Wild Plants as a food source become even more important and better for one's overall health. I know we as Americans eat too many processed foods. We are saturating our bodies with far too many chemicals. I do not think the food industry even realizes the dangerous effects of these chemicals. The natural health food centers and organic foods are one option, but not always affordable in today's economic climate. Right outside your doorstep are the small farmers who grow organically but cannot afford an organic license. There is also the food co-op in your area. I have talked about food co-ops in the past. If you live outside the city, growing in your yard are the wild plants. Become familiar with the wild plants as these can be a great food source.
One of the 'backyard' plants useful for the treatment of arthritis is Dandelion ( Taraxacum officinale ) As discussed previously it is a member of the Daisy Family. It is one of the oldest medicinal herbs. It does have diuretic properties like the conventional drug, lasix or furosemide. It is one of the best known plants for treatment of chronic rheumatoid arthritis. Dandelion works on the interstitial tissue. For my arthritis patients, I prescribe dandelion tea starting in the spring. If you prefer you can get dandelion juices. I prefer the tea as the juice is sweetened with sugar. You repeat this process in the fall. So twice a year ( Spring and Fall ) with a summer and winter of better mobility, less stiffness and decreased tendency for other joints to get sore.
Another herb which I have personally not used is Bittersweet ( Solanum dulcamara ) It is so uncommonly written about that is difficult to find citations of its use. If it is not in the Mosby's Handbook of Herbs and Natural Supplements, then I know it is not used commonly. When you go from Bilberry to Blackberry in any book--Bittersweet is overlooked. It is not Bitter Melon nor Bitter Orange. It is Bittersweet. Other names for Bittersweet include Bitter Nightshade, Felonwort, and Violet-bloom. It is a vine like perennial herb that has long trailing or climbing stems reaching up to ten feet in length each.
The species name of the bittersweet herb - dulcamara, is a reference to the taste of the berries. The berries initially have a bitter taste and then become unpleasantly sweet as they ripen. This is why it is called Bittersweet. Bittersweet is a native European species; it has been naturalized in America. It has many uses other than arthritis. The bittersweet is very effective when consumed to treat different kinds of skin problems like long term eczema, persistent itchiness on the skin, disorders such as psoriasis, as well as warts. In addition to the other beneficial properties mentioned above, the bittersweet herb has a mildly narcotic effect; it also possesses a diuretic effect. Small doses of the bittersweet remedy are useful in treating problems like dyspnea, cough, and pain in the chest produced by exposure to cold weather. Bittersweet remedies are also useful in relieving catarrhal headache induced by acute colds, and this remedy is also helpful in treating nasal catarrh. Bittersweet contains steroidal alkaloids (including solasodine and soldulcamaridine), steroidal saponins, and about 10% tannins.
Until tomorrow...