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Rough Cocklebur (Xanthium strumarium) - coffee alternative?

You wouldn't look twice at Cocklebur discarding it as another infestatious plant. Children, however, seem to be drawn to its prickly fruits. By coincidence, it was just at the time I was studying this herb when my daughter came back from school with a pocketful of Xanthium fruits. I felt immediately attracted to its smell, which seemed tabacco-like at first but I later realised (when toasting them) that they have a roasted coffee smell.


It came to me as no surprise, when I dag into the literature on Cocklebur, that it includes "seven caffeoylquinic acid (CQA) derivatives"**. Yes, the same that are in your espresso and they are a type of antioxidants. Studies confirm that CQA have "protective effects against type 2 diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease"* meaning for prevention and treatment of these diseases and other, which I will mention later.


So, the first thing I did after collecting its fruits, toasting them and cleaning meticulously from the spikes (which unfortunately contain most of its toxic substances) I brewed them into a tasty tea, which resembles more a coffee in effect. And out of all the coffee alternatives I have ever tried I must say this one has the closest aroma to the roasted coffee out of all. Its bitter and acid levels are contained, unlike chicory, which is predominantly bitter and lacking the coffee aroma for satisfying my olfactory senses. It is said that precicely its aroma is what traditionally gave Xanthium its use in openeing up the nose passages.


In fact, it has such an intense aroma that more contemporary use of this plant has been tested as an essential oil. One study has confirmed the Xanthium EO "inhibited the growth of Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger"***


It is not an intention of this post to list all the studies on Xanthium strumarium, which seem to be truly abundant. However, to give you an idea of the wide-range of compounds and effects this plant has I quote this study:

"Up to now, more than 170 chemical constituents have been isolated and identified from X. strumarium, including sesquiterpenoids, phenylpropenoids, lignanoids, coumarins, steroids, glycosides, flavonoids, thiazides, anthraquinones, naphthoquinones and other compounds. Modern research shows that the extracts and compounds from X. strumarium possess wide-ranging pharmacological effects, including anti- allergic rhinitis (AR) effects, anti-tumor effects, anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects, insecticide and antiparasitic effects, antioxidant effects, antibacterial and antifungal effects, antidiabetic effects, antilipidemic effects and antiviral effects."****


Despite it being seemingly a perfect, local alternative to coffee there are two problems here. The first one is the time it takes to clean the fruits of its spike manually if you have no industrial equipment and intend to harvest your own Cocklebur. The second reason is that this herb should not be consumed for long periods of time, due to its toxicity. Even after removing the prickly spikes from the fruits it is still classified in the Materia Medica of Chinese Medicine as a mildly toxic herb.


In fact it is the millennial use of Xanthium strumarium, in Chinese: Cang Er Zi, 苍耳子, that has inspired so much of the modern research. Cang Er Zi means "Deep Green Ear Seed", however, the lower part of the character contains the word granary and the upper part the word plant/herb. So, we could translate it as Plant Granary Ear Seed. "Plant Granary" explains the relation to the western name Xanthium, xanthos from Greek meaning blond/yellow. It refers to the Cang Er Zi fruits turning from green to yellow as they mature, the same as the grains.


"Granary" already suggests its uses for Damp conditions (granary refers to Stomach which is damp in nature); the Deep Green refers to its Liver affinity and its ability to treat Wind conditions and eye conditions that result in headaches; Ears to its ability to open the orifices, particularly the ears and the nose, the last one giving it affinity to Lungs. Cang Er Zi is warming so it is used to treat Cold conditions.


In fact, the ancients have found the best use of Xanthium in opening up the blocked sinus cavity (sinusitis) with the Xanthium Powder/Cang Er Zi San formula. According to the Classical Chinese Medicine if your cold becomes sinusitis (cold plus phlegm) and continues unresolved it will result in aches and pains in your limbs, aka rheumatic pains. Hence it brings me to suggest that Cang Er Zi is perfect for this cold season in cases you cannot get rid of your blocked nose and especially if you start noticing musculoskeletal aches at the same time.


Its bitter taste makes it duretic and its slightly spicy taste makes your skin breathe and eliminate. This aids Wei Qi, which are your defences. The sweet taste of Cang Er Zi is relaxing. My final judgement of Xanthium is that it is a potent and balanced herb if used in acute conditions for a short period of time. It may not be my everyday coffee alternative but at least when I need it I will look forward to its coffee aroma.


If you would like to find out if Xanthium is the right herb for you, book an appointment for a consultation.


References:



 




Clover, red or white? Three or four leaves? - the plant of equilibrium as well as good fortune

I had known Red Clover (Trifolium pratenseas) as one of the women's herbs for a long time but it wasn't until I tried it that I really appreciated how gentle, tender but effective this plant was.


It is one of the most utilised plants across the globe, cultures and traditions.


It is considered women's herb as it is essentially Yin in nature although it is holding Yin to nourish Yang. It is associated with Bladder and Kidney (Water element) and Lungs and Large Intestine (Metal element). Hence it goes deep to ancor and hold energy (Qi) and essence (Jing) in our body just as it fixes nitrogen into the land. Nitrogen is an element that builds strong roots of any plant.


So, it nourishes body fluids, from vaginal dryness, dry cough, dry skin to brain function and memory. By clearing the fluids it is also diuretic.


As it has a balancing effect on body fluids, it balances hormones, and quenches the menopausal hot flashes. In reality, it aids both female and male hormones. It is particularly useful in peri-menopause phase for women and in early signs of prostate disfunction for men.


Since it clears blood, it clears skin problems, including chronic conditions such as eczema and skin cancers.

As you may have noticed it works on both lymph and blood, which is rare to see in one herb. It is synergetically working with the Yin and Yang liquids of the body.


It is so gentle in detoxing both fluids and blood that I would consider it as the first herb to take in the detox program.


It is even neutral in its temperature, although some say it is slightly cooling due to its Yin nature.


There is a numerical curiosity about this plant. It comes only in two distinct colours, white or red, it is largely presented with three leaves but on rare occasions (apparently one in a thousand) it presents four leaves. Numerological links then are 2, 3 and 4. Two represents Yin and Yang; three represents completion and change; four represents Earth and stability.

So, Clover has it all. The energy of equilibrium, the capacity to change (your fortune perhaps) and gives a grounding and strength to four limbs. Therefore, it can be used in situations that are destabilising, to feel more sustained, supported, calm and at the same time able to change in a balanced way. It is a kind of an energetic rescue remedy.

These are pretty powerful energetics for one tiny, common plant.


Doing a numerological I Ching on 234 number, it comes up as the Lake trigram, which is the Metal element. The plant numbers further confirm its energetic function.


To find out more...



 






Lonicera japonica aka Honeysuckle - miraculous plant for SARS?

Updated: Jul 15, 2022

I am rather amazed at the extent of scientific research available on Lonicera japonica and the list of its benefits for symptoms related to both acute and chronic diseases. Not all plants get as much attention and are that versatile. And despite that, seems like no-one talks about Lonicera! So, I decided to write and share some knowledge about it.


At my herbal medicine course my master of Classical Chinese Medicine mentioned how much attention Honeysuckle had got since Covid. It immediately struck out for me as it happened to grow in a green hedge near my house. It is an easy plant to remember too with its gorgeous flowers and captivating smells. So, I gave it a go.


I gathered its flowers, young leaves and its stems and dried them in room temperature. When I came down with a flu, I prepared a decoction and drank it twice a day. The effect on body aches was particularly noticeable, including lowering of fever. The overall feeling of being soothed in body aches was very wholesome. It has not delivered that well on phlegm expectorant side, but that could be helped with some other plants, such as Eucalyptus.


There are some curiosities about Honeysuckle. It's chinese name is Jin Yin Hua which means the Gold Silver Flower. Already the name suggests it is Yin and Yang balancing (Gold being Yang and Silver being Yin). In fact, it balances the heat in the body with the aumented urination which it replaces with extra production of liquids. It has an affinity with Lungs (reduces heat in acute condition), Bladder (augments urination) and Stomach (decoction is really sweet and its flowers are said to have a "mouthwatering" scent).


It is believed to have been imported to Europe from Japan (hence the name) and it has become a very "successful" invasive plant. It is known that non-indigenous plants, if they manage to thrive really well in a new environment, are indicative of their energetic force. Honeysuckle probably has its secret to its success. It is probably due to its double pollination that it is spreading and surviving that well. It attracts day time insects with its flowers and night time moths with its evening scent. It could be the reason for its Chinese name too, the Gold and Silver Flower; spreads its pollen in the sunshine (gold) and in the moonlight (silver).


Traditionally, it has been used since classical times. It is the leading herb in the Yin Qiao San formula. Before the era of antibiotics, Yin Qiao San was used for acute upper respiratory infections. In fact, I find much good coverage Honesuckle has got since Covid! Looking at its chemical composition, in the list of many I read it includes the famous Quercetin (for who follows the anti-covid protocols) at a relatively good bioavailability:


Although it's most frequent use is in acute febrile conditions, Lonicera j. is also used in reducing heat in chronic (including cancer) and autoimmune conditions. It performs double role, one of getting rid of heat (such as inflammation) through urination but at the same time aids regenerating the liquids through its Stomach affinity.

Some highlighted actions of Lonicera j. include:

"anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral, antioxidative and hepatoprotective activities"


One study has tested the Yin Qiao San formula, with Honeysuckle as the leading herb, as an alternative to paracetamol and NSAIDs in children, with good results too:


So, you only have to try it out for yourselves. Although the flowering season for Honeysuckle is in June, one can also collect the young leaves. In alternative, you can buy dry herb or the ready Yin Qiao San formula and keep it for times when the fever or inflammation strikes.

 


Thank you for joining in!

​© 2023 by Dorota Kowal. All rights reserved.

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