Dandy Dandelions

My affinity for nature began when I was a child. It was during my childhood that love for certain bright yellow wildflowers began; those happy flowers you could twist into crowns, and wear in your hair. A member of the Asteraceae (Sunflower) family, the perennial wildflower commonly known as Dandelions (Taraxacum officinale) -- strangely hated as it is abused and poisoned by gardeners every Spring -- has fabulous medicinal properties.

Dandelion in my garden. 

Honeybee on a Dandelion in my garden. 

Dandelions are an important food source for honeybees, and as mentioned, herbalists regard Dandelions as having excellent medicinal properties. Notably, it has a reputation as a diuretic and was used historically as such (with names such as "pis-en-lit" - lol), and is also used to treat bile and liver problems. Dandelions also have culinary uses, as young greens -- packed with vitamin A -- are added to salads. Its roots can be ground and used as a coffee substitute, too.

Caution is advised here, see disclaimer. Dandelions closely resemble other plants, so it's very important to identify correctly. Dandelions have no branches or central stalk and the leaves are not fuzzy. Consult an expert (i.e., herbalist, or Naturopath) before consuming this plant. Teas are available at health stores and online.

For more information, please see:

Edible and Medicinal Plants of the West by Gregory Tilford
Dandelion info at Alternative Nature Online Herbal

Mullein

An unusual plant was growing in my garden. It wasn't until last summer, though, that it became interesting; I had never seen a plant like it before. It grew into a very tall plant, was single-stemmed, and had large, fuzzy leaves. Its curious flowers were yellow in color, clustered around the tip of the plant.

Photo Source Wikipedia.

After it flowered, though, the plant died, which meant it was a biennial.

One evening, as I read Gregory L. Tilford's Edible and Medicinal Plants of the West, I was surprised to see the plant on page 102. Its actual name is Mullein (Verbascum thapus), and it is a medicinal plant used by herbalists (and by Native Americans, historically). When I was sick a month ago, I was also surprised that Mullein is one of the ingredients in Quantum Health's Elderberry Syrup.

Mullein is said to possess strong antimicrobial properties, and is used to treat ear infections, as well. It is also used to relieve congestion, and teas can be purchased online. An infusion of Mullein can be used as a brightening hair rinse for fellow blondes (future self-experiment and blog post!).

According to Tilford's book, while adverse side-effects haven't been noted with Mullein, the seeds are toxic and should never be consumed under any circumstances. In large enough doses the plant can prove to be toxic due to the substances oumarin and rotenone. Don't mess around with this plant without the consultation of an expert, mmmkay?

This post was written for educational purposes only, please see my disclaimer. Consult a doctor before using any herb.

For more reading, see Gregory L. Tilford's Edible and Medicinal Plants of the West
Mullein info at Drugs.com
Mullein info at Alternative Nature Online Herbal

Dragons ♥

Dragons! I love dragons.

My ancestors, the Celts, revered them. I cried at the end of Dragonheart. The Dragonriders of Pern is next on my reading list. And I enjoy making dragon-oriented jewelry:

Photos (c) S. Waters. 

Please contact me via email if you'd

like a specialty pair.

Oh, and to set the record straight: Dragons aren't evil. They're just misunderstood!

Fight a Cold with Herbs

Warning: Excessive whining ahead.

                                     


This last week, I was really sick. The congestion led to sinusitis. Needless to say, I was miserable. Boohoo! Finally after arming myself with herbs, after a week my energy is returning and I'm starting to feel better.

Indeed, I fought through the illness using some herbal treatments. Tea tree essential oil steam inhalations proved to help tremendously, but herbs that I consumed in the form of syrups, teas, and in soups helped me the most. Fascinated, I researched certain herbs that are known or believed to fight the Common Cold -- there's quite a few of them -- and I'm sharing the knowledge of some of the herbs I researched.

Garlic: This tasty herb -- Allium sativum -- believed to ward off vampires in folkloric tales (and make your breath stinky), is known to have powerful antimicrobial (bacterial, viral, fungal) properties for a variety of illnesses. In controlled placebo studies, Garlic proved to prevent the Common Cold, as well as reducing recovery time and symptom duration for the famed group of rhino viruses. In studies, Garlic tablets also enhanced Natural Killer cells -- a type of Lymphocyte --  in battles against pathogens.

Onion: Although its medicinal uses are unproven, Onion -- Allium cepa -- is used in folk medicine, Chinese medicine, and Indian medicine. It is used to treat the Common Cold, as well as many other illnesses due to believed antimicrobial properties.

Echinacea: Used by Native Americans, Echinacea is a popular herb used in the prevention and treatment of colds and flus, however, Echinacea has also been exploited in commercial use. Three species of Echinacea are used medicinally: Echinacea angustifolia, Echinacea pallida, and Echinacea purpurea. It is important to note that there are differences in the three species, and Echinacea purpurea is considered to be the most potent. However, the plant is not a cure-all, nor does it work miracles. That said, I can personally attest that in my experience, I've found Echinacea to be a reliable herb. I've taken it in bottled extracts and teas. The good Echinacea extracts, taken in droplets, produces a tingling sensation on the tongue. Some people experience side effects to Echinacea (allergic and gastrointestinal).

Elderberry: I have a personal interest and passion for Elderberry, and I'm currently studying it. Oregon has its own wonderful native variety of Elder (Sambucus Cerulea) but Sambucus Nigra (the European Elder) is used in many commercial syrups. Actually, the syrup I used while ill -- Quantum Health Elderberry Syrup -- contains Sambucus Nigra. Elderberry is known to aid sore throats, coughs, and sinus infections. There's some caution to be advised here. Never, ever eat Red elderberries as they are considered toxic. Don't eat unripe berries of the blue Elderberries, either, and don't consume the leaves and stems, as they are also considered toxic. Please be careful when messing with this plant. If you want to use it medicinally, go to the store to buy the syrup or, better yet, see a doctor or nautropath beforehand. Don't try to treat yourself by berry picking.

Anise: The dried fruit parts of Pimpinella anisum is used to treat the Common Cold, Fevers, and inflamations of the mouth. It was used by the ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans, and the Romans would use Anise in cakes called Mustacae, eaten after meals to prevent indigestion. Anise can be taken in teas. It is not to be used during pregnancy. According to naturalist William Turner in 1551, "Anyse maketh the breth sweter and swageth payne" (Source). Great teas can be purchased online.

                             

                                   



This post was written for educational purposes only.

Some sources:

Ct. PDR for Herbal Medicines. June 2006 pNA.
Botanical.com
"Top 5 herbs to battle cold and flu viruses" from Examiner.com

Medicineherbs.net

NCCAM: National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Essential Oils and Perfumery

Recently, I was at the beauty salon. As I sat under the hair dryer, flipping through pages of some fashion magazine, something in particular caught my eye: the cost of an "orange scented" perfume. The magazine listed the cost as $225.00.

I don't remember the brand, but that price is outrageous! Why pay so much money for a fragrance? There's toxic ingredients in many perfumes, anyhow. According to the Environmental Working Group, many fragrances contain ingredients "that studies show may be linked to a variety of health problems, including allergies, skin reactions, endocrine/hormone disruption, and possibly even birth defects. Companies are not required to test cosmetics for safety before they are sold." Some of the bad stuff found in fragrances include phthalates, and artificial musks.

So, before you fork out a lot of money for something with potentially toxic ingredients, consider looking into making your own perfume using essential oils. I buy most of my essential oils from The Ananda Apothecary (excellent, high quality essential oils at a great price), and Portland's The Essential Oil Company (producing quality and pure oils since 1977). Essential oils --extracted from plants and plant materials -- are used medically in hospitals as well as in aromatherapy, but I also use them to make lip balms, lotions, and hand salves. Essential oils are therapeutic, and are known to have powerful healing benefits. Some essential oils (such as Rosa damascena) can be expensive, but the organic and quality oils are the best, and worth every penny.

It's important to dilute the essential oils with other ingredients, such as vodka (if making a perfume), carrier oils, water, etc. Making my own fragrances has become quite the hobby; I enjoy inventing recipes while using raw and natural ingredients (such as cleaned organic orange peels).

(If you decide to try this, however, do so at your own risk: Some people experience allergic reactions to essential oils and even essential oil perfumes, so it's a good idea to be cautious, and not give them to other people as gifts. Never use essential oils while pregnant, and don't apply essential oils directly to the skin. Always be careful when using a mixture for the first time. Some types, such as Bergamot, can provoke a reaction even when diluted. Research the subject well before diving into it - it's a lot of fun to read about!)

For a basic start to the subject, check out:

The Essential Oils Book: Creating Personal Blends for Mind and Body by Colleen Dodt

 The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy, by Valerie Ann Worwood.

Literary Cooking

Reminiscing on the books read from childhood, I wonder about the foods mentioned in them. I know there's Monday mornings when I could use some rejuvenating Lembas bread, but did you ever wonder if you could handle eating an entire chocolate cake, as ordered by Ms. Trunchbull in Matilda? While reading Anne of Green Gables, did you ever wonder what the heck Anne Shirley thought she was giving her bosom buddy Diana Barry, who ended up drunk because she was really drinking currant wine? Or, from The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, did you imagine Turkish Delight to be like ambrosia, since Edmund sold his fam out for it?

                                  

Legolas about to om-nom Lembas bread.

Well, thanks to a cute book titled Turkish Delight & Treasure Hunts: Delightful Treats and Games from Classic Children's Books, you can make some of these interesting creations yourself!  I stumbled upon a blog post written by Emily and Katie mentioning the book and these foods from fiction, and I was so intrigued by their post that I bought the book myself (sure, you can find the recipes via Google, but I love me some unusual cookbooks!).

I have to admit: Turkish Delight -- the real thing -- isn't how I imagined it. It looks like Aplets and Cotlets, which I'm not a fan of. The real stuff from Turkey is supposed to be sheer Elysium. According to recipes I've seen, its main contents include rosewater, cornstarch, foodcoloring, and sugar. Going by looks alone, it doesn't seem very appealing, but I'm going to make some, anyway. Apparently you can dip them in chocolate, too, and well, chocolate makes everything better.

Making foods from fiction is a charming idea; of course, the bread and jam that Frances would only eat is a no brainer, and Stone Soup would be tasty... minus the stones, that is. There is also an awesome Trunchbull Chocolate Cake recipe found on the World Wide Web! I do hope that one would pass on the Green Eggs and Ham, though. Ick.

For reference, check out the cookbooks:

Turkish Delight & Treasure Hunts: Delightful Treats and Games from Classic Children's Books by Jane Brocket

Roald Dahl’s Revolting Recipes by Roald Dahl, Felicity Dahl, and Josie Fison  (many recipes in this book do not seem...appetizing)

The Anne of Green Gables Cookbook by Kate MacDonald

Phantasy Star

Confession time: I'm obsessed with video games. As with reading, artwork, and cooking, gaming is a form of delightful escapism. I especially have a love for retro video games, although I will drink the Halo kool-aid, too (because, let's face it, Halo is awesome).

Anyway, a little backstory: 1989 was a memorable year in particular because of the discovery of Sega's epic video game -- and my favorite video game of all time -- Phantasy Star. I clearly remember my first encounter with it: I was nine years old, wandering around in a toy store that was located at the local outlet mall. I turned an aisle, and then I saw it on a display shelf: a video game with a woman on the cover, battling alongside a wizard, a male warrior, and a creature that resembled a cat. I was immediately intrigued, and I begged asked my mother to buy me the game. She relented, and an obsession was born. (Actually, at the risk of sounding dramatically cliché, the game changed my life.)

Game cover of Phantasy Star. Photo from Wikipedia.

  

Played on the classic Sega Master System, the game proved to be revolutionary. It wasn't like After Burner or Hang On; it was unlike any other game. A blend of Greek Mythology, sci-fi, and fantasy, the story is set within the fictional solar system Algo, located in the Andromeda galaxy. A young woman, Alis, discovers that her brother Nero was murdered by Lassic, the evil reigning tyrant. Together with her companions (Odin, Lutz, and the super-intelligent Musk Cat, Myau), Alis sets out to avenge her brother's murder and overthrow the corrupt government. ('Sounds like heavy stuff for a kid, doesn't it!?) The game proved to be remarkable and inspirational for future RPGs, but Alis Landale was the original female video game protagonist who set the bar for the subsequent RPGs that followed.

The game had several sequels: Phantasy Star II, Phantasy Star III (which is sort of a departure from the series), and Phantasy Star IV. My personal favorites within the series are Phantasy Star and Phantasy Star IV; the latter really concluding the series with a satisfying ending. Sega released a remake of the first two games known as Phantasy Star Generation 1 and Phantasy Star Generation 2, but the games were released only in Japan (unfortunately). The remake of the music, however, is incredible; they're not changed and true to the original soundtrack, but enhanced.

While growing up as a bit of a tomboy, I became a gamer and still am to this day, but I've never had love for a game like I do for Phantasy Star. So, here's to Alis Landale, the original female video game protagonist, and to the video game which will forever remain my favorite.

Fan Art done by me, Phantasy Star and its characters (c) SEGA.