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.

SKULLCAP - USED BY SHAMANS AND FOR MEDICINE: USES AND HEALTH BENEFITS OF SKULLCAP

(VIRGINIAN) SKULLCAP, SCUTELLARIA LATERIFLORA 

This skullcap is also called Blue Skullcap, Mad Dog Skullcap, as it was believed that it could cure rabies, and American Mint. It is in fact in the mint family or Labiatiae or Lamiaceae family. This means that 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, to name just a few of its relatives. It is a native of North America, and a synonym for the genus is Cassida lateriflora (L) Moench.

  The flowers of this plant actually look a little like those of a foxglove or perhaps a snapdragon, but smaller than those of either. These are in bloom between June and August while the seeds ripen from July to September. The plant grows to heights of around two feet, and has a spread of a little over a foot.                                                                                                           

  The herb is used as a nervine, or a stress reliever on both sides of the Atlantic, but very little research has been done into its properties. It is primarily used for nervousness and stress and is taken in the form of an infusion or tisane, combined sometimes with lemon balm (Melissa officinalis), to take away the bitterness of skullcap.

  Native Americans used this herb extensively for a variety of purposes. It was employed by shamans as it produces visions and also it is a medicinal herb. An infusion was used to promote and stimulate the menstrual flow so it should not be used by pregnant women. It was used as a tonic for the central nervous system and the leaves have antispasmodic properties are slightly astringent and diuretic. These are harvested in early summer and dried for later use. They have been used to treat epilepsy, neuralgia, insomnia, anxiety, delirium tremens, and more recently to help with withdrawal from barbiturates and tranquillizers.

  The tisane or infusion was used for breast pains, and to expel the placenta after childbirth. If you take too much of the herb, you will suffer from nausea, dizziness, confusion and involuntary twitching.

  It has been used to treat Attention Deficit Disorder and as a mild sedative, although very little research has been carried out to confirm or deny how effective it actually is. What research has been done seems to indicate that it might be useful for diabetes patients, Kuroda, M. et al (2012) “Chemical constituents of the aerial parts of Scutellaria lateriflora and their alpha-glucosidase inhibitory activities”

  An earlier study published in Phytomedicine, 2009 May Vol.16 (3) pp 485-493, Zhang Z et al. “Characterization of chemical ingredients and anticonvulsant activity of American skullcap” seemed to vindicate the use of skullcap as an anti-spasmodic for epilepsy.

  However, clearly more research is needed into skullcap and its properties so that we understand how and why it is effective for some ailments. 

ALUM - HISTORY OF USES AND HEALTH BENEFITS OF ALUM

ALUM, SHABBA, SHABB 

Alum is used for a variety of purposes and has been used medicinally for centuries. It comes in several forms including potash alum, soda alum and aluminium potassium sulfate. We get it from bauxite ore, and in Australia there is an above ground source at Bulahdelah (the Alum Mountain) the only known above-ground source n the world. It can occur naturally on rocks, and in sulphur containing volcanic sediment. It is one of those substances, like shilajit or mineral pitch which is not a plant but which is a naturally occurring substance that has health benefits, which is why it is included here.                                                                                                      

  We know that it was used by the ancient Babylonians as a mouthwash, styptic ( which heals skin tissue), a pessary for women who had irregular menstruation, as a nasal douche and as a treatment for STDs and itchy and irritated skin. The Greeks and Arabs continued using it in the same ways and also used it to treat leprosy, ear problems and gum diseases.

  It has been used in the leather industry for tanning, and in baking powder and toothpaste and toothpowder. It was employed in ancient Egypt to purify water for drinking. In Ayurveda it was used for this purpose too.

Alum mountain, Australia

  The ancient Welsh physicians of Myddfai used it in this way- for “proud flesh” which is the sort which is swollen around a healing wound, or flesh that stands higher on the body than normal.

“The following is useful when proud flesh forms in a wound, namely, white alum, reduced to powder, the same powder being applied thereon.

Another for the same purpose. Take a toad that can scarcely creep, beat it with a rod, till irritated, it smells, and dies. Then put it in an earthen pot, closing the same so that no smoke can come out, or air enter in. Then burn it till it is reduced to ashes, and apply the same to the part.”

alum crystal

The alum method seems preferable to the second one!                                        

  If you use it on an open wound it will burn- although it has been used in this way.

  It was discovered in the 1920s that alum could be used as an adjuvant, in other words if it is used in a vaccine preparation the vaccine becomes more effective. It has been widely used since for this medicinal purpose, although it was first used with diphtheria vaccine.  

   You can also use alum as a deodorant as it has been used in crystal form since at east the time of the ancient Egyptians. It prevents the bacteria forming under the armpits which cause body odour. You can grow your own alum crystals too if you want to help your children in their science lessons- alum crystals are easy to grow.