probably been living there for a long enough time to have developed a knowledge of the local plants. They most definitely have a greater knowledge and can guide you in your gathering. Their knowledge can save you time and can even show you things you may not have known before. Developing a relationship with local people about local plants is something that should be taken as a top priority.
If I were found without traditional medicines, I would trust my knowledge up to a certain extent. I trust myself with my knowledge with non-severe things like a sore throat of a headache, but when it comes to things like losing a limb or being attacked by a bear I don’t think I would have the strength to gather and prepare the plants to aid me. In my opinion I you should only use local flora in emergency situations like a hospital being too far away or you go camping and are too secluded to call for help. But until I am thrown into a emergency situation I can’t judge how I would react. There are other things to take into play like say you do make the correct identification, but it takes you to long. Or something like the fact that you end up in a habitat that you are not familiar with. Overall I think that my knowledge is only good up to a certain point.
Eastern Deciduous Forest
Tall Grass Prairie
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