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Herbal Products used in Medicine
Blackberry
Blackberry is one of the most easily
identified wild herbs that grow in the UK; almost everyone is
familiar with them, thanks to the tradition of blackberry picking,
which is still practiced by 'townies' today. The blackberry belongs
to the genus Rubus and the Rosaceae family and has no
fewer than 2,000 varieties. It grows up to 3m and comprises a mass
or prickly arched stems, which often grow down to the ground to root
and form new plants. The stems from spring to late autumn are
covered in leaves that have three to five leaflets which have a
white or grey downy underside. The flowers have 5 petals and appear
from late spring to early summer. These can be white or pale to
deep pink in colour and most forms of the flowers have a rather
pleasant scent. The flowers fade in late summer to produce fruits
which are green at first, changing to red and being fully ripe when
they turn deep purple to black.
Medicinal Use: The leaves are also
useful as a tonic and have astringent properties. They have long
been used to help cure dysentery, diarrhea and piles. They are also
a good source of tannin, flavonoids and gallic acid, whilst the
berries are a rich source of vitamin C and contain pectin, making
them an ideal choice for jam making.
Rose
The magic and
romance of the rose are known to almost everyone, but the medicinal
and culinary uses are not so well known. The romance is illustrated
in the arts where the rose has long drawn on for inspiration. In
Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, Juliet speaks the famous line
'that which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet'.
Robert Burns described his love as being 'like a red, red rose', and
the Greek poet Sappho, in her 600 B.C. poem 'Song of the Rose',
referred to the rose as the 'grace of the earth'
Medicinal Use:
Roses have for centuries been valued for their culinary, medicinal,
cosmetic and aromatherapy properties. Many perfumes and cosmetics
are made from rose oil. The oil is excellent for use on the skin
because of its antiseptic, cooling, moisturising, soothing and
nourishing properties. However, only the apothecary rose (R.
gallica) and the Dog rose (R. canina) are used for making
medicinal remedies. It is the hips of the dog rose that are used
because they contain high levels of vitamin C and also flavonoids,
tannins and vitamins A, B1, B2, B3 and K. In the middle ages, the
Dog rose was heralded as a marvellous cure for chest complaints.
The apothecary rose is used today more for its aromatherapy and
cosmetic properties than its medicinal properties but it does have
sedative and antidepressant properties as well as being astringent
and useful for lowering cholesterol.
Honeysuckle
Honeysuckle has long been a symbol of
fidelity and affection. Those who wear honeysuckle flowers are said
to be able to dream of their true love. Its clinging nature in the
language of flowers symbolises, 'we are united in love,' and
emphasis's the bond of devotion and affection between two people.
Medicinal Use: The leaves and flowers
of the honeysuckle are rich in salicylic acid, so may be used to
relieve headaches, colds, flu, fever, aches, pains, arthritis and
rheumatism. The leaves have anti-inflammatory properties and
contain anti-biotics active against staphylococci and coli bacilli.
Honeysuckle flowers and flower buds are used in various infusions
and tinctures to treat coughs, catarrh, asthma, headaches and food
poisoning.
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