Carpe Diem

This Carpe Diem tile sits among my herbs and reminds me to live in the present moment.

I have always loved the phrase ‘Carpe Diem’.   Usually translated as ‘Seize the Day!’, it is actually probably better translated as ‘Pluck the Day!’.  This second version implies that the day is like a ripe fruit, perfect at that moment, not earlier or later.  I love the way that ‘Carpe Diem’ reminds us to live mindfully in the present moment, and to live each day with awareness and meaning.

Carpe Diem was used by Horace (Quintus Horatius Flaccus (65 BC – 8 BC)), in his ‘Odes Book I’:

Dum loquimur, fugerit invida
Aetas: carpe diem, quam minimum credula postero

which means:

While we’re talking, envious time is fleeing: pluck the day, put no trust in the future

This sentiment fits very well with the Buddhist teachings of impermanence.  Impermanence teaches us that everything changes.  Nothing lasts for ever.  We can’t put our trust in the future.

This may sound depressing but impermanence can be very comforting when we find ourselves going through a rough patch in life.  We can remind ourselves that nothing lasts for ever and this will pass.  Mostly though, impermanence encourages us to make the most of the present moment, not to ‘waste’ time and to use our time as positively as we can.

So if we are to live life to the full we need to feel well.

Do you feel well enough to squeeze the most out of life?  If you don’t then maybe now is a good time to look at your health holistically and make some positive lifestyle changes.

To find out more about Myrobalan Clinic please visit www.myrobalanclinic.com

Gathering Nettle – a Powerhouse of Goodness

Nettle gathered from my field. it is much easier to harvest nettle in bulk from a dedicated row. - at least that's my excuse!

A few days ago I was able to gather my first batch of nettle (Urtica dioica).  Nettle has a really good range of therapeutic actions but on top of that it is an absolute powerhouse of goodness.  I use a lot of it in my clinic.  So much so that I have a row of nettles in my field which I keep nicely weeded.  Weeding nettles might seem odd to some, but it makes perfect sense to me.

It’s hard to know where to start with describing the properties of nettle but I’ll just jump right in with the fact that it is an excellent anti-inflammatory.  The Romans introduced their own nettle to the British Isles so that they could thrash their aching joints with the plants, reducing inflammation and stimulating the blood supply.  This practice, called urtification, is not really very popular these days so I prefer to prescribe nettle in infusions, tinctures, ointments or capsules.  I think that this is probably better for repeat business.

Nettle seed is reminiscent of Bowman's capsules in the kidney.

Nettle stimulates the kidneys, helping them to clear toxins more effectively from the body. You may accuse me of having an over active imagination but I think that the little seed heads hanging down in the late summer are reminiscent of the Bowman’s capsule inside the kidney.  I also connect the nettle with being able to grow and survive in very highly nitrogenous environments, such as on top of a muck heap.  Something about the plant gives it the ability to cope with high levels of nitrogen and it is fitting that it can help improve kidney function which after all is concerned with removing excess nitrogen from the body.  As I have explained in a previous post, The Doctrine of Signatures is alive and well here in West Dorset!

By stimulating the kidneys to work more efficiently the nettle can help to improve skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis, as well as inflammatory conditions like arthritis, rheumatism and gout.  Even hayfever can respond well to nettle if it is drunk as a tea throughout the season.

Nettle is one of the richest sources of chlorophyll in the plant kingdom, making it a great source of magnesium.  It has extremely high levels of iron and other minerals so is ideal for those suffering from anaemia and debility.   As well as replacing lost iron, nettle helps to reduce blood loss in those suffering from heavy menstrual bleeding, so it helps at both ends of the problem.

Nettle can be eaten as greens or in soup.  The famous Tibetan Yogi, Milarepa, is said to have existed almost solely on nettle soup while he meditated in caves high up in the Himalayas.  He lived to a ripe old age and wrote a vast number of very inspiring songs.

The ingredients are simple, organic oranges, apricots, red wine and of course nettles. Dried is best for this.

 

I like to use nettle to make an iron rich tonic to take over the winter.  The tonic provides calcium, magnesium and Vitamin C as well as iron so it is a great boost for the grey winter months.  If you make it once you will be hooked and will want to make some every year.  It really is delicious as well as effective.

Here is the recipe:

 

Nettle Tonic

Fill a Kilner jar with:

1 part organic orange peel
4 part crushed dried nettle
4 parts dried chopped organic apricots
Cover well with organic red wine, you may need to top it up as the nettles swell.

Leave to stand for 3 weeks, shaking daily. Drain the tonic through boiled muslin and reserve the liquid, squeezing the herbs either with your hands or in a wine press to get every last drop out.  Store the tonic in dark bottles in a cool place.

At this point you will have tasted it and discovered that it is delicious.  Resist the urge to start daily supplementation immediately!  You want this for the winter months.

The dose for adults is 1 dessert spoon twice a day.  Children over 8 can take a teaspoon twice a day (the alcohol in that amount is negligible).  Likewise, as the alcohol content is negligible and nettles are safe during pregnancy, this is an excellent tonic for expectant mothers.

To find out more about Myrobalan Clinic please visit www.myrobalanclinic.com

The tonic ready to macerate for three weeks.

Where Weeding and Harvesting Meet. Gathering Dandelion Roots.

Taraxacum officinale, better known as dandelion, is a very useful herb.

I love working at my herb field.  There is plenty to do at this time of year, but while most horticulturalists are concentrating on ground preparation, sowing and weeding, I am harvesting.  Or am I?  I’m removing dandelion plants from rows of herbs.  The distinction between weeding and harvesting has become blurred.  

During the late summer, if I notice dandelions growing amongst the other herbs, I leave them to grow to a decent size before the following spring when they are harvested.   I find that this system works better than unearthing pasture grown plants.  The dandelions which grow in the nicely tilled soil of my field have longer and less branched roots and that makes cleaning them an easier job.

Most herbal roots are gathered in the autumn when the foliage is dying down but spring time is the time to gather dandelion roots.  This is because the bitter principles in the roots are at their height in the spring and I want nice bitter roots.

A good haul of dandelions ready for the roots to be separated from the leaves.

Of all the tastes; sweet, sour, salty, hot, bitter and astringent; the bitter taste is the most pharmacologically active taste.  When we sense a bitter taste on our tongue a chain reaction is set up throughout our digestive tract, stimulating and toning, encouraging our body to secrete more digestive enzymes and bile; and generally preparing our body to digest food.  This is very useful as many people suffer from diminished digestive power leading to indigestion, bloating and auto-intoxication through the development of food intolerances and ‘leaky gut’.

Dandelion root contains bitter glycosides, triterpenoids and choline. It is very high in potassium making it useful for those on diuretic drugs which can cause a loss of potassium from the system.  Dandelion is actually a very effective diuretic itself.  Clever really as the loss of fluid from the body when using dandelion as a diuretic carries with it no danger of potassium depletion. I tend to use the leaves when I want to emphasise the diuretic action of this herb, and use the root to stimulate the liver and the digestion through its bitter principles.  The herb is wonderful to gently encourage the liver to ‘wake up’ and help to re-establish a regular bowel habit if this has become disrupted.  It is also a good herb to take in order to detoxify the system where an inappropriate diet and lifestyle has finally begun to cause health problems.

Roots air drying before being loaded into the dehydrator.

Once the roots are separated from the leaves they are washed and left to air dry before being put into the dehydrator.  When they are properly dry they can be stored and used for tinctures, decoctions or powders as needed for individual prescriptions in the clinic.

To find out more about Myrobalan Clinic please visit www.myrobalanclinic.com

Gathering Ranunculus ficaria, Known With Good Reason as Pilewort

Ranunculus ficaria is also known as Pilewort

With the warm Spring weather it is very cheering to see the beautiful yellow stars of  Ranunculus ficaria popping up everywhere.  Its common names are Lesser Celandine and Pilewort, this last because it is a very effective treatment for piles or haemorrhoids.  Here is an example where the Doctrine of Signatures is logical.  The tubers of Pilewort are reminiscent of a rather nasty case of piles. 

I gather Pilewort in early Spring when it is in flower.  I like to get in a good supply to last me until the following Spring.  I use the whole plant, although some people prefer to use only the root.  I always get pretty damp during the washing procedure so it is definitely a job for a sunny day.  The plants are washed repeatedly in many changes of water until they are perfectly clean, they are then laid out on trays to dry off before being put into the dehydrator.   Once dried I can use the herb in tincture, creams, ointments or capsules.  

The plants are washed in many changes of water and I always seem to get pretty wet!

Piles are an annoying fact of life for many patients, they may pop up during pregnancy when the body is under more strain than usual, or they can develop as a messenger from a liver complaining of congestion.  Not only does a congested liver create venous ‘back pressure’ but it is also likely to bring with it a tendency to constipation and the resulting straining doesn’t help matters if you are prone to piles.

When patients tell me that they have piles I want to establish the root cause of the problem so that a lasting solution is obtained.  Each case is different because each person I see is unique.  A person may need herbs such as Agrimony to help blood circulation in the liver or they may need herbs to help increase the flow of bile such as Dandelion and Boldo.  Where venous integrity is a problem herbs such as Witch Hazel and Horse Chestnut will play their part and sometimes the circulation in general needs support with herbs such as Ginger and Prickly Ash.  There is no ‘one size fits all’ approach but having said that Pilewort is a very valuable part of the treatment because it is so effective at shrinking piles quickly.

Sometimes results are dramatic.  A protuberance the size of a duck egg down to a ‘peanut’ in a matter of days, much to the relief of the patient concerned.  It is not nice when you can’t sit down.

Washed Pilewort spread out to dry.

Pilewort – it definitely does what its name says.  I wouldn’t be without it in my dispensary and I am so glad that I am able to gather it plentifully from my garden.

If you are suffering from haemorrhoids why not get to the bottom of the problem (if you’ll pardon the pun)?  If the root cause is treated they won’t come back!

 

To find out more about Myrobalan Clinic please visit www.myrobalanclinic.com

 

Gathering Viburnum opulus – The Start of My Harvesting Year

Viburnum opulus bark is the first herbal harvest of the year.

Viburnum opulus or Cramp Bark is the first herb that I gather each year.  As its name suggests it is the bark which is used and this is easiest to strip from the stems in early spring time, just when the buds are about to burst.  This is also when its active ingredients are at their highest levels.

Viburnum opulus grows in hedgerows on chalky soils, and you need to know where to look for it as in the early spring its stems look very similar to other hedgerow species.  Over the years I have located various populations from which I gather small quantities, always leaving plenty to flourish for future years.  Sadly the use of the hedge flail is making it more and more difficult to find harvestable stems, but somehow I manage to find areas which have been spared if I look hard enough.

Stems are harvested from the hedgerows in small batches so that they can be processed straight away.

Once I have cut the stems I strip the bark off and then load it into the dehydrator.  Processing has to be done immediately after picking to ensure that none of the active ingredients are lost, so for this reason I gather little and often.

Viburnum opulus is a very effective antispasmodic, relaxing smooth muscle in the body.  It is useful in prescriptions for easing dysmenorrhea and can even be used to avert a threatened miscarriage.  Since it is also astringent it is helpful in cases of heavy bleeding, such as that which can be associated with menopause.

I use Viburnum opulus a lot in my practice.  I prefer to work with its relaxing qualities in general, rather than label it as ‘the herb to use for period pains’.   It is very useful to help relax the arterioles and reduce hypertension where it is due to stress and where there is a tendency to ‘hold on’ to problems.  It is amazing to see patients begin to take on a less rigid attitude to life when they are taking Viburnum opulus.

The active ingredients include a bitter called viburnin, valerianic acid (which is also in Valerian), salicosides, resin and tannin.  As soon as you start scraping the bark off the stems you can smell the characteristic valerianic acid and it reminds you of Valerian (although it is not so pungent.)

I love this herb, not only for its wonderful therapeutic properties but also for its beauty in the hedgerow, its clouds of white flowers in spring, the way its leaves have a unique elongated maple-like shape and its gorgeous red berries in the autumn.  Last but not least I love the way that this herb represents the beginning of a new year of herb gathering, a time to replenish my dispensary and to continue the seasonal cycle.

To find out more about Myrobalan Clinic please visit www.myrobalanclinic.com

Viburnum opulus bark ready to go into the dehydrator.

Nasturtium – More Than Just a Pretty Face!

In hot sun Nasturtium flowers are said to emit sparks due to their high phosphoric acid content.

I love having Nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus)  rambling around my herb beds. Not only do the flowers look so pretty, they also have excellent medicinal properties.

Nasturtium was first introduced to Europe from Peru by the Conquistadores.  It is said that on hot summer days sparks are emitted from the heart of the flower due to its high phosphoric acid content.

Nasturium is particularly well indicated for respiratory infections.  It can be especially helpful where resistance to antibiotics has become a problem, for example in cases of Pseudomonas infection.  I would not be without a good stock of Nasturtium tincture in my clinic as I have learned to value it highly in these situations.  There is long standing empirical evidence for the efficacy of Nasturtium and recent scientific research has backed this up by finding that it contains a glycoside called glucotrapaeoline which hydrolises to yield anti-microbial sulphur compounds.  

Nasturtium flowers and leaves add a peppery tang to salads.

You can enjoy the health benefits of your own home grown Nasturtiums by adding the flowers and leaves to salads.  They give a delicious peppery tang to the the salad with the added benefit of helping your respiratory system at the same time.  You can also dry them to use as herb teas during the winter.

Last summer I experimented with making a herb vinegar using Nasturtium flowers.  I was so pleased with the result and its effectiveness against catarrh that I shall definitely be making a larger batch this year.   All you need to do is take two teaspoons a day if you have a stubborn cold or lingering catarrh.

Here’s the recipe:

Pick one cup of Nasturtium flowers and put them in a bottle with a peeled garlic clove. Pour over 500ml cider vinegar and ensure that all the herb material is covered by the liquid.  Leave for four weeks in a cool dark place and then strain and bottle.  A teaspoon of this vinegar twice a day will help ease stubborn catarrh. 

Nasturtium vinegar (on the right) with a mixed herb vinegar for dressings.

To find out more about Myrobalan Clinic please visit www.myrobalanclinic.com

How to Make a Herbal Cough Elixir

Ingredients for the herbal cough elixir

There are a lot of coughs and colds around at the moment.  Succumbing to a cold is Nature’s way of telling you slow down and make sure you are keeping a well balanced diet and lifestyle.  Having said that, once you have a cold and you have vowed to change your ways, not stay up so late, eat plenty of fruit and vegetables, cut down on the caffeine etc etc, then you need some help to soothe that irritating cough and help clear the nasal passages.

This herbal cough elixir is just the thing.  Make some each summer and you will have a supply for the winter ahead.  I use a combination of dried and fresh herbs but you can vary the recipe according to what you have available in the garden and herb store.  There are so many herbs which are expectorant and soothe the upper respiratory tract.  Make the most of them!

Remember if you are using fresh herbs you will need a great quantity than the ones you are using which are dried.  Make sure any fresh components are as dry as possible so the keeping properties of the elixir are not affected by excessive moisture.

You will need:

750ml good quality rum for steeping.

Liquorice root dried (Glycyrrhiza glabra) 1.5 tsp

Elecampane root dried (Inula racemosa) three slices of root

Wild cherry bark dried (Prunus serotina) 0.5 tsp

Horehound  leaf dried (Marrubium vulgare) 1.5 tsp

Caraway seed dried (Carum carvi) 0.5 tsp

Marshmallow leaf fresh (Althaea officinalis) handful chopped

Hyssop fresh (Hyssopus officinalis) handful chopped

Elderflowers fresh (Sambucus nigra) handful chopped

Thyme fresh (Thymus vulgaris) handful chopped

Sage leaves fresh (Salvia officinalis) handful chopped

Put the herbs into a kilner jar with 750ml good quality rum. Leave to steep for at least 10 days ensuring that all plant material is covered by the rum.  If necessary weigh the herbs down in the liquid with a glass jar.  Agitate daily and leave in a dark place.  Once it has steeped strain, bottle and label.

Take a teaspoon as required.  The Horehound, Wild cherry and Elecampane make this quite a bitter elixir so you may like to sweeten it with a little honey when you take it.  It is very effective at soothing coughs and clearing the airways so worth acquiring a taste for it.

If you need to avoid alcohol then you can make a herbal vinegar by substituting cider vinegar for the rum.

To find out more about Myrobalan Clinic please visit www.myrobalanclinic.com