Know your onions!

Onions are well known for their medicinal values. It is one of the foods suggested along with garlic to keep us free of heart problems.  It has also been traditionally used to help with colds, chest infections and ear ache. A common cure for bronchitis in the old days was to cut a large, raw, Spanish onion into quarters, and put under the bed of the sufferer. It was remembered as a very effective treatment.It could also be a used to treat earache,  an onion cut in half, applied to the ears, and kept in place with a scarf. For a cough medicine, a raw  onion, sliced was covered with brown sugar and left to stand over night. The liquid that it produced was an effect cough medicine.

There are many people in the 70s who can remember such treatments, and they vouched for their effectiveness, in the days before free health care, or when their parents could not afford the patient medicine. As with many cures that have been thought of as ‘old wife’s tales’ research has provided the validity of the original claims, and much more.

The onion is rich in Quercetin. The main source is to be found in the part of the onion that is usually thrown away both at home and in the manufacture of ready meals. That part is the papery outer skin. It is worth reading the results of tests carried out by the European Journal of Biochemistry 2003. The findings suggest the benefits are:-

• Protection from aging, vascular disease,
• Protection from certain forms of cancer, prostate, ovary, breast, colon and gastric cells.
• Quercetin is also anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic and antioxidant.

Studies are on going as to the wonderful properties the onion skin has.
James A. Duke,Ph.D. the American herbalist, in his book The Green Pharmacy, extols the virtues of the onion for preventing cataracts and heart disease, for treating allergies, asthma, burns, colds, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, HIV infection, inflammatory bowel disease, insect bites, pneumonia, scabies, tuberculosis, varicose veins and yeast infections. There are three things in this impressive list that is a major cause for concern for older folk, they are high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes.

Dr. Duke recommends a soup using the onions in a novel way, and that it to use the entire onion, cut into quarters, and cooked with the other ingredients.   Before serving, the onion pieces are removed and the outer skin discarded at that point.

Another possible way of using this valuable source of Quercetin is to make your own tincture.  Herbalists today use this method of extracting the goodness out of plant material, and that is to take about 4 ounces (120 grams) of the onion skins, put into an air tight jar with 1 pint (half a litre) of vodka.  This should be kept in a warm place and shaken twice a day for two weeks.  The liquid should be strained off through muslin, and the remaining plant material squeezed to get every last drop. This should be poured into,  and stored  in a dark bottle. Label, name and date it so that it is not confused with anything else. Smaller quantities can be made if it is only for your own consumption, and as you are using onions in your own kitchen.

To take the tincture use a little water, and add 15 drops of it. It could also be taken in a vegetable juice, mixed with carrots, peppers, beet root;  basically what ever you fancy that is good for your health.



The man who brought us an awareness of the importance of exercise is almost 100 years old, still fit, and still working!

It was 60 years ago in 1949 that Jerry Morris considered the data that he had collected on the instance of heart attacks. He had decided to study men working on the buses, the drivers and the conductors. He found there was overwhelming evidence to support the theory that conductors, age for age were half as likely to suffer heart attacks as the drivers.  The conductors on the double decker buses whizzed up and down the stairs collecting the passenger fares, whilst their colleagues sat and drove the bus.

Morris then studied the postmen who had active jobs, delivering the mail, whilst those working in the Post Office behind counters were like the bus drivers in terms of suffering heart attacks.

In 1953 The Lancet published Morris’s work “Coronary heart-disease and physical activity of work”.

Since these days for many of us the living has become easy.

• There has been a decline in physical activity
• Affordability of the motor car
• Television in almost every home, with today 24 hour viewing
• Ready made meals, TV dinners
• Processed food
• Less sport in schools
• The popularity of smoking
• The rise in social drinking

Heart attacks were on the rise after the war as observed by Jerry Morris, but today as a result of the above life style, heart disease is one of the biggest killers in the developed world.

There are a number of sites on the internet about the energetic Professor Morris and his scientific findings. Let’s hope he makes his 100th birthday next May.

Prickly Heat, Nettle Rash, Hives, Urticaria

Four names for the same thing, a specific skin condition caused by huge amounts of histamine released by the Mast cells found in the skin.  It can be caused by a number of things, dust, pollen, animal fur, and excessive heat.

The name Nettle Rash is appropriate because that is what it looks like, small, angry red blisters. So too Prickly Heat as it often appears when the weather is very hot.  Yes, it does prickle, and is itchy. It usually shows on the arms, neck and throat. Just what you don’t want on holiday.

In severe cases this can cause swelling around the eyes, and if it affects the throat, then breathing can be difficult, and would require medical treatment.

You may find that Prickly Heat only affects you when on holiday. Consider what is different from being at home (apart from loads of sun!) Hotel soap, new perfume, and of course the sun protection. It is found that the sun protection causes 3% of Prickly Heat. Did you have the problem last year? If so, think about what you used, and consider a different cream.

Stress can also be a factor.

Certain foods may make the situation worse, with the help of a nutritionalist one can find out the offending foods.

Anti-histamine will help combat the histamine causing the problem. This can be an over the counter remedy and it would be wise to take some with you just in case.  Some of these can cause lethargy, even the anti drowsy one. Cortisone is very effective at controlling Hives, but can cause drowsiness as well as other side effects

A short term solution could be a hot shower which would increase the histamine production. Once the histamine has been released, this should bring some relief for a few hours until the histamine builds up again. In the long term not the complete answer, but will offer some comfort until another solution can be found.

Alternative solutions.

• Nettle (Urtica)  as tincture, tea, capsules
• Jewelweed (Impatiens capensis)
• Vitamin C
• Beta-carotene supplement (15 mg)
• Quercetin
• Bathing
• Aloe-Vera
• Homoeopathy
• Food
• Sandalwood Essential Oil
• Mint Ice Cubes
• Flower Essences, Rescue Remedy

Something from the following should be of benefit. We are all different as human beings, and what might work for one may not work for another. Here are the suggestions.

Nettles in spite of causing a  rash, the plant contains anti-histamine and anti-allergic properties.  This can be taken in tincture form, in capsules, or made as a tea and applied topically.

Jewel weed (Impatiens capensis).  Dr James Duke recounts the story of experimenting by stinging both wrists with the stinging nettle.   He then applied a solution of lawsone, the active ingredient of the Jewel weed plant to one wrist, the treatment was instant.   The crushed plant would also help.

Vitamin C is  a natural anti-histamine, it will reduce the amount of histamine produced.   If low doses are taken throughout the day, in conjunction with the  A. Vogel tincture Urtica, this increases the effectiveness of the treatment.

Beta-carotene supplement (15 mg) daily, taken two weeks before the holiday. Find it in health food shops.

Quercetin, amongst other things is an anti-histamine.  The foods rich in Quercetin are lovage, apples, tea and onion, especially the red onion. The highest concentration occurs in the dry, outer skins.   Quercetin can be bought as a supplement. The recommended dose, 500 mg twice a day.

Bathing the body with a slice of lemon in the water.

Aloe-Vera has long been associated with bringing about relief from sun burn, and burns in general.   This can be applied as a gel, or taken internally.

Homoeopathy -There are a few that are reputed to work according to how the Prickly Heat presents it’s self. The condition can vary from being worse at night,  causing chills, very red and large, chronic and causing fever. The suggested remedies are Apis, Natrum muriaticum, Rhus toxicodendron, Urtica and Arsenicum album. If you chose this method of  treatment, it is wise to ask the advice of a Homeopath.
Also, Weleda’s Urtica Cream can bring about relief.

Food -During an attack of Hives Dr Thomas Bartram recommends avoiding foods that cause sweating;  hot drinks, curries and peppers.

Sandalwood Essential Oil – The ancient Indian Ayurvedic treatment would be to use 20 drops of oil to one ounce almond carrier oil,   Apply every 3-4 hours.   In India Hives are known as ‘pitta’ meaning fiery.   Sandalwood will calm the skin.

Mint Ice Cubes,  cooling cubes are an idea from herbal educator Norma Pasekoff Weinberg, using two teaspoons of fresh mint, or one of dried, add boiling water, allow to to infuse, strain and cool. Pour into cube trays, freeze, and when needed cool the affected parts.

Flower Essences. If the attack is more sever at times of stress, perhaps looking at a mental solution, for example the Bach Flower Remedies, Mimulus for fear and anxiety.   Rescue Remedy would be the best ‘first aid’ for the emotions.

Sources

Alternative Cures  Bill Gottleib ISBN 978-0-345-50539-2
Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine   Thomas Bartram    ISBN 978-1-85487-586-0
Green Pharmacy James Duke  ISBN 0-87596-316-1
Alfred Vogel Institute

There is much written at the moment about how dangerous supplements can potentially be, the suggestion being that many people use them instead of a decent meal.  This of course is wrong, and there should be no substitute for wholesome food.

Could it be that the supplement ogre is just around the corner waiting to remove them off the shelves of our favorite health food shops?

It is amazing that no such threat looms large over junk food, fizzy drinks and round the clock alcohol availability.  But we do have abortion for school girls without parental knowledge, the morning after pill for teenage girls, and the new cervical vaccination to prevent cervical cancer.

What is sad here is that there a number of people taking responsibility for their own lives and trying to keep themselves healthy.  These are the folk that to a large extent use fewer  of the NHS resources. The spend their own money on the products.   They probably have a more positive attitude to good health and life in general.

Do we need supplements?  Well, once upon a time before intensive farming, the ground had all the minerals and nutrients that were needed.  Today the soil has been denuded of these things so the wheat or root crops have less of the valuable vitamins and minerals that our grand parents would have had in their food.

Then there is the organic debate! There are many issues here, including:

• Organic produce is limited in what can be used to ensure pest free and weed free crops.
• There is a great concern that too many chemicals are ingested which cause harm.  The argument that these quantities are too small to make a difference, well, added together this chemical cocktail does cause harm

Some time ago new methods of food production were developed in the USA. Giant rollers milled the wheat to give wonderful white flour. White bread, fabulous!  The other foods at this time given the same treatment were sugar and rice. White equalled cleanliness, purity and thought to be more wholesome.  This unfortunately was not true.  Naturopaths at this time warned of the dangers of eating this kind of food.   They predicted a rise in heart problems, diabetes and cancer.  They haven’t been wrong. Food nowadays is volume and indulgence.

So, back to supplements!   The sort of people who take them will be the sort of people who will be the type who will eat the recommended amount of fruit and vegetables, they  care about their health, and why should they be penalized for doing so? I for one feel that the right supplements, taken as part of a balanced and healthy diet offer great benefits. We hope to see supplements around for a long time to come.