Hawthorn Berry for Heart Health

This past fall I started to feel unwell.  It began on a walk home from a friend's in September, I noticed a heaviness in my chest and a burning pain.  Thinking it was an aberration I went out again the next night for my evening walk up and down the historical streets of my Brooklyn neighborhood but it happened again.  It continued until I finally made an appointment to see my pulmonologist.  She sent me for a slew of tests and had me make an appointment with a cardiologist who sent me for an MRI of my heart.  They found an area of ischemia which I learned was a restriction of blood supply to tissues.  While we were deliberating what to do about it my symptoms worsened and one afternoon while in my doctor's office he declared that he wasn't going to let me leave the hospital without an angiogram.  Frightened and anxious I underwent the procedure and was informed that I had one blocked artery, 99% blocked.  I had been reading about stents and seriously didn't want one but in this case it saved my life.  I spent the night in the hospital while staff regularly stopped in to congratulate me for walking into the hospital before actually having a heart attack.

It's been a wake up call, to say the least.  I have a pretty good diet, usually eat pretty low saturated fats, almost always choose whole grains, careful with sweets and even grow my own organic vegetables. Clearly there is room for improvement.  Living in the city I do a fair amount of walking but I realize I need quite a bit more exercise and plan on joining my local Y.

Aside from those changes I've also added some heart healthy herbs.  I'd heard about Hawthorn Berry (Crateaugus oxycanthus) many years ago on one of the many weed walks I've attended in Prospect Park.  I've known of its action of regulating blood pressure so took another look at it.  It's used to promote the health of the circulatory system and treats angina, high blood pressure, congestive heart failure and cardiac arrhythmia.  It's known to strengthen the heart and is used widely in Europe as a safe and effective treatment for the early stages of heart disease.  It's ability to strengthen blood vessels makes it particularly enticing to me as I'm now on meds to thin my blood (to ensure that the stent works its wonders).  Bruising and small cuts are going to be an issue so strengthening my capillaries is especially important.

There are other herbs including bilberry, horse chestnut and ginkgo that are known for improved heart health but considering the meds I'm taking I decided to keep it simple.  Every winter I drink oatstraw daily so I've combined the two together with a little horsetail.  Oatstraw is great for your nerves, it lowers cholesterol and helps strengthen bones.  I simmer the herbs in a quart of water for ten minutes and drink three cups throughout the day.

Last fall I collected wild hawthorn berries and tinctured them so I'm happy to have tincture handy in case I can't be fussing with the tea.  It's available at my Etsy store here.

I should mention that you should check with your doctor before starting any herb regimen, especially if your health has already been compromised and you're taking medication.  Better safe than sorry!


Nettles: A Spring Tonic

The Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica) is a common herbaceous plant native to Europe, Asia, northern Africa and North America. It is known for it's sting which is caused by it's many hairs containing several chemicals.  When touched the hairs break off and act as a needle injecting acetylcholine, histamine, 5-HT or seratonin which cause a painful sting or paresthesia.  A folk remedy for rheumatism is to flog oneself with nettles (also called urtication) producing reddness and irritation.

My interest in it is for it's rich vitamin and mineral content.  Made into a tea or infusion it makes a delicious tonic.  After a long winter the high mineral content makes them an excellent remedy for anaemia.  Their high vitamin C content makes the iron they contain easily absorbable.  Nettles also increase uric acid excretion which explains why they are a valuable remedy for arthritis and gout.

Nettles also lower blood sugar levels, encourage the flow of breast milk, are a great astringent (so stop internal bleeding) and are useful for treating eczema.  It's histamine content make it an effective treatment for hay fever.  It is also said that a nettle hair rinse can eliminate dandruff, make the hair more glossy and possibly arrest hair loss.

The blood invigorating properties of this common herb make it an essential component of my transition from winter to the warmer and more active seasons.  I start infusing the herb early in the spring to reinvigorate myself.  Infusions are different from teas in that they steep far longer and are therefore more potent.  Every night before I go to bed I put a handful of dried nettles (I buy them by the pound) in a clean 24 ounce jar and pour boiling water over them.  Loosely cover the jar (if you tighten it it will be difficult to open in the morning) and leave out on the counter.  In the morning I strain the herbs from the infusion.  I also squeeze as much liquor from the herbs as possible.  You can drink them cool but I prefer to gently warm them on the stovetop.  Drink a third of the infusion three times per day.  I keep the infusion in the refrigerator during the day to retard spoilage.  I've added a few other herbs to my brew, some for flavor and some for some other conditions I'm working on.  You can add some peppermint or lemon balm to make it a bit more refreshing.  I've added chamomile to mine since I'm attempting to de-stress my sometimes frazzled urban nerves.  I might add that the spent herbs make excellent compost!

I should add that this is a regimen I do for myself every spring.  Please be responsible and always use caution when self-medicating (standard disclaimer and all that).

Be healthy and enjoy the spring!









Aromatherapy Workshop: Simple Home Remedies

I'll be teaching an aromatherapy workshop on Saturday, April 2nd from 2:15 to 3:30 at GreenThumbs's 27th Annual GrowTogether.  Participants will gain a basic understanding of aromatherapy, essential oils and their applications, including recommendations for an aromatherapy first aid kit.  Everyone will get the opportunity to create their own therapeutic bath salts and massage oil.

27th Annual GreenThumb GrowTogether


You are invited on April 2nd, to join a thousand community gardeners and greening professionals from all over New York City for a day of learning, sharing, networking and greening inspiration at the 27th Annual GreenThumb GrowTogether from 9am to 4pm at Hostos Community College! Please pass this information out to the rest of your garden group and anyone else who might be interested. This form is also available to download on our website, but you must send payment with the form.
This year’s conference features favorite workshops from past years, as as well as exciting new ones, including many hands on workshops, and new ones for youth gardeners. We are also excited to announce that Joan Dye Gussow, author of Growing, Older: A Chronicle of Death, Life, and Vegetables, will be our keynote speaker.


 
$3 + $1.10 service fee for purchasing tickets online.
Cost covers conference, t-shirt and lunch.

If you do not pre-register, you are not guaranteed lunch or a t-shirt.
The preregistration is extended for online only

Directions
Subway: Hostos is practically on top of the
149th Street and Grand Concourse stop. The 2,
4, 5 trains will get you right there.
Buses: BX 19 or BX 1 bus to 149th Street and
Grand Concourse.

To learn more about GreenThumb go to www.greenthumbnyc.org.