Late Autumn medicines; leaves, roots, herbs and spices
Permaculture garden - Offshoots, Towneley park, Lancashire
The evenings darken, the air chills and like nature we draw further into our homes and inward in preparation for winter. Go outside and it’s difficult to see what medicines are available among the dead vegetation and sparse hedgerows. The Rosehips and sloes will have softened with the first frost and in sheltered areas it will be still possible to harvest Plantain and Lungwort for chest medicines. Look closer and you may see Cleavers and Dandelion leaves growing close to the ground, as well as a few young nettles taking advantage of late frosts and shelter.
Lungwort
In autumn and winter many medicines are now under the soil and cannot be seen. Some of the best herbs I know for coughs now lie underground, only available to dig if you know where to look. Elecampane and Angelica roots are great herbs for deep seated wet, infected coughs that need help to loosen (expectorate) from deep within respiratory passages, as well as being fabulous restorative digestive tonics and there is also slippery mucilaginous Marshmallow roots for dry scratchy coughs that need soothing and healing. Horseradish root is an amazingly pungent, warming herb that despite being quite invasive is a pleasure to dig up for clearing congested sinuses and chests and well as improving the circulation.
Marshmallow root
Evergreen herbs grown in gardens can also provide valuable medicine for winter, and are really worth growing and nurturing in sheltered areas. Thyme is perfect for all kinds of coughs from deep, wet, infected coughs to dry, spasmodic ones. Sage and Rosemary also have expectorant properties and great decongestant medicines for the chest and sinuses. All of these are great digestive tonics too which is why they are often paired with fatty meats. They can be all bought as fresh and dried herbs in winter from good grocers to use in medicines if you don’t grow them in the garden.
British people are drawn towards spicy foods from the east, especially at this time of year. Herbs that are warming and drying are perfect for balancing ailments and illnesses cause by our cold damp winters and provide amazing medicine for coughs, colds and flu, as well as any other conditions. A well stocked store cupboard can provide instant access to some really valuable medicines that are accessible, affordable and don’t need many skills of identification. You just look at the label.
Cardamom – Elettaria cardamum
Cardamom pods
One of our favourite winter spices is Cardamom, and we love to keep them around in winter for use in our cough medicines, to put in teas, mulled drinks and coffee or just to chew on when needed. Cardamom is a member of the Ginger family and is often called the ‘Queen of Spices’ in India. The pods are picked green and then dried. They can be bought whole or powdered from markets, Asian grocers or supermarkets.
Cardamom is a warming, sweet, aromatic spice that is a rich source of vitamins such as vitamin C, B vitamins; and minerals; Potassium, Calcium, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Iron, sodium and zinc
Chewing on just the seeds or pods like chewing gum can sweeten the breath; those lovely aromatic oils helping to fight malodorous mouth bacteria, reducing the smell of alcohol and garlic on the breath. An article from the Dental Research Journal states that the oil extracted from cardamom seeds is a potent antiseptic that is known to kill the bacteria that can lead to dental caries, bad breath and other infections.. They suggest that it stimulates salivary flow and the fibrous outer coat helps in mechanical cleansing of the teeth. In short, it has all the benefits of an aromatic breath freshening chewing gum and none of its nuisance.
In fact Cardamom is great just to chew on anyway. I find it really good for helping to counteract acidity in the stomach as well as being great for indigestions, nausea and travel sickness. Its handy just to store in a small container and keep with you to be used when needed.
Most people just don’t realize how great a medicine cardamom is for the digestive tract in general, and it is used in the east as a general digestive tonic and can be particularly helpful for bloating, wind, spasm in the gut and many other uncomfortable digestive complaints. One of our favourite ways of using it is by taking the seeds out of a few pods and putting them in the blender with some natural live yoghurt and equal quantities of cold water and after whizzing it up for a few seconds, straining and using it as a lovely healing digestive drink, which you can add fruit to if you want. I like the fact that as a coffee drinker cardamom can be used to quell some of the jittery effects of caffeine and it does taste rather nice in winter to have a few pods in the cafetier when I brew up my morning coffee in winter.
Like most of the other spices it’s good as a stimulating, expectorant for wet coughs and phlegm that gets stuck in the chest as well as a decongestant for the sinuses and nostrils. Just chew on a cardamom pod, and you can feel it working on your sinuses. Its anti bacterial action can also be helpful with chest infections, and the anti-spasmotic effects of those aromatic oils can ease coughing fits. there is some folk usage of it being supportive of people with asthma too. Again its great to carry round and chew a as a first aid remedy for sore throats.
Its warming, stimulating effects can be useful in increasing circulation and it can be great to use in an infused oil with other spices such as ginger, rosemary, chilli, horseradish and black pepper as a potent joint and muscle rub. Ideal for use with damp aching joints in winter.
As the darkness of late autumn merges into winter its good to know that apart from supporting winter ailments it also has the ability to lifts the spirit, calming and clearing the mind. I’m thinking that as 2020 draws to a close after a challenging year this may help with anxiety, tension and nervous exhaustion. With a twinkle of the eye its also good to mention its traditional use as an aphrodisiac as it is reputedly a remedy for increasing sexual desire and virility.
Hot spiced apple
Put 2 litres of freshly pressed apple juice in a large saucepan. Add 2 sticks of cinnamon, a teaspoon of cardamom pods and a few cloves, a chunk of freshly grated ginger and a three star anise. Heat until it’s just starting to boil, turn the heat down low and simmer for about half an hour until the spices are infused.
This can be enjoyed on its own or as a winter drink for colds and fevers.
References:
McIntyre, A (2010) The Complete Herbal Tutor; Gaia :London.
Bruton –Seal, J & Seal, M (2010) Kitchen Medicine; Merlin Unwin Books: Ludlow.
