21 - May 24th thru May 30th 1999, Vol
IX
"Yemen
has a wide variety of endemic plants and herbs which have medicinal properties."
In recent years, the world has increasingly returned to the use of plants
in medicinal use.
Yemen has a large variety of medical herbs, which occupy a large size
of the land, they grow all over the country.
Socotra is one of the best environment where many medical herbs grow,
for this reason the Island is known as the medical plants Island. This
Island is distinguished by its unique collection of plants and medical
herbs, such as Dragon's Blood tree, Aloe etc. which grow there. Unfortunately
this plants had not been studied by scientists in order to make use of
them, an intensive and appropriate studies of these plants might influence
new medical discoveries.
This unusual wealth must be preserved and developed to a full industry,
to be able to manufacture medicines of high quality and export them to
save the hard currency, and to provide the Socotra people with more employment
opportunities.
Socotra Island
Socotra
Island is filled with plenty of medical plants e. g. Dragon's Blood tree,
Frankincense trees, Socotra Aloe and many other medical trees and plants.
These trees and plants have been associated with the Island since ancient
times because of their importance. Medical plants cover the biggest part
of the Island, some reports indicate that there are about 200 different
kind of medical plants. In spite of the lack of medical and pharmaceutical
researches, the Island inhabitant of the Island had discovered many medical
uses to some of the plants, such as Adenium abesum Roem which is used to
reduce the Malaria fever, Jatropha Unicostata Balf, which is used to heal
wounds.
Lets
have a look at some of these significant plants
Dragon's Blood Tree or Dracaeba Cinnabari Balf is a 3 meters high perennial
tree. Roots and twigs of this tree are thick and twofold. Sharp and sword
like leaves grow at the end of the twigs. The tree flowers grow in clusters
also at the end of the twigs. Generally, Dragon's Blood tree takes a shape
of an umbrella.
Naturally, this tree grows at heights and it is very common at the town
of Momi 500 meters above sea level. In fact this tree is rare and does
not exist in any other place in the world. D. Cinnabari,
another kind of this tree is common in mountains areas in Louder and Moudiah
in Abyan and also on mountains surrounding Mukalla city. Locals in these
areas call it the Godfather. Eighty kinds of dragon's blood tree are now
Known in the world.
This tree, with all its different kinds, contain a juice of a red liquid
called the dragon's blood. It is this juice that is used for medical purposes
especially for colic treatment.
Socotra's Aloe.
Aloe, Spp or Aloe Perryi Baker is a plant that has light green thick
leaves that grow on a short trunk. the edge of leaves is covered with thorns.
There are fifteen kinds of aloe trees in Socotra Island. The medical part
of this plant is the juice of leaves which is used in a number of medical
purposes such as constipation, TB, and anemia. It can also be used in healing
wounds.
Frankincense
Frankincense or Boswellia Sacra Flueck is a 5 meters high tree with
an upstanding trunk or trunks branched from the ground. Twigs are dense
and intertwined. Leaves are also twisted with thin crusts.
There are five kinds of this tree in Socotra Island. The tree grows
in the coastal line and mountains slopes in the Republic of Yemen. Frankincense
is used as painting and coating for its instant drying. It is also used
in perfumes industry. When boiled in water, it can be in cough and throat
inflammation.
By Ismail Al-Ghabiry,
Yemen Times,
Dhamar
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