BIRCH TREE - POETS' MUSE: HEALTH BENEFITS AND USES OF THE BIRCH TREE

WHITE BIRCH, SILVER BIRCH, BETULA ALBA, BETULA PENDULA

The white or silver Birch tree is a common sight in Europe, and native to many European countries including the British Isles, growing from the Italian island of Sicily through to Iceland, and it is also a native of  Northern Asia. Betula was the Latin name for this tree, and pendula refers to the way the branches of birch trees tend to droop, while alba means white. The name birch may have come from Sanskrit bhurga and then it would mean the “tree whose bark was used for writing on” as birch bark can be used for this purpose. It also derives from the Anglo-Saxon, beorgan which of course is closer to the Sanskrit word and means ‘to protect or shelter.’

   It has been used for centuries for a variety of ailments and researchers are currently investigating the properties of betulin and betulinic acid obtained from the bark of the tree to discover if they have anti-tumour properties in people as they have demonstrated such properties in the lab. It is also thought that betulinic acid might help in the treatment of HIV.

  Apart from its uses in medicine the young branches and twigs are used in Scandinavia after saunas to promote blood circulation. These were also used in the past as rods by schoolmasters to chastise children. They were also used as whips and the phrase to “give someone the birch” means to use the branches of this tree to whip someone.  Shakespeare alludes to this use of the birch in his play “Measure for Measure.”

  The birch has also inspired poets, both in Europe and North America. Robert Frost’s poem, “Birches” is perhaps the most famous: _

    “When I see birches bend to left and right

     Across the lines of straighter, darker trees,

     I like to think that some boy’s been swinging on hem

                 ………………

     One could do worse than be a swinger of birches.”

In 1802 the poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge wrote “The Picture or The Lover’s Resolution” in which he calls the birch:

    “…most beautiful

    Of forest trees, the Lady of the Woods”

He mentions birches in yet another poem, “The Ballad of the Dark Ladie”:

    “Beneath you birch with silver bark

     And boughs so pendulous and fair,

     The brook falls scattered down the rock

     And all is mossy there.”

Other British Romantic poets also include the birch in their poetry, with John Keats in the fragment we have left of “Calidore” calls it the “delicate tree” and Wordsworth in his Sonnet to “The River Duddon” mentions the colour of the birch trunks:-

   “…ashes flung their arms around;

    And birch trees risen in silver colonnades”

These trees also figure in his poem “An Evening Walk”

    “Where, mixed with graceful birch, the sombrous pine

      And yew-tree o’er the silver rocks recline”

 F.S. Flint in the early 20^th century in his Poems in Unrhymed Cadence has this to say of the birch

  “London, my beautiful,

    it is not the sunset,

    nor the pale green sky

    shimmering through the curtain

    of the silver birch”

In “The Cuckoo Wood” by Edmund Beale Sargant, there are these lines about the birch;-

    “A stranger wood you shall not find!

      Beech and birch and oak agree

      Here to dwell in company.

        .     .     .     .     .      .    .

      Silver birch would you endeavour

      Trembling in your bridal dress

      To win at last a dog’s caress?”

Clearly the tree is beautiful to have inspired such lines.

 In spring the birch flowers appear and hang from the twigs like “lamb’s tails” which is the popular name for these catkins. The young shoots and leaves produce a resinous substance which is used as a laxative, purifier and tonic in spring, and the tree, when tapped exudes a sugary substance which has been made into beer, wine and spirits in Europe for centuries.

   The birch tree is a powerful symbol in Celtic and Scandinavian mythology as they are among the first trees to come into leaf in the spring. They were associated with the Scandinavian goddesses Freya, Frigga and the Anglo-Saxon goddess of spring, Eoster from whose name the word Easter comes. In Celtic mythology birch trees are symbols of fertility and were used in Beltane (Midsummer) celebrations and Beltane fires in Scotland used to be made from birch and oak branches. They were associated with the White Goddess, who was both the life giver and bringer of death when she appeared in the form of a crone or the carrion eating sow.

   At one time in Britain birch branches were decorated with red and white cloth at Beltane and used to prop shut stable doors to prevent horses being hag-ridden, (it was believed that witches would steal the horses and ride them until they were so fatigued that they could die) or having their manes tangled and knotted by mischievous fairies.

   In the early 19^th century people of the lower classes would consider themselves married if they jumped over a broom made from birch twigs and branches that was held over a threshold.

   At Samhein, the beginning of the Celtic New Year, birch brooms were used to expel the old year and any evil that was left over from the past and clean and purify dwellings.

  Botanists believe that the birch was the first tree to colonize what would have been a very barren landscape after the last Ice Age, as they are a very hardy, resilient tree so regard them as a “pioneer species.”

   Birch branches used to be used in thatching and were the wattles in wattle and daub walls and ceilings. Birch oil has been used in tanning to make leather resistant to mould, and this was used especially in Russia and books bound in what was called “Russia leather” did not decay as fast as other books in the days when they were mainly bound in leather. The oil was also used as an insect repellant and could be used on the skin to stop insects biting. It was good for skin problems as it has astringent properties and is used to treat warts and eczema. A decoction of birch bark can also be made for skin problems as can the tisane.

   The leaves can be made into a tisane and used to treat gout and arthritis as it seems to dissolve the toxic substances which accumulate around the joints. It was also used to disperse kidney stones. A decoction of the inner bark was used to reduce fevers and the spring sap which exudes from the trees was considered a diuretic and excellent spring tonic. This and the bark are believed to have sedative qualities.
  The Physicians of Myddfai had this remedy for impotence: - "For impotency. Take some birch, digest in water, and drink."

  The oil from young birch leaves blends well with oils of jasmine, rosemary and sandalwood and can be used in bath water to relieve muscle pains. It has pain relieving properties as well as being antiseptic and astringent among others and is good for arthritis and rheumatism. It can be used like wintergreen (Gaultheria procumbens) oil in massage treatment. Birch buds in a decoction or tisane are believed to promote hair growth and get rid of dandruff if used in a rinse. You can also put the bruised leaves or powdered ones in bath water to relieve pains.

  The leaves contain vitamin C and saponins and flavonoids.

BIRCH BARK TISANE

Ingredients

1 tsp birch bark

1 cup boiling water

Method

Pour the boiling water over the birch bark and leave to steep for 15 mins. Strain and drink.

You can drink 2-5 cups a day. It is also good to used externally for skin problems.

This has Taste and is a Treat(ment).

 

COWSLIP( PRIMULA VERIS): MEDICINAL BENEFITS AND USES OF COWSLIP: HOW TO MAKE COWSLIP TISANE AND DECOCTION OF COWSLIP ROOT

COWSLIP, PRIMULA VERIS

How the cowslip got its name is a matter of conjecture, as some believe that it is a corruption of cousleek from the Anglo-Saxon leac meaning plant (compare this with houseleek), and others believing that it is derived from the Anglo-Saxon for cow pat “couslyppe”) with the latter seeming most plausible as they tend to grow where cows have been. The cowslip is native to Europe and West Asia and grow in temperate zones in Pakistan quite profusely.

  They are sometimes called Fairy Cups as it was believed that frightened fairies would hide in them. This was mentioned in Shakespeare’s play “The Tempest” in Act 5 scene 1, in Ariel’s song, when he has his freedom from Prospero.

   “Where the bee sucks there suck I

    In the cowslip’s bell I lie

    There I crouch when owls do cry.

    On the bat’s back I do fly,

    After summer merrily

    After summer merrily”

In fact Shakespeare refers to cowslips in other plays too, notably in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” when at the start of Act 2 a fairy tells Puck or Robin Goodfellow,

  “And I serve the Fairy Queen

    To dew her orb upon the green;

    The cowslips tall her pensioners be;

    In their gold coats spots you see;

    Those be rubies, fairy favours,

    In those freckles live their savours;

    I must go seek some dewdrops here,

    And hang a pearl in every cowslip’s ear.”

In Warwickshire where Shakespeare came from (Stratford-upon-Avon is in that county)cowslips still grow, although there aren’t as many as there would have been in Shakespeare’s day, as so much of their habitat has been lost in development.

Cowslips were popular in 19^th century English literature too, with the Tulliver children Maggie and Philip drinking cowslip wine, in George Eliot’s novel “The Mill on the Floss,” and Thomas Hardy describes a maypole entwined at its top with cowslips in his novel, “Return of the Native.” Matthew Arnold in his poem “Thyrsis” describes the Oxford hills

   “With thorns once studded, old white-blossomed trees,

     Where thick the cowslips grow.”

  In William Morris’ short story “Frank’s Sealed Letter” the hero, Hugh, remembers “it was the cowslip time of year.”

From the above quotations we see how prolific the flowers were at one time, and in “The Mill on the Floss” the children drink cowslip wine which is a sedative. At the time of writing that novel, children were given cowslip wine to calm them down and to send them to sleep. In the Midlands in England (the setting for this novel) cowslip wine was believed to be good for the kidneys.

   There are many superstitions about cowslips and these are reflected in some of the old names for them. For example they were called Herb Peter and Keys of Heaven, because it was said that St Peter, who has the keys to the gates of heaven and acts as the gatekeeper, once dropped the keys to heaven and cowslips grew where they fell. It was also though that nightingales are attracted to the fragrance of cowslips and would only frequent places where they grow. If you want (like Greta Garbo) to be alone, then you should scatter cowslip flowers on your threshold. They should be carried around for good luck and if a woman wants to marry, she should wash her face in milk in which cowslips have been infused, to attract the man she wants to marry. They will also help you find fairy gold and will split rocks containing treasures. If you plant cowslips on Good Friday they will turn into primroses, and the fragrance will cure amnesia.

   Primroses are closely related to cowslips and another relative that grows in the British Isles is the oxlip. Cowslip wine is reputedly slightly narcotic as it is made from the flowers which have narcotic juice in them. The flower petals can be crystallized like rose petals and violets and used in desserts, or made into preserves and jam. Tisane can also be made with the flower petals, and the roots can be made into a decoction. The recipes are below. For coughs use equal amounts of coltsfoot, cowslips and aniseed and pour a cup of boiling water over the herbs and leave to steep for 15 mins before straining and drinking.

   The leaves have been used for wounds, and they used to be eaten with the petals in salads and used to stuff meat. In the 18^th century the flowers eaten to strengthen the brain and the powdered root was boiled in ale and given to people of a nervous disposition (to cure hysterics and “fits of the vapours”).

   In Norse mythology the cowslip was dedicated to the goddess Freya who was the Key Virgin, and the cowslip was thought to be the key to her treasure trove. When Christianity came to Europe and Scandinavia the cowslip became associated with the Virgin Mary, and became known as “Our Lady’s Keys.”

   In old herbals the plant was known as Radix arthritica and used as a remedy for muscular rheumatism. The ancient Greeks believed that it could cure paralysis and palsy and so it was known to them as Paralysio and in Britain was known as Palsywort. It is said to be second only to betony for curing headaches, and has antispasmodic and is believed to be good for nervousness, anxiety and restlessness. If you take a pound weight of flowers and pour 1½ pints of boiling water over them, then add a lump of jaggery and simmer this mixture until the sugar is dissolved, you will get a pale yellow syrup which can be diluted with water and taken for nervous excitability. It was believed that the flowers could strengthen the brain and nerves.

   Apparently cowslips infused in white wine are good for the complexion and can remove freckles, while the juice from the flowers will get rid of spots and pimples and wrinkles, halting the aging process of the skin. Ointments can be made from the flowers using a base of lard or ghee. They have been used in cosmetic preparations for centuries.

  Culpeper says: -

   “An ointment being made with them taketh away spots and wrinkles of the skin, sunburning and freckles and promotes beauty; they remedy all infirmities of the head coming of heat and wind, and vertigo false apparitions, phrensies, falling sickness, palsies, convulsions, cramps, pains in the nerve, and the roots ease pains in the back and bladder. The leaves are good in wounds and the flowers take away trembling…”

  Today the dried flowers and sometimes the roots are used as an expectorant for chronic coughs and bronchitis (see the remedy above).The root may be diuretic and anti-rheumatic and the leaves have similar properties, although those of the root are stronger. The flowers have anti-spasmodic properties and anti-inflammatory ones and they may be beneficial in asthma conditions and other allergic ailments. The flowers should be harvested in spring, while the roots are best collected in autumn. However in Britain and other countries cowslips are protected in the wild so should not be gathered.

  The flowers and leaves contain saponins and flavonoids so have antioxidant properties. These also give them antispasmodic action and anti-inflammatory actions, while it is the triterpenoid saponins which give the plant its expectorant properties.

 Not very much research has so far been done on cowslips to test their efficacy.

COWSLIP TISANE

Ingredients

2 tsps cowslip petals

1 cup boiling water

Method

Pour the boiling water over the petals and leave to steep for 10 – 15 mins.

Strain and drink a cup three times a day.

DECOCTION OF COWSLIP ROOT

Ingredients

1 tsp chopped root

1 cup water

Method

Put the root in the water and bring to the boil.

Simmer for 5 mins.

Leave to steep for 10 mins, then strain and drink.

These have Taste and are Treat(ment)s.

INDIAN CHESTNUT TREE: MEDICINAL BENEFITS AND HOW TO USE INDIAN CHESTNUT TREE

THE INDIAN CHESTNUT TREE, AESCULUS INDICA

The Indian Chestnut tree is closely related to the horse chestnut tree (Aesculus hippocastanea) although the “chestnuts” are smaller and not good to play ‘conkers’ with. They don’t have spines on the outer casing either, so are easy to distinguish. They were introduced into Britain in 1851 and can be seen in many open places such as public parks and gardens. They originally come from the North West Himalayan regions of Pakistan and India, but are grown around the world now. The trees are smaller than the horse chestnuts as they usually reach heights of only 60 feet. They flower later than other trees and are a good source of food for bees in late spring.

   Native Americans used to use the seeds to make a kind of porridge, but as the fruit contains saponins, these must be removed before they are eaten. This can easily be done by boiling them in water or leaving them to soak in water for more than 12 hours. Deer and squirrels eat the nuts without having any harmful effects. They contain aesculin which is a toxic saponin. They also contain aescin which seems to have anti-inflammatory properties. This is a mixture of triterpene glycosides and can be used externally to prevent thrombosis and it has been shown to inhibit oedema.

   In Nepal the seeds are roasted then eaten and also dried then ground into flour, mixed with wheat flour and used to make bread etc. They are dried and ground into a powder before soaking in water to remove the saponins.

   Traditionally they are used in medicine to get rid of intestinal worms in both horses and people, and they are also used for a number of other purposes, including to help with rheumatism. They are narcotic, stimulant and astringent (particularly the seeds).The oil extracted from the seeds is used for skin problems and diseases, and when the fruit is chopped and boiled in water, the water is used for washing the body, clothes etc, as it has properties like the soapberry (reetha). If you don’t mind the lingering smell of horse chestnuts, this is a good natural “soap.” The residue or oil cake left after the oil has been extracted is applied to the forehead to relieve headaches, and juice from the tree bark is used for rheumatism.

  The wood from the Indian Chestnut tree is useful for fuel and used in construction and to make spoons and other household items as well as to make agricultural implements. Sometimes in the Indian subcontinent people inscribe psych-spiritual remedies on these trees for others to use. The wood can also be used in the dying process.

  A recent study has shown that an extract of leaves when picked fresh then dried and ground to a powder can regulate the immune system and has the ability to help kill cancerous cells. It is believed that the flavonoids present in the leaves and seeds are the reasons for this anti-cancer activity, but more research still needs to be done, as the study quoted here was on lab animals.

The hydrosycoumarin glycoside, aesulin extracted from the bark and branches of the tree, is used in suntan oil as it is able to absorb Ultra Violet rays from the sun.

  The seeds have astringent properties so are good for wounds, and are also nutritious. They can be used to treat stomach disorders too, while the roots are used for leucorrhea. Medical research has shown that the tree is useful in the treatment of problems associated with the veins and blood circulation, for example, varicose veins, phlebitis, piles, ulcers, problems in the joints and frostbite.

 

CARIBBEAN SPIDER LILY ( HYMENOCALLIS CARIBAEA) - INFORMATION

CARIBBEAN SPIDER LILY, HYMENOCALLIS CARIBAEA

The Caribbean Spider Lily or White Amaryllis belongs to the lily family and more specifically to the Amaryllidaceas. It gets its name from the long tendrils that grow from the flowers and it is a beautiful plant. It is native to the West Indies as its name suggests, and is grown as an ornamental plant in many countries. However if you visit Anguilla, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica and other Caribbean islands you might come across these flowers.

   The plants in the Amaryllidacea family grow from bulbs (you might have grown an amaryllis lily in water) and these bulbs and those of the Narcissus family of plants (which include the daffodil) have been shown to have alkaloids in them which may help kill tumours. Among these alkaloids are lycorine and narciclasine which may in the future be the basis for anti-cancer drugs. Galanthamine is also present in both types of plants (and the snowdrop) and this has been shown to reduce blood pressure in lab mice.

  In folk medicine these plants have been used to treat tumours, as far back as the time of Hippocrates (BC 460-370) who prescribed pessaries of narcissus oil for the treatment of uterine tumours. This was also recommended by Dioscorides in the first century AD and Pliny the Elder (AD 23 – 79) also mentions that Narcissus poeticus was used for such treatments.

  Some extracts from the Amaryllidaceas have been found to have anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties in lab tests in vitro and research is ongoing into the properties of these plants.

  It is estimated that only 15 % of the world’s plants have been screened for their potential use in medicine, and bulbous plants such as the Caribbean Spider Lily have not received as much attention as have herbs and trees. Now that plants that grow from bulbs have been proved to have unique biological compounds, more research will be carried out on them to assess their potential therapeutic value.

BLACK BRYONY( TAMUS COMMUNIS) - NO LONGER RECOMMENDED FOR MEDICINAL USE

BLACK BRYONY, TAMUS COMMUNIS

Black Bryony is related to the yam as it is in the Dioscorea family of plants along with Dioscorea deltoides, and is the only one of the species that grows in most parts of Britain. It is native to northern European countries although its relatives also grow around the Mediterranean. It has tuberous roots and is a climbing vine plant and the young shoots can start their convolutions after 2½ to 3 hours of sprouting. It is a very fast growing plant and in November 2008 the popular UK tabloid newspaper “The Daily Mail” reported that it was the plant that was increasing in numbers quicker than any other native wild plant, along with ivy which was in third position. Unfortunately this is at the expense of other plants such as the wild strawberry and the harebell which grow closer to the ground. These climbers take over from the lower plants and deprive them of sunlight and root space. Unfortunately those who own land are not managing hedgerows and fields as well as they did in the past because of the expense involved, so there are concerns about Britain’s wild fauna.

   The name Bryony comes from the Greek bryo which means shoot or sprout, presumably referring to the fast-growing nature of the young shoots. Pliny referred to this plant as Uva Tamina it is thought, hence the botanical name Tamus, and it is called communis because it is wide spread. Pliny says that it was eaten like asparagus and used as a diuretic and for the spleen. In Italy, especially in Tuscany, the young shoots are still boiled and eaten like asparagus and the Greeks also use a Bryony variety in the same way (Tamus cretica).

    Black Bryony is also called Black Bindweed, because of the way it clings to a support and climbs, and Our Lady’s Seal, because its roots were pounded to a pulp and used to heal scars and bruises (this is because of the saponins contained in the roots). Another name for this plant is Oxberry as farmers used to give it to cows to improve their chances of conceiving. There was once a commonly-held belief that snakes lurked close to Black Bryony, and so it got the name Serpent’s Meat It could be that this was in reference to its climbing nature rather than the fact that snakes did like it.

   Black Bryony is a poisonous plant and an irritant which has been employed to relieve the pain of rheumatism, gout and paralysis with the scraped pulp from the plant applied to the painful areas. The berries have emetic properties and produce vomiting so children should avoid eating them. They are bright red and attractive to both birds and children, although they tend to propagate around the parent plant when they fall.

   The expressed juice from the root used to be taken in wine to dispel gravel and stones from the organs, and it is also a diuretic, but is no longer used because it is too powerful and other plants are much more useful as diuretics (mooli for example or broom tisane). The juice was mixed with honey and given to asthma sufferers but once again this is no longer recommended as there are much safer remedies. Try a mullein ‘cigarette’ instead.

At one time the berries would be steeped in gin for a long period and then the spirit would be applied to chilblains that had not broken. However this would be a terrible waste of gin!

  Black Bryony is actually not recommended for use today, but it is worth writing about it for interest’s sake, and to see how modern medical research has invalidated traditional remedies that were probably dubious.

  

COLTSFOOT (TUSSILAGO FARFARA): MEDICINAL BENEFITS AND USES OF COLTSFOOT: HOW TO MAKE COLTSFOOT SYRUP

COLTSFOOT, TUSSILAGO FARFARA

Coltsfoot looks a little like a dandelion to which it is related, but it has a smaller flower head. The flower comes before the leaves as does that of the butterbur, and this gave it the name “Filius ante patrem” in Mediaeval Latin, which means Son before father. In fact the herbalist Gerard calls the plant by two names in his illustrations of the late 16^th century, Tussilago flores and Tussilago sans flores or with and without flowers. Pliny made the mistake of thinking that the flower and leaves were of two separate plants, although the young sprouts of leaves appear as the flower dies back.

  Coltsfoot is native to Britain and Europe and has become naturalized in North America and grows in temperate regions of Asia.

  Tussis in Latin means cough, so the name gives the usual use of coltsfoot. In Britain it was also known as Coughwort or cough plant. It was used for centuries to cure coughs, and was approved by the German Commission E for coughs and catarrh, although it was subsequently banned because of the presence of pyrrolizidine alkaloids which include senkirkine and senecionine which can damage the liver and cause cancer. Rats fed on coltsfoot in the lab developed cancerous tumours of the live and this was cause by those alkaloids which are also present in comfrey root which is why both herbs have been banned for use in Canada. However it is thought that only prolonged use of coltsfoot is dangerous, but it is better to be safe than sorry as the old adage goes.

  Coltsfoot syrup was traditionally given for coughs and bronchial ailments, and the herb was mixed with liquorice root, thyme and black cherry in some syrups. The leaves and stems have been used in these syrups although in China traditional herbalists more commonly used the flowers.

  Apart from the toxic alkaloids the plant also contains bioflavonoids, vitamin C, zinc and tannins. It was used in British Herbal Tobacco along with lavender, chamomile flowers, rosemary, thyme Buckbean, Eye Bright and betony, and used to stop asthma spasms and those caused by bronchial problems that linger.

Coltsfoot leaves

  Culpeper recommended the juice from the leaves for coughs and also wrote,” The distilled water hereof, simply, or mixed with elder flowers or nightshade is a singularly good remedy against all agues (fevers), to drink 2 Oz at a time and apply cloths wet therein to the head and stomach, which also does much good.”

  The tisane was made with 1½ tsps of the chopped leaves to a cup of boiling water then allowed to steep for 10-20 minutes, strained and drunk. Coltsfoot wine was also made with the flowers but it has an unusual fragrance and is not as delicate as primrose wine.

  Although coltsfoot has been used for centuries, as there are other herbs to use instead of it for coughs and bronchial problems, it is best to avoid it. You could probably smoke it and not suffer any ill effects, but catnip might be a better bet for asthma sufferers. Elder flowers would be better for respiratory disorders too.

COLTSFOOT SYRUP

Ingredients

30 gr coltsfoot leaves

10 gr marshmallow root

25 gr balsam shoots

25 gr ground ivy

10 gr liquorice root

1 lt water

1 kg natural honey

Method

Put all the ingredients in a pan and boil for 15 minutes. Strain and add the honey. Gently melt, simmering over a low heat for 20 minutes. Cool before bottling. Store in refrigerator. Use within 3 months.
This has Taste and is a Treat(ment) but beware!

CAT'S WHISKERS- A USEFUL HERB FOR HEALTH: MEDICINAL BENEFITS OF CAT'S WHISKERS: HOW TO MAKE DECOCTION OF CAT'S WHISKERS AND TISANE RECIPE

CAT’S WHISKERS, KIDNEY PLANT, ORTHOSIPHON ARISTATUS

Cat’s Whisker’s clearly gets its name from the hairs that protrude from the flowers, which look like cat’s whiskers. It is a beautiful plant that is native to South-East Asia and Australia. It has been introduced to Fiji and Samoa and is now classed as an invasive species there, as so often happens with non-native plants. It’s a member of the mint family of plants, and has long been used in South-East Asia for its medicinal properties. As the name Kidney plant might suggest it is predominantly used for kidney diseases, and the tisane made from the leaves of the plant (Java Tea) can effectively disperse kidney stones of up to 5 centimetres, research has shown. It also has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory actions and research suggests that it also useful for reducing high blood pressure and has antimicrobial and anti-fungal properties, although more research needs to be done to ascertain what it is effective against.

  The tisane reduces the amounts of uric acid in the body by flushing them out with its diuretic action, and this makes it useful for gout and arthritis sufferers. It contains bioflavonoids and methylripariochromene A in the leaves which is believed to be the substances that acts to reduce blood pressure. It also contains ursolic acid and oleanolic acid among other constituents. It is also rich in the mineral potassium.

   Traditionally it has been used to reduce cellulite, and as an antispasmodic, as well as for the internal organs. It can reduce blood sugar levels and there is hope that it will be useful for diabetics who do not depend on insulin.

 The plant grows to between 1 and 3 feet tall and the flowers are mostly white, although they can be light blue, light purple, violet and ivory. Below are two recipes which are considered beneficial; the first is a decoction for kidney problems while the second is a tisane for coughs.

DECOCTION OF CAT’S WHISKERS

Ingredients

1 lt water

15-20 fresh cat’s whisker leaves

2 inch fresh turmeric root, finely sliced

7 cloves garlic chopped

Method

Bring to the boil then simmer for 15-20 minutes until the water has reduced by half.

Strain and drink a cupful morning and night.

CAT’S WHISKER TISANE

Ingredients

15-20 fresh leaves

2 cups boiling water

Method

Pour the boiling water over the leaves and allow them to steep for 20 minutes.

Strain and drink a cupful in the morning and at night. (For coughs.)

These have Taste and are a Treat(ment).

COMMON OR ENGLISH PRIMROSE- A USEFUL HERB FOR HEALTH: HOW TO MAKE PRIMROSE TISANE AND PRIMROSE ROOT DECOCTION

COMMON OR ENGLISH PRIMROSE, PRIMULA VULGARIS, BASANTI GULAB IN URDU

The primrose is native to Britain and grows in woods and hedgerows. World wide there are around 350 species of this little flowering plant and it is well-loved in the UK, along with snowdrops and bluebells as it is a harbinger of spring. The name primrose cones from Mediaeval Latin, primerosa, meaning “first rose.” It has five petals and can be a creamy-yellow through to a deeper shade of yellow. It is closely related to the cowslip and has similar medicinal properties to it, and another close relation is the Oxlip (Primula elatior). The Evening Primrose however belongs to a different plant family, Oenothera.

   It has figured in English literature through the centuries, with Shakespeare giving us the well-known image of the primrose path in Ophelia’s speech to Hamlet in the play of that name in 1602.

    “…..But my good brother,

     Do not, as some ungracious pastors do,

     Show me the steep and thorny way to heaven,

     Whiles, like a puff’d and reckless libertine,

     Himself the primrose path of dalliance treads,

     A reeks not his own rede.”

The “primrose path” is a life of ease and pleasure, but if you follow it calamity will ensue. Shakespeare later writes of the “primrose way” in the Scottish play, “Macbeth” but this phrase is not alliterative and the former has found its way into the English language.

  “Macbeth” Act 2 scene 3:

   “This place is too cold for hell. I’ll devil-porter it no further: I had thought to have let in some of all professions, that go the primrose way to the everlasting bonfire.”

  Later in the 17^th century, the metaphysical poet, John Donne wrote a poem called “The primrose which likens it to a woman. Here are the first lines from it: -

  

 “Upon this primrose hill,

   Where, if heaven should distil

   A shower of rain, each several drops might go

   To his own primrose, and grow manna so;

   And where their form and their infinity

   Make a terrestrial galaxy,

   As the small stars do in the sky;

   I walk to find a true love….”

He goes on: -

   “Live primrose, then, and thrive

    With thy true number five;

    And, woman, whom this flower doth represent,

    With this mysterious number be content…”

Much later in 1922 D.H. Lawrence wrote a short story which he called “The Primrose Path.”

  The little primrose is native to most of Europe, but there are some varieties in the British Isles which are unique, such as the Scottish Primrose, Primula scotia and the Bird’s Eye Primrose (Primula farinosa) which grows in Northern England. In the language of flowers it symbolizes the feeling of “I can’t live without you”, unlike the Evening primrose which stands for inconstancy.

   The primrose flowers in April and lasts through May, and the whole plant is best gathered while it is in flower, although please note that it is illegal to harvest the wild plants in the UK. You may be lucky enough to have them in your garden if your house was built on old woodland. (I was.) The roots of a plant that is two or three years old are the ones that should be used for medicinal purposes, and these should be cleaned thoroughly in cold water, using a nail brush to get rid of all the earth that will be attached. You also have to remove the hair-like growths from them. If the tubers are large (which is rare) you can split them in half lengthways so that they dry more quickly. The flowers and root yield a fragrant oil which can be used to calm hysterics and used to be made into a delicately fragranced wine.

  The whole plant has sedative properties and a tisane can be given to hyperactive children. Gerard the 16^th century herbalist wrote that “Primrose tea drunk in the month of May is famous for curing the phrenzies.” The tisane recipe is given below.

  Culpeper wrote “Of the leaves of Primrose is made as fine a salve to heal wound as any I know.” This is a good recommendation; use pulped primrose leaves for any wound.

   The roots like those of the cowslip are good for bronchial problems, and used as an expectorant to get rid of mucus, and they were also used for rheumatism. The leaves and flowers can produce sweat during a fever, relieve pain, and act as an expectorant and diuretic. The plant has antispasmodic properties and has been used to rid the body of intestinal worms, as an emetic (to produce vomiting) and as an astringent (wound healing). When the whole plant (and flowers) is boiled then the primrose acts as a sedative.

 The ancient physicians of Myddfai had their own use for primrose:-

“Whosoever shall have lost his reason or his speech, let him drink the juice of primrose, within two months afterward, and he shall recover.”

However, perhaps these tisanes are more effective remedies.

 

PRIMROSE TISANE

Ingredients

2-3 tsps fresh plant top including flowers

or

1-2 tsps dried whole herb

1 cup boiling water

Method

Pour the water over the herb and leave to steep for 10 mins.

Strain and drink in slow sips.

This tisane is to relieve pain, act as a sedative, expectorant and diuretic.

PRIMROSE ROOT DECOCTION

Ingredients

½ oz dried chopped roots

1 pint water

 

Method

Put the chopped roots and water in a pan and bring to the boil.

Boil for about 20 mins or until the water is reduced by half.

Use this for bronchial problems and coughs.

These have Taste and are Treat(ment)s.

YAM ( DIOSCOREA BATATAS): MEDICINAL BENEFITS AND USES OF YAM

YAM, DIOSCOREA BATATAS

A yam is not, contrary to belief in the US and UK, a sweet potato. The two tubers are in fact unrelated species, with the yam tasting more like the common potato than the sweet potato, Ipomoea batatas. The yam is more closely related to Dioscorea deltoides. It is also known as the cinnamon vine and the Chinese yam, but there are more than 200 varieties grown. Dioscorea esculenta is the one that grows in India (a sweet yam) and the wild yam is Dioscorea villosa. They are related to the common black bryony in Britain, but the root of this plant is reputed to be poisonous.

   Yams may have flesh which is white, ivory, yellow or purple, (but not orange) and have skin which is white, pink or browny-black. It is starchy and could be either creamy or firm when cooked depending on which variety you buy. They can weigh anywhere between 4 and 10 lbs, so are hefty types of tuber.

   The name yam comes from African words such as “nyami” which is what the tuber is called by some who live in that continent. Both yams and sweet potatoes contain vitamin B6 which breaks down homocystine which damages blood vessel walls. Some people have heart attacks because they have high levels of this in their bodies, and as it is known that vitamin B6 reduces the risk of heart disease, a yam could be the preventative you have been looking for. They have white flesh (on the whole) and taste earthy, although there are some sweeter varieties. The tuber is also rich in potassium which lowers blood pressure too. Yams contain dioscorin, a storage protein which may also reduce blood pressure. They also contain steroidal saponins one group of which is disogenin which may help to reduce the risk of osteoporosis. Chinese researchers in 2001 concluded that dioscorin “may play a role as antioxidant in tubers and may be beneficial for health when people take it as a food additive or consume yam tubers.” Later research in 2009 showed that it had immunomodulatory effects and can boost the workings of the immune system.

  In traditional Chinese herbal medicine it is believed that yams can affect the body’s organs and support their functions. They are also given to promote lactation in breast-feeding mothers.

  Research is currently being carried out into the B-complex vitamins and their properties and it is thought that vitamin B6 may help with PMS/PMT as well as in the menopause. Yams could be a natural alternative to hormone replacement therapy (HRT).

  Yams contain many minerals including calcium, chloride, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, selenium and zinc. They are rich in dietary fibre so good to prevent piles and to cleanse the bowels. Apart from the B-complex vitamins they also contain vitamins C, E and K, and 18 amino acids.

  Yams are best baked or roasted and can be used as the common potato.

BUTTERBUR ( PETASITES HYBRIDUS): BENEFITS AND USES OF BUTTERBUR

BUTTERBUR, PETASITES HYBRIDUS

Butterbur is the plant with the largest leaves in Britain as they can grow to 3 feet in diameter. They grow after the flowers have bloomed in April, which makes butterbur quite an unusual plant. Although it is huge it is related to coltsfoot, dandelions and yarrow. Its roots or rhizomes have been used for centuries to treat various ailments, but they are toxic and can damage the liver so it is not advisable to prepare the plant for any home remedies.

  Dioscorides writing in the first century AD said that the leaves when pounded were good to apply to ulcers on the skin. Much later in the 16^th century, Gerard wrote: -

  “The root dried and beaten to a powder and drunk in wine is a soveraigne medicine against the plague and pestilent fevers, because it provoketh sweat and driveth from the heart all venom and evil heat; it killeth worms. The powder of the roots cureth all naughty, filthy ulcers if it be strewed therein.”

  In the 17^th century the herbalist Nicholas Culpeper says: -

   “It is a great strengthener of the heart and cheerer of the vital spirits… the decoction of the root in wine is singularly good for those that wheeze much or are shortwinded…The powder of the root taketh away all spots and blemishes of the skin.”

This has subsequently been vindicated as modern medical researchers believe that butterbur can help those with asthma and hay fever. It has also been shown to be effective in preventing migraines and tension headaches. Research is also underway to verify other traditional uses for the plant which are to dispel kidney stones, to ease spasms of the urinary-genital tracts, the gastro-intestinal tract and the bile duct. The two most active ingredients so far identified are petasin and isopetasin, which have anti-inflammatory properties as well as anti-spasmodic ones. These may help in treating menstrual cramps and urinary problems. It is believed that petasin can lower the amounts of calcium that gather around the joints causing inflammation is diseases such as arthritis. So Gerard may have got it wrong but Culpeper was on the mark.

Butterbur leaves

  Because of the size of its leaves, they have been used to protect from the rain, and are like the hats with wide brims, worn by Greek shepherds in ancient times to keep off the sun and rain; such hats were called petasos. Butterbur is also called Lagwort in the UK perhaps because the leaves are delayed from appearing. It is also called bog rhubarb, referring to its likeness to that plant as the leaves are similar. It is also called by a variety of other names and was formerly called Petasites vulgaris. It is called butterbur because the huge leaves were used to wrap butter in to keep it cool in the summer months.

  There is an old superstition from the British Isles which says that if a young woman wants to see the man she will marry, she should get up before dawn and scatter butterbur seeds on grass slowly while reciting this verse.

    “I sow, I sow!

     Then, my own dear,

     Come here, come here

     And mow, and mow!”

Then a little way off she will see her future husband carrying a scythe but if she is frightened and asks for protection, he will vanish and she won’t marry him. If you think about this it is quite sexual and could be that as a virgin she is afraid of the sexual act, in which case, she won’t marry. Mowing and sowing were used as sexual terms in Shakespeare’s time.

Butterbur seeds

    In the UK butterbur has been traditionally used as a heart tonic and stimulant and as a diuretic and was used against the bubonic plague and other types of fever in the Middle Ages. While it is unlikely that these particular uses will be vindicated by modern medical science, the other more modern traditional uses might be.

ORIENTAL CASHEW NUT TREE- BALADUR IN URDU: MEDICINAL BENEFITS AND USES OF ORIENTAL CASHEW NUT TREE

ORIENTAL CASHEW NUT TREE, BHALLATAKA, BALADUR, SEMECARPUS ANACARDIUM

In Hindi this Oriental Cashew Nut Tree is called Bhallataka while in Urdu it is known as Baladur, Bhilavan or Billar. Interestingly, “baladur” in Urdu means “evil go away.” On the Indian subcontinent it has been a staple household remedy for centuries, said to cure cancer, leprosy and other diseases as well as used to dye the hair black and to promote hair growth. It has also been used to increase male sexual potency and to cure erectile dysfunction which is why it has a reputation of being an aphrodisiac.

   It is a relative of the Australian cashew nut tree and has the same properties, although perhaps it is not as potent in causing skin rashes. The juice from the fruit (which is yellow as opposed to the orange of the Australian variety) is highly valued and the fruit is heated over a flame and the oil which comes out of it is collected and stored for use. The tree doesn’t look like its Australian relative having broader leaves. It has greeny-white flowers which are closely followed by the fruit; its leaves are broad, and the oil and seeds contain bioflavonoidsand an alkaloid called Bhilawanol has been identified in them. The nut shell has a black resinous substance in it which can blister the skin but which is used to dye cotton cloth, the tree is also called the Indian Marking Tree because of this substance.

  The nuts or seeds are not eaten like cashew nuts are but only useful for their medicinal properties and in comparison to the Australian variety quite a lot of research has been done to ascertain how the tree can help us. The oil from the fruit and seeds is used together with sesame or coconut oil and applied to wounds or sores to heal them. This mixture is also applied to feet with cracked skin. It may also be mixed with onion and garlic paste with ajwain and sesame oil for wound healing in the Indian subcontinent. The oil from the fruit and seeds of the Oriental Cashew Nut Tree is also rubbed into swollen joints to relieve pain. Some people are allergic to the oil and this may show in a rash or itching or swelling, in which case the antidotes are ghee, coconut oil and pulped coriander leaves.

   Internally the oil is used for piles, colitis, diarrhoea, indigestion, flatulence and to get rid of intestinal worms. The fruit oil can be collected on a betel leaf and 10 drops with a little sugar is the dosage given to children for any of these complaints. For an adult the dosage is 15-20 drops of oil. The drops may also be given in hot milk. This is believed to improve the appetite as well as for use against worms and flatulence etc. The milk mixture can be applied onto the skin to treat any skin problems and can also help as a tonic for the nerves in cases of palsy, facial paralysis etc. It is also used for menstrual problems including cramps, and for urinary tract problems. It is an immune system booster and taken in winter to prevent the usual maladies of coughs, colds and flu.

It contains bioflavonoids, minerals, vitamins, amino acids and phenolic compounds and is used for its anti-artherogenic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti microbial and contraceptive properties. It stimulates the central nervous system and reduces blood sugar levels. It has also been found to have anti-cancer properties it has been described as “readily accessible, promising and novel cancer chemo-preventive agent” although more research is needed into it.

  It can reduce the male sperm count and that is why it is used in the Indian subcontinent for its contraceptive properties. The roots of the tree are cooked in sour rice water to cure female sterility and the roots taken internally are used to treat eczema in some parts of India. It has been a stalwart of traditional medicine in the Indian subcontinent for many centuries and hopefully many of the traditional uses of this plant can be vindicated by further medical research.