Showing posts with label medicinal. Show all posts
Showing posts with label medicinal. Show all posts
Teaching Tuesday-Five Flavor Berries
The five flavor plant and berry, botanically known as Schisandra chinensis, is so named because the berries possess all five of the basic flavors used in traditional Chinese medicine, sweet, salty, spicey, bitter and sour. In fact, this plant is considered to be one of the "50 fundamental herbs" necessary to Chinese medicine.
While it is native to the forests of Northern China and Eastern Russia, it is an ornamental plant that can be found in gardens throughout the world. In the USA it is hardy to (USDA) zone 4. You may be more familiar with the more common name, "Magnolia Vine". So called because of its ability to grow upwards, in a creeping fashion, it is a woody vine with oval, pink leaves and bright red berries. It is rather hardy, thriving in most any soil type, although it prefers moist, well drained soil. It also prefers to climb on a wall that has some shade. While the natural plant only bears fruit when the female plant is fetilized with pollen from a male plant, there is a hybrid, named "Eastern Prince", that has beautiful and perfect flowers, and is self-fertile.
The berries are most often used in dried form, where they are used to make a medicinal tea. Chinese folklore says that Schisandra can "calm the heart and quiet the spirit", and it has a long history in Traditional Chinese Medicine. There are over 19 species of the genus that are said to be used in Chinese medicine, largely for its (mild) sedative qualities and for tonic agents as well. Traditional Chinese Medicine has also used it as a lung astringent, coughs, and asthma, as well as using the vines and roots to make remedies for painful joints and rheumatism. It is also said to help with "wei chi", the defense energy of the body, helping to build resistance to infection. On the non-medicinal side, they also use teh berries to make a wine. The Japanese use the plant as a remedy for sea-sickness and colds. Russian hunters, on the other hand, have consumed tea made from it for centuries, to help with fatigue.
Most research having to do with this plant has been conducted in China, where double blind studies suggest that it has the ability to help those that suffer from Hepatitis. The lignans contained in the berry appear to protect the liver by stimulating cells which produce antioxidants. Also, because it has adaptogenic properties, it has been comapared to herbal medicines, such as Ginseng, that stimulating the central nervous system, increase brain efficiency, improve reflexes, and accelerate endurance. The powder made from dried berries can be used in capsules or can be reconstituted to drink as a tea or mixed in juice. Fresh berries can be eaten, mixed in foods/drinks, or allowed to steep in glycerin, which can then be drank or encapsulated.
Precautions: Botanical safety research (in China, Russia, and the U.S.A) has showed that Schisandra may, in rare instances, cause gastrointestinal upset. It should not be used by pregnant women, as it is a uterine stimulant. Since this plant possesses sedative qualities it may enhance the actions of prescription medications. Therefore, care should be taken, and the possibility of decreasing a prescription dosage should be discussed with your physician.
Teaching Tuesday-Yucca Root
I was so excited when I heard that my friend, who lives in Utah, had yucca in her yard. I immediately wanted some of the tubers so I could dry it and use it in hair care products, but of course I just had to do more research on this plant. I wanted to know all of its supposed benefits, and all the ways it is being used today. Of course a lot of that information is still stuck on my crashed computer, but I believe that I can share enough to get you interested in this wonderful plant too!
Let me begin by saying that the Yucca is a genus of about 40 species in the Agave family. For more about the agave, see this post. Agave grow in warm and dry areas of Central America, North America and the West Indies.
Before we can discuss the benefits of the Yucca root, we must explore the difference between Yucca and Yuca. These two common names refer to very different plants and confusion between the two names is quite common. Yu-CC-a is well known in the United States, especially in the central and western states. Yucca has long been used in hair and scalp treatments and arthritis and rheumatism treatments, as well as for its high content of saponins, which basically just means that it foams like soap.
Y-u-C-a root is also commonly known as manioc, cassava, or mandioca, and has the appearance of a long, tapered sweet potato. It has a rough, brown rind on the outside, and the inside, which is starchy, can range in color from white to yellow, to brown, depending on its variety. The Yuca plant is grown all over Africa and widely eaten in Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean. In fact, in many countries yuca is a dietary staple. It is usually boiled or steamed, with flour to act as a thickener, or additional ingredients to create noodles, cakes, and/or pastries. The Yuca is really quite similar to a potato, but it is much more waxy and fibrous than a potato.
Yucca supplements are available in many forms, including liquid, powder, and capsules. While Yuca supplements are also available, but they are for different purposes. A buffered Vitamin C Powder is made from the yuca root, and sold as a supplement, and as well as its starch for fillers in dietary supplement capsules, or even for use in food products.
There has actually been very little medical research done with the yucca plant, but what little there has been suggests that, since the yucca has a lot of fiber in its makeup, it could possibly be helpful in reducing cholesterol levels. One study focused on the possibility of creating a new cholesterol lowering drug that blended a partially purified yucca schidigera and the Quillaja saponaria extract. This testing resulted in a decrease of LDL cholesterol in the blood plasma, as well as a reduction of symptoms in those with gastrointestinal involvement. We also know that Yucca root has phytosterols, and some [in vitro] studies have indicated that yucca extract has anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant qualities. For sure, just like with most plants and herbs, there is plenty of room for more testing and experimentation.
Yucca root can be boiled and then flavored with herbs and olive oil for a delicious, high fiber treat, or boiled, peeled, cut into small pieces, and added to your soups. While it is sold in many grocery stores, it is not very popular here in the US.
Alexin is an extract that is obtained from the Yucca gloriosa flower. It is
an antifungal that also has steroidal properties. The Yucca schidigera is also known to be a medicinal plant, one that is native to Mexico. Many of the Yucca plants are a source of steroidal saponins, and are actually used commercially as a saponin source. The products of Yucca schidigera are also used as food additives, cosmetics and in the pharmaceutical industry. The bark from this yucca species, and many others, has phenolic compounds that have antiplatelet activity. Historically, this medicinal plant has been used as an extract, and proven itself to be an effective as an anti-arthritic and anti-inflammatory agent. This yucca plant contains several physiologically active phytochemicals, which has diverse biological effects, including anti-protozoal activity. The phenolics have anti-inflammatory activity, and the Yucca phenolics are also anti-oxidants and free-radical scavengers, which may aid in fighting cellular diseases.
In reviewing this post my memory has been triggered, and I am now thinking that I may have discussed some of this in an earlier post... I apologize if I have repeated myself too much. It is very late, or early, depending upon your view point, so I am going to stop here for now. I will review the balance of my info, as well as the old post, and edit accordingly.
Let me begin by saying that the Yucca is a genus of about 40 species in the Agave family. For more about the agave, see this post. Agave grow in warm and dry areas of Central America, North America and the West Indies.
Before we can discuss the benefits of the Yucca root, we must explore the difference between Yucca and Yuca. These two common names refer to very different plants and confusion between the two names is quite common. Yu-CC-a is well known in the United States, especially in the central and western states. Yucca has long been used in hair and scalp treatments and arthritis and rheumatism treatments, as well as for its high content of saponins, which basically just means that it foams like soap.
Y-u-C-a root is also commonly known as manioc, cassava, or mandioca, and has the appearance of a long, tapered sweet potato. It has a rough, brown rind on the outside, and the inside, which is starchy, can range in color from white to yellow, to brown, depending on its variety. The Yuca plant is grown all over Africa and widely eaten in Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean. In fact, in many countries yuca is a dietary staple. It is usually boiled or steamed, with flour to act as a thickener, or additional ingredients to create noodles, cakes, and/or pastries. The Yuca is really quite similar to a potato, but it is much more waxy and fibrous than a potato.
Yucca supplements are available in many forms, including liquid, powder, and capsules. While Yuca supplements are also available, but they are for different purposes. A buffered Vitamin C Powder is made from the yuca root, and sold as a supplement, and as well as its starch for fillers in dietary supplement capsules, or even for use in food products.
There has actually been very little medical research done with the yucca plant, but what little there has been suggests that, since the yucca has a lot of fiber in its makeup, it could possibly be helpful in reducing cholesterol levels. One study focused on the possibility of creating a new cholesterol lowering drug that blended a partially purified yucca schidigera and the Quillaja saponaria extract. This testing resulted in a decrease of LDL cholesterol in the blood plasma, as well as a reduction of symptoms in those with gastrointestinal involvement. We also know that Yucca root has phytosterols, and some [in vitro] studies have indicated that yucca extract has anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant qualities. For sure, just like with most plants and herbs, there is plenty of room for more testing and experimentation.
Yucca root can be boiled and then flavored with herbs and olive oil for a delicious, high fiber treat, or boiled, peeled, cut into small pieces, and added to your soups. While it is sold in many grocery stores, it is not very popular here in the US.
Alexin is an extract that is obtained from the Yucca gloriosa flower. It is
an antifungal that also has steroidal properties. The Yucca schidigera is also known to be a medicinal plant, one that is native to Mexico. Many of the Yucca plants are a source of steroidal saponins, and are actually used commercially as a saponin source. The products of Yucca schidigera are also used as food additives, cosmetics and in the pharmaceutical industry. The bark from this yucca species, and many others, has phenolic compounds that have antiplatelet activity. Historically, this medicinal plant has been used as an extract, and proven itself to be an effective as an anti-arthritic and anti-inflammatory agent. This yucca plant contains several physiologically active phytochemicals, which has diverse biological effects, including anti-protozoal activity. The phenolics have anti-inflammatory activity, and the Yucca phenolics are also anti-oxidants and free-radical scavengers, which may aid in fighting cellular diseases.
In reviewing this post my memory has been triggered, and I am now thinking that I may have discussed some of this in an earlier post... I apologize if I have repeated myself too much. It is very late, or early, depending upon your view point, so I am going to stop here for now. I will review the balance of my info, as well as the old post, and edit accordingly.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)