Pneumonia, remedies

R. abyssinicus Leaves and stems are powdered and sap used as treatment for pneumonia and cough. Roots powdered and applied to wounds or infusion drunk as remedy for stomach-ache. 

Beechwood creosote has been used as a disinfectant, a laxative, and a cough treatment. In the past, treatments for leprosy, pneumonia, and tuberculosis also involved eating or drinking beechwood creosote. It is rarely used today in the United States by doctors since it has been replaced by better medicines, and it is no longer produced by businesses in the United States. It is still available as an herbal remedy, and is used as an expectorant and a laxative in Japan. The major chemicals in beechwood creosote are phenol, cresols, and guaiacol. 

Traditional use The underground parts are used as a diuretic, laxative, and carminative, and to treat pneumonia, bronchitis, asthma, and ulcers, and also as a remedy for poisoning (Khodzhimatov 1989). 

IVaditional use Fresh fruits, infusion of the dried fruits, syrup or jam, or taken with tea, are widely used to quench the thirst, as a tonic, diaphoretic, diuretic, laxative, and sedative, as a remedy to increase the appetite, and to treat chronic gastritis and enterocolitis, stomach and duodenum ulcers, hver diseases, the flu, sore throats, pneumonia, stomatitis, dysentery, typhoid and fever. Water extracts, infusions or tea of the leaves and roots, is commonly used to treat stomach ulcers, chronic gastritis, and kidney stones (Nuraliev 1989). A decoction of the fruits, leaves, and branches is taken to treat cystitis, pyelitis, bronchitis, diabetes, urinary incontinence, eczema, vitiligo, psoriasis, fungal skin diseases, hair loss, and dnring menopanse (Knrochkin 1998). 

Complementary medicine refers to not scientifically proven therapies that are given in addition to conventional therapy (e.g. herb tea with antibiotics for pneumonia, and therapeutic touch), whilst alternative medicine often consists of therapies or remedies that are used alone in place of conventional therapy, e.g. zone therapy, healing, and homeopathy (Cassileth, 1999). 

---