Cardamom - If At First You Don't Succeed, Chai Chai Again

Cardamom
(Elettaria cardamomum)

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When the chill of winter is upon us and the added pressure of another holiday season approaches, it’s a great time to stop, take a deep, aromatic breath and enjoy a true herbal friend: Cardamom. Cardamom has enormous worth and has been appreciated since ancient times for her fragrance, flavor and medicinal properties. Her sweet/spicy aroma is refreshing, opening to the sinuses and invites comforting memories of warmth and happiness. Sometimes known as “Grains of Paradise” or “Queen of the Spices,” cardamom is the third most expensive spice after saffron and vanilla. The somewhat round to oblong greenish pods containing twenty or more strongly aromatic seeds ripen at slightly different times, requiring hand harvesting; this partially accounts for its high price. Although native to Sri Lanka and southern India, it is primarily cultivated commercially in Guatemala.

A member of the ginger family, Cardamom can contain up to 8% volatile oils including terpines, cineol, limonene, borneol, camphor, pinene, eucalyptole, sabinene, and myrtenal. It was used as an essential essence in ancient Egypt and continues to remain of great value to aromatherapists the world over. Since the inception of the perfume industry, Cardamom has been a precious ingredient in many formulas. True Cardamom has a warm fragrance like eucalyptus with a hint of lemon while false or inferior products have a harsh, more camphor-like odor. Cardamom brings energetic warmth to the core of the body, allowing the surface to acclimate with the cooler weather. The penetrating aroma promotes clear thinking, improves memory and breaks up congestion in the head, stomach and chest.

This essential essence has a cheerful bouquet that is antidepressant and gives a lift to the spirit, while also calming anxiety and nervousness. If you are able to obtain exceptional quality essences, a wonderful remedy for all types of emotional trauma would include Cardamom layered with the essences of Inula, Goldenrod and Ylang-ylang applied neat to the skin over the heart (please only use the highest quality essences, it is best if you know where they come from first-hand). My friend once applied this combination right before arriving at his dog-sitting job where both dogs were prone to extreme excitability. When he arrived, right on cue both pups leaped on him frantically vying for his affection, yipping and licking his hands and neck where the essences had been applied. Within a few minutes, these normally neurotic dogs calmed right down and were soon curled up, relaxed and sleeping. They stayed calm and mellow for two days afterward, content to wag their tails happily and offer an affectionate lick - not even doing their normal freak-out when the mailman came to the door. Now that’s a powerful combination! Whether using the essence topically or taking the herb internally, she restores strength both physically and emotionally to chase away fatigue, listlessness and nervous exhaustion.

A stimulating herb for the digestion, Cardamom warms the middle and treats a variety of gastrointestinal disorders such as GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease), dysentery, gastritis, and chronic gastroenteritis. Its ability to sooth frayed nerves and anxiety as well as regulating the appetite makes Cardamom a great herb to choose as part of a treatment plan for many types of eating disorders. Because it can counteract food allergies and sensitivities, Cardamom is often paired with foods that are difficult to assimilate or mucous-forming such as dairy and sweets. Traditionally added to coffee in India and the Middle East, Cardamom also counteracts the harsh effects of caffeine. This herb is a real pal to have around over the holidays when overindulging in rich and heavy foods is the norm. Nausea, heartburn, indigestion and gas no longer need to be the unwelcome holiday guests, so long as you are sure to invite Cardamom to the party!

Cardamom really is a breath of fresh air, not only for conditions like allergies and chronic sinusitis, but also for chronic bronchitis and asthma. It is a well-known expectorant that will help to reduce phlegm, open a tight chest, and relax coughing spasms. It is best suited for Cold Damp conditions, in other words, the mucous would be white and copious; it is not particularly appropriate for hot, infectious conditions unless used in proper combination. As an ingredient in many herbal formulas, Cardamom offers a pleasant taste that improves the overall flavor of medicinal combinations while improving their absorption and digestibility. It really can be a “breath of fresh air” when used to offset garlicky halitosis!! Cardamom has such an agreeable perfume it is one of the few herbs that will cover garlic-breath.

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Cooking with Cardamom will almost guarantee a great result, but it can be too strong if used with a heavy hand. When purchasing this splendid spice, be sure to choose whole, plump, undamaged green pods with a thin skin. Grind only as many seeds as needed at any one time for the best flavor, as the volatile oils will dissipate quickly. Freshly ground Cardamom offers an intense and pungent zing to any recipe and is featured in many curries, baked goods, fruit compotes and mulled wines. Using cardamom whole or only slightly crushed will lend a milder flavor to pickles or rice dishes; the pods can be removed easily before serving if desired. Because of the volatile oil content, it is best not to overcook Cardamom or it will lose its balanced flavor and become harsh or slightly bitter.

Here I would like to offer up my personal chai recipe that has received rave reviews to all who have tried it. I will frequently make a large batch of the chai mix to keep on hand for a quick fix while hunkering down in chilly New England from October to March. It really does help to keep me warmer, more focused and contented during “hibernation.” Serve it to all your guests and you will receive kindness and warmth in return.

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Lisl’s Chinese Herbal Chai

2 Tbs Cardamom pods, crushed

2 Cinnamon sticks (approx. three inches each)

5 slices Ginger*, dried (each about the size of a poker chip)

*(Or ¾” piece of fresh ginger, sliced)

2 tsp Black Pepper Corns, slightly crushed

1 tsp Clove buds

1 tsp grated Orange peel

5 Chinese Red Dates, dried

1 Tbs Goji berries, dried

6 cups water

1 heaping Tbs Black Tea

Whole Milk or Half & Half and Honey to taste

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Combine all ingredients except for the tea in a medium sized saucepan and soak for about 15 minutes. Over high heat, allow the mixture to come just to the boiling point, then immediately reduce heat, cover and simmer for 15-20 minutes. Remove from heat, add tea and replace cover. Steep for 5 minutes, strain and add milk and honey as desired. Garnish with a dash of cinnamon or nutmeg.

Lisl Meredith Huebner, Dipl.CH (NCCAOM), RH (AHG) is a nationally board certified Chinese Herbalist, and a Registered Herbalist with the American Herbalists Guild. Lisl is also a certified Medicinal Aromatherapist, a level II Reiki practitioner, an Acupressurist, an Auriculotherapist, a photographer, a renowned diagnostician, a teacher and a published writer in private practice for over a decade. She is available by appointment. HerbaLisl.com

Please call 8 6 0 - 4 8 0 - 0 1 1 5 or email HerbaLisl@hotmail.com if you have any questions, would like to schedule an appointment, attend meditations, weed walks, or are interested in taking classes.

Nettles - A True Herbal Friend

Stinging Nettle
(Urtica dioica)

I’m thinking that this series of articles aught to be renamed “Weeds to Know” for the fact that most of them are written to clear up the horrible slander imposed on our leafy green friends. I am in love with Nettles. Some call it “Seven-minute-itch” for the itchy rash the plant’s stinging hairs cause on the skin; this rash is quickly cleared up by applying the crushed leaves of curly dock, plantain, jewelweed or violet. An old rhyme is a reminder of the cure for nettle-itch: “Nettle in, Dock out. Dock rub Nettle out!” Many people avoid it like the plague while out hiking, but most folks aren’t even aware of it at all. This is heartbreaking because Nettles are the most fabulous remedy for seasonal allergies, make a delicious herbal tea, are a fantastic cooked green vegetable, have sturdy fibers for making superior cloth and rope, and are really gorgeous (in my opinion). No kidding, I am in LOVE with Nettles!!!!

Okay, okay, so they sting a little. This is due to the small amounts of formic acid in the tiny glass-like stinging hairs found all over the leaves and stem of the plant. Once these beautiful greens are cooked, dried, or cut and stored in the refrigerator for a day or so, they lose their venom. Some people claim to never get stung by them at all; according to Stalking Wolf, a legendary Apache scout and medicine man (known to the fans of Tom Brown Jr.’s books as Grandfather), if you show no fear and talk to them, the nettles won’t sting you. I sing songs of gratitude to the nettles when I pick them and I don’t fear them, but that doesn’t stop me from wearing gloves…just in case!!

The sting isn’t even all bad; people have used the topical application of the stinging plant (called urtication) to treat arthritis, osteoarthritis, rheumatism and numbness. It was often used by warriors to encourage circulation in order to help keep them warm in cold, damp environments or to keep them awake if need be. According to the Doctrine of Signatures which shows us how the “personality” of a plant will dictate its uses, the stimulating effect of Nettles on the skin reflects its invigorating effect on the internal organs. It has been long used as a spring tonic that jump starts the organs and promotes energy after a long winter’s rest or general fatigue. It is very helpful for stimulating the thyroid, libido and the brain, encouraging hair growth and building tissue strength. It removes old, stagnant mucous, uric acid, stones and other wastes from the body while improving liver function and regulating metabolism. It’s like an herbal “kick-in-the-pants.”

As a potherb, Nettles easily rivals spinach in taste, texture and nutrition. It has very high protein content for a vegetable- up to 24%, plus significant amounts of iron, silicon, potassium and other minerals, as well as heart-healthy fats, chlorophyll, vitamins A, B and C. It is best eaten in the spring when the leaves are still tender, but when the leaves are tougher before flowering, cut the plant tops on an arid day after the dew evaporates to hang dry for nutritious teas… you may even be rewarded by tender new growth for another chance at a culinary treat. Its flavor pairs well with eggs, leeks, mushrooms, goat cheese and potatoes, and when combined all together, make a savory quiche. You could also opt to make a creamy nettles soup, or saute with garlic, mushrooms and white beans for a hearty side dish.

 Nettles tea is also delicious; it’s like a meal in a cup. Medicinally, this is the best form to take it in, other than freeze-dried capsules. I have often prescribed Nettles for all types of allergies, including some types of dermatitis. Nettles taken medicinally naturally decongests the sinus, opens the lungs to stop wheezing asthma and shortness of breath, and acts as an expectorant. It helps rashes that are red and itchy; it’s especially helpful for eczema that causes fingers to swell.

Nettle has an impressive record. It is frequently and successfully used for the treatment of gout, gangrene, chronic cystitis, dysentery and various ulcerations and is recommended in the treatment of tumors and cancer. In cases of “Blood Heat” in Traditional Chinese Medicine, where blood appears inappropriately in the stool or urine, nettles controls bleeding when taken internally; the juice or powder is applied topically, as with nosebleeds or bleeding hemorrhoids.

For women, nettles can also be used to promote the menses, for excessive menses, post-partum hemorrhage, or in a formula for bleeding associated with endometriosis. Wise women will also find it to be a useful galactagogue when nursing, helpful for regulating milk when weaning a child and supportive for building blood post partum or in cases of anemia. It is also valuable in the treatment of leucorrhea, edema and various types of urinary dysfunction.

Men need not feel left out, the root is effective for prostate health; the high amount of sterols improves the white blood cell count, which in turn reduces infection and inflammation of the prostate. As a remedy for alopecia, comb in nettles juice daily and wash the hair with nettles tea. If you’re brave enough, urtication of the scalp stimulates the follicles and is sure to impress the ladies as well!

Though often associated with simple country folk, nettles was prized as a home remedy, as food or beverage (including the famous nettles beer), for its strong rope and waterproof netting and rivaled flax in durability and smoothness for linens and cloth. It was cut and added to fodder for all manner of livestock to improve their coats, their health, milk production in heifers and egg production in fowl, and it made all the animals fatter and happier.

Each year, I gather shopping bags of these goodies to feed my family, friends and give away to clients. I harvest a lot, and I always think that there will be plenty dried to last over the winter for tea. That almost never happens; come February, there is never a surplus. Imagine my delight when I discovered  two new patches in the fields around the property that were only a small handful of plants last year. Now I will certainly be able to gather enough to eat AND dry!!!

Did I mention that I am in LOVE with Nettles? I hope that you, gentle reader, will find some to strike up an affair with and then, you too, will fall head over heels.

Lisl Meredith Huebner, Dipl.CH (NCCAOM), RH (AHG) is a nationally board certified Chinese Herbalist, and a Registered Herbalist with the American Herbalists Guild. Lisl is also a certified Medicinal Aromatherapist, a level II Reiki practitioner, an Acupressurist, an Auriculotherapist, a photographer, a renowned diagnostician, a teacher and a published writer in private practice for over a decade. She is available by appointment. HerbaLisl.com

Please call 8 6 0 - 4 8 0 - 0 1 1 5 or email HerbaLisl@hotmail.com if you have any questions, would like to schedule an appointment, attend meditations, weed walks, or are interested in taking classes.

Lady's Mantle - Green Alchemist

Lady’s Mantle
(Alchemilla vulgaris)

A beautiful addition to any spring garden is Lady’s Mantle. Her large furry leaves provide a lovely spreading ground cover with a moderate height of 12 inches or so, while her chartreuse flowers provide a gorgeous contrast to many other perennial blooms. The common name “Lady’s Mantle” refers to this herb’s affinity for women’s health, while the Latin moniker makes reference to the “alchemy” that the leaves display as they cradle dew drops like precious diamonds that won’t evaporate for many hours.

Alchemilla’s alchemy doesn’t stop there; the way that the leaves hold droplets of water is in fact a “Signature” for some of the herb’s most valued functions. Although Lady’s Mantle is not a diuretic, it has the ability to pull excess water from the tissues in such a way as to be described as “vaporization.” Again, the words that describe her functions, like her formal name, imply a magical quality. Alchemists once classified this quality as Mercurius (or mercury), one of the three foundational substances in the Universe. The first substance, Salis (or salt) refers to the physical aspect of the body as well as integrity and character; the second, Sulphur is the life force or Qi that provides the animate and passionate aspect of our existence, while Mercurius is much more esoteric: it is the very Essence of Being.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the aspect of Essence, called Jing, is governed by the Kidneys and is a quality that we inherit at birth. Essence defines our sexual potency, regulates our development and carries our genetic and hormonal blueprints. Essence is found at the Ming Men (The Gate of Life-located just below the kidneys, in the center of the body, behind the navel), and provides a basis for the alchemical processes, including the vaporization of its vital energy that supports the body, mind and soul and gives us our personal identity. To quote Matthew Wood in The Book of Herbal Wisdom, “Lady’s Mantle must correspond to processes which encourage cohesion on the surface of the droplet and prevent vaporization, while at the same time…it must possess the ability to refine and distill fluids into their most subtle expression or ‘essence.’”

Like many members of the rose family, its value often centers on its benefits as a women’s herb, in particular to the urogenital organs. Lady’s Mantle not only helps to balance the menses and alleviate premenstrual tension, cramps or pain, but also relieves symptoms associated with menopause. Alchemilla will stop hemorrhage, excess bleeding, and discharges; for leucorrhea, preparing a decoction of the leaves (boiling in water) provides the remedy with more concentrated tannins that astringe secretions and halt discharges. A douche prepared from a decoction cooled to body temperature would also be appropriate. This particular usage of the herb (taken orally or vaginally) is also quite effective for the treatment of Candidiasis.

An infusion of the leaves is used to support the uterus in cases of prolapse as well as for traumas such as miscarriage, abortion, IUD’s, surgeries or Pelvic Inflammatory Disease. (To prepare an infusion, pour boiling water over the herb and steep for about 20 minutes.) Strengthening the uterus is particularly desirable when there is difficulty conceiving or in cases of habitual miscarriage. Because Lady’s Mantle is a uterine stimulant, it is contraindicated during pregnancy except during the last trimester when it is used to prepare the womb for birth; it can also facilitate labor.

Lady’s Mantle has great worth to post-partum women because of her ability to heal and tone tissues. Taking the herb internally as an infusion or adding the infusion to a soothing bath is a great way to enjoy her beneficial properties. In folk medicine her fame included the capacity to restore a mother’s figure, even by providing a lift for sagging breasts! Reestablishing tissue integrity and strength is her primary gift to women, and Alchemilla does it incredibly well; her reputation for restoring virginity (!) by healing a torn hymen is probably not exaggerated.

Healing damaged tissues is not limited to the reproductive organs however; Lady’s Mantle has been known to repair perforated eardrums in record time. When used with Shepherd’s Purse, she has shown wonderful results in the treatment of hernias and various prolapses, including varicosities. As an adjunct treatment for Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Celiac Sprue or Graves, Alchemilla can help repair damage to the intestinal lining, reduce inflammation and dry up diarrhea.

Historically, Alchemilla was mostly used as a vulnerary because she can clean the site of injury, is a good infection fighter, promotes new tissue growth and can help stop bleeding. The accordion-like folds on the leaf are a reminder of her ability to “pull together” a wound and tighten up the tissues. Healing torn muscles is within her range of abilities and adding strength to muscles – including the heart – is another reason her value to humankind is not to be underestimated. Many herbalists will prescribe a tincture of Lady’s Mantle to MS patients to help invigorate weakened muscles and ease pain.

Alchemilla contains salicylic acid, a well-known ingredient found in aspirin, making her particularly helpful for injuries with pain. She’s also effective when applied topically to bruises, or infused in oil and applied to painful joints or gout. Taken internally, Lady’s Mantle will help to maintain our delicate salt/fluid balance and improve the integrity of membranes and cell walls, thereby increasing the transportation of nutrients within the body. Once again, this is evident by the way the droplets of water perch upon her leaves.

From a spiritual and emotional standpoint, Lady’s Mantle also offers many personally enriching qualities. Cellular integrity translates to personal integrity, poise and refinement. She provides a shield of psychological protection and once you’ve formed a bond with her, you’ll emanate a sphere of positive influence to the world around you. Cultivating our relationship to the sacred feminine embodies creativity, sensuality, and divinity in the process of nurturing our relationship to the inner child, matron and crone. From that space of compassion, we can accesses the personal power necessary to release the pain from old wounds and support the development of our most radiant self.

It’s not surprising then to know that the dew collected from her leaves would be added to beauty tonics and lotions, or that Alchemists would place a high value upon this precious dew for the longevity tonics they would create. Once upon a time, people would stuff their pillows with the fresh or dried leaves to ensure a peaceful night’s sleep and gardeners would plant this beauty to encourage the faeries to live in their gardens as well. How we have managed to stray so far from these spirit-supporting beliefs in the name of scientific “progress” is beyond my understanding. Much like the sound of music finally penetrating the ears of someone who has been deaf since childhood, our journey home to the gentle heart of the Earth will be a certain balm to all our souls.

Lisl Meredith Huebner, Dipl.CH (NCCAOM), RH (AHG) is a nationally board certified Chinese Herbalist, and a Registered Herbalist with the American Herbalists Guild. Lisl is also a certified Medicinal Aromatherapist, a level III Reiki practitioner, an Acupressurist, an Auriculotherapist, a photographer, a renowned diagnostician, a teacher and a published writer in private practice for over a decade. She is available by appointment. HerbaLisl.com

Please call 8 6 0 - 4 8 0 - 0 1 1 5 or email HerbaLisl@hotmail.com if you have any questions, would like to schedule an appointment, attend meditations, weed walks, or are interested in taking classes.

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