Natural Healers- Echinacea

  If you've always thought a herb is any useful plant, you'd probably be surprised to see echinacea absent from many herb books. However, its properties have been well noted for generations and its efficaciousness supported by research.
  Echinacea is a group of North American Prairie perennials that can grow to a height of 20 inches, and are known for their purple, daisy-like flowers.

  It is a perennial that should be grown in a sunny spot. It needs a rich, sandy soil, in an open site, as the plant is prone to mildew.  Harvesting and drying the roots should be done in autumn.
  It is used extensively to boost the immune system, treat colds and flu, fight infection, help speed up the healing of wounds, and reduce inflammation.
There are two varieties of note- E. angustifolia and E. purpurea, which are not entirely interchangeable, so do your research properly or ask an experienced herbalist, if you're looking at the plant as an alternative medicine.

  Echinacea should be taken as soon as you feel signs of infection coming on; studies show it lessens the  severity of colds and flu. It is thought to stimulate the immune system and localise infection, slowing its spread through the body. It has best results  when used over a 7-10 day period after infection- so don't bother taking it over a longer period, or as a preventative- it won't work.
  It is also used as an antibacterial in skin preparations and helps to heal wounds, septicaemia, boils and carbuncles. Both E.purpurae and E.angustifolia are good for acne and infected nails, speeding recovery and reducing inflammation.
  E.purpurea is used for treating Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and yeast infections. E.angustifolia is good for ear infections, especially when used with Goldenseal. Purpurae has been used against Lyme disease, where it is thought the plant greatly increases the activity of natural killer cells, and inhibits secondary infections.
  If you are looking at echinacea as an alternative medicine, please get professional advice. Echinacea does have side affects, so don't take it on a whim.  Alternatively, you can just grow it for the flowers- the bees and other flying insects will enjoy the long lasting source of nectar and love you for it.

Natural Healers- Dandelion

  Bet you didn't see that coming. But why not? After all dandelions were a common plant in the Victorian kitchen garden- all parts of it are useful, and it is rich in minerals and vitamins. The Arab countries were using dandelions in the eleventh century, and by the sixteenth century it was well established as an official drug.

Aside from its medicinal properties, all parts of the plant can be eaten. The young dandelion leaves can be used in salads, the root to make a caffeine free coffee. It attracts butterflies and bullfinches, and early dandelions provide an essential first sugary drink for bees coming out of hibernation.

 You might also be surprised to know that there is more than one variety- the dandelion, the Russian dandelion and the Chinese dandelion, the latter two being taller than just plain old dandelion. The Russian variety was extremely cultivated during the Second World War as a good source of latex.
 If you wish to grow it, it is recommended that it is grown as an annual (it is a perennial) to reduce its bitterness, and in pot, not trays, due to its long tap root.
The flowers, once open, can be used to make wine (I remember picking them for my Dad, just for this) and the root, besides making a coffee of sorts, can also be added to salads, or roasted like a parsnip. The leaves are often blanched, like

endive.
 The dandelion is renowned for its diuretic properties and as a blood cleanser and is regarded as one of the best herbal remedies for liver and kidney complaints. It is also mildly laxative and can treat dyspepsia. Its leaves are high in vitamins A, B, C and D, its A content being more than that of carrots.  The latex from its leaves and stalks provides an effective treatment for corns, warts and verrucas. It produces a herbal fertiliser as it gives a good supply of copper.

It is also useful eczema type skin problems, boils and abscesses. In fact, the list goes on.
  You can even make a pesto with its leaves, on their own or combined with nettles, instead of basil. Fancy it? Where's your sense of adventure?
 

Natural Healers- Carrot

 Grown for many centuries in SE Europe and Western Asia, it was not until the sixteenth century that the British learned to cultivate the carrot. It is best grown in a light, well-drained soil, and in full sun (especially early crops). It will not do well in clay, but can be grown in a deep pot, if that's all you've got to work with. It doesn't like recently manured or stony ground either, and should follow brassicas or potatoes on an established plot.
 The first sowings can be made in March in the UK, but under clotches or a poly-tunnel that has already been on the intended bed for at least 2 weeks, to warm the soil up. This March sowing should be of short rooted varieties.
 The longer rooted varieties can be sown around mid April, depending on which bit of the UK you live in. At the end of the day, if you plant too early, the only thing that will happen is- well, nothing. They just won't grow. Hardly life changing.
 It is recommended that your long roots should be planted in rows 12 inches apart and thinned out eventually to 3 or 4 inches between each plant. That's the recommendation; it isn't the law. Experiment. If you haven't much space, put them closer together. Who am I? the Veg-police?

 You might want to chose a dull day or late afternoon/ early evening for thinning, so that the aroma from the leaves doesn't reach the carrot fly. And while we're on the subject of the carrot fly, you might consider planting your garlic with your carrots. Rosemary also repels carrot fly, but rather likes to stay in one place, so is, perhaps, not so practical.
  As a food, carrots are known to aid digestion and control cholesterol. They are rich in beta-carotene, which enables the body to make vitamin A. They also contain silicon (which is good for skin and nails) which together with lycopene and lutein, promotes eye health. The anti-oxidants they contain are thought to "enliven" the liver.
 A raw carrot a day can reduce the risk of some of the cancers of the digestive system, and the essential oil it contains can protect against internal parasites. Raw carrots are also beneficial for your and your dog's teeth.
 Carrots are best if they are as fresh as possible, as their beta-carotene starts to decline as soon as they're pulled. Juicing gives the highest concentrate of beta-carotene, and a soup can be beneficial in soothing digestive upsets.
  NB: There is conflicting opinion on whether diabetics should eat carrots, and though the latest evidence is in the carrot's favour, you might want to check carrots in your diet with your doctor.
  Remember, as with beetroot, you can also eat the tops of carrots- they're not just there for the family guinea pig. The green foliage is rich in proteins, vitamins and minerals, and can be chopped and added to salads and stir-fries.
  You might want to learn even more about carrots and their benefits at the World Carrot Museum. Just click to be redirected. Who knew carrots could be so- er- interesting...?

Natural Healers- Beetroot

There are two kinds of beetroot- the more familiar globe beetroot and the long-rooted one. I would assume that the long-rooted one (which I've never grown) will be a bit more fussy about the soil it's been planted in, much as carrots and parsnips are. The globe beetroot tends to sit mostly on top of the soil and so doesn't need quite the depth as root vegetables like potatoes, carrots and parsnips do.
 Beetroot was well-known to the Romans and seems to have achieved popularity in Tudor times. It will grow in most gardens that have fertile soil, providing it's not prone to getting water-logged. You can sow them into the ground from mid-March onwards, in the West of England, and I would advise you that I have always got better results from soaking the seeds for about an hour, before planting them. If you're unable to soak them, give the drill you're planting them in a thorough soaking first, before dropping the seed in.

When they come up, you'll probably need to thin the seedlings out. Bear in mind as you do so, that the optimum size for your beetroot is something between a golf ball and a tennis ball. The plants  generally manage themselves thereafter, and though they are subject to pest and diseases, I have found them generally  trouble free.
The slugs do have a go at them, but beetroot doesn't seem to be their favourite food on the allotment. Don't forget to water the plants if you have a period of drought, or not only might the roots become woody, you might also find they split if you then get a sudden  prolonged period of rain (this can apply to carrot and tomatoes).
 Beetroot are a highly nutritious source of magnesium, iron and betaine, making them a useful ally in maintaining cardiovascular health, and thereby helping to lower the risk of heart attacks. It has a liver-cleansing action, improves oxygen uptake in the blood, and has anti-diabetic and anti-inflammatory properties.
  Beetroot is best fresh, grated in salads, and it should be remembered that the leaves of the beetroot are also edible (as you would chard or spinach), and more nutrient packed than the root, with vitamin K and beta-carotene, and are good for the bones, blood, skin and eyes.
  Beetroot juice can lower blood pressure within an hour of drinking it. Eaten with carrots, in a salad or as a juice, it can boost energy, improve appetite, and aid hormone regulation during the menopause.
It can be roasted or grated into salads or stir-fries, which besides getting the most out of  its properties, also, it my opinion, mitigates the earthy taste that some people find objectionable. 

  There are lots of recipes out there in Internet-land, so don't think you just have to settle for beetroot roasted (the best way, it my opinion), steamed (better than boiled) or grated. And if you've never liked the sound of a beetroot and chocolate cake, please, please, do try it- especially with a quality vanilla ice-cream. Really, it's gorgeous.

Sabaton: the P&J's First Rock Concert: The Big Night

So, after much huffing and puffing as to whether the OH was going to give us a lift into Bristol or not (resolved when he found a football match on at Brislington), we arrived to join the queue outside the O2 Academy. It was a long queue, and it was evident from the accents and conversations, that rock fans were prepared to travel quite a distance to see their band.
Inside, and the P&J hurried off to find himself some Sabaton paraphernalia, and I to the bar to secure some drinks (colas, folks; I'm in charge of a 16 year old, remember). With the P&J stood in a queue, waiting to purchase a new T-shirt, we missed the start of the opening act, which was a Swedish band carrying the

name of Bloodbound. Which was a shame (missing
the beginning, not their name), because they were quite good. They reminded me a bit of Judas Priest- melodic, with a bit of crunch. Given I knew none of their work, I enjoyed everything I heard. A definite one to look into when I got back home. The P&J stood next to me, nodding his head to the music, a broad grin on his face, evidently enjoying his first live band, even if they were hampered in their rock star poses by the extremely cramped stage, on which they were only able to move sideways.
10 minutes after their set had finished and Bloodbound's equipment removed (a lot of it by the band themselves; oh, to be a headliner), the tarp was removed from the 9 foot inflatable duck, and the co-headliners, Alestorm were on- also hampered by the lack of on-stage room, but quite happy to clamber over whatever that bloody great thing in the middle was.

Yes, Alestorm. I can see their appeal, especially after a few drinks. Energetic and obviously with a lot of fans in tonight, they made you want to dance- if there had been any room to dance. But, at the obvious risk of upsetting Alestorm fans, I found them a bit samey after a while; their set was at the same tempo

throughout, and to my ears it all blurred into one. I have to admit, I'm not familiar with more than a few songs of theirs, so they may have a more interesting catalogue of songs than their set belied. If so, maybe they should consider inserting the odd song that doesn't conform to the metal sea-shanty formula, to maintain the interest of those who are not die-hard Alestorm fans. At the moment, just for me, I feel one Alestorm album is all you'll need.
And then on to the other co-headliners, the ones we (well, my son, really) had come to see. Sabaton.
 I'll be honest, I don't know much about the band, despite them being the P&J's fav' raves. I condescend to listen to them when the P&J puts them on the kitchen stereo. I can never remember whether they're a Swedish or Norwegian band. I have no idea who their lead singer is, let alone any other band members. I do remember this isn't the original line up. I like one or two of their songs, but I've never been moved to put them on my Walkman. I am here purely because, being a lovely mum, I bought tickets for my son's favourite band, for his birthday. You get the picture?

Well, folks, I have to tell you, they were bloody brilliant. I'll leave my review as that. After the apologies for the ruddy great tank on the stage (bought from Ikea, Mr Broden claimed, and had taken weeks to put together.), they got down to work, and guess what? I actually knew most of the songs. It just shows what you take in when you're not really listening. They were polished and professional in the dispatch of their set- and while I know, for some, the idea of the adjectives polished or professional being applied to a rock band of any sort is an anathema, when I've paid Good Money times two, and given up an evening to come and see someone, I expect them to make a bloody effort. If I want to see a shambles, I'll go watch Man Utd play.

I can't comment on the play list as, though I recognised many of the songs, I don't actually know what they're called. The P&J was singing his heart out and could barely talk (thank you, Lord!) by the time the concert ended. He "borrowed" £20 to get the tour t-shirt and can't wait to go to school (???) this morning to show his friends.
It was pouring down when we got out, but the OH was still in Bristol, so didn't take long to get to us, but the intervening wait gave the P&J and me the chance to have a chat about the night's events, which is always a nice thing to have the opportunity to do, especially when your children get to the age where they mostly grunt, or throw random and bizarre questions at you, expecting a measured answer. Home, a round of toast, a cup of coffee and 2 Anadins to mitigate the back/neck/shoulder/leg/feet pain, and to bed. I didn't wake up til 8:50 this morning- pain free, you'll be pleased to know.
My summary of the night's events? Would I go and see Bloodbound again? Possibly. However, I expect I'll pick up a couple of their albums when I've had the chance to listen to their back catalogue on YouTube. Would I go see Alestorm again? Probably not. Unless it was in a pub and I could sit down and read a book when I got bored with them. Album...? Nah. I might pick a couple of tracks from the P&J's cd to make the dinner to, but no more than that. As for Sabaton? Would I buy the albums? Why would I? The P&J's got them all. Will I put them on my Walkman now? Probably. Would I go and see them again? Definitely. Okay, son of mine- you've converted me...a bit.

Sabaton: the P&J's First Rock Concert:

So, on Tuesday I'm off to see Sabaton, a Swedish (I think) rock band, who enjoy, it would seem, singing songs about war. Hmm. Not quite what I mean. I don't mean they glorify it. They perform, in effect, a military history book set to heavy metal. I've seen many a post by erstwhile fans, claiming that they would have passed their history GCSEs if Sabaton had sung the curriculum.

They aren't my cup of tea, I have to confess, but I don't mind them. If my son insists we have dinner accompanied by Sabaton, I don't say no. They are, actually, quite listenable. But I wouldn't buy an album. Well, not for myself.
Why then, I hear you ask, are you going to spend four or five hours of your life (there are 3 bands playing, before you wonder. This is Sabaton, not Yes.) shredding what's left of your hearing and throwing your back out, standing for, potentially, 5 hours (no seats. Please, Mr Brodén, if you play Bristol again, try and get the Colston)? Because, as some of you will have already twigged, they are my son's favourite band, and my son is only 16. Old enough you say. Well, if he had someone else to go with, maybe, but he hasn't, so it's either me or Dad. He'd rather go with me. At least, I assume he would. His father's (who is, I hasten to add, providing the transport to and from, so he is making some effort) response to any new rock band is, it sounds a bit like Queen, and I did at least recognise the homage to Judas Priest on one of Sabaton's tracks. Kudos to me, eh? And I've got a couple of kosher Judas Priest shirts, so I can at least blend in as a mature rocker. I will not, however, be head banging (rheumatism in the neck) or playing air guitar ( ditto back and hands). And I might take a couple of bits of cotton wool with me, just in case it's too loud.
If I make it out alive, I'll report back on Wednesday. Possibly Thursday, if I'm still in shock. Does anyone know if they serve tea and coffee at the O2 Academy....?

Here's a review of the current tour so you can see what I'm in for.
And a link to some  Sabaton on youtube in case you're interested.
And some Barry Manilow, if you're not. See, I aim to please.

Fluff and Fur and the Joy of Having Cat Hair up Your Nose

Twice a year it happens. As Spring lumbers tantalisingly over the horizon, flicks the Vs and lumbers back again, I have to fight with The Cat. The Cat, you see, is the long-haired variety, and she moults. Now, the little tufts of hair I find on my newly hoovered floor aren't the problem. And, really, she's quite considerate in that way, as she sheds in large, easy to pick up lumps of super-soft fluff. As I say, not a problem, though a little annoying. No, the problem is the un-shed hair, the huge lumps of matted stuff and tight little so-near-the-skin knots, that are the problem. For Jamara/ Jemara/ Jimara (take your pick. I didn't name her- I inherited her from a friend, so I've no idea how the name is spelt. Every time we go to the vet, there is a new spelling. As she can't read and doesn't answer to it anyway, it probably doesn't matter.) does not like being groomed. Neither does she like her knots being snipped.

So every February and November, we have The Fight. I have learned not to pick up the scissors until I've closed all the escape routes and have her clamped under my arm. The best technique for solo snipping is to sit on a bed with her rolled on to her back, and pinned between my forearm and thigh, which leaves me with two hands free. It's awkward, but do-able. I have learned to ensure her head is up by my elbow, as though she's only got two teeth (I warned her about brushing her teeth; but you can't tell a cat), she can still shred a pigeon with them.

And, of course, there are the claws. She's still got every single one of those, so it's quite an art to avoid the sudden bad-tempered lash or kick. These arrive with what I can only assume are cat curses, a cross between a grumble and a shriek.

The snipping over, she rushes off, her body low to the ground, with ne'er a backwards glance or thank you for relieving her of all that discomfort. She paces at the back-door, waiting for the butler, and, whatever the weather, flounces out into what I laughingly call a garden, just to make a point. Woe betide any mice or birds who get in her way while she's in that mood.

By the time she returns, she has acquired huge lumps of matted fur over her back legs. These are less of an issue for the beast, and she actually purrs while I pull the matted fur apart- until I get to the core of it and it might hurt a little. "No, you don't!" (or words to that effect) I say, clamping her down with a swift and firm forearm, and while she growls and squeaks, finish the job. Then she sits in the doorway and gives me The Eye before wandering off to bat the dog round the head.

And so on to another day, and remembering next time NOT to wear a fleece jumper or black trousers when removing those knots. She has, of course, a lot of white in her fur.