Death by bunny herb
Jun 26, 2009 3:50:07 GMT
Post by bixaorellana on Jun 26, 2009 3:50:07 GMT
The other day I was delighted to find some hierba del conejo (Tridax coronopifolia) growing in my yard.
This herb is used locally to flavor black beans and imparts a subtle rich flavor. As it happened, I'd made some black beans a couple of days earlier with some purchased hierba del conejo, but they were a little too subtle.
Thus, I happily gathered some of the lovely fresh herb, chopped it finely, and simmered it with the portion of beans I heated for my supper.
Afterwards I thought I'd maybe eaten too fast or perhaps too much, because I felt really bloated. I put on a pair of jeans to take the dog for a walk, and could barely close them. I had indigestion all night.
The next day I didn't feel too well, but it was a gray rainy day, so no big deal to stay in. The following day was beautiful and sunny, but by then I felt like rat crap. I moped around all day, and fairly late that night miraculously felt much better.
The next day -- yesterday -- I was talking to my neighbor about another herb that's growing around here & I mentioned that I had hierba del conejo if he wanted it. He said, "Oh no -- you can't eat that this time of year! Right now, during the rainy season, it's a "hot" herb and it will do you damage." (a very Mexican expression) I asked how it did damage and he said, "It makes your stomach swell up until you feel like you're going to burst. It causes pain and an awful feeling of pressure in your head, and you feel weak and achy all over." Those were precisely the symptoms I'd suffered!
I've always pooh-poohed the Mexican belief in "hot" and "cold" foods, but obviously they're on to something.
This herb is used locally to flavor black beans and imparts a subtle rich flavor. As it happened, I'd made some black beans a couple of days earlier with some purchased hierba del conejo, but they were a little too subtle.
Thus, I happily gathered some of the lovely fresh herb, chopped it finely, and simmered it with the portion of beans I heated for my supper.
Afterwards I thought I'd maybe eaten too fast or perhaps too much, because I felt really bloated. I put on a pair of jeans to take the dog for a walk, and could barely close them. I had indigestion all night.
The next day I didn't feel too well, but it was a gray rainy day, so no big deal to stay in. The following day was beautiful and sunny, but by then I felt like rat crap. I moped around all day, and fairly late that night miraculously felt much better.
The next day -- yesterday -- I was talking to my neighbor about another herb that's growing around here & I mentioned that I had hierba del conejo if he wanted it. He said, "Oh no -- you can't eat that this time of year! Right now, during the rainy season, it's a "hot" herb and it will do you damage." (a very Mexican expression) I asked how it did damage and he said, "It makes your stomach swell up until you feel like you're going to burst. It causes pain and an awful feeling of pressure in your head, and you feel weak and achy all over." Those were precisely the symptoms I'd suffered!
I've always pooh-poohed the Mexican belief in "hot" and "cold" foods, but obviously they're on to something.
