WHAT IS PURSLANE? KULFA IN URDU - INFORMATION: MEDICINAL BENEFITS AND USES OF PURSLANE: PURSLANE AND MARIGOLD SALAD RECIPE

PURSLANE, KULFA, PORTULACA OLEOROSA

There are different types of purslane including the common purslane (Portulaca oleorosa) and Golden Purslane (Portulaca sativa). They are both weeds and grow in abundance once they take hold in a garden or in the wild. The Latin name Portulaca means little doors, referring to the way the seed pods burst open. They are native to the Indian subcontinent and the Western Himalayan region through to Russia and Greece, and were indigenous to the Persian Empire, so grow in North Africa, Iran and the Middle East. Golden purslane is so called because it has golden coloured leaves, rich in beta-carotene. Common purslane has green leaves and yellow flowers.

  They can be used in salads, especially the young leaves and tender tips of stems. This is perhaps the best way to use purslane to take full advantage of its many health benefits. It has been traditionally used as a herb for soups and stews and is famously used in the French soup Bonne Femme with equal quantities of sorrel. However, when purslane is overcooked it goes slimy and is not at its best. It tastes a little like watercress or spinach.

  In Pakistan we eat purslane or Kulfa or Kulfa falooda in saags with methi (fenugreek leaves) and spinach and it tastes delicious. It is full of vitamins including vitamin A (good for eyesight), the B-complex vitamins, and vitamins C and E and also contains Omega-3 fatty acids which are usually found in some fish oils. This makes purslane ideal for vegetarians who normally wouldn’t get Omega-3 from many foodstuffs. Omega-3 fatty acids are good for the skin and help to prevent the ravages of the aging process, as well as strengthening the immune system. It also helps to lower cholesterol levels and helps to reduce the incidence of heart disease. It also contains the minerals; calcium magnesium, potassium, folate and lithium. Glutathione is also present (this boosts the immune system and is a detoxifying agent) as well as many bioflavonoids and amino acids, and because of its constituents it has a powerful antioxidant effect in the body. Betatin is also present in purslane and this also has potent antioxidant properties. Coenzyme Q10 has been identified in this plant and this helps to reduce the visible signs of aging. Pectin is also present in purslane and this helps to lower cholesterol levels too.

   Purslane was cultivated as a vegetable and a medicinal herb in ancient Egypt and was used as both in ancient Greece and Rome. The ancient Greeks made flour for bread from the ground seeds. Hippocrates used it as a wound healer as well as to bring down the temperature in fevers, for ‘female problems’ stomach aches and piles. Later, in the first century AD Dioscorides used it for inflamed eyes, to relieve headaches and fevers and to get rid of internal worms. He also mentioned that it “reduces the desire to fornicate” and as it contains norepinephrin which causes a reduction of the blood flow around the body by contracting the main arteries, it probably does lower the libido.

  In mediaeval times the Arabs referred to purslane as “the blessed vegetable” and it was cultivated as one in Europe in the 13^th and 14^th centuries. In the 17^th century in Britain it was combined in salads with basil, cress, rocket and garlic as a cure for the common cold.

Golden Purslane

  Gerard says that purslane is good to chew if you have sensitive teeth after they have been set on edge by something you have eaten, lemons for example. Culpeper has this to say about purslane:

  “If the herb is placed under the tongue, it assuageth thirst. Applied to the gout, it easeth the pains thereof and helps harden the sinews, if it come not of the cramp or a cold cause.”

In the 16^th and 17^th centuries the seeds were boiled in wine and given to children to get rid of worms. It has had a number of uses in traditional medicine in Asia and Europe and has been used to treat burns, to relieve headaches, to help problems of the liver and help with arthritis. It has also been used as a heart tonic as a diuretic, an anti-inflammatory and muscle relaxant. Zulus use it as an emetic, and the ancient Romans believed it could cure dysentery. In the Indian subcontinent it is used as a remedy for liver complaints, dysentery and a general health tonic. It is currently used in men’s skin care preparations to soothe razor burn and irritated skin and to tone down redness of the skin.

Golden Purslane

   Juice can be extracted from the leaves and stems and used in combination with rose oil as a mouthwash. The juice has anti-microbial and anti-fungal properties.

 You can use it in sandwiches instead of lettuce and pickles, and an old Italian recipe mixes purslane with fresh coriander, garden cress, borage and mint. If you use fresh purslane you need to wash it thoroughly as soil sticks to it, and you may need to use several changes of water. It can be pickled in cider vinegar with garlic and black peppercorns, and the recipe below comes from the chefs of Charles II’s court in the 17^th century.

PURSLANE AND MARIGOLD SALAD

Ingredients 

2 handfuls of purslane, cleaned thoroughly and dried

4 handfuls lettuce leaves

small bunch of chervil, chopped

borage flowers

marigold petals

olive oil

lemon juice or wine vinegar

salt and pepper to taste

Method

Mix the olive oil and lemon juice and put all the other ingredients into a salad bowl.

Toss thoroughly in the lemon and olive oil dressing.

Serve.

This has Taste and is a Treat.

LEMONS ( KAGZI NIMBOO) - INFORMATION: HEALTH BENEFITS AND USES OF LEMONS: PATATES STOU FOURNOU LIMONATES RECIPE

LEMONS, CITRUS LIMONUM

When is a lemon not a lemon? When it is a lemon but called a Key lime (Citrus aurantifolia). Confused? So was I when I encountered this citrus fruit in Pakistan, as it was definitely yellow and a lemon, but small, round and the size of a tennis ball. There are other kinds of lemons in Pakistan too, all native, the paper lemon, (or kagzi nimboo in Urdu) one with a lumpy skin called a rough lemon (Citrus jambhiri or desi nimboo in Urdu) and others, which I have yet to come across, allegedly. I have picked and eaten a lemon the size of a grapefruit in southern Turkey, and know now that they come in all shapes and sizes; so the lemon that is most common in Europe, with nodules at both ends, may not be recognizable as a lemon in all countries and cultures. The lemon tree is a member of the Rutaceae family along with the curry leaf plant.

   It was the juice of the key lime that was taken by the British sailors on long voyages to Australia in the 18^th century and perhaps why the Brits were (and still are) known as Limeys in Oz. Another possible reason given for this nickname is that the British sailors used lime twigs to clean their teeth.

   The history of the lemon tree is a little complicated as all lemons are thought to have originated in Asia, and probably in the Indian subcontinent and what was then the Persian Empire. Whatever the case, they made their way into Europe via the Arab traders and were cultivated in Italy from around 200 AD when they were introduced. They were also cultivated in Greece and so in Asia Minor (Turkey and its neighbouring countries) around the same time. Lemons made their way to the American continent and the Caribbean by means of the Portuguese and Spanish explorers in the 16^th century, with Christopher Columbus taking seeds to the island of Hispaniola in 1495.

   Like other citrus fruits including mandarins and the kinow , Satsuma’s, tangerines, limes, oranges, pommelo, grapefruit and kumquats they have great health benefits. They contain more vitamin C than other fruits and a chef once informed me that the vitamin C from lemons was more easily retained by the body than from other citrus fruits. They also contain a whole host of other vitamins and minerals and in lab tests extracts of lemons were shown to kill the HIV virus. However studies are still continuing into this area of research. It is also suggested that they are a potential anti-cancer food, but again this has yet to be proved beyond a shadow of doubt. In history lemon juice has been used as a contraceptive and in lab tests conducted in Australia in 2002 it was found that the juice could kill sperm, although it is not clear what effects long-term use of lemon juice would have on the uterus and vagina. Gargling with lemon juice and hot water relieves sore throats and lemon juice rubbed on the skin keeps biting insects away. (It smells better than some repellants too.)

  The essential oil of lemon comes from the skin and this is also an insect repellant and a few drops in water can be substituted for fresh lemon juice. If a recipe calls for a few drops of lemon juice you can prick a lemon with a toothpick and squeeze a few drops out of it and the lemon will stay fresh for use later. Oil can also be expressed from lemon seeds. Some lemon oil is distilled from the twigs and immature fruits for the perfume industry in some parts of the world.

  Lemons are antiscorbutic and were carried onboard early sailing ships to prevent scurvy. They also have astringent qualities as well as being anti-viral, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, good for getting rid of internal worms and parasites, and good for the skin and complexion. They are also believed to be an antidepressant and I suppose this makes sense as the smell of lemons would raise anyone’s spirits. They are also said to be good for nervous disorders and to regulate blood pressure. The problem with lemon juice is that it can take the enamel off the teeth, and although it is good for gingivitis (bleeding gums) it should not be used for a prolonged period of time. The sweetened juice is believed to be a good remedy for upset stomachs in Italy, and hot water, honey and lemon juice is good for colds, especially if a little finely grated ginger root is added. In Italy lemon juice in water is taken as a mild laxative.

  A decoction of the root of the lemon tree has been used in Cuba to treat fevers and in West Africa is prescribed for gonorrhea.

  Lemon juice is good for the skin, and will remove bacteria from wounds and prevent infection. If you have sallow skin, lemon juice will help the skin look fresher. It is a wonderful natural skin toner and will help stop sunburn too. It is reputed to remove freckles and other skin blemishes too.

  Lemon juice is also a stain remover; to remove stains from material, rub salt into a slice of lemon and then rub this on the stain you want to remove. This will also clean copper-bottomed pans. If you have lemons in the house you can use them to disinfect chopping boards, and to clean ovens. To do the latter you need to mix the juice from 2 lemons with ½ a cup of bicarbonate of soda and a little water so that you have a paste. Then spread this paste onto the oven walls and heat the oven at a low temperature for 10 minutes. When it is cool, scrape the paste off the walls, and you’ll have an amazingly clean oven. You can entertain children with lemon juice too as it makes invisible ink. Dip a quill in lemon juice and write on the paper. Leave to dry and then heat the paper (try an iron) and the brown writing will appear. Add lemon juice to washing up or rinsing water to give glasses and plates etc an extra gleam.

  Buy lemons in bulk when they are in season and squeeze out the juice and freeze it in ice-cube trays. When it is frozen, seal in bags and keep in the freezer so that you have a year’s supply of fresh lemon juice. Lemon juice quenches your thirst and you could try our recipe for a cooling drink skanjveen.

  The University of Maryland’s Greenebaum Cancer Center recommends fruits, especially those with dark colours for people with cancer and as they have strong antioxidant properties, they can be used by everyone for the health benefits they give. They particularly mention avocados, berry fruits, grapes, pomegranates, citrus fruits and dried fruits such as dates and apricots.

   Why not try this healthy Greek recipe for potatoes in the oven with lemon juice?

PATATES STOU FOURNOU LIMONATES

Ingredients

4 lbs potatoes peeled and quartered or cut into 6 pieces depending on the size

1 cup olive oil

1/3 cup of lemon juice

2 tbsps fresh oregano (2 tsps dried)

6-8 cloves garlic finely chopped

chicken stock (see our recipe)

salt and pepper to taste

Method

Par boil the potatoes for 10 minutes, then drain thoroughly and toss in olive oil, oregano, salt and pepper and lemon juice in the baking pan.

Put enough chicken stock in the pan to half cover the potatoes.

Cover the pan with aluminium foil and place in the oven which has been preheated to 350˚ F.

Cook for 40 mins and then test to see if the potatoes are almost done. If they, are add a little more chicken stock so that they don’t stick to the bottom of the pan and cook uncovered for 20 mins to brown them.

This has Taste and is a Treat.

WHAT IS KELA? BANANA: HEALTH BENEFITS , USES AND HISTORY OF BANANAS: EASY BANOFFEE PIE RECIPE

BANANAS, KELA IN URDU, MUSA SAPIENTA

Bananas probably need no introduction but there are some interesting facts about them that you may not know. The banana tree isn’t actually a tree although it can grow to heights of between 10 and 26 feet; it is actually the world’s largest known herb. The flowers which are the precursors of the fruit are absolutely beautiful and this is perhaps not so surprising as it is a member of the orchid and lily family of plants.

  In Pakistan bananas are small, and the name banana actually comes from the Arabic word for finger, banan. The trees I have been up close to do not seem to be well rooted, as they will topple if shoved hard. I know this because the owner of this site was once trying to get rid of a large member of the lizard family that was calling “uck oo” which sounded remarkably as though it was being insulting, outside our bedroom window in Thailand. The poor lizard got a shock when the tree was pushed and fell over. It left us alone at night after that.

   Bananas have an interesting history. It is believed that they originated in Malaysia and were spread from there by travellers across South East Asia through to India in South Asia. They are mentioned in 6^th century BC Indian manuscripts, in Pali writings and Alexander the Great first tasted them around 327 BC in his campaign in India. Contrary to some beliefs, he did not introduce them to Europe. They were cultivated in China in 200BC but didn’t become popular until the early 20^th century, as they were considered exotic fruit. Somehow they found their way to the island of Madagascar off the south eastern coast of Africa, and were discovered by the Arab slave traders and taken to Guinea in West Africa, where the Portuguese explorers found them in 1402. They introduced them into the Canary Islands, and they were cultivated there. A Portuguese Franciscan monk took them from there to the Caribbean island of Santa Domingo in 1516 and by 1633 a greengrocer was selling the exotic banana in a shop in London. There is a wood cut engraving of a bunch of bananas in Gerard’s “Herball” in the 1633 edition, although it is not known how the banan came to be on British soil. In the days before refrigeration the fruit could not have survived a voyage from the Caribbean, so perhaps they were grown in hot houses in the UK. However, this is pure speculation as no one actually seems to know how they got to that green grocer’s shop. They didn’t arrive in America until they were sold at a festival to commemorate the 100^th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence in Pennsylvania in 1876 when they were sold for 10 cents each, wrapped in silver foil.

   Now the banana is one of the world’s most popular fruit after the tomato, ranked at number two or three. In the UK alone, people eat around 12 kgs of bananas per head every year and that’s a lot of bananas.

   The banana has been so popular that it has inspired songs such as “Yes, We Have No Bananas” by Frank Silver and Irving Cohn, from the Broadway revue of the early 20^th century. This was popularized once more in Britain during the Second World War when there were no bananas imported, much to the disgruntlement of the population. Then there is the Jamaican mento (a precursor of reggae and calypso) folksong “The Banana Boat Song” (a.k.a. “Day-O”) popularized by Harry Belafonte in 1956.

   Of course there are the old music hall jokes of people having the misfortune to slip on a banana skin too. We also have the term Banana Republic to describe a small country which is not democratic or economically and politically stable, and Woody Allen’s film “Bananas” from 1971. Then there’s the term “to go bananas” meaning to be temporarily crazy.

  Bananas are packed with fibre and so prevent constipation so reducing the risk of colon cancer and piles. If you eat a banana a day you will lower the risk of getting many diseases. They are good for anaemia because of their iron content and are rich in potassium, which means that they are good for brain power. The US Food and Drug Administration have allowed banana producers to claim that they can reduce high blood pressure and help to minimize the risk of strokes. They have vitamins A, C and B-complex vitamins along with other minerals, zinc, calcium and magnesium so have powerful antioxidant properties. They also contain tryptophan (an amino acid)which the body converts to serotonin, known as the happiness substance, which helps lift depression and regulates moods so is good for PMS/PMT sufferers as vitamin B6 regulates blood glucose levels and is effective with serotonin. The B-complex vitamins also calm the nervous system, and sufferers from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) also benefit from eating bananas. They are also good to soothe the stomach, and have an antacid effect so relieve heartburn and indigestion. Banana milkshakes are good for hangovers, especially if honey is added as the milk rehydrates the body and soothes the stomach while the honey increases depleted blood sugar levels. The bananas also calm the troubled stomach. Bananas are also good for people with stomach ulcers and even the skin can be used to relieve the irritation caused by insect bites. Put the inside of the skin on the bite for more or less instant relief. People also swear that if you put the inside of a banana skin on a wart and secure it with a sticking plaster, it will get rid of the wart. Bananas are also good for the eyes, as are carrots and wimberries.

   The recipe below is a favourite in Britain and although it is not particularly healthy it is delightful if you are not a diabetic.

BANOFFEE PIE

Ingredients

Base

4 oz melted butter

10 oz digestive biscuits (wheat biscuits), crushed

Filling

4 oz butter

4 oz soft, dark brown sugar (muscovado)

400 gr condensed milk

Topping

4 small bananas, chopped

300 ml double (thick) cream, whipped lightly

Method

First of all grease an 8inch loose bottomed cake tin and then mix the melted butter with the crushed biscuits.

Put this mixture into the tin and flatten it so that it coats the bottom of the tin and the sides up to 1½ inches, evenly.

Put in the fridge to chill while making the filling.

Put the sugar and the butter in a pan and melt the butter over a low heat, stirring constantly until the butter has melted and the sugar has dissolved, then slowly add the condensed milk and continue stirring.

Bring the mixture to the boil, stirring continuously and when it starts to boil, remove the pan from the heat.

Pour the mixture into the base and chill for at least an hour.

Just before you are ready to serve the pie, mix the bananas with the cream and pile on top of it.

You can also add walnuts to the cream and top it with grated chocolate or drizzle melted dark chocolate over it. Delicious!

This has Taste and is a Treat.

STRAWBERRY - HISTORY AND MEDICINAL USES: STRAWBERRY AND CUCUMBER SALAD EASY RECIPE

STRAWBERRIES, FRAGARIA x ANANASSA

It’s strawberry and cream time again, although in Pakistan strawberries (also called the same in Urdu) they are a burgundy colour rather than the red of European strawberries. To me they are irresistible, although some people are allergic to them and so are others if they eat too many of them at a sitting. They can bring out a red rash on sensitive skins, so eat them in moderation.

  Wild strawberries, Fragaria vesca, grow in many parts of the world, and these have a very different taste from the common or garden strawberry that is ubiquitous today. Fragaria in Latin means fragrant, which aptly describes this fruit. This should not be surprising as they are members of the rose family of plants. Strawberries are delicious for tortoises and green snakes, as I know from first-hand experience. The tortoise I had as a child once frightened me because its mouth was red and I thought it was bleeding, but on closer inspection it had been gorging on strawberries in the garden and was covered in their sweet red juice. In Greece little green snakes, which are not particularly venomous, tend to gather in strawberry fields, so be careful.

  The strawberry we know today was developed early in the 18^th century after a Frenchman took seeds from Fragaria chileonensis, the South American variety, back to Europe and successfully crossed these with the Virginian strawberry which was imported from North America into Europe. This hybrid is the strawberry we have today, although there are now many cultivars.

  The strawberry is the only fruit so far discovered which has seeds on its exterior, and they can contain as many as 200 seeds. They are rich in vitamins and minerals as well as containing amino acids. Beta-carotene is also present in strawberries so they are a valuable, as well as delicious, fruit to include in our diets. They have a high sugar content, though so are not so good if you are trying to lose weight. Among other things they contain vitamins A, C, E, K and the B-complex vitamins, and are a good source of calcium, iron, potassium, phosphorous, manganese, copper and zinc with a little selenium too. The vitamins and minerals present in strawberries have potent antioxidant properties so they are very good for our health. They are also rich in bioflavonoids and some of these can reduce the rate of reproduction of cancerous cells, although not all phytonutrients and bioflavonoids in the strawberry have been identified, it is believed.

  They are good for us as cosmetic preparations too, as if you cut a strawberry and apply it to your face, it will remove a slight sunburn and whiten the complexion. If it is a bad sunburn you should apply strawberry juice to the affected area and leave it on for half an hour before rinsing it off with warm water. Try to avoid using soap to wash it off though as this may cause irritation.

   Strawberry roots have been traditionally used in medicine to make a tisane, as have the leaves which is said to stop diarrhoea and dysentery. Take a handful of fresh leaves to a cup of boiling water and allow them to steep for 10 – 15 mins before straining and drinking a few cups a day.

   Strawberries are wonderful on their own, but you could try this salad with a difference.

STRAWBERRY AND CUCUMBER SALAD

Ingredients

½ kilo fresh strawberries

1 cucumber, peeled and cut into slices

freshly ground black pepper

Method

Halve the strawberries and mix with the cucumber slices.

Grind black peppercorns over them to taste.

This might sound a little strange, but the pepper really brings out the flavour of the strawberries. You can use the cucumber peel as a skin toner and place a slice of it over each eye to get rid of puffiness.

This has Taste and is a Treat.

BANABA TREE - INFORMATION: MEDICINAL BENEFITS AND USES OF BANABA TREE: HOW TO MAKE BANABA LEAF TISANE

BANABA TREE, PRIDE OF INDIA, LAGERSTROEMIA SPECIOSA

The Banaba Tree or Pride of India has many other names including Queen’s Flower and Crape Myrtle.  It is native to the Indian subcontinent where it grows wild and cultivated, and to the Philippines, South East Asia, Indonesia and Australia. It has been introduced into parts of tropical Africa, Jamaica and the USA. At the beginning of the year it starts to lose its leaves which have turned bright red or orange by that season. It can reach heights of up to 25 metres and is fast-growing (so is used as a nurse tree for slower growing saplings) with an extensive root system so is useful to stop soil erosion. It is also used as a living fence, and various items are made from its wood, including poles, decorative items and furniture. It is also used for construction and cut down for fuel by local people, who also use it for charcoal. Its bark produces a yellow dye too. However since its medicinal properties have been recognized by the West it is now an important medicinal plant and has been used for thousands of years in the Indian subcontinent as well as the Philippines and the rest of South East Asia to treat diabetes and low blood sugar levels.

   It contains corosolic acid, ellagitannins (in the fruit and leaves), triterpenoids, amino acids and flavonoids. Extensive studies of the leaves made in Japan confirmed the use of extracts from the leaves for diabetes. The corosolic acid lowers blood pressure and has insulin-like properties as do some of the amino acids, and this is what makes it so attractive to researchers. The leaves contain the minerals manganese and zinc among others, and it has been discovered that one of the side effects of banaba is very positive as it helps reduce weight and so banaba can be found in many weight control formulae in the US. Extracts obtained from the seeds (said to be narcotic) have powerful antioxidant properties and the ellagic acid compounds in banaba are being researched to discover if they can help in the treatment of HIV. Banaba may have antibiotic properties too. In fact it might provide a few “wonder drugs” after more research has been done into its properties and their effects on people. The whole plant can be used medicinally but not all parts have been researched as yet.

BANABA LEAF TISANE

Ingredients

1 cup chopped banaba leaves

2 cups boiling water

Method

Boil the leaves in water for 30 mins.

Strain and drink.

This has Taste and is a Treat(ment).

  

KINOW MANDARIN OR KINO - INFORMATION: HEALTH BENEFITS AND USES OF KINOW MANDARIN

KINOW MANDARIN CITRUS RETICULATA

Kinow or kino mandarins (pronounced keen-oo) are a relative newcomer to the citrus fruit family, although the parent plants from which they come have a very long history. In the 15^th century in the Indian subcontinent, citrus trees were only grown in the Mughul emperors’ gardens or in those of the ruling élite as in those times they were considered luxury crops. The King Orange or Shahi sangtara grew in the emperors’ gardens and along with the “willow leaf” orange, was a parent of the kinow. The name comes from king and willow. The first kinows were produced in 1951 by H.B. Frost, a citrus breeder, at the Citrus Research center at the University of California. By 1958 kinow mandarins were being grown in Pakistan and are now largely grown in the Sarghoda and Bhalawal districts in Pakistan’s Punjab province.

  Kinow have loose skins which are easily peeled, and the peel is used in various sweet dishes. It contains essential oil which is used in the perfume industry and in skin care preparations.

   Kinow mandarins contain beta-carotene which has powerful antioxidant properties and helps the skin resist damage caused by the sun. It also contains limonene which is believed to be a potent anti-cancer agent which also has the ability to lower cholesterol levels. Apart from these constituents it also has vitamin A and a high vitamin C content as well as the minerals iron, calcium and phosphorous. They have a high juice content and this is good with carrot juice-the combination provides us with a lot of vitamin A which is beneficial for the eyesight as it can help prevent macular degeneration. Just one kinow provides more than the recommended daily amount of vitamin C so it is a powerful little fruit, and a very tasty one. We have been eating them since November and they will be with us until (hopefully) the end of May.

  Pakistan is one of the biggest producers of the world’s supplies of kinow although it has been threatened recently with a greening disease. Citrus fruits have been grown in the subcontinent and other parts of Asia since around 4,000 BC, and they spread to Europe via North Africa and the Arab traders. The kinow has the same roots as the lemon although it is a new fruit. Soon a seedless variety will hit the supermarket shelves in Europe and the Middle East, having been developed by researchers in Pakistan.

BIRCH TREE - POETS' MUSE: HEALTH BENEFITS AND USES OF THE BIRCH TREE

WHITE BIRCH, SILVER BIRCH, BETULA ALBA, BETULA PENDULA

The white or silver Birch tree is a common sight in Europe, and native to many European countries including the British Isles, growing from the Italian island of Sicily through to Iceland, and it is also a native of  Northern Asia. Betula was the Latin name for this tree, and pendula refers to the way the branches of birch trees tend to droop, while alba means white. The name birch may have come from Sanskrit bhurga and then it would mean the “tree whose bark was used for writing on” as birch bark can be used for this purpose. It also derives from the Anglo-Saxon, beorgan which of course is closer to the Sanskrit word and means ‘to protect or shelter.’

   It has been used for centuries for a variety of ailments and researchers are currently investigating the properties of betulin and betulinic acid obtained from the bark of the tree to discover if they have anti-tumour properties in people as they have demonstrated such properties in the lab. It is also thought that betulinic acid might help in the treatment of HIV.

  Apart from its uses in medicine the young branches and twigs are used in Scandinavia after saunas to promote blood circulation. These were also used in the past as rods by schoolmasters to chastise children. They were also used as whips and the phrase to “give someone the birch” means to use the branches of this tree to whip someone.  Shakespeare alludes to this use of the birch in his play “Measure for Measure.”

  The birch has also inspired poets, both in Europe and North America. Robert Frost’s poem, “Birches” is perhaps the most famous: _

    “When I see birches bend to left and right

     Across the lines of straighter, darker trees,

     I like to think that some boy’s been swinging on hem

                 ………………

     One could do worse than be a swinger of birches.”

In 1802 the poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge wrote “The Picture or The Lover’s Resolution” in which he calls the birch:

    “…most beautiful

    Of forest trees, the Lady of the Woods”

He mentions birches in yet another poem, “The Ballad of the Dark Ladie”:

    “Beneath you birch with silver bark

     And boughs so pendulous and fair,

     The brook falls scattered down the rock

     And all is mossy there.”

Other British Romantic poets also include the birch in their poetry, with John Keats in the fragment we have left of “Calidore” calls it the “delicate tree” and Wordsworth in his Sonnet to “The River Duddon” mentions the colour of the birch trunks:-

   “…ashes flung their arms around;

    And birch trees risen in silver colonnades”

These trees also figure in his poem “An Evening Walk”

    “Where, mixed with graceful birch, the sombrous pine

      And yew-tree o’er the silver rocks recline”

 F.S. Flint in the early 20^th century in his Poems in Unrhymed Cadence has this to say of the birch

  “London, my beautiful,

    it is not the sunset,

    nor the pale green sky

    shimmering through the curtain

    of the silver birch”

In “The Cuckoo Wood” by Edmund Beale Sargant, there are these lines about the birch;-

    “A stranger wood you shall not find!

      Beech and birch and oak agree

      Here to dwell in company.

        .     .     .     .     .      .    .

      Silver birch would you endeavour

      Trembling in your bridal dress

      To win at last a dog’s caress?”

Clearly the tree is beautiful to have inspired such lines.

 In spring the birch flowers appear and hang from the twigs like “lamb’s tails” which is the popular name for these catkins. The young shoots and leaves produce a resinous substance which is used as a laxative, purifier and tonic in spring, and the tree, when tapped exudes a sugary substance which has been made into beer, wine and spirits in Europe for centuries.

   The birch tree is a powerful symbol in Celtic and Scandinavian mythology as they are among the first trees to come into leaf in the spring. They were associated with the Scandinavian goddesses Freya, Frigga and the Anglo-Saxon goddess of spring, Eoster from whose name the word Easter comes. In Celtic mythology birch trees are symbols of fertility and were used in Beltane (Midsummer) celebrations and Beltane fires in Scotland used to be made from birch and oak branches. They were associated with the White Goddess, who was both the life giver and bringer of death when she appeared in the form of a crone or the carrion eating sow.

   At one time in Britain birch branches were decorated with red and white cloth at Beltane and used to prop shut stable doors to prevent horses being hag-ridden, (it was believed that witches would steal the horses and ride them until they were so fatigued that they could die) or having their manes tangled and knotted by mischievous fairies.

   In the early 19^th century people of the lower classes would consider themselves married if they jumped over a broom made from birch twigs and branches that was held over a threshold.

   At Samhein, the beginning of the Celtic New Year, birch brooms were used to expel the old year and any evil that was left over from the past and clean and purify dwellings.

  Botanists believe that the birch was the first tree to colonize what would have been a very barren landscape after the last Ice Age, as they are a very hardy, resilient tree so regard them as a “pioneer species.”

   Birch branches used to be used in thatching and were the wattles in wattle and daub walls and ceilings. Birch oil has been used in tanning to make leather resistant to mould, and this was used especially in Russia and books bound in what was called “Russia leather” did not decay as fast as other books in the days when they were mainly bound in leather. The oil was also used as an insect repellant and could be used on the skin to stop insects biting. It was good for skin problems as it has astringent properties and is used to treat warts and eczema. A decoction of birch bark can also be made for skin problems as can the tisane.

   The leaves can be made into a tisane and used to treat gout and arthritis as it seems to dissolve the toxic substances which accumulate around the joints. It was also used to disperse kidney stones. A decoction of the inner bark was used to reduce fevers and the spring sap which exudes from the trees was considered a diuretic and excellent spring tonic. This and the bark are believed to have sedative qualities.
  The Physicians of Myddfai had this remedy for impotence: - "For impotency. Take some birch, digest in water, and drink."

  The oil from young birch leaves blends well with oils of jasmine, rosemary and sandalwood and can be used in bath water to relieve muscle pains. It has pain relieving properties as well as being antiseptic and astringent among others and is good for arthritis and rheumatism. It can be used like wintergreen (Gaultheria procumbens) oil in massage treatment. Birch buds in a decoction or tisane are believed to promote hair growth and get rid of dandruff if used in a rinse. You can also put the bruised leaves or powdered ones in bath water to relieve pains.

  The leaves contain vitamin C and saponins and flavonoids.

BIRCH BARK TISANE

Ingredients

1 tsp birch bark

1 cup boiling water

Method

Pour the boiling water over the birch bark and leave to steep for 15 mins. Strain and drink.

You can drink 2-5 cups a day. It is also good to used externally for skin problems.

This has Taste and is a Treat(ment).

 

COWSLIP( PRIMULA VERIS): MEDICINAL BENEFITS AND USES OF COWSLIP: HOW TO MAKE COWSLIP TISANE AND DECOCTION OF COWSLIP ROOT

COWSLIP, PRIMULA VERIS

How the cowslip got its name is a matter of conjecture, as some believe that it is a corruption of cousleek from the Anglo-Saxon leac meaning plant (compare this with houseleek), and others believing that it is derived from the Anglo-Saxon for cow pat “couslyppe”) with the latter seeming most plausible as they tend to grow where cows have been. The cowslip is native to Europe and West Asia and grow in temperate zones in Pakistan quite profusely.

  They are sometimes called Fairy Cups as it was believed that frightened fairies would hide in them. This was mentioned in Shakespeare’s play “The Tempest” in Act 5 scene 1, in Ariel’s song, when he has his freedom from Prospero.

   “Where the bee sucks there suck I

    In the cowslip’s bell I lie

    There I crouch when owls do cry.

    On the bat’s back I do fly,

    After summer merrily

    After summer merrily”

In fact Shakespeare refers to cowslips in other plays too, notably in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” when at the start of Act 2 a fairy tells Puck or Robin Goodfellow,

  “And I serve the Fairy Queen

    To dew her orb upon the green;

    The cowslips tall her pensioners be;

    In their gold coats spots you see;

    Those be rubies, fairy favours,

    In those freckles live their savours;

    I must go seek some dewdrops here,

    And hang a pearl in every cowslip’s ear.”

In Warwickshire where Shakespeare came from (Stratford-upon-Avon is in that county)cowslips still grow, although there aren’t as many as there would have been in Shakespeare’s day, as so much of their habitat has been lost in development.

Cowslips were popular in 19^th century English literature too, with the Tulliver children Maggie and Philip drinking cowslip wine, in George Eliot’s novel “The Mill on the Floss,” and Thomas Hardy describes a maypole entwined at its top with cowslips in his novel, “Return of the Native.” Matthew Arnold in his poem “Thyrsis” describes the Oxford hills

   “With thorns once studded, old white-blossomed trees,

     Where thick the cowslips grow.”

  In William Morris’ short story “Frank’s Sealed Letter” the hero, Hugh, remembers “it was the cowslip time of year.”

From the above quotations we see how prolific the flowers were at one time, and in “The Mill on the Floss” the children drink cowslip wine which is a sedative. At the time of writing that novel, children were given cowslip wine to calm them down and to send them to sleep. In the Midlands in England (the setting for this novel) cowslip wine was believed to be good for the kidneys.

   There are many superstitions about cowslips and these are reflected in some of the old names for them. For example they were called Herb Peter and Keys of Heaven, because it was said that St Peter, who has the keys to the gates of heaven and acts as the gatekeeper, once dropped the keys to heaven and cowslips grew where they fell. It was also though that nightingales are attracted to the fragrance of cowslips and would only frequent places where they grow. If you want (like Greta Garbo) to be alone, then you should scatter cowslip flowers on your threshold. They should be carried around for good luck and if a woman wants to marry, she should wash her face in milk in which cowslips have been infused, to attract the man she wants to marry. They will also help you find fairy gold and will split rocks containing treasures. If you plant cowslips on Good Friday they will turn into primroses, and the fragrance will cure amnesia.

   Primroses are closely related to cowslips and another relative that grows in the British Isles is the oxlip. Cowslip wine is reputedly slightly narcotic as it is made from the flowers which have narcotic juice in them. The flower petals can be crystallized like rose petals and violets and used in desserts, or made into preserves and jam. Tisane can also be made with the flower petals, and the roots can be made into a decoction. The recipes are below. For coughs use equal amounts of coltsfoot, cowslips and aniseed and pour a cup of boiling water over the herbs and leave to steep for 15 mins before straining and drinking.

   The leaves have been used for wounds, and they used to be eaten with the petals in salads and used to stuff meat. In the 18^th century the flowers eaten to strengthen the brain and the powdered root was boiled in ale and given to people of a nervous disposition (to cure hysterics and “fits of the vapours”).

   In Norse mythology the cowslip was dedicated to the goddess Freya who was the Key Virgin, and the cowslip was thought to be the key to her treasure trove. When Christianity came to Europe and Scandinavia the cowslip became associated with the Virgin Mary, and became known as “Our Lady’s Keys.”

   In old herbals the plant was known as Radix arthritica and used as a remedy for muscular rheumatism. The ancient Greeks believed that it could cure paralysis and palsy and so it was known to them as Paralysio and in Britain was known as Palsywort. It is said to be second only to betony for curing headaches, and has antispasmodic and is believed to be good for nervousness, anxiety and restlessness. If you take a pound weight of flowers and pour 1½ pints of boiling water over them, then add a lump of jaggery and simmer this mixture until the sugar is dissolved, you will get a pale yellow syrup which can be diluted with water and taken for nervous excitability. It was believed that the flowers could strengthen the brain and nerves.

   Apparently cowslips infused in white wine are good for the complexion and can remove freckles, while the juice from the flowers will get rid of spots and pimples and wrinkles, halting the aging process of the skin. Ointments can be made from the flowers using a base of lard or ghee. They have been used in cosmetic preparations for centuries.

  Culpeper says: -

   “An ointment being made with them taketh away spots and wrinkles of the skin, sunburning and freckles and promotes beauty; they remedy all infirmities of the head coming of heat and wind, and vertigo false apparitions, phrensies, falling sickness, palsies, convulsions, cramps, pains in the nerve, and the roots ease pains in the back and bladder. The leaves are good in wounds and the flowers take away trembling…”

  Today the dried flowers and sometimes the roots are used as an expectorant for chronic coughs and bronchitis (see the remedy above).The root may be diuretic and anti-rheumatic and the leaves have similar properties, although those of the root are stronger. The flowers have anti-spasmodic properties and anti-inflammatory ones and they may be beneficial in asthma conditions and other allergic ailments. The flowers should be harvested in spring, while the roots are best collected in autumn. However in Britain and other countries cowslips are protected in the wild so should not be gathered.

  The flowers and leaves contain saponins and flavonoids so have antioxidant properties. These also give them antispasmodic action and anti-inflammatory actions, while it is the triterpenoid saponins which give the plant its expectorant properties.

 Not very much research has so far been done on cowslips to test their efficacy.

COWSLIP TISANE

Ingredients

2 tsps cowslip petals

1 cup boiling water

Method

Pour the boiling water over the petals and leave to steep for 10 – 15 mins.

Strain and drink a cup three times a day.

DECOCTION OF COWSLIP ROOT

Ingredients

1 tsp chopped root

1 cup water

Method

Put the root in the water and bring to the boil.

Simmer for 5 mins.

Leave to steep for 10 mins, then strain and drink.

These have Taste and are Treat(ment)s.

INDIAN CHESTNUT TREE: MEDICINAL BENEFITS AND HOW TO USE INDIAN CHESTNUT TREE

THE INDIAN CHESTNUT TREE, AESCULUS INDICA

The Indian Chestnut tree is closely related to the horse chestnut tree (Aesculus hippocastanea) although the “chestnuts” are smaller and not good to play ‘conkers’ with. They don’t have spines on the outer casing either, so are easy to distinguish. They were introduced into Britain in 1851 and can be seen in many open places such as public parks and gardens. They originally come from the North West Himalayan regions of Pakistan and India, but are grown around the world now. The trees are smaller than the horse chestnuts as they usually reach heights of only 60 feet. They flower later than other trees and are a good source of food for bees in late spring.

   Native Americans used to use the seeds to make a kind of porridge, but as the fruit contains saponins, these must be removed before they are eaten. This can easily be done by boiling them in water or leaving them to soak in water for more than 12 hours. Deer and squirrels eat the nuts without having any harmful effects. They contain aesculin which is a toxic saponin. They also contain aescin which seems to have anti-inflammatory properties. This is a mixture of triterpene glycosides and can be used externally to prevent thrombosis and it has been shown to inhibit oedema.

   In Nepal the seeds are roasted then eaten and also dried then ground into flour, mixed with wheat flour and used to make bread etc. They are dried and ground into a powder before soaking in water to remove the saponins.

   Traditionally they are used in medicine to get rid of intestinal worms in both horses and people, and they are also used for a number of other purposes, including to help with rheumatism. They are narcotic, stimulant and astringent (particularly the seeds).The oil extracted from the seeds is used for skin problems and diseases, and when the fruit is chopped and boiled in water, the water is used for washing the body, clothes etc, as it has properties like the soapberry (reetha). If you don’t mind the lingering smell of horse chestnuts, this is a good natural “soap.” The residue or oil cake left after the oil has been extracted is applied to the forehead to relieve headaches, and juice from the tree bark is used for rheumatism.

  The wood from the Indian Chestnut tree is useful for fuel and used in construction and to make spoons and other household items as well as to make agricultural implements. Sometimes in the Indian subcontinent people inscribe psych-spiritual remedies on these trees for others to use. The wood can also be used in the dying process.

  A recent study has shown that an extract of leaves when picked fresh then dried and ground to a powder can regulate the immune system and has the ability to help kill cancerous cells. It is believed that the flavonoids present in the leaves and seeds are the reasons for this anti-cancer activity, but more research still needs to be done, as the study quoted here was on lab animals.

The hydrosycoumarin glycoside, aesulin extracted from the bark and branches of the tree, is used in suntan oil as it is able to absorb Ultra Violet rays from the sun.

  The seeds have astringent properties so are good for wounds, and are also nutritious. They can be used to treat stomach disorders too, while the roots are used for leucorrhea. Medical research has shown that the tree is useful in the treatment of problems associated with the veins and blood circulation, for example, varicose veins, phlebitis, piles, ulcers, problems in the joints and frostbite.

 

CARIBBEAN SPIDER LILY ( HYMENOCALLIS CARIBAEA) - INFORMATION

CARIBBEAN SPIDER LILY, HYMENOCALLIS CARIBAEA

The Caribbean Spider Lily or White Amaryllis belongs to the lily family and more specifically to the Amaryllidaceas. It gets its name from the long tendrils that grow from the flowers and it is a beautiful plant. It is native to the West Indies as its name suggests, and is grown as an ornamental plant in many countries. However if you visit Anguilla, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica and other Caribbean islands you might come across these flowers.

   The plants in the Amaryllidacea family grow from bulbs (you might have grown an amaryllis lily in water) and these bulbs and those of the Narcissus family of plants (which include the daffodil) have been shown to have alkaloids in them which may help kill tumours. Among these alkaloids are lycorine and narciclasine which may in the future be the basis for anti-cancer drugs. Galanthamine is also present in both types of plants (and the snowdrop) and this has been shown to reduce blood pressure in lab mice.

  In folk medicine these plants have been used to treat tumours, as far back as the time of Hippocrates (BC 460-370) who prescribed pessaries of narcissus oil for the treatment of uterine tumours. This was also recommended by Dioscorides in the first century AD and Pliny the Elder (AD 23 – 79) also mentions that Narcissus poeticus was used for such treatments.

  Some extracts from the Amaryllidaceas have been found to have anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties in lab tests in vitro and research is ongoing into the properties of these plants.

  It is estimated that only 15 % of the world’s plants have been screened for their potential use in medicine, and bulbous plants such as the Caribbean Spider Lily have not received as much attention as have herbs and trees. Now that plants that grow from bulbs have been proved to have unique biological compounds, more research will be carried out on them to assess their potential therapeutic value.

BLACK BRYONY( TAMUS COMMUNIS) - NO LONGER RECOMMENDED FOR MEDICINAL USE

BLACK BRYONY, TAMUS COMMUNIS

Black Bryony is related to the yam as it is in the Dioscorea family of plants along with Dioscorea deltoides, and is the only one of the species that grows in most parts of Britain. It is native to northern European countries although its relatives also grow around the Mediterranean. It has tuberous roots and is a climbing vine plant and the young shoots can start their convolutions after 2½ to 3 hours of sprouting. It is a very fast growing plant and in November 2008 the popular UK tabloid newspaper “The Daily Mail” reported that it was the plant that was increasing in numbers quicker than any other native wild plant, along with ivy which was in third position. Unfortunately this is at the expense of other plants such as the wild strawberry and the harebell which grow closer to the ground. These climbers take over from the lower plants and deprive them of sunlight and root space. Unfortunately those who own land are not managing hedgerows and fields as well as they did in the past because of the expense involved, so there are concerns about Britain’s wild fauna.

   The name Bryony comes from the Greek bryo which means shoot or sprout, presumably referring to the fast-growing nature of the young shoots. Pliny referred to this plant as Uva Tamina it is thought, hence the botanical name Tamus, and it is called communis because it is wide spread. Pliny says that it was eaten like asparagus and used as a diuretic and for the spleen. In Italy, especially in Tuscany, the young shoots are still boiled and eaten like asparagus and the Greeks also use a Bryony variety in the same way (Tamus cretica).

    Black Bryony is also called Black Bindweed, because of the way it clings to a support and climbs, and Our Lady’s Seal, because its roots were pounded to a pulp and used to heal scars and bruises (this is because of the saponins contained in the roots). Another name for this plant is Oxberry as farmers used to give it to cows to improve their chances of conceiving. There was once a commonly-held belief that snakes lurked close to Black Bryony, and so it got the name Serpent’s Meat It could be that this was in reference to its climbing nature rather than the fact that snakes did like it.

   Black Bryony is a poisonous plant and an irritant which has been employed to relieve the pain of rheumatism, gout and paralysis with the scraped pulp from the plant applied to the painful areas. The berries have emetic properties and produce vomiting so children should avoid eating them. They are bright red and attractive to both birds and children, although they tend to propagate around the parent plant when they fall.

   The expressed juice from the root used to be taken in wine to dispel gravel and stones from the organs, and it is also a diuretic, but is no longer used because it is too powerful and other plants are much more useful as diuretics (mooli for example or broom tisane). The juice was mixed with honey and given to asthma sufferers but once again this is no longer recommended as there are much safer remedies. Try a mullein ‘cigarette’ instead.

At one time the berries would be steeped in gin for a long period and then the spirit would be applied to chilblains that had not broken. However this would be a terrible waste of gin!

  Black Bryony is actually not recommended for use today, but it is worth writing about it for interest’s sake, and to see how modern medical research has invalidated traditional remedies that were probably dubious.