An examination of antibacterial and antifungal properties of constituents described in traditional Ulster cures and remedies.
Traditional herbal cures and remedies have played an important historical role in the treatment of a variety of illnesses and diseases in Northern Ireland for the last three hundred years. Recently, these have been reviewed in the publication by Linda Ballard from the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum at Cultra, Co. Down, which details the variety of local plants used and for what purpose. From this publication and another related publication, we note the description of several plant species that consistently appear in traditional cures and remedies, particularly used to treat infections and infectious diseases. Unfortunately, although these plants have strong associations with the local historical evidence base, there are very limited and mainly no formal publications in the medical/scientific evidence base, examining their scientific background and clinical efficacy.
Woods-Panzaru
Simon
S
Northern Ireland Public Health Laboratory, Department of Bacteriology, Belfast City Hospital, Lisburn Road, Belfast, Northern Ireland, BT9 7AD.
Nelson
David
D
McCollum
Graham
G
Ballard
Linda M
LM
Millar
B Cherie
BC
Maeda
Yasunori
Y
Goldsmith
Colin E
CE
Rooney
Paul J
PJ
Loughrey
Anne
A
Rao
Juluri R
JR
Moore
John E
JE
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects*; D005658:Fungi / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008519:Medicine, Traditional; D009181:Mycoses / Q000188:drug therapy*; D009660:Northern Ireland; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000935:Antifungal Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts