| What about the rain forests | | | | well-meaning harvesters of wild herbs and plants |
| With all the attention in the news these days | | | | gathering their natural products and feeling happy |
| concerning the depletion of the Amazon rain | | | | in what they are doing. On the other hand, by |
| forest, you might be concerned about the supply | | | | over-harvesting they are actually doing incredible |
| of herbal remedies from South America. What | | | | damage to their own livelihood. |
| happens to all those amazing plants that are used | | | | What are some of the herbal remedies from |
| everyday by millions of women to get | | | | South America? |
| menopause relief by using herbal remedies? | | | | There are literally thousands of plants used in |
| This is a huge problem, and getting worse all the | | | | South America for treating the night sweats and |
| time. Not only are the rain forests being depleted | | | | other symptoms of menopause. One of the best |
| and plants disappearing at an alarming rate, but | | | | and non-endangered is maca. Maca is well known |
| other sources of wild herbal remedies are under | | | | and safe to use. It has no known health risks, but |
| attack as well. | | | | many wonderful benefits. |
| Wild herbs and their harvests | | | | In Peru, where maca is common, there are |
| It is surprising that many wild plants are nearing | | | | government agencies that regulate the it's |
| extinction or being severely depleted by wild | | | | production and exportation. While it is readily |
| harvesting. Just take a look at this quote from | | | | available at any village market in the regions in |
| the Botanic Gardens Conservation International: | | | | which it is grown, exporting is a different story, |
| On January 18, 2008, the Botanic Gardens | | | | especially if you are certified to be organic. |
| Conservation International (representing botanic | | | | Maca is a wonderful food and is called an herbal |
| gardens in 120 countries) stated that "400 | | | | remedy, though it really is not an herb. It is a bit |
| medicinal plants are at risk of extinction, from | | | | like a potato, and is eaten by the locals, as it has |
| over-collection and deforestation, threatening the | | | | been for thousands of years. It is well known that |
| discovery of future cures for disease." These | | | | maca acts as a balancing agent in the body to |
| included Yew trees (the bark is used for cancer | | | | help maintain health and well-being. It is also widely |
| drugs, paclitaxel); Hoodia (from Namibia, source of | | | | recognized as having no ill side effects. |
| weight loss drugs); half of Magnolias (used as | | | | As an added plus, maca often helps increase libido |
| Chinese medicine for 5,000 years to fight cancer, | | | | in men and women. This is obviously a wonderful |
| dementia and heart disease); and Autumn crocus | | | | benefit because the libido can dwindle down to |
| (for gout). The group also found that 5 billion | | | | near zero during menopause. Not only do you feel |
| people benefit from traditional plant-based | | | | better, your hot flashes diminish or disappear, but |
| medicine for health care. | | | | you can feel aroused again and ready for some |
| It is not hard to imagine all the small group of | | | | loving! |