herbal, nutrition, and other study notes...12/13-17/2010

I have to finish 4 short essays on any herb I want to know better, focusing on history and usage. I'm choosing Ginger, Cinnamon, Sage or Thyme, and Elecampane. 

Ginger · Zingiber officinale Family: Zingiberaceae

Although I’ve always known about Ginger because of my love of curry, stir fry, and gingerbread, its use as a medicinal herbal was unfamiliar. Because we are namesakes, this knobby root is special to me. While most believe medicinal herbs come from the garden and wilderness, like chaparral, valerian or comfrey, we can look to our kitchens for remedies, too. Cumin, cayenne, cinnamon, ginger, turmeric, parsley, and so many common food flavors are there for our easy use. Let’s explore ginger. 

Ginger has been used for centuries as a medicine and is native to Asia. Scribonius Largus, the military surgeon of Emperor Claudius, carried it the Roman expedition to Britain in 43 AD. Francisco de Mendosa, successfully naturalized it to America, spurring a new industry that in 1547 exported 22,053 cwt. to Europe. Why is ginger so valuable that Spaniards and Romans carried it with them on perilous journeys?

Ginger is used for variety of medicinal purposes, and is additionally used as a delicious addition to the diet as a preventative. Antibacterial, antiviral, circulatory stimulate, anti-inflammatory, diaphoretic, antispasmodic, antiemetic, antifungal, anti-clotting, carminative, anti-arthritic, analgesic, and anti-tussive, ginger can also act to kill E. coli, salmonella and shigella present in foods. Curry, a dish that depends highly on ginger, was developed in various warm climates where food-born pathogens thrive. Microscopic life perishes in the presence of ginger and other picante spices.  In cold climates, ginger serves a different purpose. It makes a warming tea that can prevent colds and flu by stimulates immune activity. Ginger is expectorant, thinning mucous, reducing inflammation, relieving pain, producing sweating, stimulating white blood cells, and finally clearing respiratory infections. Amazingly, burns respond very well to a fomentation of the juice of ginger, which relieves pain, reduces inflammation, and provides antibacterial protection to broken and blistered skin.

As with garlic, ginger reduces hypertension, removes plaque build-up, reduces serum cholesterol, thins blood by inhibiting platelets from adhering, and diminishes atherosclerosis. Remarkably, ginger dissolves plaque and blood clots with the enzyme zingibain. Similar to pineapple’s bromelain, enzymes from ginger have anti-inflammatory properties. Nutritionally, its antioxidant activity rivals vitamin E. Similar to cayenne, a daily cup or two of grated fresh ginger steeped in honey and lemon juice can virtually eliminate digestive issues such as parasites, sour stomach, nausea, and constipation. Its capsaicin and curcumin also relieve the pain of arthritis, blocking prostaglandins and leukotrienes, when applied as a topical salve. 

Although ancient Asians and Roman armies probably didn’t understand all the properties of ginger, they knew it helped stomach aches and cured colds. Spaniards may not have been aware that it protected the heart, but they knew it helped to hide the flavor of spoiled meat. In this day of scientific research, we are learning more and more of the benefits of this wonderful plant. God placed it on earth for the benefit of man for different reasons in different locals. It is easily obtainable and ought to become part of every medicine chest and daily supplement plan. Lets eat all the spicy Thai Tofu Curry and Punjab Moong Dal we can!

Cinnamon (Laurus Cinnamomum, Cinnamomum aromaticum, Cinnamomum cassia, Cinnamomum zeylanicum) 

Family: Lauraceae 

Another common kitchen spice that doubles as a medicinal herb is cinnamon. Cinnamon is an anciently discovered joy. Stories tell of colossal birds, known as Cinnibird, Cynnamolgus, Cinnamologus or Cinomolgus, that brought cinnamon to the earth. An Arabian ledgend tells the story that these birds built their nests into cliffsides using sticks of cinnamon they brought from the land whence they came. The Arabians were enchanted by the smell of the cinnamon sticks. Tricking the Cinnibirds with a free lunch of huge chunks of oxen meat layed near the nests, the Arabians hoped the weight of  the meat would cause the nests to fall and allow them to plunder the captivatingly scented sticks. Because both Aristotle and Pliny the Elder wrote about the legend, cinnamon was obviously part of Greek and Roman life.

When we are done baking cinnamon rolls (with the mucusless diet, we’ll never bake them again), we can use this yummy spice for medicine. Cinnamon is analgesic antiseptic, astringent, anti-spasmodic, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-microbial, anti-parasitic, anti-viral, anti-nausea, anti-flatulent, anti-diarrheal, carminative, hypoglycemic, promotes perspiration, sedative, and stimulates the uterus. Like Ginger cinnamon can have different uses in different areas of the world. It is a main ingredient in curry dishes of India, where keeping meats fresh is a problem. Not only does it hide the taste of spoiled meat, it kills the pathogens that grow on raw meat such as E. coli, salmonella, and so on. Since it is warming and combats flu and colds, it is no wonder that Western Cultures us it for baked goods that are traditional during winter months.

An infusion of cinnamon bark makes a delicious alternative to hot chocolate that prevents and heals most winter time ailments. Since it promotes perspiration and is quite warming, cinnamon helps build a fever, when the body is invaded by pathogens. Some herbal infusions and decoctions are horrible in taste; these useful but difficult herbs are helped by using cinnamon as a base to mask the taste. Additionally, herbs used to fight winter ailments including boneset, catnip, echinacea and goldenrod are all improved in flavor and medicinal value with a bit of added cinnamon.  To aide poor digestion such as, constipation, gas, cramping, indigestion, nausea, and diarrhea, try an infusion of ginger and cinnamon with honey and lemon. Because cinnamon increases circulation to the digestive tract, it feeds and soothes the muscles that help everything move along. The same infusion or one made simply of cinnamon also stimulates circulation in the outer extremities, which alleviates the pain of Renault’s syndrome and warms chronically cold hands and feet. It chases away the awful chills of cold and flu. Gum disease, toothaches, tooth decay, discoloration of the teeth, and bad breath are improved, when cinnamon is consumed regularly and used as a tooth powder. Because cinnamon is a uterine stimulant it should not be used medicinally by pregnant women. However, it is wonderful to drink cinnamon infusion during labor to increase the quality of contractions.  It is a miracle for menstrual and afterbirth cramps.

Whether the ancient Arabs discovered cinnamon by tricking mammoth birds or not, delicious cinnamon has been part of the culinary and herbal tradition of many cultures worldwide for millennia. Spice traders made a killing fighting for control of the cinnamon trade. As late as the eighteenth century, the Dutch monopolized the trade of wild cinnamon. The year 1776 not only saw the declaration of American freedom, it was also the year of cinnamon freedom or the year cultivation of cinnamon was successfully carried out.  Cinnamon has a long, delicious, and glorious tradition.