Dr. Diego Bohórquez

I think that, well, traditionally that's where medicine was developed from.

I was at the Oxford Botanical Gardens last year with the family.

And we went into the gardens and they have a beautiful garden.

It was established in 1621.

I think it was the first botanical gardens in England.

And they have a beautiful medicinal plant collection.

And there was this very humble little sign with a description in there that said in there that about 80% of medicine still comes straight from plants.

Yes.

And if you think about it, it kind of makes sense, right?

Because when we think about the medicines that we have been able to develop, which have been phenomenal, especially for certain chronic diseases, but we don't have a broad repertoire.

of it, right?

So I think that has been obviously a great advance in our society that we have been able to identify the molecules, synthesize the molecules, package the molecules, render them bioavailable in specific sites.

And I think that when we are able to couple that with the rest of the molecules that the plants through their, I keep saying their wisdom, because somehow they develop their ability to have

not only one molecule, but like a combination of other things that will provide the full experience of the plant, right?

For instance, yerba mate,

You know, it's not only caffeine, right?

Because it's very different than a shot of espresso.

You know, if you take the whole thing, it not only gives you energy, but it gives you a full range of an experience that is specific to the yerba mate, which is a leaf, right?

Which is a causing of yerba mate, because yerba mate is Ilex paraguagensis.

Guayusa is Ilex guayusa.