Nature's pharmacy Scott Ewan considers the healthy effect of plants

The use of plants as medicines has been around for a long time. As long
as 2000 BC the Chinese and Egyptians were using plants as cures. Moulds
were used tot treat ulcers and garlic was a remedy for headaches.

One plant used to treat a myriad of illnesses is cannabis. Drug
development programmes, based on the active constituents of cannabis,
are currently under way in many of the world's leading companies. These
have looked at potential remedies in the areas of glaucoma, MS, AIDS,
pain, migraine, menstrual cramps, labour pain, spinal injury, epilepsy,
depression, other mood disorders, and many other indications. Another
commonly used plant contains capsaicin. This is the 'hot' ingredient in
chilli peppers which has also been studied for its potential role in the
treatment of many conditions, on the basis that Native Americans have
used it with success for centuries.

The interest of multinationals should come as no suprise. Many plants
have been used to provide a basis for the discovery of many of today's
money spinning drugs. The powerful analgesics, the opiates, come from
the opium poppy; quinine (antimalaria) from the bark of the Cincona;
taxol (anticancer) from Pacific Yew bark; and new products are rolling
off the production line regularly.