Passiflora Herbal Health

06/04/2023

01/03/2023

St DAVID'S DAY WED 1st MARCH
To all my Welsh Readers and Friends Happy St Davids Day.

St David, the patron saint of Wales, was born in the year 500 and died as an old man on 1st March 589. He followed a simple, austere life & is reputed to have consumed only leeks and water. As is customary of saints he performed miracles, his most famous being when he was preaching to a large crowd in Llanddewi Brefi. When people at the back complained that they could not hear him, the ground on which he stood rose up to form a hill. A white dove, sent by God, settled on his shoulder. (1)

Leeks, one of the symbols of Wales are a source of soluble fibre which acts as a prebiotic feeding and enhancing the good bacteria in the gut, particularly important following a course of antibiotics such as I have been taking for a chest infection. Leeks are a particularly great source of kaempferol, & allicin . The former is thought to protect agains heart disease and allicin, a sulfur compound contributes to lowering cholesterol. (2)

My brother was named David, sadly he did not live to be an old man. He suffered from asthma and eczema from birth. IN HIS MEMORY I AM OFFERING 20% OFF MY NORMAL CONSULTATION FEE DURING THE MONTH OF MARCH FOR ANYONE SUFFERING FROM THESE CONDITIONS.

References
1. https://www.visitwales.com/info/history-heritage-and-traditions/st-david-five-facts
2. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/leek-benefits

20/01/2023

A study from Iran has surprisingly found that fenugreek seed (Trigonella foenum-graecum) might benefit patients with Alzheimer disease (AD). The specific aims of the randomised controlled trial (RCT) were to investigate the effects of fenugreek seed extract on memory, depression, quality of life, blood pressure (BP) and serum malondialdehyde (MDA) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) levels in adult AD patients. The study participants included 82 AD patients with mild-to-moderate memory deficit. Patients in the intervention group received 5 mL of fenugreek seed extract (equivalent to 500 mg of dry extract, corresponding to around 4 to 5 g of dried seed) for 4 months and those in the control group received a placebo. Memory, depression, quality of life, and BP levels, as well as serum MDA (an indicator of oxidative activity) and TAC, were assessed before and after the intervention. There was a significant increase in serum levels of TAC (p < 0.001) and a reduction in serum MDA status (p < 0.001) after 4 months of fenugreek seed extract supplementation. In addition, increasing levels of memory (p < 0.001) and quality of life (p < 0.001), as well as reductions in depression (p = 0.002), systolic BP (p < 0.001), and diastolic BP (p < 0.001) levels were detected in the intervention group compared with baseline. These promising results need to be confirmed in more studies. For more details see https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36199177/

20/01/2023

The cause of Alzheimers is not fully understood but the biggest single risk factor is increasing age. After the age of 65 the chance of devoloping Alzheimers doubles every 5 yrs!! With the increasing age of the population this illness is likely to become more prevalent. It behoves us all to do all we can to prevent this illness. So including fenugreek in your diet is an easy and inexpensive option.

Herbal medicine
Harnessing the power of plants
Inspired by tradition
Informed by science

A study from Iran has surprisingly found that fenugreek seed (Trigonella foenum-graecum) might benefit patients with Alzheimer disease (AD). The specific aims of the randomised controlled trial (RCT) were to investigate the effects of fenugreek seed extract on memory, depression, quality of life, blood pressure (BP) and serum malondialdehyde (MDA) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) levels in adult AD patients. The study participants included 82 AD patients with mild-to-moderate memory deficit. Patients in the intervention group received 5 mL of fenugreek seed extract (equivalent to 500 mg of dry extract, corresponding to around 4 to 5 g of dried seed) for 4 months and those in the control group received a placebo. Memory, depression, quality of life, and BP levels, as well as serum MDA (an indicator of oxidative activity) and TAC, were assessed before and after the intervention. There was a significant increase in serum levels of TAC (p < 0.001) and a reduction in serum MDA status (p < 0.001) after 4 months of fenugreek seed extract supplementation. In addition, increasing levels of memory (p < 0.001) and quality of life (p < 0.001), as well as reductions in depression (p = 0.002), systolic BP (p < 0.001), and diastolic BP (p < 0.001) levels were detected in the intervention group compared with baseline. These promising results need to be confirmed in more studies. For more details see https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36199177/

02/01/2023

Essential oil (EO) of lavender is also good for burns. Its one of the few EO that can be applied directly to the skin. I keep a bottle by my stove as I am always accidentaly touching hot handles or spilling boiling water over them. I first run them under cold water and then apply the oil. Its majic. No pain or scarring.

In 2014, the US Medicare system spent between $28.1 billion and $96.8 billion on acute and chronic wound management. This is clear evidence of a clinical and financial burden that highlights the need for effective wound care products that prevent complications and expedite healing. Despite efforts to advance wound care technology, many wounds remain difficult to treat. The American Burn Association reported that in 2016, 486,000 burns received medical treatment and 400,000 people were hospitalised with injuries related to burns.

Aloe vera has ling been regarded as an adjunctive wound care treatment, especially for burns, that carries minimal risk. However, despite its centuries-long history of being used to treat various wounds, scientific reports remain inconclusive about its efficacy. Hence, a group of New York-based clinicians conducted a systematic review assessing the efficacy of topical aloe vera products in wound care applications, as well as a meta-analysis of its utility in burn healing (where the data are most robust).
A database search identified 91 articles. After duplicates were removed, 74 articles were screened, and of those, 47 were assessed for eligibility. Ultimately, 28 articles were included in the qualitative synthesis, and 4 studies assessing second-degree burns were included in the meta-analysis. A majority of the articles supported the hypothesis that aloe vera treatment leads to faster healing than a comparison group; only one study yielded an unfavourable result. The meta-analysis included a total of 133 patients with 163 burn wounds being assessed. This analysis revealed a statistically significant mean difference in time to healing of 4.44 days in favour of aloe vera treatment (p = 0.004). For more information see https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36264753/

09/12/2022

08/12/2022

Congratulations to kerry, author of several of the key text books on herbal medicine that were on my reading list when I studied herbal medicine. I still refer to them

05/12/2022

30/11/2022

So many trees have medicinal value -
Willow the bark has analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties
Tillia (Lime) blossom is hypotensive and calming
The seeds (conkers to you and I) of Horse Chesnut are a tonic to the venous system
B**h leaves are diuretic, anti-inflammatory and antisetic making them useful in the treatment of urinary infections.

So treasure your trees

Herbal Medicine
Harnesing the power of plants,
Inspired by Tradition
Informed by Science

26/11/2022