FROSTWORT OR ROCK ROSE, FOR RELIEF OF SCROFULA: HISTORY OF USES OF FROSTWORT OR FROSTWEED

FROSTWORT, FROSTWEED, ROCK ROSE, HELIANTHEMUM CANADENSIS

Frostwort is native to North America, and was regarded as a curiosity by early botanists. In the early morning, moisture from the soil is driven upwards through the roots and this causes cracks just where the base of the stem rises above the ground. The stem bursts and this moisture becomes particles of ice in the cold temperatures in winter. This is why it is called the Frostwort or Frostweed.

  Frostwort has other synonyms for its genus, these being, Cistus canadensis, Linné and Croeanthemum canadense. Helios is the Greek word for sun, and anthemum means flower so its genus names mean sunflower from Canada.

  Professor Amos Eaton (1776-1842) noted the phenomenon but did not know how it was caused. This is what he observed:                                                           

  “In November and December of 1816 I saw hundreds of these plants sending out broad, thin, curved ice crystals, about an inch in breadth, from near the roots. They were melted away by day, and renewed every morning for more than 25 days in succession.”

  Like figwort in Europe this plant was used to treat scrofula, although it is not in the Scrophulaceae family, but the Cistaceae one. The whole plant was used in traditional medicine, being bitter and astringent due to the presence of tannins. The stem and leaves of the plant are covered in soft white hairs, and it is a branching plant with the branches growing longer than the main stem. It produces yellow flowers between the months of May and July. It grows to between 8 inches and 2 feet.

  The plant is used in infusions and stronger decoctions to treat a number of illnesses. An infusion of it is used for diarrhoea and dysentery and an infusion of the leaves is used for kidney problems and a gargle for sore throats. This is the tisane. The stronger decoction of the leaves was used for scrofula and was also used as an eyewash for infections and for skin problems externally. A poultice of the leaves was also applied in cases of skin problems. It was thought to be very efficacious as a wash for scrofulous sores and ulcers on the skin.

  The plant produces an oil which was said to be a good treatment for cancer. Traditionally the plant was used for secondary syphilis and a number of other ailments. There is no or little scientific evidence as yet to support the traditional uses of Frostweed.

HARDY OR BABY KIWI FRUIT AND TARA VINE: HEALTH BENEFITS OF BABY KIWI AND BABY KIWI AND ORANGE SODA RECIPE

BABY OR HARDY KIWI, TARA VINE, ACTINIDIA ARGUTA

In comparison to the kiwi (Actinidia delicosa) we know, this one is tiny, with a smooth, rather than brown hairy, skin which can be eaten safely. It is about one third of the size of its hairy relative, and comes in a variety of colours, green, yellow and red. It can grow in very cold climates withstanding temperatures of -34° C or -30°F, hence its name the Hardy kiwi. This baby kiwi is native to Siberia,, China and Japan, but is now being cultivated in the West where growers are trying to increase the vine’s yields of fruit. It is currently being produced in South America, Britain, New Zealand, Australia, parts of the USA, Canada and Europe.

  This baby kiwi (which grows to lengths of 2 or 3 centimeteres) has five times the vitamin C of blackcurrants and is sweeter than the bigger kiwi fruit which is native to southerly climates. It flowers between June and July and the fruits ripen around October. The vine can grow to around 50 feet if it is well-supported.                                           

  This baby kiwi and its vine were first described by Philipp Franz von Siebold and Joseph Gerhard Zuccarini in 1843 on their Far Eastern travels. They gave it the genus name Trochostigma argutum.

  Interestingly, in parts of New England where it is being grown now, it has invaded woodland and may soon be a listed invasive species in some North American states.                                   

  The Chinese have traditionally used this fruit for digestive problems and eat it either fresh or dried. In Russia it is made into a paste with the red berries from the Magnolia vine to counteract their possible tartness.

  The vine is full of sap, which can be tapped in spring and drunk as a spring tonic. Scientists have found that this baby kiwi may have potential health benefits, as it has been used in China to treat oesophageal cancer, and stomach cancers. In the lab, in vitro, it has been found to have an inhibitory effect on human liver carcinoma cell lines (HEPG2) and on HT-29, human colonic cancer cell lines. However more research is needed before the activities can be confirmed.

  In China the fruit is also used traditionally to get rid of flatulence to promote blood circulation and to help in the treatment of jaundice and dysentery.

  You may like to try this recipe for a healthy drink if you find any of these sweet baby kiwis.

 

KIWI AND ORANGE SODA

Ingredients                                                                                                   

½ cup of freshly squeezed orange juice

1/3 cup pureed baby kiwi flesh

¾ cup of soda water

red kiwis

Garnish

Sprigs of fresh mint or lemon slices

Method

Combine the kiwi puree and orange juice in a blender.

Add about half a cup of this mixture to a tall glass, and top it up with soda water. Add ice and a garnish if you wish.

This has Taste and is a Treat.

MAGNOLIA VINE, WU WEI ZI - ANOTHER STRESS RELIEVER: HISTORY, HEALTH BENEFITS AND USES OF THE MAGNOLIA VINE

MAGNOLIA VINE, WU WEI ZI, PINYIN, SCHISANDRA CHINENSIS 

The Magnolia Vine is native to East Asia, China, Japan and Korea. It is known as Wu Wei Zi in China, which means “five-flavour berry”, or pinyin. It is a member of the Schisandraceae family and it is also known by other genus names including Schisandra japonica, Kadsura chinensis, Maximowiczin chinensis and Sphaerostema japonicum.

  In China it is one of the Fifty Fundamental Herbs as is Marlberry, (Ardisia japonica), cinnamon, the tea plant Camellia sinensis, milk vetch or Huang qi (Astragalus membranaceus) and jamalgota (Croton tiglium), among others.                         

  It is often used in China as a substitute for Asian ginseng, Panax ginseng, as a tonic for both male and female reproductive organs. In other words, it is considered to be an aphrodisiac. It has been used for thousands of years in China to improve the ageing memory, and for a multitude of illnesses. The parts used are the red berries which hang from the woody vine in bunches, rather like small red grapes or red currants. These are dried and used to improve stamina and lessen fatigue. In the dim and distant past they were used by travelers to combat weariness on long and difficult journeys.

  The fruit can be eaten straight off the vine or cooked, as well as dried. In Russia a paste is made of the berries along with those of Actinidia arguta, to balance the acidity. The berries contain sugars and are sour-sweet to taste.

  Some of the first scientific studies on the berries were carried out in the former USSR and it is now in the State Drug Register and the Pharmacopoeia of the Russian Federation. They first discovered its qualities as an adaptogen, a substance which helps to relieve stress, whether physical, mental or emotional, so it is used rather like rose root, milk vetch, American ginseng and Eleuthero. It can help to lower blood pressure and has potent antioxidant activities, making it heart- protective and of course a useful anti-cancer treatment. The seeds seem to have most potency against cancer according to some studies.                                                                                         

 The berries stimulate the immune, endocrine (glandular), central nervous, gastro-intestinal and cardiovascular systems, and the extracts from them increase physical endurance, mental performance, and lessen depression, and some of the symptoms of alcoholism such as delirium tremens. Extracts have shown to be liver-protective in studies on rats but these effects have not been studied in humans.

  It is believed that it produces mental clarity by detoxifying the body and it is thought that glutathione is the enzyme responsible for this action.

  It has been proven to help ward off colds and flu because of its action on the immune system, and it has been used to treat pneumonia, asthma, sinusitis, and many other diseases. A decoction of the branches and twigs has been used as a treatment for coughs, dysentery and gonorrhoea. Apparently the berries also have astringent properties making them good for wound healing.

  The branches have a gummy substance in them and this has been used to size paper and as a dressing for hair; while the dried wood is aromatic and can be used in pot pourri.

  Further studies are needed to discover if it really does help to lower blood sugar levels and to have an anti-cancer effect. The magnolia vine is a plant to watch out for in the future.

ROSE ROOT - STRESS RELIEVER: HEALTH BENEFITS AND USES OF ROSE ROOT

ROSE ROOT, ARCTIC ROOT, GOLDEN ROOT, RHODIOLA ROSEA  

Rose root is so-called because when the root is dried it smells like roses, and you can distill it to make rose-water. It is a member of the Crassulaceae family which makes it a relative of the orpine, (Sedum telephium), kidneywort (Umbilicus rupestris) and the houseleek (Sempervivum tectorum).

  Rose root is native to the Arctic, Iceland, North America, colder places in Asia and Britain and Ireland as well as to Siberia and north western China. You can eat the young succulent leaves raw in a salad as it adds a slightly bitter taste to mixed greens. You can cook these like spinach too and the stems can be cooked in the same way as you cook asparagus. These were fermented and eaten by some Native American tribes.  

  This plant is a popular remedy for stress relief now on both sides of the Atlantic and is similar in its actions to milk vetch,  American ginseng and Eleuthero or Siberian ginseng. However it is not related to these plants.

  Rose root has been used as a general tonic for more than 3,000 years in Eastern Europe and China, and more than 300 studies have been carried out using rose root as a treatment for people.

  The plant flowers between May and August and can usually be found in rocky places, in crevices on rocky mountains and on cliffs near the sea. Traditionally the flowers have been used as a decoction for stomach aches, but they have also been eaten raw to treat T.B.

  The root is supposed to enhance male potency, yet another plant which is believed to have aphrodisiac properties. Studies have shown that it can reduce fatigue, so is useful for athletes, and it has the effect of decreasing cortisol levels in the blood. (Cortisol is the stress hormone.) It is considered an adaptogen which means that it can relieve physical, mental and emotional stress, and this is why it is so popular in modern times.

  It has been found to have effects on serotonin and dopamine, which are present in the brain. One study showed that it could increase the levels of serotonin by 30 per cent, so it is a mood enhancer as people have reported after using it. It can lift anxiety and is useful for mild depression.         

   Studies have shown that it has anticancer effects too and can help the cardiovascular system, promoting a healthy heart. It can help with insomnia and sleep problems and can also help poor appetites and decrease irritability. It also seems to lower high blood pressure.

  It has been used without any reports of serious side effects, but even so you should only use it under the close supervision of a doctor.