Remember Eucalyptus?

    

Here are a few interesting facts.

On my last trip to Trader Joes, I saw a great deal on dried Eucalyptus ($4.99 for a big bunch of it).  This is the kind of Eucalyptus that is used for table decorations or in flower vases. I have vivid memories of orange Eucalyptus in orange vases (or those cornucopia baskets) with brown cattails in the bathrooms or hallways of my mom’s friends -  way back in the 70s. (Yes, Cathy Flubacher and Teena Jones – I remember these in your houses.) I think my mom had a few of those floral arrangements as well - You know, the kind that looked great with wood paneled walls and shag carpet. (Ours was orange too.) As the years have passed I have not really thought of it much, but I have always loved the smell of Eucalyptus.

 It turns out that there are many other uses for Eucalyptus besides outdated décor. I never knew there were different types of Eucalyptus[1], and one of the most helpful ones is Eucalyptus globulus.  There have been several studies on the medical benefits of this plant. According to Dennis Zofou, Eucalyptus globulus has been researched as a treatment for malaria in Camaroon.

             

 For centuries, Eucalyptus globulus has been used for breathing issues. Because this plant’s pharmacological actions include being and expectorant, a mild antispasmodic, an antibacterial, an antifungal, and an antiviral, it should be in every household! Of course, proper use is important. It can be used as an essential oil – but not directly applied to babies or used internally because of toxicity to the Kidney (USDA). The dried leaf can also be used as a tea. Of course, for people who like the smell of Eucalyptus (like me), diffusing the oil in your home is pleasant. It reminds me of a very clean smell.

 Eucalyptus is native to Tasmania and didn’t come to the US until 1856. Because the Eucalyptus is a tree, the wood is used in other countries as firewood, but not for lumber. (USDA) (I wonder if burning a Eucalyptus log in your fireplace would smell as good as the dried leaves.) It is a good source of nectar. There are really so many uses for Eucalyptus! According to the USDA Fire Service:

                        The oil is used as a flavoring agent in cold and cough medicines.  It is

                        used in disinfectants, antiseptic liniments, ointments, toothpastes, and

                        mouthwashes.  It is used by veterinarians for treating influenza in

                        horses, distemper in dogs, and septicaemia in all animals.

 I’m almost certain I will not administer Eucalyptus globulus in all of these ways, but I am glad that I learned more about this versatile plant. I think I will go back to Trader Joes and get that ornamental Eucalyptus to put somewhere in my house and then read up on the medicinal uses of Eucalyptus globulus.

Works Cited

Esser, Lora L.USDA Fire Service. “Eucalyptus globulus.” In: Fire Effects Information       System. 7 March 2012. Web.

Zofou,Denis, Mathieu Tene, Moses N. Ngemenya, Pierre Tane, and Vincent P. K. Titanji.            “In Vitro Antiplasmodial Activity and Cytotoxicity of Extracts of Selected     Medicinal Plants Used by Traditional Healers of Western Cameroon.” Malaria       Research and Treatment Volume 2011, Article ID 561342. 24 January 2011.      PubMed.gov. 7 March 2012.  Web.

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[1] The USDA Fire Service lists the different species of Eucalyptus as: E.

blakelyi, E. botryoides, E. cinera, E. cypellocarpa, E. ovata, E. rudis,

E. tereticornis (forest redgum eucalyptus), E. urnigera, and E.

viminalis (manna eucalyptus).

Alfalfa - Not Just for Horses

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) was only familiar to me as a type of horse hay. In fact, it was general knowledge at the barns I frequented that Alfalfa hay was to be used sparingly because it was a protein-rich legume hay that effected a horse’s system. Horses that ate alfalfa were typically athletic horses that needed that extra energy that Alfalfa could provide. I really had no idea that Alfalfa was used for centuries in the healing of humans.  Sure, every now and then, I would buy alfalfa sprouts at the grocery to add to my salads, but besides that, I didn’t have much use for the plant.

Alfalfa was well known in Ancient Greece and Rome – especially as horse feed. According to Francis P. Griffiths in the article “Production and Utilization of Alfalfa,” the word “alfalfa” is derived from an old Iranian word meaning “Horse Fodder.” It wasn’t until later, when the plant was introduced in Greece that it was called “Medic.”

The plant’s pharmacological actions are varied and many; and there is some indication that the ancient users of Medicago sativa knew it. It can used as a: diuretic, antispasmodic, hypoglycemic, anti-inflammatory, blood purifier, hypocholesterolemic, and of course, a nutrient. According to the American Botanical Council, ancient Arabs, “used alfalfa medicinally in the belief that the leaves possessed a diuretic effect that was useful in the treatment of kidney, bladder, and prostate disorders.”  In fact, Medicago sativa is used for different uses all over the world:

In India, the seeds of alfalfa have been used historically in a cooling poultice for boils.  The mucilaginous (moist and slimy) fruits are utilized for coughs in Colombia. The seeds contain alkaloids that are believed to stimulate menstrual flow and lactation (Herbalgram.org).

The most common ways to administer alfalfa is internally through capsules or tea. Carol Pearson of Mother Earth News suggests that alfalfa tea is mixed with mint to diminish its grassy tisane flavor. I have tried the tea and I liked the grassy taste; it reminded me a bit of wheat grass juice. Of course, it’s quite easy to find alfalfa tablets at the nearest health food store. Anyone buying alfalfa (even those new to herbal supplements) probably would not take it every day for an unlimited amount of time. Most people, in my opinion, would seek it out for help with a condition and stop taking it at an appropriate time. It’s not the sort of herb one would naturally overuse or become dependent on.

Although there are interactions with blood thinners that should be considered with Medicago sativa, most sources of natural medicine find it safe. However, I found sources in medical journals that write of concerns with the herb for cancer patients. For instance, Muriel J. Montbriand, in her article “Herbs or Natural Products that Increase Cancer Growth or Recurrence,” states that Alfalfa has “estrogenic properties that can interfere with Hormone-sensitive cancers.” She also claims that there is a concern with photosensitivity with Alfalfa use.

I was intrigued by this claim and decided to do some more searching for adverse effects of Alfalfa. In my own library of herbal medicine, I found very little that indicated any concerns with alfalfa beyond the initial concerns regarding excessive amounts of Vitamin K.  (I usually consult Professor S. Talalaj and Dr. A.S. Szechowicz’s book, Herbal Remedies: Harmful and Beneficial Effects for concerns.) Curiously, I found in Prescription for Dietary Wellness that Alfalfa, “contains estrogenlike compounds that can reduce the risk of breast cancer” (179-80).

Like most herbs, common sense and good education should be enough to help anyone decide whether or not (and in what level) it should be used. We have to weigh the evidence and make our own decisions about our health. And like in horses, Alfalfa can have quite an amazing effect – when used in moderation.

Sources

American Botanical Council. “Alfalfa.” Herbalgram.org. Web.

Balch, Phyllis A. CNC, Prescription for Dietary Wellness. Avery: New York, 2003.

Francis P. Griffiths. “Production and Utilization of Alfalfa.” Economic Botany , Vol. 3,     No. 2 (Apr. - Jun., 1949), pp. 170-183. Web.

Montbriand, MJ. "Herbs Or Natural Products That Increase Cancer Growth Or    Recurrence: Part Two Of A Four-Part Series [Corrected] [Published Erratum           Appears In ONCOL NURS FORUM 2006 Jul;33(4):684]." Oncology Nursing     Forum 31.5 (2004): E99-115. CINAHL with Full Text. Web. 5 Mar. 2012.

Pearson, Carol. "First-Aid Teas." Mother Earth News 140 (1993): 30. Academic Search    Premier. Web. 5 Mar. 2012.