Ethiopia Expedition
1,746 views · Published 20 July 2017 · 5:31 · Indexed 20 September 2026
Channel: Wyoming PBS · 2017 · Music
John Mionczynski describes a 400 mile expedition down the Omo River in Ethiopia collecting and identifying plant specimens. After classifying elephant tree as being in the milkweed family, he demonstrates the protein dissolving effect of the plants proteolytic enzyme by dissolving a wart on the skin. This explained its usefulness as a meat tenderizer. A glycoside, also found in the elephant tree has benefits for heart ailments. A Mursi medicine man confirms that the plant is used in two of the same ways Native Americans use it’s related species the milkweed, as a meat tenderizer and heart medicine. Modern chemistry confirms the viability of both of those uses.
