Mens Health Blog. Medical Blog

posted by admin on Apr 2

Farmers and gardeners all over the world know that to grow leafy green vegetables, annuals with sturdy constitutions, and shrubs and perennials to their peak, a soil rich in all the necessary plant food has to be provided. Herbs can play an enormously important role in building up soil fertility and, by way of thanks, a healthy soil grows even better herbs, too.

Organic gardening associations, and those gardeners in many countries who follow organic methods, believe that to avoid the soil starvation and depletion resulting from unbalanced artificial fertilizing, and the consequent reduced ability of crops to withstand insect ravages and disease, natural means only of enriching the soil and maintaining its fertility should be used. “Organic gardening” means returning to the earth everything taken from it in the form of decomposing animal and vegetable matter in a natural form which the plants can use. In Nature, fallen leaves, twigs, roots, grasses, and animal droppings, even the bones of dead animals and the microscopic bodies of the bacteria living in the soil, are returned to it, and slowly decompose to form the balanced plant nutrients necessary to keep forests and pastureland alive.

The so-called “complete fertilizers” of unnatural origin give (like some drugs) an initial boost; but much recent investigation has found that the soil, after this type of shot-in-the-arm, is left actually poorer than ever, and no increased applications of chemical fertilizers can restore vitality and life to it. Moreover, much of the mineral and chemical content of these fertilizers is in a form the plants can not easily assimilate. Composting and building up again with organic matter and humus can slowly, over a matter of many seasons, restore to the soil the fertility it has lost; but this is a long-term solution, and commercial growers can go broke while waiting for it to be effective.

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posted by admin on Apr 2

In ancient civilizations, medicine was inextricably bound up with religion. All the earliest physicians practised autosuggestion, hypnotism and psychotherapy, though certainly in somewhat different form and under different names. Natural remedies were prescribed for natural diseases, and “magic” remedies for what we now would call psychosomatic diseases and many forms of mental illness. The skills of genuine healers were sometimes assumed by charlatans and tricksters who had no training and no knowledge, but merely a convincing manner and an outstretched palm. Any fool could chant an unintelligible rhyme or sell a so-called “remedy” or “elixir”, and gullible people would buy. The disrepute thus brought to natural medicines and herbs still dogs herb users today. A friend of mine who has suffered chronic illness for many years steadfastly refuses to try any simple herbal preparations on the grounds that she will not poison herself with herbs and “all that mumbo-jumbo”. (I have been “poisoning” myself and my family with herbs a long time now, and our health and resistance to disease is proof enough for me that Nature knows best.) Prevention, everyone tells us, is better (and easier) than cure. The beauty of using herbs daily in many different ways is that so many of them have value in building up resistance to disease; and if a disease does strike, herbal preparations will usually do good without having the side-effects of so many artificially created drugs. But enough of my pet hobby-horse and back to our history.

As the legions of Rome spread out over their conquered territories, Roman customs and way of life changed the ways of the indigenous peoples. After the soldiers came the governors and administrators, and with them the monks, who brought not only their own religious beliefs, but practical knowledge in the fields of agriculture, health and nutrition. Many herbs were carried as gifts from one monastery to another by travelling monks, and from the monasteries the people gradually gained knowledge of the many uses to which they could be put. One of the earliest forms of taking herbs in the diet was in cordials, or an infusion of the herb in wine. From these “cordials”, evolved over the centuries, came the recipes for many of our present-day liqueurs. When you next drink Chartreuse or Kummel or Anisette, give a thought to those peregrinating monks, who used their knowledge and skill in blending herbs and spices (Chartreuse contains some forty-six ingredients) into recipes still unchanged today. These cordials were drunk usually as an aid to digestion at the end of a large meal, for the eating habits of the day were such that the food was often highly unpalatable, owing to deterioration, or indigestible. It is easy to understand the preoccupation with flatulence and stomach troubles in early herbal writings of this period.

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posted by admin on Apr 2

Salvia officinalis LABIATAE

Here is another-herb of Jupiter, bringing long life, with an active old age and all faculties in good working order. Sage is well named, coming from the Latin salvere, to save, and cultures much older (and perhaps wiser) than ours used it as a daily beverage, just as we drink tea.

The Chinese drank sage tea as often as possible, and their early records show how high a value was placed on its health-giving properties. Indeed, 4 lb. of China tea was exchanged by Chinese merchants with Britain for every pound of sage tea grown in England. Both countries were well-pleased with the deal. I wonder which one really had the best of the bargain?

The herb is low-growing, to about 1 foot in height, and is a compact, rather bushy plant. Its greyish-green leaves, with the rough texture of a cat’s tongue, make good teeth-cleaners, and at Tunbridge Wells they are given to spa clients to clean their teeth after taking the discolouring mineral waters. The flowers are deep purple bells, produced in spring, but if you want the herb for the table, nip off the flowering stems when they appear. The seeds are rather large for a small plant, round black balls which can be slow to germinate. Keep the seed box rather drier than usual. This will often start the seedlings on their way. You can soak the seed in warm water if you wish, to soften the hard outer shell before planting.

Sage needs an alkaline soil, so use plenty of dolomite and scatter a handful through the topsoil when preparing a place for the plants. Hot sun and dryness will give you a sturdy bush in a very short time, but watch for any sign of “wet feet” in prolonged wet weather, and move your plant to a drier location. Sage can be a bit pernickety and will sometimes shrivel and die almost overnight for no apparent reason if the weather or soil conditions are not to its liking. Caterpillars are very fond of it, and must be picked off before they can strip the leaves. Dried sage leaves do not keep their flavour as well as most dry herbs, so pick them fresh if you can for culinary use.

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posted by admin on Apr 2

Before planting, dig at least 2 feet down into the ground, loosening packed clay or subsoil as you go, and if you are a perfectionist you may want to sieve the soil, removing hard lumps or dead roots.

If the subsoil is too heavy, mix some coarse sand in with it before returning it to the hole, together with compost, and a few handfuls of blood and bone about a foot below the surface. Plant your horseradish seedling with its stem base about an inch below the soil surface and keep it well watered during its growth. The leaves as they grow have several different shapes, varying from plant to plant. Some are deeply toothed and rather stiff, others resemble spinach but are a paler green, and still others have almost no leaf stem at all, seeming to come straight from the root stock.

Snails love horseradish, and they will strip the leaves to skeletons unless a lookout is constantly kept.

The roots should be dug at the end of the first growing season, and the thick tap root separated from the others. Scrub it, and cut it into strips about i inch wide to facilitate drying. It can then be dried on a tray in a cool oven (watch this carefully to avoid overheating or roasting). When completely dry, the root slivers will be quite brittle, and will snap when bent. Store these strips in a glass jar lined with tissue paper, and grate when needed.

The smaller root pieces can be cut into 3- or 4-inch lengths and replanted with the top about an inch below the soil surface. Rub off all but one strong shoot when regrowth begins, to give you only one crown and a single unbranched root. The herb needs plenty of water at all stages of its growth to keep the root fleshy and prevent any woodiness.

If you do not wish to dry the roots, store them after washing in white wine vinegar. They can be grated as required. Do not use cider vinegar for this; it will discolour the roots to a dark brown.

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posted by admin on Apr 2

The leaves, when cut, should always be used immediately, and can be added to almost any savoury dish at the last minute. The herb seems to have a natural affinity for eggs, and is traditionally used with omelettes and other egg dishes.

Asparagus-Chervil Filling

Here is a chervil-assisted filling for omelettes or pancakes.

Drain canned or fresh-cooked asparagus and heat quickly in a little butter. Add a handful of chopped chervil, heat through, and turn onto the omelette. Drizzle a little lemon juice over, drool, and eat.

Chervil has slight antibiotic properties. Eat as much of it as you fancy.

Quiche Lorraine can have chervil added for an unusual note in this otherwise traditional dish.

Quiche Lorraine

1 6-oz. packet flaky pastry

1\4 pint milk

1\4 pint cream

2 eggs

3 rashers bacon”

chervil (3 scant tablespoons when chopped)

Line a deep flan or souffle pan with the rolled-out pastry, then place this in the fridge until your filling is made. Beat the eggs, saute the chopped bacon lightly, add the other ingredients and season to taste. Pour into the prepared pastry case and bake in a moderate to hot oven until the pastry is brown and the filling firm.

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posted by admin on Mar 30

Breast Feeding

For insufficient milk, the following herbs can be used:

Anise seed

Fennel seed

Marshmallow root

Vervain leaves

Infusion of any of the above, alone or in combination: 1/2 ñèð as required, up to 3 cups per day

Anise and Fennel are well known for their ability to stimulate milk flow and have been used by nursing mothers for centuries.

Both herbs also relieve colic and, when taken by a nursing mother, this action extends to the baby too.

Vervain, as well as being a galactagogue, is also useful for post-natal depression.

To dry up milk flow:

Sage leaves

Infusion: 3 cups per day, starting with a mild infusion and increasing the strength each day until normal dosage is reached (results are usually obtained within a week or so)

For cracked nipples:

2 parts Marigold flowers

1 part Marshmallow root

Poultice, compress or ointment: apply several times each day

Colic in Babies

For colic in young babies:

Anise seed

Fennel seed

Caraway (Carum carvi) seed

Dill (Anethum graveolens) seed

Infusion of any of the above, alone or in combination: give 1 or 2 teaspoonfuls from time to time (e.g. every hour or so) until the colic subsides

Dill seed forms the basis of many gripe waters available commercially, and any of the other carminative seeds listed above works equally well.

An infusion of Catnip, Chamomile, Lemon Balm or Vervain, given in doses of 1 or 2 teaspoons, is a mild but effective remedy for most digestive problems in young babies. For acute or persistent conditions, seek professional advice.

Note that herbal remedies can be sweetened with honey as desired, this sometimes being of particular benefit with babies and children.

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posted by admin on Mar 30

Perspiration

To increase perspiration diaphoretic herbs are used. This may be done to increase elimination via the skin, or to ’sweat out’ a cold, flu, fever or eruptive disease.

Elder flowers

Yarrow herb

Peppermint leaves

Lemon Balm leaves

Catnip herb

Infusion of any of the above, alone or in combination: 1-2 cups taken hot

The diaphoretic action is increased by drinking the infusion as hot as possible and keeping well covered.

To decrease perspiration, and for night sweats:

Sage leaves

Infusion: 1-3 cups per day for 1-3 weeks

Sprains and Fractures

If there is the slightest chance that a bone is fractured, seek professional attention immediately. Once the condition has been properly diagnosed and treated, herbs may be used to reduce the pain and swelling and promote rapid recovery.

To promote the healing of sprains, and to help fractured bones knit together, Comfrey is the principal herb used:

Comfrey root or leaves

Poultice of the fresh plant: apply to the affected area 2- 4 times per day

In some cases a compound formula with additional properties may be more appropriate:

4 parts Comfrey root or leaves (emollient/vulnerary)

2 parts Marigold flowers (antiseptic/vulnerary)

2 parts St John’s Wort herb (analgesic/antiseptic/vulnerary)

1 part Ginger root (rubefacient)

Poultice, compress or ointment: apply to the affected area 2-4 times per day

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posted by admin on Mar 30

Rosmarinus officinalis

Action: Tonic, aromatic, stomachic, carminative, cholagogue, diuretic, antispasmodic, emmenagogue, astringent, antiseptic.

Systems Affected: Nerves, heart, lungs, stomach, liver, gall-bladder, kidneys, bladder, uterus.

Preparation and Dosage (thrice daily): Fresh or dried leaves, dose 1-5 grams by infusion.

Rosemary is native to the Mediterranean coast and both the common and generic names are derived from the early Latin ros maris (dew of the sea), from its habit of growing close to the sea. From the earliest times its medicinal benefits were recognized and it has always been popular as an aromatic and culinary herb.

In the late fourteenth century it became famous as the principal ingredient of the Queen of Hungary’s Water. Donna Izabella, Queen of Hungary, aged seventy-two and severely afflicted with gout, received a single brief visit from a hermit who left behind a herbal formula for treating her condition. Based on Rosemary and taken every morning for a year, it led to her full recovery, so much so that, in the words of Donna Izabella herself, ‘I recovered my health and regained my strength, and on beholding my beauty, the King of Poland desired to marry me; which I refused for the love of our Lord Jesus Christ, believing that the Receipt had been given to me by an Angel . . .’

Rosemary has been used to treat an almost bewildering variety of ailments, hence its attribution as a general tonic. Particularly high in calcium, it stimulates the brain, kidneys and nervous system and is good for nervous depression.

The infusion, used internally, has been applied to such problems as colds and flu, physical and mental overstrain, anaemia, debility following severe illness, dyspepsia, flatulence and colic, hepatic insufficiency, jaundice, cirrhosis, cholecystitis, gall-stones, rheumatism, gout, renal insufficiency, retention of urine, oedema, obesity, painful menstruation, nervous palpitations, dizziness, fainting, loss of memory, nervous headache and migraines. It is considered by some to be of great benefit in relieving headaches and as a substitute for aspirin.

Externally Rosemary is used to treat rheumatism, gout and neuralgia. It is applied as a compress, or as an ointment which is massaged into the affected area (the essential oil being the most effective). The infusion, used once or twice a day as a lotion, acts as a skin tonic and will remove puffiness beneath the eyes. Renowned as a tonic for the hair and scalp, it is sometimes used to prevent falling hair: a strong infusion, cooled, is used as a rinse after shampoo. Rosemary is smoked with Coltsfoot leaves to relieve asthma and congestion of the throat and lungs.

Cautionary Notes: Allowing for all its possible uses, Rosemary should be used with some discretion. The essential oil should not be used internally. Extremely large doses of the leaf are toxic, possibly causing abortion, convulsions and, very rarely, death.

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posted by admin on Mar 30

Zingiber officinale

Action: Aromatic, stimulant, diaphoretic, sialagogue, carminative, stomachic, anti-emetic, antispasmodic, rubefacient.

Systems Affected: Stomach, intestines, circulation, general effects on the whole body.

Preparation and Dosage (thrice daily): Fresh or dried rhizome, dose 0.5-2.0 grams by infusion.

Ginger is a perennial plant indigenous to south-east Asia. It is now cultivated commercially in most tropical and subtropical countries, including Australia. The rhizome is the part used and, when dried, it keeps almost indefinitely.

The plant has a long history of culinary and medicinal use: it was imported from the east by the ancient Greeks and it has been a part of daily life for centuries in the Far East, where it remains one of the important drugs of Chinese medicine.

Ginger is a versatile herbal stimulant. It is often combined with other remedies for its general tonic and stimulant properties, and with laxatives to prevent nausea and griping. It also helps to distribute other herbs throughout the body. It is stronger than Peppermint and is more diffusive than Cayenne, for which it can be used as a substitute. (Many herbal formulas include a stimulant herb to reinforce the action of the other herbs. The three herbs most frequently used for their stimulant properties are Cayenne, Ginger and Peppermint.)

Ginger is of particular benefit to the stomach, intestines and circulation. Its warming, antispasmodic qualities are useful in flatulent colic, dyspepsia, atony of the digestive organs, nausea, cramp, spasm and period pain. It is also sometimes used for treating diarrhea and dysentery.

Ginger is of specific benefit where the stomach is under-active and there is difficulty secreting adequate hydrochloric acid to digest food. Ginger stimulates saliva secretion which in turn stimulates gastric acid production.

In colds and flu it is a valuable diaphoretic with stimulant and tonic properties. For deficient circulation, and any condition relating to cold or chills, it is a reliable remedy.

Externally it is used as a compress or in ointments to relieve pain, inflammation and stiff joints.

In all formulas calling for Ginger, either the fresh or dried rhizome may be used unless specified otherwise. The amount used, by weight, is the same.

Cautionary Notes: Large doses should be avoided by those suffering from any skin complaint.

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posted by admin on Mar 30

Action: Alterative, diuretic, diaphoretic, tonic demulcent.

Systems Affected: Blood, kidneys, general effects on the whole body.

Preparation and Dosage (thrice daily): Dried root, dose 2 – 6 grams by infusion.

Native to Europe, Burdock is now naturalized as a weed in many parts of the world. It prefers roadsides and wasteland on rich loamy soil but adapts to all kinds of soil. It is distinguished by its height (up to 2 meters), its purple flowers and its huge dock-like leaves which are whitish on the underside. Its stout root (up to 5 or 6 centimeters in diameter) extends vertically into the ground sometimes up to a depth of one meter.

Its seed-heads, covered with hooked spines or burrs, readily attach themselves to the coats of passing animals, by which means the plant is spread. Farmers consider it a nuisance on account of its tendency to invade pasture.

The plant has wide medicinal use, particularly for skin complaints, and is eaten as a vegetable in France, Italy, the Scandinavian countries and Japan (where the plant is cultivated commercially).

Burdock contains inulin (a form of starch commonly found in plants of the Compositae family), mucilage, a volatile oil and several antibiotic substances.

It is considered one of the finest alternatives or ‘blood purifiers’ in the herbal system. It increases resistance to infection and is an excellent remedy for all skin problems, especially psoriasis and eczema. It may be taken alone or combined to best effect with other alternatives such as Yellow Dock, Red Clover and Dandelion.

Its diuretic/alterative action, employed over an extended period, is useful in the treatment of rheumatism, gout, sciatica and lumbago. Its diuretic/demulcent action is used in the treatment of kidney and bladder complaints (especially cystitis). Its diaphoretic action is utilized to clear fevers and ‘hot conditions’ (boils, styes, carbuncles, rashes, infections and eruptive diseases such as measles). Burdock is a stimulant to the gustatory nerves and is sometimes used in the treatment of anorexia nervosa.

Externally, Burdock is highly effective in the treatment of skin complaints. The root, leaves or seeds are applied, fresh or dried, as a compress, poultice or ointment to boils, abscesses, acne, pimples, bruises, inflammation and skin eruptions. Burdock is also applied as a tonic to the hair and scalp.

The one-year-old root is preferred for medicinal purposes. The fresh or dried seeds and leaves are sometimes used, most commonly for external application.

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