Medicinal Plants We Like: Nettles

Oh yes, it has been so long since I have posted.  I am more often in the forest and other wild places then updating this blog.  Now it is springtime and it is a wonderful season to be out and about, connecting with the land and plants at this very fertile time of year.

This is also a wonderful time to be harvesting stinging nettles, among other plants.  See previous entry about ethical harvesting, and it is important for me to be mindful of my relationship to the plants I harvest and land I harvest from.

Here is some information about stringing nettles from a website I found.  Below is just some of the information available.  Go to the links to find out more.  I have not personally made and used the herbal formulas so proceed as you will.

STINGING NETTLE
by Kassie Vance

From http://www.herballegacy.com/Vance_Medicinal.html

[Table of Contents] [History] [Location] [Chemical Constituents] [Medicinal Qualities] [Contra-Indications]
[Known Herbal Formulas] [Dosages & Applications] [Personal Experience] [Bibliography]

THE BENEFITS OF THE USE OF STINGING NETTLE
IN HERBAL PREPARATIONS

KNOWN HERBAL FORMULAS OF STINGING NETTLE

For medicinal purposes, stinging nettle is best harvested early in the spring when the plant is about six inches tall.  As they come into flower they can be picked and dried for later use. The use of gloves is recommended for gathering the fresh plant.

Young leaves are cooked as a potherb.  Steam them like spinach and add condiments to taste, or add it to soups, stews, or casseroles.  The volatile components in the hairs are neutralized by heat (cooking or drying).

“Strong syrup made of the root, combined with suitable quantities of wild-cherry bark and blackberry root, forms an excellent remedy for all summer complaints of children and bowel affections of adults.”

The following are formulas or recipes involving stinging nettle:

To treat eczema, especially in infants:
1 part stinging nettle leaves
1 part figwort
1 part red clover
Take as a tea three times daily.

To treat an under-active thyroid:
1 part stinging nettle leaves
1 part oats
1 part wormwood
1 part damiana (or kola)
2 parts bladderwrack
Take as a tea three times daily.

Healthy Blood Herbal Tea
1 plantain leaf
2 nettle leaves
3 mint leaves
1 cup water

Boil the plants for 3 minutes, and then steep.  Drink warm before breakfast.  If using dried plants, double the dosage and use for 1 month.

Nettle for Arthritic Pain
To prepare the tea as it is given here a juicer is needed.
1 part stinging nettle juice
1 part cotton grass juice
Walnut tree leaves equaling the weight of the above juices combined
1 squirt vinegar
Honey
About 6 cups water

Bring all ingredients to a boil, except for the honey, and skim off the foam.  Strain out the plant debris and sweeten with honey, if desired.  Drink this in moderate amounts on an empty stomach.  A packaged tea is also available.  Take 2 cups of this tea a day for two weeks.

Nutritious Herbal Seasoning
Mix equal parts dried finely crumbled garlic, parsley, watercress, sweet basil, oregano, marjoram, thyme, nettles, and comfrey.  Add one part each, powdered: dulse, rosehips, and cayenne.  Add one quarter part each powdered: dandelion root, burdock root.  Blend ingredients together, adjust seasoning to taste.  Make a small amount at a time.  Keep in a tightly sealed container.

Basic Nettle Hair Rinse
Make an infusion, let cool, and use the tea as a final rinse after shampooing.

For healthier, shinier hair, bring to a boil 1 pint apple cider vinegar.  Pour over 2 ounces dried nettles.  Cover and place in a cool, dark place for seven days, shaking daily.  Strain and store in a dark glass jar.  To use, mix 2-3 tablespoons of herbal vinegar with 1 cup warm water.  Use as a rinse and rub into scalp. 

In applying nettle to the scalp to stimulate hair growth, the freshly expressed juice can also be applied, as well as a decoction of the root.

Wake Up Bath
For a stimulating bath that is beneficial for rheumatic aches and pains, mix equal parts of dried nettles, rosemary, lemon balm, comfrey, lavender, and mint.  Make a strong infusion of the herbs, strain, and pour into bath, or put herbs in a cloth bag and float in bath water.

To curdle milk:
Boil the fresh leaves in a slightly larger volume of well-salted water for ten minutes and use the tea to curdle milk when making cheese; the amount varies with the type of milk and the hardness of curd desired.

Medicinal Benefits of Habañero Peppers

It has been awhile since I have posted to this blog.  Yup.  The Meristem Distro continues even though this blog has not been updated for so long.

Recently, a friend gave me a handful of habañero peppers, because she told me that they are too spicy for her.  I gladly and gratefully accepted them.  I nibbled on the last of the peppers tonight with a soup I had made.  Yum!  I love spicy peppers!  I decided to look up information about the health benefits of habañero peppers, and here is a bit of what I found.

Habaneros belong to the same Capsicum family of chili peppers that includes jalapenos, poblanos and bell peppers. Native to Central America, South America and the Caribbean Islands, habanero peppers are the hottest of all commercially grown chili peppers, making them a favorite with aficionados of spicy dishes. Habaneros boast more benefits than intense heat, however. They contain a high concentration of vitamins, minerals, dietary fiber and the compound capsaicin. Diets rich in the nutrients provided by habanero peppers may help prevent the development of a number of potentially serious medical conditions.

There are many myths against the consumption of habanero chili. People ignore the numerous benefits they could contribute to human beings' health. Here are some of them:

• All chilli peppers contain phytochemicals substances called capsaicinoids that produce capsicum. The capsicum is the ingredient that gives heat intensity when habanero chili peppers are ingested or applied topically.

• When habanero chile is consumed, it binds with the mouth and throat which are the pain receptors of the heat. Once it is transmitted to the brain, it responds to this burning sensation by increasing heart rate perspiration and releasing body's natural endorphin.

• Researches have shown that habanero chiles may have some beneficial properties as an anticoagulant. Small amounts of capsicum may help prevent heart attacks or strokes caused by blood clot.

• In cases of cardiovascular diseases, some doctors recommend a bit of habanero chiles in dairy dishes because bad cholesterol could resist oxidation for a longer period of time and delay the development of a major risk.

• Habanero chili peppers can provide symptomatic relief from rhinitis and possibly bronchitis by clearing mucus from stuffed noses or congested lungs.

• Some studies in mice show that capsicum products in particular as could help people suffering from obesity to lose weight, even though this is not proved yet with human beings. (my added note:  i am opposed to experiments on animals!)

• Capsicum peppers or Capsaicin in general are also a good substance for diabetes control by creating new cells that start producing insulin again.

• In some countries, chilis are used in salves due to their slight anti-inflammatory and anesthetic effect. Some researches have proved in rats that capsicum products can block pain without causing temporary paralysis.

• Habanero chiles consumption does not cause stomach aches or cancer even though people usually used to associate them. It has been proved there is not any relationship between them unless capsicum peppers have been adulterated with Sudan I, II, III, IV, para-Red and other illegal carcinogenic substances as aflatoxins and N-nitroso.

• Several studies confirm that capsicum varieties could have an anti-ulcer protective effect on stomachs infected with H. pylori

• Jalapeño and habanero chili peppers are a good source of vitamins as well as they are very high in potassium, magnesium and iron, which in turn, may be effective in protecting against cancer. They contain 357% more vitamin C than an orange: green habanero has twice as much as citrus fruit and red ones have three times more, plus an important amount of provitamin A. Moreover, they are a good source of most B vitamins in particular vitamin B6.

• All kind of chili pepper powder and fresh habanero chiles may help control food contamination in countries where there is a minimal or even no refrigeration.

from http://healthyeating.sfgate.com/benefits-eating-habaneros-2505.html and http://www.spicesolution.com/habanero_chili_health_enefits.html

Medicinal Plants We Like: Blackberry

Here in Santa Cruz the blackberries are ripening and a stroll in the woods or in areas in town could mean that you find a roaming snack-feast.  But blackberries are more than just a tasty treat.  To learn more read the entry below from the website livestrong (link below and beware of popups that leap out from the site).

Medicinal Uses for Blackberries

Mar 22, 2010 | By Frank Whittemore 

 

Although the most recognizable use of blackberries is for jams and jellies, this most common of berry plants has other applications as well. At one time prized for their astringent properties, blackberries have since been replaced by other more synthetic treatment choices. With a resurgence of interest in natural remedies, blackberries are being reconsidered for their use as a healing herb. The root, leaves and fruit can all be used to make medicinal preparations.

Gastrointestinal Disorders

The root of the blackberry plant contains high quantities of tannins. Tannins produce an astringent effect, particularly on the mucous membranes of the digestive tract. Consequently, blackberry root tea or tincture can be used for treating dysentery, diarrhea, hemorrhoids and other intestinal disorders. Some gastrointestinal disorders are serious and may require medical attention. If you suffer from a serious gastrointestinal condition, consult with your physician prior to using any herbal remedy.

Oral Hygiene

A preparation made from blackberry root, leaves and ripe berries can be used as a gargle to treat sore throats, inflamed gums and mouth ulcers. It can also assist in controlling occurrences of thrush, a mild yeast infection that can occur in the mouth, particularly in young children.

Wound Care

The astringent properties of blackberries can also be applied to treating wounds. Tannins in blackberries can help constrict blood vessels. A poultice or dressing made from a preparation of blackberries can be applied to cuts and scrapes to help control minor bleeding.

Antioxidant

Blackberry fruit is high in antioxidants, primarily due to its anthocyanin content. Anthocyanins are the type of bioflavonoid that is also found in teas, wines, nuts, cocoa and other fruits. These can help control the activity of damaging free radical chemicals within the body. Anthocyanins may also help address a host of other conditions, including improving vision, reducing hypertension, enhancing liver function, increasing memory and mental acuity.

References

• Plants for a Future: Rubus Fruticosis - L. Blackberry
• "Journal of Biomedicine and Biotechnology": Anthocyanins and Human Health - An In Vitro Investigative Approach
• "The Healing Herbs"; Michael Castleman; 1991
• Mayo Clinic: Oral Thrush
• Wellness: Blackberry (Rubus Fructicosus)

from http://www.livestrong.com

Medicinal Plants We Like: Lemon balm

Lemon balm  

Melissa officinalis

Lemon balm is a perennial herb in the mint family (Lamiaceae) and is native to Southern Europe but now grows all over the world. The plant has a light lemony-minty scent and usually grows to around two feet tall. It develops many branches with leaves that are about two inches long, heart-shaped, and nice to touch. Its white flowers bloom in early summer and attract bees, hence the name Melissa, which is Greek for honey bee.

Lemon balm is one of my favorite plants to use medicinally! It is particularly abundant in coastal California right now, and I like to pick the fresh leaves from my garden and steep them in my morning tea. Historically, it has been used to treat stress and anxiety, insomnia, stomach ailments, and low appetite, among other things. The crushed leaves can be used as an insect repellant. I use the leaves for their mild calming effects, and have found that consuming the plant daily has improved my ability to cope with stress. Plus, it makes me feel good!

When harvesting, it is best to pick whole leaves along the stem, leaving the lower leaves to replace those you've taken. Frequent harvesting encourages new growth but must be done with care. Be sure to thank the plants you harvest from and take good care of them. Don't harvest near roadsides or in areas you suspect might be polluted. As always, be sure you have correctly identified the plant before using it internally. Happy gathering!