Re: aroids as medicines including againt snake bite!

Hi Steve,
 
There is a HUGE market for Jergon Sacha (Dracontium) coming out of South America for virtually everything that ails you and there have supposedly even been some clinical trials I believe.  If you Google either Dracontium or Jergon Sacha you will find a wealth of information.
 
You can also buy powdered Amorphophallus konjac for all of your aches and pains of course.
 
The real question is have there been any serious clinical trials to substantiate these claims?  I realize that these sorts of studies are normally well behind the reality people know on the ground, but ultimately I think they are required both for medicine and for making people want to protect their native species.
 
Hope this helps your research!
 
By the way, Steve M., I recently tried to post a pic of my Dracontium polyphyllum that is in bloom, but it never seems to have made it through......any ideas on why this is?
 
Dan
Gibsonia, PA
 
 
 
----- Original Message -----
From: S*@ExoticRainforest.com
To: aroid-l@gizmoworks.com
Sent: Saturday, March 27, 2010 8:56 AM
Subject: [Aroid-l] aroids as medicines including againt snake bite!

I am curious if any of you know anything about the use of aroids as a medicine.  I have had a brief discussion with a friend in Ecuador about the possibility the oxalates in the juices of some of some aroids counteracting the venom of snakes.  

Pete Boyce has a mention of this in his paper A review of Alocasia (Araceae: Colocasieae) for Thailand including a novel species and new species records from South-West Thailand in regard to Alocasia cucullata and my friend in Ecuador explained Anthurium species and other aroids that "bleed" white are used as an "ant-bite"  while "clear bleeders" are considered to be better against snakes.  In Ecuador Caladium is also used by the Shuar and jungle Kichua to treat snakebites. 

Julius, since you are our resident expert on Caladium, tell us what you know!

Steve
www.ExoticRainforest.com

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