| Story Views | |
| Now: | |
| Last Hour: | |
| Last 24 Hours: | |
| Total: | |
Two Letters Re: The Aesthetic Pantry: Trading Ornamentals for Edibles
Dear James,
In his otherwise excellent article on replacing ornamental species of plants with useful, edible species in landscaping, Matthew C. mistakenly advises getting rid of hawthorns (medium and small size perennial shrubs). Hawthorn is valuable medicinally, tactically, and nutritionally.
Hawthorn is one of the most potent heart and blood pressure medications available. It has been extensively researched, and has been approved by the German Commission E Report. Unlike digitalis, which is much better known, hawthorn is extremely non-toxic, and is not known to interact with any other medications. The earliest recorded medicinal use was in ancient Greece.
In a TEOTWAWKI situation, unavailability of hawthorn could spell disaster for anyone with high blood pressure, or with heart problems, including arrhythmia, tachycardia, angina, insufficient cardiac blood flow, symptoms of congestive heart failure, and weaker heart function due to aging. Even lesser disasters, natural, political or economic, may mean that heart medications become restricted or unavailable.
The Commission E Report recommends using the end tips of flowering leafy twigs, up to seven centimeters in length, but not longer. In a grid-down situation it can be dried and used as a tea (2-3 teaspoons of hawthorn, 2-3 times a day), or as an alcohol-based tincture. Stored in a cool, dry place, the dried flowering twig ends will keep up to three years.
My own experience confirms this. I developed severe cardiac arrhythmia a few years ago. After learning that people often don’t actually die of their heart disease, but die from arrhythmia, I started taking hawthorn daily. Just as the research says, within a few weeks the arrhythmia was almost entirely gone.
A couple years later, I found a much cheaper source, and switched. In a few weeks, the arrhythmia returned. Comparing the bottles, I realized I had unwittingly switched from flowers and leafy twigs to the berry form of hawthorn. I immediately switched back, and in a few weeks, the arrhythmia again disappeared. You better believe there will be plenty of hawthorn in my survival garden.
Do not use the berry form for arrhythmia. The berries may be useful for blood pressure, are traditionally often used for cardiac purposes, and have some research support. But they should never be used as a substitute for the flowering tips.
Hawthorn is something of a miracle drug for mild to moderate cardiac problems. It raised blood pressure that is too low, and lowers blood pressure that is too high. It is equal to pharmaceutical drugs in controlling heart rhythm to prevent arrhythmia, but unlike drugs, has no significant side effects. It strengthens arterial walls by promoting cross linkage of collagen, dilates arteries, increases coronary blood flow, reduces cholesterol and triglycerides, and gradually rebuilds the heart in degenerative heart disease. Since it also strengthens capillaries, it may be helpful in capillary and small blood vessel related problems, such as bloodshot eyes, varicose veins, and hemorrhoids (One author mentions it may possibly help with glaucoma.)
Hawthorn is easy to grow. It likes sun, and for centuries, has been used to make dense, thorny hedges around gardens to protect them from invasive deer and humans.
Source:
