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Plants of Semillas Sagradas: an Ethnomedicinal Garden in Costa Rica

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Plants of Semillas Sagradas: an Ethnomedicinal Garden in Costa Rica Plants of Semillas Sagradas: An Ethnomedicinal Garden in Costa Rica Plants of Semillas Sagradas: An Ethnomedicinal Garden in Costa Rica Rafael Ocampo, BSc. and Michael J. Balick, Ph.D Foreword by Peter H. Raven, Ph.D Edited by Ruth Goldstein and Katherine Herrera Plants of Semillas Sagradas: An Ethnomedicinal Garden in Costa Rica © 2009 Finca Luna Nueva Extractos de Costa Rica, S.A. Rafael Ocampo, BSc. and Michael J. Balick, Ph.D Edited by Ruth Goldstein and Katherine Herrera Cover and book design by Laura Williams First Edition This book is available to download from www.fincalunanuevalodge.com Printed and bound in the USA Paperboard is 100% PCW, PCF, FSC, biogas, and permanently archival. ISBN: 978-0-615-27415-7 For the Children 6 Catharanthus roseus Medical Disclaimer This book is not intended as a treatise on herbal medicine. It describes a living garden, Semillas Sagradas at Finca Luna Nueva in Costa Rica, where medicinal herbs from both the New World and Old World tropics have been collected and propagated. From this predicate, authors Rafael Ocampo and Michael J. Balick have researched and reported upon the uses of these herbs in various traditional medicine systems. Their report on the uses presented in this book is not an endorsement of the therapeutic value or safety of these herbs and is not an exhaustive description of the published literature. This book is therefore not intended in any way as a guide for consumer self-medication and people should consult with a healthcare practitioner before taking any medicinal herbs. Moreover, this book is not intended as a full summary of all available information for healthcare practitioners about these medicinal herbs. Neither the authors nor the publishers accept any liability or responsibility for the accuracy of the information reported or the consequences of the use or misuse of the information in this book. Nothing should be construed to represent an attempt to diagnose, prescribe or administer in any manner to any physical ailment or conditions. In matters of your health care, we recommend that you consult a qualified health practitioner and not attempt to self-treat based on information in this book. 7 Table of Contents Medical Disclaimer .......................................................................................................................................................................6 Foreword by Peter H. Raven, Ph.D. .............................................................................................................................................8 Preface by Steven Farrell and Thomas M. Newmark .............................................................................................................. 10 Introduction by Rafael Ocampo, BSc. and Michael J. Balick, Ph.D. ..................................................................................... 12 References and Photos ............................................................................................................................................................... 14 Where we Are ............................................................................................................................................................................. 16 Transportation and Directions .................................................................................................................................................... 17 Plant Species Aristolochia gigantea .......................................................................................................................................................... 20 Arrabidaea chica ................................................................................................................................................................ 22 Asclepias curassavica ......................................................................................................................................................... 24 Bauhinia guianensis ............................................................................................................................................................ 26 Borojoa patinoi ................................................................................................................................................................... 28 Bursera simaruba ............................................................................................................................................................... 30 Cecropia obtusifolia ............................................................................................................................................................ 32 Cissampelos pareira ........................................................................................................................................................... 34 Cnidoscolus chayamansa ................................................................................................................................................... 36 Chaptalia nutans ................................................................................................................................................................. 38 Dorstenia contrajerva ......................................................................................................................................................... 40 Dracontium gigas ............................................................................................................................................................... 42 Eryngium foetidum .............................................................................................................................................................. 44 Euphorbia lancifolia ........................................................................................................................................................... 46 Fevillea cordifolia ............................................................................................................................................................... 48 Gliricidia sepium................................................................................................................................................................. 50 Hamelia patens ................................................................................................................................................................... 52 Hymenocallis littoralis ........................................................................................................................................................ 54 Hyptis verticillata ................................................................................................................................................................ 56 Jatropha curcas ................................................................................................................................................................... 58 Semillas Sagradas in Action -A photo essay ............................................................................................................................. 61 Jatropha gossypiifolia ......................................................................................................................................................... 62 Justicia pectoralis ............................................................................................................................................................... 64 Lippia alba .......................................................................................................................................................................... 66 Helping to Build Semillas Sagradas -A photo essay ................................................................................................................ 69 Lippia graveolens................................................................................................................................................................ 70 Malachra alceifolia ............................................................................................................................................................. 72 Phlebodium decumanum .................................................................................................................................................... 74 Psychotria ipecacuanha ..................................................................................................................................................... 78 Quassia amara .................................................................................................................................................................... 80 Senna reticulata ................................................................................................................................................................... 84 Uncaria tomentosa .............................................................................................................................................................. 86 The Creatures of Semillas Sagradas -A photo essay ................................................................................................................ 88 The Creatures and Fruits of Semillas Sagradas -A photo essay .............................................................................................. 91 About the Authors ......................................................................................................................................................................
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