Agriculture and Aquaculture Monthly Newsletter April 2012

Agriculture and Aquaculture Newsletter April 2012






All contents and photos of sennyong.blogspot.com by Simply Senz Natural Healing Blog is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
Based on a work at sennyong.blogspot.com.

Anti-inflammatory herb ~ Honeysuckle flower

One of my home grown herbs ~Japanese Honeysuckle in my herb garden is blooming with beautiful flowers. I noticed the white flowers bloom and then it turns to yellow flowers in 2 – 3 days. Then it falls off within a week. 

Roselle ~ Luo Shen Hua Beverage and Jams

In Southeast Asia countries, the Roselle (Roselle Hibiscus Sabdariffa) named in Chinese known as 洛神花 (Luo Shen Hua) is regarded as medicinal plant use as herbal infusion. It is very common in making delicious and healthy soup, Jelly, sweet pickle and homemade Jams.




In recent years the Chinese medicine researches that it had the anti-hypertension besides the preliminary confirmation Roselle is widely used, in folk medicine it has associated with traditional medicine as:

• Blood purifier as well as a diuretic, treat urinary tract infection,
• To improve of constipation as it has mild laxative,
• Can also reduce the blood fat and blood triglyceride effectively,
• For several diseases such as hypertension and improve blood circulation,
  
• Help digestion and improve digestive tract absorption,
• Anti-aging by suppress free radical activity
• Treat cardiac and nerve diseases and cancer.
• Treat the liver disease, regarding suppressed cancer,
• Adjust the feminine physiological menstrual cycle,
• In cosmetology maintenance used as skincare
• Healthy beverage and herbal tea with good effect for weight loss
• Whets the appetite, cooling and relieves thirst effect.

Roselle (Luo Shen Hua) is rich in vitamin C and its calyces are made into healthy food and beverage, the red pigment of Roselle which contain of crystalline anthocyanins, hibicin as well as protocatechuic acid. The Roselle extract contains the oxidation inhibitor ingredients and the Polyhenols has oxidation resistance in majority by suppress low density lipoprotein to prevent oxidation in our body.


Commonly the fruit is taking fresh, decore them, and then dry the Roselle calyces used as beverage and herbs tea. It can also process into sweet pickle, salad and fruit jams.

Now it has also commonly used to make into enzyme or vinegar as healthy drink in Asia. Frequently drinking the Roselle herbs tea or beverage may achieve the health care effect.


Roselle herbs tea or beverage

Preparation:

• Peel Roselle Calyces and remove the seeds. Wash thoroughly.

Ingredients:

• Roselle Calyces – 2 bowl
• Rock sugar (depends on individual taste)
• 500 ml of water

Simply cook the Roselle Calyces with water and add in rock sugar to taste.











The health benefits of taking Roselle as drink or herbs tea, its reduce high blood pressure by lowering the high levels of LDL cholesterol to protect and against heart disease.

The recommended dosage about 10 grams in the dried flower tea form once or twice a day.


Healthy homemade Roselle Jams

Usually after cooking of Roselle extract, I used the cooked Roselle Calyces to do homemade healthy jams. Simple as that and do not waste good thing.



Ingredients:

• Cooked Roselle Calyces - 1 bowl
• 1/2 cup of Roselle extract
• Honey 1 tbsp.
• Maltose 2 tbsp.
• Brown sugar 1 tbsp.
• Lime Juice 1 tbsp.

Preparation:

1. Blend cooked Roselle Calyces into creamy form.
2. Squeeze lime juice and set aside.


Method:

1. Add Roselle extract and blended Roselle Calyces in pot and cook with low heat for 15 mins.

2. Add in honey, maltose and lime juice. Stir and mixed well and continue cooking till dry into jams form.

3. Remove from heat. Keep aside and till cool. Place them into the Jam container and keep in fridge.

Done and enjoy it!


to be continued...

Replenishing Beet Herbal Tea

When think of the grey hair, first I think of “He Shou Wu”.

He Shou Wu (Plygonum Multiflorum) is black in color.
Black in 5 elements is for “Kidney”.

What about Red in color Beetroot?
The red color beet is for Heart, blood and circulation.
Important for cardiovascular health to lower blood pressure.


This fancy “Black and Red in color” combination makes a simple traditional herbs drink to replenishing and invigorating the kidney to strengthen the “Yang”, nourishing the “Yin” by ways of improving the Kidney “Qi” and ”Blood”.

With the nature of “Yang” and “Yin” in this herbs tea to treat deficiency of the Kidney and blood, something like immerse a pot of “He Shou Wu and Beetroot” herbs tea come naturally and easily to prepare for health purpose.


This shocking reddish in color herbal tea is kind of aroma soothing and sour in taste yet not the least, it works wonderful kidney and hair tonic also as a “blood builder” and “youth preserver” to promote of blood circulation for skin plus good stimulates of hair growth. Help with keeping healthy arteries to prevent hardening of arteries.


Constrained flow due to stressful and emotional constrains that cause restricts the flow. If kidney “Qi” and “Blood” is insufficient this aspect will also influence to bad blood circulation. That will eventually affect to the skin complexion, not only which, it may also link to other illnesses. Certainly some due to bustle about stressful work lifestyle and it disturbs the hormone secretion, metabolism, insomnia and headache.


Ingredients:

• He Shou Wu – 10g

• Beet – 14g

• Rock sugar – 1 tbs. (optional)

* Beet is high sugar content.

Method:

1. Wash Beetroot and He Shou Wu. Peel Beetroot skin and cut into smaller slices.

2. Immerse both ingredients into tea pot or infuser with boiling water.

3. Simmer for about ½ hour. Serve warm.






Simple and yet it’s nutritious and healthy for:

• Stimulates hair growth.

• Anti aging formula

• Improves insomnia

• decrease hardening of the arteries,

• Improve immune function.

• greatest estrogenic activity


What is He Shou Wu (Plygonum Multiflorum)

He Shou Wu is a Chinese medicinal herbs and important longevity herb which is derived from the dried tuberous root of the plant Plygonum Multiflorum.

Nature is mild and slightly warm. It is painstakingly astringent and tastes a bit bitter and sour sweet.

Used to treat Alzheimer’s disease, stimulates hair growth as hair tonic, restoring hair color and preventing hair loss, this herbs contains laxative compound to treat constipation, menstrual and menopausal complains also it is a youth preserver.

Meridian channel: to the liver, the kidney, the heart, the lung.



"He Shou Wu" combination with other ingredients benefits:

• Boil with black soybean for strengthen kidney and improve vertigo.

• "He shou wu" with mulberry leaf or fruit used for preventing grey hair too.



Caution when use of He Shou Wu:

• Skin Rashes and numbness may occurred to certain people if overdoses of "He Shou Wu".

• Not for Acute hepatitis and stomach inflation people.



About Beetroot

Beetroot is rich in folate and vitamin C, potassium, calcium, iron, beta carotene. A good colorants use as a natural food coloring or dye from the red pigment (Betacyanin) in beetroot. Its nature is cold, taste of aroma sweet. Good blood purifier for treating pimple and skin disease.

Beets are considered aphrodisiac and it plays an important role in human sex hormones. Good for treating menstruation and menopausal problem.

Beetroot combined with He Shou Wu (polygonum multiflorum) as therapeutically herbal drink, it is a stamina builder and helpful to kidney "Qi" and "Blood" which makes up the body to be insufficient with, and a tonic to increase vitality and energy, strengthen the blood, kidneys and liver.

Home Remedy for Sore Throat and Influenza ~ Raw Mung Bean Licorice water

Use of Chinese Herbal medication to treat H1N1 has received expected good result in China hospital. And many herbal prescriptions are from Chinese herbal medicine, which was released online by most Chinese Herbal Medicine Hospital to treat some other flu-related illnesses and viruses such as H1N1. The natural prescriptions with traditional Chinese herbs by decoction into herbal medicine has gained popularity as well.


I know some of the herbal raw materials for decoctions might not easily obtained in western countries. Other than using the prescription from traditional herbs, I found this is most simple alternative healing formula is quite a good one for common flu, cough and sore throat, skin disease and anti-inflammation.

This herbal drink can also helps to combat as preventative and control of influenza and coughs, sore throat, mouth ulcers, reduces of liver heat and fever. Prolonged in coughing and flu may cause of throat inflammation and sore throat as well as fever. One of the most popular anti-inflammation, anti-oxidant and anti-allergenic properties used by Chinese medicine is Licorice root.


Licorice root knows as “Shen Gan Cao” in Chinese. This herb has many ailments including asthma, common Use for viral infections, treating bronchitis, inflammation, coughs, Liver problems, suppresses the gastric juice secretion, lowers stomach acid levels, treat ulcers, improve constipation and arthritis.

The Licorice root has powerful detoxification effect and detoxify the liver toxins by dispel poisonous substances from the body. It has aspirin kind of effect in relieving of fever and soothing pains. Also as a flavoring herbs for pickles and its taste is sweet, soothing herb that protects liver.



Licorice root commonly mixed with certain Chinese medicinal herbs to prevent toxicity and alleviation medicinal properties for detoxifies purpose, also as a flavoring herbs for various pickles and its taste is sweet, soothing herb that protects liver, used for chest congestion and cough, cold, flu, especially in treating mouth ulcers.

Additional sweetness from Glycyrrhizinic acid and it is sweet in taste. Glycyrrhizinic acid of Licorice root has inhibited action in control the growth of bacteria and viruses such as influenza A.

The taste of this drink is cooling, soothing and sweet to try. This herbs drink is easily given to children who suffered from cough, sore throat and flu. Something like this is quite easy to prepare instead of cooking.

What I found it is a real good home remedy, lately, due to plant contact skin dermatitis, I used this formula to wash the affected areas, and drinking this drink has shown rapid improvement to my sensitive skin problems. Once a while I used it for preventing of tonsillitis and throat inflammation, a few cups of this Mung Bean Licorice extract drink is a must for me thought. How good about this herbs drink, you have to try it by yourself to find out.



Raw Mung Bean Licorice Herbs Drink
Mung bean and licorice root has anti-virus's auxiliary curative effect for influenza prevention.

The formula is simple, just using raw mung bean (Lu dou in Chinese) and Licorice root.

Ingredients:

• Mug beans 200grams

• Licorice 50grams

• 1000cc of water


Method:

1. Bring water to boil, pour boiling water into a pot or bowl and soak licorice in hot water. Simmer or Set aside and let it cold.











2. Put in Green Mung bean into the cold licorice extract and submerged in licorice extract water to soak for 6 – 8 hours.












3. Strain soup through a fine mesh strainer and drink the water only.













The benefits of this natural remedy.

Mung Bean has cooling properties help in dispel pathogenic heat and toxins from our body. Based on its effectiveness, and well known as medicinal effect used for food and drug toxins poisoning, heat rashes, and dyspepsia.


The effect of after drinking this Licorice Mung beans extract, you may feel stomach wriggle, and sign of gastrointestinal motility, it will exhaust and breaks wind, stimulant bowel movement, enhance bodily immunity system after expulsion of toxins. As such, the extract of Licorice mixed with mung bean can be used to treat skin disease, acne, boils and psoriasis too.


Why used raw mung bean instead of cooking it

As why using the way for which without boiling the mung bean, is to prevent the enzymes of mug bean destroyed by heating, with cooled boiled Licorice water immersion, mug beans enzymes infiltration slowly into the Licorice extract will make the therapy effectiveness.


Other benefits of taking raw mung bean drink

Taking raw mung bean water it helps in control of diarrhea. Just soak the mung bean in water for 4 to 6 hours. Add a little bit of salt and drink the water. That's it.


Note: Even if according to the Chinese medicine theory, Licorice root usage is not multi-purpose, even though its has many powerful medicinal effects. Many forbidden of usage, prolong in consume and dosage measure need to be caution to certain people. For high blood pressure, it may cause blood pressure raised. For kidney disorder patient have to be caution in taking Licorice, it may cause adrenal glands stimulant. Its effective component similar to hydrocortisone and other corticosteroid hormones function and anti-diuresis function related.

Beauty Herbs for women ~ Mugwort

The Woman’s Herb "Mugwort"

Why mugwort (Ai Cao) is woman's herb?

~ Mugwort's generic name is from that of the Greek moon goddess Artemis, a patron of women.

It acts as an emmenagogue, an agent that increases blood circulation to the pelvic area and uterus and stimulates menstruation. Mugwort is ingested to stop excessive or inappropriate menstrual bleeding.

It is an useful remedy for painful and irregular menstruation. Therefore mugwort is great natural healing herbs for women’s reproductive system.


Mugwort in chinese known as "Ai Cao".

What I know mugwort is widely used in Malalysia for making soup for regulates menstruation, used for stomach troubles, vomiting, and intestinal problems, cure worms, promoting and calming nervousness. Also it purifies blood and prevents getting cancer diseases.

The Benefits of Mugwort:

• This herb also help in speed up curing and healing for cancer and hepatitis C.
• It also widely used for the treatment of diabetes and depression.
• For most organic eaters used Mugwort mashed into liquid form and mixed into their home made bread, cake and noodle for healthy food.
• Used with Mugwort in tea as a remedy for liver problems, depression, jaundice, and stimulate menstruation.
• Good anti-aging and natural skin alternative treatment for skin rashes and pimples. It increase skin's radiance and decrease inflammation.

Mugwort has great anti fungal, expectorant, uterine stimulant, haemostatic and anti-asthmatic properties. You will be amazed for its wonderful and hidden power.

Mugwort leaf and stem are used medicinally. The volatile oil includes "thujone, linalool, borneol, pinene, and other constituents". It contains rich enzyme, chlorophyll and minerals.

Note: Taking mugwort with caution and it should not be taken internally for extended periods of time due to its toxin levels call "Thujone".

What is Thujone?

Thujone is a natural chemical compound found in many different plants and flowers. It is especially known in many spices, herbs and essential oils. It has good aroma in smell and slightly bitter in taste.

Mugwort contain thujone (toxin) level too. Though thujone reportedly stimulates the immune system, too much of Thujone caution of its doses use can easily be abused and may cause addiction. it also cause nausea, liver damage if overdosed.

Do not over doses and Precaution when taking Mugwort

Over doses may interfere with the brain and nervous system functions. As it is good stimulant and regulates for woman’s menstrual, for pregnant women should avoid taking too much mugwort due to its affect on menstruation maintenance and other reproductive system functions. It used to help promote labor and assist with expulsion of the afterbirth. Do not take during pregnancy and lactation.


My favorite Mugwort Recipe

Rice wine Mugwort Egg soup

Ingredients:

• Mugwort leaves
• 2 - 3 tbs. Sesame oil
• 3 eggs (beaten and ready for use)
  
• 2 ginger
  
• 1 cup of rice wine and 1/2 cup of water
• salt

Method:

1. Remove Mugwort stem and keep the young leaves.



















Chop and mashed mugwort leaves (excluding the stem) and chop ginger into tiny pieces.
















2. Heat the wok at medium high, drizzle in the sesame oil.











3. Add and stir-fry chopped ginger. Stir-fry until it is almost brown.




4. Stir in the mashed mugwort leaves until it is nearly half cooked. Do not overcooked to maintain its enzyme contains.









5. Add the beaten eggs. Combined well with the mugwort and then stir-fry the mixed eggs and mugwort slightly browned.
















6. Add in Water or rice wine and a bit of salt.














7. Serve the Rice wine mugwort soup. Enjoy!


It's ideal for confinement mummy after birth with mugwort







Rice wine is a rich-flavored liquid that is made from fermented glutinous rice, there are a few Chinese dishes, such as Drunken Chicken, we use either quality sesame oil and Chinese wine or Rice wine. This mugwort cooking with rice wind is quite similar to Drunken Chicken Chinese confinement dishes for the confinement period is the “Pui Yuet” for Chinese confinement mummy after birth, taking of this dish is to nurture the mother's health back to its pre-natal state.

There are many taboos to most of us Chinese women, but recipes and taboos vary from region to region. Even though educated, we may feel obliged to toe the line. There is a minority of women who do not regard the confinement tradition seriously. But to believe it better than none, since it is good for women. Choosing mugwort instead of chicken for Chinese traditional culture cooking in confinement period for new mom. It is great food for vegetarian eaters. So I believe it is good to take it before or after menstruation, also good for women in pre-menopause stage.


Usually, after cooking the Mugwort rice wine dish, I used the leftover Mugwort stem or fresh Mugwort leaves in making ~ Senz's Mugwort PMS Herbs Tea.


Senz's Mugwort PMS Herbs Tea (Mugwort combined with Motherwort)


Ingredients:

• Mugwort stem or fresh Mugwort - 1 plate (shown in picture)
• Yi Mu Cao ~ Dried Motherwort
• Black sugar 3 tbs. spoons (depends on individual taste)
• 15 slices Ginger (without peeling skin)
• 12 Red dates (cut into small pieces)

Why add ginger

It works as stimulant and aids in the circulation of blood throughout the body, treating wounds, aid in digestion to expel wind, provides stimulation, and creates hormone. Very good for Women suffering from painful menstruation, they can take ginger to ease the symptoms. Its also an antiseptic, which means it is effective in killing the bacteria that causes acne. I like the aromatic, pungent and spicy and medicinal properties of ginger, and prefer to cook it without removes the skin as it will deliver a more pungent taste.

What is Yi Mu Cao ~ Motherwort



Its taste slightly bitter, cold and pungent herbs like Mugwort. As in Chinese Medicine it is used for premenstrual abdominal pain, infertility, post partum abdominal pain with lochioschesis (discharge in post delivery), cardiac symptoms of neurosis, cardiac insufficiency, fast heart rate or other arrhythmias, and hyperthyroidism.

Meridian: Heart, bladder and Liver

Alternative healing usage: it is being used to cool the liver., aid as invigorate blood flows, regulate menstruation, induce urination and reduce swelling.

Note: Not to use in case of blood deficient and in cases of without blood stasis or during pregnancy (Do not use for pregnancy woman).



This is dried Motherwort (Yi Mu Cao)





This herb tea is very good for Pre-menopause women, abdominal pain after childbirth and retention of afterbirth to regulating menstruation and promoting blood circulation.





Take caution in taking Motherwort for long term usage as it can be toxic to the kidneys.

Preparation:

1. Cut Mugwort in pieces, put in the leftover mugwort stems.

2. Wash and clean dried Motherwort (Yi Mu Cao) and ready for use.

3. Bring one pot of water to boil. Add in the Red dates and ginger slices and mugwort leaves and stems, Motherwort and to cook for 30 minutes or more.

4. Add in black sugar. Simmer for 10 minutes, removes the mugwort, ginger and red dates residues. Pour out the tea and serve warm.






Mugwort has slightly bitter in taste it makes a great appetizer too. This tea may relieve flatulence and bloating. It helps clean toxins from the blood and restores menstruation cycle delays caused by stress.

Note: Remember when drinking any herbs tea you should not be taken it more than 3 glasses a day or more than 3 days.






External usage for skin

For skin disease mash mugwort leaves and place it to the wound, best is to boiling a big pot of mugwort and take the water, soak your body in the bathtub for at least 1/2 hour. This is great home spa for skin problem.



Preparation for Mugwort and Epsom salt bath

1. Bring a big pot of water and mugworts to boil.

2. Boil it for at least half an hour. Turn off using a strainer to pour the mugwort liquid into a bath tub.

3. Add 5 tbs. of Epsom salt with lukewarm water in bathtub.

4. Bath your body and soak in tub at least 15 to 20 minutes. Then dried off, the result is good for detoxify reducing the skin rashes

The beauty and healing with Mugwort moxibustion

In traditional and beauty treatments, Mugwort then it is shaped into a cigar-like roll placed into a special instrument like a roller to roll on the affected areas for healing therapy, this method of heating specific acupuncture points on the body to treat physical conditions. We called it “Moxibustion” or “Moxi”.

This "moxa" stick is then burned and inserted into specific roller and burned close to the skin to heat the specific pressure points. To alleviate rheumatic pains aggravated by cold and damp circumstances. The traditional ways of using mugwort stick for moxibused to relief of gout. It is good to do this step prior to meridian massage for better flow of "qi" and lymphatic drainage circulation.