WHEAT - FIRST CULTIVATED GRAIN CROP: HISTORY AND HEALTH BENEFITS OF WHEAT

WHEAT, GHANDAM in URDU, TRITICUM AESTIVUM

Wheat was the earliest cultivated crop which our hunter-gatherer ancestors grew when they began to settle. Archaeological evidence suggests that the earliest varieties were grown in the Near East (Syria, Iran, Iraq etc) between 12 and 17,000 years ago. These were Triticum monococcus (einkorn) and Triticum diococcum (emmer). There are around thirty thousand varieties of wheat grown today, and it is the most widely used grain. Women were the first agriculturists and cultivated chickpeas, rye and then einkorn and emmer, according to archaeological evidence from the Karacadag Mountains in Turkey. The ancient Egyptians believed that the goddess Isis brought them wheat and barley from Lebanon in the Fertile Crescent.

  Varieties of wheat include Hard Red Winter, Hard Red Spring, Soft Red Winter, and White wheat (which is actually yellow).

 It is a member of the Gramineae family so related to barley,oats and other members of the grass family. Bulgur wheat and couscous come from wheat, and have been processed a little, but still retain most of their nutrients as compared to refined white flour, which in the US is “enriched,”  although the iron and B-complex vitamins that are put back in to the flour are not as many as those extracted during the milling process.

  Durum wheat is used to make pasta, and wheat is the grain that is most used in the production of the foods we eat. It is the basis for breads, breakfast cereals, and is good when added to soups and stews in one of its forms.

  The part of the wheat plant that we eat is the kernel or seed or wheatberry, all different names for the same thing. It is made up of three distinct parts: - the endosperm, bran and germ. The endosperm comprises about 83% of the weight of the kernel and is the source of white flour. This contains protein, carbohydrates and iron, the four main B-complex vitamins thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, folic acid and fibre. Bran comprises 14.5% of the weight of the kernel and can be bought separately, and can be added to breakfast cereals and bread as well as soups and stews. This contains fibre and a little protein along with vitamins E and B-complex ones with trace minerals and phytochemicals which have antioxidant properties. Lastly the germ comprises 2.5 % of the weight of the kernel, and is usually extracted from flour because of its 10 % fat content which reduces the shelf-life of white flour. This is, however a very good source of B-complex vitamins and minerals and is included in whole wheat flour. The main minerals contained in wheat are calcium, copper, phosphorous, iron and zinc, manganese, magnesium and the amino acid, tryptophan is also one of the constituents.

  Whole grains are particularly good for our health and have been shown to have heart-protective properties as well as cancer protective ones as they contain good amounts of nutrients which have antioxidant properties. White flour, on the other hand is of little nutritional value compared with the whole grain flour.

GUELDER ROSE OR CRAMPBARK, FOR HEALTH: HISTORY AND USES OF GUELDER ROSES

GUELDER ROSE, VIBURNUM OPULUS 

The Guelder rose is native to Europe and North America and was introduced to Britain from The Netherlands, having been cultivated by the Dutch in the province of Gueldersland, hence its name. However, it was known to Geoffrey Chaucer, who called it the Gaitre-berie in his “Nun’s Priest’s Tale” in The Canterbury Tales. In this tale he suggests that it was a laxative along with ground ivy. It is a shrub which grows to between 5 and 10 feet high and is a member of the Adoxaceae family of plants. (Formerly they were in the Caprifoliaceae family.) This means it is related to the Himalayan Viburnums and the elder tree..

  It is commonly known as Cramp bark as the bark of the tree is used to alleviate spasms of various kinds in traditional systems of medicine across the world. It contains coumarins which affect the uterine muscles and help in menstrual cramps and childbirth. In centuries past the bark has been used in tisanes and decoctions for nervous spasms and asthma, convulsions, palpitations and for the heart.

  In Canada the berries have been used as a substitute for cranberries, as they have a bitter flavour which improves to a piquant one when used in jellies and preserves. It is known as the High Bush Cranberry, but it is not a relative of the true cranberry. The berries contain vitamins C and K but are not good to eat raw.

  The trees produce balls of white flowers, before the berries, and these give rise to the name, Snowball tree. Actually it resembles an elder, and the flowers from a distance can resemble those of the elder tree.

  It is the bark of the tree that is used in herbal preparations, and this is either collected in autumn, before the leaves turn yellow or purple, and then it is dried for later use, perhaps to be ground into a powder. Alternatively it is gathered in early spring before the leaf buds open. If you cannot take aspirin, you should avoid any medications made from the Guelder rose.

  The bright red berries provide winter food for birds, and a red dye can be prepared from them. A red ink can be made from the dried berries. The Russians used to make a brandy from the berries called nastoika which was used for peptic ulcers. In China the leaves re used as a purgative, while in Japan a vinegar extract from the berries is used to treat cirrhosis of the liver.

  In the Language of Flowers the Guelder rose symbolizes winter and old age, but in the Ukraine it is the symbol of the fight for independence (the blood-red berries) and a beautiful girl is compared to it, so it has particular significance, and is used as a motif in traditional embroidery.

  The decoction of the bark is potent and you only need to take a tablespoon in a cup of water 3 times a day for cramps. This is made from 1 ounce of dried bark to one pint of water boiled, then simmered for 15 minutes.

  Another remedy and tisane for stomach cramps is to take equal amounts (an ounce of each) of Guelder rose bark, angelica root, and ginger root and three ounces of fresh chamomile leaves and flowers. Pour a litre of boiling water over these and leaves to infuse for 30 minutes, then strain and drink a small cup three times a day.

KALE - ANCIENT GREEN VEGETABLE: HEALTH BENEFITS AND USES OF KALE: KALE WITH PASTA RECIPE

KALE, KARAM KALA in URDU, BRASSICA OLERACEA var. ACEPHALA

Kale is a green leafy vegetable with ruffled, crinkly leaves which may be reddish as in the Red Russian Kale which was introduced into the USA from Siberia back in the 19^th century. The fact that it can grow in such a cold place as Siberia illustrates the point that it was a popular green vegetable in northern Europe in the Middle Ages because it can withstand severe weather conditions. It thrives in Scotland in the winter months and there it is called kail.

  In the UK its growing season is from October until March, although it is available all year round; it is most prolific in October at the start of the season. It is sweetest in early spring, but a good addition to your diet at any time of year. Although it grows well in cold climates it is in fact a native of the eastern Mediterranean and perhaps of Turkey. It also grows wild in Pakistan and is used in saag dishes.It has been cultivated and grown wild for millennia so it is difficult to ascertain where exactly it originated.

  This leafy green is a precursor of the ‘head’ cabbage which has been developed by human cultivation. It shares its genus with the cauliflower, cabbage, broccoli, brussel sprouts, and kohlrabi, all of which are Brassica oleracea variants. Kale fell out of favour when the cabbage became popular and has since been a second-class brassica. However it is packed full of nutrients and is another of Nature’s superfoods along with kiwi fruit and pomegranates, and of course, cranberries. It actually looks a little like spring cabbage or spring greens but they do not have the crinkly leaves of kale.

  My grandfather was very disparaging of kale, saying it was fit only for animal fodder, but we now know that it has 4 times more magnesium and 5 times more calcium than an equal amount of brussel sprouts, 17 times more vitamin C than carrots, almost double the magnesium content of spring greens and more folate than broccoli. When kale and cabbage are raw, kale has 7 times more carotene than cabbage too. Kale is low in calories and has no fat or cholesterol in it. It is at its most nutritious when steamed, even though it can be eaten raw. If it is steamed it has cholesterol lowering effects in the body.

   Scientists have identified 45 different flavonoids in kale and these have anti-inflammatory effects and also antioxidant ones. This means that the free radicals which damage healthy cells are combated and so kale can help in our fit against some cancers, notably, breast, colon, bladder, ovarian and prostate ones. The bioflavonoids kaempferol and quercetin are present and kale also is a source of Omega-3 fatty acids which are usually found in oily fish such as salmon and mackerel. As for vitamins, kale contains vitamins K, A, and E as well as C and apart from calcium also contains the minerals manganese, copper, potassium and iron; it also has the B-complex vitamins, B1 (thiamin), B2 (riboflavin), B3 (niacin) and B6 (pyridoxine). Amino acids are also present, including tryptophan.

  The vitamins and amino acids as well as the minerals combine to fight the onset of Age-related Macular Degeneration which is responsible for poor vision in the elderly, particularly affecting women in the UK who are over the age of 60. The macula is a pot in the very centre of the retina which controls our ability to see close up, for reading and seeing fine detail. Kale and bilberries as well as carrots can help to prevent this or at least delay its onset.

  The Scots authors of the early 20^th century, J. M. Barrie (who wrote “Peter Pan”) among them and who wrote nostalgically and sentimentally about the older traditions and way of rural life in Scotland were called kailyard (kale field) authors, rather disparagingly.

  Certainly my grandfather was not the only person to look down their noses at kale, but it is very beneficial and deserves to be added to our diets.

KALE WITH PASTA

Ingredients

500 gr (1 lb) kale, large thick veins removed

2 small red onions finely sliced

4 cloves garlic, finely sliced

1 small tin anchovies, drained and rinsed

25 gr pine nuts

1 glass white wine

6 tbsps olive oil

1 tsp chilli powder

salt and freshly ground black pepper

500 gr pasta (dry weight) of your choice, cooked

Parmesan cheese, grated

1 lemon

Method

Wash the kale and drain, then put it in a bowl with a little water clinging to it.

Heat 3 tbsps of the olive oil in a pan with a lid and when hot, add the chilli powder and onions and fry stirring for a few minutes. Cover the pan and turn the heat down low and cook for a further 7 minutes before adding the garlic and pine nuts. Coat these evenly in the oil and cook, stirring for 4 mins.

Meanwhile cut the kale into slices, about 2 inches wide.

Snip the anchovy fillets into small slivers.

Add the remaining olive oil to the pan and the kale and coat with oil. Stir well and add the white wine, salt and pepper to taste.

Cover the pan and cook on a low heat until the kale is tender, about 20 minutes.

After 15 minutes add the anchovies and stir well to mix.

Serve with the cooked pasta and grated Parmesan and garnish with lemon wedges.

This has Taste and is a Treat.

WOODY NIGHTSHADE - TOXIC BUT BENEFICIAL: HISTORY AND HEALTH BENEFITS OF BITTERSWEET

WOODY NIGHTSHADES, BITTERSWEET, SOLANUM DULCAMARA

The woody nightshades are found around the world, the main one being Solanum dulcamara, and its many varieties. These are related to Belladonna, the spiny nightshade, Nipple fruit, aubergines, tomatoes and potatoes as well as the Physallis genus which includes the Chinese Lantern, the Cape gooseberry, tamarillo and tomatillo to name but a few. These species of plant have some degree of toxicity and woody nightshade is no exception as it has mild narcotic properties.

  Woody Nightshade is native to Britain as well as to the rest of Europe and also to parts of North Africa and northern Asia. It has been naturalized in the US having been taken there by the founding fathers for it medicinal properties. In the 19^th century and earlier its woody stems were in the British Pharmacopoeia, but in more recent times the stems are no longer used as they were. New pharmaceuticals drugs have replaced so many of the ancient remedies, and when plants are toxic, they have been easily replaced for safety’s sake.

   A variant of the woody nightshade grows in Pakistan and this is used in traditional medicine to treat diabetes and eye problems.

  The woody nightshade has heart-shaped leaves and its berries turn red when ripe, whereas those of Belladonna turn black, so it is fairly easy to distinguish between these two nightshade species.

    The Swedish botanist Linnaeus who gave the plant its Latin names was at first antipathetic towards it, but his attitude changed after he learned more about it and he decided that it was beneficial in the treatment of rheumatism, fevers and inflammatory diseases.

  The name dulcamara means sweet bitter, and is believed to be a corruption of the name given to this plant by herbalists in the Middle Ages, amaradulcis, bitter sweet. It is still called by this name in North America.

  The plant has also been called felonwort or felonweed, but this has nothing to do with convicted criminals. A felon was the name given to the sore, hard pieces of skin that sometimes grow around finger and toe nails. In older English, these were called whitlows, but the word seems to have fallen out of use, perhaps because whitlows are no longer common because we have improved diets.

  The woody nightshade was known to Theophrastus the ancient Greek physician and was in use in the Middle Ages, and has, over the centuries been used as a supposed remedy for many ailments. John Gerard the English herbalist writing in the 16^th century believed that it was good for bruises and internal haemorrhages and blood clots which were caused after a fall or a beating.

  The parts used in Europe are the woody stems, which are traditionally harvested in autumn after the leaves have fallen. These are then cut into small pieces and dried using artificial heat, not sunlight.

  The infusion or tisane is taken internally to cure skin problems including psoriasis, eczema and respiratory problems such as asthma. The measurements for this are one ounce of the dried stems to half a pint of boiling water. Let this steep for 15 minutes then strain and drink two or three times a day in wineglassful doses. This has been used for ulcerative colitis and bronchitis too. However I was not able to find any medical research to conclusively back up the traditional uses of the plant (as yet).

  Modern clinical trials have found that solanine from the stems can cause paralysis of the central nervous system, so this plant should not be used in home remedies. Studies have shown that the beta-solamarine present in this plant may inhibit the growth of cancerous tumours and have anti-cancer properties, but much more research needs to be done on this plant before results can be called conclusive.

 

  

THE STRAWBERRY TREE - NOT JUST AN ORNAMENTAL: HEALTH BENEFITS AND USES OD STRAWBERRY TREE

STRAWBERRY TREE, ARBUTUS UNEDO

You could be forgiven for thinking that the strawberry tree is so-called because its fruit taste like the strawberries which are ubiquitous these days, almost regardless of the season. However if you bit into one of these fruit expecting the luscious strawberry taste, you would be sorely disappointed, as they have a more delicate flavour, which may be an acquired taste. In fact the tree gets its name ‘unedo” from the Latin meaning “I eat only one.” This translation is open interpretation as it could mean that the fruit is so delicious that one is sufficient, although it probably means that the fruit is an acquired taste and one is enough. It is better tasting when cooked however and can be made into jams and preserves as it has a high pectin content.

  The strawberry tree is an evergreen and the flowers and fruit appear together in October through to December, as the flowers take almost a year to fully blossom. It can grow up to 10 metres tall, but is more often seen as a shrub than a tree in its wild state. It is a member of the Ericaceae family of plants so is related to heather and bilberries. It looks a little like a very red lychee when on the tree, but doesn’t have the same delicate flowery flavour and has an amber-coloured flesh. The fruit are ripe when they fall to the ground. It is native to southern Europe, northern France and south west Ireland, being found most plentifully around Lake Killarney, and grows in Lebanon and Turkey, where some research has been done on its properties and uses in traditional medicine.

  In Spain it has a special place, as it is on Madrid’s coat of arms along with the bear, and the fruit is used to make a liqueur. It is also used for this purpose in the Algarve in Southern Portugal, and the beverage is called medroñho or medroñheira. In some parts of Greece it is added to tsipouro which is a little like the better known ouzo.

  The fruit and leaves contain tannins although the fruit also contains pectin, so these are useful to treat diarrhoea when made into a tisane. The tisane made from the leaves has been used to lower blood pressure in Morocco, and to protect against and cure colds by the Salish tribe of Vancouver Island, Canada.

  Modern medical research has shown the leaves in particular to have potent antioxidant properties and one Turkish study “Antioxidant activity of Arbutus unedo leaves” ended by stating that the ethanol and methanol extracts of the leaves showed “Potent antioxidant activity”. This was published in Fitotherapia Vol. 74 (6) pp 597-99, with the research being done by Pabuçcuoğlu, a. et al., 2003.

  Another study by Lidia Mendes, Victor de Freitas, Paula Baptiste and Márcia Carvalho, 2011, “Comparative antihemolytic and radical scavenging activities of the strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo L.) leaf and fruit” Vol. 49 (9) pp 2285-91 in the Food and Chemical Toxicology Journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association, was possibly the first study to test the extracts of the leaf on human biological membranes came to the conclusion that the leaves possess more potent medicinal activities than the fruit, particularly as regards antioxidant properties.

  A study conducted by Moroccan scientists, Hassane Mekhl et al  published in February 2006 in the Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Medical Journal Vol.20 (2) pp 135-139 concluded that their results showed that extracts of the leaves were effective in treating high blood pressure, so bearing out the traditional use of the strawberry tree.

  Yet another study by the Turks, Hatice Ertabaktar et al, 2009 “In vitro Activity of Arbutus unedo Leaf Extracts Against Trichomonas vaginalis Trophozoites” in the Turkish Parasitological Journal Vol.33 (4) 264-65, concluded that the extracts of leaves from the tree may prove effective in treating those STDs which are caused by the Trichomonas vaginalis bacteria. However they are unsure of what constituent of the leaf has this inhibitory effect.

  The leaves contain flavonol glycosides such as quercetin and hyperin, (bioflavonoids) as well as juglanin found in walnuts, phenol glycosides including arbutin, lipids, tannins and vitamin E.

  Perhaps you should look put at the strawberry tree you planted in the garden as an ornamental and view it in a new light.

KNAPWEED - ALMOST FORGOTTEN MEDICINAL PLANT: HEALTH BENEFITS AND USES OF KNAPWEED

COMMON KNAPWEED, CENTAUREA NIGRA

This plant has several different names depending on where you live it will be known as the Common Knapweed, the Lesser Knapweed and the Black Knapweed; but all refer to the same plant, Centaurea nigra. It looks a little like a thistle but without thorns, and grows to around 70 centimetres tall in the UK where it is a common sight in grassland, along grass verges and amongst crops. In fact it is related to the cornflower (Centaurea cyanus). The whole Centaurea genus is named after Chiron the centaur who was the legendary first healer. In myth it is said that he cured his own hoof with this knapweed.

  In Geoffrey Chaucer’s day, this plant was called Matfellon and was used with pepper to stimulate the appetite. Its flowers are edible and can be added to salads as can the flowers of the marigold, borage and violet, to name but a few.

  In Culpeper’s day (17^th century) it was used for many purposes including wound healing as this extract from his Complete Herbal shows: -

  “This Knapweed helps to stay fluxes, both of blood at the mouth or nose, or other outward parts, and those veins that are inwardly broken, or inward wounds, as also the fluxes of the belly; it stays distillation of thin and sharp humours from the head upon the stomach and lungs; it is good for those that are bruised by any fall, blows or otherwise, and is profitable for those that are bursten, and have ruptures, by drinking the decoction of the herb and roots in wine, and applying the same outwardly to the place. It is singularly good in all running sores, cancerous and fistulous, drying up of the moisture, and healing them up so gently, without sharpness; it doth the like to running sores or scabs of the head or other parts. It is of special use for the soreness of the throat, swelling of the uvula and jaws, and excellently good to stay bleeding, and heal up all green wounds.”

  The Physicians of Myddfai included it in a potion for fevers along with about a dozen other herbs, and seemed not to use it alone. This is one of their remedies for the bite of a viper or adder, the only venomous snake in Britain.

 “For the bite of a viper. Take the round birthwort, knapweed, and field scabious; mix with water and drink.”

  The plant has been used medicinally, but only the dried root and seeds are used mainly in decoctions as Culpeper mentions. This is made from one ounce of the dried seeds or root to one pint of water. You boil this mixture until the liquid is reduced by half and then strain it. The dose is apparently 75 millilitres up to three times a day.

  The Common Knapweed is native to Western Europe including Britain and Ireland and has been introduced elsewhere. In Washington State, it is now classed as a noxious weed, making it yet another example of how introduced species can damage an eco-system. 

JERUBEBA - THE NEXT WONDER HERB? HEALTH BENEFITS AND USES OF JERUBEBA

JERUBEBA, SOLANUM PNAICULATUM

Jerubeba is a member of the Solanaceae or nightshade family of plants, making it a relative of the Nipplefruit, aubergines, Belladonna, tomatoes and potatoes as well as the spiny and woody nightshades. It is native to Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina, and has been used in these countries in traditional medicine for centuries. The plant grows to around three metres high and has hairy undersides on its leaves, with white to lilac flowers giving way to a berry-like fruit which when ripe is yellowy-orange, in some ways resembling its distant relative the Cape gooseberry. As a member of the Solanaceae family it is also related to the tomatillo, the Chinese lantern and the tamarillo.

 Traditionally in Brazil it is used as a general tonic as well as for fevers, anaemia, erysipelas, hepatitis, liver and spleen disorders, uterine tumors, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), chronic gastritis, and digestive problems such as poor digestion, bloating, and flatulence. Jurubeba leaf tea is a very common household remedy throughout Brazil for hangovers and relief from that feeling you have when you over-eat. It is also sometimes used externally in poultices to heal wounds and ulcers. The parts used are the leaves, fruit and roots.

  Other traditional uses recorded are to get rid of internal parasites and to reduce flatulence. It is supposed to be a diuretic, to help in respiratory problems and also to clear obstructions in the internal organs.

  Any herbal remedy should be used with care and only in consultation with a doctor. There are effects of Jerubeba which should be borne in mind. First of all the phytochemical solasodine contained in the plant and others in the nightshade family has been shown in some studies to reduce sperm count and have an anti-fertility effect in male animals. It also has been shown to lower blood pressure as well as to stimulate the heart. Herbalists in Brazil recommend that the plant should not be used for longer than 30 days as it can irritate the stomach lining.

  Dr. G. L. Cruz, in his book, "Livro Verde das Plantas Medicinais e Industriais do Brasil" (1965, Belo Horizonte, Vol. 11 p. 554) wrote that

 ". . . the roots, leaves, and fruit are used as a tonic and decongestive. It stimulates the digestive functions and reduces the swelling of the liver and spleen. It is a good remedy against chronic hepatitis, intermittent fever, uterine tumors, and hydropsy."

   However these traditional uses have not been corroborated by research despite claims to the contrary.

   Research does seem to show that the plant is a good treatment for stomach ulcers and gastric disorders, thus bearing out at least some of its traditional uses.

 “…antiulcer activity of the plant extracts appears to be related directly to a potent anti-secretory activity. No toxic signs were observed following administration of different extracts up to 2 g/kg body wt., p.o. Collectively, the results validate folk use of Solanum paniculatum L. plant to treat gastric disorders.” S. Mesia Vela et al. 2002, “Solanum paniculatum L. (Jurubeba): Potent inhibitor of gastric secretion in mice” Phytomedicine Vol. 9 (6) pp.508-14.

   These results were published from the same study in different journals in the same year

“Our results indicate that neither S. paniculatum ethanolic leaf extract nor its ethanolic fruit extract exhibited mutagenic effect in mice bone marrow; however, at higher doses, both extracts presented cytotoxic activity.” Viera PM, Santos SC and Chen-Chen L. 2010, “Assessment of mutagenicity and cytotoxicity of Solanum paniculatum L. extracts using in vivo micronucleus test in mice” Brazilian Journal of Biology vol.7 (3).

  However the study also showed that the “leaf extract may have antimutagenic effects” but this was not conclusive. Viera P. M, Santos S. C and Chen-Chen L. 2010, “Solanum paniculatum L. leaf and fruit extracts: assessment of modulation of cytotoxicity and genotoxicity by micronucleus test in mice.” Journal of Medicinal Food Vol. 13 (6) 1424-30.

  The jerubeba has also been found to have anti-viral effects on the herpes virus; Ydia M, Valadares et al, 2009 “Antiviral activity of Solanum paniculatum Extract and Constituents” in Z Naturforsch Vol. 64 pp 813-818. This study concluded that this plant is a “source of cytotoxic and antiviral compounds.”

  However most of the research has been carried out in Brazil and has been focusing on proving that the traditional uses of the plant are valid according to its botanical structure. More research needs to be done by others to see if these studies’ findings can be replicated.