MULLEIN: GREAT MULLEIN: BENEFITS OF MULLEIN AND USES: MULLEIN LEAF TISANE

GREAT MULLEIN, VERBASCUM THAPSUS

There are about 250 species of mullein, which is a relative of the foxglove, toadflax and antirrhinum (snap-dragon) among a whole host of other plants.It is a member of the Scrophulariaceae of figwort family of plants. It can grow up to 6 feet tall so is distinguishable in the wild especially with its clusters of yellow flowers. It is also grown in gardens for its ornamental value. The flowers can be different colours depending on the species of mullein, and can be orange, rust coloured, purple, blue or white. The leaves and the stalk are covered with fine hairs which irritate the mouths of grazing animals, which leave it to itself. It’s a bee plant and birds love to eat the seeds in the autumn. It is native to Europe and Asia, and has been naturalized in North America, where the Native Americans soon learned of its medicinal properties especially valuing it for curing respiratory ailments.The leaves are big and hairy and can grow up to 2 feet across. In the Mediterranean region you can find the most species of mullein.

   Dioscorides mentions it as good for respiratory diseases, and the Roman General, Agrippa believed that its fragrance could overpower demons. In Europe and Asia it was believed that mullein could protect from evil enchantments and spirits. Ulysses or Odysseus used it to protect himself from Circe’s bewitching powers, according to legend.

   The dried leaves are highly flammable and have been used for kindling, candle and lamp wicks and tapers. These usages have given rise to some of its local names, Candlewick plant, Our Lady’s Candle and Hag’s Taper. In 1575, writing in his “Niewe Herball”, Lyte says that the plant which he calls Our Lady’s Candle, is called so because “the whole toppe with its pleasant yellow flowers sheweth like to a wax candle or taper cunningly wrought.” It is called Hag’s Taper because it was thought that witches used it as wicks for their candles used when they cast their spells. The Latin name of this plant family, verbascum, is thought to have come from a corruption of barbascum, from barba meaning beard, referring to its hairiness. Its has many other names and may be referred to as Shepherd’s or Jacob’s staff, because of its height, Feltwort, (because the hairy texture feels a little like the material felt), Clown’s Lungwort (it helps with lung congestion), White Ice leaf (its hairy appearance makes it look as though it is covered in frost), Hare’s Beard and Blanket Herb, are some of these.

Mullein Seeds

  Apart from using it for burning, it has also been used as insecticide as its leaves contain rotenone, and the fibres have been made into insulation material. It can be made into a yellow dye by boiling the flowers in water and if it is used with diluted sulphuric acid this produces a permanent green dye; if alkaloids are added to the liquid this will produce a brown dye. If you want to have golden tints in your hair then gather the yellow flowers and add a pint of boiling water and leave them to steep for at least 30 minutes then use the water to rinse your hair after shampooing and rinsing in ordinary water. This infusion of flowers can also be used to clean minor cuts and grazes, and you can also use it as a facial cleanser.

   Pick the flowers and put them in a glass jar filled to the top with them, then add olive oil and leave them to steep in a warm place, with the jar firmly sealed, for 2 weeks. You can use this oil (strained) and use a drop or two for earache, bruises or frostbite. You can add beeswax to the oil and use it to soothe a baby’s nappy rash and for sensitive skin.

   The leaves are best harvested in the first or second year in the autumn, but if you are collecting them from wild mullein, make sure the stem is not crooked; if it is this means that the soil contains chemicals, so avoid such plants for medicinal purposes. You can dry the leaves and smoke them in a “cigarette” to relieve asthma, lung congestion and hay fever, as well as other respiratory problems. These are also good to get rid of coughs. They can be used in poultices and applied externally on sunburn, ulcers, tumours and piles.

   Gerard the English herbalist writing in the 16^th century noted that “Figs do not putrifie at all that are wrapped in the leaves of Mullein”, so the antibacterial properties of the leaves were noted very early on.

   The whole plant has a narcotic and sedative effect, and the seeds which contain saponins have been used as a narcotic. Saponins have anti-inflammatory properties, and the leaves also contain powerfully active glycosides, and are used for their demulcent and astringent properties. They are mucilaginous too, as they contain a type of latex which has soothing properties. The decoction in milk which is made from them is effective in the treatment of diarrhoea and it strengthens the bowels. To make this you will need an ounce of dried leaves or the same number of fresh leaves, and 1 cup of milk. Boil the leaves in the milk for 10 minutes, then strain and drink 3 times a day with or without sugar or honey. If you boil the flowers with this, it will taste less bitter, and you can also add the leaves of Sweet Cicely to it. This stops coughs and helps with colds. For internal bleeding this is also said to be good.

   In Ayurvedic medicine the following is used for treating yeast infections such as thrush: - cayenne pepper, garlic finely chopped, white oak bark, mullein flowers and marsh mallow leaves, crushed and made into a soft ball which can be easily digested.

   The tisane is good for coughs, colds and respiratory problems. You should take a wineglass full 3 times a day. In Ayurvedic medicine it is used to allay anxiety and stress.

 The tisane will provide you with vitamins B2, 5 and 12, D, choline, beta-carotene,and the minerals iron, zinc, calcium and selenium among other constituents.

Mullein Flower

MULLEIN LEAF TISANE

Ingredients

1 tbsp of dried leaves or root or two fresh leaves

1 cup water

dried flowers of mullein

1 clove

½ inch piece of cinnamon

Method

Boil all the ingredients together for 10 mins then strain through a piece of muslin or other fine cloth so that the hairs do not get into your mouth and cause irritation.

This has Taste and is a Treat.

DIOSCOREA DELTOIDEA: ENDANGERED SPECIES BECAUSE OF MEDICINAL BENEFITS

DIOSCOREA  DELTOIDEA WALL.

The Dioscorea family of plants which includes the yam; this particular species is native to the Himalayas, western Pakistan and Afghanistan. It is very common in Swat and Kashmir, although it is endangered in India. Dioscorea were named after the ancient Greek physician and botanist, Dioscorides.

  This plant is special (and endangered) because its tubers contain diosgenin, which is a phytoestrogen that can be chemically converted into the hormone progesterone. The conversion cannot take place in the body though. Diosgenin is a basis for anti-fertility drugs such as the contraceptive pill, of cortisone and sex-hormones, such as testosterone and supplements are used by body builders to increase their testosterone levels and build muscle mass. So although most pharmaceutical companies now use synthetic materials in their drug production the dietary supplement industry prides itself on using natural ingredients, thus threatening the continued existence of many plants. Dioscorea deltoidea has been discovered by the body building world and they consider it better or on par with Tribulus terrestris or Puncture Vine and fenugreek. This plant boosts testosterone levels and so not only helps body builders build muscle mass but also helps with erectile dysfunctions, including premature ejaculation.

   Traditionally the plant has been used as an anti-rheumatic and to treat ophthalmic conditions. In the West it has been used as a source of steroid drugs. It has also been used to rid the body of intestinal parasites, and women use it to wash shawls and woollen cloth.

   You can’t eat it, but you could try our sweet potato recipe.

VITAMIN B COMPLEX: WHAT THESE ARE, WHY WE NEED THEM: FOODS TO EAT

VITAMINS B:WHY WE NEED THEM AND WHICH FOODS CONTAIN THEM

Our bodies need all the B-complex vitamins in order to function normally. They have antioxidant properties and help the organs, production of blood and tissue cells, help slow the aging process and lift our mood due to their actions on the brain. You will note that these vitamins are not the full sequence of numbers, but these listed here are all the B group vitamins currently known. Some are not now classed as vitamins and these have been noted.

Vitamin B1-thiamine.This is found in oatmeal and flax, sunflower seeds and pastas. The body needs this to convert the carbohydrates we eat into energy and to stimulate the amino acids.

Vitamin B2-riboflavin. This is found in mushrooms, almonds, dairy products, leafy green vegetables and asparagus, some fruits such as persimmons, liver and kidneys. It is also added to energy drinks and used as a food additive (in yellow–orange powdered form) in pasta, sauces etc. It is needed for normal growth, and helps in the treatment of jaundice, is good for the liver functions and may help reduce migraines. It is also good for the eyes.

Vitamin B3-niacin. This is essential for healthy cells and the production of steroid hormones produced in the adrenal gland, such as testosterone and oestrogen. It is found in avocados, dates, tomatoes, leafy green vegetables, mushrooms, nuts, offal, chicken, tuna, salmon, eggs and milk and other food items.

Vitamin B4-adenine. This is no longer considered a B vitamin, but it helps bind niacin and riboflavin.

Vitamin B5-pantothenic acid. This gets its name from the Greek, pantothen meaning from everywhere, and is found in almost every food as the name suggests. It is especially high in cereals and beans and lentils, eggs, meat and royal jelly, as well as in broccoli and avocados. It is an energy booster and can help in sleep disorders, wound healing, hair growth, acne and diabetes.

Vitamin B6- pyridoxal and pyridoxamine. This plays a role in helping amino acids convert into other chemical substances in the body. It has many uses in this way, but perhaps the one that is most important to our general well-being is that it converts tryptophan to serotonin, which makes us fell happy. Vitamin B6 helps the neurotransmitters function normally and helps the function of haemoglobin as well as its synthesis and that of histamine. It is good for the eyes and the brain and can be found in meats, whole grains, and their products, vegetables and nuts and also bananas. However boiling foods can destroy up to 50% of this vitamin as can the freezing and canning processes. It’s better to eat nuts and bananas to be sure of getting this vitamin.

Vitamin B7 – biotin. This one regulates the blood sugar levels, strengthens hair and nails, and is good for skin. It is also called Vitamin H which comes from the German “Haar und haut,” meaning hair and skin. It is also good for diabetics. It is found in liver, egg yolks, grains and some vegetables.

Vitamin B8 – adenosine monophosphate (AMP). This consists of vitamin B4 (adenine) and the sugar, ribose. It improves the transmission of information between cells by the neurotransmitters.

Vitamin B9 – folic acid or folate. This is essential for normal body functions. We need folate to synthesize and repair DNA and this is necessary for normal growth and healthy red blood cells. Folate comes from the Latin word for leaf-folium and as the name suggests it can be found in leafy greens such as turnip tops, spinach and asparagus. It is also present in beans, peas, lentils, liver and baker’s yeast among other things. Broccoli, brussel sprouts, tomatoes, oranges, bananas, strawberries and raspberries are also excellent sources of this vitamin. It is also found in fortified bread, pasta and breakfast cereals.

Vitamin B12 – cyanocobalamin. This is essential for the production of healthy red blood cells. It is also the name given to a class of chemicals which act in the same way as cyanocobalamin.

Vitamin B13 – orotic acid. This is now known not to be a vitamin, but is manufactured by the body.

Vitamin B17 – amygdalin. This is found in apricot kernels and almonds (Prunus dulcis) and comes from the Greek amygdalin meaning almond or almond shaped. There has been some controversy surrounding this as it has also been called laetrile and touted as a cure for cancer. Here is a statement from the US Food and Drug Administration, which still seeks jail sentences for those who sell it as an anti-cancer treatment. [Laetrile is a] “highly toxic product that has not shown any effect on healing cancer.”

THE HIMALAYAN YEW: HISTORICAL USES AND MODERN CANCER TREATMENT

 

THE HIMALAYAN YEW, TAXUS WALLICHIANA

The Himalayan yew is one of the many species of yew tree that grow in temperate zones around the world. Unfortunately this yew is an endangered species of tree due to its capacity to provide taxol from its bark. Taxol is an effective anti-cancer drug used in cancer chemotherapy, and was first discovered in the Pacific yew. When this species was virtually on the verge of extinction, botanists and scientists found that taxol could also be obtained from Taxus Wallichiana, and now the same fate faces this tree.

  Taxol is effective against breast and ovarian cancer treatments, although alone it has a 56% success rate in treating beast cancer and only a 30 % success rate of treating ovarian cancer when combined with other drugs it has more than 60 % success rate. Male trees yield more taxol than female trees.

   In the remote Himalayan regions where this evergreen coniferous tree grows, I is used in traditional medicine which has its roots in prehistoric times and which uses soil, herbs and the roots and bark as well as other parts of trees to cure illnesses, along with ‘magic’ rites. The people who inhabit these regions believe in local gods; some of them were people who have been deified such as Bhola Nath, Gollu Devata and Lakiya Bhut, but others are far more primitive gods. Illnesses are believed to come form the gods and they are appeased with offerings and ceremonies performed by the shamanic priest or Poochari. These people are not sure which specific ingredient cures an illness, but will mix them together in the ways of their ancestors.

   In Unani medicine (this means Greek and was introduced to the Indian subcontinent by the Arabs in ancient times) in the Indian subcontinent, the bark and needles of the Himalayan Yew tree are used as a sedative, aphrodisiac and for respiratory illnesses and are also used to treat snake bites and scorpion stings. In Ayurvedic medicine the same parts of the Himalayan Yew are used for headaches, diarrhoea and a number of other ailments.

   The bark of the tree is also used to make butter tea, and the wood from the tree is used for timber to construct dwellings in the area. In medicines in this area the needles (leaves) are used as is the young tree bark. In Pakistan the branches are used as fodder for animals, but the foliage and seeds are toxic. The only edible part of the tree is the red outer casing of the fruit or seed. This is pulpy and apparently sweet. Although the tree is classed as coniferous, it doesn’t yield cones like a pine tree, only the seeds encased in the pulpy red aril (seed casing).