Juniper is widely known as the main flavouring component in gin. In fact the word ‘gin’ is derived from the French and Dutch word for juniper, genévrier and genever. The drink is thought to be derived from an old recipe found in the 1299 Dutch natural history encyclopedia Der Naturen Bloeme (The Flower of Nature) which recommended boiling juniper berries in rainwater or wine to treat stomach pain. With the revolt of the Netherlands in the sixteenth century British soldiers, merchants, travellers and religious figures discovered the gin which they called “Dutch Courage” and it has been refined ever since. 

Juniper works as a diuretic and antiseptic in conditions such as cystitis. Bitter and carminative actions aid digestion and ease flatulence and dyspepsia. It is used in rheumatism and arthritis as well as externally to ease the pain in joints and muscles. 

Herbalist extraordinaire, the late Dorothy Hall, said “there are some herb partners which seldom appear alone. Juniper goes with Celery (Apium graveolens) like cheese with olives, or dates with walnuts.” She goes on to explain that they complement each other so synergy is achieved when both are given together. “While Celery supplies a boost to the body’s necessary sodium requirements…Juniper provides the potassium compounds to counter-balance. Sodium and potassium together maintain the ‘pump’ into cells of vital cell nutrients and the ‘pump’ out again of cell wastes,” she said.

References

Understanding Gin Botanicals. Enotria Winecellars Spirits Beacon. (accessed 16 Aug 2023). Available from https://spiritsbeacon.com/guides/spirits/understanding-gin-botanicals

Juniper. The Herbarium. (accessed 16 Aug 2023). Available form https://herbarium.theherbalacademy.com/monograph/juniper/

Hoffman D. The New Holistic Herbal. Melbourne:Element. 1990.p. 209

Hall D. Dorothy Hall’s Herbal Medicine. Sydney:Lothian. 1988. p. 207

Couchgrass, like dandelion (Taraxacum officinale), is another valuable herb cast into the annoying worthless weed category by virtue of its extensive system of rhizomes which help the plant spread remorsefully through cultivated land. Experienced UK herbal practitioner Simon Mills describes it as “the archetypal weed of cultivation” making it a pest for farmers and gardeners. 17th Century English herbalist Culpeper concurs saying: ”...for it is a constant customer to the place it get footing in.”

However, this medicinal rhizome has been used in herbal medicine since classical Greek times where it was recommended by Dioscorides (author of De materia medica) for “stone in the bladder”. One of couchgrass's other common names is dog grass which comes from the fact that sick dogs will chew its rough leaves as an emetic to make them vomit. Culpeper said “…If you know it not by this description, watch the dogs when they are sick and they will quickly lead you to it.” Culpeper concludes his account of its medicinal virtues with: ”…and although a gardener be of another opinion, yet a physician holds half an acre of them to be worth five acres of carrots twice told over.”

In her 2023 book A Working Herbal Dispensary: Respecting Herbs as Individuals, self-sufficient UK medical herbalist Lucy Jones describes the physiological virtues of couchgrass: “Couchgrass is a valuable urinary system antiseptic and demulcent diuretic, providing a soothing action on hot, irritated urinary passages while encouraging increased production of urine. It is also anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial – a helpful herb in many conditions, including cystitis, dysuria [painful urination], haematuria [blood in the urine], irritable bladder, prostatitis, urethritis, benign prostatic hyperplasia, oedema, and incontinence. It soothes the urinary passages and eases discomfort, as well as assisting with the passage of urinary gravel. It is an old remedy for hypercholesterolaemia, arthritis, and gout. Couch[grass] also brings its antimicrobial and demulcent qualities to the respiratory system, being expectorant and decongestant. It is sometimes prescribed for irritating coughs and bronchitis.”

References

Mills S. The Essential Book of Herbal Medicine. Penguin:London. 1991. p.465
Grieve M. A Modern Herbal. Middlesex:Penguin Books. 1978. p. 370
Jones L. A Working Herbal Dispensary: Respecting Herbs as Individuals. Aeon Books:Glasgow. 2023 p110.

We love this poem, by New Zealand herbalist Richard Whelan, about how herbalists and naturopaths may sing the praises of herbs differently but no one but the herb itself can say exactly how it is.

Dandelions

A bouquet of herbalists squeezed into my rooms today, to talk about dandelions

Historical herbalist warmed the topic with Jaundiced Cholerics, French Bed-Wetters and 'Failing-to-Thrive' children who grew like weeds themselves once they starting taking this essence of Earth

Brown-bottle herbalist witnessed Dandelion's persuasive, enlivening charm to today's tired patients

Science herbalist eloquently enthused about Dandelion's inulins, FOS's and fatty acids

Romantic herbalist described golden fairies dancing 'Doctrines of Signatures' over Kingly roots

Political herbalist gave a speech on the bland lawn of convention and the vital necessity of weeds

Then a Hands-on herbalist produced some dandelion extract to do the rounds

whereupon everyone stopped talking for a while while the herb spoke for itself

and somehow it showed us that our differences fade into utter insignificance

when we remember the least of what it is that binds us together 

References

Whelan R. Dandelions. R.J.Whelan Ltd c2011 (updated Winter 2011; accessed 23 Jun 2023). Available from https://rjwhelan.co.nz/poetry/dandelions.html

In a May 2023 clinical trial, daily use of lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) extract for 12 weeks reduced symptoms of depression and anxiety in patients with type 2 diabetes. Depression is higher among diabetic patients than in the general population. The incidence of depression in diabetic patients significantly impacts glycaemic control, adverse events and quality of life in these patients. The combination of diabetes and depression also increases the risk of death in these patients. Lemon balm has anti-diabetic, anti-depressant, anxiolytic, anti‐inflammatory and antioxidant actions so this study aimed to determine its efficacy of on depression, anxiety and sleep quality in patients with type 2 diabetes with depressive symptoms.

In the Iranian randomised, double-blinded trial 60 volunteer patients (age range 20 to 65 years) with type 2 diabetes mellitus, who had symptoms of depression, were randomised into the intervention or control group. Patients in the intervention group (30 people) took two capsules containing 350mg of lemon balm extract daily, and patients in the control group (30 people) took two capsules containing 350mg of toasted wheat flour. They were instructed to take one capsule after lunch and one after dinner for 12 weeks. To avoid ethical problems, all participants were invited to an educational session to receive general points about anxiety and depression by the psychologist before intervention.

Dietary intake, physical activity, body composition measurements, fasting blood sugar, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, depression, anxiety and sleep quality were determined at the beginning and end of the study using the most widely used measures in both research and clinical practice for assessing depression, anxiety and sleep quality. In the intervention group there was a significant decrease in depression and anxiety severity at the end of the study compared to the baseline.

References

Safari M, Asadi A, Aryaeian N, Huseini HF, Shidfar F, Jazayeri S, Malek M, Hosseini AF, Hamidi Z. The effects of melissa officinalis on depression and anxiety in type 2 diabetes patients with depression: a randomized double-blinded placebo-controlled clinical trial. BMC Complement Med Ther. 2023 May 2;23(1):140. doi: 10.1186/s12906-023-03978-x. PMID: 37131158; PMCID: PMC10152712.