Chia seeds have become one of the most popular superfoods in the health community. They are easy to digest when prepared properly, and are a very versatile ingredient that easily adds to recipes.
Chia seed is obtained most commonly from Salvia hispanica of the Lamiaceae family. Other plants referred to as "chia" include "golden chia" (Salvia columbariae) and the flowering herbaceous perennial Salvia polystachya, which is rarely cultivated and the seeds are not used. The seeds of Salvia columbariae are used medicinally and for food.
Originally grown in Mexico, the seeds were highly valued for their medicinal properties and nutritional value. In fact, they were even used as currency!
The chia seed is nutrient dense and packs a punch of energy boosting power. Aztec warriors ate chia seeds to give them high energy and endurance. They said just one spoonful of chia could sustain them for 24 hours. Chia means "strength" in the Mayan language, and they were known as "runners food" because runners and warriors would use them as fuel while running long distances or during battle.
Not only that, but recent research has found that the chia seed benefits are even greater than we realized. Chia seed benefits include promoting healthy skin, reducing signs of aging, supporting the heart and digestive system, building stronger bones and muscles and more. Now they have even been linked to healing diabetes. Continue reading for possible side effects, preparation instructions and a complete list of benefits and nutrients.
Salvia hispanica, or the chia plant, is a species in the mint family that is native to Central America. The seeds of this herb are known as “chia seeds” and they have gained quite a bit of popularity in recent years.
Not only are they gluten/grain free naturally, but a single serving is reported to have:
as much calcium as a glass of milk
more Omega-3s than a serving of walnuts
as many antioxidants as blueberries.
Did you know that consuming chia seed can reduce back pain? Are you aware that chia seeds can help lower your cholesterol levels?
Poor health is the result of lifestyle and unhealthy food. Chia seed is a single material that can treat various diseases. Here are the benefits of chia seeds for health that you should know.
Being rich in so many key nutrients, research has uncovered that regularly eating chia seed can improve your health in numerous ways. Some of the top chia seed benefits are:
1. Anti Inflammation
One of the benefits of chia seed is quite important is as an anti-inflammatory. The word 'chia' comes from the word 'chian', which means oily. Chia seed is oily seeds that are equipped with essential fatty acids omega-3. As one of the richest vegetable source of omega-3 and alpha-linolenic acid, chia seed treating various health disorders. Chia seed against free radicals, reduce inflammation and lower cholesterol. Include chia seeds in your diet and say goodbye to your body aches.
2. Mineral
Chia seed is a storehouse of calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and manganese. All minerals are very important for the functioning of the body's right and fight high blood pressure. They also provide enough energy for the body's metabolic processes. Chia seeds are a delicious secret to obtain immunity.
3. Fiber Rich
Dietary fiber helps reduce cholesterol, inflammation and constipation. Chia seeds are a source of dietary fiber which is very good. Two tablespoons of chia seed provides more than a third of the required daily intake of fiber. The regular intake will end your problems while on the toilet.
4. Nature of Antioxidants
Maybe you already know the benefits of chia seed this one. Chia seeds are rich in antioxidants that help protect the body from pigmentation, carcinogenic cells and slow the onset of aging. So just by chewing chia seed and say goodbye to expensive anti-wrinkle cream you.
5. Controlling Blood Sugar Levels
The benefits of chia seed Equally important is to control blood sugar levels. Increased blood sugar levels is one of many major health problems today. Chia seed is one of the best foods to control blood sugar levels. Chia seeds help reduce insulin resistance in the body. They are something that you must have if you want to cure your diabetes.
6. Effects glut
Satiety center has a special place in the brain, which tells whether your stomach is full or not. Center satiety control hunger and satiety, and can help regulate appetite. The combination of fiber, protein and other nutrients, are all responsible for satiating effects of chia seed. Consuming chia seed is a healthy way to snack.
7. Gluten-Free
Chia seeds do not contain gluten, which can cause a number of diseases, including celiac, which damage the lining of the intestine. Chia seed is a healthy alternative to replace foods rich in gluten.
8. Source of Protein Very Good
Protein is one of the most important nutrients needed each person. Chia seed contains not only the amount of ALA (alpha-linolenic acid) is the highest among the other plants, but they are also the richest source of vegetable protein. These are foods that should be owned by vegetarians. Chia seed is a perfect substitute for eggs and meat in your diet.
9. Easy To digested
One of the benefits of chia seed for the health of the most effective is that they are easily digestible, unlike other grains are also high in omega-3 fatty acids, fiber, and minerals. So you do not need to grind chia seeds advance to obtain nutrients.
10. Dyslipidemia
Chia seed contains the amount of fiber and omega-3 fatty acids are high, both of which help reduce cholesterol . Chia seed increases good cholesterol (HDL) and reduce bad cholesterol (LDL) in the body. Include always chia seeds in your diet to maintain a healthy heart.
Thus article 10 benefits of chia seeds for health, may further increase your health insights.
Dietitian and Health Nut chooses chia seeds as a top pick because of their overall nutrition package including: healthy fats, fiber, and minerals. In fact, just one tablespoon of chia seeds provides nearly 20 percent of your daily fiber goals. Plus, chia seeds are rich in essential fatty acids, which are a type of fat that the body needs to function that must come from food. Try stirring in a tablespoon of chia seeds into tea, juice or milk for a nutrient boost! Or thanks to their water absorbing properties, chia seeds are great for making pudding. Chia seeds make an incredibly healthy—and often unnoticeable—addition to many foods.
Here are some great ways to enjoy chia seeds:
- They can be eaten raw. (They have a nice "nutty" flavor.)
- They can be soaked in fruit juice (in Mexico, they call this "chia fresca").
- They're perfect in porridges and puddings.
- They make an ideal addition to baked goods including breads, cakes and biscuits.
How Many Chia Seeds Should You Eat? Expertise recommend two daily doses of about 20 g each (1.5 ounces total).
Rose hips are a perennial plant with thorny branches that give way to pink and white flowers and scarlet fruits, called “hips.” These rose hips are the ripe ovaries or seeded fruit of roses forming on branches after the flower. They are oval in shape and appear fleshy, shrunken, and wrinkled. Inside the hips are 3 or more small yellow-brown seeds. R. canina is native to Europe, North Africa, and temperate areas of Asia. The fruits (hips) are picked in autumn and used medicinally.
Scientific names: Commonly derived from Rosa canina, R. rugosa, R. acicularis, or R. cinnamomea. Numerous other species of rose have been used for the preparation of rose hips.
Common names: Rose hips also are known as heps and dog rose (R. canina).
Rose hips are typically colored orange or red and resemble a berry. Rose hips are the fruit of rose bushes and, when fresh, can have more than 60 times as much vitamin C as one orange. The rose hips valued for their medicinal use in folk medicine come from two rose varieties: Rosa gallica and Rosa canina, which are native to Asia, Northern Africa and Europe. The medicinal properties of rose hips can be obtained by using them to make teas, syrups and jellies. They are also used to make oils that are used to help the complexion. Rose hips have many culinary uses. They are used in soups, stews, puddings, apple sauce, tarts, breads, pie, jam and marmalade.
However, what makes Rose hips extra special is that it also serves as an herbal medicine and a holistic treatment for a lot of diseases and conditions. Rose hips provide a robust source of vitamin C and are believed to have more vitamin C than any other citrus fruit.
Modern medical scientists have found out that the Rose hips have an anti-inflammatory property that helps patients with hip or knee osteoarthritis, a known condition that causes the breakdown of important joint cartilages that allows bones to rub against other bones thus causing loss of movement and pain during sudden movements.
The scientists have found out that a powder of a wild variety of rose hip known as Rosa canina can be “three times more effective than standard paracetamol” in pain remedy and also highly effective and powerful than glucosamine.
Researchers based in Denmark also reported their conclusion based on a study, that patients who consumed daily a rose powder made from dog rose enjoyed lesser joint pain and stiffness and an overall improvement in posture, mood and well being within 4 months of rose hips treatment. They also gathered that it is because rosehips contain a high amount of antioxidant flavonoids which is known to exhibit anti-inflammatory properties.
Rose hips also protects from cardiovascular disease and cancer because it contains a high dose of anthocyanins, catechins and other known phytochemicals and polyphenolics that protects the body from cardiovascular diseases and cancer. Rose hips also contain plant sterols, carotenoid pigments and tocotrienols. Aside from these, researchers later found out that Rose hips also contain pectin, a strong soluble fiber that builds a wall that protects against all sorts of cardiovascular diseases. Clinical trials results show that rose hips greatly reduce the effect of C-reactive protein levels that cause cardiovascular diseases thus lowering the possibility of it to happen.
Being a true holistic remedy, rose hips is also used as herbal teas, by letting the crushed or dried rose hips boil for 8-10 minutes. With the rose hips herbal tea, one can add half teaspoon of dried mint for additional flavor and add 2 tablespoons of berries per pint of hot water. Rose hips herbal tea is very effective as an anti-oxidant and helps cleanse the body system with unwanted chemicals and contributes to a smoother blood stream flow.
Other benefits of Rose hip Tea
Disorders and Diseases
Rose hip tea may be used to help treat disorders such as chronic diarrhea, allergies and asthma as well as bronchitis and stress. It's also thought to benefit those with (as well as help prevent) heart disease. Because the pectin in rosehips binds with intestinal fats prior to absorption, it may relieve constipation, cleanse the intestines and help lower cholesterol.
Urinary Tract
Rose hip tea simulates the immune system. As a result, it can help relieve irritation in the urinary tract, particularly given its mild disinfectant properties. Consequently, sometimes is used to treat urinary tract infections.
Cold and Flu Prevention
Thanks to its high vitamin C content, rose hips can be used to prevent and treat colds and flu. The antioxidants and bioflavonoids in rosehips also play a role in boosting the body's immune system response by causing it to attack free radicals.
Rheumatism and Water Retention
Rose hip tea acts as a diuretic, meaning it helps the body eliminate water within body tissue. It also has been used to relieve mild pain associated with rheumatism.
How to grow Rose Hips
Transplanting
Home gardeners don’t start roses from seed, use cuttings or seedlings. Choose a location that will get a lot of sun, and can handle the plants growing to a height close to 5 feet. Roses will grow into a very dense and thorny shrub, so don’t plan on using it too close to any walkways or paths. Brushing up against the rose bush can be unpleasant and prickly.
Dig a hole large enough for the roots of your rose seedling, and plant it to the same depth as it was in its original pot. You don’t need to add any compost or fertilizer, but give it a generous watering.
Containers
Though they can grow into large shrubs, you can certainly grow roses in containers. You will need a large pot, 5 to 10 gallons in size for each rose bush. Water a potted rose a little more often than a garden-planted one, but don’t let it get water-logged. Your container should have very good drainage. Use regular soil without added compost, and even add a little sand to help with draining.
Pests and Diseases
Roses can also suffer from stem cancer, a fungus that usually attacks the stems but can also effect the flowers. You will first notice brown or reddish patches on the stems of your roses, that eventually dry out and leave a shrunken lesion on the branch. If it goes all the way around the stem, the branch will die off above that point.
Fungicides can help, and you can help prevent it with a bit of care. Prune out any dead branches in the shrub and try to remove any that are rubbing against each other. If you do water your roses, do so at the soil not over the leaves. The water will spread the fungus spores.
Whether you are using fungicide or pesticide, make sure you get one intended for edible plants. Buying products for roses may make your hips toxic because the sprays are not formulated for “food plants”. Any products that are labeled for vegetables or fruits will work fine.
Harvest and Storage
Most rose hips will be ripe for picking, orange hips are not quite ripe, but deep red ones are over-ripe. You have to judge the right color in between to get the highest levels of vitamin C. They should be just slightly soft, not mushy.
Use clippers to snip the rose hips off each stem. Spread them out in the sun and let them dry until you notice their skins starting to wrinkle up slightly. You need to slice each hip in half, and scrape out the little seeds. Once the seeds are out, leave the hips to dry out completely.
After they are dried, you can store them in the refrigerator for several months. If you freeze them, they will keep for a year or longer.
Daun Dewa called Gynura segetum (Lour) Merr or Gynura pseudochina (L) DC. belonging to the plant family Compositae or Asteraceae. This plant is known by local names beluntas china, Daun Dewa or samsit.
Classification
Division: Spermatophyta
Sub Division: Angiospermae
Class: Dicotyledoneae
Nation: Asterales
Ethnicity: Asteraceae (Compositae)
Marga: Gynura
Type: Gynura pseudochina (Lour.) DC
This plants said to have originated from Burma and China are classified in herb plants, with a height of 30 - 45, growing up straight, short trunk and soft, pentagon-shaped, oval cross-section, smooth-haired and purple-green. Young stems green, if a bit old branched lot.
This single-leaved plants, scattered around the stem, short-stemmed, rounded shape ovate to elongate, pointed tip, edges uneven, tapered base, pinnate leaves bones. Leaves mostly clustered at the bottom, somewhat rare in the tip of the stem, position the criss-cross. Both leaf surfaces smooth haired, white color. The color of the leaf surface dark green, light green bottom. Leaves about 20 cm long and 10 cm wide.
Compound interest is growing at the end of the stem, hump-shaped yellow (flower heads), hairy, calyx cup-shaped green, needle-shaped stamens. Seed, needle-shaped, about 0.5 cm long, brown. The roots of this plant is the root fibers, flaxen forming tubers as a food reserve.
Daun dewa for practitioners of herbal medicine.This plant can be used in circumstances or in fresh and dried. Apart from leaves, tubers of this plant can also be used as a drug. Twin advantages of this plant is not only used as a drug, can also be as a vegetable in the form of vegetables.
Chemical nature:
The content of the known chemicals, including: flavonoids, phenolic acid, chlorogenic acid, kafeat acid, p-kumarat acid, p-hydroxybenzoic acid and vanillic acid. Gynecology and the benefits of flavonoids compounds, saponins, and essential oils is indicated to reduce blood cholesterol. Essential oils in plants is thought to stimulate blood circulation, is also analgesic and anti-inflammatory. Essential oils and flavonoids also act as antiseptic. Other compounds contained in the daun dewa are alkaloids, tannins and polyphenols.
Pharmacological EFFECTS:
This plant is: anti-coagulant (blood clot melt), stimulate circulation, stop bleeding, remove heat, cleanse toxins, anti-carcinogen and anti mutagenitas, diuretic. In the pharmacology of Chinese called this plant has a distinctive flavor and properties of neutral. Based on the results of empirical research and experience it is known that this plant is an anticoagulant, antikarsinogen, antimutagenitas, blood circulation, stop bleeding, blood thinners and diuretics (urine laxative). It is also known that all parts of this plant can be used to treat breast tumors and burns.
PLANT PART USED:
This pharmacological effect is obtained from the use of whole plants.
Leaves, is useful for: injuries hit, circulation, stop bleeding (coughing up blood, vomiting blood, nosebleeds), breast swelling, throat infection, did not come menstruation, and bitten by venomous animals.
Bulbs, useful for: remove a blood clot (haematom), swelling, bone's fracture, bleeding.
Propagation daun dewa and the plant is easily done, to grow with adequate fertilizer and regular watering.
Planting Daun Dewas can be done as follows:
a. Root crops can be planted immediately, within a few days, on the bulb will grow saplings.
c. If the plant is old, from the plant stalks arise chicks. If the height reached 15 cm, cut and replanted.
Fertilization should use organic fertilizers, such as manure or compost. Fertilizers are given 3-7 days before planting soil by stirring in the planting hole. Watering plays an important role on the performance of the leaf. Therefore, it should be done routinely every day. Weeding or eradication of weeds and grow pests (weeds) should be done routinely.
Here are some diseases that can be cured by the Daun dewa:
1. Swelling of acne (acne vulgaris)
Pulverized daun dewa to taste, then put on the pimple, then cover with a cloth or plaster.
2. Coughing and vomiting of blood, bleeding and swollen breasts.
Prepare 15 grams of leaves of daun dewa plant which have been washed, boiled in 3 cups water until the remaining half. Drinking after a cold, half a cup three times a day.
3. Prevent strokes and heart attacks
Take 10 grams of fresh leaves of the fresh daun dewa, washed, finely crushed, then add half a glass of water. Filter pulp, and drink every afternoon. Or it could be eaten raw 1 a day.
4. Bitten by venomous animals
Take 10 grams of tubers daun dewa, finely crushed. Put on the body part bitten beasts, then wrapped with a cloth or plaster.
5. Diabetes
Take 5 leaves of fresh daun dewa plant, brewed with 110 cc of water. Drink once a day as much as 100 cc.
6. Rheumatism
Take 30 grams of fresh daun dewa, wash and then boiled. Mash and squeeze with a little water. Drinking every day. Alternatively, provide 30 grams of fresh leaves of deciduous plants god, red ginger 10 grams, and 30 grams of mustard roots sky. Put it in 600 cc of water, and boil until the remaining 300 cc of water. Filter with a clean cloth, drink.
Or wash and 10 grams of fresh leaves of daun dewa, peeled and ate them raw 1 a day. Another way mashed tubers 10 grams, add ½ cup of boiled water, strain and squeeze, Drinking juice every afternoon.
7. Burns and slash
Mashed tubers of daun dewa, add a little brown sugar to the dough like a salve. Apply to the burn or cut wounds, and dressing.
8. Seizures in children
Take 30 grams of whole plant parts of daun dewa, wash. Mash and squeeze any excess water. Add 1 shot of warm wine, stir, and drink well 1 time a day.
9. Bruises and colds
Grandson net 10 gram tuber of daun dewa then mash until smooth, add 1 shot of yellow wine and heat for 1 minute. Drink at once one time a day.
10. Warts and Wounds Cantengan
Rinse five leaves of daun dewa and mash until smooth. Apply on the wound and dressing. Replace medicine and bandaged - 2 times a day.
11. Late period
Rinse all parts of the plant 25 grams of fresh leaves of the daun dewa, mashed, and then squeeze the water. Add 1 shot of warm wine, stir, and drink well 1 time a day.
12. Prevention and treatment of tumors and cancer
Rinse 3-4 leaves of daun dewa, wash thoroughly, then eat them raw as fresh vegetables.
There has a lot of the benefits we can get from the leaves of daun dewa.
Ginkgo Biloba has a long history of medicinal use in traditional Chinese medicine, where the seed is most commonly used. Botanical name: Gingkoacea. The extract of ginkgo leaves is used medicinally in North America, where it's one of the most popular medicinal herbs, and many other countries around the world. Other names for ginkgo include Maidenhair tree, Kew tree, and Japanese silver apricot.
Plant Description
Ginkgo biloba is the oldest living tree species. A single tree can live as long as 1,000 years and grow to a height of 120 feet. It has short branches with fan-shaped leaves and inedible fruits that smell bad. The fruit has an inner seed, which may be poisonous. Ginkgos are tough, hardy trees and often seen as a large tree in parks and gardens.
Some of these can easily be grown in a small garden. All are very well suited to container growing where they will live happily for many years with minimal attention and occasional feeding.The leaves turn brilliant colors in the fall.
Growing your Ginkgo in a container
Many Ginkgos do very well in containers or pots placed on a patio amongst other plants and with correct feeding and watering, can live happily in a pot for many years. To pot up your Ginkgo:
- Use a pot no more than twice the size of the pot the plant is bought in, do not over-pot. Use a good quality multi-purpose compost and add 10% grit to this
- Top up each spring with a small amount of slow release fertiliser. Make sure the pot has good drainage holes and stand the pot on feet or tiles to allow free drainage through the bottom of the pot.
- Remember to keep container grown plants well watered when they are in full leaf. Do not rely on the rain as most of the water will be shed away from the pot by the tree’s leaf canopy.
- Properly pruning a ginkgo tree is essential to its health and appearance.
Although Chinese herbal medicine has used both the ginkgo leaf and seed for thousands of years, modern research has focused on the standardized Ginkgo biloba extract (GBE) made from the dried green leaves. This standardized extract is highly concentrated and seems to treat health problems (particularly circulatory problems) better than the non-standardized leaf alone.
Top 5 Health Benefits of Ginkgo Biloba
More than 40 components of the ginkgo biloba tree have been isolated and identified, but only two of them -- flavonoids and terpenoids -- are believed to account for Ginkgo biloba’s beneficial health effects. Flavonoids are plant-based antioxidants, and studies have revealed that flavonoids protect the nerves, heart muscle, blood vessels, and retina from damage. Terpenoids aid blood flow by dilating the blood vessels and reducing the stickiness of platelets.
Ginkgo biloba’s natural health benefits have been recognized by practitioners of traditional medicine. They use the health benefits to treat circulatory disorders and enhance memory. The top five health benefits of ginkgo biloba are:
1) Dementia and Alzheimer's disease:
Ginkgo biloba was used originally to regulate blood flow to the brain. Further studies revealed that it may protect nerve cells damaged by Alzheimer's disease. Many studies reveal that ginkgo biloba can improve memory and thinking in people affected by Alzheimer's or vascular dementia. Consumption of Gingko everyday helps in fighting signs like depression, performance anxiety, poor concentration, confusion, dizziness, headaches, absent-mindedness and more. This is because one of the main reasons for reduced cerebral capacity has been reduced blood flow to the brain. And by helping the arteries dilate and expand, the herb helps better blood flow to the brain.
2) Intermittent Claudication:
For people with intermittent claudication, it is very painful to walk. Published studies reveal that people taking ginkgo biloba can walk roughly 37 yards more than people taking a placebo.
3) Glaucoma:
According to one study, people with glaucoma who took 120 mg of ginkgo biloba daily for eight weeks realized that their vision had improved.
4) Memory Enhancement:
Ginkgo biloba is popular as a "brain herb." Studies have proven that it can improve memory in people with dementia. Ginkgo biloba is commonly added to nutrition bars, soft drinks, and fruit smoothies to boost memory and enhance cognitive performance.
5) Macular Degeneration:
It is a progressive, degenerative eye disease that impairs the retina. It is one of the most common causes of blindness in the United States. The flavonoids found in ginkgo biloba may help cure or alleviate some retinal problems
6) Others:
Ginkgo leaves are believed to contain compounds that thin blood and help to improve muscle tone in the walls of blood vessels. This may enhance blood flow. In saying this, there have been reports of Ginkgo greatly improving memory recall when being taken before exams, due to the increased blood flow in the brain.
Ginkgo Biloba also has a very powerful effect on the circulatory system so if you get cold hands, feet, and head, this is the herb for you. It also assists the heart and helps prevent and treat strokes by preventing formation of blood clots.
Another useful effect of Gingko is that it can help cannabis smokers restore short-term memory by sending more oxygen to the brain.
Heart disease is one of the biggest killers in the world and in an ideal world medical practitioners would recommend Ginkgo Biloba to all people over the age of 50 due to its ability to dilate blood vessels, allowing improved blood flow to the tissues and inhibiting the clumping of blood platelets which contribute to heart problems, strokes and artery conditions.
Ginkgo Biloba is a unique species of tree with no close living relatives and is one of the best-known examples of a living fossil. The flowers are dioecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but only one sex is to be found on any one plant so both male and female plants must be grown if seed is required) and are pollinated by wind. The plant is not self-fertile. The leaves are best harvested in the late summer or early autumn just before they begin to change colour. They are dried for later use.
Precautions / Contraindications
Because of the nature of the herb it should not be taken if on heart medications. Gingko also may increase the risk of bleeding in people who take anticoagulant medicines such as warfarin and anti-inflammatory medicines such as aspirin. Constituents in ginkgo leaves may affect blood clotting, so ginkgo leaf extracts shouldn't be used by people with bleeding disorders. People with epilepsy (or anyone with a history of seizures) should avoid ginkgo, because it may increase the frequency of seizures.
Ginkgo leaf products may affect blood sugar levels, so people with diabetes should only be used under the supervision of a health care provider. The safety of ginkgo in pregnant or nursing women and children isn't known. Other than that it is wonderfully safe especially for our irreplaceable brain.
What are the Side Effects of Ginkgo?
Side effects of ginkgo leaf include excessive bleeding. Rarely, seizures have been reported in people using either the ginkgo leaf or seed. Other side effects include digestive problems, headaches, allergic skin reactions, or muscle weakness.
People should not consume fresh ginkgo seeds. Roasted ginkgo seeds may cause diarrhea, nausea, indigestion, vomiting, or allergic skin reactions. Side effects of fresh ginkgo seeds or over 10 roasted ginkgo seeds may include difficulty breathing, seizures, unconsciousness and death.
Kaffir Lime or Citrus hystrix or Citrus amblycarpa belongs is a type of lime native to Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia. It is popularly known as makrut in Thailand and limau parut in some regions of Southeast Asia.
It is best known as an essential ingredient in Thai cuisine. The leaves are known as bai makrut in Thailand and you may see the tree referred to as a Makrut lime. Kaffir limes are relatively small trees in their natural habitat growing only 3m to 4m in height.
They have bright evergreen leaves with a characteristic bilobed appearance and a wonderful aroma when crushed. They have the typical tiny white flowers seen on most citrus with an accompanying citrus fragrance. In tropical areas kaffir lime trees are an intrinsic part of the landscape as well as the cuisine. The Thai's believe that the bai makrut wards off evil spirits, and kaffir lime trees are commonly planted at property entrances for this purpose.
Kaffir lime leaves are perfect for adding flavour to Asian cuisine. They are highly aromatic and add their own elegant flavour to stir-fry, curry, salad and fish cake dishes. Some examples for use include:
- Thai curry dishes and soups, such as Tom Yum
- Indonesian curry dishes
- Thai fish cakes, e.g., Tod Mun and steamed fish dishes, e.g., Haw Moak
- Kaffir lime and lemongrass in chicken stock Asian bouquet garni - make up with kaffir lime leaves, lemongrass and ginger as the bouquet garni ingredients and use to flavour stock
- Krueng - a paste using Kaffir lime leaves as the base
- Flavour rice - When cooking your rice, throw in a few leaves. The flavour will be imparted to the rice.
- Add to a marinade - suitable for chicken, pork or lamb dishes.
- Make a syrup - add a kaffir lime leaf to sugar overnight and use the sugar to make a syrup the next day.
The leaves however are the richest part of the plant They are easy to store since they can be frozen for many months without losing flavor Just one or two are enough to flavor a pot full of soup The leaves can be rubbed on to gums and teeth for total dental health The essential oil in the leaves is extracted and used for various purposes It is a used in many bath products such as soaps and shampoos The oil is a great hair and scalp cleanser The aroma of the leaves is rejuvenating; add a few drops of oil or a few crushed leaves to your bath and you will feel your negative thoughts ease away It is believed to have a positive effect on the mind and the body and leaves one with positive thoughts The oil is also infused in deodorants and body sprays for that extra zing The oil is also used in tonics which aid in digestion and purify the blood Air fresheners with the kaffir lime aroma freshen up rooms and give a feeling of a freshly cleaned room.
Kaffir Limes Trees - Care and Cultivation
The Kaffir Lime tree is a fairly easy plant to grow and they are grown for the leaves, they require much the care and same conditions as other citrus trees.
Like most citrus trees Kaffir Limes like a sunny position in a well drained soil. They can be grown in pots and containers and once established are a reasonably tough tree. The leaves are what the Kaffir Lime is valued for, very fragrant and used widely in Indonesian and Malaysian cooking.
Try growing Kaffir Lime Trees in a pot, they will reach nearly 2m, however if you keep picking the leaves for cooking they will stay a lot smaller. In the garden they can get to 4 metre. A regular citrus fertilizer will be sufficient and keep moist but not wet.
Once established these trees require little care or pruning other than to keep in shape or maintain a smaller size. Take care when transpanting or cultivating around the root zone as they do not like to have the root system disturbed.
Mulch to retain moisture taking care not to build up mulch to close to the trunk of the tree itself as this can cause diseas and collar rot. Water every week in dry spells. In pots water more often.
Great in taste and abounding in various benefits, this plant is a great choice for your backyard and if you don't have a backyard, reserve some room for the leaves in your refrigerator.
Nutmeg is actually the seed of a tropical fruit thought to have originated in New Guinea (the same fruit that gives us mace, actually!). The seeds are light brown on the outside, oblong-shaped, and about an inch long. Inside, there are densely packed layers of starchy tissue and fragrant oil.
The spice tree is a large evergreen plant that thrives well under tropical climates. A fully-grown tree reaches about 50-60 feet in height and is the source of nutmeg and mace, two valuable spices. The nutmeg fruit, in fact, is a drupe, about the size of an apricot, which when ripen splits up to reveal single centrally situated oval shaped hard kernel known as "nutmeg spice." The seed is closely enveloped by crimson-red colored lacy or thread like arils known as "mace." Both spices have a similar warm, sweet aromatic flavor.
Nutmeg tree yields up to three times in a season. Once harvested from the tree, the outer coat or husk is removed and discarded. Just underneath the tough husk is the golden-brown color aril, known as "mace," enveloping nutmeg kernel. Mace is gently peeled off from the kernel surface, flattened into strips, dried, and sold either as whole or finely ground. The nutmeg kernels are then dried under sun for several days to weeks. At larger commercial set-ups, this process is done rather more rapidly over a hot drier machine until the whole nutmeg rattles inside the shell.
The shell is then broken and shriveled nutmeg kernel is taken out. Finally, nuts are dipped in limewater in order to prevent insect infestation and seed germination.
Health benefits of nutmeg
- Nutmeg and mace spice contains many plant-derived chemical compounds that are known to have been anti-oxidant, disease preventing, and health promoting properties.
- The spicy nut contains fixed oil trimyristin and many essential volatile oils such as which gives a sweet aromatic flavor to nutmeg like myristicin, elemicin, eugenol and safrole. The other volatile-oils are pinene, camphene, dipentene, cineole, linalool, sabinene, safrole, terpeniol.
- The active principles in nutmeg have many therapeutic applications in many traditional medicines as anti-fungal, anti-depressant, aphrodisiac, digestive, and carminative functions.
- This prized spice is a good source of minerals like copper, potassium, calcium, manganese, iron, zinc and magnesium. Potassium is an important component of cell and body fluids that helps control heart rate and blood pressure. Manganese and copper are used by the body as co-factors for the antioxidant enzyme, superoxide dismutase. Iron is essential for red blood cell production and as a co-factor for cytochrome oxidases enzymes.
- It is also rich in many vital B-complex vitamins, including vitamin C, folic acid, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin A and many flavonoid anti-oxidants like beta-carotene and cryptoxanthin that are essential for optimum health.
In fact, since ancient times, nutmeg has been used as a remedy for various ailments or to improve health in general. Here are some of the health benefits that nutmeg provides.
1. Brain Tonic
During ancient times, Roman and Greek civilizations used nutmeg as a type of brain tonic. This is because nutmeg can effectively stimulate your brain. As a result, it can help eliminate fatigue and stress. If you are suffering from anxiety or depression, nutmeg may also be a good remedy. Nutmeg can also improve your concentration so you can become more efficient and focused at work or at school.
2. Pain Relief
Nutmeg is also an effective sedative. In fact, nutmeg is a staple in ancient Chinese medicine. The Chinese used the spice to treat inflammation and abdominal pain. Use nutmeg if you are suffering from aching joints, muscle pain, arthritis, sores and other ailments. To relieve the pain, apply nutmeg oil to the affected areas.
3. Indigestion Relief
If you suffer from digestion-related problems like diarrhea, constipation, bloating, flatulence and so on, nutmeg can effectively offer you relief. Nutmeg oil relieves stomachaches by removing the excess gas from your intestines. Nutmeg can also boost your appetite.
4. Bad Breath Treatment
Because of its antibacterial properties, nutmeg can also effectively treat halitosis or bad breath. As you probably know, bad breath is usually caused by a build-up of bacteria in your mouth. Nutmeg can rid your mouth of these bacteria. This is the reason why nutmeg is a common ingredient in many brands of toothpastes. Nutmeg can also be used to treat gum problems and toothaches.
5. Liver and Kidney Detox
Detoxification is an important factor of good health. Diet, pollution, stress, tobacco, medication and other external substances can lead to the build-up of toxins in your organs. The liver and kidney are two of the organs where this toxic build-up usually develops. As a tonic, nutmeg can clean your liver and kidney and remove these toxins. If you are suffering from a liver disease then nutmeg can also be beneficial. Nutmeg is also effective in preventing and dissolving kidney stones. When your liver and kidney are successfully detoxified, they can perform their function better.
6. Skin Care
If skin care is one of your priorities then you might want to incorporate nutmeg into your regimen. Nutmeg can actually help you achieve smoother and healthier skin by helping you treat several skin problems. A scrub made from nutmeg powder and orange lentil powder can help you remove blackheads, a type of acne characterized by pores clogged with excess oil and dead skin cells. If you suffer from acne marks, nutmeg can also help make your scars less noticeable. What you need to do is mix some nutmeg powder with some honey to make a paste, which you will then apply to the acne marks.
7. Sleep Aid
If you have difficulty sleeping at night, drink a cup of milk with some nutmeg powder. This will help you achieve relaxation and will induce sleep.
Although nutmeg is said to counteract stomach distress from gas, do not try any home remedies without first consulting your physician. Nutmeg is also an astringent and stimulant, as well as a purported aphrodisiac.
Echinacea pallida (Nutt.), commonly called pale purple coneflower, is a species of herbaceous perennial plant in the family Asteraceae. It is sometimes grown in gardens and used for medicinal purposes. Its native range is the south central region of the United States.
Flowers are single on end of stout hairy stem, with 15-20 purplish pink to nearly white rays (petals), each 1½ to 3 inches long and less than ¼ inch wide, with three notched teeth at the tips. Petals grow out and up, hanging down with maturity. In the center is a large round reddish brown disk covered in tiny brown disk flowers with white pollen.
Leaves are mostly basal, with stem leaves widely spaced and alternately attached on the lower half of the stem. Lower leaves are long and narrow, to 8 inches long, ½ to 1 inch wide, on long stalks, becoming smaller and stalkless as they ascend the stem. Edges are toothless and there are 3 distinct veins along the length. Stems and leaves are hairy and rough to the touch. Stems may be green or purple tinged, rarely branched.
Similar species: Glade coneflower (E. simulata) has yellow, not white pollen; it occurs mainly in the eastern Ozarks.
Size: Height: to 3 feet.
Habitat and conservation: Occurs in prairies, glades, savannas, openings of dry upland forests, pastures, roadsides and railroads. Along with other flowers in the genus Echinacea, this plant is often targeted by unscrupulous "root collectors" who sell them to manufacturers of herbal medicines. Such vandalism is one reason laws were enacted restricting the collecting of plants from Missouri's public highways.
Distribution in Missouri: Scattered statewide, although apparently absent from the Mississippi Lowlands; in the eastern Ozarks, glade coneflower (Echinacea simulata) tends to predominate.
Human connections: Though scientists debate its efficacy, this and other echinaceas are used for medicinal purposes and are threatened by root diggers. Laws restricting collection have been enacted to protect wild populations. Coneflowers are easily grown in gardens and are available at native plant nurseries.
Ecosystem connections: The seeds of coneflowers are eaten by goldfinches, whose late-summer breeding time corresponds with the abundant seed set of these and other sunflower-family flowers such as goldenrods, ironweed and others. The tough rootstocks of coneflowers prevent erosion.
Purple cone flowers are used to make herbal teas that are designed to strengthen the immune system, according to the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. Native Americans commonly used the purple cone flower for medicine, according to floridata.com. Today more than 200 medicines are made from purple coneflower extract.
Botanically known as Cosmos caudatus, it is sometimes called ‘wild cosmos’ by locals here but it is mostly refered to via its Malay name, ulam raja, which translates into ‘king vegetable’. Native to tropical America, it was first introduced to Philippines via the Spaniards, according to Plant Resources of South East Asia (PROSEA). The pinnate to pinnatipartite leaves of this plant are consumed as a leafy vegetable, usually in the raw form, but sometimes also cooked and mixed with coconut sauce and chillies. It constitutes as one of the more common raw plant leaves eaten a salad-like form, called ‘ulam’ by the local Malay community as well as those in Indonesia and Malaysia.
For the uninitiated, the leaves of ulam raja tastes raw and somewhat astringent. When crushed, the leaves emit an odour that is reminiscent of mango. It is considered as a medicinal herb which is believed to possess the ability to cleanse the blood and strengthen bones due to its high calcium content. From my research, a preliminary one which was done with my then postgraduate colleague, the dried leaves of this plants contain high amounts of potent antioxidants.
Chemical Contents
It contains 0.3% of proteins,o.4% of fats and carbohydrates, it also rich in lacsium and vitamin A. Its leaf has high antioxidant (AEAC) property, each 100 grams of the fresh leaves have the same antioxidant property to the 2400 mg of ascorbic L-acid. It contains more than 20 types of antioxidant substances that have been identified in ulam raja. The main anti oxidant substances are due to the existence of protosianidin in dimer, through hecsamer, cuersetin glycoside, chlorogenic acid, neochlorogenic acid, kripto-chlorogenic acid and (+)- catcher.
The plant itself can grow quite tall, up to 3 m tall but is an annual or a short-lived perennial herb. It produces dainty, attractive pink flowers when mature. It should not be confused with the yellow- and orange-flowered Cosmos sulphureus as both species are similar vegetatively and have some vernacular names (randa midang in West Java) in common.
This plant is rather easy to grow. It thrives in a sunny spot outdoors with well draining, fertile and moist soil. It is a big drinker and demands a constant supply of food. Under optimal conditions, it grows quickly, flowers and sets seeds very readily. Plants self seed easily and can quickly become a weed in a garden. Harvesting of leaves can commence once plants are 6 weeks old and subsequent ones can be done every 3 weeks. Regular harvesting will stimulate the production of useful and edible foliage and helps to delay flowering.
Uses
Ulam raja is used in traditional medication because it can repair the blood flow and purify the blood from toxic substances. It also can strengthen the bones. The extract chloroform from its leaf has costunolide, stigmasterol, lutein and bipyridine that cab inhibit the activity of some bacteria and fungi like candida albicans, Bacillus subtilis and also E. Choli.
The torch ginger is an indispensable plant for an ornamental tropical-themed garden or a herb and spice garden. The plant itself makes a great garden landscape plant, its flowers have immense ornamental value and its young flowering shoots are an important spice. Various parts of the torch ginger plant also have folk medicinal uses. Hence, it is not one of those “can-see-but-cannot-eat” plants.
A hardcore tropical perennial plant, the torch ginger is native to areas near home - Malaysia and Indonesia. Botanically it is known as Etlingera elatior, the torch ginger is a member of the true ginger family, Zingiberaceae. It has been formerly classified in various other true ginger genera including Alpinia, Phaeomoria and Nicolaia. The genus is named after the German botanist Andreas Ernst Etlinger while the specific name elatior, in Latin, has the meaning of “taller”.
https://LevelTiga.com/atie5572The growth habit of the torch ginger is rhizomatous in nature. It is a large-growing herbaceous plant. A mature torch ginger plant is a stately one, commanding much attention. The leafy shoots of a mature specimen can reach a towering height of about 3 meters with a diameter of about 4 cm. The strap-like leaves that line alternately on the leafy shoots can grow up to a length of about 80 cm.
For those of you who have seen the torch ginger flower, the reason why the torch ginger is a popular cut flower in many areas around the world is clearly apparent. Due to the striking resemblance of the inflorescence to a flaming torch, it is not difficult to discern why the common name for this ginger is as such. Besides possessing ornamental value, the young flowering shoot (often called a flower bud) of the torch ginger is an indispensable ingredient used to flavour both rojak and laksa, which are popular dishes in Malaysia and Singapore.
The flowers of the torch ginger are produced in an interesting way. The inflorescence arises from the rhizome beneath the ground like a spear and is protected by a series of bracts. It is supported on a scape that can reach a height of 60 cm to more than a meter. The thickness of the scape can range from 1 to 2.5 cm in diameter. When the final height has been attained, the outer protective bracts gradually open. These outer bracts eventually become reflexed to form the ‘rim’ of the burning torch. This, in turn, reveals a central, pinecone-like structure consisting of many small tight bracts that form the ‘flame’. The individual true flowers appear from between the bracts found on the pinecone-like structure. The beginning and the end of a torch ginger inflorescence – the young flower shoot (left)and the fruiting head, also called the infructescence (right).
When mature, the torch ginger blooms all year round in the tropics. Its inflorescence is available in three main colours, namely, pink, red and white. When not in flower, plants from the three varieties cannot be easily differentiated via their aerial parts as all plants will be similarly green in appearance. However, there is a torch ginger variety that produces red inflorescences that has purplish red leaf undersides and the leafy shoots also take on a similar reddish tinge. In general, the pink variety is the one that is the most floriferous which is followed by the red and white varieties. It is therefore not surprising to rojak fans now why the rojak flower that they are familiar with is usually pink in colour.
The torch ginger also has a place in an eco-garden. The flowers attract the sunbird, its natural pollinator. Whether grown for food use or as a sunbird attractant, one should refrain from using chemical pesticides in the garden. An organically grown garden is generally a safer and healthier place for every living thing that visits it.
CultureFirst and foremost, the torch ginger is a huge plant and is not one that can be grown in containers. However, apartment gardeners who love and want to grow this plant need not despair! Go to your nearest community garden to get yourself some space to grow a plant. If there isn’t a community garden, go start one and this is perhaps the most convenient place for you to do a multitude of plants.
The torch ginger thrives in soil that is well-drained and moisture-retentive. Refrain from growing the plant in a waterlogged location. Clay soil which is the common soil type encountered in Singapore is best amended with liberal amounts of organic matter such as compost. Organic materials incorporated into clayey soils will help to open up the structure to improve aeration, improve drainage as well as retain moisture.
The plant would also appreciate a layer of organic mulch consisting of dried leaves or compost around the root zone. Organic mulches offer three main benefits – they help to maintain a cool constant temperate, reduce water loss from the roots during hot and dry weather and provide nutrients for the plant when they break down. Additional feeding will promote growth and should be done using organic fertiliser but it is usually not required.
Plants should be grown in a sheltered spot that is protected from winds as the leafy shoots can become damaged and the leaves get shredded by constant winds. Winds can also overly dry out the plant. In terms of light requirements, the torch ginger plant grows best when it is planted in a semi-shaded location. It can, however, be acclimatised to grow under higher light levels. When exposed to more sunlight, the plant reacts via an interesting manner by growing shorter in stature.
A torch ginger plant is generally not invasive as the clump of leafy shoots is quite tight and advances at quite a manageable pace. However, rhizomes can wonder into unwanted areas in the garden and if one is seen advancing in a wrong direction, it can be stopped at its tracks by breaking it with a shovel and dug up and used as material for propagation. When propagating, it is better to obtain a clump of several leafy shoots rather than one that just consist of one leafy shoot. After a section of the rhizome has been broken and dug up, the leafy shoots can be cut away (to reduce the loss of water from the leaves) and potted up in a well-drained media. Do not bury the rhizome section too deeply as that can cause it to rot. Leave the cutting in a sheltered position until the growth of a new shoot is spotted.
Fortunately, the torch ginger is relatively pest-free and disease-free plant. The most common pest is perhaps the grasshopper that chews along the leaf margins. Sucking insects such as spider mites may congregate on the leaf undersides while aphids may be found feasting on the young shoots and leaves. In general, all these pests rarely do great damage to an established plant but attention must be paid on a newly established, young plant.
