BROOM PLANT: HISTORY, MEDICINAL USES, BENEFITS OF BROOM AND BROOM TISANE RECIPE

BROOM, CYTISUS SCOPARIUS

There are around fifty species of broom that grow in northern and western Asia all over Europe and North Africa. Broom was introduced into North America in the early 1800s as an ornamental plant, but it now grows wild and is classed as an invasive species. Cytisus scoparius is native to Britain and is and has been called by a number of names, including, Scotch Broom, besom, basam, bizzen, browne and Spanish broom is Spartium junceum which is common in Greece and the broom known to Virgil and Pliny and the ancients. Butcher’s broom is a different variety and not discussed here. It is also known by other botanical names such as Sarothamnus scoparius, and Genista scoparius.

  It is called broom because it was used to make brooms or sweeping brushes (hence besom, bizzen etc.) Scoparius in Latin means a broom and Sarothamnus is from the Greek which means to sweep and a shrub. The name Cytisus is supposed to be a derivative from the name of a Greek island, Cythnus where Spanish broom flourished.

   The Anglo-Saxons used broom for medicinal purposes, and it was known to the physicians of Myddfai in the 9^th century, although they favoured Butcher’s broom in their herbal remedies. The Scots used to hang garlands of the flowers around their necks to stem a nosebleed, but it had far more important symbolic value for them and the English and French.

   Geoffrey of Anjou put a sprig of flowering bloom in his helmet when he went into battle so that he could be easily seen by his troops, so that it gave them courage to see their leader in the midst of battle. Fulke of Anjou adopted broom as his symbol and his grandson Henry II of England also adopted it as his emblem. The name Plantagenet (as Henry II and his descendents were called) came from the name for broom Genista, Planta meaning plant, and Genista, specifically the broom. Its first official appearance in British history was on the Great Seal of Richard I; Richard Plantagenet.

   Another tale about its adoption in Brittany, France, is the following one: a prince of Anjou assassinated his brother and took over his kingdom, but was overcome by remorse and went on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land to show his repentance. He scourged himself with broom twigs each night to show he had repented of his crime of fratricide and adopted broom as his symbol.

   Again in France, St. Louis, on his marriage, founded an order the Colle de Genet or Collar of the Broom and the broom flower and fleur-de-lys were worn on the coats of 100 nobles who were his bodyguards, along with the motto “Extaltat homilies” – he exalts the humble (or lowly).The order was held in high esteem and being allowed to wear the broom flower was regarded as a high honour. Richard II of England was given the broom to wear and a broom plant with an open pod empty of seeds decorates his tomb at Westminster Abbey in London.

    The Scots Forbes clan wore bloom flowers in their bonnets when they needed to stimulate courage in their chieftains. During the civil wars of the 14^th century, bloom was as much in use as an emblem as the roses of the Houses of York and Lancaster.

   Broom was traditionally a symbol of plenty in Britain, and was respected by nobles and peasants alike. The peasants, who made brooms from the twigs of the plant, didn’t do this when the flowers were blooming as there was a superstition that is shown in this rhyme from Suffolk in eastern England,

     “If you sweep the house with blossomed broom in May,

      You are sure to sweep the head of the house away.”

This might mean that the man of the house would die, or that he would be called upon to go on one of the Crusades to the Holy Land, and perhaps never return.

   Another old tale is that the Virgin Mary cursed the broom plant while she and Joseph were fleeing with the baby, Jesus, from Bethlehem to Egypt. The seed pods make a loud cracking noise when the seeds burst out and they did so as the trio past thus alerting Herod’s soldiers.

  Broom has been employed for uses other than making brooms, and one of its more valuable attributes is that it has a strong root system which can help prevent soil erosion. It was planted on steep banks to prevent landslides. The twigs and branches were used to weave baskets and it is planted as shelter for game birds, and to protect young, more important species of plant from the ravages of the wind until they become firmly established. When the plants are older their stems are valued by cabinet-makers for use as veneer. In Britain these stems have been used for thatch and as a substitute for reeds to make fences and screens. The bark can be made into fibre, but it is not as good for this use as is Spanish Broom. The fibre is extracted by soaking the bark in water to separate the fibre, as is done with flax. The shoots have been used to make paper and cloth and a green dye can be made from the leaves and young tops of the plant. In past times the tannins extracted from broom were used for tanning in the leather industry. The tops were used in Britain to brew beer before the introduction of hops, and it should be noted that the seeds have narcotic properties, as can be seen from the effects the plant has on sheep and goats after they have eaten them. They are stimulated at first and then sleep, although the effects are short-lived.

   Gerard mentions that the flowers were pickled or preserved in salt and then used in salads instead of capers, having been washed thoroughly of the pickling mixture or salt before being boiled and used. Guests at rustic weddings used to carry sprays of broom tied with coloured ribbons if rosemary were not available. The seeds have been used as a coffee substitute too, like dandelion roots.

    Henry VIII drank water from the broom flowers as a cure for gout and it was highly recommended in the Renaissance for “stoppages of the liver”. Gerard mentions that the “decoction of the twigs and tops of Broom doth cleanse and open the liver, milt and kidnies.” Culpeper believed that a decoction of the plant was good for dropsy, black jaundice, fevers, gout, sciatica, and various pains of the hips and joints. Some old physicians used to burn the tops and put the ash in wine; this was known as Sal Genista or Salts of Broom.

  The seeds have been used to treat liver complaints and fevers and broom juice can be obtained from the fresh bruised tops. Traditionally this is mixed with a thirds or the volume of alcohol and left to steep for 7 days. It has to be strained before using and the tops should be ideally gathered in June for this purpose. Broom juice should not be consumed in large quantities.

 A tisane can be made with 1 oz of dried tops to 1 pint of boiling water. Pour the water onto the dried tops and leave to steep for 15 minutes then strain and drink a small glass 3 times a day for liver complaints, or use once in a while as a tisane. It is a diuretic.

   For bladder and kidney problems try this mixture: 1 oz broom tops, ½ oz of dandelion roots and boil these in 1 pint of water until the water is reduced by half. About 5 minutes before this is done, add half an oz bruised juniper berries. Cool the liquid and strain it then add ¼ tsp cayenne pepper. Take a small glass 3 or 4 times a day.

   The isoflavines in broom are oestrogenic but the problem with broom is that it contains toxic alkaloids one of which is sparteine which may be dangerous to some people with heart problems as it is cardio-active. Broom has been used orally for a variety of complaints mainly to do with the heart and blood circulation. It has also been used to stimulate uterine contractions for women in labour and given after a birth to reduce blood flow. Broom also contains tyramine which can heighten or lower blood pressure. It can be dangerous and should only be taken under medical supervision. Pregnant and lactating women should not use it.

WHAT IS FALSA? GREWIA ASIATICA- A SMALL PURPLE-BLACK FRUIT: MEDICINAL USES: HOW TO MAKE FALSA KA SHARBAT

FALSA, PHALSA, GREWIA ASIATICA

Grewia asiatica originated in Southern India, but it now grows in Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. In the subcontinent it is highly sought after in the hot summer months as it can be made into a cooling, refreshing drink, falsa sharbat. In fact it is said to be the third favourite summer fruit, after mangoes and peaches. It has a tangy, sweet flavour with dark purple fruit surrounding one or two small hard seeds. It grows on a small tree or found wild, may grow on a rather straggly-looking bush, and grows to a maximum height of 15 feet.

   The fruit juice contains magnesium, iron, potassium, calcium, carbohydrates and vitamins A and C. The anthocyanin flavonoids it contains are thought to be protective against cancer. The fruit, leaves, bark, roots and root bark are all used for medicinal purposes, and in Ayurvedic medicine it is also used as and aphrodisiac and a cooling tonic. The seeds contain a bright yellow oil which contains palmitic, stearic, oleic and linoleic acids. An infusion of the bark is used to relieve fevers, to treat diarrhoea and as a demulcent. It is astringentand aids digestion, and used as a remedy for stomach upsets and indigestion.

   The leaves are applied to skin to heal wounds, cuts and grazes and to relieve irritation and painful rashes. They are thought to have an antibiotic effect. They are also used as cattle fodder and the root bark is used to help people who suffer from rheumatism. The stems of the shrub and the bark can be made into rope, baskets and are harvested for fuel.

The bark is used in the gur (brown sugar) making process to purify the sugar cane juice from which it is made; this is because the bark is mucilaginous.

   The wood is fine-grained and cream coloured, strong and flexible and has been used to make archer’s bows, spear handles, poles and baskets.

The fruit is eaten raw with black salt or salt and black pepper. The fruit and the juice have been employed for centuries to treat liver and gall bladder problems, to purify the blood and regulate blood pressure and cholesterol levels, and to protect the heart. The fruit is said to help prevent coughs and colds and to relieve them if you have them.

   For skin problems, you should soak the bark overnight and then pound it and apply the pulp directly on to the affected area.

   Falsa Sharbat is good to help sunburn victims and to treat sunstroke. If you have been exposed to sunlight for a long time, this recipe below  will help remedy the harmful effects you might suffer from.

FALSA SHARBAT

Ingredients

250 gr falsa

100 gr sugar or to taste

black salt to taste

2½ glasses very cold water

ice cubes

fresh mint leaves to garnish

Method

Wash the fruit thoroughly and the sprinkle liberally with salt and leave to macerate for an hour.

Mash the berries and then sieve the pulp to get rid of the seeds.

Put the falsa pulp into a jug and add the sugar and black salt and salt if you wish.

Pour the chilled water over the pulp and mix well or blend.

Pour into glasses over ice, and garnish with the fresh mint leaves.

This has Taste and is a Treat.

COMMON NETTLE: NETTLE (URIOTICA DIOICA): USES AND COOKERY RECIPES OF NETTLE: HOW TO MAKE NETTLE SOUP

COMMON NETTLE URIOTICA DIOICA

The Common Nettle or Stinging Nettle is native to the temperate zones of the world and is common in Britain, India, Pakistan, South Africa, Australia and many other countries. Some believe that it may be a naturalized plant in Britain, introduced by the Romans who, knowing it was cold in Britain, took stinging nettles with them and used them to get warm in winter by beating their legs with them. The nettle is a unique plant in that if you get stung by one and then deliberately put a nettle on the stinging part, it lessens the stinging sensation. However, as Dock leaves usually grow near nettles, at least they do in Britain, you can put a dock leaf on the sting and this gives rapid relief. Mint, sage and rosemary leaves have the same effect.

   However much the nettle hurts in Britain and Europe, other nettles are far more horrendous. A species native to Java Uriotica urentissima, gives a sting, the effects of which can last for a year, and may, it is said, be fatal. In India Uriotica crenulato and Uriotica heterophylla are also best to avoid.

    In the past nettles have been used to relieve painful muscles, joints, eczema, arthritis, gout and anaemia. Some of the remedies included beating the nettle on the sore place, which probably served to give the patient some other pain to think about. They sting because they have fine hairs on the stalk and leaves, and these contain chemicals which when released cause irritation to the skin.

    Today they are used as a diuretic, and to help urinary problems associated with an enlarged prostate gland (benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH), urinary tract infections, hay fever, or in compresses for treating joint pain, sprains and strains and insect bites. Fresh nettles make good insect repellents. Recent medical trials suggest that they may help lower blood sugar levels and blood pressure. The parts used are the stem, leaves and roots, although the seeds have been used too. Nettles should be avoided when pregnant.

   A tisane can be made with 2/3 cup of boiling water poured over 3 to 4 teasponns of dried leaves or root. Allow the plant to steep for 3 to 5 mins, then strain and drink, sweetened with a little honey. You can also use fresh leaves, but leave to steep for 10 minutes. You should drink water after drinking the tisane.

   The plant contains vitamins A, B and C and lectins which seem to stimulate the immune system. The tisane has been used to dispel gravel from the kidneys and stimulates the function of these and the bladder.

   Nettles have been used to make cloth and this was used in German army uniforms in the First World War, when cloth was scarce in Germany. It has been made to weave coarse fibres for cordage, sacks and sailcloth. Nettles can be made into beer, and the flowering tops used to be made into country wine.

    The young tops are best used for cooking and should be harvested when they are 6”to 8” tall. You need to harvest these wearing protective gloves, and then wash them thoroughly under cold running water, and throw them in a pan, while they are still wet, cover and simmer for 20 minutes. Remove them from the heat and roughly chop them, and blend them with salt and freshly ground black pepper. You can put poached eggs on top of them for a tasty light lunch. The leaves have a nutty flavour. They have a slightly laxative effect though, so don’t eat too many.

   In Scotland they make nettle pudding, by using a bucket full of young nettle tops, 2 chopped leeks and broccoli heads, and ¼ pound of rice. You put the vegetables together in a layer in a muslin bag then a layer of rice and repeat the layering until the ingredients are used up. Then tie the bag and boil for 30 minutes and serve with melted butter.

    An infusion of fresh leaves can be helpful for burns, but you can dry nettles, by picking them on a sunny morning and tying them in bunches of 8 to 10 in a fan shape and hang them in a sunny spot to dry so that the air can penetrate the nettles. When dry, store in airtight tins or powder them and store in airtight jars. You can also dry the flowers and seeds by spreading them out on paper in the sun.

   The juice from the leaves can be used with a little honey or sugar for asthma, or sufferers can burn the dried leaves and inhale the smoke. The seeds and flowers were given in wine to relieve fevers. This was also given as an antidote to poisoning by hemlock, nightshade and Henbane, as well as for snake bites, and those of rabid dogs.

   Nettles have also been used to prevent hair loss and promote growth. To make the hair tonic, you need 2 pints of water and a handful of young nettles. Simmer them for 2 hours, strain and bottle when cold and saturate the scalp with the liquid every alternate night. You can also comb expressed nettle juice through your hair to stimulate new growth and keep hair shining and healthy.

NETTLE SOUP

Ingredients

1 lb potatoes, peeled and chopped

½ lb young nettles washed and roughly chopped

2 oz butter

1½ pints chicken stock

salt and pepper to taste

small pot of natural yoghurt

Method

Boil the potatoes for 10 mins in salted water. Drain.

Melt the butter and add nettles and fry for a few minutes. Add the potatoes and chicken stock and bring to the boil. Simmer for 15 mins or until tender.

Remove from the heat and blend all ingredients together.

This has Taste and is a Treat.

BURDOCK: A MODERN AND USEFUL MEDICINAL HERB: USES OF BURDOCK: DANDELION AND BURDOCK DRINK

BURDOCK, ARCTIUM LAPPA

Burdock is a very common weed in the British Isles and is native to Europe and northern Asia, although it is widespread in North America too where it has been naturalized. It has been used in traditional medicine for centuries, but also makes a good drink when mixed with dandelions. The recipe below is for a soft drink, but beer or mead can be brewed from burdock and dandelion roots too. In Wales, dandelion and burdock was a popular soft fizzy drink.There is a legend dating back to the 13^th century in which it is said that while in prayer, God told St Thomas Aquinas to make an elixir of the first ingredients he found, and these happened to be dandelion and burdock

   Burdock is a member of the thistle family, and donkeys love it. Remember Eeyore in Winnie-the-Pooh stories? He loved it. Burdock has seed pods, burs which stick to sheep’s wool and people’s clothing, in the same way that those of agrimony do. Whereas agrimony was known as philanthropos, burdock was called Philanthropium, presumably to distinguish it from agrimony. The name Arctium comes from the Greek, arktos meaning bear, and is thought to refer to the brown hairy bur looking a little like a bear’s coat.

   Burdock is mentioned in literature form North America and Europe attesting to its prevalence. Here are some examples: Shakespeare refers to it in “Troilus and Cressida” when Pandanus says “They are Burs, I can tell you, they’ll stick where they are thrown.”

In “King Lear”: -

   “Crown’d with rank Fumiter and Furrow-weeds,

     With Burdocks, Hemlock, Nettles, Cuckoo-flowers”

In “As You Like It”: -

  " Rosalind : How full of briers this working day!

    Celia:        They are but burs, cousin, thrown in holiday foolery. If we walk not in the trodden paths, our very petticoats will catch them."

Children love to throw the burs on adults clothing still so that they are unaware of their presence until they get home.

   These plants are also mentioned in Hans Anderson’s Fairy Tales, in “The Happy Family”,

“The burdock never grows alone, but where there grows one, there always grow several, it is a great delight and all this delightfulness is snail’s food.”

In contrast the American writer, Nathaniel Hawthorne says this of them:

  “…a grass-plot, much over-grown with burdock, pig-weed, apple-pern and such unsightly vegetation…” (The Scarlet Letter, chapter 2)

However George Eliot has this to say about them in chapter 12 of her famous novel “Middlemarch”:

    “…the great oak shadowing a bare place in mid-pasture; the high bank where the ash-tree grows, the sudden slope of the old marl-pit making a red background for the burdocks.”

  In the Middle Ages these were valuable plants and the seeds were used to get rid of kidney stones in the belief that seeds, being hard and needing to be pounded could counteract the gravel in the organs.

   The stalks of the burdock plant can be peeled and eaten raw in a salad tossed in oil and wine vinegar, like the stalks of the Globe artichoke. They can also be cooked after peeling and used as a vegetable. (They taste a little like asparagus.) They are eaten in parts of Europe and Japan. They contain inulin and dietary fibre as do the leaves which can also be boiled and eaten as a vegetable. The stalks used to be candied and used like angelica.

   The plant has antioxidant, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties and medical trials have shown that it has “prebiotic properties that could improve health” (University of Maryland centre for alternative and complementary medicine).

    You can make and infusion of the root which is best harvested in July, and dried, using 2-6 grams of root to 500 mls boiling water and allowing the root to steep in the water for 15 minutes before straining and drinking 3 times a day for skin problems such as acne and eczema. You can also use this on the skin, but not on open wounds.

   You can make an infusion of the leaves (pour boiling water over them and leave to steep for 15 minutes) for stomach problems and an infusion of the seeds has been used to treat kidney problems and nervous disorders. Culpeper recommended the leaf juice or latex from the roots to be drunk in “old wine” for snake bites, and the bruise leaves mixed with egg white for burns. The bruised leaves can be made into a poultice for skin problems but not for open wounds.

   The Chinese use this plant in traditional medicine for cancer, barrenness, erectile dysfunctions and an aphrodisiac.

   The recipe below is rich in vitamins A and C.

DANDELION AND BURDOCK DRINK

Ingredients

2 tsps ground dandelion root

2 tsps ground burdock root

2 star anise

1 inch ginger root, finely chopped

3 pints water

Method

Boil all the ingredients together for half an hour.

Cool and bottle.

Use as a cordial and add soda water for the extra fizz.

You can also add orange juice and zest to the cooking water but this is the traditional recipe. You can experiment with other fruit once you have tasted it. It should look like cola.

This has Taste and is a Treat.

WHAT IS DANDELION? KEKRONDA IN URDU: PHYSICIANS OF MYDDFAI REMEDY: SIDE DISH OF DANDELION LEAVES

DANDELIONS, KEKRONDA,TARAXACUM OFFICINALE WEBER

Dandelions grow in northern places and are cultivated in India for their health benefits. Every child loves to play with the seeds; blowing them and watching them scatter on the wind. We used to call them dandelion “clocks” in Wales, but my grandfather told me that if I picked a dandelion and ate it I would “piss in the bed”, so I never picked them after that. This comes from the French name for the dandelion, pisse-en-lit, and refers, no doubt to the plants diuretic properties. The ancient Welsh physicians of Myddfai had many uses for the dandelion, as recorded in The Red Book of Hengist which is part of “The Mabingion”. Here is an extract for a dandelion remedy: -

“INTERMITTENT FEVERS. TREATMENT.
§13. For intermittent fevers. Take dandelion and fumatory, infused in water, the first thing in the morning. Then about noon take wormwood infused in water likewise, drinking it as often as ten times, the draught being rendered tepid. Let bread made with pounded wheat be also taken, or oaten cakes, goat's whey, the flesh of a young fowl, husky porridge in water, milk being abstained from, and indeed every kind of milk diet. If the ague does not then terminate, the patient must be put in a bath, when the paroxysm come.”

   The Latin name Taraxacum comes from the Greek, taraxos meaning disorder and akos meaning remedy. The dandelion has been used for centuries in the treatment of liver and gallbladder disorders, and medical science has found that these remedies have some scientific foundation, but say that more trials are needed to confirm these initial findings.

  In India they are used to remedy liver problems and in Britain they have long been used to counteract the same problems. The parts used in medicine are the root and the leaves, with the flowers made into dandelion wine.

    The name dandelion is a corruption of the Latin name for this plant; Dens leonis which means lion’s teeth and it is believed that the name refers to the shape of the leaves. In an ancient German manuscript dated 1532, “Brunfel’s Contrafayt Kreuerbuch”, the leaves of the dandelion are illustrated and they look like a lions teeth. In the “Ortus Sanitatis” manuscript of 1485 it is written “ The herb was much employed by Master Wihelmus, a surgeon, who, on account of its virtues, likened it to ‘eynem lewen zan, gennet zu latin Dens leonis’, (a lion’s tooth in Latin called Dens leonis)

   It could be, of course that as the dandelion flowers in August it coincides with Leo in astrological terms, so it could be that lion from which the plant got its name.

   In the Middle Ages it was referred to as “Priest’s Crown” which is what the head of the flower looks like after the seeds have scattered. The shaven tonsures of priests were then often seen.

    The plant is mentioned in Arab manuscripts dating from the 10^th and 11^th centuries and it was used by Ibn Sina among others. These physicians referred to it as the “wild endive” and Taraxcacon.

    The root can be roasted and then ground to make a coffee substitute which tastes fine and doesn’t leave you wide awake at night. The plant has been used to make beer too, and dandelion stout was once a favourite drink in the Midlands in Britain. It is also good as beer when mixed with nettles and docks, and there is a fizzy drink that was originally called “dandelion and burdock”, which has a very different flavour to most carbonated drinks.

  You can make a soup from the young dandelion leaves with sorrel leaves and nettles, and add the young leaves to other soups. They are good in egg sandwiches, liberally sprinkled with freshly ground black pepper, and the young leaves may be added to salads, making a good substitute for spinach. You can also boil them and then cook with spinach as a side dish that is rich in iron.

  The whole plant is rich in vitamins A, B complex, C and D, iron, potassium and zinc. Dandelions have been used to cure fevers, as a mild laxative, to stop diarrhoea, for eye problems and various other ailments. Research has shown that they may be valuable for diabetics as they can regulate blood sugar levels, and lower cholesterol levels.

 There are many remedies which use dandelions roots, some of which are given below. If you go out to harvest the roots, look for large fleshy ones, and do this in autumn when the latex is at its most potent; ignore ones that are slender and forked. It is said that you can use the milky sap from the flower stalks to get rid of warts. You can use a juicer to get the sap from the leaves, and have a teaspoon of it 3 times a day as a general spring tonic. Tisanes have been used for weight loss, as they rid the body of fluid and keep the bowel clean. One tisane can be prepared by using 1 oz of the plant to 1 pint of boiling water. Pour the water onto the plant and leave to steep for 10 minutes. This has been used to stop nausea and vomiting.

   A decoction of the root, which is said to dispel gall and kidney stones, is to use 1 part of sliced root to 20 parts of water and boil this for 15 minutes then strain and sweeten with honey. This also aids digestion and cures flatulence and improves the appetite.

   For eczema and other skin problems, try this decoction: 2 oz plant or root and 2 pints of water. Bring this to the boil and then simmer until the liquid is reduced by half. Take a small cup of it every 3 hours

If you have liver problems, then you might want to try this: 1 oz dandelion root, ½ oz caraway seeds (kala zeera) ½ oz ginger root, ½ oz cinnamon quills, ¼ oz senna leaves and 3 pints of water. Boil all these ingredients and simmer until the water has reduced to half. Strain and cool, then add sugar, ½ lb, and boil again, removing any scum that appears on the top. Cool and take in teaspoonful doses frequently. Alternatively you could try this one for liver and kidney health: 1 oz broom (the plant) tops, ½ oz juniper berries, ½ oz dandelion root (fresh or dried), 1and a half pints of water. Boil for 10 mins then strain and add cayenne pepper to taste. Take 1 tablespoon 3 times a day.

   For a leaf tisane, take an ounce of fresh leaves and 1 cup of boiling water. Pour the water over the leaves and allow to steep for 10 to 15 minutes, strain and take 1-2 teaspoons 3 times a day as a mild laxative.

DANDELION LEAF SIDE DISH
Ingredients

½ lb fresh young dandelion leaves

½ lb spinach

¼ tsp grated nutmeg

2 cloves garlic, finely chopped

1 small onion finely chopped

30 gr pine nuts

grated zest of 1 lemon

butter or oil for frying

Method

Put dandelion leaves in a pan of water and boil for 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and drain then pat dry.

Heat the olive oil or butter in a pan and add the spinach and dandelion leaves, cook over a low heat until they have wilted.

Add the pine nuts to the pan and coat in the oil and fry the garlic and onion if you want to, although this isn’t necessary.

Mix the all ingredients together well and serve.

This has Taste and is a Treat.

 

AGRIMONY: A MEDICINAL HERB: BENEFITS, USES AND HISTORY OF AGRIMONY: AGRIMONY TISANE

AGRIMONY, AGRIMONIA EUPATORIA

Agrimony is an ancient healing herb or vulnery which was certainly used by the Meddygon Myddfai, or Physicians of Myddfai in ancient Wales. These were a long line of gifted herbal doctors whose beginnings are shrouded in the mists of time, but are thought to have begun in 800 AD. Their herbal lore was supposed to have come from the founder who fell in love with the Lady of the Lake, a fairy who eventually returned his love and bore him three sons. The herbal lore of these physicians continued until the 1800s and was transcribed in The Red Book of Hengist, The Mabingion, in the 13 the century. This book is still in print. The herb is Y Tryw in Welsh and was used along with betony and vervain, boiled in ale and milk for mastitis. It was sacred to the Celtic goddess Danu.

   It was known to Dioscorides in the first century AD who recommended it for “bad livers” and snake bites. There are various beliefs about how the herb was named, some saying that it was named eupatoria after the King of Pontus, Mithradates Eupator, who was a bane of the Roman Empire, and who ruled Pontus from 120 BC until 63 BC. He was thought to be a magician and herbalist who doused himself with plant poisons to protect himself from injury. The name Agrimonia may come from the Latin “agri moenia” meaning “defender of the fields” as it was a common sight in meadows and hedgerows, or it may come from the Greek name for plants which healed eyes and made them shining “argamone”.

   Agrimony was used with other common herbs in the countryside in Britain as a “spring drink” or a “diet drink” and was believed to purify the blood. The Anglo-Saxons called it Garclive and used it to heal wounds, snake bites and to get rid of warts, among other remedies. They also believed that if they carried it on their person it would protect them from goblins. Agrimony was one of the seven herbs they used in their “Holy Salve.” In Chaucer’s time it was called Egrimoyne and used with mugwort and vinegar to relieve back pain and “alle woundes.” There was a remedy of the 12^th century which called for agrimony to be mixed with one pound of frogs and human blood to stop internal bleeding. It was one of the herbs used in L’eau d’arquebusade which was used to heal wounds inflicted by the arquebus, a type of early hand gun employed in the 15^th century. In France it may still be found and is used to treat sprains and bruises.

   Its other common names are Cockleburr, so called because the seed pods stick to animals and people’s clothes, and Philanthropos, (people lover). Gerard writes that this may be for the reason mentioned or because of its healing properties, but he seemed to believe the former reason was the correct one. He also wrote that it was good for those who lead “naughty lives”.

   It is also called Church Steeples because of the tallness of the plant and its flowers, it is reminiscent of mullein but not as tall and the flowers are not as close together, although they are usually yellow.

   It is a member of the rose family of plants and has a fragrant smell with a faint hint of lemon. It tastes rather like apricots, and makes a pleasant tisane. Culpeper recommended it for external use as being good for the skin and healing wounds and suggested bathing in water in which it had been steeped. He also says that a decoction taken in wine was good for snake bites, colic and bad breath as well as being effective against coughs.

    This rhyme was found in an old English manuscript: -

      “If it be leyd under mann’s heed.

       He shal sleepyn as he were deed;

       He shal never drede ne wakyn

       Till fro his heed it be takyn.”

In other words it induces profound sleep and if it is under your pillow, you won’t wake up unless it is removed. Today mugwort and agrimony are used in Dream pillows.

    Agrimony should be gathered when it is in full bloom and spread out to dry on a wire rack in a very sunny spot. Turn the parts of the plant at regular intervals until it can be crumbled to a powder. It can be stored for future use in airtight jars. Dry all parts of the upper plant, i.e. flowers, leaves and stem. You can use them in the tisane recipe given below, which is effective against diarrhoea and blood loss in the urine or stools. It can also be used as a gargle for sore throats and mouth ulcers. It has been used in traditional medicine for liver complaints including jaundice and will aid digestion. It is said to be good for the blood and skin and a strong decoction of the crown of the root system and leaves boiled in water and mixed with honey was especially used for skin problems. If you use this, you need to drink 2 or 3 small cupfuls every day for several months to clear the skin.

    In Ayurvedic medicine a tisane is given to alleviate stress, anxiety and hypertension and lower blood pressure. It is also a diuretic and as it contains Vitamin K it is a good blood clotting agent. Modern medical trials have shown that it may be useful in treating bacterial and viral infections, in inhibiting the growth of tumours, for diabetes and hypertension, although more human studies are needed to substantiate these early findings. Trials are underway to teat its efficacy in treating skin diseases and gastrointestinal ailments. Germany’s Commission E has approved the use of the tisane for diarrhoea and as a gargle for sore throats to reduce inflammation and soreness.

   You can make a poultice of the leaves and apply to the head during migraines, or use the tisane to treat athlete’s foot, or use freshly crushed fresh leaves. If you have conjunctivitis or other eye problems then 10 gr of the herb to 500 ml of water should be boiled together and left to cool then used as eyewash.

    Native Americans have used agrimony effectively for fevers, and the tisane is a mild diuretic.

   You can use it in pot pourris with dried flowers such as rose petals, lavender and violets. You can use the fragrant dried leaves for this purpose too. It is said that if you carry agrimony, along with rue, Maidenhair fern, broom and ground ivy, you will be able to recognize witches. If one happens to cast a spell on you then the agrimony will mirror it back and the evil will befall the one who cast the spell.

AGRIMONY TISANE

Ingredients

1 handful of dried agrimony (whole herb)

1 pint of boiling water

honey to taste

Method

Pour the boiling water over the dried herb and leave to steep for 15 minutes. Strain and drink a tea cup of it 3 or 4 times a day for all the ailments mentioned above.

This has taste and is a Treat(ment).

MULLEIN: GREAT MULLEIN: BENEFITS OF MULLEIN AND USES: MULLEIN LEAF TISANE

GREAT MULLEIN, VERBASCUM THAPSUS

There are about 250 species of mullein, which is a relative of the foxglove, toadflax and antirrhinum (snap-dragon) among a whole host of other plants.It is a member of the Scrophulariaceae of figwort family of plants. It can grow up to 6 feet tall so is distinguishable in the wild especially with its clusters of yellow flowers. It is also grown in gardens for its ornamental value. The flowers can be different colours depending on the species of mullein, and can be orange, rust coloured, purple, blue or white. The leaves and the stalk are covered with fine hairs which irritate the mouths of grazing animals, which leave it to itself. It’s a bee plant and birds love to eat the seeds in the autumn. It is native to Europe and Asia, and has been naturalized in North America, where the Native Americans soon learned of its medicinal properties especially valuing it for curing respiratory ailments.The leaves are big and hairy and can grow up to 2 feet across. In the Mediterranean region you can find the most species of mullein.

   Dioscorides mentions it as good for respiratory diseases, and the Roman General, Agrippa believed that its fragrance could overpower demons. In Europe and Asia it was believed that mullein could protect from evil enchantments and spirits. Ulysses or Odysseus used it to protect himself from Circe’s bewitching powers, according to legend.

   The dried leaves are highly flammable and have been used for kindling, candle and lamp wicks and tapers. These usages have given rise to some of its local names, Candlewick plant, Our Lady’s Candle and Hag’s Taper. In 1575, writing in his “Niewe Herball”, Lyte says that the plant which he calls Our Lady’s Candle, is called so because “the whole toppe with its pleasant yellow flowers sheweth like to a wax candle or taper cunningly wrought.” It is called Hag’s Taper because it was thought that witches used it as wicks for their candles used when they cast their spells. The Latin name of this plant family, verbascum, is thought to have come from a corruption of barbascum, from barba meaning beard, referring to its hairiness. Its has many other names and may be referred to as Shepherd’s or Jacob’s staff, because of its height, Feltwort, (because the hairy texture feels a little like the material felt), Clown’s Lungwort (it helps with lung congestion), White Ice leaf (its hairy appearance makes it look as though it is covered in frost), Hare’s Beard and Blanket Herb, are some of these.

Mullein Seeds

  Apart from using it for burning, it has also been used as insecticide as its leaves contain rotenone, and the fibres have been made into insulation material. It can be made into a yellow dye by boiling the flowers in water and if it is used with diluted sulphuric acid this produces a permanent green dye; if alkaloids are added to the liquid this will produce a brown dye. If you want to have golden tints in your hair then gather the yellow flowers and add a pint of boiling water and leave them to steep for at least 30 minutes then use the water to rinse your hair after shampooing and rinsing in ordinary water. This infusion of flowers can also be used to clean minor cuts and grazes, and you can also use it as a facial cleanser.

   Pick the flowers and put them in a glass jar filled to the top with them, then add olive oil and leave them to steep in a warm place, with the jar firmly sealed, for 2 weeks. You can use this oil (strained) and use a drop or two for earache, bruises or frostbite. You can add beeswax to the oil and use it to soothe a baby’s nappy rash and for sensitive skin.

   The leaves are best harvested in the first or second year in the autumn, but if you are collecting them from wild mullein, make sure the stem is not crooked; if it is this means that the soil contains chemicals, so avoid such plants for medicinal purposes. You can dry the leaves and smoke them in a “cigarette” to relieve asthma, lung congestion and hay fever, as well as other respiratory problems. These are also good to get rid of coughs. They can be used in poultices and applied externally on sunburn, ulcers, tumours and piles.

   Gerard the English herbalist writing in the 16^th century noted that “Figs do not putrifie at all that are wrapped in the leaves of Mullein”, so the antibacterial properties of the leaves were noted very early on.

   The whole plant has a narcotic and sedative effect, and the seeds which contain saponins have been used as a narcotic. Saponins have anti-inflammatory properties, and the leaves also contain powerfully active glycosides, and are used for their demulcent and astringent properties. They are mucilaginous too, as they contain a type of latex which has soothing properties. The decoction in milk which is made from them is effective in the treatment of diarrhoea and it strengthens the bowels. To make this you will need an ounce of dried leaves or the same number of fresh leaves, and 1 cup of milk. Boil the leaves in the milk for 10 minutes, then strain and drink 3 times a day with or without sugar or honey. If you boil the flowers with this, it will taste less bitter, and you can also add the leaves of Sweet Cicely to it. This stops coughs and helps with colds. For internal bleeding this is also said to be good.

   In Ayurvedic medicine the following is used for treating yeast infections such as thrush: - cayenne pepper, garlic finely chopped, white oak bark, mullein flowers and marsh mallow leaves, crushed and made into a soft ball which can be easily digested.

   The tisane is good for coughs, colds and respiratory problems. You should take a wineglass full 3 times a day. In Ayurvedic medicine it is used to allay anxiety and stress.

 The tisane will provide you with vitamins B2, 5 and 12, D, choline, beta-carotene,and the minerals iron, zinc, calcium and selenium among other constituents.

Mullein Flower

MULLEIN LEAF TISANE

Ingredients

1 tbsp of dried leaves or root or two fresh leaves

1 cup water

dried flowers of mullein

1 clove

½ inch piece of cinnamon

Method

Boil all the ingredients together for 10 mins then strain through a piece of muslin or other fine cloth so that the hairs do not get into your mouth and cause irritation.

This has Taste and is a Treat.

DIOSCOREA DELTOIDEA: ENDANGERED SPECIES BECAUSE OF MEDICINAL BENEFITS

DIOSCOREA  DELTOIDEA WALL.

The Dioscorea family of plants which includes the yam; this particular species is native to the Himalayas, western Pakistan and Afghanistan. It is very common in Swat and Kashmir, although it is endangered in India. Dioscorea were named after the ancient Greek physician and botanist, Dioscorides.

  This plant is special (and endangered) because its tubers contain diosgenin, which is a phytoestrogen that can be chemically converted into the hormone progesterone. The conversion cannot take place in the body though. Diosgenin is a basis for anti-fertility drugs such as the contraceptive pill, of cortisone and sex-hormones, such as testosterone and supplements are used by body builders to increase their testosterone levels and build muscle mass. So although most pharmaceutical companies now use synthetic materials in their drug production the dietary supplement industry prides itself on using natural ingredients, thus threatening the continued existence of many plants. Dioscorea deltoidea has been discovered by the body building world and they consider it better or on par with Tribulus terrestris or Puncture Vine and fenugreek. This plant boosts testosterone levels and so not only helps body builders build muscle mass but also helps with erectile dysfunctions, including premature ejaculation.

   Traditionally the plant has been used as an anti-rheumatic and to treat ophthalmic conditions. In the West it has been used as a source of steroid drugs. It has also been used to rid the body of intestinal parasites, and women use it to wash shawls and woollen cloth.

   You can’t eat it, but you could try our sweet potato recipe.

VITAMIN B COMPLEX: WHAT THESE ARE, WHY WE NEED THEM: FOODS TO EAT

VITAMINS B:WHY WE NEED THEM AND WHICH FOODS CONTAIN THEM

Our bodies need all the B-complex vitamins in order to function normally. They have antioxidant properties and help the organs, production of blood and tissue cells, help slow the aging process and lift our mood due to their actions on the brain. You will note that these vitamins are not the full sequence of numbers, but these listed here are all the B group vitamins currently known. Some are not now classed as vitamins and these have been noted.

Vitamin B1-thiamine.This is found in oatmeal and flax, sunflower seeds and pastas. The body needs this to convert the carbohydrates we eat into energy and to stimulate the amino acids.

Vitamin B2-riboflavin. This is found in mushrooms, almonds, dairy products, leafy green vegetables and asparagus, some fruits such as persimmons, liver and kidneys. It is also added to energy drinks and used as a food additive (in yellow–orange powdered form) in pasta, sauces etc. It is needed for normal growth, and helps in the treatment of jaundice, is good for the liver functions and may help reduce migraines. It is also good for the eyes.

Vitamin B3-niacin. This is essential for healthy cells and the production of steroid hormones produced in the adrenal gland, such as testosterone and oestrogen. It is found in avocados, dates, tomatoes, leafy green vegetables, mushrooms, nuts, offal, chicken, tuna, salmon, eggs and milk and other food items.

Vitamin B4-adenine. This is no longer considered a B vitamin, but it helps bind niacin and riboflavin.

Vitamin B5-pantothenic acid. This gets its name from the Greek, pantothen meaning from everywhere, and is found in almost every food as the name suggests. It is especially high in cereals and beans and lentils, eggs, meat and royal jelly, as well as in broccoli and avocados. It is an energy booster and can help in sleep disorders, wound healing, hair growth, acne and diabetes.

Vitamin B6- pyridoxal and pyridoxamine. This plays a role in helping amino acids convert into other chemical substances in the body. It has many uses in this way, but perhaps the one that is most important to our general well-being is that it converts tryptophan to serotonin, which makes us fell happy. Vitamin B6 helps the neurotransmitters function normally and helps the function of haemoglobin as well as its synthesis and that of histamine. It is good for the eyes and the brain and can be found in meats, whole grains, and their products, vegetables and nuts and also bananas. However boiling foods can destroy up to 50% of this vitamin as can the freezing and canning processes. It’s better to eat nuts and bananas to be sure of getting this vitamin.

Vitamin B7 – biotin. This one regulates the blood sugar levels, strengthens hair and nails, and is good for skin. It is also called Vitamin H which comes from the German “Haar und haut,” meaning hair and skin. It is also good for diabetics. It is found in liver, egg yolks, grains and some vegetables.

Vitamin B8 – adenosine monophosphate (AMP). This consists of vitamin B4 (adenine) and the sugar, ribose. It improves the transmission of information between cells by the neurotransmitters.

Vitamin B9 – folic acid or folate. This is essential for normal body functions. We need folate to synthesize and repair DNA and this is necessary for normal growth and healthy red blood cells. Folate comes from the Latin word for leaf-folium and as the name suggests it can be found in leafy greens such as turnip tops, spinach and asparagus. It is also present in beans, peas, lentils, liver and baker’s yeast among other things. Broccoli, brussel sprouts, tomatoes, oranges, bananas, strawberries and raspberries are also excellent sources of this vitamin. It is also found in fortified bread, pasta and breakfast cereals.

Vitamin B12 – cyanocobalamin. This is essential for the production of healthy red blood cells. It is also the name given to a class of chemicals which act in the same way as cyanocobalamin.

Vitamin B13 – orotic acid. This is now known not to be a vitamin, but is manufactured by the body.

Vitamin B17 – amygdalin. This is found in apricot kernels and almonds (Prunus dulcis) and comes from the Greek amygdalin meaning almond or almond shaped. There has been some controversy surrounding this as it has also been called laetrile and touted as a cure for cancer. Here is a statement from the US Food and Drug Administration, which still seeks jail sentences for those who sell it as an anti-cancer treatment. [Laetrile is a] “highly toxic product that has not shown any effect on healing cancer.”

THE HIMALAYAN YEW: HISTORICAL USES AND MODERN CANCER TREATMENT

 

THE HIMALAYAN YEW, TAXUS WALLICHIANA

The Himalayan yew is one of the many species of yew tree that grow in temperate zones around the world. Unfortunately this yew is an endangered species of tree due to its capacity to provide taxol from its bark. Taxol is an effective anti-cancer drug used in cancer chemotherapy, and was first discovered in the Pacific yew. When this species was virtually on the verge of extinction, botanists and scientists found that taxol could also be obtained from Taxus Wallichiana, and now the same fate faces this tree.

  Taxol is effective against breast and ovarian cancer treatments, although alone it has a 56% success rate in treating beast cancer and only a 30 % success rate of treating ovarian cancer when combined with other drugs it has more than 60 % success rate. Male trees yield more taxol than female trees.

   In the remote Himalayan regions where this evergreen coniferous tree grows, I is used in traditional medicine which has its roots in prehistoric times and which uses soil, herbs and the roots and bark as well as other parts of trees to cure illnesses, along with ‘magic’ rites. The people who inhabit these regions believe in local gods; some of them were people who have been deified such as Bhola Nath, Gollu Devata and Lakiya Bhut, but others are far more primitive gods. Illnesses are believed to come form the gods and they are appeased with offerings and ceremonies performed by the shamanic priest or Poochari. These people are not sure which specific ingredient cures an illness, but will mix them together in the ways of their ancestors.

   In Unani medicine (this means Greek and was introduced to the Indian subcontinent by the Arabs in ancient times) in the Indian subcontinent, the bark and needles of the Himalayan Yew tree are used as a sedative, aphrodisiac and for respiratory illnesses and are also used to treat snake bites and scorpion stings. In Ayurvedic medicine the same parts of the Himalayan Yew are used for headaches, diarrhoea and a number of other ailments.

   The bark of the tree is also used to make butter tea, and the wood from the tree is used for timber to construct dwellings in the area. In medicines in this area the needles (leaves) are used as is the young tree bark. In Pakistan the branches are used as fodder for animals, but the foliage and seeds are toxic. The only edible part of the tree is the red outer casing of the fruit or seed. This is pulpy and apparently sweet. Although the tree is classed as coniferous, it doesn’t yield cones like a pine tree, only the seeds encased in the pulpy red aril (seed casing).

WHAT IS JATAMANSI? INDIAN SPIKENARD, SOURCE OF AN ANCIENT OIL: MEDICINAL BENEFITS OF JATAMANSI

JATAMANSI, INDIAN SPIKENARD, NARDOSTACHYA JATAMANSI

Jatamansi or Indian spikenard or musk root has been used in medicine for thousands of years. It is native to the Himalayas where it grows at heights of between 3,000 and 5,000 feet. It is cultivated in India where it is used extensively in perfumes and medicines. The part used is the hairy root, which is how it gets its name, as jatamansi means hirsute. The flowers are red or pink and red or blue, and the hairy root or rhizome is aromatic, giving rise to its name ‘musk root’.

   This is the Spikenard of the Bible which Mary, the sister of Lazarus and Martha used to anoint the feet of Jesus. It is one of the oils mentioned in various places in the Bible along with oils of myrrh, frankincense and sandalwood. It is also one of the 16 aromatics which was a mixture used by the ancient Egyptians, called kyphi. This contained frankincense, spikenard, saffron and cassia among other aromatics and was used in religious rites in temples and burned in homes and used to perfume the body and clothes. Plutarch, writing of kyphi said that its “aromatic substances lull to sleep, allay anxieties and brighten dreams. It is made of things that delight most in the night”. So I guess it was also used as an aphrodisiac.

   When Tutankhamen’s tomb was opened in 1922, archaeologists found an unguent which still had an aroma after more than 3,300 years, and analysis showed that it contained both frankincense and Indian spikenard. In 2000BC Indian spikenard is mentioned in Ayurvedic medical texts as an oil, which was used along with that of sandalwood in the treatment of various ailments.

   Ovid mentions spikenard in his description of the fabulous bird, the phoenix. He wrote that the poor phoenix lived for 500 years then built itself a huge nest and collected myrrh, cinnamon and spikenard, placed them in it and then, amidst the sweet-smelling substances, lay down and died. A young phoenix then emerged from the parent’s body.

  Writing in the 5^th century AD Apicius said that “spica nardi” was one of the essentials for every kitchen along with myrrh, juniper, cinnamon, saffron, ginger and others.

   In the first century AD Dioscorides praised spikenard and called it Nardin. It was known to the Arab and Persian physicians as Sumbul-i-Hindi.  

  The rhizome is used in Ayurvedic medicine as a tonic, a digestive aid, and antispasmodic, a stimulant and to treat hysteria, epilepsy, insomnia, improve blood circulation, and help with mental health. It is good for the heart, liver and a diuretic in the Unani system of medicine which was introduced to the subcontinent from Greece (Unan) by the Arabs.

   Medical trials have shown that the rhizome contains a sedative sesquiterpene which has the same properties as valeranone which is found in valerian. New substances have been found in the rhizome such as the coumarin, jatamansinisa. It has been found that the rhizome extract is good for lowering cholesterol and stimulating the production of serotonin, which promotes feeling of well-being. So Plutarch described one of its effects accurately. It is good for the normal functioning of both the liver and the heart because of its strong antioxidant powers and as it can combat oxidative stress, it can help stave off the onset of Parkinson’s disease. It can also remedy arrhythmia or palpitations of the heart.

  In traditional medicine it is believed that a paste of the rhizome and water can help skin problems such as acne and make for a fair glowing complexion. This paste is also given to alleviate pain and swelling. The powdered root is used as a deodorant, and a decoction is given for skin problems. If taken internally the decoction can aid digestion and stimulate the appetite, and treat hepatitis, clean the uterus, and so help with menstrual problems and infertility. However it should be avoided during pregnancy and the lactation period. It is also said to help calm down hyperactive children as well as agitated mental patients.

  Unfortunately the plant is now endangered because it is in demand by pharmaceutical companies in the West and impoverished locals want to earn as much as they can, as they are largely ill-educated and feeding their families is more important to them than the eco-system. This is the same problem facing the Himalayan Yew.