Malaria

Eastern Deciduous Forest

Common Name: American Dogwood

Genus and Species Name: Cornus florida

Habitat: prefers moist soil and shade, typically grows under larger trees (understory plant)

Seasons: blooms in early spring, bark available year-round


Medicinal uses: Bark water is used to make a tea to treat malarial fevers and diarrhea.

Preparation: To make the tea, let previously dried dogwood bark (1tbsp.) steep in water (1 pint) for 30 minutes. Then strain the water to remove the bark. Drink 1/2 a cup of the tea every 2-3 hours.



Active Chemical Ingredient: betulinic acid

Chemical Formula: C30H48O3


Chemical Structure:
+

Resources:   

Dogwood - Medicinal Herb Info. (n.d.). Retrieved September 5, 2015, from http://medicinalherbinfo.org/herbs/Dogwood.html
Cornus florida - Natural medicine facts. (n.d.). Retrieved September 5, 2015, from http://www.naturalmedicinefacts.info/plant/cornus-florida.html
(n.d.). Retrieved September 5, 2015, from https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Betulinic_acid_structure.png
Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida). (n.d.). Retrieved September 5, 2015, from https://tpwd.texas.gov/huntwild/wild/species/dgwd/

Tall Grass Prairie

Common Name: Blue vervain

Genus and Species Name: Verbena hastata

Habitat: pastures, prairies, woodlands, and roadsides

Seasons: blooms June-October

Medicinal uses: The leaves and flowers are used to make a tea to treat malarial fever.

How to use it: The leaves and the flowers (1-2 tsp.) are added to hot water (1 pint) and allowed to steep for 10-15 minutes. Drink 3 cups a day.

Active Chemical Ingredient: Haststoside

Chemical Formula: C17H24O11

Chemical Structure:

Sources: 

Boost Your Health With the Herb Blue Vervain. (2012, April 25). Retrieved September 6, 2015, from http://pioneerthinking.com/health/boost-your-health-with-the-herb-blue-vervain

Verbena hastata - Natural medicine facts. (n.d.). Retrieved September 6, 2015, from http://www.naturalmedicinefacts.info/plant/verbena-hastata.html

Hastatoside. (n.d.). Retrieved September 6, 2015, from http://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/599030