LIVING MEDICINE
- using plants for health and wellbeing
NATURAL REMEDIES for HEALTH and WELLBEING
Spring - Week 5 – Tremendous Trees
Mid-late spring and into summer...
More recipes and images etc at:
www.edible-plants.com
www.eatweeds.co.uk
www.selfsufficientish.com
www.ediblebritain.co.uk
www.downsizer.net
Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna)
 Native/widespread in Scotland; flowers/leaves [or berriesautumn] used as tea; tincture
 Improves heart function – research shows reduces pulse rate,
strengthens heart output, improves arterial circulation
 Lowers blood pressure (caution with meds); paradoxical: can
also help people with low blood pressure; balancing action
 Tea safe as daily beverage, relaxing
 Tincture (1:2) 1-2 ml 1-3 times daily
 Treating circulatory problems or high blood pressure using
therapeutic doses of hawthorn tea or tincture should only be
done in consultation with a herbalist, especially if you are on
medication for blood pressure or a heart condition.
Birch (Betula alba/pendula)
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Leaf buds, young leaves used medicinally
Harvest April
Leaves contain potassium - diuretic, antiinflammatory
Internally: eczema, psoriasis, gout, arthritis
(decrease uric acid), kidney/urinary tract
Externally: Eczema, psoriasis
Tea: aromatic, refreshing; juice leaves into smoothie, cream for
external application
Sap high in Vitamin C and minerals, used for spring tonic, wine,
hair / scalp tonic
Harvest with permission when rising – just before leaf buds open: mid-late
March/early April. HOW? See video at http://www.treehugger.com/green-food/how-tapbirch-sap-and-why-youd-want.html
2|Page
Willow (Salix alba) + related species
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
“Sallow” (Scotland)
Avoid if aspirin allergy or breastfeeding
Found in wet areas, riversides
Bark used - anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anti-rheumatic,
reduces temperature, diarrhoea
Arthritis, gout, joint/muscle pain, swelling, tension
Externally 2.5ml tincture/10ml cream
Internally tablets/capsules (freeze-dried) : 1 tab = 8g dried herb
Leaves & shoots can be used as tea (astringent!), infusion in
bath
Lime (Tilia europaea)









a.k.a. “Linden”
Common Lime = hybrid, introduced sp.
Rich mythology, excellent honey
Flowers : contain flavonoids (antioxidants), antiinflammatory mucilages, antispasmodic volatile
oils
reduce blood pressure, temperature, ease cold symptoms; reduce tension, promote
relaxation; also useful in migraine, tension headache, digestive disorders involving
spasm, cramp
Young leaves – eat or tea – contain calcium, magnesium, potassium
Safe – children / pregnancy& breastfeeding
Helpful for restless, irritable child; for reducing temperature
Take fresh or dried flowers as tea (1tbs/cup 3x daily); tincture 1:2 1-1.5 ml 3x daily
“NA LIPĘ” (The Lime Tree), a poem written in the 16 century by Jan Kochanowski. It is difficult to translate
as his Polish is similar to Shakespearean English.
Na lipę (Polish)
The Lime Tree (English)
Gościu, siądź pod mym liściem, a odpoczni sobie!
Nie dójdzie cię tu słońce, przyrzekam ja tobie,
Choć się nawysszej wzbije, a proste promienie
Ściągną pod swoje drzewa rozstrzelane cienie.
Tu zawżdy chłodne wiatry z pola zawiewają,
Tu słowicy, tu szpacy wdzięcznie narzekają.
Z mego wonnego kwiatu pracowite pszczoły
Biorą miód, który potym szlachci pańskie stoły.
A ja swym cichym szeptem sprawić umiem snadnie,
Że człowiekowi łacno słodki sen przypadnie.
Jabłek wprawdzie nie rodzę, lecz mię pan tak kładzie
Jako szczep napłodniejszy w hesperyskim sadzie.
http://kochanowski.nasz.info
Guest, sit under my leaves and rest where the sun
will not reach you, I promise you. Even with sun
soaring up high, sending down brilliant rays on the
meadows, I shall diffuse them to the softest of
shadows.
Here, under my crown, the cool breezes from the
field always waft gently; here nightingales and
starlings gracefully argue.
From my fragrant flower busy bees take honey which
later graces noble tables.
And with my soft whisper I can make it easy for man
to fall asleep quickly with sweet dreams.
Though I do not bear apples, still you treasure me as
the most prolific plant in the orchard guarded by the
Hesperides.
Translated by Symon and Marlena (and edited a
teeny bit by Anna):
www.floramedica.org
07790 885969
mail@floramedica.org
3|Page
Elder (Sambucus nigra)
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Elderflower (as tea, tincture; cordial; in ice
cream)
• Collect flowers May-mid-August
• Vit C 350mg/100g !
Relieves cold/flu symptoms, reduces temperature
Helps break down sticky catarrh (anti-catarrhal)
Also useful in hayfever, chronic sinus problems
Safe for all ages
Dry thoroughly in oven (40° C) – remove all trace of stalks
Store when completely dry, check regularly (mould)
Collect fruits Sept-Nov – useful winter antiviral
Herbal syrups – basic recipe (makes 0.5 l)
Many herbs can be used to make cordial or syrup for medicinal or culinary
use. Try this recipe using elderflowers, ribwort plantain, lime blossom,
chamomile, honeysuckle, or daisy leaf and flower! Rose petals also make a
delicious old-fashioned syrup. Or make your own blend! Use your syrup as a
refreshing drink with still or sparkling water, add a dash to a glass of white
wine to make a “kir”, or pour some over pancakes or ice cream.
• ½ litre water
• 25-50g dried herb or 75-125g fresh (some herbs are heavier than others!)
• Heat the water and infuse herb for 20-30 minutes if using leaves/flowers, or make a
decoction (simmer gently 10-15 mins) if using berries/roots. Add any other flavourings
at this stage too (e.g. lemon/orange juice or zest).
• Strain through jelly bag/muslin into pan
• Add 500g raw cane sugar or honey, stir until dissolved
• Simmer on low heat, stirring continuously, till slightly thickened
• Cool, pour into sterilized, preferably dark bottles (avoid over-filling) and seal for
storage with sterilized caps or clean corks
• Label and store away from heat and light for up to 2 years
• Store in fridge once opened
Sea buckthorn (Hippophaë rhamnoides)








Family: Elaeagnaceae - NOT related to other
buckthorns!
UK coast (e.g. Gullane, Aberlady, Longniddry) to
combat erosion, stabilise sand dunes
Mainly berries used (fruit juice/oil & seed oil) – harvest
late summer, autumn
Nutritious: very rich in Vit C, E, carotenoids, essential
amino acids, omega 3,6,7,9 fatty acids
Very sour! – need to combine with other fruits (try mango);
prepare as food – Finnish national dishes, preserves; North German liqueurs, jam
Used for skin (burns, scars, damage)
Skin & mucosal disorders – oil for vaginal dryness, oral, oesophageal and
gastrointestinal tract ulcers
Also from Tibetan medicine for respiratory disorders (phlegm, asthma)
www.floramedica.org
07790 885969
mail@floramedica.org
4|Page


Immune support, recovery from illness
Leaves as tea - antioxidant
Pine (Pinus species)
 Most Pinus species economically
useful– timber, turpentine, tar,
resin, scent
 Also edible/medicinal resin (sap),
leaves, bark, nuts
 Young leaves edible – tea high in
Vit C, Vit A
 Not to be taken in pregnancy!
 Essential oil/resin used for
wounds, respiratory tract:
antiseptic (e.g. Staph. aureus); muscle tension (Radox!)
 Caution with pine EO steam inhalation if you have
asthma!
 Traditional use for scurvy, immune system tonic, skin
and hair health
 Recent research into cholesterol reduction, immune system stimulation, and
protective cardiovascular effects (OPCs) of bark of Maritime pine (Pinus pinaster S. Europe, Mediterranean)
 Some pine species are toxic - mainly USA: Monterey (P. radiate), Lodgepole (P.
contorta), Ponderosa (P. ponderosa)
Distinguishing pine species from other conifers:
•
Pine (Pinus) – needles: clusters (“fascicles”) of 2-6, usually long, supple; cone:
green then brown, woody, firm; tree shape: variable; in mature tree lower branches
and foliage less dense or absent – see picture above
•
Spruce (Picea) – needles single, stiff, direct from “peg” on (rough) branch; square
or triangle in cross-section, roll between fingers; cone papery; tree shape conical,
“Xmas tree”; branches and foliage near ground level
•
Fir (Abies) – needles single, softish, grow from
sucker-like “cup” on (smooth) branch, often opposite
rather than around branch; cone: woody, upright on
branch; tree shape conical, but variable
<< <Left: Abies needles
Right: Yew leaf and aril >>>
BEWARE – do not confuse with Yew (Taxus baccata)
– flatter, blunt leaves, dark sheen on upper leaf
surface; all parts highly toxic. If in doubt, leave well
alone!
www.floramedica.org
07790 885969
mail@floramedica.org
5|Page
More help with pine identification:
- http://forestry.about.com/cs/treeid/a/con_tree_id.htm - short videos on pine & spruce
- http://www.nhm.ac.uk/nature-online/british-natural-history/urban-tree-survey/identify-trees/treefactsheets/f-to-j/fir/index.html - loads of info on UK trees
Practical
Quiz – test your knowledge! + plant slides online at www.floramedica.org
Infusions: Hawthorn leaf/flower; Lime flower – Polish poem!
Tincture: Elderflower
Handling: Sea buckthorn oil
Making: Elderflower(+Plantago) syrup
Sourcing herbs/herbal products:
 Grow your own – many medicinal and culinary herbs are easy to grow in pots or
gardens (even in Scotland!), and even in fairly poor soil. These include sage, dill,
thyme, fennel, lemon balm, peppermint or garden mint, chamomile, rosemary,
lavender etc. You can also cultivate patches of nettle, dandelion, cleavers
(stickywilly), burdock, etc. for harvesting – and local biodiversity will benefit too!
 Pick your own (foraging), but make sure you follow the golden rules (see also
week 4 notes). Proper identification is also vital: when foraging for wild medicinal or
food plants, take at least one good book (and preferably 2!) with clear illustrations or
photographs – or (and) an expert – to ensure safe identification. Always crosscheck the botanical name, as common names vary widely! If in doubt, leave well
alone, or if the plant is abundant, take a small sample to identify later. iSpot is a
fantastic online resource for identifying wild plants and sharing images:
http://www.ispot.org.uk/plants Respect plants and their environment: only harvest
plants that are plentiful, and always leave enough for the plant and wildlife to thrive.
As a general rule, if you stick to public land/rights of way, it is legal to take aboveground parts – leaves, flowers, seeds, fruit, nuts. Uprooting plants or harvesting
roots requires permission. Seek landowner consent where appropriate, and check
whether plant is a protected species or rare in a particular area before collecting –
some protected plants may not be collected under any circumstances (details of
these can be found online: http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/page-5171). More generally,
when out and about in Scotland, it is important always to follow the Outdoor Access
Code (http://www.snh.gov.uk/enjoying-the-outdoors/your-access-rights/)
 Buy locally cultivated or native herbs – protect the environment (by reducing
carbon footprint), support local businesses, and avoid adulteration risk from “exotic”
imported products.
 Buy from reputable supplier – look for a qualified herbalist (CPP, NIMH, BHMA) herbalists are usually happy to supply smaller quantities of dried herbs and tinctures
from their dispensary. Herbalists and reputable suppliers will try to ensure quality of
production (organic, GMP) and ethical business – i.e. practices that care for the
environment, communities and livelihoods (developing countries - fair trade) etc.
Avoid buying herbs or supplements from the internet unless you know the supplier
is reliable – risk of poor quality or adulterated products. Most cases of adverse
reactions / toxicity reported in relation to herbal medicines have been due to poor or
adulterated products! Also beware of extravagant health claims and very low prices.
www.floramedica.org
07790 885969
mail@floramedica.org
6|Page
 Aromantic (www.aromantic.co.uk), based in Scotland, sells all sorts of ingredients,
containers and booklets, and runs courses in making your own natural body care
products. Loads of free info and recipes on their website too. A business that is
passionate about sharing knowledge is worth supporting!
 G Baldwin & Co (London) www.baldwins.co.uk and New Directions UK
(www.newdirectionsuk.com - Australian firm, UK base Hampshire) are other
reasonably priced suppliers of jars and a broad range of ingredients.
 As well as their own product range, Neil’s Yard in Edinburgh also sells herbs,
beeswax, emulsifying wax and sundries for making your own creams etc.
www.floramedica.org
07790 885969
mail@floramedica.org