Herbal Herbs – Herb Medicine Plants Are Becoming Extinct

Posted by stepper on Dec 18, 2009 in Uncategorized |

Although this seems unnecessary, the expression is an endeavor to grasp the real meaning of what herb medicine is all about – uncontaminated natural plant biotics without corruption and reorganization. With all the genetic manipulation by corporate food giants, no current pure botanic material exists, anymore. But, as much as possible, it is to everyone’s benefit that we protect our interests before we reap the unknown consequences of changing the genetic structure of what we put in our bodies. Before it’s too late, we must commit to this pursuit. Unadulterated herbs and herbal formula extracts do still exist in protected environments. Agricultural scientists are discovering everywhere that hybrid contamination is growing. Scientist have determined that all, so called, 100% organic farms in the U.S. have no less than 2%+ corruption from altered foodstuffs hence disturbing the unique effect of herbal medicine. It is extremely important to source traditional herbs and traditional Chinese herbs from protected pollinated farms, free from genetically modified organism (GMO) seed.

Currently, experiments in India and Japan are being conducted with the emphasis on increasing the medicinal properties of the herbs. The key to herb medicine potency is in wide dispute. The GMO camp believes you can improve specific alkaloids in the overall herb composite. The anti-GMO herb camp holds that when you change the property ratio then you, in effect, change the medicinal value which stems from the original structure. The argument that a specific alkaloid is responsible for the medicinal impact versus the whole or synergistic effect of the herb is an ongoing disagreement that needs to be watched carefully.

Besides the changes to the original plant structure, GM herbs are philosophically opposed to the premises of natural, alternative medicine. These moral issues warrant respect and watchful consideration prior to admit these foods into the gene pool. Input from the herb medicine & research community needs to be acquired before making these changes. Decisions by big corporate business are absent, by nature, conscience in this regard. Though many execs may intend well, it would be to their benefit to attract unbiased feedback as to whether to choose GM procedures in their development. What are the consequences versus the profit?

Most Master Herbalists, specializing in Chinese Medicine, focus on food as a therapy. Here are some points to consider about the food nutrient (incl. herbal herbs) industry:

In the U.S. alone, between 1997 and 1999, gene-modified (GM) ingredients suddenly appeared in 2/3rds of all processed foods.”
Be sure to choose organic soy milk. Most soybeans in America are genetically modified. Organic soybeans are not genetically modified.
If the supporters of GMO are so clever then why do we still have nutrient deficiency in our food products?
That carrot has about 57% less magnesium and 16% less calcium in it than the ones our parents ate, a banana 87% less folic acid, and spinach 59% less vitamin C!
Whereas there is an increase in vitamin and mineral supplement sales to cover the our food nutrient deficiency, more city/county public works departments are transporting by the multiple truck loads, the remaining tablets to sanitation dumps. The only real working source of nutrition comes from food that our body absorbs or supplements based on whole food sources.

Genetically modified foods can have decidedly unhealthy effects. One solid conclusion found that:

More than half of the offspring of rats fed on transgenically modified soya died in the first three weeks of life, six times as many as those born to mothers with normal diets. Six times as many were also severely underweight.
Mothers who include GM foods in their diet during pregnancy may unwittingly endanger their unborn babies. A report by the corporate GM giant, Monsanto, revealed that rats fed a diet rich in GM corn had smaller kidneys and higher blood cell counts than those that ate a natural strain, suggesting possible damage to their immune systems.

The nutrient value of food has fallen drastically while the price is skyrocketing:

Minerals & Vitamins in mg/100g		1985	1996	Reduced value expressed in %
Broccoli	Calcium Folic acid Magnesium	103 47 26	33 23 22	- 68 % – 51 % – 15 %
Beans	Calcium Folic acid Magnesium Vitamin B6	56 39 26 140	34 34 22 55	- 39 % – 13 % – 15 % – 61 %
Potatoes	Calcium Magnesium	14 27	4 18	- 71 % – 33 %
Carrots	Calcium Magnesium	37 21	31 9	- 16 % – 57 %
Spinach	Calcium Vitamin C	62 51	19 21	- 69 % – 59 %
Apples	Vitamin C	5	1	- 80 %
Bananas	Calcium Folic acid Magnesium VitaminB6 Potassium	8 23 31 330 420	7 3 27 27 327	- 13 % – 87 % – 13 % – 92 % – 22%
Strawberries	Calcium Vitamin C	21 60	18 13	- 14 % – 78 %

Source: 1996 Geigy Pharmaceuticals, Foodstuffs laboratory, Karlsruhe / Obertal Sanatorium.

Enhancing our immunity systems, metabolic and vascular efficiency with appropriate mineral and vitamin supplement acts preventively and helps us counteract insufficiency. However have you ever seen how wasted our elderly become when sustained on ENSURE in a nursing facility? The ignorance can only be rationalized and accepted for how long? Reliance on healthy, nutrient rich foods and herbs are the essential foundation for sustaining life.

The bottom-line is this. Greed has, unconsciously and consciously, crept into the way we develop our food supply. Whenever the food supply is managed in an impersonal basis there is high risk for exploitation. Though this development is not everywhere, it is extensive enough now that balance in the industry is fargone. This condition, may be, beyond the ability of mankind to retrieve it unless radical changes are implemented.

Mark Hammer, C.M.H., Master Herbalist, Longevity Mountain

India working on GM herbs, says Greenpeace, Joe C Mathew / Business Standard New Delhi (November 05, 2008)
“50 Harmful Effects of Genetically Modified Foods” By Nathan Batalion

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