CORNFLOWERS - HISTORY, SUPERSTITIONS, USES AND BENEFITS: HOW TO MAKE CORNFLOWER TISANE

CORNFLOWERS, CENTAUREA CYANUS, MOUNTAIN CORNFLOWER, CENTAUREA MONTANA

Cornflowers get their name in English because they used to be seen frequently, along with red poppies in fields of corn (wheat). When farmers began using chemical insecticides and herbicides on their crops there were fewer cornflowers to be seen. The name Centaurea comes for Centaur as the centaur Chiron was a skilled herbalist according to Greek myth, and he used cornflowers to counteract the effect of arrows tipped with poison from the Hydra, the many-headed monster believed to guard Hades or the Underworld. Cyanus means blue or azure, the colour of cornflowers. They are native to Europe and parts of temperate Europe and are naturalized in North America.

  Centaurea montana is a perennial while cyanus is an annual but they are both self-seeding, so if you have them in your garden you may need to clear some as they can grow prolifically.

  Both cornflowers can be used as food colouring and have been used through the ages to produce blue dye. They are pretty garnishes for salads and desserts too.

  Cornflowers are also known by the names bluebottle, blue bonnet, bluet, and Bachelor’s Buttons. According to folk lore bachelors who were in love, would wear a cornflower in their lapel button holes and if it faded quickly this meant that the object of their desire did not love them. If the flower lasted, the love was returned. Another superstition was that if cornflowers were brought into the house, the bread would go mouldy.

  I was told as a child not to pick the wild cornflowers (C. cyanus) as they would not last for long, but C. montana was OK to pick as that grew in my grandmother’s garden, but whether by accident or design, I don’t know. They lasted quite a few days as I remember.

  Many artists have tried to capture the beauty of the cornflower on canvas, including Vincent Van Gogh, in his Wheat Field with Cornflowers.

   Cornflowers of both types can be used to the same effects, and the tisane is good for the eyes and the skin, as it will remove irritation. As a douche it can help clear up candida, and an infusion of equal parts of lime flowers and cornflowers will help to get rid of dark circles under the eyes. The powdered flowers are mixed into a paste to help with bruising and cornflowers are frequently to be found in skin care products, shampoos and ointments.

C. montana

  The tisane below can be used to get rid of constipation, for menstrual problems, liver and kidney disorders, and if rubbed onto the skin or scalp will help in cases of eczema. It is said to help with ulcers, to get rid of wrinkles, and is a useful diuretic. It can also help to stimulate the appetite and has been used for anorexia.

  As the name would suggest, it is related to the herb centaury, and has been mentioned in several works of literature including “Of Human Bondage” by Somerset Maugham chapter CXXII:-.

“His imagination was busy with Sally. It would be pleasant to take her away from that London in which she seemed an unusual figure, like a cornflower in a shop among orchids and azaleas; he had learned in the Kentish hop-field that she did not belong to the town; and he was sure that she would blossom under the soft skies of Dorset to a rarer beauty.”

 Wilkie Collins writing earlier than Maugham mentions it in “Man and Wife” chapter 22.

"She wore a straw hat, with corn-flowers in it, and a white veil. Corn-flowers at one side uncle, which is less common than cornflowers in front.”

  Cornflowers look a little like Nigella although they are a deeper blue. They have been an inspiration for artists and have been included in popular English literature, but sadly are not seen as often in the wild as they once were.

CORNFLOWER TISANE

Ingredients

1½ - 2 ozs fresh cornflowers

1 pint boiling water

Method

Pour boiling water over the flower heads and leave to steep for 20 mins before straining and drinking, or using as a douche, skin wash etc.

This has Taste and is a Treat(ment).

STEVIA - SUGAR SUBSTITUTE: HISTORY AND HEALTH BENEFITS OF STEVIA: PUMPKIN PIE WITH STEVIA RECIPE

STEVIA, MADHU-PATTA, STEVIA REBAUDIANA

There are more than 300 genuses of Stevia, but the only one that we know of that has the sweetening potency is this one, Stevia rebaudiana which has been used by the Guarani Indians in Paraguay for centuries to flavout their bitter maté drinks. It grows wild in both Brazil and Paraguay and was only cultivated after 1900. It was “discovered” by Italian botanist, Moises Santiago Bertoni in 1887, while he was director of the College of Agriculture in Asuncion. It wasn’t until 1908 that a ton of dried leaves was first harvested for commercial use. It is much sweeter than sugar obtained from sugar cane and sugar beets, so as a rival the sugar industry had a vested interest in not having this natural sweetener as a rival. Stevia has advantages over sugar because it does not contain any calories and does not cause cavities as sugar does.

  Bertoni recognized the plant as one of the Stevias and called it rebaudiana after the Paraguayan chemist, Rebaudi who is credited with first extracting a substance called stevioside from the plant.

  Stevia is known as “honeyleaf” or “sweet leaf” in many languages and kaa-he-he by the Guarani Indians who were the first to use it in Pre-Columbian times.

  Stevia rebaudiana has been the subject of much controversy with early studies apparently showing that it could harm human health. There were fears that it is genotoxic and carcinogenic, but subsequent trials have disproved both claims. Currently, the European Commission is weighing up the evidence presented to it and will decide at the end of this month whether or not to approve Stevia’s use as a sweetener in Europe. Currently it is used as a dietary or health supplement and is legally approved in France and Germany. In the US where the controversy has mostly raged, Stevia has come into the US FDA’s category as Generally Regarded As Safe (GRAS) but as a supplement and is used in “health” drinks.

  The European Food Safety Authority’s scientific panel on additives (the ANS panel) has assessed the safety of the glycosides extracted from the leaves and established Acceptable Daily Intake for their safe use which is inline with that of  WHO (World Health Organization). They have affirmed that:-

  “Toxicology testing showed that the substances are not genotoxic, nor carcinogenic or linked to any adverse effects on the reproductive human system or on the developing child.”

Further they advise that a person can have a daily intake of steviol glycosides of 4 milligrams per kilo of body weight.

  The WHO has stated:-

 “…steviosides and rebaudioside A are not genotoxic in vitro or in vivo and that the genotoxicity of steviol and some of its oxidative derivatives in vitro is not expressed in vivo”

In other words, although when studied in test tubes or not on live subjects (in vitro) there was some evidence of genotoxicity, but this was not found in live (in vivo) subjects.

  If it is more widely available it will help those with diabetes and help combat obesity, so it is to be hoped that the European Commission and the US FDA decide to accept it for use as a sugar substitute. In Japan, China, Malaysia and South Korea as well as elsewhere, it is used as such.

PUMPKIN PIE WITH STEVIA

Ingredients

Crust:-

1½ cups digestive biscuits

1/8 tsp powdered white stevia extract

6 tbsps melted butter

1 tsp cinnamon

Filling:-

2 eggs lightly beaten

1¾ cups cooked pumpkin or butternut squash

¼ cup crushed walnuts

3 tbsps raw cane sugar

½ tsp white powdered stevia extract

½ tsp salt

1 tsp ground cinnamon

½ tsp ground ginger

½ tsp ground cloves

1/8 tsp grated nutmeg

1½  cups evaporated milk

extra crushed walnuts for topping (optional)

Method

Preheat the oven to 300°F or 180°C, Gas mark 2.

Combine the crust ingredients so that they resemble breadcrumbs, reserve ¼ and put the rest in a 9 inch pie plate, pressing along the bottom and sides.

Put in the oven and bake for 15 minutes or until golden brown.

Remove from the oven and leave to cool

Turn the oven up to 425°F, 220°C or Gas mark 7.

Combine the filling ingredients and stir well to mix.

Pour the mixture into the pie crust and sprinkle the tops with extra walnuts and reserved crumbs.

Bake for 15 minutes, then reduce the heat to 350°F, 180°C or Gas mark 6 and bake for 35 mins or until a knife or skewer stuck into the centre comes out clean.

Serve with whipped cream.

This has Taste and is a Treat.

CENTAURY - AS USED BY CHIRON THE CENTAUR: MEDICINAL BENEFITS , HISTORY AND USES OF CENTAURY: CENTAURY TISANE RECIPE

CENTAURY, CENTAURIUM  ERYTHRAEA

Centaury, like rue and wormwood is a bitter herb, which was one of the 15 herbs of the ancient Britons said to protect against evil spirits. It gets its name because Greek legend has it that it was the herb favoured by Chiron the Centaur who was renowned for his healing with herbs. Because of its bitterness it was known as “gall of the earth”, Fel Terrae, but despite its taste it has been employed in folk medicine for centuries. The Anglo-Saxons used its juice to counter poisonous bites from adders and spiders, and in Britain it was though that the pink, white and yellow centauries could be beneficial for different diseases. The white and yellow ones are less common than the pinky red ones, as erythros was Greek for red, hence the botanical name erythraea.

  Perhaps because of its bitterness, herbalists usually used it in combination with other herbs to treat ailments, such as with Roman chamomile, Meadowsweet and Marsh Mallow for dyspepsia. It was combined with barberry (rasout) and yellow dock for jaundice, and centaury root was combined with burdock root and chamomile for anorexia and to stimulate the appetite. Equal parts of centaury and St. John’s wort were given to the elderly before bedtime to stop incontinence and to children to prevent bedwetting. The ancient Physicians of Myddfai used it alone in the following remedies:-

 “For extreme thirst. Drink the centaury infused in hot water. This will quench thirst, and clear the breast and stomach.”

 “For pain in the kidneys. Take the centaury, infused in cold water, and give it to the patient to drink.”

  The white centaury was used for mucous and discharges including phlegm, the yellow was for the liver and jaundice while the more common red or pink one was for blood diseases.

  A decoction of the plant can be used as a rinse to get rid of head lice, while the tisane is used for a number of ailments including to remove freckles and age spots (the decoction can also be used for these purposes), for gastroenteritis and stomach cramps, to start delayed menstruation, and in diseases of the liver and kidneys as well as for muscular rheumatism. It is also reputedly good as part of a weight loss diet, constipation, flatulence, heartburn, colic, and anaemia. Centaury was one of the main ingredients in Portland powder which also included the dried roots of the cuckoo pint and was used for gout in the early 20^th century in Britain.

  Centaury is native to Europe and North Africa, and can be distinguished because its flowers rarely open until after midday and don’t at all if the weather is bad. In this it is like the shamrock (wood sorrel). It grows to heights of between 3 and 20 inches with an erect stem and yellow, woody roots. The German Commission E has approved its use for dyspepsia and recommends a daily dose of 1- 2grams of the herb. A decoction can be made by boiling 30 grams of the herb in a litre of water for 20 minutes, while the following infusion can be made and taken half and hour before meals to stimulate the appetites and prevent heartburn.

 

CENTAURY TISANE

Ingredients

1 oz of the dried herb or 2½.oz of the fresh herb

1 pint boiling water

honey to taste or a stevia leaf

Method

Put the herb in a pan and pour the boiling water over it.

Leave this to steep for 15 minutes before straining and drinking a wineglass full half an hour before a meal to aid digestion and stimulate the appetite.

Add honey or stevia to taste.

This has Taste and is a Treat(ment).

BRACKEN FERN - SEEDS TO WALK INVISIBLE: HEALTH BENEFITS, SUPERSTITIONS AND USES OF BRACKEN

BRACKEN (FERN) PTERIS AQUILINA (LINN)

Bracken is probably the most common fern in Britain and ranges through most of the world, although it is not found in countries around either Pole. It was named by Carl Linnaeus, who believed that the markings when the base of the stem is cut obliquely resembled an eagle, so it was called aquilina whereas pteris comes from pteron or feather in Greek a clear reference to the feathery leaves of the fronds. Bracken must be a prehistoric fern, and although it normally grows to a height of around three feet, it can grow up to 10 feet tall. As a child I would hide from my grandfather when playing hide and seek in the bracken on the mountain, Twm Barlym.

  In Scotland it is known as devil’s foot and witches were reputed to loathe this fern as when cut it has the shape of the Greek letter X (chi) in it which is the initial of Christ or Christos in Greek. In Ireland it was known as the fern of God. In the 17^th century it was believed that burning bracken would help bring rain.

  The spores of this fern are invisible to the naked eye, so people wondered how it propagated. It was believed that the seeds of the bracken were visible on St. John’s Eve at the precise moment of his birth only. Shakespeare makes reference to this phenomenon in Henry IV part I , Act II scene 1:

Fiddlehead of Bracken

  Gadshill…”We have the receipt of fern seed-we walk invisible.”

Here “receipt” means recipe.

Ben Jonson writing later in his play “The New Inn” or “The Light Heart” has this to say:-

  “I had no medicine, Sir, to walk invisible,

   No fern seed in my pocket.”

Clearly it was a common belief that if you had a fern seed upon your person, you would be invisible in the Renaissance and Jacobean England. Perhaps for this reason it was also thought to convey eternal youth.

  Ancient people made diet drinks from the ferns and stems and used it as a remedy for numerous disorders, but as bracken when eaten raw by animals produces cancerous tumours, it is best avoided unless you know exactly what to do with it. It can, if eaten raw also deprive the body of thiamin one of the important B-complex vitamins.

  Culpeper writes that the roots bruised and boiled in mead and honey water could get rid of intestinal worms and stop swellings of the spleen. Of the leaves he writes that they can “purge the belly and expel choleric and waterish humours that trouble the stomach.” He also mentioned that the bruised roots could be boiled in oil or “hog’s grease” and made into an ointment for wounds while the powdered roots were “used in foul ulcers” to bring about their rapid healing.  He also believed that when bracken was burned it could get rid of “noisome creatures” such as gnats and snakes.

  Gerard writing earlier in the 16^th century said that the root of bracken “cast into a hogshead of wine keepeth it from souring.”

  The root or rhizome of bracken contains starch and can therefore be used as food in times of desperation, and it produces a lather when in water so can be used as a soap substitute. Young fronds have been used as a green vegetable and were once sold in bundles as asparagus is now. If you are desperate enough to want to eat young bracken shoots, you should wash them carefully in cold water and then par boil them for a few minutes, and then steep them in cold water for a few hours. You can then cook them like spinach and serve with melted butter or a butter-based sauce.

  If you burn bracken the resulting potash is rich in the mineral potassium, and can be used as fertilizer. Dried bracken was once used as thatch and dye can be obtained from it-either green or brown.

  In traditional medicine around the world, the young shoots of bracken are used as a diuretic, to cool the body and to expel worms. Native Americans used to lay babies and the frail on bracken leaves to strengthen their backs. They used the rhizomes for food, and either boiled or roasted them. The fronds were also used to make baskets and to clean salmon and eels before cooking them.

  A tisane can be made from the roots to relieve stomach cramps, chest pains, internal bleeding, for colds, to get rid of intestinal worms and to stop diarrhoea. Poultices of the root have been used for mastitis, burns and sores. A tincture of the root in wine was used for rheumatism, while glue can also be made from the roots. Some people rub the powdered roots into their scalps to promote hair growth.

  However modern medical research does not support these folk ‘remedies’ so bracken is best used as a fertilizer.

WHAT IS BAINGAN KA BARTHA? SMOKED AUBERGINES: HOW TO MAKE DELICIOUS, EASY, SPICY SMOKED AUBERGINES WITH ONIONS

BAINGAN KA BARTHA

Baingan ka Bartha is a traditional vegetarian Pakistani recipe and a great way of cooking aubergines. As the skin is removed it is OK for those who suffer from IBS or Irritable Bowel Syndrome. First of all you have to char the aubergines over a gas flame so tat the skin can be removed easily and this gives the aubergines a delightful smoky flavour.

SPICY SMOKED AUBERGINES WITH ONIONS

Ingredients

2 medium aubergines

4 cloves garlic, finely chopped

1 inch ginger root, finely chopped

6 green chillies, finely chopped

3 tomatoes, chopped

6 onions, sliced

1 tbsp lemon juice

1 handful coriander leaves, shredded

½ handful mint, shredded

1 tbsp cumin seeds

1 tsp coriander seeds

1 tsp ajwain or thyme

1 tsp garam masala

1 tsp turmeric

1 tsp freshly ground black pepper

1 tsp chilli powder

salt to taste

2 cups oil

Method

Char aubergine skin all over, over a low gas flame or place in an oven on a baking sheet; 5 minutes each side.

Put in cold water to remove all the skin. Remove the stem from the top of the aubergine and chop into small pieces.

Heat the oil in a pan and throw in the garlic, ginger and cumin seeds and cook or 1 minute. Add the chopped aubergines, salt, turmeric, green chillies and black pepper and fry for 3 minutes.

Then add the tomatoes, coriander seeds, chilli powder, ajwain or thyme, garam masala, and stir well until the tomatoes disintegrate.

Now add the onions and stir well to mix. Lower the heat and cover for 3 minutes. Then turn the heat up to medium and stir so that the mixture doesn’t stick for 5 minutes or until the oil rises to the top and can be clearly seen.

Add the coriander and mint leaves and remove from the heat. Leave for 5-10 minutes to settle and serve with roti, chapattis or naan or other bread of your choice.

This has Taste and is a Treat.

WITCH HAZEL-NATIVE TO NORTH AMERICA,HEALTH BENEFITS AND USES

WITCH HAZEL TREE, HAMAMELIS VIRGINIANA

The Witch Hazel tree has a curious history surrounding its name. When the first colonists arrived in America, they found this tree growing. The Native Americans used it for reducing swellings, making poultices form the leaves, twigs and bark of this tree. It looks a little like the Hazel tree (Coryllus avellana) and in Britain there is the wych elm so it would seem that the early colonists combined the names but modern spelling has called he tree the witch rather than wych hazel. Presumably it is called virginiana after the colony of Virginia which was named after Queen Elizabeth I who was known as the Virgin Queen as she never married. Hamamelis is a combination of the word hamam meaning bath or more specifically the Turkish bath and meli which is Greek for apple and honey. There are many kinds of Witch Hazel trees one of which is Hamamelis mollis which has its origins in China and seems not to have the same medicinal properties of the American variety. This one was introduced into the UK from China in the 1880s and is used for ornamental purposes only.                                                                                           

   Hamamelis virginiana can grow in the UK but does not produce seeds, but this tree gets its name Snapping Hazel, it is thought because when they seeds ripen the pod ejects them rather violently and a definite noise can be heard. It is also called Winterbloom as its leaves fall in autumn and the flowers then appear. These can be yellow-gold, or red or orange, and the nuts appear after the flowers have died. The trees usually only grow to heights of between 10 and 12 feet, and have several slender trunks coming from one root system.

  The leaves and bark of this Witch Hazel have astringent qualities due to the tannins they contain and they have been used as a sedative and tonic. Today the extracts prepared from the leaves, twigs and bark of the tree are used in preparations to reduce the pain of piles and to dispel them, and Witch Hazel has been approved for such use by the German Commission E a which has also approved the tisane from the leaves for gargling to reduce the inflammation associated with a sore throat. It is also taken to help skin problems along with cream containing witch hazel extracts.

  In the past Witch Hazel’s parts have been used to stop internal bleeding and haemorrhage. A decoction was used for excessive bleeding during periods and in the event of back-street abortions it was given to prevent bleeding and as a general tonic.

A tisane of the bark or leaves or a combination of both was used for stomach problems and applied externally to varicose veins.

     The extract available over the counter is good for insect bites, and inflammation of the eyelids as well as for piles.

  The leaves contain tannins as does the bark, and flavonoids including kaempferol and quercetin. The leaves also contain caffeic and gallic acids which are both phenolic acids. The tree has been used for centuries for the same ailments, and it seems that the extracts from it work without ill effects except perhaps for slight irritation and a burning sensation when the cream or lotion is applied to weeping piles.

ALOO CHOLAY ( CHANA CHAAT): HOW TO MAKE DELICIOUS POTATO AND CHICKPEA DISH

ALOO CHOLAY RECIPE

This is very tasty and the imli (tamarind) water makes this dish special. However some people don’t like it so you can serve the water separately. If everyone likes it then stir it into the mixture. People eat it during Ramadan to break their fast as it is light and easy to eat. The main meal is served later.

  In India and Pakistan this is a very popular dish and there are many street vendors who sell it. People take advantage of this as it can be time-consuming to make as here the chickpeas are soaked overnight and then cooked for hours until they are tender.

Ingredients

½ kilo potatoes peeled and boiled whole in salted water.

250 gr chickpeas cooked until tender (in salted water)

2 onions, finely sliced, or chopped into small pieces

2 tomatoes chopped into small pieces

2 green chillies, finely sliced

½ handful fresh mint leaves, finely shredded

100 gr imli (tamarind) boiled in four glasses of water and the liquid reduced by half

4 tbsps lemon juice

1 tbsp garam masala powder

1 tsp freshly ground black pepper

chilli powder and salt to taste

Method

Leave the potatoes to cool and then cut them into cubes.

Drain the chickpeas and add them to the potatoes.

Now add the vegetables and mint leaves. Mix well and add the spices and lemon juice and mix well. At this stage it can be put in the fridge for later use.

When ready to serve, put on plates and serve imli water separately. It is better not to put the mixture in the fridge with the imli water already in it.

This has Taste and is a Treat.

WHAT IS PEEPAL? SACRED FIG TREE: FOLK REMEDIES, CUSTOMS AND MEDICAL EVIDENCE: PEEPAL PICKLE RECIPE FOR HEALTH

PEEPAL, PIPAL, BO TREE, SACRED FIG TREE, FICUS RELIGIOSA

The Peepal tree is known by many names in the Indian subcontinent, including Bodhi tree, Sacred tree, Ashvatta and the Buddha tree. It is a large fast-growing deciduous tree that has leathery green heart-shaped leaves and a spreading crown. It is thought to be the female counterpart of the bohar or banyan tree, and they should, it is thought, be planted near to each other. In one custom a young person plants a peepal tree and a bohar tree close to home and there is a ceremony in which the trees are ‘married’. This will protect the home and the young person from misfortune it is believed. As a member of the Ficus family its fruit are purple figs like those of the Punjabi fig tree and both ripen in May. It is sacred to Buddhists and Hindus and people leave coloured silks on the tree as they pray for increased fertility, children and a happy long life.

  In the past women who were infertile would stand under a peepal tree in spring when or after it rained and open their mouths to catch the water that drained from the new leaves. It is said that this worked for some.

  Another remedy for a woman’s infertility is to take 10 leaf buds and an eighth of a litre of cow’s milk and boil this until the milk has gone. Leave to cool and eat it. You can eat the same amount twice a day or more for seven days and Insh’allah Allah will help.

  It is said that Buddha achieved Enlightenment while sitting under a peepal tree, and its leaves are used in religious ceremonies. It is a symbol of peace and Enlightenment and a personification of Buddha. For Hindus it is sacred to Vishnu who was born under a peepal tree, and it is a sin to destroy either this tree or the banyan.

  Some Indians preserve the leaves of this tree by painting them with gold acrylic paint and they are then decorations with religious significance. A deep red dye is obtained from the bark, but this is of secondary importance, as the peepal tree is a religious and medicinal tree.

  All parts of the tree are used in folk medicine, with the juice from the leaves being used for ear ache. People heat the leaves over a flame and collect the juice from them. The powdered bark is used to heal wounds, and used in a poultice to reduce the glandular swelling when children have mumps. The root bark is used in preparations for stomach problems while the roots are used for gout and are also chewed to prevent gum diseases. The fruit, like all figs is used as a laxative and to prevent constipation; it is also employed to promote digestion and stop vomiting. It is believed to be good for the heart, to cure bad breath and figs quench thirst. The powdered fruit is given to people with asthma. The seeds are used as a diuretic and to cure urinary tract disorders, and sometimes the leaves are used to cure constipation if the fruit is not available. Parts of the tree are used for jaundice and it is also said to stop palpitations and strengthen the heart.

  One remedy for constipation is to dry the leaves in the sun then grind them to a powder, mix with gur (jaggery) and anise then mix with water and drink. For dysentery fresh peepal leaves and coriander leaves are given with sugar and chewed slowly.

  In folk medicine to quench a thirst you take the bark of the peepal tree and burn it until it becomes charcoal, then put it in a glass of water and drink the water. (This is similar to a remedy my father gave me as a child, if I had been vomiting; he would take an ember from the fire and put it in a glass of water and I would have to drink it. It didn’t taste bad and it always worked.)  For diarrhoea again burn the bark and use the charcoal, but crush it and mix with a little water to form a paste, and put ½ tsp on the tongue then swallow it with water. (This is for babies and young children.)  To bring out bruises and relieve swellings take the bark and crush it with a little water so that it forms a paste, then put this on the affected area and the bruise will start to appear or the swelling will go down. If you have frequent nosebleeds, grind the bark and soak in water overnight. Strain, add sugar and drink the water in the morning before you get out of bed.

  In Ayurvedic medicine, the bark is for diarrhoea, dysentery, piles stomach problems, gonorrhea burns and used as an anti-inflammatory. A decoction of the bark is given for gonorrhea, hiccoughs, skin diseases and vomiting. It is said to have cooling properties. The leaves and tender shoots are purgative and have wound-healing properties and are given to cure some skin diseases. The juice of the leaves is for sexual problems, such as erectile dysfunctions and impotency, and is thought to be an aphrodisiac. It is also used to treat asthma, diarrhoea, toothache and gastric problems as well as migraines, eye problems and scabies. A decoction of the leaves is used to kill the pain of toothache. The dried fruit is used to treat T.B., fever, paralysis and piles, and the seeds are cooling and used as a laxative. The latex from the tree is used for neuralgia, inflammation and piles, so it has the reputation of being a cure-all.

  The fruit contains pinene as does the Chaste tree and wormwood, as well as limonene, also found in citrus fruits such as lemons and citrons. Parts of the tree have tannins which may possess the ability to increase collagen which would promote wound-healing. The figs help the body produce serotonin which is a mood enhancer, and the peepal tree can help in diabetes as it lowers blood glucose levels.

  Clinical trials have shown that many of the traditional uses of the peepal tree have a sound basis, as it has been shown that the tree has antifungal properties, antimicrobial ones, is a source of antioxidants, can help stop convulsions, is immunomodulatory, can lower blood cholesterol levels, can help with asthma, is estrogenic, can enhance cognitive powers and mood, has some pain-killing properties, and can kill intestinal worms. The root contains phytosterols, amino acids, phenolic compounds and furanocoumarins. The bark contains tannins, saponins, flavonoids, steroids, terpenoids and cardiac glycosides.

  More research is to be done on the peepal tree, but it seems as though traditional healers, once again, know what they are doing when it comes to plant medicine.

PEEPAL PICKLE

Ingredients

leaf buds (young leaves before they open) of peepal

water

salt

mustard oil

Method

Wash the leaves carefully and then boil them in water to get rid of the sour taste; then discard the water.

Sprinkle salt over the leaf buds and leave them in the sun to dry off.

When the water has evaporated, put them in a glass jar with a tight-fitting lid. Pour mustard oil over them to cover them and put on the lid.

Leave the jar in the sun for 2 days and the preserve will be ready.

Use this as a tasty remedy for bouts of sickness and diarrhoea.

If you have fever, take 1 tbsp of the pickle and it will soon go.

This has Taste and is a Treat(ment).

WHAT IS EPHEDRA DISTACHYA? SEA GRAPE - HISTORY, USES AND HEALTH BENEFITS

SEA GRAPE, EPHEDRA DISTACHYA

The sea grape is native to Central and Eastern Europe, although other species of Ephedra grow in Asia , eastern and North Africa, Europe and both North and South America, in arid zones. It likes sandy places, hence the name sea grape, which is the same in Turkish, deniz usumu and French, raisin de mer. It has needle-like leaves which are the stems on which the usually yellow flowers and edible red fruit grow. Its seeds are dark brown, glossy, smooth and oval, with 2 per fruit. The evergreen stems may be erect or recumbent, and grow to between 25 and 100 cm long or tall, and can be harvested and dried for later use at any time of year.

  In China and the Indian subcontinent Ephedra species have been used in traditional medicine for centuries, for bronchial complaints, asthma and allergies such as hay fever. Dioscorides also used Ephedra and it was used in traditional medicine in Europe during the 15^th to the 19^th century.  The German Commission E has approved the use of Ephedra for mild bronchiospasms and related problems.

  Ephedra contains ephedrine which has similar effects to amphetamines and to the adrenaline naturally produced by the body. Its use has been prohibited in all international sporting events as it is considered a performance-enhancer. Ephedrine can cross the blood-brain barrier and triggers the brain to release dopamine, so stimulating the central nervous system. In the short term this enhances moods and improves alertness, while decreasing feelings of fatigue and increasing physical activity. Ephedrine, which is an alkaloid, was given to Japanese kamikaze pilots in World War II, reportedly.

  Ephedra has had some fame as a weight loss herb, although alone it is not terribly effective; combined with caffeine or aspirin its effects are enhanced. In fact it works better for allergies when used in combination with other herbs such as Thymus vulgaris (thyme), Primula veris (cowslip), Hyssopus officinalis, (Hyssop), Urtica dioicea (nettles) or Chamaemelum nobile (Roman chamomile).

  In Ayurvedic medicine Ephedra is used for arthritis and edema, principally.

  It should only be taken on a doctor’s advice and should not be used with monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibiters and people with high blood pressure, angina, glaucoma, prostate diseases and hyperthyroid problems should avoid it.

  

JUPITER'S SAGE - HEALTH BENEFITS AND USES

JUPITER’S SAGE, SALVIA GLUTINOSA

Jupiter’s Sage, or Jupiter’s Distaff or Staff is a member of the sage family and is a Lamiaceae or Labiatae. It has both culinary and medicinal uses, although these are not well documented. It is native to Central and Eastern Europe and West Asia, growing in damp places and in deciduous forests. It has aromatic leaves which are or were, at least used in country wines. It produces a sticky, edible gum and this gives rise to other names for the plant which include Sticky Sage and Glutinous Sage.

  It has heart-shaped green leaves and yellow flowers which are dotted with maroon or red-brown marks. Not much research has been done on this plant although what has been done suggests that it could be useful medicinally.

  The gum contains triterpenes, which include friedelin, β-amyrin, 11a-hydroxy- β-amyrin and epialauserol; 15 diterpenoids have been isolated from the dried roots of this plant, among them isotanshinone which is a new natural product. Eleven new compounds were also found.

  The plant also contains linalool which is used in perfumery, is a natural insecticide and comes form various plants including lemons and bergamot; also nonanal and β-Ocimene. The essential oil proved in lab tests to be effective against E.coli and Staphylococcus aureus so it has antibacterial properties. This leads one to believe that it is useful against some gastro-intestinal problems, so perhaps this is how it is used in folk medicine in places where it is indigenous. However this is purely speculation.

  Researchers think that it might be useful in preparations with antiepileptic, antiarhythmic, analgesic and spasmolytic effects.

  It also contains the bioflavonoids which are actually flavones, apeginin and luteolin. The latter has antioxidant properties as well as anti-inflammatory ones and is believed to be an immune system modulator. Scientists also believe that it has cancer preventing properties.

Although some research has been done on Jupiter’s Sage, more needs to be done so that scientists can discover what the new substances they have found in this plant can do to keep us healthy.

  The pictures are from Luirig altervista.com which has some wonderful plant pictures of many plants.