Natural Healers- Menopause

"The literature of menopause is the saddest, the most awful. and the most medical of genres. You're sleepless, you're anxious, you're fat, you're depressed- and the advice is always the same; take more walks, eat some kale, and drink lots of water. It didn't help." [Sandra Tsing Loh]

  The idea that you can eat your way through the menopause does seem to appeal to many, and information and advice abounds on the internet and among menopausal friend. Does it work ? Some of it, perhaps— or may at least mitigate symptoms.

  Foods that contain oestrogen, for example, may help to lessen these symptoms- soy is a well known, easily available option. A high intake of phytoestrogens is thought to explain why hot flushes and other menopausal symptoms rarely occur in populations consuming a predominantly plant-based diet.

  The leaves of Sage, which contain a plant oestrogen, make quite a nice tea, and can also be combined with fresh raspberry leaves, which are traditionally used to balance female hormones. Sage has also been used to treat heavy or irregular periods. Sage honey (made by filling a jar with sage and pouring honey over it) once left to infuse for two or three days, can be added to herbal teas and sweet dishes for a therapeutic boost. It's supposed to be quite good for the memory, too, if that's getting -er- a little unreliable.

  Fenugreek seeds are rich in diosgenin, a plant oestrogen that may ease hot flushes, anxiety and insomnia. The seeds can be sprouted like beansprouts and used as a vegetable, or made into a tea, with honey and lemon.

  Rice, surprisingly, is also thought to be good for symptoms; phytosterols in rice bran oil have been shown to help relieve hot flushes. Brown rice is the better option. The heating of rice bran oil does not appear to diminish its properties.

  Tempeh (made from fermented, lightly cooked soya beans) is high in phytoestrogens, which not only may ease menopausal symptoms, but also help protect against heart disease and cancer, and regulate immune function.

Black cohosh, the bugbane plant, may relieve hot flushes, night sweats, depression an anxiety. Do not take for more than 6 months, and note BLUE cohosh is NOT from the same plant family.

  Red Clover is high in isflavones, phytoestrogenic compounds that might help reduce hot flushes, night sweats and other symptoms. You harvest the open flower heads for drying.

  Oats and legumes contain tryptophan, which helps manufacture the neurotransmitter, serotonin. Serotonin helps moods and may help control sleep and appetite, which can make you feel better in yourself.

   Opt for more alkaline foods, like vegetables, fruits, seeds, nuts and yoghurt, to help prevent calcium being lost from bones. Eat foods high in magnesium and boron, minerals which are important for bone health and help to reduce the risk of osteoporosis. Fruit like apples, pears and grapes, as well as legumes and nuts are good sources of boron.

  And, lastly, I have to tell you that despite extensive efforts, I cannot find a reason to include chocolate, wine or coffee in this list. No, really, I tried. Truth be told, the advice is "Steer clear of alcohol, sugar, caffeine, and spicy foods, which can trigger hot flashes [and] aggravate urinary incontinence." Among other things. You're not supposed to have chocolate, either. Just forget I said that. And the bit about caffeine...

Natural Healers- Zingiber Officinale (Ginger)

  Also known as Adrak, Gin, Khing, Jeung and Shoga, ginger is known as a stomach-upset and nausea remedy. However, studies have shown that its volatile oils have anti-inflammatory properties akin to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (and if I have to use that phrase again, it will be shortened to NSAIDs. You have been warned).
  Ginger is probably the most widely available and used herbal remedy in the world, and is used daily as a food and medicine. It has played a part in Asian medicine for 2500 years, and in Indian and Persian medicine it was a treatment for arthritis.
  It has been used to treat allergies and asthma, arthritis, bursitis, fibrocystic breasts and lymphedema, as well as pain. Ginger also retards the production of cholesterol by the liver. Research has found that compounds in ginger decrease the activity of PAF (platelet-activating factor), that can contribute to the  risk of heart attack.
  Ginger has been an age-old remedy for morning sickness, and has been found to be more affective than some over-the-counter remedies for motion sickness. It also eases the nausea caused by some chemotherapies.
  The herb has been used for treating colds, flu and strep throat, and contains a chemical called  zingibain that dissolves parasites and their eggs.

  Ginger is best fresh, and obtained from young roots, which have a thinner purple-to-pink skin that doesn't need peeling. The more readily available roots you might pick up in a supermarket need to be peeled carefully, as the best of the resins and volatile oils in ginger are near or in the skin. You can try scraping it with a spoon, rather than peeling it with a knife or veg peeler.
  Ginger also makes a warming tea, which you can make by peeling and chopping about two inches of root, pouring a cupful of boiling water over it and then leaving it to steep for about 8 minutes. I suggest you put it in a tea pot or something, before you pour the boiling water on, or it could get messy.
  You can grow ginger in a container, having selected  a piece of (shop-bought) rhizome with a little green root bud. I have read a tip that you should suspend the piece over water, using cocktail sticks, until the root forms, but as I've never grown ginger, I can't tell you if it is a useful tip. I can tell you, however, that though ginger likes its environment moist, you can over-water it. It doesn't like direct sunlight, but rather, light shade. And, if you get frosts etc where you live, you will need to bring it indoors in the winter. You can harvest the root when it's one year old.

Be advised, it is a perennial (providing the cold doesn't get it and you don't over-water it). It does bear flowers and grows like a reed, up to nine feet tall. Just saying, that's all.
  And before you go, please also note, if you suffer from gallstones, consult your doctor before using ginger. Ginger should also not be used 2 weeks before any surgery. Daily consumption of ginger can interfere with the absorption of iron and fat soluble vitamins.

My thanks to Phyllis Balch's Herbal Healing, Jekka McVicar's Complete Herb Book, James Wong's Grow Your Own Drugs and Neal's Yard's Healing Food, and the A-Z Challenge for giving me the impetus to read them at last..

Natural Healers- Yarrow

  Also known as Woundwort, among many other names, Yarrow was traditionally used to staunch bleeding. It can also be used to help heal bruises, rashes and haemorrhoids.  Yarrow's teas and tinctures contain sterols and

triterpenes that stop inflammatory processes, restore circulation and accelerate healing. It also contains compounds that stop the action of pain-provoking hormones. Besides stopping pain, Yarrow  can kill many bacteria found on the human skin, enabling it to stop potentially painful infection.
  As a hot tea, it can reduce temperature and induce sweating. It can also help soothe digestion and ease diarrhoea. Its essential oil can be used in a bronchial chest rub, and the salicylic acid in it can help relieve headaches, menstrual cramps and arthritic pain.

  Excavation of a Neanderthal grave suggests that the use of Yarrow goes back to prehistoric times, and Greek legend refers to it in ointments in the Trojan War, where Homer tells of Achilles using Yarrow to staunch his soldiers' wounds.
  Traditional herbalist in Europe, India and China have used Yarrow to stop minor bleeding and to treat wounds and inflammation. It has also been traditionally used as a mild sedative to treat insomnia.
  Its anti-inflammatory properties make it a useful herb in treating diarrhoea, flatulence, gastrointestinal inflammation and stomach cramps. It is also claimed that Yarrow can treat blurred vision. Its essential oil is used in aromatherapy to relieve colds and flu.
  To grow Yarrow, sow the very fine seeds under (cool) protection in autumn, and overwinter. Germination is erratic. Harden off the plants in the spring. Plant eight to twelve inches apart, bearing in mind it will spread. Alternatively, obtain some rootstock from an established plant. It is advisable to plant this with care, as it is an invasive plant. Millefolium doesn't grow well in containers, so you may wish to consider a hybrid or shorter variety. It is drought tolerant.

  Yarrow is a good companion plant, as its roots' secretions activate the disease resistance of other plants near it. It also intensifies the medicinal properties of  herbs, and deepens their fragrance and flavour.
  The young leaves can be used in salads. One small leaf will accelerate the decomposition of a wheelbarrow of raw compost. Infused, it will make a copper fertiliser.
 Please note- Yarrow should only be taken in moderation and over short periods, as it may cause skin irritation or headaches and vertigo. It should not be taken if pregnant.

Natural Healers- Watercress

  Watercress is one of the most vitamin and mineral packed vegetables, and although its natural environment is a running stream, it can easily be grown in  the garden. There are two types- bronze-green and the more familiar dark-green. The bronze-green is hardier and has a slightly more pungent flavour.
  It has traditionally been given as a remedy for arthritis and upper respiratory tract infections, and a general spring tonic.

  More recently it has been investigated for properties against other diseases, including some cancers. It contains phenylethyl isothiocyanates and sulphurophanes, which destroy cancer cells and defend the body against carcinogens. Studies have shown that eating cruciferous vegetable (of the cabbage/broccoli family) can reduce the likelihood of colon, rectum and bladder
cancer.
  Watercress is rich in sulphur, an aid to protein absorption, blood purification and cell building, thus increasing skin and hair health. It also contains a digestive enzyme that helps the body utilize nutrients, and is a natural diuretic, being rich in potassium. The oils that give watercress its peppery taste also help fight colds, flu and bronchial ailments, and it is a natural antibiotic.
  Watercress can be grown in a trench or in shallow boxes. If you use a box, cover the bottom and sides with polythene to retain moisture. Fill the box with garden soil or potting compost.

  Alternatively, in the garden, dig a trench 9 inches wide and 2 feet long. Mix a bucketful of well rotted manure or garden compost with the soil in the bottom of the trench, leaving this about 3 inches below the surrounding soil level.
  In April/May (UK- that's spring) take a number of 4 inch shoots from plants bought from a supermarket or a greengrocer and plant them 6inches apart in the trench. Keep the trench well watered to ensure the plants root.  If in a box, cover it with a polythene bag to increase the humidity. (Alternatively, you can sow seed to gain your plants).
  Remove the flower heads as soon as they appear, and if the leaves begin to get small, feed the soil with a fertiliser. A late crop can be made in August if you've the means to protect it from cold and frost. You can start picking as soon as the plants are established. The more the tops are picked, the more cress will

grow.
  Aim to eat cress within five days of picking, as it quickly loses its nutrients.
 

Natural Healers- Valerian

  It's Valeriana Officinalis, we're talking about here. It is a perennial plant, native to Europe and Northern Asia and now naturalised in North America, that grows to a height of four feet (1.2M), with pink flower heads. The root is used in herbal medicine, for which it must be dried carefully. It tastes both sweet and spicy, as well as bitter, and has an unpleasant smell. Cats and rats, it seems, are attracted to the smell, and the Pied Piper of Hamlet is said to have carried some of the root. Consequently, it is used by some as a bait for rat traps.

  Valerian is a tranquiliser and calmative, used to treat restlessness, nervousness insomnia, menstrual problems, hysteria, headaches, and nervous stomach. It is also thought to be good for circulation and lowering blood pressure, soothing the digestive system and relieving some types of indigestion. It has also been used to treat IBS.
  An infusion of the root, sprayed on the ground, will attract earthworms. It's mineral rich leaves are good for composting. If planted near vegetables, it boosts their growth by stimulating phosphorus and worm activity.
  While it prefers to be near water, Valerian will grow just about anywhere, including deep shade. Seeds can be sown direct into the ground in the spring, but are you are better served planting them into pots or plugs, if you want to guarantee some plants. Press the seeds into the soil, but do not cover them. Plants should be spaced two feet (60cm) apart.

The complete root can be dug up in late autumn of the second and third year. It will need washing and the pale fibrous roots removed. You will then be left with the rhizomes, which are edible. They need to be cut into manageable sizes before being dried.
  To maintain the level of their oils, herbs need to be dried as quickly and as carefully as possible. The ideal place is warm, dry, dark and well ventilated- such as an airing cupboard, in an oven at low temperature and with its door ajar (check regularly that they're not over heating), a plate-warming compartment, or  a darkened spare room with the door opened. For roots, the oven is probably the best method, requiring a temperature of 50 to 60 degrees C. They will require regular turning, until they are fragile and break easily.
  A tea can be made by combining equal parts with fresh ginger root.

 NB Valerian should not be taken in large doses for a long period of time. As with any medicine, get advice from a professional

Natural Healers-Turmeric

 Turmeric is a perennial found in India and SE Asia. It grows from a knobbly rhizome to a height of three feet. Its leaves, as well as the root, can be used. It has been used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat liver and gall bladder

problems, stop bleeding, and to ease chest congestion and menstrual discomfort.
  It is an important herb in Ayurvedic medicine, where it was seen as a symbol of prosperity and considered a cleansing herb for the whole body. It is used as the primary anti-inflammatory herb. Its principle chemical component is curcumin, its potent anti-oxidant action protecting against viral infections, cancer and arthritis, and protecting the liver, stimulating the gall bladder, and defending the body against free-radicals.
  The oil in turmeric can ease acute pain, its effectiveness being equal to that of steroids, but without the side-affects. Its use can benefit sufferers of arthritis, eczma, endometriosis, pain and tendinitis. It is a long-standing tradition in India to treat arthritis with turmeric.

  Turmeric may also help prevent atheroslerosis in people with diabetes, and relieve the discomfort caused by carpel tunnel syndrome, by deactivating the immune cells that might cause the inflammation. It is also thought to cause the death of some types of cancer cells. It has been used to treat inflammatory bowel disease and is thought to protect against heart disease and stroke by preventing the build up of plaque in the arteries.
  The curcumin in turmeric stimulates the immune system and may be useful in fighting and preventing cataracts, cirrhosis of the liver, gallstones, halitosis and periodontal disease, HIV/AIDS and indigestion.
  Curcumin reduces the build up of the protein amyloid-b in the brain. This substance causes free-radical damage and inflammation in the brain, and is one of the main causes of Alzheimer's Disease. Anti-oxidants in turmeric can help fight the damage.
  Turmeric can be used as a root, powder or as a tincture, and can also be made into a poultice. The root can replace ginger in recipes. The leaves can be used to flavour dishes, or to wrap around food during cooking. Curcumin, it should be noted, is best absorbed in the presence of oils.

One tablespoon of turmeric powder can be mixed into warm milk to treat painful joints or eczema.
 If you fancy trying to grow some, go here. 
There are plenty of instructional videos on Youtube.
  Turmeric should not be used as a treatment for long periods, as it can cause stomach problems. It is also not recommended for those with painful gallstones, acute colic, or very toxic liver disorders. It may also may reduce fertility and inhibit blood-clotting. If you are considering using turmeric as a treatment for an ailment, please check with your doctor and get the advice of a qualified herbal practitioner. Even natural remedies can have unforeseen side-affects!