In the 1800s, a pharmacist in Georgia took extracts of kola and coca and mixed them with sugar, other ingredients, and carbonated water to invent the first cola soft drink – Coca-Cola. For medicinal purposes, it has been used to treat whooping cough, asthma, bronchial problems, anxiety, depression, boosts energy, and as an appetite suppressant. The kola nut has a bitter flavor and contains caffeine, and has long been chewed in many West African cultures in traditional spiritual practices and ceremonies. Kola Nut – Also called Cola, this is the nut of the Kola Tree, native to the tropical rainforests of Africa. Others chew the root to relieve symptoms of throat pain. Most commonly, the roots of the plant are used to produce a drink with sedative and anesthetic properties. Also called Kawa, Kew, Yagona, and Sakau, it has been used there for thousands of years as a folk remedy and as a social and ceremonial beverage. Kava Kava – Technically known as Piper Methysticum, it is a tall shrub in the pepper family that grows in the South Pacific islands. It has been found to lower cholesterol and high blood pressure, strengthen immune systems, inhibit cancer growth, improve reproductive and digestive systems, mental and liver functions, and stress-related symptoms. Jiaogulan – Technically called Gynostemma Pentaphyllum, this herb native to Asia, has also been called Twisting-vine Orchid, Southern Ginseng, and praised as Xiancao, “Immortality” Herb, it has many health-giving qualities and anti-aging effects. Pregnant women should not use Juniper as it has been known to cause miscarriage. Externally, it is applied as a diluted oil, having a slightly warming effect and found effective for treatment on arthritic joints and wounds. Beware that large doses can irritate the urinary passage. The female trees bear cones that produce small round bluish-black berries, that when fully ripe, were eaten raw or in teas for the treatment of digestive disorders, kidney, bladder, and urinary tract problems, arthritis, gout, gum disease, dandruff, gonorrhea, diarrhea, high blood pressure, and rheumatic conditions. Juniper – Officially known as Juniperus Communis, this evergreen shrub is found on mountains and heaths throughout Europe, Southwest Asia, and North America. Nevada Indian tribes used the plant to treat sexually transmitted diseases and to enhance the immune system, and Hopi women drank a tea of the whole Indian paintbrush to “Dry up the menstrual flow.” Both applications are useful due to their selenium content. The Chippewa Indians now use Indian Paintbrush as a medicine to treat rheumatism and as a bath rinse to make their hair glossy. It has similar health benefits to consuming garlic if only the flowers are eaten in small amounts and in moderation. These plants can be potentially very toxic if the roots or green parts of the plant are consumed. The flowers of the Indian Paintbrush are edible and sweet and were consumed in moderation by various Native American tribes as a condiment with other fresh greens. Climate data used in creation of plant range maps is from PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State University, using 30 year (1981-2010) annual "normals" at an 800 meter spatial resolution.Indian Paintbrush – Officially known as Castilleja, and also called Prairie-fire, this is a genus of about 200 species of Broomrape family that are native to the west of the Americas from Alaska south to the Andes. Other general sources of information include Calflora, CNPS Manual of Vegetation Online, Jepson Flora Project, Las Pilitas, Theodore Payne, Tree of Life, The Xerces Society, and information provided by CNPS volunteer editors, with special thanks to Don Rideout. Sources of plant photos include CalPhotos, Wikimedia Commons, and independent plant photographers who have agreed to share their images with Calscape. Propogation from seed information provided by the Santa Barbara Botanical Garden from "Seed Propagation of Native California Plants" by Dara E. Plant observation data provided by the participants of the California Consortia of Herbaria, Sunset information provided by Jepson Flora Project. All text shown in the "About" section of these pages is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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