Transcript Medicinal plants images

MEDICINAL PLANTS IMAGES
Rose flower
As well as being symbolic of love, romance and beauty, roses have many medicinal uses and health benefits. Rose water is used to flavour foods,
while rose petals and rose hips (the fruits of the rose plant) are commonly used in herbal teas and remedies. Roses are thought to have astringent
and anti-inflammatory properties.
Credit: Arthur Meehan/Wellcome Images
Thuja tree seed head
Thuja occidentalis is a European tree believed to have natural antimicrobial properties. In folk medicine it has been used to treat cystitis, psoriasis
and rheumatism among other conditions. Today it is mainly used in homeopathy in a variety of preparations for wart removal, thrush and
ringworm. This image is a scanning electron micrograph of a thuja tree seed head.
Credit: Annie Cavanagh/Wellcome Images
BIGPICTUREEDUCATION.COM
Teasel bud
Teasels are thistle-like wildflowers. Teasel-root tea was once used to stimulate appetite, reduce fluid retention and help some liver
complaints. The pattern seen in this teasel bud – captured using a light microscope – is controlled by the same family of genes that controls
the layout of animal and human bodies.
Credit: Spike Walker/Wellcome Images
BIGPICTUREEDUCATION.COM
Pine wood
Pine wood is a source of pine resin, which is used in traditional medicine and in the production of turpentine. A substance called ecabet sodium can be
extracted from pine resin and is used in the treatment of gastric ulcers, oesophageal reflux and dry eye syndrome. The image above is a light micrograph
showing the xylem system of the plant.
Credit: Spike Walker/Wellcome Images
BIGPICTUREEDUCATION.COM
Spiral aloe
This plant, Aloe polyphylla, is native to the Maluti mountains in Lesotho and was discovered in 1915. It has a striking physical appearance,
characterised by the unique, symmetrical five-pointed spiral arrangement of its leaves, which point either clockwise or anticlockwise. It is
used to treat skin complaints.
Credit: brewbooks/Flickr (CC BY)
BIGPICTUREEDUCATION.COM
Betel leaves
Paan ka patta, known as betel leaf (Piper betle), is said to have originated in India, where it is considered to have valuable medicinal and cultural
properties. When chewed it acts as a pain reliever and anti-inflammatory agent, and it can help reduce plaque formation on teeth. However, it is also
often chewed together with tobacco and other ingredients in an addictive psychostimulating mix, which can have negative health effects.
Credit: Ed Clayton/Flickr (CC BY)
BIGPICTUREEDUCATION.COM
Smooth flatsedge
Smooth flatsedge (Cyperus laevigatus) is indigenous to Hawaii, where it is also known as makaloa. Makaloa fibres can be used to
remove impurities from medicinal liquids, and it was also traditionally crushed into a powder for treating head colds, deep cuts, boils,
skin ulcers and other skin disorders.
Credit: David Eickhoff/Flickr (CC BY)
Calico flowers
Calico flowers (Aristolochia elegans) can be used to treat stings or bites from venomous animals. Notably
they have been used in Mexico, where venomous animals such as scorpions pose a particular threat.
Credit: jennyhsu4/Flickr
Noni fruit
Noni (Morinda citrifolia) has been used in folk medicine by Polynesians for over 2,000 years. Hawaiians believe that it helps fight diabetes, high blood pressure,
abnormal growths and other chronic disorders. Research has shown that a polysaccharide-rich substance found in noni juice attacks abnormal cells and
stimulates the body’s immune system.
Credit: Scot Nelson/Flickr (CC BY)
BIGPICTUREEDUCATION.COM
Red passion flower
Passion flowers consist of around 400 species of the Passiflora genus, which are mostly vines. Certain flowers are used to treat sleep
disorders, pain, insomnia and nervous exhaustion – although research into the flowers’ medical uses has been limited.
Credit: jennyhsu47/Flickr
Hibiscus flower
Flowers of the Hibiscus genus, first found in Angola, can be used to treat medical conditions including colds, heart and nerve diseases, inflammation, stomach
irritation, disorders of circulation and loss of appetite. Hibiscus tea – known for its sour taste – is also enjoyed across the world.
Credit: Annie&John/Flickr
BIGPICTUREEDUCATION.COM
Tree heliotrope
Tree heliotrope (Heliotropium foertherianum), also known as octopus bush, is common throughout Polynesia, Micronesia, Melanesia
and the Indian Ocean region. It plays a significant role in the traditional medicine and ritual cultures of the islands where it is native,
and is thought to have antiviral, antibacterial, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
Credit: sleepychinchilla/Flickr (CC BY NC)
Wild ginger
Wild ginger (Asarum candense) is a North American plant whose medicinal qualities were known to many Native Americans. It was used to make
infusions thought to bring on menstruation and cure an irregular heartbeat. Its large heart- or kidney-shaped leaves are hairy, dark green and
deeply indented at the stem.
Credit: Pictoscribe/Flickr
Coral tree
The coral tree, or Erythrina crista-galli, is a small, spiny tree that can grow 6–10 metres tall. In traditional medicine its bark was used to treat
rheumatism and hepatitis, and it could also be gargled to treat a sore throat as part of an infusion or applied as a wash to treat cuts.
Credit: Gabriela F Ruellen/Flickr (CC BY NC)
Chinese flower
This plant, Paederia scandens, is known as Chinese flower in English and is found in the Himalayas up to an altitude of 1,800 metres. It is used in folk medicine
for treating a number of ailments, such as rheumatism, paralysis, abscesses, gout, diarrhoea, dysentery, infertility, colic and flatulence.
Credit: jennyshu47/Flickr
Reusing our images
Images and illustrations
• All images, unless otherwise indicated, are from Wellcome Images.
• Contemporary images are free to use for educational purposes (they have a Creative Commons
Attribution, Non-commercial, No derivatives licence). Please make sure you credit them as we have
done on the site; the format is ‘Creator’s name/Wellcome Images’.
• Historical images have a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence: they’re free to use in any way as
long as they’re credited to ‘Wellcome Library, London’.
• The Flickr images that we have used in this gallery, unless otherwise stated, are available under a
Creative Commons Attribution, Non-commercial, No derivatives licence.
• Cartoon illustrations are © Glen McBeth. We commission Glen to produce these illustrations for
‘Big Picture’. He is happy for teachers and students to use his illustrations in a classroom setting, but
for other uses, permission must be sought.
• We source other images from photo libraries such as Science Photo Library, Corbis and iStock and
will acknowledge in an image’s credit if this is the case. We do not hold the rights to these images,
so if you would like to reproduce them, you will need to contact the photo library directly.
• If you’re unsure about whether you can use or republish a piece of content, just get in touch with
us at [email protected].