A Comprehensive Report on the Medicinal Plant Thuja occidentalis

This report provides an overview of Thuja occidentalis, also known as white cedar, a medicinal plant native to Canada and the northeastern United States. It delves into its history, highlighting its importance in Ojibwe culture, where it was revered as a sacred plant and used for various medicinal purposes. The report discusses the plant's composition, including its rich vitamin C content and the presence of thujone, as well as its use in traditional medicine, including as a treatment for warts and ringworm. Furthermore, it examines the plant's cultivation, conservation efforts, and management plans, emphasizing the threats posed by human activities and the need for in-situ and ex-situ conservation strategies. The report also includes recommendations for better conservation, such as promoting stewardship and providing more information on its management. Finally, it references the use of Thuja occidentalis extract as an external treatment and the historical significance of its use in the construction of boats. The report concludes by referencing sources such as the National Center for Biotechnology Information and the National Center for Homeopathy.

NATIVE CANADIAN
MEDICINAL PLANT-
Thuja
occidentalis
The genus name is
thuja and the
species name is
occidentalis.
This medicinal plant is native
to Canada especially in the
eastern Canada and much of
the north, central and upper
Northeastern United States.
HISTORY AND
MEDICINAL VALUE
White-cedar or Thuja
occidentalis is a tree with
important uses in
traditional Ojibwe culture. It is
honoured with the name of
Grandmother cedar, which
was used to be a subject of the
sacred legends. It was
considered to be a gift for the
myriad uses and also for
medicinal values.
It is part of the Ojibwe
medicine wheel that is related
to the white cedar foliage; rich
in vitamin C. this is rich in a
neurotoxic compound that is
thujone. It also produces
essential oils to be used as
cleansers, disinfectants, hair
preparations, insecticides, lini
ment, and room sprays
Cultivation
These were mainly
grown as ornamental
trees in gardens or
parks.
Use as drug
As the plant is
used in recent
times as a
homeopathic
tincture therefore
it shows a
evidence-based
phytotherapy
especially against
the severe
bacterial
infections such as
bronchitis,
angina,
pharyngitis and
otitis media
("National Center
For
Biotechnology
Information")
Conservation of the
plant
t
Conservation of the plant
There was a development o
management plan for the
native white cedar of T.
occudentalis. extensive history
of agriculture, forestry, road
construction, mining had
posed threat to the cultivation
along with other human
activities like unsound
management practices.
Therefore to safeguard them,
in-conservation is started
along with ex-situ
conservation. This is achieved
by establishment of ecoregion
which are the conservation
zone.
Recommendations
For better conservation people
should be given stewardship of
the area where these plants are
grown. Secondly the land owners
should be made responsible for
the activities that take place on
their property.
There should be a proper
conservation community who will
work towards protection. The
researchers also should develop
an existing information base to
provide more information on its
management. Finally the
municipal, provincial and federal

How it helps society
T. occidentalis extract was
in common use as an
externally applied tincture
or ointment for the
treatment of warts,
ringworm, and thrush. It
was applied as an injection
to make the warts
disappear.
Earlier this was used to
make Au Sable river boats,
which were also known as
"pickup trucks of the Au
Sable" ("NCH | National
Center For Homeopathy")
References
"National Center For Biotechnology Information." Ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. N.p.,
2018. Web. 9 Sept. 2018.
"NCH | National Center For Homeopathy." Homeopathycenter.org. N.p.,
2018. Web. 9 Sept. 2018.
homeopathy?, What et al. "British Homeopathic Association - Enabling
Patient Access To Homeopathy." British Homeopathic Association. N.p.,
2018. Web. 9 Sept. 2018.
"BOIRON USA - World Leader In Homeopathic Medicines." BOIRON USA.