Times of the Islands Winter 2018/19

during two weeks of daily mauby consumption compared
to placebo; similar results were noted along with lowering
of pulse rate in a study carried out in New York. Indeed,
the benefits of Mauby are well documented and continually
bring studied.
Before you rush out to your nearest bush doctor and
imbibe a quart of mauby to solve your every health problem,
remember that plant medicines are not inherently
safer than drugs from the pharmacy. Mistakes in species
identification, preparation methods and dosage can have
significant effects, and mauby is known, with so many
compounds in it, to contraindicate some medications
dangerously. One should always be certain to discuss
additions of medications, including bush medicine, to
one’s health regimen with a physician. Unfortunately, it’s
getting harder to find bush doctors these days, and the
art is gradually losing pieces as bush doctors stop practicing.
Fortunately, Mr. Alton has always been willing to
teach about bush medicine, and that’s why my students
would visit him. His knowledge of medicinal plants, which
is traditional and passed down from generations before,
is now being analysed in laboratories and found to have
significant potential. About 80% of our modern medicines
originate in plants, and we have a lot more plants to
investigate—there are lots more compounds to describe.
That crossover between fieldwork and lab work is important,
as is sharing benefits fully with the countries that
own those genetic and cultural resources.
While our approach was conservation rather than
medical development, the traditional uses of plants are
fascinating, and my students always come back to me
with lists of questions, usually on the botanical names of
the often-colourful local names Mr. Alton uses. But one
student I had, of the posher and formally educated ilk,
came back with a question that took some time for me
to digest. This student wanted to know who Marge was.
“Marge?” I asked. My student explained that Mr. Alton
kept mentioning someone named Marge when talking
about certain plant medicines. I asked for more information
and recognised the pattern. “It’s not a person’s
name. It’s not Marge . . . it’s marriage. I can understand
how it sounds like Marge to you.” My student looked distraught,
searched through notes, and began explaining
more. “Yes,” I explained, “You marriage plants to produce
some medications. It means combining them. Marriage
them.” My student looked rather taken aback, even horrified,
and scoffed, “Marriage? But that’s not a verb!” a
renewable &
efficient
energy solutions
www.greenrevolutionltd.com
moreinfo@greenrevolutionltd.com
Keeping TCI
green by nature
649-331-1393
)
Times of the Islands Winter 2018/19 27