The Secrets of Herbal Magic: Uncovering the Medicinal Properties of Plants

Magic and Medicine of Plants Throughout history, plants have held a significant place in both the realms of magic and medicine. The inherent power and healing properties found in various plant species have been harnessed and respected by civilizations around the world. From ancient herbal remedies to modern pharmaceuticals, plants have played a vital role in human health and well-being. In the realm of magic and folklore, plants have been associated with mystical properties and supernatural abilities. Different plants have been used in rituals and spellcasting to invoke certain energies or achieve specific outcomes. For example, the ancient Greeks believed that the laurel tree had the ability to grant wisdom and protection, so it was often used as a symbol of victory and honor.

“It’s about finding someone who has the means, has that interest and has that interest at the same time that you have that priority,” said Noah Drezner, a Columbia University professor who has studied philanthropy in higher education. “In many ways, you need that perfect storm. Some storms are easier to find than others.”

College leaders identify their biggest priorities and work to match prospective donors with a giving opportunity compatible with their own philanthropic interests. A Northwestern University spokesman would not comment about the specifics of any campus project, but university leaders told The Daily Northwestern in November that the inability to secure a big name gift is one factor delaying the work at Norris.

For example, the ancient Greeks believed that the laurel tree had the ability to grant wisdom and protection, so it was often used as a symbol of victory and honor. Similarly, sage has long been associated with purification and cleansing, and is still commonly used in smudging rituals to clear negative energy. In traditional medicine, plants have been used for centuries to treat a wide range of ailments and diseases.

Northwestern sports complex opens as student center stalls; some projects hinge on donor enthusiasm

Mascot "Willie," right, joins attendees gathering for a ribbon-cutting in the south entrance at the Walter Athletics Center, part of Northwestern University's new lakefront facility for football and other sports on their Evanston campus. (Chris Walker / Chicago Tribune)

From just about any vantage point, Northwestern University’s newest building commands attention.

Floor-to-ceiling windows greet visitors to the Ryan Fieldhouse and Walter Athletics Center, a 96,135-square-foot behemoth looming over the lakefront on the northeast end of campus. The indoor sports facility features, among other amenities, a regulation-size practice field with a domed ceiling to accommodate the booming punts of its improving football team.

Northwestern has visions of another grand building to the south: the University Commons. It was scheduled to be completed in 2019 at a cost of $150 million, a relative bargain compared to the $270 million price tag for the new athletic complex. But donor support has been lacking. For now, it exists only as a three-dimensional scale model on display in the basement of the aging Norris University Center, which it will eventually replace.

The two buildings — one realized, the other conceptualized — reflect one challenge universities face as they seek private dollars to grow their institutions. College leaders identify their biggest priorities and work to match prospective donors with a giving opportunity compatible with their own philanthropic interests. But not every item on the wish list spurs equal enthusiasm among benefactors, experts say.

“No question that there are some areas of the university that don’t benefit as much from philanthropy as others,” said Mary Sue Coleman, president of the Association of American Universities and former president at University of Michigan.

“(Universities) are going to work diligently to make the case with donors that the priorities for the institution are where they would really like the donor to invest,” said Richard Legon, president of Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges. “But the challenge is a lot of donors increasingly have their priorities.

“At the end of the day the donor is going to prevail.”

A three-dimensional scale model of the proposed University Commons is on display Aug. 1, 2018, at the Norris University Center at Northwestern University. (Chris Walker / Chicago Tribune)

The athletic complex is one part of a five-year, $3.75 billion capital campaign that has galvanized donations to support upgrades like a new musical arts center, a new business school headquarters, a renovated basketball arena and a new dormitory. A Northwestern University spokesman would not comment about the specifics of any campus project, but university leaders told The Daily Northwestern in November that the inability to secure a “big name gift” is one factor delaying the work at Norris.

Experts say university philanthropy is not one-size-fits-all. Differences among campuses, campaigns and donors bases, as well as changes in the economy and the higher education industry all can create different fundraising outcomes. Sometimes, it is just a matter of timing.

“It’s about finding someone who has the means, has that interest and has that interest at the same time that you have that priority,” said Noah Drezner, a Columbia University professor who has studied philanthropy in higher education. “In many ways, you need that perfect storm. Some storms are easier to find than others.”

Private contributions to the nation’s universities have soared with the economy in recent years. Top private institutions now raise around $1 billion annually while major public schools raise mid- to high-nine figures.

People look over the view of Lake Michigan from the upper entrance foyer during the opening ceremony for the new Ryan Fieldhouse on the Evanston campus of Northwestern University on April 5, 2018. (Chris Walker / Chicago Tribune)

Donors contributed $43.6 billion to U.S. colleges and universities in 2017, according to an annual survey conducted by the Council for Aid to Education. It was the highest total since the survey began tracking such figures in 1957.

Individual benefactors continued to make larger gifts last year, as well, data show. There were more gifts exceeding $10 million, growing that total from $6.16 billion in 2016 to $7.72 billion in 2017, according to fundraising consulting firm Marts & Lundy.

David Bass, senior research director at Council for Advancement and Support of Education in Washington, D.C., said donors usually spend years giving increasing amounts to a university before committing one of those eye-popping megagifts.

“These principal gifts are something that really cements a very close relationship that these donors have with institutions. It’s not just vanity to put your name on a building,” Bass said. “You’re also seeing these gifts as something that memorializes the donor as a partner and a part of the institution — in some cases, literally.”

It’s these longtime supporters who rallied to launch Northwestern’s new sports facility, which was dedicated Wednesday.

It was conceived and spearheaded by head football coach Pat Fitzgerald and longtime university benefactor Patrick Ryan. Ryan, with his wife, Shirley, has given hundreds of millions to Northwestern over the years for purposes that go beyond sports. Multiple campus buildings, including the new music building, an auditorium and a nanotechnology center bear their names. The exact size of their donation to the field house was not publicly revealed, however.

Chicago insurance executive Pat Ryan, left, and wife Shirley Ryan arrive to a loud greeting from students as they attend the opening ceremony for the new Ryan Fieldhouse on the Evanston campus of Northwestern University on April 5, 2018. (Chris Walker / Chicago Tribune)

Other major contributors include Kimberly Querrey and Louis Simpson, Stephen and Susan Wilson, and Lanny and Sharon Martin, all of whom are responsible for previous multimillion-dollar gifts to a variety of initiatives. The Ryans and the Martins also are co-chairs of the university’s capital fundraising campaign.

The student center, however, continues to languish.

Norris opened in the early 1970s. Officials have said the new commons, 41,000 square feet larger than Norris, will have a more open layout and facilitate access to the nearby library and arts buildings. It also will have a 600-seat multipurpose room and more indoor and outdoor gathering spaces.

The Norris University Center at Northwestern University, which opened in the early 1970s, on Aug. 1, 2018. Norris Center has failed to attract a primary donor to support a major renovation. (Chris Walker / Chicago Tribune)

The timetable for the project is unclear. In July, Northwestern President Morton Schapiro and his top administrators announced spending cuts to address a looming budget deficit. Reductions involve “deferring several major facilities projects,” though Schapiro did not specify which ones.

“We understand clearly that these necessary measures mean that some planned initiatives need to be put on hold and may create challenges for our faculty and staff,” Schapiro wrote in the July 19 campus message. “But by focusing on our core missions of teaching and research, and by providing the necessary support for those efforts, Northwestern will achieve our ambitious agenda.”

The dynamic at Northwestern has played out elsewhere.

Harvard University, for example, said in April that it had raised $9.1 billion for its capital campaign, easily surpassing the original goal of $6.5 billion announced in 2013. This included a $400 million gift in 2015 — Harvard’s largest-ever single donation — from hedge fund billionaire John A. Paulson for its rapidly expanding engineering and applied sciences school.

But an effort to raise $400 million to renovate undergraduate student housing remained incomplete, the Harvard Crimson reported. University leaders said at the time that they expected the goal would eventually be reached as specific buildings are slated for upgrades.

Drezner, of Columbia, said it is common for subcategories within a campaign to over- and underperform even as the overall funding effort meets or beats its target.

The types of projects that fare better among donors will vary but experts agree most givers seek to make a tangible impact — be it physical buildings, student scholarships, endowed professorships or something else.

“A lot of our donors aren’t as concerned about having their name on a building,” said Jim Moore, president of the University of Illinois Foundation. “They really care more about what’s going on in those buildings.”

The holy grail of university philanthropy is the no-strings-attached gift: money a school can use however it wants. Those are rare, particularly with megadonations, but they do happen. Massachusetts Institute of Technology received an unrestricted $140 million from an anonymous donor in 2017. David Booth’s $300 million gift in 2008 was earmarked to University of Chicago’s business school but established no requirements for how the money was to be used.

The study of herbalism, or the medicinal use of plants, has been an integral part of many cultures. Indigenous tribes, in particular, have relied on their knowledge of local plant species to heal and strengthen their communities. For example, the Amazon rainforest is home to countless medicinal plants that have been traditionally used by indigenous tribes to treat various illnesses. Today, modern medicine continues to draw inspiration from the natural world. Many pharmaceutical drugs are derived from plants or are synthesized based on compounds found in plant species. Aspirin, for instance, is a synthetic drug that was originally derived from the bark of willow trees. Additionally, many traditional herbal remedies from around the world have been scientifically studied and validated for their therapeutic effects. This integration of traditional knowledge and modern science has led to the development of herbal supplements and alternative medicine practices. However, it is important to approach the magic and medicine of plants with caution and respect. While some plants may have proven medicinal properties, others can be toxic or have negative side effects. It is essential to seek guidance from trained professionals or experts when using plants for medicinal or magical purposes. In conclusion, the magic and medicine of plants have both held significant roles in human history. Whether it be through ancient rituals and beliefs or modern pharmaceuticals, plants have provided humans with healing and transformative powers. As we continue to explore the natural world, it is crucial to maintain a balance between traditional wisdom and scientific advancement, ensuring the safe and effective use of plants for the benefit of all..

Reviews for "Holistic Healing: Exploring the Mind-Body Connection through Plant Medicine"

1. Sarah - 1 star - I was really disappointed with "Magic and Medicine of Plants". The book promised to provide a comprehensive guide to the magical and medicinal properties of plants, but it fell short in delivering that. The information provided was scarce and not well-researched. I felt like the author was more focused on the magical aspect and didn't give enough attention to the medicinal side. Overall, I found this book to be a waste of time and money.

2. Mark - 2 stars - As someone who was looking for practical knowledge about plants and their medicinal uses, "Magic and Medicine of Plants" left me feeling unsatisfied. The book was filled with folklore and mystical explanations, but lacked the concrete information I was looking for. I struggled to find details on specific plants and their properties. While the magical aspect might be interesting to some, I wanted a more scientific approach to understanding the medicinal benefits of plants. Unfortunately, this book didn't meet my expectations.

3. Jennifer - 1 star - "Magic and Medicine of Plants" was a complete disappointment for me. The author seemed more interested in weaving tales of ancient legends and myths associated with plants, rather than providing practical information. I expected a well-researched guidebook on using plants for healing purposes, but instead, I got a collection of mystical stories that had no basis in scientific facts. If you're looking for a serious resource on plant medicine, look elsewhere. This book is more suited for those interested in folklore and fantasy.

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