GREAT HAIRY WILLOW HERB - HISTORY OF HEALTH BENEFITS AND POSSIBLE FUTURE USES

GREAT HAIRY WILLOW HERB, EPILOBIUM HIRSUTUM

The Great hairy willow herb is also known as the hairy willow herb and the great willow herb, and is as the name suggests a relative of Epilobium angustifolium or the Rose bay willow herb. It is a member of the Onagraceae family of plants so is also related to the Evening primrose, and the plant does resemble this as you can see from the pictures. It has a hairy stem and leaves, so the genus was given the name hirsutum which means hairy or hirsute in Latin. Its native habitat is in Europe including Britain, Scandinavia, eastern and southern Africa and temperate Asia. In the US it has become naturalized and is another invasive species in some states.

  The leaves are edible and are used in Russia to make tisane, or tea, although there have been reports that the plant and leaves are poisonous. If you do use this plant for any purpose, remember that it could be toxic. It can cause epileptic-like convulsions it is said.

  There are several other local names for this plant in Britain including Son-before–the- Father, which it is called because the seed pods appear before the flowers, or at least it used to seem so to people. It is also called codlings and cream (a codling is an elongated green apple which is used in Britain in cooking). Nicholas Culpeper the 17^th century herbalist says that it was called this because it smelled of apples in milk.

  It is a plant which grows near lakes, ponds and pools and sometimes even in marshes. The flowers appear in June in the UK, and the plant can grow to heights of around 2 metres.

  Culpeper has this to say of its medicinal uses:-

“Governments and virtues. All the species of Willow-Herb have the same virtues; they are under Saturn in Aries, and are cooling and astringent. The root carefully dried and powdered, is good against bloody fluxes, and other hæmorrhages; and the fresh juice is of the same virtue.”

  The leaves have astringent properties, and one study published in 2007 in the Journal of Food Chemistry, “Antioxidant activity and phenolic compounds in 32 selected herbs” by Aneta Wojdylo et al. reported that it was the only one of the plants selected for testing which contained the bioflavonoid myricetin. This is also found in many berries, walnuts, onions and red grapes as well as other plants.

  Myricetin is known to have antioxidant properties so can protect the body’s cells from scavenging free-radicals which can cause cancer. It may also have other anti-cancer effects as well as anti-inflammatory ones, and may also improve bone health and be helpful in cases of diabetes, Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s although a lot more research has to be done to find out what the mechanisms are for these activities.

GUINEA HEN WEED - POSSIBLE SOURCE OF ANTI-CANCER TREATMENT: HISTORY, HEALTH BENEFITS AND USES OF GUINEA HEN WEED

GUINEA HEN WEED, ANAMU, PETIVERA ALLIACEA 

Guinea hen weed is a member of the pokeweed, Phytolacceae family of plants native to the Amazon rainforest, Central and South America, the Caribbean, parts of Africa, Florida and parts of Texas in the USA.

  In the South American continent it is used both for medicine and magic by shaman of indigenous Indian tribes. Its roots particularly have a strong garlicky odour, which is why, presumably it shares the Latin name for garlic, allium. Perhaps because of this smell it is used, as is garlic to ward off evil and witches. Shamans use it for magic too, so it is a highly regarded herb. The root, which smells more strongly than the leaves, is believed to be the most potent part of the plant in traditional medicine systems.

  In Cuba herbalists use the plant to treat both diabetes and cancer tumours, although the Indians mainly use it for its efficacy to remedy coughs, colds and flu. For these ailments an infusion is made from the leaves or roots of anamu.  The Caribs in Guatemala use the crushed root for relieving sinusitis, while in Peru it is used to relieve pain from stings and rashes and other skin problems. The leaves are pulverized into a paste which is applied on the skin to relieve headaches, rheumatic pains and other pain as well as to kill insects.

  In Brazil the plant is used as an antispasmodic, diuretic, to stimulate menstruation, to promote sweating in fevers, for oedema, arthritis, malaria, rheumatism and many other complaints.

  A leaf decoction is used for digestive tract problems such as flatulence and the plant which has so many uses, including as an abortifacient, an analgesic to relieve labour pains, to support the immune system, for lung and respiratory problems and even, it is rumoured, as an aphrodisiac.

  The plant can grow to around a metre high, and has dark green leathery leaves which are close to the ground; the mall white flowers grow on a tall spiky stem and all the plant smells of garlic which is why it also has the name garlic weed. It is also known as tipi, pipi, mucara and a host of other names.

  Because of its uses in traditional medicine it has come to the attention of scientists, who have endeavoured to prove its efficacy for the treatment of cancer and diabetes. However the results have so far been inconclusive, with the best results only in in vitro experiments. It has been shown to have analgesic (mild pain-killing) effects, and to have antimicrobial, antifungal and antiviral properties. One article “A fraction from Petivera alliacea induces apoptosis via mitochondria-dependent pathway and regulates HSP70 expression” (Universitas Scientarum Vol.14 (2-3) May-Dec 2009, pp 125-134, Maria Claudia Cifuentes et al. Pontificio Universidad Javieriana, Colombia) found that it has anticancer properties and can inhibit the growth of cancerous cells and kill them. Other studies have also indicated these properties, but they have been limited.

  A screening of 1,400 plants undertaken at the University of Illinois found that Guinea hen weed was one of thirty–four plants to have phytochemicals that can kill cancer.

  Extracts of the plant have also shown anti-inflammatory actions, but there is still some speculation regarding which chemicals in the plant are responsible for all its actions. Research is ongoing and hopefully it will provide some new treatments for the diseases we suffer from.

  

EARLY PURPLE ORCHID: HISTORY, HEALTH BENEFITS AND USES OF EARLY PURPLE ORCHID

EARLY PURPLE ORCHID, ORCHIS MASCULA 

The early purple orchid is native to Europe including the British Isles, North-West Africa, the Middle East and western and northern Asia. It is one of the Orchidaceae family from which the drink salep is made. This is a starchy drink made from the dried and powdered tuber of a number of orchid types, but this one grows in Britain, where it was used in salep shops in London in the 17^th century and later.

  There are two similar orchids which are native to the British Isles, this one, Orchis mascula, which flowers between mid-April and mid-June and Orchis maculata. The latter flowers later in June and July, and has reddish spots, (which gives rise to the common name for this the spotted orchid) with a tuber which is in two or three parts, earning it the title Dead Men’s Fingers. This one gets a mention in Shakespeare’s Hamlet when Gertrude the queen and Hamlet’s mother sees the dead Ophelia with them on her robe:-

 “Of crow-flowers, nettles, daisies, and long purples
That liberal shepherds give a grosser name,
But our cold maids do dead men's fingers call them…” (Act 4, scene 7)

(Crow-flowers were the name of buttercups.)

  In Ayurvedic medicine this Orchis mascula, the Early Purple orchid is used not only for the root’s nutritious farinaceous properties, but also it is used as an aphrodisiac. The powdered root can be made into a kind of gel which is also used for gastro-intestinal problems as it is mucilaginous and useful for diarrhoea.  Its nutritional qualities make this an ideal food for invalids who are convalescing as well as for children.

  It has been used as a substitute for arrowroot and has similar qualities. Salep, being a warming winter drink is substituted for coffee in countries which do not have a coffee-drinking tradition.

  One part salep powder to fifty parts of water makes the gel for internal use. The root should be harvested after the seeds have fallen and well after it has flowered. It contains the minerals potassium and calcium among others and research carried out by Aziz, N. et al, has shown that it is antihypertensive, so can lower blood pressure, is anti-dyslipidemic, so can control fats and cholesterol from building up in the body, and it also helps regulate the single layer of cells which line the organs and cavities of the heart. This one piece of research was published in Hypertension Research, Vol. 32 (11) pp 997-1003 in 2009, “Antihypertensive, antidyslipidemic and endothelial modulating effects of Orchis mascula.” The paper concludes “…further studies are required to identify the active constituents of this plant.”

  Nicholas Culpeper writing in the 17^th century had this to say of the plant and Orchis maculata: -

“Government and virtues. They are hot and moist in operation, under the dominion of Dame Venus, and provoke lust exceedingly, which, they say, the dried and withered roots do restrain. They are held to kill worms in children; as also, being bruised and applied to the place, to heal the king's evil.”

The “dried and withered roots” were supposed to stop lust and any unlawful sex. The name Orchis comes from the name of the son of a nymph and a satyr who insulted (possible raped) a priestess of Bacchus; for his crime he was turned into an orchid. The fresh roots were used to promote true love in witches’ potions. Dioscorides writing in 79 AD records that eating the tubers could determine the sex of a couple’s unborn baby.

  Whatever the case, they are pretty plants, although their smell doesn’t match their appearance as they have an unpleasant odour during the evening, although some are odourless. Best stay downwind of these flowers! Follow the link for our recipe for salep.

STINKING HELLEBORE, ATTRACTIVE, IF SMELLY: HISTORY OF USES AND HEALTH BENEFITS OF STINKING HELLEBORE

STINKING HELLEBORE, BEAR’S FOOT, HELLEBORUS FOETIDUS

This stinking hellebore is a native of the British Isles and western and Central Europe and is so named because of the unpleasant odour it emits from its leaves if they are bruised. It is semi-evergreen and flowers in winter from December through to April and is distinctive in woodland with its erect stem which can grow to around 60 centimetres and even a metre after a few years, and its bell-shaped green flowers with their purple-tinged petals. Its other names are Ox heel and Stinkwort. One plant will have perhaps hundreds of single flowers during its blooming period, so it is well-liked by gardeners because it gives colour to a garden in winter.

 Like its relative the Christmas or Lenten rose (Helleborus niger) it has been used medicinally with elderly heart patients because it has an action similar to that of digitalis from the foxglove. However it is now only used in homeopathic medicine as a remedy for problems of the spleen, rectum and sciatic nerve. The whole plant is poisonous and the toxins can be absorbed through the pores of the skin, so it is best avoided or wear gloves when handling it.

  It is a member of the Ranunculaceae family so is related to buttercups, marsh marigolds, black cohosh, goldenseal and the Lesser Celandine.

  It has been used traditionally to lower high blood pressure, as it contains the alkaloids, nervine, pseudo-nervine and veritridine, which are found in the root, harvested in the autumn and dried for later use. It has similar properties to the Christmas rose. Dioscorides used Hellebore for skin problems and the juice was suggested as being a cure for deafness if dropped into the ears, although it would be very unwise to try this.

  It should be remembered that the old apothecaries knew what dosages were safe, while we as laypersons don’t, and they probably knew through trial and error which meant some fatalities.

  Hellebore is mentioned in Chaucer’s “Canterbury Tales” in the Nun’s Priest’s Tale:-

 “A day or two ye shul have digestyves
 Of wormes, er ye take youre laxatyves
 Of lawriol, centaure, and fumetere,
 Or elles of ellebor, that groweth there,”

 Hellebore was used as a laxative and to get rid of intestinal worms in the Middle Ages, but it is a drastic purgative (even more so than jamalgota) and not to be tried. In this quotation Chaucer refers to the herbs that were used in his time (14^th century) for these properties, namely:-laurel (the bay leaf tree), centaury, fumitory and this hellebore (ellebor).

  The root is violently narcotic and despite this was used to regulate a woman’s periods, as a purgative, diuretic, for nervous problems and hysteria and a local irritant – which means that people used it as the Roman soldiers in Britain reportedly used nettles, to escape from one pain to another.

  It is becoming rare in Britain, but despite its harmful properties, it makes an attractive ornamental plant.