Category Science

Extinction is not something new. Records show that many plants have become extinct since life first appeared on Earth millions of years ago. But why does this happen?

One reason for this is habitat loss. Plants have adaptations that allow them to flourish in a particular area like deserts or rain forests. If these habitats are destroyed, the plant is in danger of becoming endangered or extinct.

The use of pesticides, chemicals and environmental contamination can endanger some species. Competitions from new species that are introduced by Man can result in many plants becoming extinct. This happened in St. Helena where the introduction of goats, citrus trees and herbs sounded the death knell for many species of plants found only on this island. Finally, commercial use and exploitation can deplete natural plant life, and put many plants on the endangered list. If awareness of the importance of preserving plant life is not spread, many of these will soon be lost to the world forever, as they become extinct.

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Garlic is a common spice found in kitchens. Though it’s very unpleasant to swallow a raw clove of garlic, it makes your dishes indescribably tasty.

Garlic is also an ideal herbal medicine. Very safe to use, the spice is very powerful as a remedy for many illness.The plant grows as a bulb each bulb is made up of cloves that contain antiseptic and antibiotic oil. This makes garlic an excellent medication for colds and coughs, as well as all types of chest and ear infections. The spice is also used for digestive troubles and works to lower blood pressure and cholesterol. Do you know that garlic can prevent strokes and reduce blood sugar levels? The spice is proven to have the ability to delay the onset of diabetes too. Garlic lowers cholesterol levels, and boosts the immune system.

So, henceforth, do not frown when you see your mother chopping garlic for curries. After all, garlic is one of the best all-round health enhancers that you can ever have!

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Some years back, a man claimed that he extracted petrol from some wild plants, and there was a commotion about it. Later, this turned out to be a hoax. Scientists, however, say that it is possible to extract bio-oil from plants.

Some plants yield bio-oil known as bio-diesel. The oil derives from a wide range of vegetable oils and feed stock. The greatest quality of bio-diesel is that, unlike diesel or petrol, it contains no benzene, a carcinogenic agent. Therefore, the oil is cleaner and safer. The most popular herb from which bio-diesel is extracted is Jatropha. This plant has its origins in Latin America, but it is widespread throughout the arid and semiarid tropical regions of the world. The plant lives up to 50 years and is a perennial drought resistant plant. The oil of the plant has medicinal properties too.

Bio-diesel is manufactured in a conventional chemical process known as transesterification. Two chemical agents, methylesters and a by-product called glycerol, are produced in this process. Glycerol has so many uses as it is widely used in everything from toothpaste to antifreeze.

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Has your mother ever given you the juice of ginger for an ache in the belly? Ginger is another spice closely connected with the lives of our countrymen. It is an indispensable element of our diet and an important medicine for many an illness.

A rhizome like turmeric, the ginger plant is a yellowish underground stem. The pungent taste and the distinct smell of ginger make it a favourite mostly helps our stomach and digestive system.If you feel nauseous, a spoon of ginger juice is an instant reliever. It also helps with digestion and stimulates the circulation of blood.

Ginger is handily for people with high blood pressure and fever. When a person has a cough or flu, the warming effect of ginger helps patients overcome them.

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Turmeric is an important spice in India. It is continuously growing underground stem or rhizome like ginger. It is hardly possible to think of preparing our delicious curries without turmeric.

The spice has the ability to cure many digestive and liver illnesses. Turmeric can inhibit clotting of blood, reduce inflammation and can help maintain cholesterol levels in the body. Due to its antibacterial properties, the spice is used to treat many skin diseases. Much research is done today on the effectiveness of turmeric in treating cancer. Turmeric is a known cosmetic agent. Women in India have been using turmeric for centuries for clearing and beautifying their skin. Regular application of the spice can remove unwanted hair on the body too.

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Ayurveda is an ancient system of medicine developed in India more than 5,000 years. It was during the Vedic times that Ayurveda grew. The world Ayurveda comes from two Sanskrit words: Ayur, meaning life, and Veda, meaning science or knowledge. Hence, Ayurveda literally means ‘Science of life’. Ayurveda recommends treatments that comprises mainly of products from herbs, plants and minerals. According to this science, Nature has ways of curing illnesses of the body. The death of an individual can be maintained by closeness to nature. Therefore, more than being a system of medicine, Ayurveda is considered by many a philosophy and thus a way of life. Ayurveda helps us in the understanding of the self and body and gives detailed guidelines about diet, daily routine, lifestyle, actions and activities to be followed in life.

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