I
have come across the most wonderful little book. It’s called ‘’The
natural guide to Medicinal Herbs and Plant’’’, written by Frantisek
Stary and beautifully illustrated by Hana Storchova. I found it in a
charity shop and just had to have it. The one thing that attracted me
right away (apart from the wonderful illustrations), was the fact that
it said ‘’Herbs and Plants’’. This reminded me of the
first time I wrote about herbs and gardening, I asked the question ‘what
is a herb?’ It turned out to be quite a difficult question to answer.
The only definitive answer seemed to be ‘’a plant that is useful’’ which
is why I like the title of this book. It recognises that plants not
traditionally defined herbs can also be useful; hence the title
‘’Medicinal Herbs and Plants’’.
One
of the plants featured in this little book is the common Dog Rose. I
have a Dog Rose growing in the bordering hedge between my garden and my
neighbour’s garden, which is why it was the first plant I looked up in
my new book. And this is what I found out;
‘’it is the commonest of the wild roses, mainly in Europe where it is widely distributed in the temperate regions, in the South only in the mountains, and also, but less abundantly, in Western Asia and Northwest Africa.
It is an extremely variable species forming a group of approximately
thirteen small species and numerous hybrids. The ripe, deep red,
undamaged hips ( Fructus cynosbati, in pharmaceutical language), are the
parts used medicinally. They are rich in vitamins, mainly vitamin C,
vitamin A, B1, B2, and P and also include
carotenoids, tannin,s sugars, and organic acids. The drug has a mild
diuretic, and despite the presence of tannins also a mild laxative
effect. It is used as a form of prevention against flu and diseases
associated with chilling. Tea is made by boiling or steeping one
teaspoon of crushed hips per one cup of water, which is then poured
through a sieve to remove the irritating hairs on the fruit. The dosage
is four to six cups per day. In diseases of the urinary tract it is
recommended to drink two to three litres of the tea daily. The fresh
hips can be made into puree, jelly, jam and wine, all rich in
vitamins.’’
As
I watched my own Dog Rose I was struck by how rapidly this plant
changes as it goes through its natural flowering cycle. I walk past this
plant every time I leave or enter my house, it’s so close to the path
if often brushes against me as I pass. If it has been raining the leaves
shed their rain drops all over my feet and if it is dry the old faded
petals float away from their branch as I pass. These two pictures were
taken lass than a day apart. In the first photo, just one of the flowers
are open, they others remain tightly closed buds. In the second photo,
the first flower is already beginning to wilt as the closed buds begin
to open, changing from tightly closed buds still in their green skin,
into bright pink flowers fluttering in the breeze. It’s amasing what a
difference a day makes in the life of this plant.
ONE DAY LATER
14 Comments
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hedgewitch9 wrote on Jun 17, '08
Great - dont suppose I can make anything edible from ground elder? ;) LOLOL
Nos Da Loretta, catch up tomorrow :))) |
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forgetmenot525 wrote on Jun 17, '08
hi Frank really nice to see you here, funny you should say that I'm just about to post some more of her stuff.
Glad to help Emma..........will be putting in a few more bits from this book over the next few weeks. |
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hedgewitch9 wrote on Jun 17, '08
Jams
and wines I had planned, but I didnt know about = "It is used as a form
of prevention against flu and diseases associated with chilling. Tea is
made by boiling or steeping one teaspoon of crushed hips per one cup of
water, which is then poured through a sieve to remove the irritating
hairs on the fruit. The dosage is four to six cups per day. In diseases
of the urinary tract it is recommended to drink two to three litres of
the tea daily"
So, thank you! :))) |
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This
is excellent. I recognise the flower from an advert for my rose hip
fortified vitamins. It always reminds me of family china from my
childhood. There was such a flower painted on the china. My
Grandmother just referred to it as 'the Franciscan plates.' Also, I am a
major Dinah Washington fan, thank you.
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forgetmenot525 wrote on Jun 17, '08
Hi Emma.............What else?? what are you already doing with them??
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octoberwitch wrote on Jun 17, '08
I
love this stuff, I just started getting into aromatherapy and buying
essential oils. I have a book called The Practice of Aromatherapy ;
Holistic Health and the Essential Oils of Flowers and Herbs. Its very
interesting. Ive been trying my hand at perfumes too but not doing very
well. Anyone have any advice about scents??
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hedgewitch9 wrote on Jun 17, '08
Brilliant!!
Now I know what else to do with my 2 dog-rose plants!! :))) |
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forgetmenot525 wrote on Jun 17, '08
Just added 'What a Difference a Day Makes', Dinah Washington, thought the title was appropriate
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brendainmad wrote on Jun 17, '08
Very interesting. I have a book that is similar, but I don't think it has such nice illustrations.
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forgetmenot525 wrote on Jun 17, '08, edited on Jun 17, '08
Thank
you ladies, I do believe I have already visited sea's site and left a
couple of links back to my herb pages but I would be delighted to make
it a regular thing, thanks for the invite.
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starfishred wrote on Jun 17, '08, edited on Jun 17, '08
I
have some of these-why don't you join us on thursday's HERBAL THURSDAY
run by Sea you can find her under my contacts okay if not I can give you
the link-this would be nice to share again on Thursday.Here is her
calander link she will put it up tommorow
http://seanymph3.multiply.com/calendar |
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