BITTER OR ROCKET CANDYTUFT, MEDICINAL PLANT WITH MANY NAMES: HISTORY AND HEALTH BENEFITS OF ANNUAL CANDYTUFT

BITTER, ANNUAL OR ROCKET CANDYTUFT IBERIS AMARA

Bitter candytuft is native to western and southern Europe including the British Isles. It grows amongst grain crops, such as wheat and oats, although its conservation status is of concern in some parts of Europe. It is a member of the Brassicaceae or Cruciferae family so is related to broccoli, brussel sprouts, kale, savoy cabbage, red cabbage, horseradish, mooli, garden cress, cauliflower, kohlrabi, mustard, field penny-cress, rocket, wallflowers, Dame’s rocket, Lady’s smock, Lamb's ears, wood betony, scurvy-grass, turnips and swede and a whole host of other plants, all of which could be used to prevent scurvy.

  All parts of the plant were used in medicine, but the seeds were especially valued. These can also be ground to a powder, and mixed with cold water can form a bitter, pungent mustard substitute. If mixed with hot water or vinegar or salt, the ‘mustard’ that is produced is milder.                                                                                                 

  The seeds have been used traditionally as treatments for asthma and bronchial problems, and the whole plant has been used against rheumatism and arthritis. It was considered good to relieve flatulence and the bloating that can be caused by the buildup of gas in the system.

  A homeopathic remedy is made from the plant to treat those who are nervous and agitated as well as people with liver and heart problems. It was formerly believed to be good for an ‘over-excited’ enlarged heart.

  An extract of the plant has shown to have an anti-ulcer effect on animals in vivo, and to soothe the smooth muscles of the smooth intestine and stomach in rats. (Iberis amara L. (bitter candytuft) – profile of a medicinal plant, Reichling J. and Saller R., 2002 in Research and Complementary and Natural Classical Medicine Supplement pp.21-33.)

   Bitter herbs have been used since ancient times to aid the digestion process and digestive system, and a herbal preparation was patented in Germany in the 1960s, called Iberogast, which is said to be effective against Irritable Bowel Syndrome, (IBS) and other stomach problems. It comprises extracts of bitter candytuft (from whose genus it gets part of its name), angelica root, chamomile, liquorice root, peppermint, lemon balm, caraway seeds, milk thistle, and celandine.

  There is little research into this wild herb, but it is becoming a favourite among gardeners which may be a good thing for its conservation status.

PARAGUAYAN HOLLY TREE, PRODUCER OF YERBA MATE: HISTORY AND HEALTH BENEFITS OF YERBA MATE

PARAGUAYAN HOLLY TREE, YERBA MATE ILEX PARAGUARIENSIS

Yerba maté is a popular drink all around the world these days, and it comes from an evergreen tree that is closely related to the British (or European) holly tree Ilex aquifolium. Like this holly the Paraguayan or South American one starts like as a shrub, but can grow up to 18metres tall. In the wild it grows with Araucaria species, which include the Monkey Puzzle tree. However it is classed as near threatened in the IUCN red list.

  A Spanish explorer, Juan de Solis, who is famous for exploring the La Plata River, stated that the Guarani Indians made a drink which “produced exhilaration and relief from fatigue” in his expedition in the 16^th century. Other Spaniards liked the drink too and the Jesuits started the first cultivation of wild plants of Ilex paraguariensis. By 1670 they had maté plantations. When the Jesuits were expelled from the Spanish lands in South America in 1767, Ilex paraguariensis stopped being extensively cultivated.                                             

  Today there are plantations but the years of harvesting the leaves from the trees and young shrubs had already taken its toll on the plants. The tea made from the leaves has been also called Jesuits’ tea and Paraguayan tea.

  Other Ilex species leaves are sometimes added to yerba maté and this accounts for the different tastes and properties of the tea drunk. Although yerba maté is now believed to have many health benefits, it has been found that heavy drinkers of the beverage have an increased risk of developing upper aerodigestive cancers, particularly oropharyngeal cancer. Despite this people still drink it copiously.

  Traditionally the beverage was drunk from gourds, particularly those of Langenaria vulgaris which in Quechua are called mathi- which is how we get the name maté, with yerba meaning herb. The leaves and twigs are dried and heated, and packed into the gourd, and then boiling water is poured over the leaves and they are allowed to infuse. Today yerba maté is brewed in gourd-shaped bowls and drunk through a metal ‘straw' with holes in the bottom of it which act as a strainer so you don’t get the leaves in your mouth. There are yerba maté bars throughout South America, just as there are coffee bars in Europe and North America.

  Despite its popularity around the world, there is not as much research on yerba maté as there is on coffee and green tea. However it seems that it can help manage obesity and lowers LDL-cholesterol. It has mild laxative properties and is also a diaphoretic so promotes sweating just as tea does. It is also a diuretic, so can help people who need to get rid of excess water because of other ailments.

  Yerba maté contains caffeine so it is a stimulant and the old Spaniards were right, it does dispel fatigue and stimulates the central nervous system. It is also a nutritious drink containing vitamins A, C, E and the B-complex vitamins B1 niacin, B2 riboflavin and B3 niacin as well as B5. As for minerals it contains aluminium, chromium, copper, iron, manganese, nickel, potassium and zinc along with 18 amino acids.

  The drink is said to enhance the memory functions and delay the aging process. It also stimulates digestion, and provides mild pain relief. A poultice of the leaves is used for anthrax ulcers, and is probably effective due to the tannin content of the leaves and their astringent properties.

 In Germany yerba maté has been approved for relief of mental and physical fatigue, and in France for weakness, or lack of energy. It is in the British Herbal Pharmacopoeia of 1996 for the relief of headaches, and fatigue as well as for weight loss. In one of the traditional systems of medicine of the Indian subcontinent, Ayurveda, yerba maté is prescribed for headaches, nervous depression, fatigue and the pains of rheumatism.

  Research is still continuing on yerba maté to discover what health benefits it actually has.

 

CREOSOTE BUSH IS NOT RECOMMENDED FOR INTERNAL USE AS MEDICINE: HISTORY AND POSSIBLE FUTURE HEALTH BENEFITS OF CREOSOTE BUSH

CREOSOTE BUSH OR CHAPARRAL, LARREA TRIDENTATA   

The creosote bush is so named because after a rainfall it smells like a wooden telegraph pole that has been treated with pitch. However commercial creosote does not come from this plant. It is native to the arid areas of the US and Mexico and has its homes in deserts and canyons. It is a member of the Zygophyllaceae family, so is a relative of Guaiacum officinale from which we get lignum vitae, puncture vine (Tribulus terrestris) and Syrian rue, among other plants.                                                

  Like the Jurupa oak it can boast of being one of the oldest living organisms on the planet as one clone range of plants in the Mohave Desert, has been dated to around 11,700 tears old. The plant splits its crown when it is between thirty and ninety years old and produces clones of itself, and all the plants have come from just one seed.

  It was much used by Native Americans as a medicinal plant, but it also useful as it can absorb chromium from the soil it grows in. However nothing can grow near it as it is very competitive in terms of the water it needs. Plants growing under it can only survive for a limited time due to the highly toxic substances it produces at root level.

  The plant can cause contact dermatitis and is thought to be toxic to the liver, and for this reason its internal use has been banned by the US Food and Drug Administration. However it contains Norhydroguaiacetic larreic acid (NDGA) which, before synthetic antioxidative materials were produced, was added to processed meats to prolong their shelf-life.

  NDGA is currently being researched to discover its potential in treating HIV/AIDS and cancers, among other diseases. It is a powerful antioxidant, anti-inflammatory agent, anti-tumour and anti-microbial.

  The plant possesses antiviral properties and is successful in treating herpes, and is anti-inflammatory, helping with rheumatism and arthritis and other inflammations.                                       

  The Native Americans used it for a number of diseases, including colds, as an expectorant in chest complaints, for cancer, toothache (they dripped the hot resin from the young twigs onto the tooth or place where the tooth ached) and a paste made from the leaves was used to heal wounds, lesions and bruises.

  A decoction of the leaves was given for diarrhoea and stomach problems. To allay thirst, the twigs may be chewed, if you are in the heat of the desert. The resin from the leaves and twigs is helpful in that it can prevent other fats or oils from turning rancid, or it can at least delay that process. It can also be used as a massage oil (if you like the smell), and can also provide some protection from the sun’s harmful rays.

  The flower buds can be pickled in vinegar and used as a substitute for capers. The plant can also be used for animal fodder, and is used to make roofing material for adobe dwellings. The twigs and leaves were washed and sun-dried to make a tisane, but the internal use of the plant is not to be recommended.

CASSABANANA OR MUSK MELON: HISTORY OF USES AND POTENTIAL HEALTH BENEFITS OF CASSABANANA

CASSABANANA, SICANA ODORIFERA NAUD.

The cassabanana is a rather strange-looking fruit which, when black or dark purple looks like a huge aubergine, although they are not related. Nor, as the name might suggest is this fruit in any way related to the banana. In fact it is a member of the Cucurbitaceae family, so is a relative of the kiwano or horned melon, honey melons, watermelons, butternut squash, bottle gourds, the ash gourd or petha, cucumbers, courgettes, and marrows to name just a few of its relations. It is the only plant in the Sicana genus, although sometimes it is known by its botanical synonym, Cucurbita odorifera Vell.

  It grows on a vine like other melons, although it needs strong support as the fruit is hefty. (It reminds me of that of the sausage tree, Kigelia africana) The fruit is also called the musk melon, because of its aroma. It is grown as an ornamental as well as for its fruit.

  It is believed to have originated in Brazil and spread throughout South America and tropical North America from there. There is archaeological evidence to show that it was being cultivated in Ecuador before the arrivals of the Spanish conquistadores. It was first documented by Europeans in 1658, as being cultivated and a popular fruit in Peru.

  Interestingly, it is used in Northern Peru to protect against jealousy. The remedy is to take the plant material (perhaps the whole plant) and sleep with it for seven days and nights, being sure to wash it every morning. After the stipulated period of time it needs to be disposed of in a “far away” place where it can’t be found by others. (“Healing the body and soul: Traditional remedies for “magical” ailments, nervous system and psychosomatic disorders in Northern Peru” Rainer W. Bussman et al. September 2010, African Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, Vol. 4 (9), pp 580-623.)                                                                       

  The fruit is eaten raw and is cooling and refreshing during the hot months of the year. It is also used to make jams and preserves. The immature fruit is used as a vegetable and added to soups and stews.

  The fruit is nutritious, containing the minerals calcium, phosphorous and iron, along with carotene (which explains the colour of its flesh), and the B-complex vitamins, B1 thiamin, B2 riboflavin and B3 niacin, as well as vitamin C in the form of ascorbic acid.

  It is believed to be a moth repellent and kept with linen and clothes rather as we used to hang lavender in wardrobes, for its long-lasting aroma. During Holy Week (Easter) the fruit can be found decorating church altars too.

  In some countries it is used for sore throats, seeds are strung into necklaces and at the same time, the fruit is sliced and steeped in sugared water overnight, so that it begins to ferment, and then the water is sipped frequently to get rid of the sore throat, and the fruit that has been steeped in the sugared water may also be eaten.

  In Brazil an infusion of the seeds is used for fevers, as a laxative to get rid of intestinal worms, and as a purgative. The leaves are used for STDs for uterine haemorrhages and other complaints.                                                     

  In Yucatan, a decoction of the leaves and flowers is used as a laxative, for worms and as an emmenagogue, although the dose is small as these parts of the plant contain hydrocyanic acid.

  There are anthocyanins and flavonols in the rind of the cassabanana which means it has antioxidant actions (Jaramilla K. et al., Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 2011 Vol. 59 (3) pp975-83 “Identification of antioxidative flavonols and anthocyanins in Sicana odorifera fruit peel”)

  Anthocyanin-rich fruit are currently being investigated for their potential cancer-inhibiting properties, so perhaps this fruit has a lot more to offer us than simply being a cooling fruit to eat in summer.