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Post by bixaorellana on May 24, 2009 6:22:14 GMT
Amazing how willing people are to accept that certain plants can be poisonous, even deadly, but resist the idea that other plants have properties that are healing.
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Post by auntieannie on May 24, 2009 15:30:18 GMT
bix, it is like the composition of some creams that are labeled "beauty product".
let me explain. I understand that you can find some really nasty chemicals in some "beauty" creams that are forbidden for use in creams for medical use. Why? because the beauty industry works on the principle that what you put in a cream doesn't get past the skin; whereas the health industry works on the principle that what you put in a cream gets past the skin inside the body. grrrr!
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Post by hwinpp on May 26, 2009 10:08:29 GMT
The common daisy? Do you mean this cultivated flower:  ? I would think it would be bitter as gall. You don't perhaps mean the dandelion:  ? Tell us more, please! I mean the white one. Actually it's the leaves that contain the vitamins. I tried them and they weren't bitter at all. The dandelion is also good though I think it's just the root that's very nourishing and it's damn difficult to dig out! Re the nettles, we used to collect them in the fields a bit further from the roads. The young ones are a lighter green, you'll see when you discover a patch. If you firmly grab the stem you don't get stung. Blanche them and they're completely harmless and you can tear the leaves and young shoots of. I believe some teas/infusions are pretty harmless and might have a soothing effect. Another one is rose hip and this one actually tastes quite good, a sort of wildish, soury taste. |
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Post by bixaorellana on May 26, 2009 13:13:47 GMT
Rose hip tea is supposed to be very high in vitamin C, I believe. I don't know what its other properties are.
That's amazing about the daisy -- never knew that!
My dad said that during the depression lots of people ate dandelion leaves. I've read recipes for them, though, & they call for multiple boilings, which you'd think would destroy any vitamins.
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Post by imec on May 26, 2009 14:03:50 GMT
"they call for multiple boilings"
Why not just toss them in a salad? Then use the flowers to make dandelion "wine".
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Post by Deleted on May 26, 2009 14:32:35 GMT
Dandelion salad is one of my favorites. We used to go out and cut the dandelions ourselves in the back field (the younger small ones, before they start to produce their flowers). About 10 years ago, you could still find dandelion at the supermarket in Paris, but I am afraid that the younger generations are more attracted to the blander tasteless salads. Dandelion is quite distinctly bitter.
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Post by imec on May 26, 2009 15:25:41 GMT
I've introduced many of my younger friends to bitter greens (dandelion, endive, radicchio etc) by working them into a "chopped salad" with other sweeter ingredients (red and yellow bell peppers, grape tomatoes, fresh corn etc.) and tossing with olive oil and white balsamic. Because the salad is chopped fine, each forkful delivers a perfect balance of the sweet and bitter - always a hit!
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Post by auntieannie on May 26, 2009 18:49:30 GMT
dandelion salad! yum! you can add hard-boiled eggs and/or fried streaky bacon bits. A perfect springtime memory!
Bixa, I am sure I copied the info on rosehip somewhere in this section for you!
I will have to add others soon.... just too busy!!!
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Post by hwinpp on May 28, 2009 9:04:18 GMT
Agree with dandelion salad. That's the way to eat the leaves. No need to blanch or boil.
Can't remember what we did with the roots.
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Post by Deleted on May 28, 2009 9:25:21 GMT
We left the roots in the ground. A knife was used to cut off the leaves at ground level.
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Post by imec on May 29, 2009 19:17:51 GMT
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Post by Deleted on May 29, 2009 19:22:34 GMT
That's really beautiful, but it is past salad season if it is blooming!
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Post by imec on May 29, 2009 19:27:23 GMT
This is where everyone in the neighborhood walks their dog. Salad? Pass.
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Post by Deleted on May 29, 2009 19:35:53 GMT
Rinsing is good.  And it's all organic. |
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Post by bixaorellana on May 29, 2009 23:44:44 GMT
You took those photos, Imec?! WOW! They're all beautiful, but that mega closeup is outstanding. Love your cloud dog!
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Post by imec on May 30, 2009 0:58:11 GMT
As I was backing out of the driveway this afternoon, I saw this sea of yellow and remembered the dandelion discussion so I got out my trusty ELPH.
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Post by Deleted on May 30, 2009 2:49:55 GMT
Both of my grandmothers used to make a dandelion blossom syrup that was used as a substitute for honey. They even used it to make a type of baklava pastry(it had a Polish name,can't remember)
Bix,Annie posted the rose hip properties earlier on in this thread. Every September I say I'm going to harvest the huge rose hips on the dunes in NY (they are wild rugosas with huge hips) and bring them back to make stuff with. This year!
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Post by bixaorellana on May 30, 2009 5:59:12 GMT
 you all keep saying there's more about rose hips in this thread, but where? Link, please. The only comments were mine about vitamin c & Annie's about rose hips being good for arthritis. so there!
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Post by auntieannie on May 30, 2009 20:11:44 GMT
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Post by auntieannie on May 30, 2009 20:21:48 GMT
Now I am totally confused about the rosehip. I think I meant to post more and in the "simple healing with herbs" they describe the rose (rosa spp). I want to find info on rosehip (rosa canina)
Hopefully will soon get my encyclopedia of natural medicine back from a friend I lent it to.
Sorry bixa!
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Post by Deleted on May 30, 2009 20:25:56 GMT
I only have eaten the salad, never imbibed in dandelion drinks.
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Post by bixaorellana on Oct 8, 2011 5:00:58 GMT
We were discussing rue in another thread. The only use I've tried for myself is to use a very small amount, from a growing tip, to make a sort of "bitters" tea for stomach upset. This does work.
James Duke, in his The Green Pharmacy, lists rue as useful for a tea against amenorrhea. This makes sense, as Infusions of Healing by Joie Davidow cautions against ever using it internally for pregnant or nursing mothers.
Infusions of Healing is subtitled "A Treasure of Mexican-American Herbal Remedies". It lists the properties of rue as antispasmodic and stimulant and says it's used to tread menstrual cramps, earache, headache, nosebleed, and as an insect repellent. It was also used to speed uterine contractions during labor.
Considering its justifiable reputation for causing photosensitivity, I can't imagine how it would be used for an insect repellent.
On the other hand, Herbal Medicine by Dian Dincin Buchman, says that its pulped leaves can be used to alleviate the pain of spider, scorpion, or jellyfish bites, all incidents that might leave one indifferent to a little photosensitivity.
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