Nature has so much to offer on levels that may not be immediately obvious. When people hear the term “botanical medicine,” they automatically think of what herbs might offer as physical healing agents. In fact, plants provide different kinds of medicine, including offering inspiration and ideas to the less savvy humans that they share the planet with. I’m thinking here about the concept of BIOMIMICRY.
If you’re not familiar with the term, it describes a process that is exactly how it sounds. This is when close observation of the form or behavior of an animal, insect or plant results in improved materials or structures by mimicking what appears to work successfully in the natural world. As a lifelong nature lover, I’m a little embarrassed to admit that I only became aware of this phenomena five years ago even though it has been a process for decades. I took a workshop in biomimicry at a local nature center, and was part of a group project that got us all thinking about ways that this concept could be applied. It was both educational and enlightening.
The most popular example that we can thank the plant world for is the widely and diversely used substance we know as Velcro. This versatile material was discovered when a Swiss engineer named Giorge de Mestral was walking his dog in a forested area.
The dog became infested with burrs that stuck quite stubbornly to his fur. In a “eureka” moment following close observation, Mestral realized how a similar but man-made substance would be helpful in attaching things firmly together. The result has become a familiar staple in everything from sneakers to spacesuits.
Another instance of ideas borrowed from the plant kingdom that recently caught my attention involves the spiritually symbolic lotus.
I was amazed to learn that the lotus flower has inspired an improvement in paint quality! This lovely blossom has a micro rough surface that keeps its petals clean by repelling dust. A German company researched this and designed paint with a similar texture that repels dirt and dust from the surface of an inside or outside wall.
So who knew?!! I'm sure if engineers and scientists paid closer attention to the natural world, there would be even more innovations to thank our plant and allies for.
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