Current Episode: Madagascar
Silver Telly Award Winning Trailer
Copyright 2009-Healing Seekers
The Healing Seekers team led by Amy Greeson recently returned from Madagascar. We went in search of the rosy periwinkle, catharanthus roseus.
The rosy periwinkle is native to Madagascar, but it has been widely cultivated in many regions around the world. People in Jamaica and thePhillipines traditionally used the rosy periwinkle to treat conditions such as high blood sugar. The medicinal use of this plant by such cultures intrigued researchers, and their investigation led to a remarkable discovery of certain alkoloids within the plant. These powerful components (alkaloids) proved to be effective against certain types of cancer. Consequently they led to the development of the chemotherapy drugs, vincristine and vinblastine, which are used in the treatment of childhood leukemia and Hodgkin's disease.
Even though we were fascinated with visiting the birthplace of the rosy periwinkle, our quest evolved into a broader exploration of Madagascar and Malagasy medicinal and spiritual traditions. We discovered and experienced unique and bizarre therapies and practices.
The island-country of Madagascar has been isolated from the continents of Africa and Asia for 65 million years. It is the oldest island on earth, and hence, many naturalists refer to it as a museum of living fossils; a rare opportunity for modern biologists to study unique lessons in evolution.
Madagascar is only 300 miles from the nearest land mass and yet, it holds numerous species not found anywhere else in the world. In fact, of the 13,000 species of flowering plants, 89% are endemic to Madagascar. Comparatively, the tropical Andes and Amazon regions host more plant species, whereas the level of endemism is only 50%.
The Healing Seekers team traveled from the capital city of Antanarive to the Southwest region of Tulear and then back to the Northeastern coast to the Masoala Peninsula, then over to the National Park of Ankarana and a visit to Ambaro Bay.
No two locations were alike. And no two healers were alike. Madagascar was a fascinating adventure, one filled with intrigue, curiosity, and many questions. One thing is for certain, each of us have all experienced a dramatic shift in how we perceive medicine; how we treat illness; and how we perceive health in general.
