“Yemen has a wide variety of endemic plants and herbs which have medicinal properties.” [Archives:1999/21/Health]

In recent years, the world has increasingly returned to the use of plants in medicinal use. 
Yemen has a large variety of medical herbs, which occupy a large size of the land, they grow all over the country. 
Socotra is one of the best environment where many medical herbs grow, for this reason the Island is known as the medical plants Island. This Island is distinguished by its unique collection of plants and medical herbs, such as Dragon’s Blood tree, Aloe etc. which grow there. Unfortunately this plants had not been studied by scientists in order to make use of them, an intensive and appropriate studies of these plants might influence new medical discoveries. 
This unusual wealth must be preserved and developed to a full industry, to be able to manufacture medicines of high quality and export them to save the hard currency, and to provide the Socotra people with more employment opportunities. 
Socotra Island 
Socotra Island is filled with plenty of medical plants e. g. Dragon’s Blood tree, Frankincense trees, Socotra Aloe and many other medical trees and plants. These trees and plants have been associated with the Island since ancient times because of their importance. Medical plants cover the biggest part of the Island, some reports indicate that there are about 200 different kind of medical plants. In spite of the lack of medical and pharmaceutical researches, the Island inhabitant of the Island had discovered many medical uses to some of the plants, such as Adenium abesum Roem which is used to reduce the Malaria fever, Jatropha Unicostata Balf, which is used to heal wounds. 
Lets have a look at some of these significant plants 
Dragon’s Blood Tree or Dracaeba Cinnabari Balf is a 3 meters high perennial tree. Roots and twigs of this tree are thick and twofold. Sharp and sword like leaves grow at the end of the twigs. The tree flowers grow in clusters also at the end of the twigs. Generally, Dragon’s Blood tree takes a shape of an umbrella. 
Naturally, this tree grows at heights and it is very common at the town of Momi 500 meters above sea level. In fact this tree is rare and does not exist in any other place in the world. D.  Cinnabari, another kind of this tree is common in mountains areas in Louder and Moudiah in Abyan and also on mountains surrounding Mukalla city. Locals in these areas call it the Godfather. Eighty kinds of dragon’s blood tree are now Known in the world. 
This tree, with all its different kinds, contain a juice of a red liquid called the dragon’s blood. It is this juice that is used for medical purposes especially for colic treatment. 

Socotra’s Aloe. 
Aloe, Spp or Aloe Perryi Baker is a plant that has light green thick leaves that grow on a short trunk. the edge of leaves is covered with thorns. There are fifteen kinds of aloe trees in Socotra Island. The medical part of this plant is the juice of leaves which is used in a number of medical purposes such as constipation, TB, and anemia. It can also be used in healing wounds. 
Frankincense 
Frankincense or Boswellia Sacra Flueck is a 5 meters high tree with an upstanding trunk or trunks branched from the ground. Twigs are dense and intertwined. Leaves are also twisted with thin crusts. 
There are five kinds of this tree in Socotra Island. The tree grows in the coastal line and mountains slopes in the Republic of Yemen. Frankincense is used as painting and coating for its instant drying. It is also used in perfumes industry. When boiled in water, it can be in cough and throat inflammation. 
By Ismail Al-Ghabiry, 
Yemen Times, 
Dhamar 

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