Developed in the 1920s by Austrian scientist and philosopher Rudolf Steiner and Dutch physician Ita Wegman, anthroposophic medicine sought to expand the materialistic understanding of health and disease.
In the view of anthroposophic medicine, human health depends on the physical body; processes covering vitality and regeneration called 'etheric organization' or life forces; the emotional and instinctual part of the human being, called 'astral organization' or soul forces; and finally the capacity for thinking, individuality and sense of self, called 'I-organization'. In other words, anthroposophic medical practitioners see the condition of a person's physical body as only one element of health; the condition of a person's self-healing capacity, soul, and spirit are equally important."
So, why am I writing about this now? Well, it all began the other night when I was thinking, that usually a treatment exists in nature for illnesses. A simple example is White Willow Bark which contains Salicylic Acid and is used to lower prostaglandins to reduce inflammation. It is the active ingredient in common day aspirin. Interestingly enough, this scenario exists for many plants and trees. I began to look around to see what might "look like" Covid-19 and could possibly help slow its ability to replicate in our bodies. I was out on a walk with my dog Spike and I looked down and there they were - those annoying Prickly Balls on the ground. As he and I attempted to navigate around them so he didn't hurt his feet, the thought came to me. Hey!!!! Prickly Balls look like Covid-19 virus. That is what led me to thinking about anthroposophic medicine. When I came home I began to research what tree those prickly balls come from and if there was any known benefit from the tree or it's annoying seeds. Low and behold, Native Americans have been using the sap to seal barrels, make chewing gum and they make a tincture out of the prickly balls that is effective against the flu and some GI illnesses. I researched a little more and found that the NIH has done a study on the medicinal benefits of Sweetgum Tree.
The article is fascinating. Sweetgum has been proven to effectively treat H1N1/Swine Flu, Flu, MRSA, fungal infections, anticancer properties and so much more. The active ingredient in Sweetgum seeds contain the same active ingredient ,Shikimic Acid, as found in Tamiflu. Chinese Star Anise is also known to contain some of the same properties as Sweetgum.
Here is the link to the NIH study.
Here is excerpt from the above publication:
"Many of the medicinal properties of sweetgum come from storax as well as essential oils extracted from the leaves. Storax, also referred to as styrax, is produced by damaging the outer bark of sweetgum trees. When the tree is wounded, the inner bark produces a balsam. Boiling the inner bark in water effectively removes the balsam and produces storax. Storax produced from L. orientalis, or Turkish sweetgum, is referred to as Asian storax while storax derived from L. styraciflua is called American storax. Storax has medicinal uses dating back to the Aztec Empire during the Paleo-Indian Period (ca. 10,000-7000 BC). The ancient Aztecs collected the boiled down, grayish-brown, sticky, opaque liquid and used it as a treatment for skin infections and other ailments.[1] Native Americans also used storax for medicinal purposes, including controlling coughs and dysentery and treating sores and wounds.[7] In addition to storax, the sap of the sweetgum tree was burnt as incense or mixed with tobacco leaves as a sedative[1] as well as used in the making of soaps, cosmetics, fixatives in perfumes, adhesives, and lacquers. Recent references from organic websites have noted that the inner bark of sweetgum, boiled with milk, can relieve diarrhea, and oils from the leaves of sweetgum trees have antimicrobial properties against both bacteria and viruses.[8]"
I wonder if it will help slow down the ability of Covid-19 to dock on our cells and replicate?
I don't have an answer. However, I have reached out to many areas of the health care industry and have not gotten a response. Honestly, I don't expect to. I do feel that it is my duty as a doctor to attempt to share my thoughts in hopes this idea might be a viable resource.
In the mean time, I and I hope you have a new found appreciation for the Sweetgum tree and it's prickly ball seed pods. I know I will be making a tincture as soon at the green balls appear.
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| Sweetgum Bark |
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| Sweetgum Leaves |
