MOTHER OF THYME OR WILD THYME, OFTEN CULTIVATED: HISTORY, USES AND HEALTH BENEFITS OF MOTHER OF THYME

MOTHER OF THYME, WILD THYME, CREEPING THYME, THYMUS SERPYLLIUM 

Wild thyme or mother of thyme is less common than common thyme which also grows wild. It has been cultivated for century in gardens in Europe and is native also to North Africa, western Asia and Scandinavia. It is closely related to ajwain and thyme, and is a member of the mint or Labiatae or Lamiaceae family of plants. As such it is a relative of calamint, sage, Jupiter’s sage, peppermint, horehound, self-heal, the chaste tree and the small-flowered Chaste tree, ground ivy, the teak tree, yellow, purple and white dead nettles, motherwort, fragrant premna, common germander, Cretan dittany, bugle, Scarlet Bee Balm and marsh woundwort, oregano and other culinary herbs. In Urdu it is called Ban Ajwain.                                                                                  

  The leaves contain an essential oil which is used in perfumery, and you can make your own fragrant water by steeping the flower heads in salt and water for at least 24 hours. The leaves can be added to soups and stews, or to bouquet garni for flavouring and they also go well with vegetable dishes, and are used to good effect with courgettes and mushrooms.

  The essential oil distilled from its leaves is used as a disinfectant, as mouthwash, and it is also an insect repellant. It also has antiseptic and fungicidal properties. A Romanian study has found that the plant possesses antioxidant properties and other studies have shown that it has antimicrobial properties and can be used against candida.

  The Romans believed that it was a mood enhancer and gave it to those who suffered from melancholia. It was later believed to be a favourite flower of fairies in much the same way as bluebells were, and it was a fairy playground where the plants proliferated. Shakespeare used this idea in his play “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” Act 2 scene i: -

“I know a bank whereon the wild thyme blows,
Where oxlips and the nodding violet grows
Quite over-canopied with luscious woodbine,
With sweet musk-roses, and with eglantine:
There sleeps Titania some time of the night,
Lulled in these flowers with dances and delight;
And there the snake throws her enamelled skin,
Weed wide enough to wrap a fairy in.”

 In European traditional medicine it has been used to get rid of flatulence and intestinal worms, for its deodorizing properties, as an antispasmodic, expectorant, and general tonic. In India and Pakistan it is used in the treatment of whooping cough, asthma, and respiratory inflammation because of its antispasmodic properties. It is also used for back-ache.                                                                                                              

  In Wales it used to be planted on graves, and an old folk tale says that it was the fragrant herb which formed the Virgin Mary’s bed.

  A tisane made with the leaves and flowers (1 ounce of dried herb to 1 pint of boiling water left to steep for 15 minutes before straining and drinking in 1 tablespoon doses frequently) was given for chest complaints, weak digestion and flatulence. Mixed with rosemary and lemon balm with a little honey to sweeten it, the tisane was given for nervous complaints and headaches (especially, says Culpeper, those caused by a hangover).

  Writing in the 17^th century, the English herbalist, Nicholas Culpeper has this to say about Mother of Thyme: 

“Government and virtues. The whole plant is fragrant, and yields an essential oil that is very heating. An infusion of the leaves removes the head-ach, occasioned by the debauch of the preceding night.

Mother of Thyme is under Venus. It is excellent in nervous disorders. A strong infusion of it, drank in the manner of tea, is pleasant, and a very effectual remedy for head-achs, giddiness, and other disorders of that kind; and it is a certain remedy for that troublesome complaint, the night-mare. A gentleman afflicted for a long space of time with this complaint in a terrible manner, and having in vain sought for relief from the usual means employed for that purpose, was advised to make trial of the infusion of this plant, which soon removed it, and he continued free for several years, after which the disorder sometimes returned, but always gave way to the remedy.”

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.

AMERICAN GINSENG - ONCE EXPORTED TO CHINA: HISTORY AND HEALTH BENEFITS OF AMERICAN GINSENG

AMERICAN GINSENG, PANAX QUINQUEFOLIUS

American ginseng has an interesting history of use. It is a relative of the true ginseng, Panax ginseng, and both are members of the ivy or Araliaceae family. However although the two plants contain ginsenosides, which are believed to be responsible for their healing properties, American ginseng is more relaxing to take than is Asian ginseng which is a stimulant.

  Neither of these true Panax ginsengs are closely related to Eleuthero or Siberian ginseng. American ginseng grows to around one and a half feet tall and has green-yellow or green-white flowers which are a little fragrant, but which only bloom for a short period of time, from June to July. The shrub isn’t evergreen and has gnarled roots which were thought to resemble the human body, in the same way as mandrake was thought to. This is how it gets the name ‘ginseng’ which is a corruption of a word in one of the Chinese languages which means ‘image of man’.            

  In the 1700s American ginseng was exported from Canada, and then from the northern states of America, as it would seem that although the Chinese had their own ginseng, they wanted that of North America too. The trade reached its peak in 1862 when more than 282 tonnes were exported to China. After that the figures fell until trade in American ginseng stopped in 1939.

  It is debatable as to whether the Native Americans knew of the health-giving properties of American ginseng or whether they discovered them from their contact with the Chinese traders. They used the roots for headaches, insomnia, indigestion, fevers and fertility. The leaves of the shrub are expectorant and emetic, so unless you want to purge yourself, don’t be tempted to chew on them.

  Today, American ginseng is endangered in some US states and threatened in some others, and is on the CITES list, (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) and there are limits for the trade in whole roots or sliced ones. Now American ginseng is being farmed commercially in the States, and in China. However the roots are harvested in autumn and are best when the plant has reached six years of age.

  Like Eleuthero, American ginseng is an adaptogen, which means that it relieves mental, physical and emotional stress, although this has yet to be scientifically proven. It is also said to help with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder especially when combined with Gingko biloba, although this has not been scientifically proven either.   

  American ginseng may have an inhibitory effect on colorectal cancer, according to one study, and may be able to boost the immune system, thereby making people who take it less likely to have colds and flu. It may also have some effect on the memory of the elderly as this 2010 study indicates - the quotation is from the conclusion:

“This preliminary study has identified robust working memory enhancement following administration of American ginseng. These effects are distinct from those of Asian ginseng and suggest that psychopharmacological properties depend critically on ginsenoside profiles. These results have ramifications for the psychopharmacology of herbal extracts and merit further study using different dosing regimens and in populations where cognition is fragile.” (“Effects of American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) on neurocognitive function: an acute, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study.” Scholey A et al., Psychopharmacology, October 2010, Vol. 212 (3) pp.545-546.)

   Yet another earlier study showed that an intake of American ginseng before a meal could stop blood sugar levels spiking after it in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients. However it was suggested that people without diabetes should take the ginseng with their meal. (Archives of Internal Medicine April 10^th 2000, Vol.160 (7) pp 1009-13. “American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius L.) reduces postprandial glycemia in non-diabetic subjects and subjects with type2 diabetes mellitus” Vuksam V et al.

  You should not take American ginseng over a prolonged period, not more than six weeks, and children should not be given it. It should only be taken under the supervision of a physician.

 

ELEUTHERO, SIBERIAN GINSENG, NO RELATION TO TRUE GINSENG: HEALTH BENEFITS AND USES OF ELEUTHERO

SIBERIAN GINSENG, ELEUTHERO, ELEUTHEROCOCCUS SENTICOSUS 

Siberian ginseng is no relation to true ginseng, but is so called because it dives new vigour to the elderly. Eleuthero in Greek means to be free, or freedom and I am always reminded of the epitaph on the Greek writer, Nikos Kazantzakis tomb when I hear this word and two Greek friends of mine who are called Eleutherios. Here is the famous inscription on the roughly hewn wooden cross which marks Kazantzakis grave overlooking Heraklio on Crete.

“Δεν ελπίζω τίποτα. Δε φοβούμαι τίποτα. Είμαι λεύτερος.”

The English translation is “I hope for nothing, I fear nothing. I am free.”

  Eleuthero has been used for centuries in Chinese traditional medicine as a tea substitute, the dried leaves are used, and also as a medicinal tea which uses the dried root. It is actually for maintaining good health, rather than for curing an illness, and is an adaptagen which means that it helps the body over a period of time. It can lower blood sugar levels and widens blood vessels, so reduces blood pressure. 

  However it is not recommended that you take it for a prolonged period with six weeks being the maximum. You should not take it if you have high blood pressure though, and it should be avoided by pregnant women. Children should not take Eleuthero either. If you take it you should not drink coffee which could over-stimulate the body and cause side effects.

  If you take it in high doses then you may experience uterine bleeding, dizziness, anxiety, sleeplessness and irritability – the symptoms for which it is taken to combat. It is best taken under the careful supervision of your physician.

  Research has shown that Eleuthero or Siberian ginseng can boost the immune system so making you less prone to colds and flu. It would seem to be stronger than true ginseng in this regard. It is used as is Skullcap and  American ginseng to relieve stress, in the form of a tisane.

  There is some evidence that taking Siberian ginseng can increase an elderly person’s longevity and can help with memory retention. Cicero F. et al 2004 Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics: Supplement (9) pp.69-73, conclude their study, “Effects of Siberian ginseng (Eleutherococcus senticosus maxim) on elderly quality of life: a randomized clinical trial” thus:

“In conclusion, E. senticosus safely improves some aspects of mental health and social functioning after 4 weeks of therapy, although these differences attenuate with continued use.”                                                                                                       

  There is also some evidence that it can be used to fight radiation sickness and the effects of toxic chemicals. In Britain and North America, the root is often taken to decrease stress, although this ability has not been proved conclusively scientifically. In Taiwan it is used against cancer and hepatitis, and in China it is a traditional remedy for bronchitis, heart problems and rheumatism, among other minor ailments. It also seems to be a mood enhancer. In Europe is regarded as safe to use as it has been used for “decades without any indication of serious risks” according to the European Medicines Agency in their Assessment Report dated 2008. (There are some critics of this it should be noted.) The German Commission E has approved its use for a lack of stamina and general debility, as a tonic and for a “tendency to infection.”

  It is a native of the Far East and a member of the Araliaceae family. It also grows in Siberia where the true ginseng could not flourish due to the cold climate. It is also a native of Japan and Eastern China. Synonyms for the genus include: Eleutherococcus asperatus, Hedera senticosus, Acanthopanas asperatus and A. senticosus.

  There is some evidence that taking the root in an infusion internally can help to cure the herpes simplex virus and there are studies to find out what its effects are on cancers, fertility, stomach ulcers, headaches and insomnia. The research already undertaken suggests that it may have an effect on theses diseases and ailments.