Strange how we stumble onto information purely by accident. I went
looking for biodiesels, and from this site
I found my way to
l
Folk Medicine
According to Hartwell (1967-1971), balsam of one species is used in folk
remedies as a fomentation, for tumors of the prostate gland. Grieve
(1931) describes the balsam as stimulant, diuretic, carminative,
laxative; in large doses purgative, causing nausea, vomiting, strangury,
bloody urine, and fever. A good remedy for chronic catarrh and
bronchitis, as it assists expectoration and is antiseptic; given with
advantage in leucorrhoea, chronic cystitis, diarrhea, and hemorrhoids.
It is chiefly used in gonorrhea (though not advocated for chronic
cases), often combined with cubebs and sandal. It has also been
recommended externally for chilblains. Both the volatile oil and resin
are greatly altered when expelled in the urine, and when precipitated by
nitric acid might be mistaken for albumen; it is considered a valuable
hydragogue diuretic in obstinate dropsy. It creates an irritant action
the whole mucous membrane, imparts a peculiar odor to the urine and
breath, causes an eruption resembling measles attended with irritation
and tingling; it is the resin, not the oleoresin, that is used as
diuretic. Duke and Wain (1981) note that this species is a folk remedy
for dermatosis, eczema, and gonorrhea. In Panama, Yaviza negros mix
cabismo resin with honey and give it to the newborne, to impart
knowledge and ward off hexes. The gum is also used for treating venereal
diseases, for massage, and for hair oil (Duke, 1972, under "cabismo").
and
Folk Medicine
According to Hartwell (1967¨C1971), the fruits and sprouts are used in
folk remedies for abdominal tumors in India, the seeds for keloid tumors
in Sri Lanka, and a powder derived from the plant for tumors in Vietnam.
In sanskritic India, seeds were used for skin ailments. Today the oil is
used as a liniment for rheumatism. Leaves are active against
Micrococcus; their juice is used for colds, coughs, diarrhea, dyspepsia,
flatulence, gonorrhea, and leprosy. Roots are used for cleaning gums,
teeth, and ulcers. Bark is used internally for bleeding piles. Juices
from the plant, as well as the oil, are antiseptic. It is said to be an
excellent remedy for itch, herpes, and pityriasis versicolor. Powdered
seeds are valued as a febrifuge, tonic and in bronchitis and whooping
cough. Flowers are used for diabetes. Bark has been used for beriberi.
Juice of the root is used for cleansing foul ulcers and closing
fistulous sores. Young shoots have been recommended for rheumatism.
Ayurvedic medicine described the root and bark as alexipharmic,
anthelmintic, and useful in abdominal enlargement, ascites, biliousness,
diseases of the eye, skin, and vagina, itch, piles, splenomegaly,
tumors, ulcers, and wounds; the sprouts, considered alexeteric,
anthelmintic, apertif, and stomachic, for inflammation, piles and skin
diseases; the leaves, anthelmintic, digestive, and laxative, for
inflammations, piles and wounds; the flowers for biliousness and
diabetes; the fruit and seed for keratitis, piles, urinary discharges,
and diseases of the brain, eye, head, and skin, the oil for biliousness,
eye ailments, itch, leucoderma, rheumatism, skin diseases, worms, and
wounds. Yunani use the ash to strengthen the teeth, the seed,
carminative and depurative, for chest complaints, chronic fevers,
earache, hydrocele, and lumbago; the oil, styptic and vermifuge, for
fever, hepatalgia, leprosy, lumbago, piles, scabies, and ulcers.
So, at least some oil producing plants, like flax, seem to be active in
treating cancers. Wonder if it would be worth taking a look at oil
producing plants in general and their constituents and effects?
Or has this been done before?
--
Fenris Wolf
RSPCA-Animadversion
SHG
