Showing posts with label bronchitis. Show all posts
Showing posts with label bronchitis. Show all posts

Friday, August 7, 2015

Maya Bush Annatto, Achiotl Ku'u up Medicinal Use: for pharyngitis, gingivitis, bronchitis, infected wounds, topical ulcers, and as anti-parasitic agents

By Liliana Usvat    
Blog 344-365
 


Common names: Achiote, Annato, Aploppas












Annatto ( English), Achiotl / Ku'u up (Maya), Achiote (Spanish), Bixa orellana, Bixa Family, Native to Mexico, now grown in many countries for its great taste and natural coloring qualities. Achiote is an important ingredient in "Pibil Pastes" and Mayan cooking. Annatto shrubs or bushes bear pink flowers and bright red-brown spiny fruits which contain the valuable burned red seeds. Mayan people value Annatto for its healing properties, great taste, fabulous natural dye, and wonderful aroma. Seeds are dried and used as powder

Bixa orellana is a tall shrub to small evergreen tree 20–33 ft (6–10 m) high. It bears clusters of 2 in (5 cm) bright white to pink flowers, resembling single wild roses, appearing at the tips of the branches. The fruits are in clusters: spiky looking red-brown seed pods covered in soft spines. Each pod contains many seeds covered with a thin waxy blood-red aril. When fully mature, the pod dries, hardens, and splits open, exposing the seeds.
The color of the seed coating is due mainly to the carotenoid pigments bixin and norbixin.

Culinary Uses

The seeds are heated in oil or lard to extract its dye and flavor for use in dishes and processed foods such as cheese, butter, soup, gravy, sauces, cured meats, and other items. The seeds impart a subtle flavor and aroma and a yellow to reddish-orange color to food. The seeds are used to color and flavor rice instead of the much more expensive saffron. In Brazil, a powder known as colorau or colorífico is made from the ground seeds combined with filler seeds like maize. This powder is similar to and sometimes replaces paprika.

History
 
The Latin name of this plant 'Bixa orellana' does not give much of a clue regarding its properties. The genus name is probably derived from the Portuguese 'biche' meaning beak which alludes to the beak shaped seedpods, while the species name is given in memory of Francisco de Orellano, a Spanish conquistador of the 16th century, who accidentally discovered the Amazon

Although the fruit of the Annatto tree are inedible it is often cultivated for its flowers and more especially for its seedpods. The pulp of the Annatto fruit yields a bright red dye, which has long been used both as a body paint and dye stuff for textiles or food. The ancient Maya and Aztecs regarded it as a symbolic substitute for blood and thus ascribed to it sacred connotations. It was also used to make ink and virtually all the ancient Maya scriptures were penned in annatto juice. The seeds also have a reputation as a female aphrodisiac and are believed to make bulls used for bullfighting more aggressive. 

Indigenous people still use the pulp for 'cosmetic purposes', as hair dye or lip stick, hence the English common name 'Lipstick tree'. The pulp is also said to repel insects and to protect against sunburn due to the UV-filtering properties of the carotenoid pigment known as Bixin.

Medicinal Uses
 
The whole tree has a long history as a valued medicinal plant that has been used to treat a wide variety of conditions from fevers to cancer. 

The shoots and young leaves are used for feverish infections including gonorrhoea, dysentery and hepatitis. They are believed to protect the liver and reduce cholesterol. The leaves and seeds are also used to soothe an irritated stomach that is suffering from excessively spicy food. An infusion of the flowers are said to be a useful expectorant for new born babies. 

In some parts of the Amazon Annatto is used as a treatment for snakebites. Internally it is said to fight parasites and allies the pains derived from intestinal parasites. Externally the extract of the seeds wards off insects and protects the skin against the ultraviolet rays of the sun. It is also used as a general skin tonic and to heal skin conditions.

The leaves have a marked effect on the urinary system and increase the volume of urine in cases of renal insufficiency or cystitis. 

They are also said to reduce benign prostate hyperplasia and generally reputed to have anti-tumor activity, which are thought to be due to the high anti-oxidant activity of the carotenoid compounds Bixin and Norbixin, which are also the source of the red pigment Annatto is known for. These carotenoides have also been found to lower blood sugar levels and have been used for the treatment of diabetes in traditional medicine systems.



ANTI-FUNGAL ACTIVITIES OF ACHIOTE

Another health benefit exerted by achiote added to those mention in carotenoids and due to a on of its bioactive sesquiterpenes is the moderate anti-fungal activity against:
  • Candida albicans,
  • low activity against T. mentagrophytes
and low anti-bacterial activity against:
  • Escherichia coli,
  • Staphylococcus aureus, and
  • P. aeruginosa.
It was inactive against B. subtilis and A. niger [7].

ANTI-MICROBIAL PROPERTIES OF ACHIOTE

In developing countries and particularly in Colombia, people with low income and less access to modern medicine resources such as farmers, those living in small isolate villages and native communities, use folk medicine and natural remedies for the treatment of common infections. Achiote is also among those herbs used in Colombian folk medicine to treat infections of microbial origin, mainly for the treatment of:
  • pharyngitis, 
  • gingivitis,
  • bronchitis,
  • infected wounds,
  • topical ulcers, and as
  • anti-parasitic agents
Extracts of the leaves of Achiote (Bixa orellana) possesses anti-microbial activity against gram positive microorganisms and Candida albicans [8,9].
Achiote leaves have been employed to treat malaria and Leishmaniasis[8,10]. Its seeds contain carotenoids. The leave extracts of Achiote (Bixa orellana) showed also maximum activity against Bacillus pumilus
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=augQnzW02J8
 
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfFMc8xWHUY

http://www.sacredearth.com/ethnobotany/plantprofiles/achiote.php 

http://www.herbcyclopedia.com/item/health-benefits-of-achiote-bixa-orellana-2

Monday, January 19, 2015

Fast Growing Trees Elberta Peach Tree Medicinal Uses

By Liliana Usvat
Blog 283-365

Decide to plant a tree this year. Here is an idea.


Elberta Peaches are the world’s most famous peaches because of their abundance of taste, attractive color and disease resistance. 

These trees give you very large peaches that are great for canning, snacking and baking.

Elberta Peach Trees are the most disease resistant peach trees available. You no longer have to worry about your tree or your peaches!

These trees are even insect resistant... meaning you can grow your peaches organically. No more spraying chemicals on your fruit!

They ripen to a deep, golden yellow with a blush of red.

Your tree has been continually pruned back to encourage more branches.  The additional limbs produce significantly more fruit and produce it quicker.
Elberta peach trees are normally planted in pairs so they can pollinate each other. This pollination causes your trees to produce more fruit!

Elberta Peach Trees grow rapidly, and mature quickly to a height of 15 feet. The faster they grow, the sooner they reward you with delicious fruit. 

It's Easy to Plant your Elberta Peach Tree
Step 1 - Dig Your HoleSelect a site with full to partial sun and moist or well drained soil for your Elberta Peach Tree.

First, dig each hole so that it is just shallower than the root ball and at least twice the width.

Then loosen the soil in the planting hole so the roots can easily break through.

Use your shovel or try dragging the points of a pitch fork along the sides and bottom of the hole.

Step 2 - Place Your PlantNext, separate the roots of your Elberta Peach Tree gently with your fingers and position them downward in the hole.

The top of the root flare, where the roots end and the trunk begins, should be about an inch above the surrounding soil.

Then make sure the plant is exactly vertical in the hole.

To make it just right, use a level.
Step 3 - Backfill Your Hole
As you backfill the hole, apply water to remove air pockets.

Remove debris like stones and grass and completely break up any dirt clumps.

Water your Elberta Peach Tree again after the transplant is complete.

To help retain some of that moisture, it's recommended that you place mulch around each plant to a depth of 2"-3" up to but not touching the trunk. Organic mulches such as wood chips also help to better soil structure as they decompose.


Medicinal use: 

Traditionally, bark and leaves have been used in cases of whooping coughs and bronchitis. Nowadays, peach leaves are usually recommended in treatment of irritated digestive tract.  Peach kernel oil is said to stimulate hair growth, and is commonly used as a mosturiser and for massage. 

Tea made from the leaves acts as an excellent kidney cleanser.

 Fruit contains high percentage of water, and is an excellent laxative. It is helpful in eliminating toxins, an usually included in the weight-loss programs. 

Cooked and purred Peach fruit is extremely helpful in cases of stomach ulcers, bowel inflammations and colitis. Fresh Peach stimulates digetion, regulates bowel and alkalinizes blood stream.  

Peaches and plum extracts were effective in killing even the most aggressive types of breast cancer cells and did not harm normal healthy cells in the process.

Wednesday, December 17, 2014

Wayfaring Tree Viburnum lantana Medicinal Uses

By Liliana Usvat
Blog 271-365

Other Name Viburnum lantana















The Viburnum lantana is a medium to large, deciduous shrub that is native to Europe and western Asia. This multi stemmed, spreading shrub grows 10 to 15 feet high and produces a somewhat rounded outline. Its thick, green leaves are opposite, simple oval to lanceolate, and are 2 to 5 inches long with finely serrated margins and white, silky-haired undersides. Clusters of creamy white, 5 inch, flat-topped flowers canvas the shrub from May to June. Berries are green, flushed with red, then turn black in early fall, often showing all three colors at once. The fruit can be eaten either raw or cooked. Common uses of this tree include rootstock and twine.

Wayfaring Tree is covered in stunning creamy white flat-top flowers at the ends of the branches in mid spring. It has dark green foliage throughout the season. The large fuzzy pointy leaves turn an outstanding deep purple in the fall. The red fruits are held in abundance in spectacular clusters from late summer to late fall. The smooth gray bark is not particularly outstanding.
Landscape Attributes
Wayfaring Tree is a multi-stemmed deciduous shrub with a more or less rounded form. Its relatively coarse texture can be used to stand it apart from other landscape plants with finer foliage.
This is a relatively low maintenance shrub, and should only be pruned after flowering to avoid removing any of the current season's flowers. It is a good choice for attracting birds to your yard, but is not particularly attractive to deer who tend to leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. It has no significant negative characteristics.
Wayfaring Tree is recommended for the following landscape applications;
  • General Garden Use
  • Accent
  • Hedges/Screening
  • Mass Planting
Reforestation


An easily grown plant, it succeeds in most soils but is ill-adapted for poor soils and for dry situations

Propagation
Propagate by seedsoftwood and semi-hardwood cuttings
Suggested planting locations and garden typesHedging & Screens Low Maintenance Wildlife Gardens

Wildlife


Bees, butterflies and hoverflies visit the flowers. A variety of bird species including blackbirds, fieldfares and waxwings eat the berries, as do the Dormouse and the Wood Mouse.
Medicinal Uses
Gemmotherapy is a modern method of draining the organism. It uses plant bud extract and other embryonic plant tissues to open cellular detoxification pathways. It employs buds, inner bark, rootlets, or very young shoots of plants from various woodland trees and shrubs. They are harvested in the spring, throughout the period of cellular division and plant growth. During this stage they contain the highest concentration of active growth factor hormones, auxins, and gibberllins. These hormonal agents contain valuable informative matter required for the drainage of various organs and tissues at the cellular level.
 
In order to extract the embryonic substance from the fresh buds, fresh plant material is macerated in a solution of 50/50 glycerin and alcohol for three weeks. It is then filtered and diluted. It is prescribed in the fist decimal potency for maximum effect. Gemmotherapy extends the drainage of toxins beyond the excretory organs. It takes in the detoxification of the skin, bones, heart, and nervous system. Gemmotherapy can be used alone or in combination with other modalities.
 
Viburnum lantana is used for :Asthma, chronic spasmodic rhinitis, hyperthyroidism, bronchitis
Viburnum Lantana is a remedy for chronic allergies that are evolving towards asthma, eczema, or chronic spasmodic rhinitis. It is the intermediate remedy between Rosmarinus Officinalis and Ribes Nigrum. This remedy is indicated for conditions such as hyperthyroidism, smoker's cough with blood in sputum and some types of rheumatoid arthritis.

Indications
  • Acute Asthma
  • Asthma
  • Basic Support for Allergies
  • Cigarette Coughs
  • Coughs
  • Eczema
  • Hyperthyroidism
  • Rhinitis
  • Support for Symptoms Due to Smoking

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Mosquito Repellent Tree Silver Dollar Tree: Eucalyptus cinerea

By Liliana Usvat





Silver Dollar Tree: Eucalyptus cinerea. 
Type: Tree. Height: To 20 feet. 
Spacing: 25 feet apart. Light Requirements: Full sun. 
Additional Uses: Attracts wildlife to the garden, the foliage is used in fresh cut flower arrangements as greens, and dried floral arrangements.

Eucalyptus trees are native to Australia, but they are also found in the western United States, especially in Arizona, California, and Nevada. They can be planted anywhere where there is a hot, dry climate.

Native to Australia, argyle apple or silver dollar tree is a broadleaf evergreen tree that will grow as a single trunk tree to 25-60’ tall in its native habitat. 

Bark is reddish-brown, peeling on smaller stems. If grown as an annual shrub from seed in the St. Louis area, it typically grows rapidly to 6-8’ tall by mid-summer. 

Juvenile foliage consists of opposite rounded silvery bluish-green leaves (to 2” long) resembling large coins, hence the common name of silver dollar tree. Foliage is aromatic. Small white flowers rarely appear on juvenile trees or container plants. Foliage stems are frequently used by florists in fresh flower arrangements.


About 150 species have been grown in areas of California and Arizona that have climates similar to the plants’ native Australian habitats; many more have been grown as solitary representatives in arboretums. Eucalypts are the most widely planted non-native trees in these two Western states—for several hundred miles in parts of California.



Propagation Methods:
From softwood cuttings
From semi-hardwood cuttings
From seed; sow indoors before last frost



The Eucalyptus tree serves as primary food to the koala bear. Bees are attracted to the flowers of theEucalyptus, and the honey from these bees is highly prized in Australia. Because of its aromatic and long lasting quality, the young leaves are a "best seller" in flower stores. 



Medicinal Uses
 
Doctors and herbalists around the world use Eucalyptus in medicines to treat many sicknesses such as: 
  • infections, 
  • colds, 
  • flu, 
  • sore throats, 
  • bronchitis,
  •  pneumonia, 
  • aching, 
  • stiffness, 
  • neuralgia and even
  •  some skin infections.

Blog 124-365