Sweet Violet (Viola odorata) is a lovely plant which can be found flowering right now in England. In the past, Sweet Violet leaves and flowers were highly regarded in Europe as medicine, often in the form of a syrup made from the strongly-scented flowers. According to Mrs Grieve (1932), Violets were grown in Shakespeare’s Warwickshire especially for this purpose. Nowadays the use of Violet syrup has largely dropped out of use among practitioners of western herbal medicine. Even in Mrs Grieve’s time the medicinal use of Violet syrup had declined to little more than that of a mild laxative.
European Herbal Medicine has its roots in Arabian medicine or Unani, through the translated writings of Avicenna 980–1037 CE and before that from Greek medical practice via the systematic translation in Baghdad of the writings of Greek physicians such as Galen and Hippocrates. So, there is still much in common between Unani medicine and European herbal medicine as practised today, especially regarding their materia medica. In Iran, where Unani medicine is practised enthusiastically to this day, the use of syrup of Violets has flourished, and new uses are being found, as an article published this year indicates. This randomised, double-blind controlled study of 108 patients with Covid19, showed that, compared with a placebo syrup, Violet syrup, used as ‘add-on’ treatment to modern medicine, is effective in helping to control symptoms of cough, muscle pain, headache and diarrhoea.
Of recent years Sweet Violet leaves and flowers have come under scrutiny as one of few botanical sources of the remarkable cycloviolacins. These are large compounds comprising 30 or so amino acids held in a ring and stabilised by sulphur bonds. They are such stable structures that they escape digestion and show up in the blood stream after consumption. The compounds have notable anti-microbial and anti-cancer properties, so there are clearly more avenues for research opening up on one of Shakespeare’s favourite flowers!
Ann Walker PhD FCPP MNIMH RNutr, Herbal Practitioner and Nutritionist,
Course Director, Discovering Herbal Medicine course
Wednesday, 6 December 2023
Sweet Violet and Covid19
Wednesday, 29 November 2023
Pelargonium for Children’s Colds
In fact, extracts of the tuberous root of Pelargonium are well suited to children over 12 months of age, as low doses are required and the taste is acceptable. In 2018 Italian researchers reviewed 8 randomised clinical trials investigating the use of this herb for upper respiratory tract infections in children. The results showed a significant improvement in symptoms, even among asthmatic and immune-compromised children. All studies reviewed reported good safety and tolerability of the herb.
More recently, a further clinical study was reported on 164 children with upper respiratory tract infections who were randomized to take either Pelargonium drops or placebo in a single-blind manner for 7 days. Pelargonium was shown to be particularly useful in the management of colds by reducing symptoms of coughing and sneezing. Pelargonium extracts are now available in pharmacies and other outlets carrying the logo of guaranteed quality – the THR (Traditional Herbal Registration) symbol. Pelargonium root extracts have been shown to have marked anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties, including action against the corona virus causing Covid19. There continues to be a lot of active research interest in this herb.
Ann Walker PhD FCPP MNIMH RNutr, Herbal Practitioner and Nutritionist,
Course Director, Discovering Herbal Medicine course
Wednesday, 22 November 2023
Ginseng prevents Colds
Chinese ginseng (Panax ginseng) is traditionally used for a wide variety of reasons, such as improving physical stamina, concentration, memory and slowing the aging process. Perhaps less well-known is that Ginseng can help the body fight against both bacterial and viral infections. Not only does Ginseng act directly on bacteria and virus to kill them, as demonstrated in numerous pharmaceutical studies, but the herb favourably modulates the body’s immune function to counter infection. The immune system comprises two major parts: the innate system and the specific (or adaptive) system and Ginseng works on both. It assists the former through enhancing white blood cell activity and the latter by increasing the specific immune response.
Research on Ginseng is particularly active in South Korea, which is the home of Korean Red Ginseng. Red Ginseng is heat-processed Ginseng developed by alternate steaming and air-drying of fresh Ginseng. Compared with fresh Ginseng, the red form has greater activity and stability because of changes that occur in its chemical constituents. However, both raw and processed Ginseng have similar physiological actions – the differences are subtle rather than fundamental. Interested to further investigate claims that Red Ginseng can prevent respiratory infection, Korean researchers conducted a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial in 100 healthy volunteers. At the end of a year, 25% of those taking Red Ginseng reported having one or more respiratory infections in that time, compared to 45% in the placebo group.
This Korean study focused on prevention. But once you get a virus – can Ginseng still help? Although the importance of respiratory infections caused by viruses has been highlighted during the Covid19 pandemic, respiratory bacterial infections remain the more serious cause of mortality worldwide. Bacterial infection of the respiratory tract often follows a viral infection and there are limited numbers of effective antibiotics available to combat them due to increasing antibiotic resistance. If you do get a cold or flu, taking Ginseng may help to reduce its impact, being anti-bacterial as well as anti-viral.
Ann Walker PhD FCPP MNIMH RNutr, Herbal Practitioner and Nutritionist,
Course Director, Discovering Herbal Medicine course
Wednesday, 15 November 2023
Winter Warmers: Spicy Sweet Potato Soup
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Winter is just around the corner, the nights are closing in now the clocks have gone back and its getting chillier out there here in the UK. On cold days a pan of homemade soup can be just the thing to warm us inside and out and making use of kitchen herbs and spices for their added health benefits is a real bonus. This recipe is one of my favourite soups to serve as the temperature drops, as it stands its a tasty, warming and filling veggie soup which can be made vegan if you substitute plant based butter.
Ingredients: Serves 2
1 Tsp Butter
2 Medium Sweet Potatoes
1 Stick Celery
2 Small Carrots
1 Medium Onion, chopped
1 Tsp Cumin Seeds
½ Tsp Ground Coriander
2 Cloves Garlic (Crushed)
½ Fresh Red Chilli
1 inch Fresh Ginger Root, peeled and grated
1 Pint (565ml) Vegetable Stock (or Chicken Stock)
Salt & Freshly Ground Black Pepper to season
Method: Peel the sweet potatoes and carrots and chop into small chunks, peel the onions and chop them along with the celery. Melt the butter in a heavy based pan and add the garlic and cumin seeds and gently fry for 2 minutes. Next add the celery, chilli, carrot, ginger and onions and stir for a further 5 minutes until the onions are softened and translucent, finally add the sweet potatoes, coriander and stock and bring to the boil.
Once boiling, turn down the heat and allow the soup to simmer, when the vegetables are tender and the soup is cooked to your liking remove from the heat, add salt and pepper to season then carefully pour the soup into a blender and blitz until smooth and creamy.
Pop the soup back in the pan, add a little stock or water if you think it’s too thick and adjust the seasoning, once the soup is warmed through pour into bowls and serve as is, or add a swirl of plain yogurt to the top and some toasted cumin seeds or garlic and herb croutons. The addition of some chopped smoky bacon, or diced chicken also tastes wonderful for the non-veggies out there.
Wednesday, 8 November 2023
Echinacea for Children’s Tonsillitis
Following on my previous article which showed that children with colds who took daily doses of Echinacea greatly reduced their antibiotic use, another study in children with recurrent tonsillitis, shows that taking Echinacea with an antibiotic significantly enhanced the prophylactic effect of the antibiotic. In this study, 300 children were randomised to take daily, either no treatment, an antibiotic with Echinacea or an antibiotic without Echinacea for 10 consecutive days every month for 6 months. As expected, the children taking the antibiotics had fewer attacks of tonsillitis. However, the group taking the antibiotic with Echinacea had significantly fewer attacks of tonsillitis and less severe symptoms when they did get the problem, than children taking the antibiotic on its own.
This is an example of integrative medicine – of herbal medicine augmenting and enhancing modern medicine. We hear a lot in the media about potential interactions between herbs and modern medicine. In fact, the number of proven cases of herb-drug interactions in human subjects is very small – despite a lot of unfounded speculation. Most herbs can be taken alongside modern drugs and an encouraging number of clinical studies are reporting good positive results that support that argument.
Ann Walker PhD FCPP MNIMH RNutr, Herbal Practitioner and Nutritionist,
Course Director, Discovering Herbal Medicine course
Wednesday, 1 November 2023
My 'Go To' Cold & Flu Remedies
Classic Cold and Flu Herb Tea
If you're cold or flu has a feverish element or you have chills this old fashioned tea blend may help you feel better, it’s one of the first remedies I make when I feel a cold taking root, I first came across it in herbalist Non Shaw’s book ‘Herbalism An Illustrated Guide’ back in 1998 when I was just getting in to discovering the wonderful health benefits of herbs. It contains just three herbs and I add a little honey to sweeten it. The yarrow increases perspiration, that process helps you ‘sweat’ the cold out, the elderflowers reduce inflammation and soothe the irritation of the mucus membranes whilst the peppermint is antiseptic, decongestant and anti-spasmodic all useful properties to have on hand when suffering from a cold. Combined this tea blend may help to reduce a fever, ease congestion and soothe a sore throat!
I make this tea up in jam jar quantities and keep it in the cupboard, ready for immediate use each 'Part' in the recipe is 20g but you can make a little or a lot, just use equal part measures.
Ingredients:
• 1 Part Dried Yarrow
• 1 Part Dried Elderflowers
• 1 Part Dried Peppermint Leaves
• Water
• Honey to serve
Combine the herbs and mix well and store in a glass jar out of direct sunlight. When suffering from a cold, place 1 teaspoon (approx. 5g) of cold and flu tea per 250ml cup, in to a tea pot or cafetière, pour on boiling water and leave to infuse for 1-5 minutes, depending how strong you like your tea. Strain in to a cup and sweeten with a little honey. Drink a cup up to 3 times a day.
If you don’t care for the flavour of the herbs in the above tea blend, ginger makes a good alternative and you can use ground ginger powder or ginger root to make a soothing tea that will help increase perspiration, ease coughing, it’s anti-viral in action and can offer mild relief from aches and pains. Add some lemon and honey as both are soothing to a sore throat.
Herbal Decongestants
If the nose and chest are congested a blend of decongestant herbs can get you breathing again, you can either take a warm bath to which a few essential oils known for their decongestant properties such as eucalyptus, peppermint, thyme and rosemary have been added, or put dried herbs or oils into a bowl and use a towel placed over the head as you lean over the bowl to create a steam bath. Inhaling the vapours for 3-5 minutes can help open up the airways and help to relieve congestion. You can also make your own vapour rub for easing congestion.
Congestion Ease Vapour Rub
Ingredients:
• 30ml Sweet Almond Oil (Use grapeseed oil if you suffer from nut allergies.)
• 5g Beeswax (Grated)
• 10 Drops Eucalyptus Essential Oil
• 8 Drops Peppermint Essential Oil
• 5 Drops Camphor Essential Oil
Put the grapeseed oil into a glass bowl over a pan of hot water and stir in the beeswax until melted, then stir in the eucalyptus, peppermint and camphor essential oils. Pour into a clean, sterilised dark glass jar and leave to cool, label and used within 6 months. To use, massage the vapour rub over the chest, neck and throat. Using a decongestant rub before sleep can help to relieve congestion and discomfort, allowing you to fall asleep more easily. Other oils with decongestant properties can also be used such as juniper berry, rosemary and lavender.
Tuesday, 24 October 2023
Cold & Flu Season is Upon Us Again...
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| Article © Debs Cook Image by Bob |
Winter is just around the corner so now is a good time to look at what you can do to help prevent a cold, or help send it packing as quickly as possible when you or your family succumb to those miserable coughs and sneezes which often strike during the colder months of the year. We often hear that “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”, so today we look at what a cold is, the symptoms, and how you can use herbs to help ease the symptoms of a cold. Of course it goes without saying that id you do catch a cold, you should ensure that you drink plenty of fluids, keep warm and get lots of rest. Try not to overdo it, and if your symptoms persist or get worse consult your GP.
What is a Cold?
The common cold is an infectious disease affecting the upper respiratory system, which includes the nose, throat, bronchia and the lungs. When your body is under stress for whatever reason, it may not act as it normally does by trapping the viruses before they do damage, dry atmospheres such as those caused by central heating systems, and not getting enough fresh air can also aid the cold virus to take root. Dry atmospheres cause the mucus membranes of the nose to become swollen making ideal ‘plump cushions’ of tissue for the cold virus to rest upon, get itself comfy and breed.
When the respiratory system cannot eliminate the cold virus at source, it quickly takes over causing cell damage, inflammation and various other symptoms of a cold.
A cold can last 7-10 days in duration, in some people the symptoms work in a cycle, starting with watery eyes, sneezing and a sore throat, followed by a runny nose, with nasal congestion hot on its heels. Other symptoms include aching or weak muscles, fatigue, headache, shivering and sometimes a loss of appetite. Once the body is under attack from all these symptoms, it can then become vulnerable to secondary infections including bronchitis and sinusitis. In order to rid itself of the cold virus, the body produces more mucus to help trap and ‘flush’ the cold out, but often this mucus can become dry and nasal passages can become blocked and leave the sufferer with that classic ‘stuffy head’ feeling, often a cough will develop at this stage.
A cough is the body’s way of clearing the bronchial airways; they can be divided into two types which require different treatments. Loose, phlegmy and moist coughs are known as ‘productive’ and require remedies that will help the body rid itself of the mucus. Dry, tickly coughs are known as ‘non-productive’, and have no mucus to expel; dry coughs require the chest to be soothed of inflammation.
Help Yourself
Unwittingly we can assist cold viruses to breed at this time of year by eating rich food, drinking more alcohol than usual when we socialise, and even by using central heating systems. Rich, sugary foods as well as alcohol can weaken the immune system and some foods such as milk and cheese can even encourage the body to form mucus. Hot dry air, courtesy of our centrally heated rooms can create a breeding ground for germs and viruses, so regularly give rooms a blast of cold fresh air by opening the windows, or get out for a walk in the fresh air as often as you can. If getting out isn’t possible, use a diffuser adding bug busting essential oils like eucalyptus and peppermint, or compliment the season and use antibacterial cinnamon oil, with some antiviral ginger oil.
There are a variety of cold soothing home remedies you can make yourself using herbs that may help you get through the cold and flu season. Hot honey and lemon drinks are easy to make and are soothing to the throat, the lemon helps boost your vitamin C levels.
Elderberries have been used for their immune boosting, antiviral and expectorant for centuries. They have been used to make a soothing winter drink known as Elderberry Rob, and are rich in vitamins A and C. They can also be used to make a soothing elixir that can help at the first sign of a cold or flu, you can read more about Elderberries here.
Adding garlic to the diet when suffering from a cold can be beneficial it’s antibacterial and antiviral. Chillies and cayenne pepper are decongestant and expectorant and they can have a warming effect on the body.
Next week I will share 2 of my favourite 'Go To' winter cold remedies, classic cold and flu tea and my favourite homemade vapour rub. Whilst you wait check out some of my previous articles Five Useful Herbs for Winter and Herbs for making Winter Teas.
Sunday, 24 September 2023
2023 Winner of a Free place on the Discovering Herbal Medicine Online Course
Stephanie was chosen as the Winner of the Competition on the basis of her answer to the question “what does herbal medicine mean to me?”. She has sent us this photo of herself and has let us use the following extract from her winning ‘tie-breaker’.
"....for me herbal medicine means using plants to treat all different kinds of health conditions and for the improvement of wellbeing. It means exploring the natural pathways that our ancestors used in order to recover from illnesses. It means teaching my children the power and benefits of using herbs in their everyday life. Herbal medicine is a way of life that should have been a lesson taught in every school."
We were particularly pleased to see that not only is she keen to learn more about the use of herbal medicine for the health of herself and family, but she sees herbal medicine in the broader context of human wellbeing, making the connection between what our ancestors have taught us and the need to cherish that knowledge for future generations.
Ann Walker PhD FCPP MNIMH RNutr, Herbal Practitioner and Nutritionist,
Course Director, Discovering Herbal Medicine Course
Friday, 30 December 2022
Herbs to Boost the Circulation - Part 2
In part 1 of this article, we looked at what the circulatory system was, in part 2 we look at how we can give our circulatory systems a boost in winter and all year round. Eating a healthy diet, ditching junk food, stopping smoking and taking regular exercise will all have a marked impact on our circulatory health. We can also add herbs that have a vasodilatory action to our diets, or use them to make rubs and salves to use externally.
Vasodilator herbs help to expand blood vessels and lower blood pressure, herbs with anticoagulant properties are also useful as are herbs with external stimulant properties and those with rubefacient properties. A rubefacient helps to increase the circulation to the skin by dilating the skin's capillaries; the action reddens the skin, dilates the vessels, and increases blood supply locally. Below are 4 of my favourite herbs to use to help boost circulation.
Cayenne Pepper – This herb ticks the rubefacient box, it makes an ideal addition to massage oils and salves to rub on to the skin to help bring encourage better circulation, it can also help with pain as a side effect of chilblains and for arthritis and aching joints, the benefit comes from the capsaicin that the herb contains which help to stimulate blood flow and can be beneficial for reducing clotting. Do not use on broken skin and make sure you don’t get any cayenne pepper or its derivative products in to the eyes.
Adding cayenne pepper to your everyday diet can also help to stimulate the heart, it can also have a positive effect on regulating blood flow and in strengthening blood vessels, add the powder to meals or take in capsule form or as a tincture, it’s worth noting that cayenne pepper is rather pungent so may cause a burning sensation especially if you don’t like spicy food. Capsaicin is a natural rubefacient, a compound that upon topical application produces a reddening off the skin which causes dilation in the skin capillaries which increases blood circulation.
Garlic – Has anti-coagulant, vasodilator, rubefacient and stimulant properties, it is also classed as a cardiovascular tonic and may help to dilate the blood vessels, garlic can also have a warming effect on the skin when used externally. Garlic contains many useful volatile oils including allinin, which converts from allicin which is a sulphur rich organic compound found in garlic that is currently undergoing studies for its potential anti-thrombotic and anti-inflammatory properties, it is also one of nature’s richest sources of potassium which can help the body to control blood pressure and ensure that blood flows freely around the circulatory system.
Garlic also contains iron, calcium, magnesium which has vasodilating properties which helps the body to improve the circulation of the blood, manganese, zinc, and selenium it also contains vitamin C which is a natural blood thinner that can help the body to reduce high blood pressure. A paper published in 1993 following a clinical study at the University of Saarland in Germany demonstrated that taking 800mg (0.8 grams) of garlic powder, which is the equivalent of eating half a garlic clove every day for a month, helped to increase the micro-circulation in the veins, capillaries and arteries beneath the skin by an amazing 47.6%.
Ginger – Like garlic, ginger ticks all the boxes we’ve mentioned required for circulatory health it contains an oleoresin known as gingerol which is being studied for its ability to reduce pain and inflammation in suffers of rheumatoid arthritis. Internally eating ginger can help to boost circulation and gives a warming feeling to the skin. Used externally is muscle rubs and hand creams ginger can relax the capillaries in the skin which helps to bring a feeling of warmth so rubbing a massage oil containing ginger can help to warm the hands and feet.
In 2004 a study led by Dr Ann Walker at Reading University where she worked as a senior lecturer, was held to discover whether ginger root had the potential to increase the body’s metabolic rate and also improve circulation in the hands and feet. The study concluded that taking about 1000mg (1 gram) of dried ginger per day can improve the circulation of blood to the hands and feet by expanding the blood vessels and warming the tissues.
Ginkgo Biloba – Is mostly famed for its ability to help improve the memory, it does this by increasing the circulation of blood to the brain, because gingko is a rather useful all-round circulation booster. Ginkgo has been used by traditional Chinese medicine practitioners for over 5,000 years. In western herbal medicine it has been used to treat memory loss in the elderly and to increase and improve the circulation in patients who suffer from hardening of the arteries.
German herbalists prescribe the use of gingko to treat varicose veins, gingko contains an extract known as tebonin which has been shown to be helpful in bringing relief to people who suffer from unsightly and painful varicose veins. Gingko can help to improve the flow of blood through the blood vessels and it can also help to strengthen them, it also improves the flow of blood to the heart which helps to lessen the demand for oxygen which can help in cases of asthma and where shortness of breath is suffered. Sufferers of Raynaud’s Disease have also found gingko to be of benefit, it helps to dilate the blood vessels which helps to relieve pain and restore he normal colour to the skin, and it has also been shown to alleviate painful leg cramps caused by narrowing of the arteries in the legs.
Warning: The capsaicin in cayenne pepper may increase the risk of bleeding associated with certain blood-thinning medications, such as warfarin, compounds in ginkgo, ginger, and garlic can also have the same effect.
Winter Warming Unguent
An unguent sounds terribly old fashioned, it was in fact the name that was given to preparations that we call salves today. I wanted to give this recipe a sense of the past, imagining that my great, great grand-mother would have applied something like this to warm her cold and aching muscles. Externally when an unguent is applied that is full of oils with rubefacient properties it has a warming, and stimulating effect on the skin, this can also help to alleviate pain in the extremities are painful due to cold aches and pains.
Ingredients:
10 Drops Juniper Essential Oil
10 Drops Clove Bud Essential Oil
10 Drops Ginger Essential Oil
10 Drops Rosemary Essential Oil
10 Drops Black Pepper Essential Oil
15 Drops Lavender Essential Oil
15 Drops Capsicum Tincture
30 Drops Gingko Biloba Tincture
30 Drops Cinnamon Tincture
120ml Sweet Almond Oil
15g Beeswax
Method: First put all the essential oils and the tinctures into a small glass container so you can quickly poor them in when required. Next heat the sweet almond oil and the beeswax in a double- boiler (or a glass bowl sitting over a pan of water) over low heat. Stir until the beeswax has melted.
Remove from heat and quickly stir in the essential oils and tinctures, making sure everything is evenly combined and then pour the unguent into a clean amber glass jar and allow to cool. Label, date and store in the fridge. Rub a little of the unguent on to the hands, feet, knees that have been chilled and need to be warmed up.
Disclaimer: Whilst every effort has been made to source the most up
to date and accurate information, we cannot guarantee that remedies in
our articles are effective, when in doubt, consult your GP or a
qualified Medicinal Herbalist. Remember also that herbal remedies can be
dangerous under certain circumstances therefore you should always seek
medical advice before self-treating with a homemade remedy, especially
if you are pregnant, breast feeding or suffer from any known illness
which could be adversely affected by self-treatment.
Friday, 23 December 2022
Herbs To Boost the Circulation - Part 1
| The winter is a time when many of us suffer from problems derived from poor circulation, our extremities feel the cold when the temperatures plummet, but if you suffer from poor circulation the effects can be much worse for the legs, feet, toes, hands and fingers. The increasingly sedentary lifestyles and junk food diets which contribute to nutrient deficiencies and a lack of fibre that many of now have also have an effect on our circulation. To explain it plainly, the body’s circulatory system is comprised of the blood and the lymphatic system – a complex series of lymphatic vessels whose purpose is to carry a clear watery fluid called lymph to the heart. The entire system has over 20,000km of blood vessels that are comprised of major arteries, the veins and the capillaries. When working as nature intended, the circulatory system carries oxygen and essential nutrients to all the cells in our bodies and helps to remove waste products and carbon dioxide. When the blood is being freely circulated around the body without restriction then all is well, but if there is a circulatory problem, a fatty substance known has plaque can build up along the walls of the arteries consequently narrowing them and restricting the free flow of blood around the body. |  |
When this occurs hypertension is a result,
hypertension is caused by the build-up of plaque deposits along the
walls of the arteries, this occurs commonly in the elderly and middle
aged, making them harden and narrow. This hardening and narrowing constricts the flow of blood and this in turn puts extra pressure on to the walls of the blood vessels which makes the blood pressure rise. Eventually the blood vessels become less elastic and cannot function in the way they should, they cannot give you sudden ‘blood spurts’ energy rushes that allow you to get additional energy to do simple everyday things like walk upstairs, everything becomes harder to do and causes fatigue.
The hardening and narrowing of the vessels can also cause a condition known as hardening of the arteries and is caused by the fatty plaque deposits that narrow the arteries. If you have hardened arteries and also smoke you run the risk of developing Buerger’s disease, a disease which affects the legs and arms, particularly the hands and feet. Sufferers get chronic inflammation of the veins and arteries in the lower extremities, the inflammation occurs in sections of the blood vessels and is known as vasculitis, recent research has concluded that Buerger's disease may actually be an autoimmune condition which is triggered when nicotine is taken in to the body.
Another disease of the circulatory system is known as Raynaud’s disease, sufferer’s exhibit a marked constriction and also spasming of the blood vessels in their extremities, as the vessels spasm they block the free flow of blood around the body he condition occurs because your blood vessels go into a temporary spasm which blocks the flow of blood. As the spasming occurs and the vessel is blocked the section of the blood vessel that is blocked exhibits a colour change, it first goes white, then blue and then goes back to red once the spasming has stopped and the vessel returns to normal and blood begins to freely flow again.
Raynaud’s disease can also be brought on by cold temperatures and also by anxiety or stress, studies have found that women suffering from Raynaud’s disease had low levels of vitamin C and the mineral selenium in their diet, ensuring that got a plentiful supply of both nutrients in their diet improved the condition, adding magnesium, vitamin E and omega 3 fatty acids to the diet has also proved beneficial.
The elderly, pregnant women and those people who are overweight can also suffer from varicose veins, these develop when the small valves inside the veins stop working as they should. When the veins are not healthy due to restrictions or damage blood is prevented from flowing freely through a series of tiny valves that open and close to let blood through, when this happens the blood gets stuck and eventually the vein becomes swollen and enlarged, the medical term for this is varicose.
In part 2 of this article we will take a look at 4 herbs that can be utilised to help boost the circulatory system and give a recipe for winter warming unguent that can help.
Disclaimer: Whilst every effort has been made to source the most up
to date and accurate information, we cannot guarantee that remedies in
our articles are effective, when in doubt, consult your GP or a
qualified Medicinal Herbalist. Remember also that herbal remedies can be
dangerous under certain circumstances therefore you should always seek
medical advice before self-treating with a homemade remedy, especially
if you are pregnant, breast feeding or suffer from any known illness
which could be adversely affected by self-treatment.
Tuesday, 20 December 2022
Anti-Stress Sweetmeats
There is too much to do and too little time to do it in, as we frantically run around trying to find the best gift for Great Aunt Maud, whilst sorting out the food shopping, festive menu and so, so much more!
To help Course Director Zoi Maraki is sharing her recipe for a stress busting seasonal treat that can be made quickly to help ease the stresses of the season. Keep in mind as this recipe contains nuts it is not suitable for making if you have a nut allergy.
| Dry Ingredients 1 Scoop Ashwagandha Powder 1 Scoop Siberian Ginseng Powder 1 Scoop Astragalus powder 1 Scoop Slippery Elm Powder 2-3 Scoops Organic Ground Almonds Wet Ingredients 1 Tablespoon Tahini 1 Tablespoon Chocolate Almond Butter 1 Teaspoon Manuka Honey 1 Cup Organic Maple Syrup |
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Mix the dry ingredients and then add the rest of the wet ingredients. Roll the dough into small balls. Coat the balls with desiccated coconut. Enjoy with a cup of coffee.
N.B. A scoop in the recipe is approx 20g
Tuesday, 13 December 2022
Devil’s Claw and Back Pain
| The fierce and scary-looking hooked spines of the seeds of Devil’s Claw (Harpagophytum procumbens) have evolved to catch onto the fur (or skin!) of animals to aid their distribution. In more ways than one this is a very tough plant indeed. It grows mainly in the Kalahari Desert and hasn’t been successfully cultivated elsewhere. It has very attractive red flowers and deep tuberous roots and makes best use of intermittent and unpredictable rainfall. As the demand for the tubers for medicine has increased worldwide, sustainable harvesting is now practiced in its native habitat, with only the tubers on one side of the plant being harvested per season. In Europe, since the early 1960s, interest in Devil’s claw’s medicinal potential have led to a growing number of clinical studies, mainly in Germany, whose results show evidence of health benefits. In fact, Devil's claw is one of the best-researched of herbal medicines. |
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Its mode of action has been largely elucidated, and its efficacy and excellent safety profile have been demonstrated in several clinical investigations. Indeed, some studies have shown that Devil’s claw compares favourably with modern drugs for arthritis.
Although some study designs have been weak, there are clinical studies that demonstrate an improvement or amelioration in pain, range of movement and creaky joints. But it is as a remedy for back pain for which this plant is best known. Not only is the herb anti-inflammatory within the joint, but it can reduce muscle tension. Large muscles along the spine act ‘in sympathy’ when arthritic pain occurs between the vertebrae.
Studies (e.g. PMID: 11810324) have used a simple pressure probe to give objective evidence that Devil’s claw acts to relax the musculature around spinal inflammation. This muscle spasm often accounts for a lot of the pain of back ache. You can find out about suitable products of Devils’ Claw and learn more about the Traditional Herbal Registration (THR) scheme to ensure the quality of herbal products on the British Herbal Medicine Association website.
PMID = PubMed identifier
Ann Walker PhD FCPP MNIMH RNutr, Herbal Practitioner and Nutritionist,
Course Director, Discovering Herbal Medicine course
Tuesday, 6 December 2022
Bilberry and the Microcirculation
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| Bilberries: Photo © Jenny R |
Bilberries have a long history as a food and medicine. They contain dark red pigments called anthocyanins which laboratory research shows help to maintain the integrity and hence the health of the microcirculation. Many people will not have even heard the term ‘microcirculation’ but its status determines the health of all our major organs and our limbs, not to mention our brain.
The term refers to the circulation of the blood in the smallest of blood vessels, which includes the arterioles, capillaries, and venules. If these vessels are fragile and leaky then the entire circulatory system is at risk because fluid escapes into local tissues causing swelling and inflammation. A healthy microcirculation is important for preventing or managing many major diseases, including diabetes, various types of dementia and cardiovascular disease, to name just a few, and research interest is very active in all these areas.
From Bilberry’s traditional use for diarrhoea and haemorrhoids to its use to enhance night vision among air pilots during the World War II, the herb has long been considered a valuable therapeutic ally by those interested in natural medicine. Bilberries are not the only source of anthocyanins by any means, as these compounds are present in many dark red fruits, but it is a concentrated source. Although the traditional use of Bilberry for treating night vision and other diseases has been ‘pooh poohed’ (PMID: 35847049) on the basis that clinical trials are too small or not well designed, the biological feasibility of bilberries being effective therapy for conditions associated with failure of the microcirculation, remains.
We all need to protect our microcirculation for a long and healthy life. Through its effects on the microcirculation, Bilberry is of potential value in the treatment or prevention of many diseases of modern society. It joins the ranks of other foods that can support the microcirculation such as garlic, ginger, turmeric, cocoa, beetroot, green leafy vegetables, herbs, spices and green tea.
PMID = PubMed identifier
Ann Walker PhD FCPP MNIMH RNutr, Herbal Practitioner and Nutritionist,
Course Director, Discovering Herbal Medicine course
Friday, 2 December 2022
Gifts of Chocolate & Flowers – With a Herbal Twist!
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| Photo & Article © Debs Cook |
At some points in our gift giving endeavours we can hit a brick wall deciding what to get for Aunt Carol or cousin Lucy and we resort to flowers, potted plants or chocolates, the poor men folk get a worse deal receiving socks or aftershave. It doesn’t have to be that way, with a little careful planning, and a little time sourcing some ingredients you can make a selection of fabulously fragrant goodies for bath and body to give as gifts!
All the fragrant goodies in the photo above which includes a sugar scrub, lip balm, some bath melts and bath fizzers will appeal to chocoholics and floral bath pampering addicts alike and they can all be made in just 1 day! These homemade gifts contain no chemical nasties, they can be tailored to favourite flavours and preferred perfumes of the recipients and you can make gifting goodies for the ladies on your gift list AND the men folk as well.
The bonus is as gifts go, these items can be made any time of year for giving for birthday presents, a thank you gesture, to say get well soon, or for occasions like Mother’s Day and Father’s Day. The Bath fizzers can also be made in small petit four cases and packaged in organza bags, then given as wedding favours to female guests, they can be coloured and fragranced to echo wedding décor and they make a very personal gift. I'm sharing 2 of the recipes below and maybe with some gentle encouragement I will share more!
Remember when you give your gifts to include a list of ingredients either on the product or in a little booklet that you can give with your gift. If you know that a recipient has an allergy, then don’t make items using things they need to avoid e.g. nut allergy, avoid nut based oils and use sunflower or grapeseed oil instead.
Chocolate Peppermint Lip Balm
This lip balm is really wonderful, make sure that you only use food grade essential oils to make sure they are safe for using in beauty items that may potentially be consumed. The hemp seed oil and cocoa butter are both very moisturising and contain antioxidants, they will help sooth dry cracked lips caused by winter winds.
Makes 10 x 30ml Jars
100ml Hempseed Oil
60g Dark Chocolate (at least 70% Cocoa Solids – I used 85%)
30g Organic Unrefined Cocoa Butter
30g Beeswax
1
6 Drops Peppermint Essential Oil
Method: Place all ingredients with the exception of the peppermint oil in to a heatproof glass bowl over a pan of water that comes about 2” below the base of the bowl. Stir slowly until all the ingredients are melted and the resulting mixture is smooth and dark glossy chocolate brown. Pour the mix in to a heatproof glass jug - you can skip this stage but it’s easier to pour in to the pots from a jug. Add the drops of peppermint oil and stir with a metal spoon to combine everything together, then pour in to your jar or tins.
To Use – Use a lip brush or the tip of your finger to apply a little of the lip balm to the lips. N.B. Because this lip balm contains real chocolate it may stain clothes if it gets on them, it will also give the lips a slight chocolatey look if too much is applied.
Lavender & Geranium Bath Melts
These bath melts are so fragrant and you can make them in a variety of fragrances see the suggestions below. The main ingredient in these fragrant and moisturising bath melts is cocoa butter which has several benefits to help keep your skin healthy it contains several fatty acids including oleic, palmitic and stearic acids which have antioxidant properties that can help to reduce the signs of ageing, cocoa butter can also help to reduce inflammation on the skin and soothe skin conditions such as eczema.
Makes 18 – 36 melts depending on the size of case you use.
200g Unrefined Cocoa Butter – You can use refined but the smell is better from unrefined.
100g Sweet Almond Oil
100 Drops Geranium Essential Oil
50 Drops Lavender Essential Oil
18 – 36 Pink Rose Buds for decoration
2g Beetroot Powder – Which will act as a natural colouring to give a pink colour to your melts.
You will also need: -
Foiled Petit Four Cases or Cupcake Cases
Large Heatproof Mixing Bowl
Large Pan – Big enough for the bowl to sit in and be supported by the pan rim
Wooden Spoon
Heatproof Measuring Jug
Method: These melts are very easy to make, place enough water in your pan to come 2” below the base of the heatproof glass bowl you’ll be using to make the melts, put the bowl on the pan and turn on the heat, it will take a few minutes to start to get warm.
Whilst you’re waiting for the water to heat up take about 1 teaspoon of your almond oil and place it in a cup, add the beetroot powder and stir to make your colouring. Once the water is at a steady simmer put the cocoa butter, the rest of the sweet almond oil and the colouring in to the pan and stir gently until the cocoa butter has melted and everything is thoroughly mixed.
Cocoa butter melts at around 93–101°F (34–38°C), turn off the heat and using oven gloves lift the bowl off the top of the pan. Then add your drops of essential oil, build up the layers a little at a time, remembering the important rule that you can add it, but you can’t take it away. Once you have the fragrance you like then pour the contents into a heatproof jug, you can skip this stage but I find it easier to pour the liquid into the little moulds than trying to spoon it in.
Leave the melts to set overnight, if you’re in a hurry as soon as the mix is cool, you can pop them in the freezer to harden. Note that these melts will melt at temperatures over 75°F (24°C) so don’t leave them near a radiator or in sunlight etc where the temperature can raise above this.
To Use: If you’re making mini melts then add 2-3 to the bath, simply pop into the bath just under where the hot water is running in to the bath. If you make cupcake sized melts then add 1 melt to the water. Bear in mind that when you’ve finished bathing the bath will be slippery from the cocoa butter and oil so be careful when you stand and in getting out of the bath. It should also be noted that some natural and artificial colour pigments may stain the bath, but the staining should be temporary and should clean off easily.
Tuesday, 29 November 2022
Saw Palmetto helps bladder control for women too!
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| Saw Palmetto Leaf © Ann Walker |
Extracts of the berries of Saw Palmetto (Serenoa repens) have been used in modern times mainly as an over-the-counter remedy for symptoms of benign prostate enlargement (BPH) in men. Indeed, the various biological mechanisms involved in these physiological effects are well documented and a relatively large number of clinical studies on men with BPH have shown positive results. In some of these studies, Saw Palmetto extract was found to be comparable to drugs such as finasteride and tamsulosin, which have proven benefits for patients with BPH.
Now, for the first time, a clinical study (PMID: 35334848) has been reported on the use of this herb for women with bladder control problems. The Japanese researchers reasoned that at least two of the mechanisms by which saw palmetto assists bladder control in men, might also be effective for women. Hence, they recruited nearly 80 women over 50 years of age with bladder control problems into a placebo-controlled study. These were divided into two groups - one group took saw palmetto extract every day and the other took placebo. At the end of 12 weeks, daytime urinary frequency was significantly lower in women taking the extract compared with the placebo. They also found that the need to get up at night to urinate was reduced.
Saw palmetto is regarded as a safe herb with a long history of use among Native Americans, who had many uses for it. These included use as a remedy for respiratory complaints and as a food with tonic properties. For more information see the article on Saw Palmetto on the British Herbal Medicine Association's website.
PMID = PubMed identifier
Ann Walker PhD FCPP MNIMH RNutr, Herbal Practitioner and Nutritionist,
Course Director, Discovering Herbal Medicine course
Friday, 25 November 2022
Giving the Gift of Herbal Well Being
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| Photo & Article © Debs Cook |
In Christmases past my hubby and I made truffles and sweets to give as gifts to family and friends, but I have to admit that using fresh ingredients to make the sweet treats meant that a lot of the items had to be made very close to Xmas Eve, which meant dashing round to get everything done and then package and deliver the items before the big day. So a few years ago I decided we’d do things differently and put an herbal spin on the gift giving, my decision was prompted by the fact that when we went visiting everyone, they all seemed to have either a cold, a pulled muscle or were feeling a bit under the weather.
I thought why not use what I know and make some herbal gifts that can help banish winter ills? I rather liked the idea that I’m not just wishing my friends and family good health, but I’m actually giving them the means to have aid what ails them, plus I'm putting in to the gift my love and passion for herbs along with my knowledge, making it a very personal gift to give and receive!
What happened next involved spending time looking at old fashioned remedies, which I then put a modern spin on. The results of these herbal adventures went in to a little hamper which doubled as a storage basket, I included a little booklet that says what’s in each item, what it does and how to use it, along with some other DIY tips for keeping yourself healthy in the winter. The little goodies went down a storm, as did the homemade Chocolate Peppermint Lip Balm and the Lavender & Geranium Bath Melts that I will include on the blog next week! Here's the recipe for a couple of the items I made: -
Antiseptic Germ Busting Spray
Many herbs and essential oils have antiseptic properties, those that contain terpene compounds are generally anti-bacterial and anti-viral, plant alcohols can also help to fight off infection. Cinnamon for example had strong antiseptic, antiviral and antibacterial properties and contains polyphenols and sesquiterpene compounds that can check bacteria.
The combination of oils in the recipe are reputed to help kill 99% of airborne bacteria in a room, making it a perfect blend to use in rooms occupied by people suffering from colds and flu, sprayed in to a room, when people start to cough and sneeze it may help minimise the infection.
6 x 100ml Plastic Spray Bottles & Misting Tops
600ml Perfumers Alcohol – See note below.
30 Drops Tea Tree Essential Oil (5 Drops per bottle)
90 Drops Lemon Essential Oil (15 Drops per bottle)
60 Drops Eucalyptus Essential Oil (10 Drops per bottle)
30 Drops Clove Bud Essential Oil (5 Drops per bottle)
60 Drops Pine Needle Essential Oil (10 Drops per bottle)
Method: To make the spray, fill a clean, dry 100ml spray bottle with 95ml of pure distilled water or perfumer’s alcohol. Using a dropper, carefully put the selected blend of essential oils directly into the spray bottle, top up with alcohol to the neck of the bottle to make 100ml. Screw the atomiser spray top on to the bottle tightly and shake vigorously to combine. Be sure to shake it before each use if using water as the water and essential oils tend to separate.
N.B. You can substitute purified spring water, for the perfumer’s alcohol if you can’t find it, but your spray will last longer by using the alcohol, plus it will help preserve the oils. In alcohol most essential oils mix more thoroughly, in water they just tend to float on the surface, vodka is another substitute which will preserve the oils better than water.
60 drops of oil is around 3ml so a 10ml bottle of each oil will be more than enough to make 6 spray bottles.
Another version of this spray makes a great Festive Fragrance spray that will not only fragrance the room with the classic aromas of the festive season, but will also have an antiseptic and antibacterial action!
Per 100ml Bottle: -
12 Drops Pine Needle Essential Oil
12 Drops Mandarin Essential Oil
8 Drops Clove Essential Oil
6 Drops Cinnamon Essential Oil
Old Fashioned Cold & Flu Tea
If a cold or flu has a feverish element or the person suffering from the cold has chills, then this tea blend may just help them feel better. It’s one of the first remedies I make when I feel a cold starting to take root. It contains just three herbs, although you can add a little honey to sweeten the tea, as it can be a little bitter for some peoples tastes.
The yarrow helps increase perspiration, that process will help you ‘sweat’ the cold out, the elderflowers help reduce inflammation and soothe the irritation of the mucus membranes and the peppermint is antiseptic, decongestant and anti-spasmodic, all useful properties to have on hand when suffering from a cold. Combined, the three herbs in this tea blend may help to reduce a fever, ease congestion and soothe a sore throat.
For the gift hampers we used 6 x 500ml jars one for each home that is getting a hamper, to fill those 6 jars you’ll need: -
150g Dried Elderflowers
150g Dried Peppermint Leaf
150g Dried Yarrow
Method: Making the tea up is as easy as stirring all 3 herbs together in a large glass bowl until evenly mixed and then spoon the tea in to the jars, decorate with a ribbon and label the jar.
For 1 cup you would need 1 teaspoon (approx. 5g) of the tea blend, if you like a stronger blend then go for 7.5g or 1½ teaspoons.
If you plan on making just 1 jar then you’ll need just 25g of each herb.
TIP: As well as drinking this blend as a tea, it can also be sprinkled into a bowl of hot water and by covering the head with a towel, you can inhale the herbal goodness to help ease congestion, in a good old fashioned vapour steam bath!
Disclaimer: Whilst every effort has been made to source the most up to date and accurate information, we cannot guarantee that remedies in our articles are effective, when in doubt, consult your GP or a qualified Medicinal Herbalist. Remember also that herbal remedies can be dangerous under certain circumstances therefore you should always seek medical advice before self-treating with a homemade remedy, especially if you are pregnant, breast feeding or suffer from any known illness which could be adversely affected by self-treatment.
Tuesday, 22 November 2022
Vitex for Premenstrual Symptoms (PMS)
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| Agnus Castus Flowers © Ann Walker |
The medicinal use of the berries of Vitex agnus-castus (also called Chaste tree) goes back thousands of years. Much of this is documented, including reference to the use of the herb for ‘‘diseases of the uterus’’ by Hippocrates in the 4th century BCE. Vitex continues to be a favourite herb amongst herbal practitioners. It is either used on its own or with other herbs, for ameliorating women’s health problems, such as menstrual disorders, PMS, cyclical breast pain, infertility, and menopausal symptoms.
A substantial amount of modern research, including randomized clinical trials, has focused on the use of Vitex for the relief of PMS symptoms, including low mood, anxiety, headaches, fluid retention, acne, and breast tenderness. One such trial (PMID: 23022391) was carried out in Germany on 183 women with PMS aged between 18 and 45 years. This study compared three doses of Vitex against placebo. After analysing the trial outcome after three menstrual cycles, the researchers concluded that Vitex was effective in the relief of premenstrual symptoms if the dose of the dried berry was at least 20 mg per day. This is a low dose for a herb to be effective.
Treatment of PMS can be a challenge in modern medicine and even though many women put up with mild-to-moderate symptoms, the effects can be debilitating for others. Something so simple a low-dose intervention of a well-known herb can be very effective. Here is an example of an increasing number of herbs where human trials show positive outcomes and laboratory studies indicate a mechanism of action. Vitex normalises the balance of the hormones released from the pituitary gland of the brain.
This, in turn, normalises the menstrual cycle through the regular physiological feed-back mechanisms of the body. You can find out about suitable products containing Vitex and learn more about the Traditional Herbal Registration (THR) scheme to ensure the quality of herbal products on the British Herbal Medicine Association website.
PMID = PubMed identifier
Ann Walker PhD FCPP MNIMH RNutr, Herbal Practitioner and Nutritionist,
Course Director, Discovering Herbal Medicine course
Wednesday, 20 April 2022
Mrs Grieve's Nettle Beer
Last week I wrote some Facts About: Nettles, which brought to mind a lovely recipe for Nettle Beer that I stumbled across many years ago in A Modern Herbal, Maud Grieve's book, so this week I thought as nettles are in season, I would share my adaptation of Mrs Grieve's recipe, a drink she says was once used as a folk remedy in the elderly for "gouty and rheumatic pains".
Mrs Grieve's original recipe (see photo below) made 2 gallons (which is a large quantity if you're not sure if you're going to like it), my version makes approximately 3/4 gallon. Grieves recipe also called for using a slice of toast and fresh compressed yeast the kind that they once used to make bread which is often referred to as Brewer's or Baker's Yeast, but I adapted my recipe to use a general purpose beer and wine making yeast. Grieves Nettle Beer is light, not very alcoholic, nor was it very sweet, it was rather dry in fact, but very refreshing. My version is a little sweeter but its not designed to be made and left for long periods of time, its best drunk sooner rather than later, leaving the brew too long the flavour will alter and not for the better 😬
If you don't have any dandelion leaves, Grieve recommended using the juice of 2 lemons as a substitute, but I put the juice of 2 lemons in anyway. She also spoke of ringing the changes by adding Meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria), Burdock Root (Arctium lappa), Avens (Geum urbanum) or White Horehound (Marrubium vulgare) to the recipe in place of the Dandelion.
Ingredients
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My Recipe • 3.78 Litres Water • 750g Fresh Nettles • 50g Fresh Dandelion Leaves • 50g Fresh Cleavers • 15g Fresh Ginger Root, Grated • 2 Lemons, Juiced • 550g Demerara Sugar • 1 Tsp Dried Active Wine & Beer Making Yeast • 28g Cream of Tartar 1 x 1 Gallon Demijohn 2 x 2 Litre Recycle Clear Plastic Fizzy Drink Bottles |
Method
1. Pour the water into a large pan that is big enough to hold more than 4 litres to allow room for stirring.
2. Add the Nettles, Dandelion, and Cleavers and bring them to the boil, turn down the heat and allow to simmer for 25 - 30 minutes.
3. Stir in the sugar, ginger, cream of tarter and lemon juice and bring the mixture back to the boil and then slowly simmer for 5 minutes longer. Then add the lid to the pan and set it aside to allow the beer to cool to lukewarm (about 21°C).
4. Once the liquid is lukewarm, add the yeast and stir, strain the beer into a demijohn and add an airlock or place a clean piece of cloth or muslin over the whole and use a rubber band to secure the cloth in place.
6. Allow the beer to ferment for 7 days then bottle in to recycled glass, or plastic bottles the kind designed for fizzy drinks, I use old Grolsch bottles that have been cleaned and sterilised, they have a stopper top that is ideal for allowing you to open the beer to release excess carbonation from it. Too much and the bottles can explode, another reason to drink this beer quickly! Clear fizzy drink bottles allow you to see if there is an excess of gas building up, this can be released by simply opening the cap slowly to release any excess fizz!
Wednesday, 13 April 2022
Facts About: Nettles
Article © Debs Cook
Image by klimkin
One of Mother Nature’s blood purifiers, nettles make a valuable spring tonic after the winter, and have been used as a remedy for iron deficient anaemia for centuries (see a previous article for a tasty recipe for a nettle based iron tonic), due to the fact that they contain iron and their vitamin C content helps to ensure that the iron they contain is properly absorbed. As this is the time of year that young nettles start to appear, I thought I’d share a few more interesting facts about Nettles.
Nettles have antispasmodic, antiseptic, bitter, diuretic, expectorant, hemostatic, and vermifuge properties and have been used to treat a variety of conditions in folk medicine including bronchitis, jaundice, haemorrhoids and ulcers. Fresh stems of nettle were once used to thrash the skin of people suffering from rheumatic pains, thrashing the skin releasing chemicals such as histamine and formic acid into the skin which induce a stinging, burning sensation which is used to relieve the deeper pain of rheumatism.
Nettle leaves can be used to produce a range green coloured permanent dyes depending on the mordant used for woollen stuffs and even for adding as a food colouring. The roots if boiled with a mordant of alum produce a yellow coloured dye.
The herb has been used to help stimulate the growth of the hair and been an ingredient in hair tonics for centuries. The silica contained in the plant helped to strengthen brittle hair and improve the condition of weak hair follicles. Nettles have also been used to combat dandruff, and improve the condition of the scalp, they have been credited with making the hair thicker and shinier. Make a tea or decoction and use it in the final rinsing water or better still make your own nettle shampoo!
In the spring, usually around April time hay fever and allergy season begins, taking nettle as a tincture, an infusion or as a tea may reduce the symptoms of hay fever, such as itchy eyes and sneezing. Nettles contain a natural source of quercetin, a plant-based flavonoid which helps to support the body's natural response to allergens and inhibits histamine production – histamine is the substance produced by the body that causes allergy related sneezing, itching, and respiratory problems.
Did you know that the colour of Nettle tea depends on the pH and acidity of the water used to make it? The more alkaline the water used to make the nettle beverage, the darker green it will be. If the water used is more acidic pH 3 – 0, then the beverage will change in colour to a light pink. You can try it out for yourself if your water is more alkaline by adding a slice of lemon to the drink and watch it change from green to pink!
Disclaimer: Whilst every effort has been made to source the most up to date and accurate information, we cannot guarantee that remedies in our articles are effective, when in doubt, consult your GP or a qualified Medicinal Herbalist. Remember also that herbal remedies can be dangerous under certain circumstances therefore you should always seek medical advice before self-treating with a homemade remedy, especially if you are pregnant, breast feeding or suffer from any known illness which could be adversely affected by self-treatment.
Wednesday, 6 April 2022
Yarrow – A Herb for All Seasons: Part 2 Traditional Use
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| Article © Debs Cook Image by Tatiana6 |
Whereas many herbs have a clear focus of use – such as thyme for coughs or chamomile for stomach problems, this therapeutic clarity is lacking for Yarrow and so its potential healing properties are often overlooked in favour of other herbs, even by herbal practitioners. Hence, Yarrow ends up only being used in teas for the management of viral-induced fevers. Although this is a wonderful feature of yarrow, it is by no means its only attributes and the broad range of its current and historical applications reflects the unusually high number of physiologically active compounds it contains. In the first part of this 2-part article on Yarrow, the modern view of the herb is explored. Part 2 gives an overview of its traditional use from various documented sources. In interpreting the ancient texts, a major stumbling block to our understanding is that disease conditions were named much less specifically than today, as some of these quotes below show.
Common Yarrow is a perennial herb that often gets listed as a weed, wildflower or a perennial garden flower depending on which publication you are reading. It can be found in meadows, at the side of roads, in lawns and grassland and will self-seed readily if allowed to in the garden.
The Latin name, Achillea millefolium, is derived from the fact that the herb was dedicated to the God Achilles by the Greeks and the millefolium refers to the many fine leaflets on each yarrow leaf. The Greeks dedicated the herb yarrow to the Achilles, whom they believed cured warriors using yarrow leaves during the battle at Troy. This is probably why yarrow received the name Soldier's Woundwort, they also used it to stop haemorrhaging. Dioscorides in the 1st century A.D. considered it to be “excellent for an excessive discharge of blood, old and new ulcers, and for fistulas [ulcers].”
An underrated herb with a myriad uses, Yarrow has been in documented use as a cold remedy since the Middle Ages. The 12th century German herbalist and Abbess, Hildegard Von Bingen, recommended taking wine infused with powdered yarrow to help heal wounds and to manage fevers. The Druids made amulets from yarrow to protect them from evil. And it was also believed to attract friends and distant relations to you when you’d lost touch. If added to a bridal bouquet, it was also believed to ensure that love will last for at least seven years.
By the 16th century herbalist John Gerard knew yarrow also as Nose-Bleed and cited its uses as being a remedy for toothache, diarrhoea, migraine and as a means of curing excessive ejaculation, writing that yarrow ”cureth the inward excorations of the yard of a man, coming by reason of pollutions of extreme flowing of the seed, although” he cautioned “the issue does cause inflammation and swelling of those secret parts, though the spermaticke matter do come downe in great quantity, if the juice be injected with a syringe , or the decoction.”
Culpeper in the 17th century recommended yarrow for its astringent nature, for treating piles, writing “As a medicine [yarrow] is drying and binding. A decoction of it boiled with white wine, is good to stop the running of the reins in men, and whites in women; restrains violent bleedings, and is excellent for the piles. A strong tea in this case should be made of the leaves, and drank plentifully; and equal parts of it, and of toad flax, should be made into a poultice with pomatum, and applied outwardly. This induces sleep, eases the pain, and lessens the bleeding. An ointment of the leaves cures wounds, and is good for inflammations, ulcers, fistulas, and all such runnings as abound with moisture.”
Sir John Hill in his 18th century ‘Family Herbal’ echoed Culpeper’s use for yarrow as a treatment for piles adding his own remedy of a sweetened decoction, he recommended that the tops of the herb (flowers and young leaves) were best used fresh writing that “these are to be boiled in water, and the decoction sweetened with fine sugar”, the resulting liquid he wrote was “excellent against the bleeding of the piles, and bloody fluxes, and overflowing of the menses”.
In his 19th century ‘Model Botanic Guide to Health’ William Fox M.D. wrote of yarrow “There is not a single herb in the whole vocabulary that has done so much good, or is more universally esteemed; it has prevented more disease and doctor’s bills than all the books they have written about medical science.” Glowing praise indeed, Fox used yarrow in many of the same ways that his herbal predecessors did, writing that “a strong infusion is a specific to stay haemorrhage in the bowels,” and that “lint steeped in [an infusion of yarrow] and put up the nostrils will stop bleeding of the nose.”
Yarrow continues to be a versatile herb being particularly valued for managing fevers, but clearly having broader applications according to these texts. This useful and aromatic herb grows prolifically near to me providing a good supply in late summer to make tinctures, to dry ready for yarrow tea or to make a wonderful herbal inhalant.
Disclaimer: Whilst every effort has been made to source the most up to date and accurate information, we cannot guarantee that remedies in our articles are effective, when in doubt, consult your GP or a qualified Medicinal Herbalist. Remember also that herbal remedies can be dangerous under certain circumstances therefore you should always seek medical advice before self-treating with a homemade remedy, especially if you are pregnant, breast feeding or suffer from any known illness which could be adversely affected by self-treatment.