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It’s official, ginger really can ease nausea associated with the side-effects of chemotherapy. A recent study has shown that a mere half teaspoon of ginger reduced nausea by 40%. Although they used ground ginger, I’d recommend two tablets of 100% ginger. There are some on the local market that are cheap, Australian made and sold for travel sickness. Unless someone has trouble swallowing, it would be a more palatable way to take it and it still works fast.

Also on an aromatic note, New York chef extraordinaire Mark Bittman has a great recipe for a Mexican Chocolate Mousse – made with tofu. I have made tofu-based desserts before and they work extremely well, fooling even hardened tofu-haters. The video on the site takes a couple of minutes to watch and shows just how easy it is to make.

Walnuts may prevent breast cancer. This new research is promising but it is still at the ‘rats and stats’ stage, with no testing on actual women as yet. Walnuts contain omega-3 fatty acids but they are also a great source of fibre and trace nutrients. Part of the so called “French Paradox” regarding lower incidence of heart disease despite a high intake of cigarettes and alcohol, involved walnuts being a regular part of the diet. My walnut tips are –eat them raw and keep them in a cool place to stop them from going rancid. There are some great new season Tasmanian walnuts available at the moment – so add them to your cereal, have them as a snack or add a handful to a small bowl of sheep’s milk yoghurt with a drizzle of honey for dessert.

More Bittman love – how to set up a no frills-kitchen. A great little video backed up by a more detailed article, the down-to-earth Mr Bittman takes a novice cook by the hand and shows them what they need to set up a kitchen on the cheap. Though the costs are in US dollars, the generic catering supply stores are the same and you can find them dotted all over Melbourne. I use my local one for cheap but sturdy glasses, stainless steel bowls for mixing and prep work (doubling as salad bowls), graters, colanders and the like. Though I’m not a fan of aluminium cookware and I love my wok (though admit that a good fry pan on high heat does a passable job), Bittman’s guide is a great place to start.

Top 5 herbs from the garden and pantry

National Herbal Medicine Week (an initiative of the NHAA to promote Western herbalism) will be celebrated this Saturday, 20 September, at Ceres (Cnr Roberts and Stewart Sts, East Brunswick).

The Victorian branch of the NHAA will have a stall at the Ceres Market from 9am – 1pm that will feature free herb tastings such as tea blends and some interesting foods like “weed pie”. There will be local, qualified herbalists on hand to answer your questions on all things herbal and the Ceres nursery is well stocked with herbs to buy and take home.

This is a great opportunity to learn about how to use herbs at home as well as discovering more about this growing profession, while enjoying all the fun of the Ceres market.

To find out how NHMW is being celebrated in other states click on this link or contact the National Herbalist Association.

With this in mind, I thought this week would be a good time to nominate my Top 5 common herbs from the pantry and the garden. These are all plants that most people are familiar with in cooking but are also worthy additions to a home medicine cabinet.


1. Garlic (Allium sativa)

This is a multitalented herb that goes way beyond bringing a spark to savoury cooking. Its traditional use is primarily as an anti-infective (fighting bacteria, viruses and also fungal infections). It is commonly eaten whole for respiratory infections and hayfever, as well as used externally in WWI and WWII to treat gangrene. It is currently being researched regarding cancer prevention, the treatment of the common cold, pre-eclampsia.

The active ingredients were found to be so strong that if you applied a garlic poultice to the soles of your feet at bedtime, you can smell garlic on the breath by morning (be careful if you want to try this yourself as the sulphur in garlic is strong enough to slightly burn the skin unless oil or a similar barrier is applied to the feet first).

Scientific examination of garlic has found it plays a role in cardiovascular health – possibly lowering harmful cholesterol, reducing atherosclerosis and lowering blood pressure.

Personally, I think this is only the tip of the iceberg as far as garlic’s health properties are concerned. As a general immune and cardiovascular tonic consider taking 1 clove of raw garlic a day (not the pre-crushed stuff which is often laced with preservatives). Crushing garlic can help release some of its powerful constituents, however cooking can also reduce them. Try adding it to salad dressings but add some fresh parsley too if you aren’t so keen on garlic breath.

2. Thyme (Thymus vulgaris)

An ancient herb with a myriad of uses, thyme is easy to grow in Victoria. Like garlic, thyme is also a rich anti-infective herb. It is antiseptic, antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral. It can also relax bronchial muscles and help relieve a cough so makes a good all rounder for cold and flu season.

A traditional way of using thyme is to pick some fresh thyme, place into a clean jar and cover it with the best quality (preferably unheated) honey you can find. Take a teaspoon daily to build up your immune system, increasing to three times a day at any sign of a respiratory infection. It can also be drunk or gargled when mixed with warm water.

Another traditional use for thyme is a to add a generous handful to a bath, when you are suffering from exhaustion. After a soak, dry yourself and hop into bed. It is said to promote a deep and restful sleep. When I was first studying herbs this was a favourite remedy of one of my mentors and she swore by it for getting her through her busy home and work life.

As a powerful germicide, thyme also makes a great toilet cleaner. Make a strong decoction (ie: pot of tea) of thyme and use it as a natural and possibly more effective, alternative to commercial toilet cleaning products.

Some internet sources carry a warning that the use of thyme may suppress thyroid function and is contraindicated in people with clinical hypothyroidism. This appears to be a misquoted 1980’s rat study and to date there is no evidence based medical evidence to support this.

3. Chamomile (Matricaria recutita)

One of my all time favourite herbs, chamomile calms the nerves and settles the digestive system but as science begins to unlock the secrets of this modest herb there is so much more than it can do.

As an antiinflammatory, a key constituent (chamazulene) needs to be converted by a simple steaming method. Basically this means make chamomile tea in a teapot (with a lid) and this property will become bioavailable!

A cup of chamomile tea with each meal has been found to reduce hyperglycaemia and diabetic complications.

As an anti-spasmolytic, chamomile reduces bowel spasms such as in irritable bowel but combined with the antiinflammatory properties, chamomile tea is a handy tea to take for any inflammatory gut conditions (eg: Crohns, colitis etc).

A pot of chamomile tea added to the bath water is a great way of administering herbs to babies. Chamomile is particularly suitable for distressed or inconsolable little ones, or those with irritated skin, eczema or colic.

Chamomile tea, or flowers simmered in milk with honey makes a pleasant sedative.

Is it ok to drink chamomile tea in pregnancy? Many sources claim that this simple tea is contraindicated when pregnant and is sometimes repeated by midwives and obstetricians. With a little detective work it appears this comes from a general warning that some people are allergic to members of the daisy or ragweed family. This is not specific to pregnancy. If you drank chamomile previously with no reaction there is currently no evidence to suggest it should be avoided when pregnant.

4. Ginger

I shared my love of ginger in a previous program. Click on the link to find out more about this herb’s medicinal properties – including the treatment of bloating, nausea, pain, coughs and possibly cancer.

5. Cinnamon

Cinnamon also got a whole show of its own. It has similar warming properties (to the gut, uterus and lungs) as ginger. It is also antiinfective and like chamomile is emerging as a treatment for diabetes.

If your doctor is monitoring your blood sugar levels consider adding a cinnamon stick to a handful of chamomile in a teapot and brewing up a pot each day.

ginger

If I were only allowed to take one herb on a desert island it would be a toss up between garlic and ginger. But with the current voluminous research on the humble rhizome, ginger would probably come tops in its versatility as both a medicine and a culinary staple.

As an ancient medicine in both China and India, ginger was hailed primarily as a heating herb – bringing warmth to ‘cool’ conditions of the lungs and stomach. There is documented proof of its spread to the West, at least 2000 years ago, in the Roman Empire. Later it became the darling of the spice trade.

As a modern herbalist, like the ancients before me, I have always loved the slow warmth that ginger brings to the body. Different to chilli, with its searing heat that causes a sweat and cools us down, ginger is the perfect winter spice. It has an affinity to warm the internal organs – such as the lungs, digestion and uterus.

Here are some reasons why you should keep some fresh ginger on hand (for tea) or as tablets or capsules (for an easy to take medicine)

Anti-nausea: Ginger is a powerful anti-emetic, what’s more it is considered to be safe and effective in treating nausea in pregnancy. It works well for motion sickness and has been used in post-operative and chemotherapy induced nausea. It is worth packing some ginger tablets for your next boating trip.

A strong cup of ginger tea has been known to help the general queasy and biliousness that results from drinking too much alcohol.

Bloating: Ginger can ease bloating and flatulence – either as a tea or tablet.

Coughs: In India a spoonful of ginger mixed with honey is still a favourite remedy for a cough.

Pain: Ginger has been found to be both a COX-1 and COX-2 inhibiter. Basically this means it is, amongst other things, antiinflammatory and an effective painkiller – without the negative side effects of the pharmaceutical drugs that achieve this (such as Vioxx). Before the scientific validation, ginger has long been used as a remedy for rheumatism and arthritis. Taking 2 ginger tablets is also a fast and effective treatment for period pain. Topically, in conjunction with a caster oil pack – it is traditionally used to treat adhesions such as in endometriosis and other causes of period pain. In Bali, the locals use ginger topically – placing a slice of the fresh rhizome on the forehead for headaches.

Cancer: More recent research suggests that ginger could be a key in preventing colon cancer. It is also being investigated in the treatment of ovarian cancer.

Ginger is considered safe to have in food but as a medicine (tablet, capsule, tincture, fluid extract) high doses it is theoretically problematic for people with bleeding disorders (it can slow down clotting activity), especially those on anti-clotting drugs like warfarin.

Other theoretical considerations can be viewed at medline.

Using fresh ginger

Look for plump, fresh roots where the flesh hasn’t dried out.

For tea: grate 1 tsp of ginger per cup of water. Simmer on the stove for about 10 minutes, as a root this is more effective than just steeping in a teapot. Strain and add a little honey as straight ginger can be very acrid to drink.

In food: fresh ginger is delicious in stir fries, curries, steamed fish, in soups with orange vegetables. It is a favourite in many sweet foods, such as gingerbread – however the sugar, fat and flour content tends to counteract the benefits. Good quality, naturally fermented ginger beer that hasn’t been over sweetened, can be useful for the early stages of nausea or indigestion.