Calcutta, India: What's for dinner? It's not beef!

Spirit cleansing, Ganges

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Acorus calamus
Adiantum lunulatum
Allium cepa
Asafitida
Ashwagandha
Boswellia
Camphor Tree
Curcuma longa L.
Curry (15 different herbs)
Dates (Phoenix dactylifera)
Guggal, Myrr
Gurmar
Indian Squill
Ipecac
Gota Kola, Indian Pennywort
Nelumbium
Neem
Radish
Rauwolfia, Indian Snakeroot

Notes: I occasionally dry a piece of the root and suck on thin slices to keep me awake when working long hours. For example like right now while finishing this text at 2 AM. the European and American species contains less beta asarone a toxic, carcinogenic substance in the roots.

This semi aquatic plant grows well in temperate areas. Looks a bit like cattails but is aromatic. Native Americans rode for miles to find this sacred plant. Used by Sun Dancers as a sialagogue to keep their throat moist when singing for up to 24 hours. The white spongy rhizome may be dried and sucked on as a mild stimulant. Yellow volatile oil of rhizome when dried resembles odor of patchouli.

Medical Uses in India: Infusion of root is used for acute disorders of the digestive tract to include dysentery and diarrhea. Infusion also used in treating bronchial problems and lung and chest infections. Also used to treat epilepsy. For flatulence the ashes of the burned root are mixed with a bland oil like almond oil and rubber over abdomen. As a poultice it is wrapped around rheumatic swellings of joints and (according to Kapoor (1)) applied to paralyzed limbs. Alcohol extraction is sedative and analgesic, slows respiration and may lower blood pressure.

Traditional uses: antispasmodic, bitters, carminative, expectorant, stimulant, aromatic as a garland or in the home, emmenagogue, aphrodisiac, diuretic, laxative, emetic.

Chemistry: Main constituent of essential oil is asaryl-aldehyde with smaller amounts of sesquiterpene and sesquiterpenic alcohols. Alpha and beta asarone make up the bulk of the essential oil when fractioned. The bitter glycoside is acorin. Also, eugenol, pinene, camphene and ascarone, acoretin (choline) 1.5% voloatile oils and 2.5% resins, 1.5% tannins, polysacharides, sterol bodies.

Wildlife /Veterinarian: The steam distilled root is deadly to houseflies, probably from the trans-isomer asarone.

I see much maidenhair fern along the coast of Vancouver island, typically hanging down from a sea cave wall or wave worn shelter, or canyon wall. It likes moist areas. A typical dose of the powdered dried rhizome 4-12 ml powder (1).

Root used medicinally used as anthelminthic, to reduce fevers, diuretic, expectorant, and considered an alterative. Used with cough, fever. Rhizomes also used in treating leprosy.

Notes: A food I eat almost everyday raw on vegetable sandwiches. The relatively high amounts of phenolic compounds including quercitin in the scaly outer skin deserve more study. The dried skin is used to make yellow dye

Medicinally the dried outer skin and its flavonoids and other phenolic compounds. Other phenolic acids have been found in the meat of the bulb. Scales have catrechol and protocatechic acid.

Traditional uses: stimulant diuretic, antiseptic bactericidal, aphrodisiac, rubefacient, tearing agent

Juice used to treat piles. Eaten raw expect tearing, stimulation, diuretic effects. The decocted juice of the bulb is used for cough, vinegar extraction of bulb for enlaged spleen and jaundice, dyspepsia. Crushed onion applied externally for skin infections. Eaten for obstructions to intestines, anus prolapse. Used with mustard oil, onion juice is said to effective over painful, inflamed and swollen joints. Roasted bulb poultice over boils, chilblains, wounds. Dosage of infusion is 15 to 20 ml (1).

Chemistry: quercitin in outer dry skin. Also, glycolic acid, sugar, essential oil, sulfides.

Medicine: Root and leaves used. Used as a tonic, like ginseng, to increase energy and overcome exhaustion and stress. It is astringent, a nervine, sedative. The root extraction is considered an aphrodisiac, diuretic, tonic. The root, approximately two grams are consumned to treat senility, rheumatism, memory loss, stress, spermatorrhea and muscle weakness. According to Kapoor the powdered root may be used with honey or ghee (clarified butter) for treating impotence. Restorative to chronically ill. Leaf powder high in iron is used for treating anemia (half teaspoon of leaf powder to a cup of water once per day). May increase sperm count in males (treatment for male impotence and male infertility).

Herb combinations: Withania, licorice and Batatas paniculata is taken with milk in decoction as a galactagogue. Withania and urine are heated in water and applied to sores, swollen glands and scrofulous.

Chemistry: Lipophilic root extraction (ethanol) yields alkaloids: sominferiene, withanine, withananine, sominferinine, pseudowithanine and nicotine. Phytosterols (steroidal lactones: withanolides) beta sitosterol. Pseudotropine and and tropine in roots with numerous minerals including iron.

Dosage: typical dosage is from 2 to 6 grams of powdered root. One half teaspoon of powdered leaves with water (infusion).

Medicinal: For bursitis, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis. The gum called a guggal is a oleoresin of essential oils, gum, terpenoids. As an anti-inflammatory agent. Bark is cut to get gum to exude. Tree leaves look like Neem tree leaves. Alcohol tincture of root anticancer activity against epidermal carcinoma of the nasopharynx in vitro. Root and ruit extract may depress CNS activity in mice. Rat studies showed root and fruit hypoglycemic to albino rats. Gum resin both sedative and analgesic. Other traditional uses of gum resin: liver disorders, piles, syphilis, dysmenorrhea, menorrhea, lung disease, diarrhea, dysentery.

Paste from gum made with coconut oil and lemon juice used topically ulcers, ringworm, boils, carbuncles, swellings.

Chemistry: gum oleoresin, terpenoids, essential oils, boswellic acids (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agent). Boswellic acids may inhibit leukotrienes that induce inflammation.Phytosterol beta-sitosterol.

Amount: gum standardized extract 400 mg three times per day for 6 to 12 months. According to The Nature Pharmacy, Prima health, pp.239, rheumatoid arthritis sufferers may take 150 mg of standardized extract three times per day. According to Kapoor, hanbook of Ayurvedic Medicinal Plants CRC Press, doses include: 1-1.5 ml of oil, or bark decoction 56-112 ml. See a medical professional for access to the drug. Try Merz's Pharmacy at the junction of Western and Lincoln in Chicago, IL.

Notes: My Mother, Jane Meuninck, takes Boswellia extract for her rheumatoid arthritis. Her response to the supplement has been good.

Curry powder contains many antioxidants. It was used to preserve food. The quality ingredients of curry may improve your health. Use curry dishes when you are vulnerable to acute infections: colds, flu, sinusitis, bronchitis, sore throat.

turmeric, Curcuma longa: antioxidant, antimicrobial, simulates flow of bile, sprinkle on wounds, digests fats, anti-dysentery, protects liver, anti-inflammatory, reduces cholesterol, anti-clotting, anti cancer, phytochemical: curcumin, anti-gout.

coriander, (cilantro) Coriandrum sativum: digestive aid, anti infection anti fungal, anti inflammatory in animals, lowers blood glucose levels.

fenugreek, Trigonella foenum-graecum: reduces cholesterol, demulcent for sore throats, uterine stimulant may bring on late menstruation, mile anti-inflammatory, may lower blood glucose levels, does so in animal studies.

cumin, Cuminum cyminum: migraines of digestive origin, digestive aid, improves assimilation of other herbs and nutrients, may improve liver function.

red pepper Capsicum annum: anti-inflammatory, cold stages of fever, asthma, old age stimulant, varicose veins, externally anti inflammatory and anti-pain.

black pepper, Piper longum: improves digestion, decongestant, antibiotic, analgesic.

cinnamon, Cinnamomum sp.: antimicrobial, specific to E. coli and Candida albicans, eugenol (analgesic) digestive aid, Japanese study says reduces blood pressure.

ginger, Zingiber officinale: ulcers, nausea, warming, motion sickness, nausea, ulcers, colds coughs influenza, peripheral circulation problems warming, diarrhea, vomiting, uterine bleeding blood in urine.

star anise, Illicium verum: Abdominal pain, digestive aid, antifungal, antibacterial, lumbago, cold hands, coughs, breath sweetener.

clove, Syzygium aromaticum: gastroenteritis, intestinal parasites, nausea, vomiting, hiccups, impotence, stomach chills, externally for toothache, insect bites.

cardamon, Elettaria cardamomum: indigestion, nausea, vomiting, enuresis, pulmonary complaints, copious phlegm, cardamon powder in water (cardamon tea) as a gargle for bad breath. Tinctured herb subject to legal restrictions.

nutmeg, Myristica fragrans: diarrhea, dysentery, vomiting, indigestion, colic, externally for toothache, excess internally may give headache, insomnia internally

laurel leaves (bay )Lauris nobilis: antioxidant, indigestion, poor appetite, colic, flatulence, externally in baths dandruff, rheumatism sprains, bruises, scabies, atonic ulcers.

allspice Pimenta dioica: diarrhea, flatulence, exhaustion, externally muscular aches, chest infections.

garlic Allium sativum: antibiotic, heart disease lowers cholesterol, reduces blood sugar levels, anti-cancer, helps limit lead poisoning.

This food is underrated. Spring Lake, Illinois is visited every fall by Vietnamese Americans who wade chest deep in the cold water to pick the lotus receptacles and their seeds...It is cherished food and medicine.

Use includes the seed, the dried embryo of the seed and seed receptacle and rhizome as food and medicine. Seed is used as food to treat insomnia...Soak until soft and cook in stir fry. The lotus leaf is rich in alkaloids and flavonoids including nelumboside is hypotensive with animals and antibacterial against Shigella dysenterieae and Eberthella typhosa. The rhizome is astringent and is considered hemostatic, controls bleeding both pulmonary and gastric hemorrhage and shortens bleeding time responsible chemicals may be asparagine, tyrosine, arginine, trigonelline and tannins. The dried seed receptacle and its alkaloids are bitter and warming, used as a hemostat and antimicrobial.

Flowers are cooling, sedative (ethanol extract is sedative to laboratory animals). Leaf paste is mixed with sandalwood for fevers. Seeds are said to stop vomiting. Seed paste is used externally on skin afflictions. Root is taken internally for piles. Flower petals used traditionally for treating venereal disease. Seeds are nutritive and demulcent. The seed helps control diarrhea, cook it and add it to stir fry. It is astringent, cleans the kidneys, strengthen the spleen and dispels heat from the heart (tannins and alkaloids may be responsible for this action).

The female reproductive part of the plant, the pistil, is dried into pellets and they are used to control nocturnal emissions, frequent urination and dysentery.

Activity: tonic, nutrient; aphrodisiac; hemostatic(stops bleeding); nervine. TIM: tonic to heart and spleen energy; nourishes semen-essence, hypotensive.

Use: insomnia; impotence; menorrhagia(excessive bleeding as opposed to menorrhalgia=painful menstruation or pain in pelvic region during menstruation); leukorrhea( white or yellow mucus discharge from vagina, some discharge normal); neurasthenia(chronic fatigue, lassitude, anxiety neurosis etc.); venereal diseases; weak heart; pancreatitis (inflamed pancreas symptoms: sudden intense pain in epigastric region, vomiting, belching of gas, nausea, collapse).

Traditional Chinese therapy 6-12 grams of seed in decoction; in three doses on empty stomach.

Dosage: Pollen: 4-6 grams; 3 to 5 grams of root powder; 1 to 2 grams of pollen...Compare this to recommended doses as per Chinese medicine: Seed as a powder; grind to powder first; 4-8 grams in three doses on empty stomach. The seed embryo is cooling good for lowering fevers. Dried leaf tea is bitter and is infused 15-30 grams in a liter of water. 10 to 30 grams of dried rhizome is decocted in a liter of water. Use three times as much fresh root in a decoction. Seed receptacle is simmered 5 to 10 grams in a half litter of water.

Lotus seed: soup, soak seeds for a few hours, drain, boil in fresh water, add honey, lycium

Chemistry: alkaloids: neuciferine, roemerine, armepavine in leaves;lotusine chloride, methylcorypalline, demethycoclaurine, isoliensinine, neferine, liensinine...Methylcorypalline dilates coronary arteries. Demethcoclauine relaxes smooth muscles of uterous..

Quercitin, luteolin, isoquercitin in petals and stamens. Flavonoids in leaves include: leukodelphinidin, isoquercitin, leukocyanidin, quercitin. Seeds are oil rich: palmitic, myristic, linoleic, linolenic acid and oleic acid.

Medicinal: Male contraceptive under patent. Functional in male rats. Traditionally in India as anthelminthic, bitters, emmenagogue, antiseptic febrifuge. Leaf extract delays clotting time.

To break fevers (febrifuge) including malarial fevers. Uses externally on wounds (Neem oil). Oil also on leprosy, ulcers, insect bites, scabies (mixed with fresh turmeric).

Chemistry: bioflavonoids: myricetin, quercitin, kemferol often extracted with hot alcohol. Various resins, alkaloids, tannins. Beta sitosterol. Nimbidin and nimbidol are antibacterial, antifungal, spermacidal.