Re: aroids as medicines including againt snake bite!

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Steve, when I lived in Guyana I was told that the juice of the stems of mucca-mucca Montrichardia arborescens stops bleeding. John.

 

-----Original Message-----
From: aroid-l-bounces@gizmoworks.com [aroid-l-bounces@gizmoworks.com] On Behalf Of ExoticRainforest
Sent: Saturday, March 27, 2010 8:56 AM
To: Discussion of aroids
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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