STAVESACRE - INSECTICIDE, BUT POISONOUS: HISTORY, USES AND HEALTH BENEFITS OF STAVESACRE

STAVESACRE, LOUSEWORT, DELPHINIUM STAPHISAGRIA 

Stavesacre is a really pretty tall flowering plant which is highly toxic. It contains diterpene alkaloids which can prove fatal. The symptoms begin with euphoria, followed by depression and extreme sensitivity of the nerves, then paralysis, the slowing of the pulse and respiration until finally it causes death by asphyxiation. It acts in much the same way as Monkshood or aconite (also blue-flowered).

  Stavesacre is clearly a corruption of its Latin name, staphisagria (say it and you’ll see how!) It was given the name lousewort, because its main use was to kill parasites, especially head lice in children. It was much used in the Middle Ages, when there were hygiene issues!

  Stavesacre is a member of the buttercup family, or Ranunculaceae, making it a relative of Lesser Celandine, marsh marigolds, black cohosh, wood anemones, goldenseal and wolfsbane (another aconite). It is a native of the Mediterranean region and southern Europe, and can grow to around four feet high, so is quite conspicuous.

  The seeds are the main parts used, and these are collected and dried for later use, although given the toxicity of this plant is best left alone. It was known to Dioscorides and Pliny who both mention its use as a purgative and for killing parasites and insects externally. It has been used for skin problems and was thought to be an effective wart remover.

  Nicholas Culpeper, the 17^th century English herbalist had this to say about it: -

“Government and virtues. It is seldom given inwardly, being of a hot burning taste, though Sylvius de la Boe commends it from gr. xii. to a scruple in a dose, which purges upwards and downwards, causing a great flux of spittle; and is serviceable against the lues neverea. It is sometimes used in masticatories and gargarisms for the toothach. The vulgar use the powder of it to kill lice. The seeds are kept by the druggists, and they have been given in small doses against rheumatic and venereal disorders; they vomit and purge, and that in so rough a manner, that it is better to omit their internal use entirely. Chewed in the mouth, they excite a very large discharge of watery humours from adjacent parts, and frequently prove serviceable in disorders of the head; but they are chiefly used to destroy lice in children's heads, for this purpose the seeds coarsely powdered are to be strewed among the hair, and it never fails of destroying them.”

BIG-LEAF MAHOGANY- PRIZED FOR ITS WOOD: HEALTH BENEFITS AND USES OF BIG-LEAF MAHOGANY

BIG-LEAF MAHOGANY, SWIETENIA MACROPHYLLA

Mahogany has been valued for its high-quality durable timber since the 16^th century. This tree, the big-leaf mahogany is native to Central and South America. In these countries there is a ban on its timber as it is now on the CITES list and the mahogany that is sold now comes from plantations in the Asia-Pacific region, from Fiji, India, Sri Lanka and other countries. It has been on the IUCN red List since 2003 in its natural range.

  Mahogany wood has a rich, red-brown colour and has been used to make musical instruments, for timber in the construction industry, boat-building and high-quality furniture. However the tree also has medicinal properties.

  In Bolivia the Mesetemo Indians use a decoction of the crushed seeds to bring about an abortion, and use the crushed seeds with the oil from Attalea phalerata for skin problems and children’s skin allergies. They make use of the bark to make dye. In Malaysia the seeds are chewed, or swallowed in powder form to treat high blood pressure, while in India the seeds are also used to treat this as well as diabetes. In India the seeds are also used for diarrhoea. In Indonesia a decoction of the seeds is given against malaria.

  In clinical trials the leaves have been found to have anti-diabetic properties, and to have anti-inflammatory properties as well as perhaps having the potential to help against hepatitis C. Traditional uses have also been upheld for the treatment of diarrhoea and malaria. The leaves have also been found to have some anti-bacterial and anti-microbial properties.

  In some countries a decoction or infusion is made with the crushed seeds for all of the above diseases with honey added to sweeten the concoction. It is said to increase the male libido and so has a reputation as an aphrodisiac, touted in supplements for erectile dysfunctions. However there is no scientific evidence for these claims.

  The tree grows to great heights of 50 metres and can live for 350 years plus. It has white flowers which fall to form the fruit which is very unusual as it is gravity defying – it points upwards, and so is called the sky fruit. This contains a winged seed, which falls quite near the parent tree because of its weight, meaning that mahogany trees tend to form natural stands. The tree sheds its leaves in summer and is a member of the Meliaceae family of plants, so is related to the neem tree, Azadirachta indica, and to the Chinaberry tree, Melia azedarach. The other trees which produce mahogany are Swietenia humilis and Swietenia mahagoni. This one is also known as the bastard mahogany, as opposed to Swietenia mahagoni.

   Deforestation has led to the endangerment of this tree in South America, along with unsustainable logging for its timber. There has been a ban on felling it in Costa Rica since 1997. When the trees are felled this leads to soil degradation and erosion as the roots go deep into the ground and stabilize the soil.

MASTERWORT, ONCE BELIEVED TO HAVE POWERFUL HEALING PROPERTIES: HEALTH BENEFITS AND USES OF MASTERWORT

MASTERWORT, MEISTERWURZ, PEUCEDANUM OSTRUTHIUM 

Masterwort was called “the divine remedy” in the Middle Ages, and believed to be a wonder herb, capable of curing most ailments. Its leaves were used to flavour soups and its root is still used to make Meisterwurzbrand, a liqueur, in the Tyrol region of the Alps.

   It is a member of the Apiaceae or Umbelliferae family of plants, and as such is related to the carrot, celeriac, lovage, opoponax, Alexanders (black lovage), thapsia, cow parsley, sweet Cicely, hemlock, pignuts, lesser and greater burnet saxifrage, ground elder, rock samphire, fennel, sea holly and sanicle, to name just a few of its relatives. It is a close relative of angelica, for which it is sometimes mistaken as it smells very similar. Unfortunately masterwort has a sap in its aerial parts which can cause dermatitis on contact with the skin. It was much used at one time and being a native of Southern Europe, was cultivated in monastery gardens in Britain and Ireland. It is now naturalized in these countries. Its botanical synonym is Imperatoria ostruthium, and another English name for it is Hog’s fennel.

  Hildegard von Bingen mentions it in glowing terms in her “Physica” written between 1150 and 1160, as Astrenica and it was also previously known as Magistranta. All its names reflect the way herbalists thought of it – a powerful remedy.

  It is said to contain myristicin which is supposed to be a psychotropic, found in nutmeg, and responsible for euphoria. The root has been chewed to relieve toothache, and in the USA was once used to calm hysteria and delirium tremens. This is interesting as the root of masterwort was thought to impart strength and courage to its bearer, as well as protection, which was a good thing, as it was believed that if the root were scattered around, any lurking evil spirits would manifest themselves.

  The root is the main part used in medicine, and this is said to be best gathered in spring or autumn and dried for later use.

  Nicholas Culpeper, the English herbalist, writing in the 17^th century had this to say about it:-

“Government and virtues. It is an herb of Mars. The root of Masterwort is hotter than pepper, and very available in cold griefs and diseases both of the stomach and body, dissolving very powerfully upwards and downwards. It is also used in a decoction with wine against all cold rheums, distillations upon the lungs, or shortness of breath, to be taken morning and evening. It also provokes urine, and helps to break the stone, and expel the gravel from the kidneys; provokes women's courses, and expels the dead birth. It is singularly good for strangling of the mother, and other such like feminine diseases. It is effectual also against the dropsy, cramps, and falling sickness; for the decoction in wine being gargled in the mouth, draws down much water and phlegm, from the brain, purging and easing it of what oppresses it. It is of a rare quality against all sorts of cold poison, to be taken as there is cause; it provokes sweat. But lest the taste hereof, or of the seed (which works to the like effect, though not so powerfully) should be too offensive, the best way is to take the water distilled both from the herb and root. The juice hereof dropped, or tents dipped therein, and applied either to green wounds or filthy rotten ulcers, and those that come by envenomed weapons, doth soon cleanse and heal them. The same is also very good to help the gout coming of a cold causey.”

   The infusion or tisane of the chopped root is said to be good for migraines, and it has also been used for asthma. There has not been much research into this plant except by manufacturers of cosmetics who seem to think along with the ancient Romans that it can keep the skin youthful. They were so enamoured of masterwort that some say they were responsible for introducing it to the rest of Europe. 

BAMBOO-NOT JUST FOR PANDAS AND BALE MONKEYS: HEALTH BENEFITS AND USES OF BAMBOO: RECIPE STIR-FRIED BAMBOO SHOOTS

BAMBOO, BAMBUSA VULGARIS 

There are many different species of bamboo, all members of the grass or Poaceae family so it is related to rice, black rice, Kans grass, maize, sorghum, millet, rye, barley, oats and wheat just to name a few of its relatives. Bamboo is a favourite food of the Giant panda and the Bale monkey (which was only discovered by Westerners in 1902), which lives in Ethiopia and is dependent on bamboo for its survival. The Asian elephant likes them too, but is not as picky an eater as the Giant Panda or the Bale monkey.

  There is a traditional belief that a bamboo grove was a favourite dwelling place of Buddha and it is said that in such a grove you find tranquility and it also stimulates creativity.

  Some bamboo is used for timber and is a hard one when treated, preferable to hard or soft wood which takes years to grow. Bamboo could be the timber of the century as it can grow to its peak in 5 years and can be harvested after one, so is a sustainable crop. It can also absorb more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere than an equivalent stand of trees, so if more were planted, it could help with the world’s pollution problem.

  In ancient China, bamboo was a writing material which faded into obscurity when paper was manufactured in the 4^th century AD or thereabouts. Now it has numerous uses- 1,500 is a figure that has been mentioned. It is useful as fibre as it absorbs sweat and has antibacterial and anti-odour properties. You can now get socks made from bamboo fibre, for example. It has been used to make bicycle frames, for construction (whole houses have been made from it which are earthquake resistant), bridges (there’s one suspension bridge in Sichuan province China, which is at least a thousand years old), fly fishing rods, and many more uses.

  Thomas Edison used bamboo for a filament in his light bulb which is still working in the Smithsonian museum and he used it as needles for his phonographs too. In Japan and other Asian countries, tattoo needles are made from bamboo. In 2005 Asus made a laptop case with it, so you can see that it is very versatile.

  The name “bamboo” is onomatopoeic, as it is said that this is the noise it makes when it is laid in a fire to scare away wild animals. Marco Polo, the Italian adventurer reported this in 1270.

  The material made from bamboo is UV resistant and so can block those harmful rays, and it is also hypoallergenic and heat regulating.

  Bamboo is the fastest growing known plant and this has led to its use as a torture plant. It can grow inside the body for 2 to 4 days if conditions are right, and the poor person subjected to this form of torture would have an excruciating death.

  This grass can also be made into biomass and charcoal. A power station in the Philippines runs on bamboo chips. Clearly it has potential as a fuel as it also makes good charcoal which is a deodorizer.

  The joints or culms of bamboo exude a sap which is rich in silica and this supports many of the body’s functions. It should be no surprise to learn that bamboo has been used in traditional medicine systems in Asia for thousands of years. In Ayurvedic medicine practised in the Asian subcontinent the sap is known as tabasher and is used in Tibet with other ingredients for lung diseases. This substance contains more silica than is found in horsetail and it is the richest source of organic silica known. It is believed that silica can help protect against Alzheimer’s disease, cardio-vascular disease, can help delay the aging process of the skin as it provides a boost to the collagen and elasticin which maintain the skin’s flexibility and elasticity so preventing wrinkles forming. It also assists in healing bones which have been fractured, and in promoting healthy hair, nails, lessening bone mass loss, helping joints retain their flexibility and easing joint pains.

  Bamboo vinegar is a by-product of the charcoal-making process and this has anti-inflammatory and anti-fungal properties, and is added to bath water, used for eczema and other skin problems.

 The leaves of bamboo contain flavonoids which have antioxidant properties. It is thought that these flavonoids may promote blood circulation, reduce inflammation and inhibit allergic reactions. The leaves are used in traditional medicine for their cooling, astringent properties, for fevers, wound healing, for eye problems and to regulate a woman’s menstrual flow. Juice from the leaves is also used to make bamboo-flavoured beer.

  Bamboo is used to stop vomiting, and mainly for coughs, bronchitis and other respiratory complaints. In some countries it is also thought to be an aphrodisiac and is also used to remedy STDs.

  Bamboos shoots, the tender young ones are edible and used extensively in South-East Asian cuisine. They taste sweet and are ubiquitous in stir-fries in the UK. These are rich in minerals and a useful source of the B-complex vitamins.

  There is no doubt that the bamboo has a lot to offer us and there are several research studies being carried out in institutes and universities around the world to discover just how useful it could be in the future.

STIR-FRIED CHICKEN AND BAMBOO SHOOTS

Ingredients

½ chicken breast, boned and thinly sliced

bamboos shoots, sliced

baby corn

sliced green beans

sliced water chestnuts

1 inch root ginger peeled and finely chopped

2 cloves garlic, finely chopped

2 tbsp peanut oil

1 tbsp sesame oil

1 tbsp soy sauce

½ handful fresh chives, chopped

1 red or green chilli finely chopped

white wine (optional for thinning sauce)

Method

Heat the oils together in a frying pan or wok and when hot add chicken. Fry for 2 minutes then add the vegetables, chilli, garlic and ginger. Fry for another 2 mins and add the soy sauce and chives.

Heat through and serve on a bed of rice.

This has Taste and is a Treat.

Note: Add as many vegetables as you require.