WOOD ANEMONE, FLEETING STAR OF THE WOODS: HEALTH BENEFITS AND USES OF WOOD ANEMONES

WOOD ANEMONES, ANEMONE NEMOROSA

Wood anemones as you might expect are found in woods and shady places. Like Tickle Me and wood sorrel, they close their flowers at the hint of rain and close at night, so that they are protected from dew. They are sometimes referred to as wood crowfoot as they are members of the buttercup or Ranunculaceae family of plants. As such they are related to the Lesser Celandine, marsh marigolds, black cohosh, and goldenseal.

  The whole plant contains protoanemonin which can cause skin and gastrointestinal irritation, although this turns to harmless anemonin when it is heated or dried. The plant is indigenous to most of Europe and western Asia. It can grow to around a foot in height but is usually around 8 inches high.

  It is called windflower as ‘anemone’ comes from the Greek anemos which means wind, so Pliny writes about it as the windflower, believing that the flowers only opened when the March winds blew.

  Its leaves have been used as a counter-irritant to rheumatic pains as stinking hellebore, another relative and of course stinging nettles. All above ground parts of the wood anemone have been used in previous times in folk medicine in Europe, for gout, headaches, some fevers and menstrual problems.

  It has something of a sinister reputation historically, although it is not known why this is unless it caused death when people ate the root or ingested other parts of the raw plant. The ancient Egyptians used it as a symbol of sickness, and the Chinese called it the “Flower of Death.” The Romans, on the other hand, would pick it to ward off fever.

  Culpeper says that the root may be chewed, but the fresh root will cause burning and mouth ulcers. This is what he has to write about it: -

“Government and virtues. It is under the dominion of Mars, being supposed to be a kind of crow-foot. The leaves provoke the terms mightily, being boiled and the decoction drunk. The body being bathed with the decoction of them cures the leprosy. The leaves being stamped, and the juice snuffed up the nose, purges the head greatly: so doth the root being chewed in the mouth, for it causeth much spitting; and brings away many watery and phlegmatic humours, and is therefore excellent for the lethargy. And when all is done, let physicians say what they please, all the pills in the dispensatory purge not the head like to hot things held in the mouth: being made into an ointment, and the eye-lids anointed therewith, it helps inflammations of the eyes, whereby it is palpable that every stronger draweth its weaker light; the same ointment is exceeding good to cleanse malignant and corroding ulcers.”

  It is wise to remember that Culpeper was writing his Complete Herball in the 17^th century, and the wood anemone is now known to have harmful side effects; it is best left in its habitat - or you might upset the fairies, who are said to sleep in the centre of the flowers at night when they close the curtains tightly for protection from the elements.

The wood anemone has been the subject of many poems, this sonnet by John Clare (1793 – 1864)

“The wood anemone through dead oak leaves
And in the thickest woods now blooms anew,
And where the green briar and the bramble weaves

Thick clumps o'green, anemones thicker grew,
And weeping flowers in thousands pearled in dew
People the woods and brakes, hid hollows there,
White, yellow and purple-hued the wide wood through.
What pretty drooping weeping flowers they are:
The clipt-frilled leaves, the slender stalk they bear
On which the drooping flower hangs weeping dew,
How beautiful through April time and May
The woods look, filled with wild anemone;
And every little spinney now looks gay
With flowers mid brushwood and the huge oak tree.”

and this poem by Emily Dickinson:

“Summer for thee, grant I may be

When Summer days are flown!

Thy music still, when Whipporwill

And Oriole -- are done!

For thee to bloom, I'll skip the tomb

And row my blossoms o'er!

Pray gather me --

Anemone --

Thy flower -- forevermore!”

  These poems are only two examples of the wood anemone’s appearances in poetry.

  

AFRICAN TULIP TREE - ONE WITH MANY USES: HEALTH BENEFITS AND USES OF THE AFRICAN TULIP TREE

AFRICAN TULIP TREE, SPATHODEA CAMPANULATA 

The African tulip tree is a fast growing evergreen which can reach heights of 35 metres. It is known as the fountain tree, Uganda Flame tree, the Nandi or Nile Flame tree, and the Squirt tree, among other names. It is indigenous to tropical Africa, although it is grown ornamentally in many countries with tropical climates around the world.

  It is the only member of the genus Spathodea but is a member of the Bignoniaceae family which makes it a relative of the Sausage tree (Kigellia Africana) and the trumpet vine (ishq pechaan bail). It has a flowering period of between five and six months, and produces edible seeds with transparent wings. It is used as a boundary fence and living hedge and the flowers yield a dye which varies in shades but which can be used to dye silk.

  It is called the Squirt tree because the flower buds contain a watery liquid which children utilize by piecing the buds and using them as water pistols. The hard central part of the fruit has a more sinister use however, as it contains a poisonous substance which is used on hunters’ arrows to kill prey. It can be used in coffee plantations to provide shade for the young plants.

  The timber from the tree is soft and used to make carvings and drums, but the tree has many medicinal applications, most of which have been supported by medical research. A decoction of the bark is astringent and used as a laxative as well as for cases of dysentery and for other gastro-intestinal problems. A decoction of the bark and leaves is used as a lotion for inflamed skin and on rashes. The flowers can be applied directly onto wounds, as can the bruised leaves which have mild pain-killing and anti-inflammatory properties. Both the bark and leaves have been found to have antiseptic actions.

  An infusion of the leaves is used for urethral infections, and the dried and pulverized or even the fresh inner bark is applied to oozing ulcers. The tree also has UV absorbing properties and could be utilized as a cheap sunscreen.

  Studies have found that the stem bark can lower blood sugar levels and so the traditional use of the bark for diabetes sufferers seems to have been borne out. (Journal of Phytotherapy Research, 1993 Vol. 7 (1) pp 64-69 Niyonzima, G. et al. Hypoglycaemic Activity of Spathodea campanulata stem bark decoction in mice.”) Extracts of the bark, leaves and roots have also been used to combat malaria and HIV and have antimicrobial and antifungal properties.

  It would appear that many of the traditional folk medicine uses of this tree have their basis in scientific theory.

OREGON GRAPE - STATE FLOWER OF OREGON: HEALTH BENEFITS AND USES OF OREGON GRAPE

OREGON GRAPE, SOURBERRY, MAHONIA AQUIFOLIUM 

The Oregon grape is the state flower of Oregon State in the US to which it is native. It is also native to northern California, northern Idaho, British Columbia and Washington State. It is a member of the Berberidaceae family, which makes it a relative of the Common barberry, Rasout, and Kashmal or the berberry. It was introduced into Britain as an ornamental in 1823 and has since managed to have naturalized in some parts as a garden escapee.

  This plant can grow to around 3 metres or approximately 9 feet high, and is fast-growing with shiny evergreen leaves which resemble a holly leaf, although the upper sides of these may turn a purple colour in winter. Because of its leaves it is also known as the holly-leaves barberry. It is known by several botanical names too, namely: - Berberis aquifolium, Berberis piperiana, Mahonia piperiana but the generally accepted name is Mahonia aquifolium.  Its flowers are bright yellow and smell a little like honey, and these give way to the fruit which ripens from green to blue-black growing in clusters like small grapes, making them easy to collect. These fruit can have between zero and nine seeds in them.

  The fruit contains quite a lot of vitamin C, making it good for colds and flu, but it tastes rather sour, hence the name sourberry. It is made into juices and jellies and the cooked fruit tastes like blackcurrants. The flowers are edible and can be dipped in tempura batter and fried, used to garnish salads and make a drink which is similar to lemonade. The fruit has a mild laxative action.

  Native Americans used the root for stomach upsets and to stimulate the appetite, as well as for a tonic for general debility. Today it is often used for stomach problems, to aid digestion to help with catarrh and to stimulate the functions of the gallbladder and kidneys. In folk medicine an infusion of the root was used as a remedy for syphilis, while an ointment made from it was used for psoriasis and other skin problems. A gargle made from the root was used to relive a sore throat and an infusion was useful as a wash for bloodshot eyes.

  Various coloured dyes are obtained from the plant ranging from yellow and green through to violet and purple. The plants are sometimes used as a low, living hedge, and sometimes the leafy branches are used for Christmas decorations.

  Berberine an alkaloid found in the rhizome of Oregon grape, (also present in Barberries and Goldenseal and so on) is antibacterial and antimicrobial so useful in cases of dysentery, and can help in trachoma (visual impairment which can cause blindness, particularly in the still-developing world) and different forms of conjunctivitis, and has been found to regulate blood sugar levels, making it helpful for people with Type-2 diabetes. It may also help spatial memory impairment and Alzheimer’s patients according to one study by Feiqi Zhu and Caiyan Qan 2006, published in the Journal of Neuroscience.

  In trials on patients an ointment made from the root extracts of the Oregon grape have proved effective in the long term in the treatment of psoriasis, thus providing scientific evidence for traditional use. Gulliver W.P. and Donsky H.J. concluded their study with these words “several investigators in several countries indicate that Mahonia aquifolium is a safe and effective treatment of patients with mild to moderate psoriasis.” (American Journal of Therapeutics, Vol. 12 (5) September to October: pp.398-406)

  Berberine has also been found to boost the immune system, have anti-dandruff and anti-histamine and anti-bacterial effects as well as being anti-fungal anti-ulcer and immuno-modulatory, stimulating the liver and cleansing the blood thus lowering cholesterol levels.

  Another alkaloid found in the rhizome, berbamine, has been found to have potent anti-tumour effects in vitro and in vivo “Berbamine exhibits potent anti-tumour effects on imatinib-resistant CML cells in vitro and in vivo” Yan-Lin Wei et al. Acta Pharmacologia Sina, 2009,Vol. 30pp. 451-457. Berbamine has also been seen to inhibit the growth of leukaemia cells according to the study “The antiproliferation effects of berbamine on K562 resistant cells by inhibiting NF-kappaB pathway” Wei Y. L. et al. Anatomical Record (Hoboken, N.J.:2009)

  Yet again plants have the potential to benefit our health in a very positive way.

THAPSIA GARGANICA OR DRIAS PLANT - WITH GREEK ORIGINS: HISTORY, USES AND HEALTH BENEFITS OF THAPSIA GARGANICA

DRIAS PLANT, FALSE FENNEL, THAPSIA GARGANICA

This plant is native to the Mediterranean area and is called Thapsia because it is said that it was found on the island of Thapsos, although it grows throughout Greece including in Attiki. It is a member of the Apiaceae or Umbelliferae family of plants so is related to carrots, lesser burnet saxifrage, caraway, dill, fennel, sweet Cicely and cow parsley to name but a few of its relatives.

  It grows to around 4 feet tall or 1.2 metres and looks a lot like fennel. It flowers in July and August, bearing fruit in autumn.

  The ancient Greeks called it “the deadly carrot” as any cattle eating it would die, although it is related that indigenous cattle kept away from it - only imported ones were foolhardy enough to eat it. In Algeria it is said to have killed unwary camels within a few days of ingesting it.

  Theophrastus and Dioscorides, the ancient physicians used it and it is related that the Emperor Nero used it mixed with frankincense to heal bruises. It was used as a counter irritant to rheumatic pains, but as it causes burning and a rash along with itching, its use is not recommended. The idea was that the pain caused by its use would stop the feeling of the original pain. In much the same way the Romans are said to have used nettles to restore feeling to numbed limbs on their campaign in Britain in 55 BC.

  The root is emetic and purgative, and resin can be extracted from the root bark. It is poisonous to some animals and best not touched. A preparation of the root was used for lung problems, in folk medicine.

  Scientists have managed to extract phenylpropanoids from the fruit which were “found to be potent cytotoxins” according to a study in Phytochemistry Vol.67 (4) pp 2651-56 by Huizhen Liu et al.

  This research led to other studies and the thapsigargins found in the resin of this plant have been developed as an anti-cancer treatment. Specifically the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are conducting phase one trials on a select group of prostate cancer patients and it is hoped that the treatment will prove to be as effective at killing cancer cells in humans as it was in the lab. However it will be some time before the treatment can be deemed safe as trials usually consist of three phases in human subjects.

  Unfortunately it has not yet proved possible to grow this plant in greenhouse conditions, so the species is in danger of becoming extremely rare as the search for thapsigargins continues.