DULSE "COMMENDED AGAINST WOMEN'S LONGING":HISTORY AND HEALTH BENEFITS OF DULSE

DULSE (SEAWEED), PALMARIA PALMATA  

Dulse is an edible seaweed as is baldderwrack, laver bread and Irish moss or carrageen, and is a reddish purple colour as is the seaweed from which we get agar-agar. It has been harvested since prehistoric times along the North Atlantic coasts, although was not as popular in North America as it was in Europe. This is changing, however, as people are beginning to understand the health benefits of dulse.

  This seaweed is known as creathnach in Irish Gaelic and dilysg in Welsh; it is known as Sheep’s Weed in Scotland and is sometimes also called dilse. This seaweed features in Icelandic sagas, which is not surprising as it grows in abundance around the Icelandic coast, and in one a hero was given dulse and milk to lull him to sleep so that he could be more easily killed. In Welsh legends it features in the Mabinogion of Math, when Math the enchanter builds a boat from dulse.

  It has an interesting history in Ireland, particularly in Galway where it was considered a hangover cure. In Threlkeld’s herbal 0f 1726 this is written about dulse:-

 “ But in Dublin men chew it like Tobacco when dry, carrying it in their Pockets for that end, which destroys worms and gives a Relish to Beer, as Anchoves or Olives to wine; it is commended against women’s longing.” (?!)

  It is still sold in Galway, I’m told, in fishmongers and greengrocers.

  There is a 12^th century Irish poem about the duties of monks which mentions dulse, and roughly translated it goes thus:-

    “A while gathering dilisk (dulse) from the rocks,

     A while fishing,

     A while giving food to the poor

     A while in a cell.”

  Dulse is found clinging to rocks and is harvested at low tide between the months of June and September, but is unpalatable when fresh as it is tough and leathery. It has to be dried, preferably in the sun, although it can be done in a microwave. You can add it to winter salads of carrots, white cabbage, onions and raisins, or cook with it, putting it in soups or breads and so on.                                     

  In the past it was used to get rid of intestinal worms, to stop constipation as well as to prevent scurvy, as it contains vitamins A and C as well as some of the B-complex vitamins and vitamin E As for minerals it is rich in iodine (as you would expect from a seaweed) along with calcium, potassium, manganese and zinc.

  It has been shown t stimulate the thyroid and adrenal glands, thus improving circulation and it can also help lower blood sugar levels and provide a sense of well-being when snacked on. It is high in protein and a good source of dietary fibre, and can now be bought dried in flakes, which can be eaten raw or used in cooking. It is also believed to be good for the proper functioning of the spleen and pancreas.

  Dulse is also used commercially as a thickening agent and in cosmetics, as it is nutrient rich and so helps improve the quality of the skin. In fact you can make your own exfoliating scrub with dulse flakes mixed with olive or coconut oil.

  You may like to try this recipe for dulse and asparagus soup.

DULSE AND ASPARAGUS SOUP                                                 

Ingredients

25 gr. dried dulse (soaked for 10 minutes)

1 bunch green asparagus spears, steamed or boiled

2 medium potatoes, boiled and peeled

1 tsp fresh lemon juice

750 ml. milk

freshly ground black pepper
(Optional spices:; cumin seeds, chilli powder or green Tabasco sauce a little root ginger finely grated)

Method

Cook the dulse in water for 10 minutes. Strain and add lemon juice and black pepper.

Blend the cooked asparagus and potatoes in some of the milk.

Stir  the blended mixture into the dulse, in a large pan and heat until boiling. Turn down the heat and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring frequently to prevent a skin forming on the top.

If you are using spices, dry fry the cumin seeds and add them to the blender with the dulse, asparagus and milk along with the chilli and grated ginger.

Serve with fresh crusty bread.

This has Taste and is a Treat.

LUNGWORT OR OAK MOSS: HISTORY AND HEALTH BENEFITS OF LOBARIA PULMONARIA

LUNGWORT MOSS, OAK MOSS, OAK LUNGWORT, LOBARIA PULMONARIA  

Lungwort moss is sometimes confused with the herb lungwort (Pulmonaria officinalis), although they are not at all related. Lungwort moss is a member of the Lobariaceae family of lichens or mosses and grows on tree barks or on rocky surface, although you find it rarely on the latter. It doesn’t derive nutrients from the tree it lives on but from the sun. It is found throughout the northern hemisphere, but is becoming rare and is threatened in Switzerland because of air pollution and the felling of forests.

  Lungwort moss grows on oak, ash, beech, rowan, willow and hazel trees in Europe and is thought to be an indicator of ancient forests. It can also be found on other species of tree. In Britain it is found now in Wales, Scotland and south-west England and the Lake District, but is rarely found in other areas.

   In the Renaissance in the Doctrine of Signatures it was believed that plants which resembled parts of the human body would cure the part of the body they closely resembled. Some of these associations appear today to be flights of fancy, but in the case of both lungworts, it has been found that they do in fact have lung healing properties. It has antibiotics in it which act against the bacteria that cause tuberculosis and other lung and chest infections.

    The thallus which is the part of the lichen that sticks to the bark of the tree which is its host, has been found to have wound-healing properties, as it has anti-septic actions and has also shown to have anti-ulcer and anti-inflammatory properties. One study has indicated that extracts of the plant are gastro-protective possibly due to its ability to reduce oxidative stress and its neutrophil infiltrates.

  In traditional medicine in the Indian subcontinent it is used for haemorrhages and eczema.

  Writing in the 17^th century, the English herbalist, Nicholas Culpeper has this to say of it:-

“Government and virtues. Jupiter seems to own this herb. It is of great use to physicians to help the diseases of the lungs, and for coughs, wheezings, and shortness of breath, which it cures both in man and beast. It is very profitable to put into lotions that are taken to stay the moist humours that flow to ulcers, and hinder their healing, as also to wash all other ulcers in the privy parts of a man or woman. It is an excellent remedy boiled in beer for brokenwinded horses.”

  He also mentions that it grows on oaks and beech trees.

  Lungwort moss is a source of natural dyes, and provides food for slugs and snails, and for caribou and moose too.

   It has been combined with coltsfoot or horehound in traditional medicine for effective treatment of bronchitis.

LUNGWORT - ANCIENT USES BORNE OUT BY RESEARCH: HISTORY AND HEALTH BENEFITS OF LUNGWORT

LUNGWORT, PULMONARIA OFFICINALIS  

Lungwort is a herb in the Boraginaceae family, so is a relative of borage, comfrey, the alkanets, fragrant manjack and lasora as well as viper’s bugloss among many others. There is another plant called lungwort, (Lobaria pulmonaria) but that is a moss or lichen which is also called oak moss, because it grows on or under oak trees.

The flowers of this lungwort look like those of comfrey but the plants are distinguishable very easily by the leaves. The flower buds begin pink, a then as they mature turn to lilac, with both colours seen on the same stem. They are called Soldiers and Sailors for this reason; they are also called Jerusalem Cowslips, because of the shape of the flowers, I suppose.                                     

  In the Mediaeval Doctrine of Signatures, herbalists believed that plants looked similar to the parts of the body they could be used to cure. The leaves of the lungwort plant looked to these early herbalists like lungs, as they decayed, and so they were used to cure lung problems. As it happens, modern research has discovered that the plant is indeed a useful remedy for lung problems.

  An infusion of the leaves of this lungwort is used to help coughs and catarrh. Use a tsp of dried herb to a cup of boiling water and leave to steep for 15 minutes before straining and drinking. This is said to be beneficial for inflammation and lung problems.

   The leaves can be eaten raw or cooked, although they are mucilaginous and so not to everyone’s taste, as they are slimy when cooked (cook like spinach).The plant is used to flavour vermouth, and mixed with coltsfoot is a common cough remedy in herbal shops. This mixture is also said to be excellent for children’s whooping cough.

  The plant contains allantoin which is known to have wound healing properties so this supports the plant’s traditional use for skin problems such as eczema. The plant also has antibiotic properties which means it can kill the bacteria which cause lung and chest infections. It also contains the bioflavonoids, quercetin and kaempferol and research has shown that it exhibits some anti-tumour activities.                                                         

   The plant has also been used in traditional medicine to treat kidney problems and gastro-intestinal ones too- As it has astringent properties it should be a useful agent against diarrhoea. However it is not advised to take the plant internally as it contains pyrrolizidin alkaloids.

   Lungwort is believed to have originated in Central Europe and is now naturalized in Britain where it was cultivated for its ornamental value and its health benefits. If you harvest it, this is best done in springtime, and you should harvest only the young leaves and dry them for later use. However, if you do this, make sure that you are not breaking any laws, and only take the herb under the supervision of a physician.

RED HOT POKERS: TALL GARDEN PLANTS WITH HEALTH BENEFITS

RED HOT POKER, KNIPHOFIA UVARIA

I grew up with red hot pokers and goldenrod in the garden, both wonderful plants for bees, and the red hot pokers I know now are full of nectar. In South Africa, where they are a native species, they are eaten and are said to taste like honey. There are many species of these plants which are also called the Torch Lily or Tritoma, some are yellow and lime green others white, but K. uvaria is red-orange with tinges of yellow on the lower flowers.

   They stand tall and are impressive garden flowers in the same way as lupins and hollyhocks are. They are grown in Europe for their beauty and curiosity value, as well as to make an impressive backdrop for smaller flowers. The leaves are evergreen in most species, although in some they die back to grow again in the following year and the flower spikes can grow to around six feet tall.           

  They are members of the sub-family Asphodelaceae and the family of the Xanthorrhoeaceae, and as such are related to the asphodel, bog asphodel and aloe vera. In fact they were thought to be members of the aloe family at first, and were in the genus Aloe uvaria.

   In South Africa the juice of the flowers from this plant is used in cosmetics, and the root is used as a cleanser for the skin to rid it of spots and other skin eruptions. The root is also used in traditional medicine as a medicine to cleanse the uterus and so prepare it for pregnancy.

  An infusion of the root of some Kniphofia species is used for chest complaints such as asthma and bronchitis. Other species figure quite prominently in traditional medicine. Although this one has limited uses it would seem.                                                     

  The Kniphofia genus was named after a distinguished 18^th century German professor at Erfurt University, Johann Hieronymous Kniphof (1704-1763). It consists of more than ten species, which are mainly found in South Africa, although there is one native of Yemen and two or possibly three native to the island of Madagascar. K. uvaria is an invasive weed in some parts of Australia where it was introduced previously as a garden plant.