WHAT IS MUGWORT? ARTEMISIA VULGARIS: MUGWORT STUFFING FOR ROAST GOOSE RECIPE

MUGWORT (ARTEMISIA VULGARIS)

Mugwort is known by many names, St John’s Plant-because a legend from the Middle Ages has it that John the Baptist wore a girdle of this herb when he was in the wilderness; Travellers herb, as it is believed to relieve fatigue; Common Wormwood, as it is related to that plant and moxa in Japan and China. However in the Far East the relatives of mugwort grow: Artemisia moxa and Artemisia sinensis.

It’s a common weed in Europe and North America and grows in hedge banks and at the sides of country lanes in Britain. It can be used in cooking and is used in Germany in a stuffing for the traditional Christmas goose (Weihnachtsgans). The stuffing recipe is given below. The young leaves can also be eaten raw in salads.

You can make an infusion from the dried leaves (15 gr of dried leaves to 500ml of boiling water) to take three times a day for painful menstruation cramps. In this way it’s rather like angelica and aak. It stimulates the menstrual flow by increasing the blood circulation to the pelvic area and the uterus. It also stimulates the appetite, and a tisane can be made of 1 or 2 tsps of the dried leaves, and 150 ml boiling water. Let this steep for 5 minutes, then strain, and drink 2 or three times a day before meals to increase appetite and aid digestion.

However you should be careful with mugwort if you are a hay fever sufferer as it can provoke severe reactions. If you are allergic to hazelnuts, don’t use it! You shouldn’t use it when you are breast-feeding or pregnant either as it acts on the uterus. It can have side effects such as a rash, itching, tightness in the chest, wheezing and hives. Don’t use it if you have been prescribed medication for thinning the blood either. In other words, consult a doctor before touching it if you have allergies to any food or ill health.

Before hops were used for brewing beer, mugwort was used for its slightly bitter aromatic flavour. In Britain in the early 20th century it was still used by people who lived in the countryside in brewing home made beer. Some people believe that this is how it got its name –from the beer mug. However there are far more plausible explanations.

One is that wyrt is the Old English word for plant or root and moughte was the word for moth or maggot and myia in Greek means fly or bug. Mugwort repels insects, such as moths (like patchouli). In the first century AD Dioscorides praised mugwort for its bug repelling abilities and he and Pliny agreed that if the leaves of mugwort were applied to the soles of the feet a traveller could walk further and faster without becoming fatigued.

There are many superstitions about mugwort, but the main ones are that it could protect people from evil spirits, could protect a traveller from sunstroke and attacks by wild beasts. In Germany it is known as St John’s Plant and the belief was that if it was gathered on St John’s Eve, it protected against misfortune and diseases until the following year. In Britain crowns were made from it and worn on St John’s Eve to prevent possession by evil spirits. Dioscorides recommended picking the flowering tops of this herb just before they came into bloom. On the Isle of Man, the leaves are worn on National day, 5th July, where they are known as Bollen Bane. It is believed that this custom is a throwback to pagan times, as July 5th was Midsummer in the Old Calendar.

People smoke the dried leaves or put them under their pillow at night or near the bed to give them “lucid” dreams. If you smoke it you will be reminded of the aroma of Cannabis sativa and people say that you will remember your dreams and be able to steer them if you smoke mugwort before going to sleep. You could also chew a leaf or two if you don’t like smoking. It’s used to clear the nasal passages in this way too. It used to be used in Cornwall when tea was very expensive as a substitute.

In traditional medicine it’s used for a cure for hysteria, a tonic, a diuretic and a diaphoretic as well as an emmenagogue. It’s useful as a diaphoretic at the onset of a cold.

To make an infusion with it, use 1 ounce of the fresh herb to 1 pint of boiling water, and take doses of ½ tsp while it’s warm. You can take this as a tonic cold in the same dosage. It has a slightly bitter, aromatic taste.

In the 17th century Gerard wrote that it cured “the shaking of the joints inclining to Palsie.” He also said that the powdered leaves were good for hysteria. The juice from the leaves and root were made into an infusion for intermittent fevers and agues, and the bruised leaves can be used for an invigorating bath. Culpeper wrote that “The juice of the large leaves which grow from the root before the stalk appears is the best against the dropsy and jaundice, in water, ale, wine or the juice only. The infusion drank morning and evening for some time helps hysteria, obstruction of the spleen and weakness of the stomach…the root should be accounted among the best stomachics.”

A volatile oil comes from the leaves and roots but this is not used in aromatherapy because of the possibility of allergic reactions to it.

It is used in Ayurvedic medicine for “women’s troubles” as it relieves stomach cramps caused by menstruation and can relieve menopausal symptoms such as hot flushes.

Dried mugwort leaves can be used along with dried lavender and chamomile flowers and a spray of the leaves over the doorway gives a room a pleasant aroma (and wards off bugs).

Some people have made extravagant claims for the benefits of using mugwort against cancer and HIV but none of these claims has been substantiated by medical science, which has tended to concentrate on the allergy enhancing properties of the herb.



MUGWORT STUFFING FOR ROAST GOOSE

Ingredients

500 gr cooking apples (a tart rather than sweet variety)

500 gr fresh roasted chestnuts, skins removed

4 large sprigs of mugwort, leaves shredded

4 sprigs thyme

3 sprigs rosemary

1 bay leaf

150 gr breadcrumbs

salt and pepper to taste





Method

Peel and core the apples and roughly chop them. Chop the chestnuts. Remove the leaves from the thyme and rosemary and crumble the bay leaf.

Mix all the ingredients together with a little water and stuff the goose with the mixture.

This has Taste and is a Treat.

WHAT IS AJWAIN? HEALTH BENEFITS OF AJWAIN: AJWAIN TISANE RECIPE: HOW TO MAKE NAMAK PARAY

AJWAIN, TRACHYSPRMUM AMMI BISHOP’S WEED

Ajwain is known in English as Bishop’s weed, although this may not be the correct name for this herb, as it also has discrepancies in its Latin name. The herb we use at home in Pakistan is Trachyspermum ammi, but there is a Trachyspermum copticum and Carum copticum. It is used for culinary purposes just like thyme, which is why we gave thyme that name in Urdu. However we stand corrected. Ajwain contains thymol, so is an anti-fungicide and also has antibacterial properties. It is believed to have originated in Iran and the Eastern Mediterranean.

Every household on the subcontinent probably has ajwain and its seeds, as it they are used in medicine as well as cooking. The seeds are carminative and classed as a spice. As a medicine it is used for a multitude of purposes, but if you dry fry the seeds and wrap them in cloth and put them near to you while you sleep they will clear nasal congestion if you have a cold. The plant is used for indigestion, diarrhoea, dyspepsia, dysentery, cholera, flatulence. The seeds are eaten with betel leaves to relieve dyspepsia, spasmodic disorders and flatulence. For colic take 3 grams of the following ingredients with warm water: 20gr Ajwain, 10 gr dried ginger and 5 gr black salt ground together.

The smoke from burning seeds is said to cure migraine, and ‘cigarettes’ made from ajwain seeds are used for respiratory disorders including bronchial asthma by villagers on the subcontinent. The seeds are also used in poultices with herbs to relieve asthma and arthritis.

The fresh herb is rubbed on warts to get rid of them. The boiled seeds cleanse the eyes and cure deafness it is said.

Another remedy is for earache: put ½ tsp seeds in 30 ml milk and heat this until the essence of the seeds starts to permeate the milk. Filter the milk and put it in the ear a drop at a time.

Ajwain is believed to have been known to the ancient Greeks and Romans and Dioscorides may have been describing ajwain when he mentioned “Ethiopian or Royal cumin”. It seems this plant has always been the subject of some confusion!
The sap from the plant is collected by traditional healers or hakims and dried and sold in a type of crystalline form. You need just 1 crystal to a cup of boiling water and add honey to taste in order to keep illness at bay during autumn and winter. It is said to cure colds and coughs too. It tastes fine once you get over the initial smell, so don't be put off. It seems to work too!

To make a tisane with ajwain you need ¼ tsp fresh ginger root finely grated, ¼ tsp ground green cardamom seeds, ¼ tsp powdered cinnamon and ¼ tsp ajwain seeds. Mix the ground spices together and pour a cup of boiling water over the mixture. Leave this to steep for 5 minutes then strain and drink. This helps the body generally and is good if you have a cold.

The Dangs, a tribe from Southern Gujarat in India, mix ajwain seeds with imli (tamarind) seeds and fry them in ghee with gur (jaggery) and preserve the mixture. They say that it increases the male sperm count cures premature ejaculation and increases the libido of both sexes.

Another belief from subcontinental folklore is that the ajwain seeds should be soaked in lemon juice and dried seven times before being eaten in order to cure impotence and erectile dysfunctions. As ajwain contains calcium, iron, phosphorous, carotene, thiamine and riboflavin, there’s no denying that it is a health-giving plant.





NAMAK PARAY

Ingredients

250 gr plain flour

1 tsp ajwain

1 tsp cumin seeds

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt

1 tbsp oil or ghee

oil for frying



Method

Heat ½ cup water but don’t boil it, then mix the oil or ghee with it.

Mix all the other ingredients together and make a paste with the water. Leave the doughy mixture to stand for 1 hour.

You now need to roll out the dough until it is very thin and cut it into 3 inch length pieces (about ½ to 1 inch wide).

Heat the oil and fry them until they are brown pat dry on absorbent paper and eat while still warm.

Eat as a snack like crisps.

These have Taste and are a Treat.

PERSIMMON( AMLOK OR JAPANI PHAL IN URDU) HISTORY AND USES: SPICY PERSIMMON FRUIT SALAD RECIPE

PERSIMMON, (JAPANI PHAL or AMLOK in URDU) DIOSPYROS KAKI

Persimmon is known by many names including, Sharon fruit, Japani Phal or fruit in Urdu, and is Diospyros kaki in Latin. However there are different types of Diospyros, including one that bears a black fruit. The one we have in Pakistan is slightly different to the ones I’ve had in Europe. It’s the same vivid orange colour, but has more water in it - it’s squishier and so is unsuitable for export, which is sad, because it’s a sweet fruit, not like others which are more astringent in taste. The Pakistani variety (Diospyrus lotus) doesn’t leave you with a dry tangy after-taste.

Persimmons originated in the Far East, in China, Japan and Korea and the leaves form the persimmon tree have been used in tisanes for centuries. You can make a tisane from the fresh or dried leaves, and it has a lot more vitamin C in it than green tea (3.5-20.5 times as much in fact). The tea has been used for thousands of years to generally help the body. 

It is rich in fibre and the phenolic content of the leaves is now known to increase the metabolism and removes lipids (fat) from the body through faeces. Because of this action it can help in weight loss.

As with all orange fruit, persimmons are high in beta-carotene and this fruit is an excellent source of iron, so suitable for preventing anaemia. Just 100 grams of the fruit every day improves cardio-vascular health and lowers the risk of lung cancer in smokers. Persimmons also contain ascorbic acid, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin and calcium and have a high carbohydrate and protein content. They are packed full with substances the body needs for its health.

Persimmons have a high iodine content and regular consumption helps improve the thyroid gland’s functioning. Eating persimmons has many health benefits, but you should try to avoid eating the skin as when ingested the bezoars can react badly in the stomach. People who have had surgery for stomach ulcers shouldn’t eat the skins of the fruit (D Bennarroch 1993).

 In Hazira in North Pakistan it is believed that a surfeit of the fruit eaten with the skin on it caused a small bowel obstruction in 15 children one winter when the fruit was in abundance on the trees.

However, as long as you abstain from eating the skin, the fruit can be really beneficial according to recent medical studies. Persimmons can help to prevent cancer because they are high in vitamin A and the compounds shiboul and betulinic acid which have anti-cancer properties. The phytochemicals known as proanthocyandins are also present in the fruit and these may protect cells against oxidative damage to the skin associated with aging. It has been recommended that you use the fresh skin on your face as a skin toner as it brightens the complexion. It seems that daily applications may also smooth wrinkles, or stop them appearing.

They are so good for you that you have to try them if you haven’t eaten them before go out and buy some, as winter is the best time to find them. You can make ice cream or smoothies with them and try this recipe below.



SPICY PERSIMMON FRUIT SALAD

Ingredients

4 persimmon, peeled and chopped

1 large apple, peeled and chopped

2 bananas, chopped

1 bunch grapes, halved

2 green cardamom pods, seeds removed and husks discarded

5 or 6 cloves

¼ tsp finely grated nutmeg

1 tsp powdered cinnamon

1 small pot yoghurt

Chopped pistachios to garnish



Method

Grind the cardamom seeds with the cloves and a ½ inch piece of cinnamon stick if you prefer this to already ground cinnamon.

Put fruit in a bowl and mix the spices into the yoghurt.

Pour the yoghurt mixture over the fruit and stir. Garnish with chopped pistachio nuts.

This has Taste and is a Treat.

TRIBULUS TERRESTRIS/ PUNCTURE VINE/ LAND CALTROPS: AN AMAZING MEDICAL WEED

TRIBULUS TERRESTRIS, PUNCTURE VINE, LAND CALTROPS

Tribulus terrestris is known by a number of names and is an annoying weed, a shrub that is usually low lying and spreads as ground cover. It is native to southern Europe, Asia and grows in Australia and the US. It contains a substance called Protodioscin and clinical studies have shown that it increases male and female libido and improves sperm count and allegedly cures impotence and erectile dysfunctions. When you read the medical literature this sounds amazing, until you read further, and the studies that claim it is an aphrodisiac and a libido booster have been carried out by those connected to the drug companies which manufacture capsules and pills made with puncture vine extract.

However it has been used for centuries in India and China to cure impotence and erectile dysfunctions and to boost libido in both males and females. It has been suggested that it can help in cases of PMT/PMS and in the female menopause. It has also been used to increase sperm count and boost fertility in both males and females.

In India it is used as a uro-genital tonic and it is said to help cure cystitis, get rid of kidney stones. On the subcontinent it is used to staunch the flow of blood from a wound, strengthen the kidneys, and treat gout and impotence. It’s also a mild diuretic and apparently good for the prostate gland.

In the mid-1990s it hit the headlines when Eastern European athletes said they had taken it to help their performance. The leaves contain steroidal saponins, and these increase the male hormone, testosterone in the body. Whether or not it actually does work as a steroid or testosterone booster has not been proved in Western clinical trials, although studies undertaken by drug companies show that it does indeed boost testosterone and helps build muscles (including of course the penis).

You can’t eat it, but spare a thought for the weed the next time the burrs get in your dog or cat’s paws. It might be good for something after all!

WHAT IS CHAKOTARA? POMELO, SHADDOCK, CITRUS GRANDIS/MAXIMA: CHAKOTARA FRUIT SALAD RECIPE

CHAKOTARA, POMELO, SHADDOCK, CITRUS GRANDIS/MAXIMA

Chakotara is the Urdu names for the pomelo or shaddock, it might also be known as The Forbidden Fruit according to some writers. The botany world seems undecided about the Latin name for this fruit, but it’s either Citrus Maxima or Citrus grandis. It is called shaddock after a captain of the same name who took the seeds from Malaysia to the West Indies in the 17th century where it now flourishes.

Pomelo is believed to be the ancestor of the grapefruit, and it is like a grapefruit, except that it’s sweeter. Its flesh ranges from a pale yellow to a ruby red and when I first had it I was surprised to find red flesh in a yellowy-green skin. Apparently it is known for its thick skin, and the fact that one fruit can grow to 10 kg in weight, and be up to 30cms in diameter. That is why it’s called Citrus maxima and grandis, because it’s the biggest of all the citrus fruits.

The seeds of the fruit are made into grapefruit oil which is antimicrobial and antioxidant in nature. The oil can be used for cleaning purposes and will remove fungus and clean kitchen surfaces well. It can also be used safely on pets with skin problems and will eradicate fleas etc. It can also be used as an insecticide for garden plants quite safely.

In North Vietnam the flowers are gathered and used in perfume and a decoction of the leaves, flowers and rind is used in the Philippines and South East Asia as a sedative and to help in cases of epilepsy and convulsive coughing.

In Pakistan and India it is used to relieve coughs, fevers and stomach disorders, as the juice is a mild laxative which will cure constipation problems. It is alkaline in nature and so is useful in the digestive system as it rids it of unnecessary acids without getting rid of the bacteria we need in our guts. It is also used in genitor-urinary disorders, so may help cystitis sufferers. The crushed leaves are sometimes added to bath water for their aroma.

The oil from the seeds can also help wounds heal and scars will virtually disappear if it is used on them.

Along with pineapple juice the juice of sweet lemons and sweet oranges, it can help in arthritis by dissolving deposits around the joints.

Like all citrus fruits it has lots of vitamin C which helps the body produce collagen, a substance which is present in the connective skin tissues of the body. This is believed to prevent skin ageing and can help smooth wrinkles. It also has a high calcium content and calcium is necessary for healthy bones. It has an antioxidising effect on the eye lens and this helps stop cataracts forming.

A high Vitamin C content in a nutrient–rich diet is able to improve cognition functions in the elderly too. Perhaps best of all, citrus fruits are “happy” fruits as they are high in folate, which is important to the production of serotonin, which gives rise to a better mood and frame of mind. So with this in mind, try our Citrus Fruit Salad.





CITRUS FRUIT SALAD

Ingredients

1 pomelo, peeled and cut into segments, flesh only

1 sweet orange, peeled and cut into segments, flesh only

1 grapefruit, peeled and cut into segments, flesh only

1 head of lettuce, shredded

½ bunch spring onions finely chopped

1 small cucumber, peeled and finely sliced

1 handful of borage leaves, torn or lavender flowers, fresh

1 small pot natural yoghurt



Method

Put lettuce into a serving bowl and arrange the fruit, cucumber and spring onions over it.

Mix the borage leaves or lavender flowers in the yoghurt and pour over the salad.

Put in fridge for ½ hour and serve chilled.

This has Taste and is a Treat.

WHAT IS ASHWAGANDHA? WINTER CHERRY ( INDIAN), WITHANIA SOMNIFERUM

ASHWAGANDHA, (INDIAN) WINTER CHERRY, WITHANIA SOMNIFERUM


Ashwagandha or Indian Winter Cherry or simply Winter cherry is also known by the name Indian Ginseng. Its Latin name is Withania somniferum. It’s a shrub which grows prolifically in Pakistan and India to a height of 170 cms. To the ancient Arabs it was a narcotic, health tonic and the root is used as an aphrodisiac, rather similar to that other root, safed musli but it has many more health benefits, rather like Brahmi.

Withania somniferum has yellow flowers and a red fruit which is berry-like in size and shape. It is an amazing plant which may in the future be used as an anti carcinogenic as it has shown able to restrict the growth of cancer cells in animals and cell cultures.

The Japanese have a patent application on it as a skin ointment and also use it to promote fertility. In the US the New England Deaconess Hospital has a patent for using it for the treatment of arthritis, which is one of the traditional uses of this shrub. It is an adaptogen and helps with stress related diseases.

The root is mainly used in traditional medicine on the subcontinent, and the berries can be substituted for rennet in making cheese. The leaves can be bruised, crushed and smeared onto arthritic joints as they are in Ethiopia. In Pakistan the cortex of the root is ground into a powder and mixed with water then kneaded into a paste which is smeared onto wounds to disinfect them and to promote rapid healing. In Africa the root is given as a sedative to children and to soothe teething pains. The ancient Assyrians used to burn the root and channel the smoke onto a painful tooth to cure the pain of toothache. In Yemen it is still used for this purpose.

A paste can be made from the ground leaves; they are ground to a pulp and sometimes the berries are also added to this to treat swelling, rheumatism and external inflammation. In India the leaves are smoked to soothe coughs and asthma.

However its primary use in folk medicine is as an aphrodisiac and it has been used as a love potion too for centuries. Folk healers still prepare love potions from the root of Ashwagandha.

The name Ashwagandha means ‘sweat of a horse’ and it is thought that this refers to the strength and sexual vigour of the horse. It is used to cure impotency, fatigue and waning memory, and it is now known that it boosts the immune system, relieves various types of stress, revitalizes muscles, and bones, and is good for a restful sleep, diabetes, general debility, and a stimulant. It also helps restore neurotransmitters and so is used for mental disorders associated with aging.

Winter Cherry helps support the reproductive systems and adrenals and is a diuretic. It can cure gastric ulcers according to recent medical research, and can help to stop a fever.

Apart from boosting the male semen count and helping with erectile dysfunctions, it also stabilizes the foetus and later boosts a nursing mother’s supply of breast milk.

The recommended dose is 3-5 grams of powder from the root taken daily in milk. Twice a day is more than sufficient for male sexual disorders and results are seen after a week in most cases, although it may take longer to work in some cases.

Like Gotu Kola and Brahmi this is another wonder herb, and an aphrodisiac that has been working for many centuries.

ROCKET or ARUGULA or ERUCA SATIVA: ROCKET SALAD WITH PARMESAN CHEESE RECIPE:TARA MERA OIL

ROCKET, ARUGULA, ERUCA SATIVA

Rocket or Arugula in American English is known as a salad vegetable which can be used as a substitute for lettuce. It has a nutty flavour, if you use young leaves, and they are good with a dressing of walnut oil. If the older mature leaves are used, they have a slightly bitter flavour and go well with a traditional vinaigrette dressing (white wine vinegar, olive oil and a mixture of herbs or just the herb of your choice). Rocket is usually used in Caesar Salads, and is great with all kinds of cheeses especially goats' cheese and gorgonzola. You can also steam rocket like spinach and use as a vegetable with others. The Italians love rocket and put it in meat sauces and with meats. A simple recipe is to spread rocket leaves with cream cheese and slivers of smoked salmon, roll them up and serve on a bed of rocket leaves. Its seeds can be used in cookery as a substitute for mustard seeds.

flower of rocket

It is native to the Mediterranean area and Central Europe and is naturalized in the US. The name ‘eruca’ is Latin for cabbage and it is related to the Brassica family.

The Romans used rocket mixed with other herbs they considered had aphrodisiacal qualities, such as lavender and dill, and put them in special sauces. They served the leaves as a salad with chicory and lettuce. It was believed that rocket increased sexual potency. The ancient Egyptians would give it to bridegrooms on their wedding night. The seeds and their oil have been used as an aphrodisiac at least since the first century AD.


Rocket is a great source of iron, potassium, magnesium, calcium, beta-carotene, sodium, dietary fibre and vitamins A, B, C and E. Modern medical research has shown that the constituents of Eruca sativa can cure gastric ulcers, and this is one of the many complaints it has been treating for millennia in the subcontinent. It is also known to reduce the secretion of stomach acids and it also mediates the activity of hormones. The volatile oil distilled from the seeds contains nitrogen and sulphur. It has anti microbial properties and is an antiscorbutic. A strong dose of the oil will induce vomiting.

In traditional medicine on the Indian subcontinent is used to cure erectile dysfunctions and is said to decrease stress, so is given to women too to increase their libido. It is also believed to help in the treatment of liver disorders and diabetes. It can also stop a cough apparently. It is a diuretic, and also a laxative, so don’t take too much oil! A teaspoon or two a day won’t hurt though.

In Pakistan and India the oil known as Tara Mera and used to kill head lice, and mixed with water is massaged into the scalp to get rid of dandruff, to strengthen the hair and to prevent hair loss. It is suggested that as well as using the oil externally you should take a teaspoon a day to help with hair problems and as a general tonic. You can use it as a salad dressing too, as it stimulates the digestive system.

The flower is white or purple, and is a symbol of deceit in the Language of Flowers because it has no scent by day, but at night gives off a perfume. The ancients called it the Vesper flower or Hesperis.





ROCKET SALAD WITH PARMESAN CHEESE

Ingredients

1 bunch of well-washed rocket, torn

1 tbsp capers

200 gr Parmesan, thinly sliced

300 gr tomatoes, roughly chopped
1 cucumber, roughly chopped
green and black olives, or stuffed green olives with pimento
balsamic vinegar
olive oil
salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

Method

Mix all the ingredients together and toss well before serving

This has Taste and is a Treat.