Creme De Herbe

Crème De Herbe

Meaning Herbal Cream in French, I might have used the words wrongly… my apology to spoil such beautiful and romantic language if I really did…

Herbal creams, to many, is to improve the lustre of the skin, eliminate wrinkles, moisturises, curing skin ailments, and so on. However, how many of us know that day-to-day skin care is just as important as well…

Many of us (especially Asians) do not realise that we are being exposed to our no.1 skin duller in the whole universe! Ironically, the star that nurtures life, in the same time, delivers destructive UV rays to our skin. Prolong exposure to the radiations will caused wrinkles and worst, skin cancer as UV rays will cause genetic mutation to the skin cells.

To prevent this, the no.1 skin-saver is a sun-block. As I do not know how to make one, it is better for you to consult a dermatologist, or use the wonder of the internet to find a websites that have such recipes. Or if you’re too lazy, just settle with some over-the-counter sun block. However, do make sure it has SPF-15 and above or it won’t be useful at all. Au contraire, sun blocks has to be applied regularly, and if possible, hourly, so as to maximise it effect.

Another steps in ensuring a healthy skin, do make sure you wash it with warm water and proper cleansing agent. Do not settle with some cheap soap that will spoil your skin, and if possible, obtain certified organic options of soaps and shampoos. Note, warm water should be use as hot water will dehydrate skin…

Then came the fun part, moisturise… moisturiser is an important element in your facial improvement regime. Surely, anyone should know that skin lacking lustre is a dull, dry skin and apart from that, anyone knows that the cure will be using moisturisers…

The fun part of using herbal moisturisers is that you got to do it yourself, and you can modify the recipe in accordance to your needs. If you disagree with some of the ingredients I am using, feel free to modify. Feel free to experiment and remember, test it on a small patch of skin first, and if you find it causes allergic reaction, stop using the said concoctions…

Without further ado, here is the recipe you’ve been looking for:

Rose Moisturizer

2 heatproof mixing bowls
One small saucepan
5 teaspoon beeswax granules
1 oz cocoa butter
5 tablespoon almond oil
One wooden spoon
2 teaspoon borax
180 ml Orange Blossom Water
10 drops Rose Oil

1. Put the beeswax, cocoa butter, and almond oil in a glass bowl and put it over a pan of boiling water. Stir gently until the ingredients dissolve completely.


2. Mix, in another bowl, Orange Blossom Water and borax.  Place them over the saucepan of boiling water and stir gently to dissolve the ingredients.


3. Sit the bowl of beeswax mixture into the saucepan again and this time, stir in the Orange Blossom Water mixture. Put in slowly, and keep stirring.


4. Then add the Rose Essential Oil. Pour into small darken jar. Screw tight and keep refrigerated.

*The shelf-life for this cream is usually a month, but experience teaches me that two weeks can do a lot of harm to the emulsions…
Besides Rose Oil, you can use the following too:

1. Marigold Oil - For healing cuts and grazes. Useful for preventing formation of obvious scars


2. Jasmine Oil – For problematic skin


3. Lime Oil* – Moisturises skin, with astringent properties.


4. Lemongrass Oil – Antiseptic. Rid skins of certain parasites.

*When using lime oil or any other citrus oil, do make sure you do not have sensitive reaction to citrus products, and stay out from the sun as citrus oil might have photo-toxic reaction.

^Pregnant women should not use this preparation in any way. In fact, usage of any herbs should be referred to a qualified herbalist if it is to be used by a pregnant woman.

Now, let us see some properties of our beloved rose plant.


Pale Rose (Rosa centifolia)

Also known as Cabbage Rose or Hundred Leave rose. It is cultivated in southern Europe and spread throughout the continents. It is an esteemed garden plant in many countries.

Rose is well-known for its medicinal values, besides being a sweet flower for romantic occasions.



Medicinal action and uses

Aperient, astringent, and laxative in effect. Taken internally, it acts as an aperient but nowadays, their petals are rarely consumed. The flowers are used to prepare rose-water, which the best is saturated with rose volatile oil (which is a by-product left after distillation of Rose Oil). It can be used as a vehicle for other medicine namely eye-lotion and the like. Rose-water can be made into an ointment which is known commonly as cold-cream. To prepare cold-cream, used the recipe above and add in 7 oz of rose water instead of 180ml of Orange Blossom Water. The original recipe of cold-cream (from the British Pharmacopoeia) demands the use of spermaceti, which is a kind of waxy-substance obtained from sperm whales. While you can use it and the quantity recommended is 1½ oz. However, I do not recommend it usage as it is unsightly to the idea of applying animal fats to my skin. However, the choice is yours entirely and do remember to exclude the beeswax granules from the recipe above.

Cold creams can be used to sooth abrasions and lesions. Rose leaves provide some medicinal values as well. It can be used as laxative and as an astringent. Also, it can be use to heal wounds caused by cuts and grazes (for insect bites, use Marigold ointment).

Roses can be made into jams and electuary i.e. medicinal powder mixed with honey or other sweet substances.

The electuary is purgative in action, and is good for hot fever, jaundice, and joint aches. While the dry conserve (sugar of rose) is good against fainting, swoonings, weakness and palpitations (caused by emotions), stomachic, promotes digestion, and a good tonic against infections.



Medicinal Usage of Oil

Before reading on, please make sure that the application of the rose oil is external rather than internal. Do not ingest any amount of essential oil yourself and only do so if prescribed by a qualified herbalist or aroma therapist

Rose Oil is used to relax and induce calmness. It is beneficial to be use to treat stress and helps in elevating stress-related conditions and its scents appeals to many as it is uplifting to the spirit.

Rose oil has been used by women to treat their ailments for centuries. It is useful in treating premenstrual tension and in menopausal difficulties such as heavy menstrual bleeding. It can also be used to treat scanty or irregular menstruation. It is also an aphrodisiac.

Rose oil can also be used to treat coughs and allergy-related respiratory complaints. Also, its effect on the digestive system is detoxifying, anti-inflammatory and strengthening. It also can be used to treat constipation and nausea and is also tonic to the liver and gall-bladder. Famous for its healing qualities on skin, it is anti-inflammatory, and soothing, which beneficiary in treating dry and itchy skin.



We have talk about the qualities of roses so far and you might be wondering how we might harness the special properties of the roses… its simple actually; I will be introducing a joyful way of incorporating roses into your very indulgence. It’s an old recipe and I have taken it from the book ‘The Magic of Herbs’ by David Conway.

Rose-Petal Delight

6 pints rose petals (well scented pale rose petals)
3 lb. sugar
Juice of 2 lemons
1 oz. yeast
1 gallon water

1. Use four pints of water; infuse the petals for three days in a covered container.


2. Boil half of the sugar in two pints of water, cool, and add to the previous mixture.


3. Add in the lemon juice and yeast and allow fermenting for ten days.


4. On the sixth day, strain the liquid and strain again on the ninth day.


5. Add the remainder of the sugar solution (1½ lb. of sugar and a quart of water) and leave until fermentation ceased.


6. After which, strain into sterilised bottles and store in a cool dry place.

Vanilla (Vanilla planiflora)

Vanilla (Vanilla planifolia)

Vanilla, au contraire, is considered a spice rather than herbs. Renowned for its aphrodisiac properties, Vanilla is an excellent exotic and wild flavouring. Many people will like the calming scent of vanilla, and favours it in their ice-cream, milk shakes, and even tea. Used in combination with chocolate, Vanilla will provide an almost exquisite blend with energising properties.

Vanilla, as known to everybody, comes from the pod of the Vanilla Plant (which is an Orchid species). This pod, are collected when they are still green, and after which, been fermented in a painstaking months-old process, and voila! Your beloved Vanilla scent is born!

Pure Vanilla extracts is hard to find and expensive too. Often adulterated, poor quality vanilla pods are usually spiked with their synthetic counterpart, Vanillin. Though the flavour of vanillin resembles the spice markedly, it lacks the true ‘kick’ of the genuine spice.

The plant originated from South East Mexico and the ancient Mexican both Mayans and Aztecs used it to flavour their chocolate drink (it’s a kind of royal drink). This drink is still popular in the Yucatan region in Mexico. The drinks include chiles pepper, allspice, annatto, and sometimes, cinnamon and black pepper (which are imported spices).

As an aspiring herbalist, I took pity of myself that I do not know my own beloved country, Malaysia, produces Vanilla, my apologies…

Almost 95% of the world’s Vanilla is synthetic in origin which is synthesised from phenol. They name this compound vanillin, which in fact, the true vanilla essential oil contains. However, true vanilla extract contains far more constituents, piperonal and diacetyl to name a few…



Medicinal Usage

The plant is introduced into Europe by the Spaniards in the 17th century. It’s use exclusively to flavour chocolate drinks, which is still a popular usage nowadays. The difference in the way Europeans use vanilla to flavour their chocolate drinks is that, the Europeans introduced the usage of milk rather than water, which is brewed by the Mexicans. Its main usage is mainly as flavouring and as a culinary ingredient. The passage below summaries it best:

“Vanilla is an aromatic stimulant, with a tendency towards the nervous system. It has also been regarded as an aphrodisiac. It has been employed as a remedy in hysteria, low fevers, impotency, etc. But its use as a medicine is obsolete in this country, although still sometimes employed on the Continent and elsewhere.”
Bentley, Robert and Henry Trimen. Medicinal Plants; being descriptions with original figures of the principal plants employed in medicine and an account of the characters, properties, and uses of their parts and products of medicinal value. London, Churchill, 1880. (WZ 295 B556m 1880)

The essential oil, on the other hand is useful for various task. For starters, it is an aphrodisiac, mainly acting upon the emotional level. It creates a comfortable atmosphere and thus relaxes both partners. It also helps in treating itchy and dry skins. You can even increase the lustre of your hair by using vanilla oil. For this, I recommend the usage of vanilla in combination with Rosemary oil. The recipe is given below:


For Lustrous Hair

2 drops of Rosemary Oil
2 drops of Vanilla Oil
5ml of Almond Oil

Mix all the ingredients together in a saucer. After washing, apply evenly on hair and leave it on. However, it is not advisable to use on oily hair.

You can also wash your hair with infusion of vanilla pods and rosemary. However, I have heard somewhere that the usage of Rosemary is to darken hair, which is useful for Asians. I am not very sure about this and some recommended the usage of Chamomile for blonde type and Henna for reddish shades.

Vanilla essential oil is also good for relaxation. It brings back nostalgic memories, when your mom baked some cookies, which exudes the sweet scent into the air.


Culinary Usage

As much as I have mentioned in this article, it is favourably used in flavouring chocolate drinks. I have scoured the websites for the recipes but failed to do so. However, I have some other information that might be helpful.

Europeans in the 17th century fancies vanilla very much, and as a result they use it in any possible way. Another method of applications comes in the form of Posset. Posset is, as Wikipedia summaries it:

“A posset is a hot milk drink, popular in the Middle Ages for its supposed medicinal properties. Wine or ale was added to the milk, which curdled it, and the mixture was usually spiced. It was considered a specific remedy for some minor illnesses, such as a cold, and a general remedy for others, as even today people drink hot milk to help them get to sleep. A caudle was a later development that added a thickening agent -- usually some kind of grain (a cereal or "gruel") but sometimes eggs -- that also increased its nutritional value. Egg nog (or eggnog) belongs to the same family of milk punches but is seldom served hot now.”
Without much hassle, I will give you a recipe I found from ‘the epicenter’. It’s quite nice but since I can’t find any vanilla pods, I used the fake essence. Please don’t do so, as fake essence might endanger health. The posset below is good as dressing for summer fruits. The recipe:

Ingredients:

600 ml (1 pint) double cream
75 g (3 oz) caster (superfine) sugar
1 vanilla bean, cut into four
Juice of 1 lemon

Preparation:

1. Heat the cream, sugar and vanilla bean in a pan, bringing slowly to the boil. Continue boiling for 2 - 3 minutes.
2. Stir in the lemon juice. Cool slightly, remove the vanilla bean and pour into 6 small serving glasses.
3. Chill before serving.

***Before I conclude, this article is dedicated to a very special person, whose favourite is Vanilla. I will never forget this, I promise…***

Adverse Herbal Reactions

Adverse Herbal Reactions

This is a post inspired by the story of my father. My father has undergone a major heart surgery lately, on 21st of May actually so I have decided to include this section in order to warn others of unsavoury mix between herbs with herbs, and herbs with conventional drugs. However, this list is by no mean exhaustive and is sourced elsewhere. I will quote from which website each warning originated.


Echinacea
This herb often is used for preventing or treating viral, bacterial or fungal infections. Because some people can be allergic to Echinacea, those with allergies or asthma should be cautious of using this supplement at any time. This also is true for people with pre-existing liver conditions. Echinacea may diminish the effectiveness of immunosuppressant drugs so people who are having any kind of organ transplant should avoid taking Echinacea for several weeks before surgery.

Ephedra
This herb promotes weight loss and increases energy. Ephedra is known to increase blood pressure in some people. A rise in blood pressure during surgery could lead to danger, at worst a heart attack or stroke. Ephedrine can persist for an entire day in your blood stream, so don't take this herb for a few days prior to surgery.

Garlic
Garlic inhibits your platelet's ability to aggregate, or clot. This means it can become harder to stop any bleeding. It's a good idea not to take any kind of garlic herbal preparation for at least a week before surgery.

Ginkgo
This herb is taken for a number of conditions, including improving mental alertness, reducing dizziness caused by altitude sickness or vertigo and erectile dysfunction. Ginkgo also inhibits the platelet-activating factor, part of the normal blood-clotting process. This effect can make it harder for your body to heal after surgery. Stop taking ginkgo at least 36 hours before surgery.

Ginseng
Ginseng is thought to protect the body against stress. Unfortunately, it also may lower the glucose (sugar) in your blood. This could be a serious problem for a person with diabetes and could even cause a dangerous blood sugar drop in people without diabetes. It's a good idea to stop taking ginseng a week before surgery.

Kava
Kava commonly is used to treat anxiety. Kava may act as a sedative and might interfere with traditional sedatives given during surgery or shortly after surgery. Kava could interfere with the anaesthetic medication that you receive during surgery. Try to discontinue kava at least 24 hours before your surgery.

St. John's Wort
This herb is widely used to treat mild to moderate depression. St. John's Wort also can increase the metabolism of medications. This may interfere with drugs used in organ transplants or anyone who may need to take an anticoagulation medicine after surgery to stop bleeding. It is a good idea to discontinue St. John's Wort at least five days prior to surgery.

Valerian
This herb is used to calm anxiety and promote sleep. Because valerian may have some addictive qualities, it is a good idea to taper use for several weeks before surgery.

***All of the above are taken from Adventist HealthCare Website***


Generally, before one goes for any surgery, you should ask your physician whether any of the herbal supplements (or supplements) that you are taking will not interfere with your surgical procedure. This is very important as to not cause any complications such as excessive bleeding during the surgery. As highlighted above, certain herbs can thin blood so much, that they will inhibit blood clotting and thus uncontrolled blood flow.

Sometimes the physician will highlight this to you however, if he/she doesn’t, you should fore-warned his/her that you are taking such and such supplements or so.

The post surgery period is just as important. Any herbal supplements must be referred to your physician as to not cause any undesirable reactions with the drugs he/she prescribed to you, or to be in the safe side, do not take any herbal supplements at all, unless you are being treated by an herbalist.

Explanation of Terms

Often times, we heard about laxative, analgesic, and purgative as well as a myriad of terms explaining the actions of herbal medicines. Those mind bogging jargon actually do more harm than help, especially when you are dealing with suspicious looking salesman who is up to no good. (Do I look like one?). So in the spirit of educating the masses and doing good (as well as making myself popular, hehe), I would like to include re-edit this post to make sure all of you aware what this is this post all about.

Here are the terms so used so often in the herbal world:

Alterative – herbs that hasten renewal of tissues thus reducing the tear and wear effect of most tissues. This enables them to work more efficiently.

Anodyne – analgesic, painkiller. It eases pain while the patient is still awake.

Anthelmintic – connected to platyhelminthes, a phylum of mostly parasitic worms with few free living ones and when referred, it usually means internal bodily parasites in medical terms. Anthelmintic is the substances used to expel parasitic worms from the body, which is mostly intestinal. Tapeworm is an example of platyhelminthes.

Antiperiodic – a term used to describe substances used to prevent recurring diseases, usually Malaria.

Antiscorbutic – connected to scurvy, which is a disease of the gum suffered by the sailors of the medieval era because of the lack of Vitamin C. You can guess what Antiscorbutic plants contain…

Antiseptic – substances that can kill germs or micro organisms without affecting living tissues. Its application can be either internal or external.

Antispasmodic – you can guess this one. It reduces ‘kekejangan’, a Malay word for sudden muscle spasm. Dun work on fits though except for superb muscle relaxing drugs like curare, which can kill the patient… don’t worry, antispasmodic herbs has nothing to do with that curare thingy.

Aperients – substances that promotes natural bowel movement, a mild purgative.

Aphrodisiac – this does not need any introduction, well known sex enhancer.

Aromatic – substances that have pleasant aroma (unlike chemistry, aromatics means chemical compound with benzene rings… Yucky)

Astringent – substances that induce localised tissue contraction. This is done by losing proteins on the surface of cells. Used for smothering enlarged pores but too much of everything is not good though… also known to smother wrinkle-infested skin but it will give a ‘tight’ feeling.

Balsamic – substance that contains resin and benzoate that is used to alleviate cold. It has a well known smell and likeness that everyone recognised. Some balsamic have heating effect.

Bitter – bitter tasting herbs, as the name implied, and it is used to stimulate appetites.

Cardiac – substances that affect the heart.

Carminative – substances that are used to alleviate flatulence (mainly) and any resultant gripping.

Cathartic – substance used to evacuate the bowels. Extreme purging!

Cholagogue – substances that are used to induce flow of bile from the gall bladder. The name is related to a salt in the liver, sodium taurocholate.

Cooling – substances that are used to reduce temperature of the skin. In Chinese term, cooling herbs are also used to cool the body of heat.

Demulcent – I believe that mulching have a connection with this word. However, the two words don’t agree head to toe. It is a name given to compounds that protect the alimentary canals. Alimentary canals are the tracts that connect all your digestive organs together. Starting with the oesophagus to your rectum, it is called your alimentary canal.

Deobstruent – its name explains it all, it will decongest and open up natural passages of the body. Decongestant falls under this categories.

Detergent – substance that cleanses. It may clean externally or internally.

Diaphoretic – substance that promote sweating or perspiration. (Hint: The Chinese believes that, when someone is down with fever, it’s good to cause the person to perspire. This herb might help in this sense…)

Diuretics – substance that promote expulsion of liquid from the body, a useful tools against oedema, a water-retention disease. Another useful application of this kind of substance is for dieting, as water retention is some kind of a problem for some fat people. However, before you use this substance for dieting, it’s wise to consult your general practitioner…

Emetic – substance that induces vomiting, useful when poison are administered accidentally, however, when acid are swallowed, it is not advisable to induce vomiting, and alkaline drinks are to be administered, such as Magnesia Milk.

Emmenagogue – a compound that promotes menstruation. One of the Chinese favourites is pineapple and other extremely acidic stuff. It did work however…

Emollient – a compound that soften or soothes the skin. It is useful for moisturising and smothering rough skin.

Expectorant – a substance that relieve coughs. It removes the secretion (mostly mucus) from the lungs, bronchi, and trachea.

Febrifuge – a substance useful in relieving fever. However, I learnt from the principle of homeostasis, that fever should not be suppress (unless under a very chronic condition) as fever is a way of response to infections. The raising of the body temperature helps the white blood cells to combat the invaders effectively. This writer suggests that plenty of rest is the only necessary tool to relieve fever, and if it helps, antiseptics should be prescribed to stop the infection.

Galactogogue – a compound that stimulates milk production for lactating mothers. It can also be used to increase milk flow.

Haemostatic – a substance used for checking bleeding.

Hepatic – a general term for substances that acts upon the liver in various ways.

Hydrogogue – a substance that have the properties of removing accumulated liquid (water) or serum from the body.

Hypnotic – a drug that induces sleep.

Insecticide – a substance that kills insects. (A well known Chinese insecticide is made from the powdered root of the Chrysanthemum Tree).

Irritant – substance that cause irritation of a tissue.

Laxative – You will know what this is if you have watched ‘Mr. Bean, the movie’. It is used to evacuate the bowel immediately upon consumption. Bwahahaha

Mydriatic – a compound that causes dilation of the pupil. This term has a special connection of the herb Belladonna. This herb is so termed for their eye-enlargement property. The French women use the juice of the said berries to enlarge their pupil, so as to look more attractive, hence the name, Belladonna ‘Beautiful Lady’.

Nervine – a substance that restores nerve to its natural states. In my opinion, it calms a person too…

Narcotic – the name means plain crazy, a narcotic person is a person who has lost touch with reality. So, you can guess what it is for. It is used mainly in religious ceremonies whereby a trance state is needed.

Nephritic – a drug that does something to the kidneys. Nephron, in particular is the basic working unit in the kidney. This is where the word nephritic originated.

Nutritive – a substance that provides day-to-day necessary nutrition to the body. This usually includes vegetables and staples.

Parasiticide – anything that ends with –cide means suicide to certain organisms if they came near these. This is a kind of substance that destroys internal and external parasites.

Pectoral – a family of substances that includes all drugs that can treat lung and chest complaints.

Purgative – a violent substance used to evacuate your bowel immediately, this is the deadliest of all bowel evacuators. Although sounds disgusting, people in the medieval era like to be purged. If you live in that era, you will hear violent shouting from the back of an apothecary. Usually, all this racking is caused by purging as apothecaries encourages purging to cleanse the body. It may seem to be true, as sometimes, we do need to clean our colon. Another tips: almost 90% of diseases comes from the colon itself.

Refrigerant – a substance that quench thirst and promotes a feeling of ‘coolness’ (Not literary though, no one becomes ‘cool’ when this kind herbs are used). I have a feeling that this relates to the Chinese concept of hot and cold in the body. Chinese classified diseases into cold and hot (the all-so popular concept of yin-yang) and further divided them into a few more categories. When you are experiencing hot symptoms, you will have to use cold herbs to balance back your body; however, this is not always the case.

Resolvent – an agent used to relieve swellings when applied externally.

Rubefacient – if these babies are applied to your face, you will experience ultimate face reddening and no, it’s not blushing, it’s blistering and later on inflammation will develop.

Sedative – a compound that lessens tension, eases stress, and helps in emotional disturbances. It soothes the nervous system and aid in treating depression.

Sternutatory – this substance will irritate the mucus membrane of the nose and promotes sneezing.

Stimulant – a kind of substance that stimulates specific organs, systems or tissues.

Stomachic – drugs that treat any stomach complaints.

Styptic – a substance that stops bleeding rapidly by blood vessel contraction or blood clotting.

Sudorific – a drug that is used to promote abundant sweating.

Taeniacide – Taenia is a kind of tapeworm that lives in your large intestine. This baby is used to expel these menaces from your body. Nobody wants a living ‘fettuccine’ in their body, or nobody wants a living ‘ban mian’ in their body either…

Tonic – substance that purported to revitalise your body and keeps you going. Reasons has it, once you’re tired, there’s some organs in your body that has lost its vigour. Consumption of tonics, which is usually steeped in wine, will keep you vigorous and full of energy.

Vermifuge – a substance that expels worms from the intestine.

Vesicant – agent that causes blistering once applied to skin.

Vulnerary – substance that heals wounds.


***Most of the Information comes from the book ’Herbal Remedies & Homeopathy’ publish by Geddes & Grosset; ISBN 1 84205 028 1… A round of applause to these dedicated writers…***