Ipecacuanha Research Paper

The plant I have chosen is Cephaelis ipecacuanha. It is more commonly known ipecacuanha. The plant itself is a small shrub around one foot tall with a slender stem, white flowers, purple-black berries, and oblong leaves. Native to South America, it is more commonly found in Brazil. It grows best in moist shady woods (Herbalpedia, 2010). The root of the plant is used for medicinal purposes. Within the roots are the alkaloids emetine, cephaeline, and psychotrine (Grieve, 2016). The uses for these alkaloids are as an expectorant, emetic, sialagogue, and antiprotozoal. Originally used by the natives as a remedy for bowel problems, it was introduced to Europe in 1672 as a cure for dysentery (Herbalpedia, 2010). Ipecacuanha is used as an expectorant for bronchitis and whooping cough and the dose is ¼ to 2g. When used as an emetic, it is often used for poisoning and drug overdoses. Here the dosage is 15-30g (Herbalpedia, 2010;
pharmaceutical industry makes billions and I do understand that it can take billions to discover a new drug but there is a right way of doing things. We live in a country that is supposed to believe and protect the rights of all people. If U.S. pharmaceutical companies utilize resources from other indigenous people, more than just the new drugs should be paid for as compensation. Equality is something that everyone wants and it cannot exist if any one group receives greater benefits than another. Good post.
I had no idea that opium has been used for so long. As I was looking at threads on the discussion board, I decided to read yours because my wife is sick and her cough medicine has codeine in it. You mentioned that the sap can be man-made and put into pill form. Do you know how much modern opium is man-made versus natural? In terms of this plant-based drug I think it would be hard to determine if any indigenous people we improperly compensated since it has been used for so long and it grows all over the world