3. Workshop Experimental Cosmetics Current research project: New anti-cancer compounds from plants Plant derived drugs (Aspirin, Taxol) Local medicinal plants How to know them Where to find them Home-made preparation of plant-based creams Use and benefit of medicinal plants
4. Local medicinal plants Dandelion (Löwenzahn) Dogâs rose (Hagebutte) Clover (Klee) Tansy (Rainfarn) Silverweed (GĂ€nsefingerkraut) Dost (Wilder Dost) St.-John's-wort (Johanniskraut) How to know them: typical features
5. River borders Forest Local medicinal plants How to avoid confusion Bearâs garlic (BĂ€rlauch, Ail des ours) Meadow saffron (Herbtzeitlose, Colchique d'automne) â Where to find them
6. Local plant Extracts made from different plant organs Test in cell culture for anti-cancer properties Use and benefit of medicinal plants Research project: New anti-cancer compounds from local plants
7. Ingredients End product Measuring, mixing and brewing Home-made preparation of plant-based creams
Some plants are familiar to most people like chamomile, Dandelion etc âand others, although often as frequent, are quite unknown, like Tansy or Silverweed. By flyers and posters, introduction of about 20 of these local medicinal plants, brief description of typical characteristics which help to recognize them. Example: The leaf of St-Johnâs-wort is perforated by so-called pits that appear as little transparent holes on the leaf surface.
Point out risks and dangers: insist on where NOT to collect them, e.g. next to roads, waste tips or any promenade (dog mess) Moreover, the risk of mixing up medicinal or spice plants with toxic plants can be rather high. Differences Bearsâ garlic -> Meadow saffron: smell of garlic; for the garlic, ONE leaf emerges from the stem, for the meadow saffron more than 1 leaf (whoch has no petiole) emerge from 1 stem, in spring time, wild garlic is not flowering, whereas meadow saffron often has built already some flowers
Different creams were prepared from a short list of ingredients including bee wax, lanolin, as well as plant extracts from cucumber, chamomile and thyme.
Often these âexpertsâ do not exist in reality, or they have not the expertise they are praised for âsince their qualifications are often only distantly related to the field of interest. Example: Hendrik Hey, who is claimed to be a âscientific journalistâ and promotes the benefits of an everydayâs consumption of Actimel has studied German language and literature, politics, philosophy and economics.
Trialsshown in advertisements are often based on a limited number of people (e.g. 42) and/or they are based on the subjective analysis of the probands. Moreover, comparison with suitable controls are often missing/not mentioned. Quality seals can be assigned in multiple different categories and often, these labels are not necessarily linked to the advantages/amenities claimed in the advertisement . Example: a yoghurt has been rated âvery goodâ -> but possibly it has been commended because of its good tolerability or because of its eco-friendly (ecologically friendly) package/wrapping and not because any digestive or beneficial effect.
