Jackie's June message continued . . .
Contents:
Lyrebirds and Wombats
Wombat Jokes
New Books
Awards
Travel
Useful Herbs- a sort of herbal medicine chest
(warning to kids: this bit may be boring. If you're tempted by anything in this
section ask a reasonably responsible adult to supervise!)
.for acne
for arthritis and
rheumatism, plus how to grow tumeric and gotu kola
.for bad breath
.for minor burns
and sunburn, plus how to grow aloe vera
.car sickness,
plus how to grow ginger
.calloused hands
.coughs, plus how
to grow peppermint
.hayfever and
sinus, plus how to grow elderflowers and horseradish
.hiccups
.Laryngitis
Some other useful herbs: ginko, echinacea, valerian, ginseng
How did the
lyrebirds know it's winter? First day of winter, there they were, ripping up my
vegetable garden again, their great feet scratching out all the potted catci,
and the wire covers Bryan put on the pots last winter to keep them out.
I wish I could put
up a sign that says: Attention all lyrebirds! There are NO grubs in these
pots!' But I think it's habit now- as soon as there's a hint of cold in the air
the lyrebirds all say, right everyone, lets go rip up Jackie's garden.
Winter's the time
the bower birds start munching the passionfruit leaves, the broccolli leaves
(they don't like cauliflower leaves) and the first ripe oranges.
As I write a great
mob of black cockatoos have landed in the Mexican Pine Nut trees, and are
guzzling all the young pine cones, while the black tail wallabies are puling
down the chilaccayote vines to see if there's anything interesting on the other
end. There isn't- chilacayote melons are really only good for jam and wallabies
don't make jam, though they don't mind a smear of marmalade on a bit of toast.
So they just leave a pile of vine on the ground and hop over it to get to the
roses for a nibble.
The king parrots
have eaten the last of the kiwi fruit too. I wouldn't mind if they'd actually
eat the fruit, but they didn't. They just ate the seeds and spat out the pulp
and now the paving by the front door is coated in rotten kiwi fruit and king
parrot droppings.
At
least all we hear of Mothball wombat and her baby now is the earthquake under
the bed at 2 am which means she's scratching her back on the floor beam. I
don't think the wombats can quite believe there is so much grass after two
years of drought. They're on automatic, just guzzling and munching and getting
fatter and fatter - a bit like footballs with tiny legs.
Mothball still has
the odd munch of the doormat. But that's just for dessert. Or maybe she's
discovered that a snack of doormat is a good way to clean your teeth.
ps Just watched a bower bird fly down to the new pots of lillypillies on the
garden table, pull the yellow label off one and fly off with it. There is now
going to be a bower bird bower decorated with my plant labels. Also with the
yellow soap from the outside tap. And someone has pinched my blue beanie. Not
that I'm accusing the bower birds...but they do love blue.
pps That insane wombat has just dug a new hole under my car! I parked it out
the front last night after I got home late, and this morning there is a tunnel
underneath it- Bryan had to fill the hole in before I could drive the car away.
I know the ground
is soft and the grass is plentiful and she has plenty of energy. But I refuse
to let Mothball use my car as a veranda.
Wombat Jokes
From Christina!! Age 12
Q: What did the wombat find when he dug a hole in the garden?
A: A treasure chest full of carrots!
Not from Christina:
A wombat was
sitting with its human friend in the movie theatre watching a Harry Potter
movie.
'Wow', said a
passer by, 'look at that wombat! It's just sitting there watching the screen!
At which the
wombat's friend replied: 'You wouldn't think he'd be so fascinated, would you?
? Not after he read the book and knows how the story ends.'
Did you hear about the blonde wombat? It ate the doormat and attacked the
carrots.
ps Yes I know this is rude to blondes. But I'm a bit blonde so I'm allowed to
be.
How many wombats does it need to change a lightbulb?
None. Wombats NEVER change .
What does a wombat call a shopping trolley filled with carrots and rolled oats?
Meals on wheels.
Sent in by John, 10:
What do you call a wombat on the freeway?
Squish.
(Thank you John. I hope the wombats invade your bedroom and think your toes are
carrots.)
New Books
The first two in
the Wacky Family series, My Mum the Pirate and My dog the Dinosaur, come out
later this month. Press release below!
There's also been
another reprinting of Diary of a Wombat if anyone hasn't been able to find a
copy in the shops in the last few weeks.
Press Release
The Irresistable Wacky Families!
Is
there any such thing as a normal family? Not in the Wacky Families series. In
the first two hysterical books- My Mum the Pirate and My Dog the Dinosaur
Jackie tells the wild and outlandish stories of some less than conventional
families, with the equally hilarious illustrations of Stephen Michael King
adding to the fun.
My Mum the Pirate
Whoever said having a pirate for a mum was fun?
Jackie French!
'Jelly bellied
sons of a sea serpent slavers!' snorted Mum, striding back to Cecil and wiping
her sword on her trousers before sheathing it in its scabard. 'I hope the crabs
crawl up there underpants and bite their...' She remembered Cecil was
listening.'Well son, how's the homework going?"
'Nearly done'
'Good. Dinner'll
be ready in three shakes of a dolphin's tail. Hey Putrid Percival!' she
shopyuted 'What's for dinner?"
'Sea monster
stew!' came the answer from down in the galley.
'But we had sea
monster for lunch, breakfast and last night's dinner!' yelled Mum.
'Can I help it if
all you blighters ever catch me is sea monster?"
'How many maggots
in the ship's biscuit then?
'One thousand,
four hundred and twenty two,' called back Putrid Percival.
'Not enough'
decided Mum'You meed at least 5,00 maggots in a barrel of ship's biscuit to
make it tender enough to get your teeth into. let's have pizza.That alright
with you Perce?' she called.
'Fine by me,'
Putrid Percival called back. 'I've been boiling the tentacles for three hours
but they're still too tough to chew.'
Cecil's mum wears long black boots and an even longer sword, and she makes her
enemies walk the plank. Putrid Percival serves sea monster soup for dinner when
Cecil would rather eat pizza. And Filthy Frederick stinks - but hey, he's good
at maths, and nobody's perfect! Cecil gets seasick and all hewants is a normal
life. With parent-teacher night looming, Cecil is worried.
Will the crazy
crew of the good ship Mermaid and his pirate mum ruin his street cred? But when
flood waters strike and Bandicoot Flats Central School is in danger, who will
save the students and teachers from the perils of the rising waters?
>My Mum the Pirate
>Series: Wacky Families
>Author: Jackie French
>Book Format: Paperback
>ISBN: 0207199493
>Price (Aust RRP): $11.95
>Publication Date: 25 June 2003
My Dog the Dinosaur
Who said dogs, oops, sorry, dinoasurs, were man's best friend?
Jackie French
'Spt?' said Spot
suddenly. She poked her nose over the edge of the table. Spt? She stuck out her
tongue. Gloop! a big leaf of lettuce disappeared into Spot's mouth. she chewed
it thoughtfully.
Dad stared.'That
dog just ate a lettuce leaf!'
'Maybe it's a
vegetarian,' said Mum vaguely.
'There aren't any
vegetarian dogs!' said Fliss. 'Dogs are savage predators. They tear their prey
limb from limb, like wolves. Or at least eat doggie dinners. That dog is a
whimp!'
But Gunk loves
Spot, even if she eats geraniums and her hair is falling out. When your big
sister is a bouncer at a local nightclub, your mum is searching for aliens and
your dad wears fluffy chicken slippers, you need someone to love.
This is the story
of Gunk, his unconventional pet, Spot, and Pete, the girl next door. Will Spot
ever learn to bark? Can Gunk teach Spot to like dog food? Or will everyone in
the world learn that his dog is a dinosaur and take Spot away?
And what strange
secret does Pete keep in her shed?
>My Dog the Dinosaur
>Series: Wacky Families
>Author: Jackie French
>>Book Format: Paperback
>ISBN: 0207199418
>Price (Aust RRP): $11.95
>Publication Date: 25 June 2003
>Ages 7+
Awards
No new
shortlistings this month, but after the- what, eight or so last month, this is
no bad thing.
Travel
I'm off to the
Voices on the Coast festival at Maroochydore this month- we're launching The
Wacky Families there. Then there's a day at Fun for Kids at Warnambool after
that, plus two workshops at the Canberra Portrait Gallery- contact the Canberra
Writer's centre for details of those.
A Few Recipes
Snickerdoodles
(not just because I love the name)
1 cup butter
one and a half cups sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 eggs
3 cups selfraising flour
quarter cup milk
Topping
3 tb castor sugar
3 tb cinnamon
Cream butter and
sugar; add eggs one by one, mixing well, then add flour and milk and vanilla.
Form into long rolls and chill for an hour in the fridge. Cut off small chunks,
roll in combined sugar and cinnamon and bake at once on a greased floured tray
at 200C till very very pale brown- about 10 minutes. Store in a sealed
container. Makes about 45 snickerdoodles.
Note: you can make them without chilling, but the dough is sticky to handle.
Lavender Oil Polish
50 ml methylated spirits
100ml liquid parrafin
3 teaspoons lavender oil
Mix by shaking
well before you use it each time; place in a pump action spray; spray on and
wipe off with a soft cloth.
An Ancient Aztec Cold Cure, otherwise known as Chicken and Lime Soup
nb as far as I know the presence of rhinoviruses in the Aztec empire has not
been established. But it's a good soup.
1 red capsicum, chopped finely and seeded
1-10 red chillies, chopped finely and seeded
3 tb virgin olive oil
1 onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, chopped
4 chicken thighs or 2 chicken breasts, chopped into small pieces
1 avocado, peeled and chopped into small squares
juice of two limes, or 1 lemon
1 large carton of chicken stock, or four cups stock
Fry chicken in
oil till browned. Add onion, garlic, chilli, capsicum and lower heat, then fry
till soft. Don't brown onion or garlic- just soften them. Add stock, simmer 10-
20 minutes; add lime juice then chopped avocado. Leave on heat for 30 seconds
then turn heat off- don't cook the avocado, just heat it.
Serve at once; can
be reheated but don't boil or simmer.
Love Balls
(genuine early Victorian Biscuit!!!)
2 egg whites
half cup castor sugar
125 gm ground almonds
2 tb plain flour
25 preserved cherries- can be candied cherries, or soaked in brandy etc, or
even fresh ones with stones removed
Place egg whites
in a bowl. Whip till peaks form). Add sugar gradually, beating till all
dissolved. Stir in almonds and flour.
Roll a little of
the mixture around each cherry, and bake in a slow oven, about 150C, till firm
and dry. store in a sealed container.
Stuffed Monkeys...a
bit like squashed flies but better
P.S. No monkeys were harmed in the making of this biscuit
2 cups sr flour
2 eggs
100gm butter
2 tb castor sugar
Filling
1 cup seeded raisins or chopped dates
1 cup sultanas
1 tb mixed peel or 2 tb grated lemon or orange zest
1 tb castor sugar
1 tsp ground cinnamon
extra milk and castor sugar
Mix flour eggs
butter sugar; roll out and cut into squares or rounds.
Mix filling' place
teaspoons full on the pastry. Fold one side of the pastry over onto the other
and pinch edges together. Brush with a little milk and scatter on castor sugar.
Bake in a preheated oven at 200C till golden.
Some Useful Herbs
(Warning to kids: this bit may be boring. If you're tempted by anything in this
section ask a reasonably responsible adult to supervise!)
With all the
recalls of 'health supplements' it's probably good to remember that not too
long ago you didn't buy your herbs in a capsule- you bought them as fresh or
dried herbs, or grew your own.
The remedies below
are easy to grow.
But -
None of the
suggestions below is meant to be a substitute for good medical help. If you're
sick, you need professional guidance. ALL these herbs need to be taken under a
doctor's supervision- if you need the herbs, you need the doctor.
ALL remedies have
side effects, even 'natural' ones. Never use ANYTHING in pregnancy unless your
doctor tells you to and even then I'd ask for a second opinion.
Always tell
whoever is treating you what home remedies you are using, in case they are masking
(or even causing) symptoms. Remember too that a flower, bark or leaf can have
as many side effects as a tablet. Taking the whole plant DOES NOT give any
protection against side effects. This is a myth - and an occasionally deadly
one.
On the other hand
I sometimes think it's sad that we're forgetting how to 'cosset' people when
they're sick. A cup of herbal tea, a nice smelling pillow or a bowl of chicken
soup will never be as powerful as an antibiotic, but they do make you feel
better, and when you feel better, you get well faster.
How to keep healthy
(These may not seem as though they've got much to do with staying healthy - but
I promise you, they do.)
1. Make close friends - and talk to them often.
2. Eat at least 20 different foods a day. You don't have to eat MUCH of each.
(and no, this doesn't mean you'll be the size of a whale - one cheese and salad
sandwich has bread, butter, cheese, beetroot, grated carrot, lettuce, cucumber,
onion, tomato, bean sprouts. Add a cup of tea with milk and an apple and
you're up to 13 foods already, just with lunch.
3. Walk at least 7,500 steps a day
4. Sleep as long as you need, not as long as the alarm clock lets you. (If
you need it to wake up every morning, you need to go to bed earlier.)
5. Touch and be touched every day. (Cuddling a pet counts as touching.
Hugging people is good too.)
6. Work out what makes you happy - really happy - and make sure you have a
good dose of at least three happy making things every day.
How to cosset someone who is sick
. bring them fresh drinks every hour - either hot teas or cold diluted fruit
juices or iced water with a slice of lemon or orange or a mint leaf.
. make up their bed with fresh linen once a day - sheets get sticky and rumpled
when you're in them all day and fresh sheets feel wonderful.
. if they're not well enough to shower or bathe, give them a gentle sponge.
They'll feel much fresher.
. sponging the forehead and face of someone who has a fever really does make
them feel better. NB the sponge must be cool and fresh
. bring flowers to the bedside - unless they are allergic to them.
. look for the books, videos or music they'll enjoy most.
. most people who are ill like small, fairly plain meals. Don't expect them
to appreciate gourmet cooking. Present food as attractively as you can, in
small amounts - soup and toast is a great standby.
. give them a foot rub or a back massage to help them sleep.
. keep away any nuisances - and remember that small kids, pets, music practice
etc can be a nuisance when you're sick, even if you love them when you're well.
. the happier you can make a sick person, the sooner they'll get well.
Acne
Dab on crushed
garlic - very effective, but it's hard to get teenagers to try it! NB it's
worth a visit to the doctor for bad cases.
Arthritis and Rheumatism
Tumeric and celery gloop
This may help
reduce inflammation, but it is NOT a substitute for medical treatment. Always
inform your doctor of any herbal preparation you are taking, and ask your
doctor before taking this. It may also interfere with other medication you are
taking!!!!!!!!
Ingredients:
2 level teaspoons of grated fresh or powdered tumeric (make sure the powdered
tumeric is as fresh as possible)
1 teaspoon honey
1 tb lecithin
1 teaspoon celery seeds (make sure they have not been treated with fungicide
and are intended for consumption)
Mix. Take 2 - 4
times a day
NB Avoid during pregnancy; do not take if you are on
antiplatelet treatment or other treatment for heart disease unless under a
doctor's supervision; possible (but unlikely) side effects include sensitivity
to sunlight and hair loss. Stop treatment if any side effects are noticed and
seek medical advice.
Centella Asiatica, Gotu kola
This may help
reduce inflammation. Make sure you have the correct herb- there are several
that look similar. Stop at once if any side effects occur. But again- ask your
doctor first!!!!!!
How to grow gotu kola:
Gotu Kola, Indian ginseng, Wild pennywort, Pennyweed (Centella asiatica)
Perennial
This is a round leafed
creeping herb with deep purple flowers and kidney shaped leaves. In wet areas
the leavesgrow are large as a penny; in dry areas the plantprodeuces small pale
leaves and many roots. Gotu kola is a wild as well as a culitivated plant,
similar to Dichondra repens, which has rough hairy leaves (run your tongue over
them), native violet Viola hederacea which has very glossy leaves, and coast
pennywort Hydrocotle bonariensis which has round leaves.
Needs: Gotu kola needs moist soil and semi-shade though it will grow, but not
thrive, dry soil in full sun. The better the soil the larger the leaves. It
will grow in a sheltered spot in cold areas and vigorously in subtropical or
tropical areas, where it an be an excellent ground cover for a damp place.
Propagation: Gotu kola seed can be sown in spring or autumn, but is usually
grown from divisions and plants grow quickly in the right conditions.
Harvest: Pick the leaves as soon as they are large enough. Young leaves
aren't so bitter.
Medicinal Use: Gotu kola has a long history of use in Asian medicine, and may
have been used by north Australian aborigines in poultices and washes. It is
currently popular as a possible alleviating herb for arthritis. If you decide
to use it the usual dose is one to two fresh leaves once a day. Large amounts
MAY be carcinogenic. Do not take while pregnant. May interfere with other
medications. Only take under medical supervsion!!!!!!!!!
How to grow tumeric: see ginger below. You can buy fresh tumeric at some supermarkets and
fruit shops. Plant the fresh root as you would ginger.
Bad Breath
See your doctor or
your dentist - there is always a reason for persistent bad breath.
The parsley cure
If your bad breath
is caused by something you just ate- like garlic or sardines, chew a few
springs of parsley to mask the odour.
Sweet Breath Tea
1 teaspoon fennel seeds
1 tablespoon fresh parsley
1 tbsp peppermint leaves
1 cup boiling water
Combine; strain;
sip tea and garlic and rinse your mouth out with some of it too.
Bad Breath Scrub
Bacteria on your
tongue may cause bad breath. Make the tea above, using only a third the amount
of water. Mix with 1 tb toothpaste..and brush your tongue as well as your teeth
twice a day!
Burns - very minor, and sunburn
(If burns blister or the skin is broken, or a small child receives a burn over
a large part of their skin seek medical attention.)
Aloe Vera Cream
for MINOR Burns and Sunburn (to be applied at least one day after the burn,
NEVER to a fresh burn and NEVER to blistered burns)
Ingredients:
1 aloe vera leaf
Squeeze the gel
over the burnt area - but ONLY if the skin isn't broken. (If it is or the
blistering is severe, seek medical attention.)
Traveller's Aloe vera gel
I wrap a leaf in
plastic wrap and keep it in your make up bag, just in case. But you might also
try
Ingredients:
2 aloe vera leaves
6 vitamin E capsules
a small opaque jar
Mix the gel with
the contents of the capsules. Keep in a dark cool place ie your handbag - or
better still, the fridge - till needed.
How to grow aloe vera
Aloe vera
Perennial
Aloe vera is a thick leafed succulent, up to 60 cm tall, with tapering,
green-grey, serrated leaves and yellow tubular flowers about 3 cm long. There
are several other aloe plants commonly in cultivation - look for the yellow
flowers to identify true aloe vera.
Needs: Aloe vera needs dry, well drained soil - it will soon die in wet soil.
It won't tolerate severe frost or severe heat - in tropical areas it is best
grown in semi-shade. It can be grown in a pot. I grow ours in a hanging basket
over our warm paving, and that way our survive freezing winters. They even
flower!
Propagation: Cut off new plants from around the base of older plants.
Medicinal Use: Aloe vera has a long history of use as a dressing for burns and
wounds. The gel is used as a soothing cream for sunburns and rashes. To
use aloe vera fresh, cut a leaf and squeeze the jelly on dry skin, eczema,
minor burns and rashes. The pain will be immediately relieved and the gel will
speed up healing. NB stop at once if itching or swelling results and seek
medival advice in case you are allergic. Make sure you have the right
plant!!!!!!!
Other Uses: Aloe vera's bitter latex has also been used to deter birds and
possum's from eating fruit. It is also said to reduce the appetite. The plants
can be grown as a thick hedge to keep out rabbits and other small pests.
Car Sickness
Never read or look
down in a car (or train, bus etc) - the passing country-side seen just with
your peripheral vision confuses your brain and causes nausea. Try to have fresh
air blowing on the face; look straight ahead not out the window; and convince
the driver to accelerate/brake/ accelerate as little as possible. If you can,
drive yourself and sit in the front seat. DON"T READ IN THE CAR.
Ginger mints
(for nausea)
2 cups sugar or honey
1 cup strong peppermint tea
1 tb ginger oil
12 tb grated fresh ginger
Boil sugar, grated
ginger and tea for about five minutes, till a little sets into toffee in a
saucer of cold water. Take off the heat; add the oils (be careful in case they
spit as you pour them in).
Pour into six
small patty cases. Eat one before you start the journey, and one every hour.
How to grow ginger
Ginger (Zinziber officinale)
Perennial
Though best known for
its thick, spicy rhizome, ginger has frost sensitive, dark green leaves, paler
underneath. Commercial ginger cultivars never flower and wild ginger does so
only rarely.
Needs: Ginger needs extremely rich, very well drained, moist soil and plenty
of sunlight and water. Keep it well fed, mulched, watered and sheltered from
cold winds and frost for as long as possible for a good yield. Ginger will
give a reasonable harvest wherever you have seven warm and frost free months,
but after seven months the root may become fibrous and is only good for
powdered ginger not crystallised. In colder areas you may get a small crop and
at least have the pleasure of growing your own. In very cold areas ginger can
be started in a large pot and taken indoors on cold nights and then
transplanted when the soil warms up.
Propagation: Ginger root shoots with heat and moisture. In warm areas simply
place it in well prepared ground. If you want to hurry it up plant it very
shallowly in a small moist pot of soil and cover with a plastic bag and keep
it on a sunny windowsill. Remove the bag as soon as you see the first shoots.
Leave ginger root in the open air for a few hours for any cuts to dry up before
planting it.
Harvest: Harvest ginger root in autumn as soon as the leaves have died down.
In areas that have only light or no frosts you can leave small pieces in the
soil overwinter - these should shoot again in the spring. In cold areas or
where the soil isn't perfectly drained the ginger can rot in the cooler months
- keep some of the root to plant next spring. Ginger is usally sun dried for
about a week after harvesting to help preserve it.
Ginger root should
be stored in a well ventilated, dry cupboard or the fridge to prevent any
further drying out. Once you've cut your piece of fresh root you can either
wrap the end in plastic or peel and chop the whole piece and cover the remnant
with sherry. This will preserve it for years - and the ginger flavoured sherry
can be used in cooking.
Medicinal Use: Ginger has a long history of medicinal use . Arab, then later
European, traders used to grow it in pots on their ships to prevent scurvy.
Ginger will help prevent motion sickness, though the dose needed is rather
large - about 1,000 mg for an adult. This can be either powdered or
crystallised, or chewed fresh, or you can try to get the sufferer to sip ginger
beer. Ginger should not be taken for morning sickness and large doses should be
avoided during pregnancy.
Use: Ginger was an extremely popular ancient Roman, Arab and medieval
flavouring for both sweet and savoury dishes - ginger bread is one of the most
popular remnants. According to folklore, an old horse trader's trick was to
insert a piece of cut ginger in the rear end of a horse just before a race. This
procedure is no longer recommended.
Firewater
This is an
excellent addition to curries
1 dessertspoon chopped peeled ginger
3 chillies
sherry
Bottle and store
in a cool dark place for as long as needed.
Crystallised ginger
Peel the ginger
and slice it finely, then soak in a brine made of 1 cup water to 1 cup salt
overnight. Drain and simmer in fresh water till just tender but not soft.
Drain again. Make a syrup of 1 cup water to four cups sugar and simmer the
ginger root till it's transparent. Leave on a tray or rack till perfectly
dry, wrap in greaseproof paper and keep in a sealed jar in a cool place - not
the fridge.
Gingerbread
three quarters of a cup of milk
90 gm butter
1 egg
half a cup brown sugar
1 dessertspoon treacle
90 gm plain flour and1 teaspoon baking powder
1 dessertsponn ground ginger
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
half a teaspoon ground cloves
half a teaspoon ground cardamon
chopped almonds or glace ginger - optional
Melt the butter,
treacle and milk in a saucepan, stir in the sugar and egg and whisk well. Stir
in the flour, spices and baking powder. Pour mixture into a greased and floured
tin, scatter on the ginger and almonds if desired.
Bake at 150 C for
about 45 minutes, or until a skewer comes out clean when you poke it in the
middle
Gingerbread is
even better a day or two after baking.
Calloused hands
Lactic acid -
found in milk- may soften callouses.
Rich Cream for Callouses
Ingredients:
1 cup full cream powdered milk
3 tb boiling water
1 cup sorbelene or other hand cream
Mix powdered milk
and boiling water. Stor till smooth and creamy. Mix in the hand cream. Rub into
your hands several times a day, then rub on thicky bnfore you go to bed and
slip onb gloves to stop the sheets getting messy.
Colds and flu
A Good Cold Tea
This won't cure a
cold, but it'll help relieve the symptoms
Ingredients:
(Most people won't be able to get all the ingredients in this - use what you
can.)
peppermint
elderflowers
lemon verbena
chamomile
rose hip
lemon juice
Pour 2 cups
boiling water onto all of the above. Steep five minutes. Strain and sip.
Rose hip Syrup
This is high in
vitamin C and was the traditional 'spoonful of medicine' to keep children
healthy over winter. The less you cook your syrup, the fewer vitamins will be
lost.
Ingredients:
2 cups rose hips
1 cup sugar
juice of 1 lemon
1 cup water
Boil the sugar,
water and lemon juice for ten minutes, stirring well till the sugar is
dissolved. Chop the rose hips as finely as possible - there is no need to top
and tail them or remove the seeds - and place them in a warmed jar, then pour
on the boiling syrup. Put the lid on the jar at once.
Shake the rose
hips in their syrup every day for at least three weeks, then strain, rebottle
and store in a cool dark place.
Last Resort Cold Cure
I have no evidence
at all that this works - though taking three raw cloves of garlic (with food)
while the cold or flu lasts may lessen its duration. Maybe it's chief
advanatge is that it's so horrible that you feel you HAVE to get well - just so
you don't have to take this stuff.
3 cloves raw garlic, chopped
juice of 1 lemon
pinch of powdered cinnamon
6 drops Tabasco sauce
half a teaspoon grated fresh ginger
1 cup hot water
Mix all
ingredients. sip slowly (there is no way you can gulp this down.) Now go to
bed. You'll need it. Be prepared for severe indigestion and long and painful
burps.
Chicken Soup
Chicken soup may
just- possibly- help the inflammation in colds and flu. Even if it doesn't, it
makes you feel cehrished- and the warm fluid does no harm either.
Ingredients:
4 cups chicken stock (Bought or home made)
juice of 1 lemon
1 onion, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 teaspoon olive oil
Saute the garlic
and onion in the oil till soft. Add stock; cook for ten minutes; add the lemon
juice and serve.
How to grow mints:
Mints (Menthus spp.)
'As for the garden mint, the very smell of it alone recovers and refreshes our
spirits as the taste stirs up the appetite' - Pliny the Elder.
Perennial
There are
thousands of varieties of mint, and about 25 species of Mentha, all
hybridising, most spreading, moisture loving and fragrant. Mint, or mentha, is
named after the nymph Minthes, who was turned into a mint bush by Pluto's
jealous wife Proserpine, so she would be trampled under peoples' feet forever.
Spearmint (Mentha x spicata) is a bright green culinary mint with a strong 'chewing
gum' flavour. Culinary mint (Mentha spicata v crispata) has crinkly bright
green leaves and is one of the mints used for mint sauce. Horesmint (Mentha
alopecurioides) has enormous leaves and grows up to 2 metres high, with a
powerful scent, not as pleasant as oher mints. It is a traditonal medicinal
mint, used to attempt to cure the skin disease 'king's evil'.
English Mint (M longifolia) is another 'mint sauce' mint, with long coarse leaves
and less green than many other mints.
Black peppermint (Mentha x piperata) is a hybrid between spearmint and wild water mint. It is
one of the mainingredients used to produce mint oil, and has the highest oil
cotent of any mint. It is widely used medicinally and for mint tea. White
peppermint (Mentha piperata v officinalis) is slightly higher in menthol than
black peppermint and the leaves are a clearer green.
Eau de cologne mint (Mentha piperata v citrata) is the classic mint julep mint,
with dark green, purple tinged leaves and pretty pale purple flowers on tall
spikes. It is intensely fragrant.
Pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium) has tiny grey green leaves, much softer than most mints,
with pale lavender flowers. The scent is richer than most mints, a cross
between camphor and peppermint. Creeping pennyroyal (M pulegium v decumbens)
makes an excellent herbal lawn. (See page ). Pennyroyal prefers full sun.
Apple Mint (M suaveolens) is a soft, round leafed mint, with woolly stems and a
strong apple fragrance with classic mint undertones. The flowers are white to
pink. Variegated apple mint (M suaveolens var variegata) has irregular white
patches on the leaves. It needs much more cosseting than most mints and has a tendency
to revert to the green form.
Pineapple mint is also a variegated apple mint, with similar round furry leaves
but a quite different scent, somewhat like pineapple though the leaves need to
be well crushed to release the perfume. Pineapple mint can lose much of its
characteristic odour with age and smell more like apple mint.
Vietnamese mint (Polygonum mentha) is not a true mint, but likes the same moist conditions.
It has long slighlty variegated leaves in green and purple tinged with yellow.
(This sounds spectacular but the plant is rather dull). It tolerates light
frost but heavy frost kills it. It will grow in light shade in warm areas to
full sun in cooler districts.
There are many
other mints available commercially, including basil mint (a hardy spreading
mint smelling strongly of basil, though it must be used raw to retain its
flavour), ginger mint, Egyptian mint, with large mild leaves excellent for
salads and tabbouli, camphor mint, Japanese menthol mint, M arvensis, one of
the main commercial sources of mint oil, though it is inferior to true
peppermint oil, Cardinal mint (one of the mints used to ward off medieval
plague), and the small leaved Corsican mint which makes an excellent herbal
lawn.
There are also
several native Australian mints, though these are rarely offered for sale,
including the sweet bright green river mint (M australis), Forest Mint (M
laxiflora) with small sweet scented leaves and purple flowers and Slender
mint, (M diemenica) very similar to pennyroyal, though the leaves are longer
and native pennyroyal or creeping mint, (M satureioides) with a very strong
perfume when trodden on and tiny white flowers. Native pennyroyal isn't quite
as sweet as European pennyroyal.
Needs: Most mints, though not all, are moisture loving, most need full sun to
semi-shade, though a few will tolerate full shade. Most mints are incredibly
adaptable and if they don't like where you've put them will spread their
runners into a better spot.
If mints are
crowded by other plants they can get leaf spot or rust. Plant them somewhere
else or cut back the bushes around them and prune off the infected leaves.
The mint should soon recover.
Most mints will
tolerate frost, though they may die back and return in warmer weather. They may
need semi-shade in subtropical to tropical areas and will be prone to rust in
humid conditions. Rust prone mints should be re repropagated every six months
to a year, by pulling up healthy runners and establishing it in different
places.
Propagation: Most mints produce seed, but often don't breed true to type.
Mints are best grown from cuttings or dividing a clump. Almost any bit of mint
will grow if stuck in a glass of water or moist soil.
Harvest: Mint leaves are easily dried by hanging in a well-ventilated shady
place but the flavour changes and isn't as strong. As soon as mint leaves
are dry enough to crumble store them in an airtight container till needed. The
leaves should stay reasonably pungent for at least a year.
Don't dry mint in
full sunlight or the taste will be anaemic and the colour will fade too.
Mint can also be
frozen. Dip the leaves in boiling water for a few seconds, then in very cold
water. Shake off excess moisture, place in plastic bags and store in the
freezer. The faster the mint freezes the better. Use immediately after
thawing as frozen mint soon goes bad.
Mint can also be
frozen in ice blocks. Place these in cool drinks in summer for a slight mint
freshness.
Medicinal Use: Mint was used throughout the Middle Aged to whiten teeth, cure
mouth ulcers, heal the bites of rabid dogs, relieve wasp stings and stop milk
from curdling. It may help wasp and other stings, but is not effective for any
of the others.
Mint oil is a mild
anaesthetic, mint oil will soothe itching skin while the menthol numbs the
skin. Mint tea can be taken to help digestion (this is a good reason for
eating after dinner mints) and will help relieve the symptoms of a cold,
soothing the throat and acting as an expectorant. Peppermint tea is used to
reduce nausea, for gall bladder pains, indigestion, flatulence, as a mild
antiseptic for colds and sore throats, to help relieve tension headaches,
lessen stomach cramps and to induce perspiration in fevers. Peppermint is also
a mild sedative and helps relieve tension headaches and lessens stomach cramps.
Peppermint oil is used in baths to sooth cuts and rashes, though it should be
tested on the sensitive skin under your wrist before you bathe with it - some
poeple are allergic to peppermint oil.
Australian river
mint was thrown down onto hot wet stones and the vapour inhaled by the
aborigines for coughs and cold.
Pennyroyal used to
be burnt to fumigate sick rooms and to repel fleas. Excess pennyroyal can
lead to kidney damage and it should be used sparingly, if at all, and never
during pregnancy.
Spearmint is a
diuretic (it has ben used ito help treat kidney inflammation), an old remedy
for nausea and according to folklore a remedy for hiccups.
Mint has not
always been regarded as a healing herb. There is an old tradition that if you
feed horsemint (a coarse large leafed wild mint, not the bergamot also called
horsemint) to a wounded man he won't recover (possibly if the nurse was
vindictive enough to feed him horsemint he had little hope of recovery anyway.)
Other Uses: Mint is such a common, fragrant and handy herb that its uses are
almost endless. The English eat mint with roast lamb, or with new peas, or in
fruit salads or potato salad. In the Middle East mint is often dried and
sprinkled as a garnish; in both the Middle East and Asia it is used as a major
salad ingredient and in the USA it is drunk with bourbon.
The Romans
believed that eating mint increased intelligence. table tops rubbed with mint
symbolised hospital. Peppermint oil has been used to trace leaks in pipe, to
repel rodents (ANY strong smell will make rodents wary) and to flavour chewing
gum, toothpaste jellies, menthol cigarettes, soaps, medicines and many others.
Norse healers would feed warriors mint before a battle, so they could tell if
their intestines had been pierced if they were wounded.
Tne herbalist
Culpepper (!616-1640 recommended mint as an aphrodisiac (he also thought it
cured the bites of rabid dogs), and mint has been fed to stud bulls and
stallions before joining. Mint is also used in some Middle Eastern countries
to help animals' milk supply. In Europe mint was strewn over stable floors in
winter to cover the strong smell of ammonia after animals had been kept indoors
for months. It mau also have helped repel fleas. Pennyroyal oil is also added
to a wide range of flea and pest repellents.
In ancient Persia
women fed their husbands bread, cheese and mint to keep them faithful. Mint
is also used widely in cosmetics.
Peppermint Cordial
(an old alcoholic one)
Place 3 cups of
peppermint and 1 cup of brandy in an old kettle. Leave overnight. Place a
piece of hose on the kettle spout and heat the kettle as gently and slowly as
possible till all the liquid has evaporated. Catch this in a beaker at the end
of the spout. Add a dessertspoon of caster sugar then cover at once so the
volatile oil is not lost. Shake till the sugar is dissolved and keep in a
cool dark place. This can be taken after dinner to help digestion, or to cheer
you up if you have cold.
Crystallised Mint leaves
Brush dry mint
leaves with beaten egg white then dip in icing sugar to which a few drops of
peppermint oil have been added. Repeat the whole process if the leaves aren't
totally covered. Place the leaves on greaseproof paper on a tray and leave
them in a slow oven to dry.
Mint face mask
For deep cleansing
3 tablespoons peppermint
half a cup boiling water
half a cup honey
Add the mint to
the boiling water and strain when cool. Add the honey and mix well.
Apply the cleanser
gently with cotton wool and leave on the face for 10 minutes before washing
off.
Peppermint Lip Cream for Chapped lips
1 teaspoon beeswax
2 teaspoons lanolin
4 drops peppermint oil
Melt the beeswax,
remove from the heat and add the lanolin. Then add the peppermint oil. Pour
into an old lipstick container and rub on as needed on cold days.
Peppermint Powder for Smelly Shoes
1 cup baking powder
10 drops peppermint oil
Combine, dust
liberally inside smelly shoes at night and shake them clean in the morning.
Coughs
Most coughs are
necessary to clear mucus - if you want to stop the cough you need professional
advice as to what is causing it. Try not to talk too much - this can irritate
and cause more coughing - and the more you cough the more irritation...
The best cough mixture there is
Ingredients:
water
Sip throughout the
day, especially when your throat tickles.
Herbal Tea for Soothing Coughs
Ingredients:
1 tbsp peppermint
1 teasp aniseed
1 cup boiling water
Pour water on
herbs. Leave to steep for three minutes. Sweeten with honey if you prefer.
Hay Fever and Sinus
Red Eye Compress
Dip a cloth in
cold water, and lay it over your eyes till it's warm again, then repeat till
your eyes lose their redness.
The Salt Cure
Salty water will
loosen mucus and help swollen tissues. Use as often as you like, but at least
three times a day
Ingredients
half a teaspoon of salt
2 cups warm water
Buy a 'bulb
syringe' or large eye dropper at the chemist. Squirt the warm salty water into
your nose while leaning over the sink or bath tub. (Otherwise it'll go
everywhere).
Horseradish mud
This may help
relieve the symptoms. Take three times a day, with food, otherwise you'll get
indigestion or, at the very least, interesting burps.
1 tbsp fresh horseradish, grated
2 garlc cloves, crushed
1 teaspoon thyme leaves
1 tbsp honey (preferably unstrained, unboiled fresh honey)
Mix. Keep in a
covered cup in the fridge for up to two days. Take a quarter of this every
night and morning, with food. It will help relieve the congestion and also help
the muck to flow more freely. so you don't feel as choked up.
Elderflower Syrup
This is a
traditonal hayfever cure and, interestingly, it now appears that it may be more
than folklore. Take two tablespoons twice a day for about 6 - 8 weeks before
the hayfever season.
Ingredients:
8 cups elderflowers (young white ones - the older cream ones smell terrible and
taste even worse)
1 cup sugar
juice of 1 lemon
1 cup water
Boil the sugar,
water and lemon juice for ten minutes, stirring well till the sugar is
dissolved. Pour the syrup onto the flowers. Cover with a clean teatowel.
Leave overnight. Strain. Bring liquid to the boil once more. Take off the
heat at once and bottle immediately. Keep in the fridge till needed.
The syrup should
last for several months in the fridge, but if it begins to bubble, ferment,
smell odd or grow strange moulds, throw it out at once..
Hay fever tea
This helps a
little - a good tea to substitute for other hot drinks while symptoms persist.
Ingredients:
1 part lemon verbena leaves
1 part elderflowers
1 part chamomile flowers
1 part peppermint leaves
boiling water
Drink hot and
strong; if possible sip during the day.
Beetroot decongestant
Take this if you
are brave enough! It will sooth swollen tissue and help clean out the gunk.
You may also have to explain to friends why you look like a vampire after a
hard night.
Ingredients:
1 part beetroot juice (NOT sweetened juice from a can of pickled beetroot - you
need a juicer for this)
1 part warm chamomile tea
1 eyedropper
Drip the beetroot
juice down the nose, with your head back. Repeat four times a day..and try to
explain why your lips and nasal area always look red to anyone who suspects you
might be a vampire.
How to grow horseradish:
Horseradish (Armoracia rusticana)
Perennial
Horseradish's root is long and tough, the leaves are long, dull green ovals
with jagged edges. The flowers are white and insignificant.
Needs: Horseradish will grow almost anywhere from cold areas to the tropics,
but, to get good sized roots to grate, the herb needs moist, well-drained,
fertile soil, either in full sun or semi-shade and to be kept well fertilized.
Horseradish can
become a weed as even the smallest piece of root will regrow.
Propagation: Horseradish is usually grown from pieces of root. These are
best taken from the thin side roots that shoot off the main thick root. They
should be as thick and straight as possible and about 20-30 cm long. Trim off
any dangling rootlets except at the end - these can be dug up to propagate more
horseradish next season. Plant the roots almost horizontally - they should
angle upwards slightly - at about thumb depth. Keep moist and feed well.
Harvest: The most tender horseradish roots are those harvested at the end of
their first or second year. Wait till the leaves have died down for the best
flavour. After their second year horseradish roots become tough and fibrous.
If you don't want to use the roots at once they can be stored in sand in a cool
place till needed or washed and frozen - this spoils the texture - but then
horseradish sauce is important for its bite, the texture is irrelevant.
Medicinal Use: Horseradish has been used medicinally to decongest sinuses - try
half a teaspoon of the freshly grated root eaten on a sandwich. It has also
been popularly shredded and used as a compress to relieve rheumatism, arthritis
and muscle pain, and fed to hens and other stock to lessen their worm problems.
Other Uses: Horseradish is most commonly used as an ingredient in hot
horseradish sauce to eat with roast beef. My preferred horseradish sauce is
simply grated fresh horseradish mixed with whipped cream - this is wonderful
with sliced raw zucchini and is in fact the only way I like to eat either horseradish
or raw zucchini. It can also be grated and stored in vinegar in the fridge.
This will keep till next year's harvest - and added to cream or other sauces as
you wish. The grated horseradish can also be dried very slowly in the oven.
Pour on just enough boiling vinegar to cover, bottle and seal. Keep in a cool
place. This should last for years.
Very young, early
spring horseradish leaves are a strong but good green vegetable. However,
they soon become tough and far too hot for most tastes.
How to grow elder trees:
Elder (Sambucus nigra)
These are small
trees or largish shrubs, with large heads of bright white flowers that turn
cream then yellow as they age, followed by small black berries. Elderberries
should never be confused with the berries of red berried elder (S racemosa) or
dwarf elder (S ebulius) - these are both red, instead of the black of common
elderberry and are poisonous.
Elders are
extraordinarily useful and should be one of the backbones of a herbal garden
Needs: Elder is incredibly tolerant and will grow from Tasmalia to North
Queensland, though it will probably not set berries further north than Sydney.
It is drought and frost hardy, wind tolerant and accepts almost any soil, no
matter how poor. It prefers full sun but will grow in warm semi- shade. It
can also be grown as a hedge.
Propogation: Elders will grow from seed, but is usually grown from cuttings or
suckers. Slip any 'snappable' cutting into semi-shaded, moist soil at any
temperate time of the year. Nearly all cuttings take if kept moist.
Harvest: Elder flowers should be picked when just openig, before they turn
deep cream. As they age the have a distinct smell of cat's urine but young
flowers are sweet and fragrant. Elder fruit should be picked when soft and
black, but not every bush will set fruit. As elders have been selected for
their ornamental qualities not their fruiting ability, you may need to search
for a cultivar that fruits well and take a cutting from it.
Medicinal Use: Elderflowers are mildly anti-inflammatory, antiseptic and also
a mild laxative. One tablespoon of flowers per cup of boiling water can be
used to help treat colds and flu. It is also a good gargle for a sore
throat.
Other Uses: Elder flowers and berries have been used to make wines and
cordials; the fruits can be stewed and used in pies or sauces or mixed with
stewed apple. MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THE RIGHT BUSH!!! MISTAKES CAN BE
DEADLY!!!!!!!
Elderflowers have
also been used cosmetically.
Elder trees have a
long history in European witchcraft. You shoud bever cut down an elder and
never use any part of the elder without apologising to the tree. If you do cut
an elder and it bleeds red sap, run - it may have been a witch in disguise.
Elders were often
planted to ward off witchcraft, either by placating the witch or in the hope
that the witch would shelter in the tree and leave the house alone.
Elderflower face mask
This cleans and
invigorates the skin
1 cup rolled oats
1 cup elderflowers
1 teaspoon almond oil
enough vinegar to moisten.
Combine all
ingredients - the result should be just moist enough to pack on your face.
Leave for twenty minutes, apply to your face, leave on another twenty minutes
and then wash off.
Elderflower and Cucumber Lotion
This is a modified
version of an old recipe, said to prevent wrinkles and keep the skin white.
1 cup elderflowers
a small young cucumber
Blend till liquid,
apply to the face, neck and hands (the only part of a lady's body exposed to
the sun in those days) morning and night and leave on for at least half an
hour.
Hiccups
Hiccup Tea
Ingredients:
2 tbsps fennel seeds
1 tbsp peppermint leaves
1 cup boiling water
Pour water on
herbs. Leave till cool. Strain. Keep in the fridge for up to a week in case
an attack occurs. Sip slowly.
Paw Paw and Pineapple
If you suffer from
frequent hiccups, eat a peice of paw paw or pineapple after every meal to help
digestion - or take papaya (paw paw) digestive tablets according to
manufacturers directions.
Laryngitis
Seek medical
attention if the problem persists for more than a couple of days or if it
recurs regularly or if you have a fever or greenish yellow nasal discharge.
Laryngitis
Gargle
Ingredients:
1 teaspoon thyme leaves
4 teaspoons sage leaves
1 tbsp lavender flowers
half a chilli
1 cup boiling water
Pour boiling water
over herbs. Strain when tepid. Use warm, not hot. Gargle every hour- at least
six gargles and spit at a time.DO NOT SWALLOW.
Some other useful herbs:
Ginko
Ginko is Europe's
most popular herbal purchase. It's a graceful tree, with bright pure yellow
autumn leaves. It's incredibly hardy; tolerates heavy frost and drought once
established and survives in sub tropical climates too . It's deciduous, and
very slow growing to 30 metres.
Healing:
. Ginko may help
cerebral blood flow, has been used with some success with dementia and
alzheimer patients, may help other circulation problems, such as hearing loss
due to circulation problems and is sometimes hailed as a 'memory drug' that may
improve memory slightly even in young people. On the other hand other studies
have raised doubts about all these claims.
Side effects
include headaches, stomach upsets and bleeding of the eye or nose bleeds.
ALWAYS inform your doctor if you are thinking of taking ginko! It can interfere
with many other medications, and can have deadly results! it MUST be taken
under medical supervsion.
Ginseng.
Yes, you can grow
your own ginseng if you have rich, moist soil sheltered from the worst of the
afternoon sunlight- or grow it to feed your snails anyway, as snails, beetles
and grasshoppers adore ginseng!
Keep ginseng seed
in the crisper of the fridge for 2 months before planting in spring; and be
patient; it may take 12 months to germinate. The root can be harvested after
4-6 years, depending on growth; but beware: ginseng grows wonderfully when
conditions suit it, otherwise it may kark it no matter how you coax it.
Echinacea
Echinacea extract
is one of the most popular herbal remedies, and one of the easiest to grow
too. The daisy like flowers are really very pretty with white or pale pink
to deep purple flowers, usually with reddish brown centres.
Echinaceas are
extremely tolerant but grow best in well drained sunny soil, though they'll
tolerate semi-shade. They'll survive just about any climate except perpetual
mist.
Healing:
All parts of the
plant can be used but the seeds and roots contain a greater concentration of
active ingredients. USE ECHINACEA IN THE AMOUNTS RECOMMENDED BY YOUR MEDICAL
PRACTITIONER. LARGER DOSES ARE NOT MORE EFFECTIVE AND MAY BE DANGEROUS.
Echinacea is
used in a wide range of illnesses, from skin problems to ulcers, wounds and
virus suppression. The effectiveness of echinacea actually declines if large
amounts are taken - it should be taken in small doses. WARNING: There has
been some concern recently that in some individuals it can exacerbate asthma,
so asthmatics ahould approach its use with caution.
The easiest way to
use it is to cover 30gm of the dried root or 70 gm of the fresh root with 750ml
of water, boil for 10 minutes, leave to cool, strain, and keep the liquid in
the fridge for up to three days. Take a tablespoon of the liquid twice a day.
WARNING: do make sure you have the right herb! Mistakes can be deadly!!!!!!!
Valerian (Valeriana officinalis)
Valerian is
possibly only 'herbal' sleep remedy that actually helps people sleep and it is
a GREAT muscle relaxant for sore backs at night,though, like conventional
remedies for these, valerian can cause sleeplessness, headaches and dependence
if used in excess.
Valerian produces
a clump of deeply divided, celery like leaves, growing to about half a metre
high, with long hollow spikes of fragrant, white or very pale pink, tiny
flowers in mid to late summer and a short thick root with smaller roots around
it. (Bouncing Bess, or red valerian, Centranthus ruber, is a sprawling garden
weed or ornamental, depending on your viewpoint. Bouncing Bess is not true
valerian and doesn't have its medicinal properties.)
Valerian does best
in semi-shade with deep, rich, moist, well drained soil but will tolerate
most soils and positions. Sow valerian seed in spring or divide larger clumps
in autumn. Feed and water well especially when the weather turns hot.
Dig up the roots
in autumn soon after the leaves have died down. For best root growth cut off
the flower stems as they form. Slice roots into thin sections and dry roots
slowly and carefully in a cool oven. Crumble it and cover with brandy - about
equal amounts of herb and alcohol. Take a few drops in warm milk, no more than
twice a day, sweetened with a little honey to hide valerian's bitter taste.
NB I always feel
slightly doped after I've tried valerian - it definitely DOES have side
effects, no matter what manufacturers may tell you. Do NOT drive or operate
machinery for 24 hours after you've used it, and don't expect to solve the
problems of the universe either. AND MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THE RIGHT PLANT!
MISTAKES CAN BE DEADLY!!!!!!!!!