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Los Autores Dagmar y Rene Daniel Publican Nuevo Libro, 'La Medicina de Quetzalcoatl, Medicina Tradicional, Plantas Aztecas y La Ciencia Moderna'

El Nuevo libro nos presenta la sabiduría proveniente de los médicos y curanderos aztecas, quienes recolectaron e identificaron las plantas aztecas por su capacidad y poder para tratar con éxito las enfermedades humanas

WILMINGTON, NC, 08 de Marzo, 2017 /24-7Comunicado de Prensa/ -- Los coautores Dagmar y René Daniel acaban de anunciar el lanzamiento de 'La Medicina de Quetzalcoatl, Medicina Tradicional, Plantas Aztecas y La Ciencia Moderna'. El Nuevo libro nos presenta la sabiduría proveniente de los médicos y curanderos aztecas, quienes recolectaron e identificaron las plantas aztecas por su capacidad y poder para tratar con éxito las enfermedades humanas.

Cada cultura desarrolla su propio sistema de cuidado de la salud, que incluye a sus propios médicos, métodos de tratamiento y medicamentos que éstos dispensan a sus pacientes. Por otro lado, la medicina contemporánea se fundamenta en la evidencia basando sus conocimientos en la ciencia. Por esta razón algunas culturas modernas tienden a descartar los sistemas pre-científicos de medicina, agrupándolos a todos bajo una misma etiqueta, la de ‘medicina tradicional’. Sin embargo, como se demuestra en este libro, la medicina tradicional ha sido y es la fuente de muchos medicamentos modernos.

Escrito para la gente común, el nuevo libro se centra en la medicina practicada por los habitantes del Imperio Azteca. Aunque el imperio azteca desapareció ya hace mucho tiempo, los primeros exploradores de la cultura lograron conservar el conocimiento azteca. Muchas de las plantas utilizadas por los aztecas todavía se utilizan hoy, y muchas de ellas son objeto de estudios científicos en la actualidad. El objetivo de éste libro es resumir y analizar la evidencia científica con respecto a la eficacia y seguridad de estas plantas, mostrando cuáles son las especies que podrían constituir una potencial e interesante fuente para la investigación de nuevos fármacos y drogas en, lo que conduciría a nuevos tratamientos con base científica.

"Hemos puesto todo nuestro corazón y nuestros conocimientos en este libro, esperamos que nuestros lectores estén tan entusiasmados con la sabiduría y maestría médica de la antigüedad como nosotros y, de esta manera, quizás se propongan nuevas formas y métodos para tratar las enfermedades modernas". Rene Daniel.
'La Medicina de Quetzalcoatl' incluye una lista alfabética completa de las plantas medicinales aztecas, una bibliografía y un índice completo de las plantas.
Una revisión reciente en el sitio web de Amazon califica al libro como, "... uno de los mejor documentados sobre los usos medicinales de las plantas aztecas", y declara: "... las gráficas e ilustraciones de ‘Medicina Tradicional, Plantas Aztecas y La Ciencia Moderna' están muy bien hechos, y la interpretación es la correcta, está justo en el punto preciso, donde se espera que esté, ofreciéndonos información exacta. Este es un libro de notable lectura, totalmente aconsejable para todo aquel que esté interesado en la medicina herbaria.

Dagmar y René Daniel se encuentran totalmente disponibles para dar entrevistas a los medios de comunicación, para ponerse en contacto con ellos vea la información que aparece debajo de éste artículo, también puede escribir para dicho fin a: Rene_Daniel@verizon.net. 'La Medicina de Quetzalcoatl' está ya disponible en Amazon.

Dagmar Daniel es estudiante en el Distrito Escolar de Wissahickon, Ambler, Pennsylvania. Es la ganadora del premio internacional “MPACGroup Top Design Award 2016” del programa “Cubes in Space” por el diseño de un experimento que mide la presión intraocular durante la fase de ascensión de un cohete en vuelo.

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The Ornamental Laxative

Latin: Cassia (Senna) alata
English: Emperor’s Candlesticks, Ringworm Shrub
Spanish: Bajagua
Nahuatl: Ecaptli, xihuecapatli
Maya: Unknown

This plant is a shrub, 3-4 meters tall. Its leaves close in the dark. Its flowers are tall and yellow and resemble candlesticks, thus giving this plant one of its names. It is a native of Mexico (183) but is an invasive species. It can be found elsewhere in Central and South America, and in many other regions of the world, where it is used as an ornamental plant.
Aztecs called Cassia alata ecaptli or xihuecapatli, and are said to use it as an astringent (contracts skin or mucous tissues) and an anti-inflammatory agent. However, it is has multiple medicinal uses around the world. The problems this plant is considered useful for can be roughly divided into two categories: skin disease and gastrointestinal problems. The latter includes intestinal parasites and liver problems. Others uses were recorded, such as treatment of urinary and sexually transmitted diseases. It appears that leaves are mainly used for topical treatment of skin diseases, whereas other parts of the plant, including leaves, can be used to treat internal diseases. One of the names of the plant, ringworm shrub, indicates it is used for treatment of a fungal skin infection called ringworm.
Cassia (senna) alata has been extensively studied in the lab and was again tested in clinical trials. It is a senna plant and the laxative properties of senna were described below (see Senna occidentalis in the Medicine of Quetzalcoatl). A clinical trial demonstrated that it is indeed highly effective in the treatment of constipation. Another clinical trial showed the plant is effective for treating a fungal skin infection, Pityriasis versicolor.
In vitro, the plant products were shown to be effective against helminths and some bacteria. In addition, Cassia alata was also shown to have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antitumor properties.

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Is a Cactus Good for Your Health?

Latin: Opuntia humifusa
English: Devil’s Tongue, Eastern Prickly Pear
Spanish: Nopal (family name)
Nahuatl: Nohpalli (pads), nochtli (fruit)
Maya: Unknown

This plant is a species of cactus. It is a perennial plant with large green pads with barbed bristles. The flowers are yellow and its fruit is red, juicy and edible. It grows in sunny places and needs a well-drained soil.
Aztecs used Nopal to treat wounds, abscesses, for lung problems, as a diuretic, anthelminthic, and to increase milk production in women. Nopal is also used to treat joint pain, nausea and mental diseases. It is also assumed to help women in childbirth.
Nopal has been studied in laboratories. Interestingly, it was shown to have anti-inflammatory properties in laboratory animals and to improve the control of diabetes mellitus and cholesterol. The focus of research in recent years seems to be on Nopal’s anticancer properties. In vitro studies showed that Nopal products may block the growth of glioblastoma, cervical cancer, skin cancer and gastric cancer cells. Unfortunately, no clinical studies were yet done.
In summary, Nopal seems to be a potential source of new investigational drugs, particularly those targeting cancer.

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Lipstick Tree and Your Health

Latin name: Bixa Orellana
English: Lipstick Tree
Spanish: Achiote
Nahuatl: Achiotl
Maya: kiwi, kuxub
Achiote is a small tree that grows 20 – 33ft (6-10m). The small tree is covered in white or pink flowers and spiky fruits. Achiote is called the lipstick tree for a very simple reason: native people of South and Central America used its seeds to color their lips. It was named by the famous Swedish botanist Linneus after the Spanish conquistador Francisco de Orellano. However, its Spanish name, achiote, comes from the Nahuatl language, which was spoken by Aztecs. It means a “shrub”.
Aztecs used it to make a red pigment, which they used to color their manuscripts. In addition, they used it to treat fever, diarrhea, and as a diuretic. Mayans also used it to treat many diseases: the leaves were for dysentery, and the pulp for hemorrhoids, and water from boiled seeds was for measles. It can treat the toxic effects of Metopium brownei, in combination with other herbs.

Extracts from Bixa orellana were investigated in the lab and some of the effects were toxic: it can induce hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) in dogs. On the other hand, bark from the tree has anti-gonorrheal activity. It can treat snakebites, specifically the haemorrhagic effect of Bothrops atrox venom in laboratory mice. Interestingly, the extract showed activity against some causes of dysentery and diarrhea. This is consistent with its use by Mayans in the treatment of dysentery and the Aztec treatment of diarrhea. It is also effective, at least in the lab, against the parasite Leishmania amazonensis. There is no evidence for an anti-fever effect, but given that fever is often a symptom of infection, perhaps the anti-fever effect was a consequence of the anti-parasite and anti-diarrhea effect. There is some evidence scientific evidence from animal studies that achiote works as a diuretic. Its activity is, however, weak compared to standard drugs.

In summary, achiote appears to be a plant with many potential useful medicinal properties, but as many others, it has to be tested in clinical trials to evaluate its potency and potential toxicity.

Mexican Tarragon and Health

Latin: Tagetes lucida
English: Mexican Tarragon
Spanish: Flor de Santa Maria
Nahuatl: Yauhtli (“the dark one”)
Maya: Unknown
The marigold plant can be up to three quarters of a meter tall, thus slightly smaller than Tagetes erecta. Also, unlike Tagetes erecta, Tagetes lucida flowers are yellow and small.
It has a tarragon taste and its leaves are thus used in cooking, where they can replace the original tarragon. The plant was used by Aztecs in their rituals under the name yauhtli. Yauhtli, in the form of powder, was blown into the faces of sacrifical victims, which were anesthesized and sedated. It was added for similar purposes by Mayans to their sacred balche drink. Even today the plant appears to be in use by Maya shamans for their rituals and Mixe indigenous people for divination.
Aztecs are said to use it to treat multiple problems, which include fever, fear (see above), dementia, and „lightning strike“. Modern uses include treatment of stomachaches, induction of lactation, rheumatism (when added to bath), coughs, and eczema.
Scientific evidence shows that Tagates does have anti-depressant properties in experimental animals. It also shows it has in vitro anti-bacterial and anti-fungal activities, which might explain its purported anti-fever effects.
In summary, Tagates lucida appears to contain psychoactive substances, which might be useful as investigational drugs, and deserve further research. In addition, it may contain useful anti-bacterial and anti-fungal compounds.

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Should you drink cacao?

Latin: Theobroma cacao
English: Cacao Tree (Cocoa Tree)
Spanish: Cacao
Nahuatl: Cacahuaquauitl
Maya: Kakaw

Cacao was a gift from the Plumed Serpent, or so Mayans said. Aztecs believed that the Plumed Serpent, Quetzalcoatl, discovered cacao in a mountain, together with other delicious foods (424). Cacao was that important to Mayans and Aztecs. In reality, cacao comes from the Cacao Tree, which is a native plant of Central and South America. The tree produces small flowers, which are transformed into cacao pods. Each pod contains about 20 to 60 cocoa beans, which are the cource of cacao. The cacao tree has spread to many places around the world, as the demand for cacao grew.
The Aztecs highly prized the cacao properties. They used it both as a drink (in the form of chocolate) and for ceremonial purposes. As for medicinal purposes, they used it together with rubber to treat diarrhea. Other reported uses include a general health tonic and an aphrodiasiac. In other parts of the world, it is also used to treat scorpion stings. Tea from the leaves it considered to be useful to treat children’s fatigue. There are also reported uses of the fruit pulp during pregnancy, to generally strengthen the health.
Cacao was of major interests to scientists for a long time. Consequently, there are hundreds of studies, and multiple clinical trials. There is indeed some evidence, from in vitro studies, that it could be beneficial for treatment of diarrhea. However, clinical trials mainly concentrated on the question whether cacao has cardiovascular benefits. There are both epidemiological and clinical studies that suggests it is the case. The effects appear to be attributable to the cacao flavanols. However, there is also contradictory evidence and there are methodological issues, which leads to a need for clinical trials, which are carefully designed and address well thought out questions.
In summary, it appears that cacao is beneficial to human health, with main benefits going to the cardiovascular system. However, more work is needed to reach a connsensus when it comes to health benefits, correct dosing and identification of populations which would benefit from cacao intake.

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Heath Benefits of Oak

Latin: Quercus spp.
English: Oak
Spanish: El Roble
Nahuatl: Auaquauitl
Maya: Unknown
Auaquauitl is the Nahuatl name for oak tree, which does not need a detailed introduction.
The main oak product that is used in traditional medicine is the bark. Usually tea is made from oak bark, and it is used to treat respiratory diseases and diarrhea. The other mode of use is topical. Bark can be applied to skin to reduce swelling or inflammation, or added to a bath. Aztecs used it to treat dysentery, and interestingly, „tiredness of public officials“.
There are multiple peer-reviewed studies on the effects of various oak plants. They are done mainly in vitro (including cultured cells) and on animals. Thus, there is evidence supporting the anti-inflammatory and skin-protective effects of oak. There is no direct evidence that would demonstrate the purported anti-diarrheal effect, however, it has been shown that oak counteracts bacterial strains of E.Coli that cause hemorrhagic enteritis and diarrhea. Interestingly, oak was also shown to have antiviral activity targeting several viruses, including dengue, hepatitis C and HSV-1. Limited evidence suggests that oak may have cardioprotective effects.
Finally, two clinical trials sugges that oak may help to alleviate symptoms of the chronic fatique syndrome. It is not known how many of the subjects were „public officials“.

In summary oak appears to be very promising source of invesitgational drugs for several diseases and may yield new drugs.

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Health Benefits of Sunflower

Latin: Helianthus annuus
English: Common Sunflower
Spanish: Girasol, Mirasol
Nahuatl: Chimalacatl
May: Unknown

You are, of course, familiar with the large yellow heads of this plant. It may grow in your garden, whether you live in Europe, Asia, Africa or the Americas. Sunflower is one of the gifts the Americas gave to the world. It was first cultivated in the region that comprises Mexico and Southwest United States, and brought to Europe in the 16th century, before it spread to other continents. Aztecs knew it well and for them it was a symbol and metaphor of war . They also used it for ornamentation.
Aztecs were obviously aware that the sunflower seeds are edible and they were an important food source . The sunflower oil was brought to Europe together with the sunflowers themselves, showing that Aztecs knew how to extract it from the plant. Both sunflower seeds and sunflower oil are important food and cooking ingredients to this day.
Sunflower has been used for long time in the herbal medicine. Aztecs used the plant to treat fevers, to “soothe chest” and to treat burns and stings.
Although we didn’t not find any recent peer-reviewed studies that would support the notion that sunflower can be used to treat fevers, malaria, cough or lung diseases, two publications including a clinical trial, suggest that the topical use of sunflower-based products is beneficial. The first publication suggests that the topical application of sunflower olleodistillate increases skin hydration, reduces the transepidermal water loss, and/or promotes keratinocyte differentiation in humans in vivo. In contrast, a clinical trial showed that topical sunflower oil prevented invasive bacterial infections in preterm infants in Egypt. Taken together, these findings suggest that sunflower oil may be useful for treatment of skin diseases and should encourage research in this direction.

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Health Benefits of Guava

Latin name: Psidium guajava
English: Common (or Yellow) Guava
Spanish name: Guayaba
Nahuatl (Aztec): Xalxocotl
Maya: Pichi
Description of the plant:
This plant is a small shrub or tree, producing commonly known edible fruits. It is a native of Mexico and of Central and South America. When the seeds are planted, they grow extremely slow for a few months, but then the growth accelerates. The guava begins to bear fruits in only two years after planting.
Plant use:
Aztecs used it to treat diarrhea and mange (a group of skin diseases caused by parasitic mites). One example is scabies. Interestingly, Mayan healers employed guava (both leaves and fruit) to treat diarrhea as well. In addition, the extract from leaves have also been used to cure asthma and cough.
Scientific evidence for its effectiveness:
Psidium guajava’s anti-diarrheal properties were studied quite extensively in both cell and animal models. Extracts from the plant were shown to have both anti-bacterial and anti-spasmodic properties. (84, 85). There are no studies with regards to guava effects on mange. However, guava was shown to interfere with the formation of inflammatory chemokines that are involved in atopic dermatitis (86). One can thus speculate that guava diminishes the immune response that occurs in skin that is infected with mites, and thus alleviates symptoms of this disease. However, the evidence supporting this hypothesis appears extremely limited. To our knowledge, there is only one publication supporting the medicinal properties of this plant for treatment of cough. It was an animal study. No study was found that would examine the effects of Psidium guajava on asthma.

In summary, this plant shows promising anti-diarrheal and anti-bacterial properties. Further studies of these effects are warranted, and clinical trials are needed to evaluate its safety.

Read more about Aztec plants in:

https://www.amazon.com/Medicine-Quetzalcoatl-Traditional-Modern-Science-ebook/dp/B06WW8QCK1/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1489172815&sr=1-1-fkmr0&keywords=Medicine+of+Quetzalcoatl+Dagmar.

Or see below for details.

Medicine of Quetzalcoatl - new book on Aztec medicine

WILMINGTON, NC, March 08, 2017 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Co-authors Dagmar and Rene Daniel have announced the release of 'Medicine of Quetzalcoatl, Traditional Medicine, Aztec Herbs and Modern Science'. The new book presents knowledge derived from Aztec physicians and healers, who collected and identified the Aztec herbs and their potential for the treatment of human diseases.

Each culture develops its own system of health care, which includes its practitioners, treatment methods and medications the practitioners dispense to their patients. Contemporary medicine is evidence-based and relies on science. For this reason some modern cultures tend to dismiss the pre-scientific systems of medicine, which is put together under the common label of traditional medicine. Yet, as shown in this book, traditional medicine was and is the source of many modern medications.

Written for the layman, the new book focuses on the medicine practiced by the inhabitants of the Aztec Empire. Although the Aztec Empire is long gone, early explorers have preserved the Aztec knowledge. Many of the herbs used by Aztecs are still used today, and quite a few of them are the subject of scientific studies. The goal of the book is to summarize and analyze the scientific evidence regarding the efficacy and safety of these plants, and to show which of these plants could be a potential source for investigational drugs, which may lead to new, science-based treatments.

"We poured our hearts and knowledge into this book. We hope our readers are as excited by the ancient medical expertise as we are and perhaps come up with new ways to treat modern diseases". Rene Daniel

CLICK ON THE IMAGE ABOVE TO GO TO AMAZON.

Eat hot peppers for a longer life?

January 13, 2017 (ScienceDaily) Like spicy food? If so, you might live longer, say researchers at the Larner College of Medicine at the University of Vermont, who found that consumption of hot red chili peppers is associated with a 13 percent reduction in total mortality -- primarily in deaths due to heart disease or stroke -- in a large prospective study.

Chinese herbal expert among Nobel Price Winners

October 5, 2015 (Yahoo News) Tu Youyou of China won half of the award for her work on artemisinin, an anti-malarial drug based on ancient Chinese herbal medicine, the Nobel jury announced.

Beetroot juice benefits patients with heart failure

September 19, 2015 (Circulation) Researchers from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, MO, publishing in the journal Circulation: Heart Failure, wanted to know if patients with heart failure could get the kind of benefits athletes find in beet juice.

For Alzheimer's patients, resveratrol brings new hope

September 11, 2015 (CNN)Over the years, resveratrol, an antioxidant found in grapes, chocolate and red wine, has been touted as a possible antidote to Alzheimer's disease, cancer, diabetes and many other conditions. Now, the first study in people with Alzheimer's suggests that the compound, when taken in concentrated doses, may actually have benefit in slowing progression of this disease.

How can aspirin help to cure cancer?

September 4, 2015 (MNT) A recent study, published in the journal Cell, suggests that aspirin could be effective in boosting the immune system in patients suffering from breast, skin and bowel cancer.

NIH study shows no benefit of omega-3 or other nutritional supplements for cognitive decline

August 25, 2015, (NIH) - While some research suggests that a diet high in omega-3 fatty acids can protect brain health, a large clinical trial by researchers at the National Institutes of Health found that omega-3 supplements did not slow cognitive decline in older persons. With 4,000 patients followed over a five-year period, the study is one of the largest and longest of its kind. It was published today in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Chestnut leaves yield extract that disarms deadly staph bacteria

August 21, 2015 (Science Daily) - Leaves of the European chestnut tree contain ingredients with the power to disarm dangerous staph bacteria without boosting its drug resistance, scientists have found.

Scientists discover 'obesity master switch' for burning or storing fat

Thursday 20 August 2015 (NEJM) - Scientists who analyzed the cell-level circuits surrounding the activity of the FTO gene - the one most strongly associated with obesity - have discovered a metabolic pathway that appears to exert overall control over whether our fat cells store or burn calories.

Doctor Offers Back-to-School Health Tips

SUNDAY, Aug. 16, 2015 (HealthDay News) -- With the arrival of the new school year, parents need to remember the importance of keeping their children healthy, a pediatrician advises.

WHO Collaborating Center on Traditional Medicine Inaugurates in Macao

MACAO, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- An international forum and a World Health Organization (WHO) collaborating center on traditional medicines was inaugurated here Tuesday.

The WHO center is dedicated to cooperation in personnel training, quality and safety of traditional medicines, while helping WHO members integrate traditional and complementary medicine into their health-care system.

Alongside A Doctor's Care, a Dose of Traditional Healing

August 19, 2015 (New York Times)
SANTIAGO, Chile — The first thing Manuel Lincovil does is take a look at the urine. A machi, or spiritual leader and healer of the indigenous Mapuche people, he watches the liquid settle as he shakes the glass jar, learning of his patient’s experiences, ailments and sorrows.

By Rene Daniel, M.D., Ph.D.
Physician specializing in Internal Medicine
Scientist, Ph.D. in Molecular Biology and Genetics
Member of the National Academy of Inventors (NAI)