SORREL: SORREL VEGETABLE: MEDICINAL BENEFITS AND USES OF SORREL: NEW POTATOES AND SORREL RECIPE

SORREL, RUMEX ACETOSA, CHOKA OR TURUSHA SAAG IN URDU

There are around a hundred species of sorrel around the world, but this article centres on Common, or Garden Sorrel (Rumex acetosa), which has arrow-shaped leaves and in June and July has pink-red bell-shaper flowers. It is native to Britain and most of Europe and other varieties may be found in the US and the Indian Subcontinent as well as red sorrel (Hibiscus sabdariffa) in Jamaica and the West Indies, which is also called roselle. This is not a close relation to European sorrel. As its name suggests it is more closely related to hibiscus.

   Sorrel has been known as “cuckoo’s meate”, and it is thought that it got this name because people believed that the cuckoo used it to make its voice clear. It is also known as spinach dock. It grows wild as well as in gardens, and its leaves may turn to crimson, or the veins may become a purplish colour. It looks a lot like spinach and can be used in much the same way, although it complements eggs, chicken and other poultry as well as lamb, veal and goat’s cheese.

   Wood sorrel is another wild sorrel, but this is Oxalis acetosella which is to be written about in another post. There is also Mountain sorrel, (Oxyria reniformis) which can be found in parts of Wales and northern England, as well as close to the Arctic Circle, and in the Alps.

    Rumex scrutatus is known as French sorrel and this is usually preferred to common Sorrel. This took over from the Common Sorrel when it was introduced into Britain in the late 16^th century. Until then, Common or garden Sorrel was used for numerous dishes and in medicines. It has diuretic properties and is a coolant, and this is also true of the other sorrels including the Jamaican one which is made into a refreshing drink as are the others. Writing in 1720, John Evelyn says that sorrel “sharpens the appetite, assuages heat, cools the liver and strengthens the heart.” Culpeper agrees and states “Sorrel is prevalent in all hot diseases” and recommends it as a coolant for fevers, and all types of inflammation. He goes on to say that the roots, seeds and herb are good to treat scorpion bites, and the leaves, when heated and applied to boils caused by the plague, will burst them and so help to heal the body.

   Gerard also has a few things to say about the properties of sorrel and says “The seed of sorrel drunk in wine stoppeth the bloody flow” and continues “It cooleth a hot stomach.” He also says that the leaves were of use for “agues” or fevers.

   Sorrel contains Vitamin B9, Vitamin C, provitamin A, potassium, iron, calcium and magnesium, as well as fibre and carbohydrates and quercetin and lutein. It has antioxidant properties and so helps prevent the risk of heart disease and some cancers. However it is not recommended for people who have kidney or gall bladder stones or for pregnant and breast-feeding women. Children should also only be given small amounts of it- just two or three leaves, while an adult can eat 10-12 safely. The oxalic acid it contains is also not good for those who suffer from rheumatism and stones. It is a mild laxative as well as diuretic.

  In the past the roots and seeds of sorrel were drunk in wine to stop haemorrhages, and the plant was used to treat scurvy, caused by vitamin C deficiency, s sorrel was used in winter months when fresh fruit and vegetables were in short supply. A decoction of the flowers in wine was used for jaundice and kidney stones.

  Now sorrel is used for upper respiratory ailments and inflamed nasal passages and sinuses, and as a diuretic. The leaves and flowers can be combines in a tisane by taking a handful of them and pouring a pint of boiling water on the and leaving to steep for 10 minutes, then straining and drinking  The juice of the plant may be diluted and taken orally too.

  If you visit Shiraz in Iran, sorrel soup, kardeh in Farsi, is sold by street vendors in winter, to ward off colds and flu. It is widely used in Russian cuisine and there it is believed that sorrel lowers blood pressure. In France it is also widely used in omelettes, soups and green sauce to accompany fish. The young leaves can be used in salads just as spinach and dandelion leaves can. These can be substituted for sorrel and vice versa. In Ireland they use sorrel in a dish that requires fish to be poached in milk.

One of sorrel’s other names is Greensauce, and this is because it was used to make one, by pounding fresh sorrel leaves and mixing them with vinegar and sugar to serve with cold meat. The green sauce is good with turnips and spinach and also to cut the fatty flavour of roast goose and pork; this also goes well with veal and poultry, particularly chicken. You can wash sorrel leaves and shake them and simmer the leaves in their own water, then when they are ready (after 10 minutes or so) toss them in 50gr of butter. If you don’t like the acidity of the leaves you can blanch them in boiling water for a couple of minutes. The juice of the leaves can be used instead of rennet to curdle milk in the cheese-making process.

   In India Indian sorrel (Oxalis corniculata) is used, boiled in buttermilk for dysentery and jaundice, and an infusion of the fresh leaves, or the fresh juice mixed with honey or sugar is given to fever sufferers. This sorrel is particularly rich in iron. The juice from the leaves is mixed with equal amounts of castor oil and given as a cure for insomnia. Water is removed by heating the mixture which is massaged into the scalp before going to bed to promote sleep and cool burning eyes.

 

NEW POTATOES AND SORREL

Ingredients

500 gr small new potatoes, scrubbed

100 gr sorrel leaves

50 gr butter (unsalted if possible)

1 tbsp olive oil

salt and freshly ground black pepper

Method

Boil the potatoes whole for 10-12 mins so that they are just tender.

Strip the central veins of the sorrel leaves and the shred into strips 1 cm wide.

Remove the potatoes from the heat, drain and cut in half.

Put them in a bowl with the butter and oil, and add the sorrel leaves and allow them to wilt in the heat of the potatoes.

Toss well in the butter and allow to stand for 1 or 2 minutes, and then toss well. Leave them to stand for a further minute, toss again and sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste.

This has Taste and is a Treat.

 

ELDER FLOWERS( SAMBUCUS NIGRA): MEDICINAL BENEFITS AND THE USES OF ELDER FLOWERS: DEEP FRIED ELDER FLOWERS RECIPE

ELDER FLOWERS, SAMBUCUS NIGRA

Elder flowers are not well liked for their fragrance as they have a musty odour which assails t hose and hits the back of the throat; this has been described as being slightly narcotic. However country people in Britain have collected the flower heads for thousands of years to make cordials, medicines and syrups. There is a particularly refreshing country recipe for elder flower “champagne” which sparkles, and has a low alcoholic content although this will increase if kept for some time, but you have to secure the bottles or else they will explode. It cools the body in hot weather and is tastier than the smell of the flowers might lead you to expect. The wine made from the flowers of the elder is white, in contrast to Elderberry wine which looks more like port.

   The flowers are a sign that summer has come in Britain, and the elderberries are a sign that it is over. The trees in full bloom are very attractive and can grow up to 50 feet, although they don’t usually get to be so big. There is a superstition that you should never sleep in the shade of the elder tree because your soul may be stolen by the malignant spirits that dwell in it. A similar belief is held in the Indian subcontinent about sleeping under the bohar or banyan tree.  This may have come about as no plants can thrive under an elder tree.

   The tree is one of those like the neem tree (Indian lilac) that was seen as a boon for people as it reputedly helped cure many illnesses. In Shakespeare’s play “The Merry Wives of Windsor”, Act II scene 3 there is the line,

       “What says my Aesculpius? My Galen? My heart of Elder?”

 (Aesculpius and Galen being the top physicians of the ancients.)

 Many of the old herbal remedies made from this tree are being investigated by modern clinical researchers and this is ongoing.

  The flower heads can be picked and the flowers dipped in batter and deep fried. The flowers can be made into conserves, and the buds may be pickled and used as a substitute for capers. The tisane from the flowers can be prepared with 1 tbsp of flowers stripped from the stalks and placed in a pot, then pour a cup of boiling water over them. Cover the pot for 5 minutes, strain and drink. This is good for hay fever and respiratory problems as it is an expectorant and gets rid of mucus. It is also good for colds and flu, and is especially useful against flu if mixed with an equal amount of yarrow flowers. This is a diaphoretic and promotes sweat, so is good for fevers too. The cold elder flower tisane can be used for inflamed eyes or as a douche for candida. A strong decoction can be made by boiling 50 gr flowers in 1 pint of water for 3 minutes, then allowing it to steep and using when cool for skin problems. If you drink the tisane it will help to purify the blood and get rid of toxins, thus helping arthritis sufferers, and those who suffer from other inflammatory ailments.

   The flowers contain Vitamin C and rutin, both of which have strong antioxidant properties, so the flowers can help prevent cancer and prevent atherogenesis. Rutin has anti-inflammatory properties and strengthens the capillaries, so helping those who bruise and bleed easily.

   The flowers have a regulating effect on the digestive system so will help if you have either constipation or diarrhoea. They can also help boost the immune system, and I the flowers are placed in bath water, they will whiten and soften the skin. The tisane may be used as a facial cleanser of skin tonic. A salad of the buds can be made by macerating the flowers in a little hot water for a few hours, then drying them thoroughly and dressing them in oil, wine vinegar and salt. This is supposed to be good for skin problems such as acne. Elder flower vinegar is good for sore throats; you need 2 lbs of dried flowers to 2 pints of vinegar and leave to steep for a few weeks before straining and bottling. If you take the green flowers and put them in a stone jar, or at least a heat proof non-corrosive one, and cover them with boiling vinegar, you will have made the caper substitute.

DEEP FRIED ELDER FLOWERS

Ingredients

10-12 heads of elder flowers with stalks

oil for frying

fine sugar

For the batter

1 egg white whisked to stiff peaks

50 gr flour

30 gr cornflour

1 tsp cinnamon powder

½ tsp ground cloves

pinch salt

Method

Wash the flower heads and dry carefully.

Make the batter by mixing the dry ingredients together and then folding into the egg white with a metal spoon.

Dip the flower heads into the batter and then shallow fry for 1 min.

Dredge the flowers with sugar and serve with cream.

You can deep fry the flower heads too but if they are shallow fried you can hold the stems so that only the flower heads are fried, which is what you need. The flowers only are to be eaten.

These have Taste and are a Treat.

ELDERBERRIES: ELDER TREE: MEDICINAL BENEFITS, HISTORY AND SUPERSTITIONS: ELDERBERRY SYRUP FOR COUGHS AND COLDS

ELDERBERRIES, ELDER TREE, SAMBUCUS NIGRA

The European elder tree, Sambucus nigra is native to the British Isles, Africa and parts of Asia, and has been naturalized in the US which also has the Sambucus canadenisis elder, and the red-berried Sambucus racemosus variety of elder. In fact there are quite a few different types of elder around the world, but here we concentrate on the European variety which has a long history, because of this, the elder flowers are a separate post.

  The Elder was a sacred tree to the Druids who would not take any part of the tree without first asking humbly for permission to do so. It is a tree in the Celtic calendar, and represents similar qualities to that of the astrological sign Sagittarius, the archer. The person born under this sign is a seeker, who is blunt, honest, deeply thoughtful and a philosopher, seeking truth with a passion and fire. This is the sign for late November to late December. The elder is symbolic of Transition, Evolution and Continuation. It was used as a healing herb, and the later Physicians of Myddfai used the juice from the berries to cure the bite of a viper or adder, the only venomous snake found in Britain. They believed that if bitten by a viper the juice when drunk would “disperse all poison”. In Welsh superstition if you stand under an elder tree (Ysgawen in Welsh) on Midsummer’s Eve you can see the “little people” and have visions of other worldly creatures. If you have wands from the elder, they will keep away evil spirits, witches and witchcraft, and banish negative thoughts, such as those which might lead to suicide. This may be because it was believed that Judas hanged himself on the elder tree when he was overcome with remorse for having betrayed Judas. The tree, in legend, used to grow much taller than it does today, now it grows to about 30 feet and is more of a shrub than a tree. There is an old rhyme which says: -

   “Bour tree-Bour tree; crooked rong

    Never straight and strong;

    Ever bush and never tree

    Since our Lord was nailed on thee.”

This is a reference to an old tradition that Jesus’ cross was made from an elder tree. In the 14^th century it was called a bour tree. In Shakespeare’s play “Cymbeline” the elder tree is a symbol of grief and referred to as “the stinking elder” because of the smell of the bruised leaves and the flowers. Despite the smell people admire its beauty when in blossom and make wine from both the flowers and the berries. In “Love’s Labour Lost” Shakespeare writes “Judas was hanged on an Elder” and in the 14^th century Langland writes in “Piers Plowman”

   “Judas he japed with Jewen silver

     And sithen an eller hanged hymselve”

which means that Judas played with the Jews’ silver and therefore hanged himself on an elder tree. Sir John Mandeville writing about his travels states that he was shown an elder tree identical to the one Judas hanged himself on close to the Pool of Shiloam, so the elder has strong associations with the Bible, and particularly beliefs prevalent in Mediaeval times. Flouting traditional thought of his time though, Gerard, the herbalist, states that “the tree whereon Judas did hange himselfe” was the Judas Tree, or Cercis siliqustrum.

   Whatever the case even as late as the early 20^th century, hedge cutters in rural Britain would not cut the elder and gypsies are forbidden to use its wood as firewood. That may be wise, as the branches spit bits of flaming bark as it burns.

 Folkard, in “Plant-Lore, Legends and Lyrics,” tells us:

'The pith of the branches when cut in round, flat shapes, is dipped in oil, lighted, and then put to float in a glass of water; its light on Christmas Eve is thought to reveal to the owner all the witches and sorcerers in the neighbourhood';

and he continues,

'On Bertha Night (6th January), the devil goes about with special virulence. As a safeguard, persons are recommended to make a magic circle, in the centre of which they should stand, with Elderberries gathered on St. John's night. By doing this, the mystic Fern-seed may be obtained, which possesses the strength of thirty or forty men.'

   The twigs are flexible and the pith inside them can be removed and superstitious country people tie three or four knots in them to protect themselves from bad luck and evil influences. Little boys use the hollowed stems as whistles and in Culpeper’s day they were used as pop-guns. In ancient Greece and Rome they were made into wind instruments, pan-pipes and flutes, for example. The music from these could, it was believed, get rid of evil spirits and protect from witchcraft, just as the leaves gathered on the last day of April and fixed to doors and windows could. Farmers used to make a cross from the twigs of the elder and place them in stables and cow byres to protect their animals.

   The leaves and juice from them can be used to repel insects, and the bruised leaves can be rubbed on the skin to protect from insect bites. In the 17^th century it was believed that if other crops were whipped with bunches of elder laves no blight would attack them. If you take a handful of fresh bruised leaves and pour a pint of boiling water on them and leave this to cool, you can strain then bottle it and use on the skin as an insect repellent.

   In the late 17^th and 18^th century, elderberry juice was used to adulterate port, until this practice was outlawed in Portugal in 1747. They believed that drinking the juice with port was cure for the pain of sciatica and neuralgia.

  Hippocrates recommended the bark for a purgative, and it is an emetic. You can make this with 1 ounce of dried bark (dried in the sun and taken in at night until it turns a grey colour) to 1 pint of water and boil it, then take small doses of it. It was also used as a diuretic. A tisane of dried berries was given in cases of colic and diarrhoea. The leaves have been applied to swellings and gout to relieve the pain, as well as on wounds when boiled with a little linseed oil. This liquid was also used for piles. The Romans used the juice from the berries for black hair dye, and Culpeper also mentions that they can be used for this purpose. Elderberry syrup is good for coughs, colds and flu, as is hot elderberry wine with honey or sugar. Elderberries can be made into jam, preserves and conserves. To take the berries from the stalks you can use an “afro” comb, taking care no to bruise the fruit.

  A tisane can be made from the fresh of dried berries by taking a fresh head of berries and boiling them in two cups of water, then leaving to stand for 10 mins, before straining, reheating and drinking with honey if desired.

  Medical trials are still underway on the elderberry, but as the berries contain flavonoids they have antioxidant properties, so may be good for prevention of heart diseases and cancer. They may, scientists say, have anti-inflammatory properties, and reduce the swellings of the mucus membranes for example the sinuses. They may also have antiviral properties as they have been effective against swine flu, or the H1N1 virus, as they were in lab tests, but they have not been tested on humans for these properties. Scientists can sat without any doubt that they boost the immune system, so a glass of hot elderberry wine every night as taken by country folk for centuries, may well ward off colds and flu and help with sore throats and mouths.

  The Italian liqueur, Sambuca is made form elderberries and anise traditionally.

  Pregnant and breast-feeding women should avoid elderberries say the scientists.

The syrup recipe below is for coughs and colds and should be diluted, with water to taste.

ELDERBERRY SYRUP

Ingredients

1 pint of berries

2 pints water

1 inch piece root ginger, peeled and sliced

10 cloves

Method

Boil all the ingredients together until the liquid is reduced by half.

Allow to cool and bottle.

Take a wineglass full of syrup and dilute with hot water and drink every night to ward off clods and flu. If you have a cold then take this dose three times a day until the symptoms have gone.

This has Taste and is a Treat(ment).

SAINT JOHN'S WORT HERB- SYMBOL OF INVINCIBILITY, COURAGE, POWER AND FERTILITY: MEDICINAL BENEFITS AND USES OF SAINT JOHN'S WORT

SAINT JOHN’S WORT, HYPERIUM PERFORATUM

Saint John’s Wort, or plant, has been used in medicine for thousands of years to heal wounds and banish the demons of depression and to protect from witchcraft. Today medical research has found that the plant can do those things the ancients used it for. The name Hyperium comes from the Greek and means over the apparition. The Romans and Greeks used it to protect themselves and their homes from all evil influences. It has such a noxious smell that it was believed spirits would fly from it. St John’s Wort was a sacred herb of the Druids, and its various names in Welsh illustrate its uses.

  This herb has many names. One of them is tutsan, which is a corruption of the French, toute sain, or all-healing. In Welsh it is called “blessed herb of an earnest prayer” – Creu-lys-bendiged, Bail y Trwch, which has a double meaning; leaf of the lame, or the desolate man and Erinllys. The Romans called it the demon chaser, or flee demons Fuga Daemonum. Of course in ancient times melancholy and depression were thought to be brought about by evil spirits, and St John’s Wort has been proved to cure mild depression, as it improves the flow of serotonin and dopamine other “happiness” inducing substances to the brain. In former times it was used in exorcism ceremonies.

   The Celts would pass it through or over their midsummer eve’s fires and wear it into battle as they believed the herb made warriors invincible. It was a symbol of invincibility, courage, power and fertility, and used to attract true love into one’s life. When placed under a young girl’s pillow on St John’s Eve, she was supposed to dream of her future husband. It is called St John’s Wort because it flowers on (or around St John’s Day, 24^th June, which is said to be the birthday of John the Baptist).

   St John’s Wort is native to Europe, parts of Africa and Asia and has been employed for much the same ailments. In the Indian subcontinent it has been used in cases of fever and was also used by the Welsh physicians of Myddfai along with other herbs such as agrimonyand mugwort to cure fevers and to rid the body of stones and gravel in the organs. It was either naturalized in the western states of America, or it may have been an indigenous species, as it was also used by Native Americans. However the settlers might have taken it with them as it was a common healing herb in Europe.

  The parts of the plant usually used are the flowers and the leaves which contain hypericin and pseudohypericin, and which can be made into a tisane with 1 cup of boiling water to 2-4 tsps of dried herb. Leave it to steep for 10 minutes and drink 3 cups a day; you will see results in 3 to 4 weeks.You need twice the amount of the fresh herb and should leave it to steep for 15 minutes before straining and drinking. It will cure mild depression but you should take care as it can have some side effects, such as headaches, upset stomach, a rash, fatigue, restlessness, mental confusion or dizziness and in extreme cases may lead to a sensitivity to sunlight, photodermatitis. If this occurs you should wear a hat and sunblock when you go out in sunlight. Pregnant and breast-feeding women should avoid it although it can help with PMT (PMS) and menopausal symptoms of mood swings. All these things have been medically proven. However folk remedies suggest that children who suffer from night time incontinence should have a cup before going to bed, and it is said to cure the problem.

   Modern research has shown that this herb has anti-viral and anti-bacterial properties in lab tests, and that it can kill viruses that have become resistant to antibiotics. It is believed that it may eventually be beneficial in the treatment of HIV/AIDS, but is not recommended at present as the side effects could be intolerable.

   Researchers do say that it can be effective in treating menopausal symptoms especially if used with black cohash as this helps prevent mood swings. It can also help in the treatment of Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD especially when used with phototherapy as this yields better results than phototherapy alone. Applied directly to outer parts of the body the tisane or a stronger decoction (made by boiling the herb until the water is reduced by half and allowing to cool) can help treat minor burns, eczema, wounds and haemorrhoids as it has antibacterial properties and may also reduce inflammation.

   It has been used for mastitis, jaundice, depression and improved concentration, anxiety, sleep disturbances and neuralgia in traditional medicine. You can make an infusion of the flowers by leaving them to steep in cold water overnight, or if you need it quickly, by boiling them in a little water and then making a paste with a little cornflour and applying this to a clean bandage and applying it to a rash, minor burn or wound. Culpeper recommended and oil made from the flowers for swellings and burns. The oil can be made by gathering the flowers and steeping them in oil. Fill a glass jar with the flower heads and then pour in the oil to cover; olive oil is good, but you can use other oil of your choosing. The fresh sap from the stems of the plant and the leaves can be thinned with chamomile tisane for burns, ear infections, bruises and mastitis.

   You should harvest the flowers in late June or early July, tie them loosely in bundles and hang them upside down to dry in a cool, dark, airy place. When they are dry, crumble them into glass jars and store in a cool place out of direct sunlight.

    The herbs used to be picked and put in jars on windowsills to protect the household from evil and lightning, and the ravages of storms. In Wales the herb was picked and a sprig for each member of the household was hung on a rafter inside the house. The sprigs were checked the next day to check on the health of each person, and this was thought to show the health of those far away too.

   St John’s Wort is a useful herb to have around and can be easily stored once dried, it has a multitude of uses and has been clinically tested although not always wholeheartedly approved as research is still ongoing. The researchers do say, however, that this herb has fewer side effects in treatment for mild depression than the pharmaceuticals prescribed by doctors. However you should check out if you should use the herb with your doctor as it can have contra-indications if used with some drugs for pre-existing conditions.

  

  

WHAT ARE BIOFLAVONOIDS? WHY DO WE NEED THEM?

BIOFLAVONOIDS, VITAMINS P

Bioflavonoids or vitamins P are water-soluble plant pigments rich in antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiallergenic, antiviral and anti-carcinogenic properties. When combined with Vitamin C they are both increased in potency. Together they stimulate the production of bile and so help the digestive system, lower cholesterol levels, treat and prevent cataracts and maintain the health of collagen which is vital for healthy skin and of course this helps slow the aging process of the skin.

  Bioflavonoids are found together with vitamin C in elder flowers, onions, citrus fruits such as pomelo and many other plant foods.

Apigenin. This repairs cell DNA and helps to prevent cancer. It can be found in apples, chamomile, onions, oregano, rosemary and passion flowers among other things.

Betanin performs the same functions as apigenin and is to be found in purple skinned aubergines, beetroot and red and purple grapes, etc.

rosemary

Biochanin A lowers cholesterol levels and is found in red clover, alfalfa, chickpeas etc.

Delphinidin plus vitamin E reduces or delays the risk of Alzheimer’s and dementia as well as thinning the blood which improves circulation. This is found in blueberries, red currants, and dark grape juice.

Diosmin this strengthens the capillaries and improves blood circulation as well as having anti-bacterial and anti fungal properties. It can be found in spearmint, rosemary, and in lemon and bergamot oils.

Ellagic acid destroys carcinogens and has soothing effects so alleviates anxiety. It is to be found in nuts, including almonds, berries, grapes and a whole host of other plant foods.

passion flower

Hesperidin has antiviral and anti bacterial properties and combats the herpes virus. It also helps prevent colds and flu. It lowers cholesterol levels, strengthens the walls of the blood vessels and is in hyssop and citrus fruits such as pomelo.

Hyperin can cure mild depression and helps with mental problems. It also helps to regenerate the cells. This is a phytonutrients which is found in St. John’s Wort.

Kaempferol has antidepressant qualities and reduces the risk of heart disease. It also has antibacterial and antifungal properties and combats the E.coli bacteria. You can find it in cloves, dill, elder flower and passion flowers, broccoli, brussel sprouts, apples, etc.

Lycopene has been found to protect against prostate cancer and heart disease. This can be found in dandelion flowers, tomatoes and sunflowers. This is what makes watermelons and tomatoes red.

Myricetin helps prevent prostate cancer and is in grapes, walnuts, herbs and other plants.

Along with Quercetin and Kaempferol it helps to protect against pancreatic cancer.

Nobility has anticoagulant properties so prevents blood clots in the body. It is found in bitter and sweet oranges, grapefruit, tangerines, and mandarins.

Quercetin is an antihistamine, has antioxidant, antibacterial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer effects. It is also called meletin and has been used to treat abnormal capillary fragility. It strengthens blood vessels helps those who bleed and bruise easily, and prevents varicose veins from bleeding as well as stopping heavy menstrual flow. It is also believed to help reduce prostate inflammation, remedies cystitis, and helps in cases of atherosclerosis and cataracts. It is found in he bark and rind of many plants and is in oak bark, elder flowers, fenugreek, asparagus, lemon juice, onions and other root vegetables, parsley and beans.

flax

Rutin calms the heart, nerves and brain, and enhances the properties of vitamin C. It has antioxidant properties and so may inhibit the growth of some cancers. It also has anti-inflammatory effects and is found in elder flowers, passion flowers, buckwheat, hops, fennel and chamomile.

Secoisolariciresinol diglycoside is a lignan in flax seeds and their oil which has anti-tumour properties which suppress the oestrogen and tumour producing enzymes.

This is the list as it stands at the moment, although more may be added later.

WHITE CLOVER- BEE BREAD: FOUR LEAVED CLOVER FOR LUCK

WHITE CLOVER, TRIFOLIUM REPENS, SAFED TARFEEL IN URDU

White clover is not used in medicine or cookery as much as red clover is. Both clovers are native to the British Isles, the rest of Europe, and parts of Asia and the Mediterranean. Red clover grows even in the Arctic Circle, and surprisingly perhaps, this is the one we use most although the honey from white clover is recognized as one of the best. Bees will spend more time gathering pollen from the white variety than they will from the red.

 White clover is used as a pasture crop when crops are rotated as the microbes in the root system fix nitrogen which means that the plant uses atmospheric nitrogen and converts it into a form that plants can utilize. This helps the soil and crops planted in it the following year will produce a better commercial yield than if the white clover had not been planted in it the previous year.

   White clover grows prolifically and when I was a child my father always complained about it as it grew on the lawn along with other weeds such as dandelions, daisies, buttercups and red clover. These days, however, white clover is sold as an alternative lawn covering to grass.

    Trifolium means three leaved, and clover can occasionally be four-leaved. This is believed to be lucky and I remember that while at school we once discovered a small patch of four-leaved clovers on the school playing-field. As the annual fete was coming up we decided to display one of our four-leaved clovers and charge people to search for their own. We made quite a bit of money that way and I think one person actually found one that we had missed.

   You may remember that in Thomas Hardy’s novel “Far from the Madding Crowd”, the sheep get into the clover field and gorge themselves and have to be ‘punctured’ by Gabriel Oak so that they don’t die. These days, white clover has been developed which doesn’t contain the toxic glycoside which turns into prussic acid in an animal’s body. Deer and other animals and birds can now eat clover with impunity, which is just as well as they seem to relish it.

   Masters, writing in 1869 tells us that witches used to gather white clover flowers at night when the moon was full, so that it could be added to their potions along with vervain and other herbs. He also says “…young girls in search of a token of perfect happiness made quest of the plant by day.” By this he must have meant the four-leaved clover, not the ordinary one.

   Ella Higginson (1861-1940), an American poet and story writer wrote these lines about the clover: -

     “One leaf is for hope and one is for faith

       And one is for love, you know,

       And God put another in for luck,

       If you search, you will find where they grow.”

The white markings on the leaves were believed, in the Middle Ages, to be symbolic of the Holy Trinity by the superstitious peasants. The white clover was first cultivated in the Netherlands and so is sometimes called “Dutch clover”.

VITAMINS ARE NECESSARY FOR HEALTH

VITAMINS: HOW THEY WORK IN OUR BODIES AND DIETS

There are two sorts of vitamins, those that are fat-soluble, vitamins A, D, E and K and those that are water-soluble, vitamins C and the B-complex vitamins which we have listed elsewhere. Some vitamins have alphabetical listings but are part of the B-complex group and these are mentioned below.

Vitamin A There are two vitamin As. A1 which is retinol, and vitamin A2 which is dehydroretinol. They are concerned with the normal functioning of the retina, the growth of bones and the growth and differentiation of the epithelial tissue. They are also necessary for the reproductive system and the immune system. Vitamin A promotes the regeneration of rhodopsin (visual purple) in the rod cells of the retina. It prevents the disorder commonly called night blindness, and can be found in bilberries, and other fruits as well as in liver, kidney, egg yolks, the fat compound of dairy products as well as vegetables.

Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) This resembles glucose in its molecular structure and is found in citrus fruits including pomelo(chakotera), tomatoes, broccoli and cabbage etc. It boosts the immune system and helps us ward off colds and flu. It also has antioxidant properties, and so promotes blood circulation. A vitamin C deficiency leads to the loosening of the teeth, gingivitis (bleeding gums) and poor wound healing.

Vitamin D There are two forms of this vitamin too; D2 which is ergocalciferol and D3 called cholecalciferol. vitamin D2 is synthesized in the skin and scientists consider it to be a hormone. Vitamin D3 is the form of vitamin D which is usually found in dietary supplements. It can be found in some fish liver oils, egg yolks and processed, fortified dairy products. A deficiency of this vitamin can cause rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults. The body needs it for healthy bone and tissue growth. However if you have too much vitamin D it will lead to a loss of calcium from the bones and can lead to kidney dysfunctions.

Vitamin E This is high in antioxidant properties, so will help the body combat the free radicals which cause damage to cells and cancer. It is found in wheat germ and cereal germs, liver, egg yolks and green plants including brussel sprouts, milk fat and vegetable oil, and seed oil e.g. pumpkin seeds. It is necessary for the reproduction process and healthy muscle development.

Vitamin G is riboflavin from the B-complex group.

Vitamin H is biotin also from the B-complex group.

Vitamin K . This helps blood clotting for quick wound healing. It is found in leafy green vegetables, including those used to make saag, spinach, fenugreek leaves etc., butter, cheese and egg yolks. It is split into three, vitamin K1 is phytonadione, K2 is menaquinone and K3 is menadione.

Vitamin M is folacin or folic acid. This is also B9 and found in asparagus and turnip tops among other greens.

Vitamins P are the bioflavonoids and include rutin which is found in elder flowers, citrus fruits and apple peel.

RED CLOVER: MEDICINAL BENEFITS AND USES OF RED CLOVER: RED CLOVER TISANE, RED CLOVER VINEGAR RECIPES

RED CLOVER, TRIFOLIUM PRATENSE

Like the white clover this red variety is native to the British Isles and the rest of Europe as well as to North and Central Asia, the Mediterranean region and up through to the Arctic Circle. It is also known as bee bread, trefoil and purple clover, among other names such as lal tarfeel in Urdu. Red clover can be used in foods just as lavender, marigolds and dandelions can, and is also used in traditional medicine. Clinical trials are still ongoing into its medical value, but it seems as though these may support the traditional uses for this herb.

Red clover has been used to cure coughs, as an expectorant, to help with asthma, and is used externally for skin problems including irritation caused by insect stings and bites, eczema, psoriasis and wound healing. The flowers are the parts of the herb used, either fresh or dried. Sheep and other animals that graze on these plants develop fertility problems and it is thought that this is because of the phytoestogens they contain. Phytoestrogens are less potent than the oestrogen (the major female hormone) produced in the body, and are contained in the isoflavines (genestein and daidzein) in the plant which are being used in ERT (Estrogen Replacement Therapy) for menopausal women. It has also been found that red clover constituents can help in the prevention of prostate and breast cancer, as well as (perhaps) ovarian cancer, but trials are still ongoing. The flowers contain calcium and magnesium which is easily absorbed by the body and which tones and relaxes the nervous system, minimizing stress and headaches associated with this. The reduction of stress symptoms is also helped by the silic acid content of the flowers.

  The recipe for the tisane given below may be boiled down to produce syrup which can be used for the relief of dry coughs. The tisane can also be used externally for skin irritation and as a vaginal douche to relieve dryness and the itching which may accompany the menopause. It stimulates the functions of the liver and gallbladder, prevents constipation and is an appetite booster. It also supports the uterus, so is a very useful herb for women. The dried or fresh flowers can be added to soups and stews to give them flavour. The fresh flowers are also useful additions to salads.

   The dried flowers have been used for bronchitis and asthma and as an expectorant. They are also an alterative, which means that they will produce a gradual beneficial change in the body by improving nutrition, and will act as a blood purifier, getting rid of unwanted toxins. The flowers also have diuretic properties. Like the dandelion and comfrey leaves they are high in protein and calcium.

   The fresh flowers can be crushed and applied directly to wounds or stings and bites, and will alleviate the pain and promote rapid healing. They can be used in compresses to relieve the pain of arthritis and gout, and the tisane can be used as a coolant for the body.

   Red clover contains Vitamin A, iron, chromium, magnesium, phosphorous, potassium, Vitamin C and some of the B-complex vitamins, as well as calcium (mentioned above).

   The phrase “to be in clover” means that a person will have a rich and prosperous, carefree life, and it seems as this may be because of this humble plant’s medicinal properties.

RED CLOVER TISANE

Ingredients

10-15 gr dried red clover flowers or 2 oz fresh flowers

1 cup boiling water

Method

Pour the water over the flowers and allow to steep for 15 mins. Strain and drink 3 times a day.

RED CLOVER VINEGAR

Ingredients

Enough clover flowers to fill a jar

White wine vinegar

Method

Use vinegar that is at room temperature. Pack a Kilner jar or any jar with an airtight seal-but not metal as it may corrode with the action of the vinegar- with red clover flower heads and cover with vinegar. Store in a cool dark place and turn once a day for two weeks. Leave to stand for a further week, the use. You can strain the vinegar or leave the flowers in it for a more intense flavour.

These recipes have Taste and are a Treat.

KEPEL FRUIT: BENEFITS AND USES OF KEPEL FRUIT

KEPEL FRUIT or KEPPEL APPLE, STELECHOCARPUS BURAHOL

Kepel fruit grows straight from the tree trunk and not on branches, like most fruit. It originated in Indonesia, and is the floral emblem of Yogyakarta Special Region of Indonesia. It still grows wild in secondary forests of Java, where it is mainly cultivated. It is grown elsewhere as an ornamental tree and has been introduced to parts of South America, such as Honduras, and to Florida in the USA. It has also been introduced relatively recently to the Philippines and Australia. It is a member of the custard-apple family which now grows throughout south-east Asia, in Malaysia and the Solomon Islands. Another botanical name for it is Uvaria burahol, and as uva is Latin for egg, I guess this refers to the shape of the fruit.

   Unfortunately it is an endangered species, although it is being cultivated now in Indonesia for its possible further use in the perfume industry. In fact this is where it is unique. It was once used as a way of giving fragrance to the bodily excretions, including urine. It is said to make the liquid expelled by the body and the breath, smell of violets. The Sultan of Jogjia had his consorts eat kepel fruit so that they would smell good naturally and it was also used as a contraceptive as it temporarily renders women infertile. In fact he restricted its consumption so that only his court members could eat the fruit.

   The fruit also has diuretic properties, and it is said to be good for the kidneys, preventing stones forming and their function healthy. If you scratch the brown outer casing of the fruit, it is orange underneath when ripe, and it can be found nestling in the bright pink leaves of the tree. It has pink-cream flowers which grow straight out of the trunk of the tree. The fruit’s flesh is a light orange colour and is creamy like a chikoo (which it resembles, at least on the outside) or ber. There are seeds inside, again rather like those of the chikoo. However it is said to have a spicy flavour, a little like a mango.

    The wood of the tree is used in construction and for making furniture, and probably gathered for firewood too, which might explain why it does not grow wild in many places in Java.

ONION SOUP IN PAKISTANI STYLE: EASY AND TASTY RECIPE

ONION SOUP PAKISTANI STYLE

You can’t make French onion soup in Pakistan as the ingredients aren’t readily available. However, it is winter now, and here is our version of a good, warming soup, made primarily with onions, which purify the blood, are rich in antioxidants and the vitamins and minerals needed to stave off a cold.

 

Ingredients

6 large onions, sliced

10 cloves garlic, finely chopped

2 tbsp sugar

1 beef bone (preferably a marrow bone)

1 tbsp chilli powder

3 green chillies, finely chopped

1 tsp black mustard seeds

1 tbsp cumin seeds

1½ litres of water

fresh coriander leaves

oil for frying

Method

Heat the oil in a large saucepan and add the cumin seeds and mustards seeds, then the onions, garlic and chilli powder and fry for 7 mins, turn down the heat and add the sugar, and stir well. Keep stirring for 5-10 mins so that the onions and garlic don’t stick to the pan.  Add water a little at a time and the beef bone and chillies. Keep stirring, until the liquid boils.

Cover and simmer on a low heat for an hour, stirring occasionally.

Serve with crusty French bread or roti or naan.

You can add beef too, along with the bone but it isn’t necessary for this hearty soup.

This has Taste and is a Treat.

STAR FRUIT: HOW TO USE A STAR FRUIT: MEDICINAL BENEFITS AND HISTORY OF STAR FRUIT: STAR FRUIT SALAD RECIPE

STAR FRUIT, CARAMBOLA, AVERRHOA CARAMBOLA

It is easy to see how star fruit got its name, as when you slice the waxy green or yellow-orange fruit, the slices are like stars. When it first hit the supermarket shelves in Britain in the late 1970s it was hardly known, so the big chains produced leaflets with recipes for the fruit, however they were either for its inclusion in fruit salads or for its use as a garnish with sea food and avocados. There are two basic types of star fruit, one is green and tart, the other is a golden yellow and sweet. The tart variety may be pickled or salted, and used in conserves, such as those given in our recipe for apple conserve; prick the fruit and follow that recipe, leaving the star fruit whole.

   Star fruit originated in Sri Lanka and the Malaccan islands, but spread throughout the Indian subcontinent and South East Asia, where they have been cultivated, or at least domesticated since prehistoric times. They are a relative newcomer to the US as they were only introduced there around 150 years ago, although they are now produced commercially in Hawaii. You can eat these fruit raw, straight from the tree, or use with other fruit in salads, or you can make jams and preserves with them.

   Star fruit come with a health warning as if you have been diagnosed with renal failure or end-stage renal disease, don’t eat even a little of this fruit. They contain toxins including a neuro-toxin which it is thought, accumulates in the blood, crosses the blood-brain barrier and eventually causes irreversible damage.

   For healthy individuals the fruit are fine, and are rich in vitamins A and C in particular, so are good for the eyesight (vitamin A) as are bilberries and chikoo or sapodilla. They also contain B-complex vitamins along with 3 of the essential amino acids, tryptophan, methionine and lysine, as well as the minerals, iron, calcium and phosphorous. They have a high carbohydrate and protein content and are a rich source of dietary fibre, so good for preventing some forms of cancer, especially that of the colon, piles and constipation. They have antioxidant properties, so are good at helping to lower the risk of heart disease and increasing the blood flow.

   Star fruit contain asparagines too and are related to asparagus, lavender and orchids as they are all from the Oxalidaceae family of plants. If they are under-ripe when you buy them they will ripen at room temperature in a day or two, especially if kept in their plastic wrapping. In Malaysia they sometimes stew the star fruit with sugar and cloves, and may add apples, and in Queensland, Australia they are cooked and eaten green, as vegetables. Two or three star fruit are generally about one pound in weight. The leaves from the tree can be substituted for sorrel leaves in recipes (they are a relative of wood sorrel or the shamrock).

   In the Indian subcontinent they have been used in medicine for centuries, and the ripe fruit are used to stop haemorrhaging and bleeding piles. The dried fruit (or fresh juice) is given to people with fevers and the conserve mentioned above is believed to stop vomiting, diarrhoea and the symptoms of hangovers. A salve is made from the fruit to help with eye problems.

   In Brazil they are used for their diuretic properties to relieve kidney and bladder problems and to treat eczema. It has been found that the fruit has antimicrobial properties and is effective in combating the E. coli bacteria and several others. A decoction of the leaves and fruit can stop vomiting, and the fresh leaves placed and kept on the temples are said to get rid of headaches.  Crushed leaves and young shoots are made into poultices to relieve the itchiness of chickenpox and to get rid of ringworm. The flowers are good to expel worms from the intestines, and the powdered seeds have a sedative effect when given to sufferers of asthma and colic. Powdered roots from the tree when mixed with sugar are given as an antidote for poison.

STAR FRUIT SALAD

Ingredients

2 star fruit, ribs trimmed and removed, then cut into slices

2 bananas, sliced

small bunch black or green seedless grapes

punnet of strawberries, hulled and cut in half

1 small honeydew melon, seeds removed and cubed

¼ wineglass of cointreau or other orange liqueur

¼ wine glass white wine

Method

Mix all the fruit together and macerate in the wine and liqueur in the fridge for 2 hours, stirring occasionally.

You can top the salad with crushed walnuts or decorate with extra slices of star fruit or with fresh lavender flowers or fresh basil or lemon balm leaves.

This has Taste and is a Treat.