This month’s speakers: DeAnna Carlile Alvarez and Tracy Bossinger The Herbal Hoydens return with a look at edible aphrodisiacs and herbs to give new meaning to the phrase, “Come and get it!” Be prepared to volunteer or be volunteered in an interactive program.
Herb of the Month: Saffron
A Look Ahead:
June 7, 2006:
Miguel Cisneros-Abreu will present “Tea Time, Health Time.” Learn about using herbal teas to promote good health every day.
Herb of the Month: Rooibos
July 5, 2006:
Kristin Jayd-Jimenez and Cheri O’Neal will teach “Kitchen Cosmetics, Bathroom Beauty.” Keep yourself looking great with simple, pure ingredients from your pantry and refrigerator.
Herb of the Month: Jojoba
August 2, 2006: TBA
Herb of the Month: Annatto
Meetings are held the first Wednesday of each month at 7:30pm in the Fruit & Spice Park Auditorium. All members and guests are welcome! Our Tasting Table, Raffle Ticket Drawing, and Door Prize Drawing follow each speaker.
Monthly Society Project:
Come garden with us! Meet in the Park at 10am on the Saturday following each monthly meeting. You get free park admission and free herbs to take home.
Description: A member of the crocus family, saffron resembles other crocuses, with the flower lacking a true stem and rising directly from the earth. It grows up to 18 inches from corms or bulbs and blooms in the fall. Flowers have six petals, are fragrant and colored white, lavender or reddish-purple. The stigma (male parts) of the flower is what is used.
Cultivation: Bulbs should be planted in the fall or spring to 3-4 inches deep, approximately 6 inches apart. They prefer light, well-drained soil in full sun or light shade. The stigmata must be harvested by hand, and air dried before use.
Culinary: The stigmata, or threads, are the traditional flavoring for paella, bouillabaisse, and various baked goods from cultures spanning the Mediterranean and all the way to East India. Threads are available whole or ground, and are generally soaked in liquid before addition to the food, where it gives up a bright yellow to orange color as well as the rich flavor. Medicinal: Considered as an appetite stimulant and an aphrodisiac, saffron has also been used to combat colds, tumors, insomnia, smallpox and cancer.
Other uses: Ancient Greeks and Chinese were said to have used saffron as a royal dye, but the color is water-soluble, and would not have lasted long. It is also too scarce to be of much practical use. The scent has also been used in perfuming baths and homes.
Similar plants/substitutions: Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius) is a suitable substitute only for the color of saffron in foods, but the taste is bland by comparison. It also takes about five times the amount of safflower to produce the vivid color that saffron would give, and it will be slightly redder.
Aptly titled The Tasting Table, The Cookbook is underway! All members are asked to submit at least two recipes, and the recipes must have herbs or spices in them. Copyright law does not prohibit use of one recipe directly from a cookbook, but we do ask that any recipes so borrowed be membertested at the very least, or adapted from a basic entry. Family heirloom or ‘storied’ recipes are also very welcome, with the stories attached, of course. International culinary delights are also highly encouraged. Additional volunteers are also needed to input submissions online for publication. Contact Leila Barnes or Leah Sherman to submit items or to volunteer.
The Doctors Book of Herbal Home Remedies: Cure yourself with nature’s most powerful healing agents
by the Editors of PREVENTION Health Books
In the introductory chapters, evidence for the widespread expansion of herbal interest and why so many are turning to their use is explored including: fewer side effects; an option to conventional medicine; herbs work with the body’s natural healing abilities. This well written book also explains how herbs work differently than drugs which is a valuable starting point for all that would like to use herbs as part of their personal wellness program.
In Part 2 of the Book, each chapter addresses an individual ailment so it is quite easy to use this book as a quick desk reference. For instance, if you wake up in the morning with a headache, it is listed in the index and then Book Review By Leah J. Sherman again as ‘Migraine’ if needed. Remedies for motion sickness, nose bleed, dry or oily hair, constipation, and sore throat are all there, along with more than 100 other common ailments.
For each ailment, you get a history and/or description of the syndrome as well as the myriad causes and when to see the doctor. There will be more than one remedy (usually 3 or 4), why they work, where you can get the ingredients and how to apply or use them. Among four suggestions for Carpel Tunnel Syndrome (most common among women ages 30 to 60) is cabbage. It couldn’t be simpler. Just cut the hard rib out of a dark green cabbage leaf, warm the leaf in the microwave until it becomes soft, and wrap it around your wrist. Hold it in place with a bandage. It’s safe to use this remedy as often as you like.
As the editors’ note reminds, this book is intended as a reference only, not as a medical manual. The information is designed to aid in informed health decisions and not as a substitute for treatment prescribed by your doctor. You should always consult with a physician knowledgeable about herbs before combining them with any medication.
Where to find: Leah Sherman secured her copy at a Used Book Store for $1.00. Tina Pavel borrowed the copy from the Raffle Table to check out herbs good for soothing effects of insect bites and Arturo Gonzalez won his copy on the Raffle Table at April’s REHS meeting (another perk of membership). New Copies available from $15.00 to $40.00 depending on hard or soft bound. Used hard copies from www.alibris.com or www.barnesandnoble.com for as low as $4.11.
Jorge gave an informative presentation on products we use every day and how those products can adversely affect us and the environment. He then showed alternatives to those harmful products, many of them containing melaleuca oil. Among the statistics he cited were the ris in cases of cancer.
In the 1901, cancer accounted for 1 medical case in 8,000. In the 1950’s, that number had risen to one in 5,000. In the 1990’s, it was one in ten, and now it is every third case. This can be attributed to the increased use of chemical agents in the home, and that these products are three times as likely to cause cancer than airborne pollutants.
Thank you Jorge, for your time and the information!
“The first wealth is health.”
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
Correction: In last month’s newsletter, I mistakenly listed myself as the photographer for all illustrations. Leah Sherman took the great pictures of the container garden that went with her wonderful book review. My profound apologies, Leah!
If you would like to receive the newsletter via email, please let me know by sending an email to: inariargenteus@gmail.com.
To avoid spam, I will not be emailing newsletters without an invitation to do so.
The newsletter can also be viewed online at our website:
www.REHSonline.com.
Suggestions and comments are always welcome, as are contributions. Thanks for making the newsletter so wonderful!
Thank you to this issue’s contributors:
• Leah Sherman
• DeAnna Carlile Alvarez
• All photos by Tracy Bossinger
John & Marie Thorp have a tropical oasis surrounding their home in Princeton. Plants truly thrive on their property, and John has a green thumb when it comes to propagation. He has many baby plants started from seed, air layers, or cuttings. Many plants are in pots, but for more permanent beds, John and Marie have improvised raised beds from reclaimed bathtubs. Raised up on cement blocks the tubs are the perfect height and width for easy access, and lined with a couple of inches of stone, drainage is no problem. Vegetables especially seem to like the arrangement, especially their onions and tomatoes.
The couple loves learning about herbs, which they recently discovered, and they are eagerly planning a permanent herb garden to house the mints, basils, stevia, lemongrass, citronella and other herbs they cultivate. They also were fascinated with the plants that were growing wild on their property when they arrived, like tobacco and bananas. There are many more plants than listing space in their garden, and they have plans to expand. We look forward to a revisit! Thank you, John & Marie, for sharing your space!
Innovative reuse: Bathtubs as raised garden beds. Those are tomatoes and chili peppers inside.
May 13: Propagation Class led by Chris Rollins. Methods for reproducing tropical fruit trees. 10am-5pm. $40 includes tree to graft & take home.
May 19-21: Redland International Orchid Show. Listed as the largest annual orchid event in the US, featuring over 50 booths of exhibits and sales. 9am- 5pm. $5.
June 10-11: Tropical Ag Fiesta. Local agriculture is featured, with tropical fruit plants for sale. Co-sponsored by FSP and the Tropical Fruit Growers. 10am-5pm. $5, under 12 free.
June 17: Lychee & Longan Workshop led by Chris Rollins. 10am-noon. $25
June 24: Mangos, Mangos, Mangos led by Chris Rollins. 10am-1pm. $50 includes a mango tree to take home.
July 15: “A Spoonful of Paradise”: Tropical Cooking with Chef Allen Susser. 10am-noon. $30.
August 5: Bamboo Workshop led by Daniel Holmes. 10am-noon. $25. For more information on any of these events or to register, call the Fruit & Spice Park at 305-247-5727. Registration is required for all classes.
“He who asks a question is a fool for a minute; he who does not remains a fool forever.”
Leah got an email from Hana Drahasova, who many will remember from when she visited last year from Prague. She reports a very long, snowy winter (some snow was still present when she wrote on April 18th), and some flooding as the snows melted. She also saw much evidence of damage to apple orchards from hungry hares during the winter. Hana also saw a travel documentary on Florida filmed shortly after Wilma, and was disappointed that no mention was made of agricultural ventures, “only beaches, night life and tourists”. She thinks of us fondly and wishes us the best.
The newsletter is looking for gardeners willing to be profiled in the newsletter. Call 305-248-9029 or email to: inariargenteus@gmail.com
Jim is still seeking speakers for August & September 2006. If you have suggestions or wish to volunteer, let him know!
This is your space to post items for sale, trade, or things you are seeking. FOR RENT: Attention Nature Lovers! 1/1 plus studio/garage on 5 acre native hammock. Private, with easy access to US1. $800/mo. (Includes water & electric). Call 305-299-7826.
Sex is such an amazing topic. It gets everybody’s attention, no matter what age. Some are anxious to talk about it while others just cringe, hiding in shame or embarrassment. Somewhere in the middle are those that just have nothing to say about it.
The truth is that we are bombarded with all kinds of warnings regarding it or images insinuating it but few are really talking about sex in healthy and beneficial ways, and many really don’t know much about it to begin with. If only it were less taboo then more people would be getting more input and having much more fulfilling and satisfying sex lives. Here are a few facts you may not have known about sex:
1) Loving, clear and open communication is important to be able to deepen intimacy and gain confidence in each other’s desires. Many women remain largely uneducated about their bodies and about what gives them pleasure. For a woman to be able to tell her partner what she likes and dislikes is extremely empowering for her.
2) In women, the ability to orgasm (or 'come') has to be learned over a considerable period of time.
3) Many women have never experienced orgasm. But virtually any woman can have an orgasm - if her clitoris and/or g-spot is stimulated long enough and expertly enough. Furthermore, practically any woman should be able to have orgasms - and indeed multiple orgasms - if she really wants to.
4) Sexual pleasure-anxiety is anything that distracts you from your sexual focus and pulls your attention elsewhere. This is a sign of the number one limitation in enjoying sexual pleasure, like lack of sexual interest, performance fears, inability to have orgasms, or sexual addiction. We all have some sexual inhibition by virtue of having been raised in a society where sex is considered "dirty".
5) Sex can be an energetically healing experience, and when blockages are released through touch and love a person has the potential of reaching ecstatic states that liberate the spirit. This can be learned through Tantra.
6) Sexual dysfunction affects both men and women, with causes relating to financial problems, job worries, chronic anxiety, childcare responsibilities, religious or cultural beliefs. Other causes are physically rooted issues like fatigue, depression, high blood pressure, hormonal insufficiency, heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and more.
Talking about sex and sharing knowledge with others can greatly improve our sex lives. But knowing our bodies is essential to this; knowledge equals power. Once we figure out what we need, what we want and how to get it we open up doors of exploration and satisfaction that will empower us and bring tons of joy and healing to our lives.
Aphrodisiacs like strawberries and chocolate can be an exciting and creative addition to a healthy sex life, but when the body is in need of physical healing we need to deal with these issues first. That’s where herbs can help, like saw palmetto for hormone balance, damiana for anxiety, or chaste tree for pituitary function. But in order to achieve results these must be used over a long term.
Before reaching for these, though, we need to ask ourselves what other physiological factors may be causing the dysfunction, which may be secondary to issues like decreased circulation, depression, anxiety, certain prescription medications, and more. For example, long-term use of the birth control pill can decrease your libido, sexual enjoyment and lubrication due to how the pill acts directly on a woman’s sexual hormone levels. Most recently it was discovered that even after its use is suspended it continues to negatively affect the libido in the long run. So get to the root of the problem before moving forward with any herbal treatment, and consult with a professional. Herbal treatments can be extremely powerful with adverse side effects depending on the individual.
Sexual ignorance and sexual problems in both men and women are rampant all over the world and the causes are numerous. It’s pretty incredible considering how much weight is put on the sexual experience. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that sex is at the root of the human experience, right there with love, both full of healing and empowering possibilities.
So know yourself, take care of your body, talk about it and know that more sex can mean a healthier world, which means a happier world and in turn, a more peaceful planet. Now there’s a secret to world peace!
All members and guests are invited (but not required) to bring a contribution to the monthly tasting table. For those not inclined toward the culinary arts, paper plates, plasticware and beverages are also very welcome.
April’s Tasting Table was deliciously (if sparsely) stocked by: Melanie Bermudez —Drinks; Leah & David Sherman—Girl Scout Cookies; Tina Pavel—Custard, Pasta Salad; Leila Barnes—Herb, Pepper & Cheese Bread; James O’Hare—Salmon; Gladys Sutton —Pesto Rice. Leah Sherman led many members in a pledge to increase the bounty next month!
Donations are also encouraged for the raffle table. Tickets are on sale at the raffle table during each meeting, and are fifty cents each. Ticket proceeds benefit the Society.
April’s raffle table included generous donations by: Leah & David Sherman—Herbal Home Remedies Book; Miguel Cisneros-Abreu— Teas & Sage Incense; James O’Hare— Entertaining with Style Book; Delphine Kendzia—Painted Heart Shaped Box; Melanie Bermudez—Bath Bar, Tooth Polish; Gladys & Bruce Sutton —Onyx Box; Enrique Schmalbach —Broom; Leila Barnes—Herb, Pepper & Cheese Bread; Juan Calderon—Two Candles; John Thorp—Haircut Certificate; Jane Hsu—Beeswax Candles
Newsletter submissions are always welcome. Contact me at 305-248-9029 or inariargenteus@gmail.com