Elderflower

Our series on the bizarre and wondrous healing properties found in nature

Historical context 

Many of us are familiar with the idea of yin and yang. Traditional Chinese Medicine has this restorative balance between opposing energies at the heart of its philosophy. 

While yin and yang – or, for that instance, any paradoxical energies such as happiness and sadness, or stress and peace – can promote wellness if they are balanced and flowing freely, TCM believes that even minor imbalances to this delicate framework and disrupt our life force and energy, known as qi (pronounced chee). 

Flowers – ranging from magnolia blooms to chrysanthemums and lotus stalks – have been used for centuries within TCM, often in concoctions such as herbal teas. In fact, TCM has one of the most robust flower-derived dietary medicine traditions of all the holistic healing frameworks. 

Often, it’s the acrid and bitter taste of these sweet-smelling flowers that is believed to have a positive healing effect. Herbalists often turn to elderflower to treat cold and flu symptoms, especially congestion and fever. And, as with many things that come to the fore when one becomes well-versed with the rhythms and cadences of nature, in a sort of divine dance, the creamy spray of flowers blooms in perfect time to help alleviate pesky hay fever symptoms. 

While the UK may associate elderflower most with cordials and sorbets, it has long been used in vinegar form to soothe a sore throat, as a floral water for skin and eye conditions, and to soothe inflammation. However, in Chinese medicine systems, its functionality lies in its ability to diffuse and ‘float’ upwards through the body to dispel phlegm and pathogens from the body.

Usage and evidence 

Elderflower’s musky, floral notes make it one of the most palatable flower-infused medicinal concoctions in TCM – and it’s plentiful in the summer months. 

TCM celebrates Elderflower as a way to dry ‘dampness’ or congestion within the body, and transform phlegm in the upper part of the body to regulate the Lung Qi and remove stagnant congestion or blockages. 

In TCM, this impact is believed to be a result of elderflower’s ability to induce sweating and thereby warm up, then cool down the body. It is also thought to relieve edema and reduce excess water retention as a diuretic.

Here’s how Briar foragers can benefit from centuries-old wisdom to use Elderflower for detoxification and begin to feel lighter and sprightlier starting today.

How to use it

For medicinal purposes, elderflower blooms are mainly used in an herbal tea form, either on its own or mixed with another herbal tea. 

1. Add elderflower blooms in a steaming cup of herbal tea and allow it to steep for 10-15 minutes with a lid on. Chamomile tea works best. 

2. To enjoy elderflower tea on its own, put one spoon of dried elderflowers or two spoons of fresh blooms in nearly boiling water and leave to steep for 10 minutes.

NOTE: This article is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute providing medical advice or professional services. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health provider regarding a medical condition. 

Fennel

Our series on the bizarre and wondrous healing properties found in nature

Historical context 

Fennel is anecdotally valued by many as a digestive aid. Culturally, chewing fennel seeds is a common practice for many Indians and South Asians – a sort of natural, after-dinner mint to cleanse the palate. In India, many families keep a mixture of lightly roasted, sweetened fennel seeds on their coffee or chai tables. In fact, sometimes fennel makes its way into the tea itself, imparting a delicately sweet, licorice-like flavour to the beloved staple. Many Indians associate fennel seeds with digestion, detox and weight loss because they believe it is soothing to the stomach and ‘cooling’ to the body. 

This association is entrenched in the common belief systems by Ayurvedic practices. 

Stemming from the Sanskrit words for life and science/ knowledge – (ayur) and (veda) – the ancient Ayurveda system of medicine embodies a holistic approach to healing. In its loosest translation, Ayurveda means the knowledge of life. This approach to health stresses the interconnectedness and delicate balance between the body, mind, spirit, and environment. 

Fennel features prominently in many Ayurvedic preparations for its purported effect on the digestive fire, or Agni. It has also long been used in the Ayurvedic wellness space as a claimed lactation aid for nursing mothers, as well as to reduce bloating and cramps.

Usage and evidence 

Some studies even outside of Ayurveda suggest fennel has potential positive health benefits because it is a source of folate and vitamin C.

However, it is important to remember these nutrients are only present in trace amounts, and it is unlikely that one would consume enough fennel to reap these purported health benefits. 

Newer studies are exploring the estrogenic effect of fennel seeds, possibly leading to hormonal PCOS treatment in the wellness space.

Further clinical trials are warranted and, as always, adequate medical advice should be sought to treat any medical conditions. Pregnant women should avoid taking very concentrated forms of fennel, such as fennel oil or fennel supplements. 

How to use it

In its seed form, here are some ways Briar readers can use fennel for wellness. 

1. Steep one tablespoon of fennel to brew fennel tea. Add ginger and lemon to help boost its purported digestive properties.

2. Or, take it a bit further and make an Ayurvedic CCF tea that is widely prescribed by practitioners as it is believed to help ease constipation. CCF stands for cumin, coriander and fennel – simply add half a teaspoon of each to boiling water, continue to boil for 5-10 minutes and strain. Keep the liquid in a warm thermos and sip throughout the day. Remember, fennel often acts as a diuretic and may not be suitable for everyone.

3. Similarly, some ayurvedic practitioners recommend boiling fennel and a pinch of fenugreek seeds in water until the mixture is reduced to half and drinking it first thing in the morning (ideally before brushing your teeth). They believe this leads to reduced bloating. 

4. Try cooking with fennel bulbs. Use them as you would use garlic – sliced, crushed, for tempering or even roasted and sauteed with green beans. 

5. Lastly, try chewing on fennel stalks or seeds to make your breath fresher. Keep fennel seeds accessible to munch on and reach for naturally, as you would for a far unhealthier mint. 

NOTE: This article is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute providing medical advice or professional services. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health provider regarding a medical condition. 

Wild Garlic

Our series on the bizarre and wondrous healing properties found in nature

Historical context 

People have historically turned to garlic as somewhat of an anti-inflammatory vegetable for centuries. 

It is especially popular in the subcontinental homeopathic and alternative medicine space. Beyond using it to add a pungent kick to South Asian cuisine, temper daals and as the base for many curries, traditionally, in Pakistan and India, some natural medicine practitioners use garlic as a natural, holistic healing medical intervention.

Some preparations of garlic in Unani Tibb are more elaborate than others, and the complexity ranges from the simple – swallowing one raw garlic clove on an empty stomach every morning – to the complex – such as an intricate preparation of garlic-infused mustard oil, a popular remedy prescribed for hair growth. Extracts from dried garlic bulbs were thought to be a potent remedy to regulate menstrual cycles and aid digestion.

Eastern medicine practitioners claim garlic has the potential to manage symptoms of high cholesterol and address various skin conditions, though further clinical trials are warranted to substantiate these findings.

Unani Tibb, an Eastern medicine system widely practiced in South Asia, claims garlic has a purported alkalising effect on the body. Based on a medieval belief system that the body has four humours (blood, phlegm, and yellow and black bile) garlic, Eastern medicine practitioners say, helps keep a balance in place by allegedly ‘cleansing and purifying’ the blood and expelling excess phlegm from the body.

Usage and evidence 

While we can’t speak to garlic’s ability to ‘purify’ the blood, some of the potential health benefits of garlic are beginning to be supported by science. Emerging research points to garlic’s anti-inflammatory properties, with 2024 research exploring its use in managing cardiovascular diseases. Recreations of some ancient remedies have even found that in unique preparations, garlic has been effective at treating diseases, such as MRSA.

There may also be some evidence of garlic as an antifungal, antimicrobial supplement. Studies point to garlic’s potential health benefits, particularly in weight management, modestly lowering blood pressure and possibly decreasing the ability of blood platelets to form clots.

Most of the positive effects come from Allicin, an organosulfur and colourless oil found in garlic. Still, many studies are based on patients consuming garlic compounds or extracts of aged garlic in high amounts, meaning cooking with a couple of cloves will not have the same impact. 

When it comes to the documented health benefits of garlic, separating fact from fiction is important, and more clinical trials are warranted to substantiate these findings. It is important to consult a doctor and seek adequate medical intervention.

How to use it

1. Try adding extra garlic cloves when simmering a broth before you get a cold. While there is inconclusive evidence to show garlic’s impact on flu-like symptoms, it is generally believed to help boost immunity by reducing the severity or frequency of infection. 

2. One study suggests consuming one clove of garlic a day (raw) to help thrombosis.

3. For indigestion, Eastern medicine promotes blitzing together garlic and milk. Boil the mixture until it is reduced to one third; strain and drink after each meal. 

4. For a headache, a popular folk remedy is to crush a clove of garlic and mix it with olive oil, then apply it to the temples. Alternatively, boil a handful of garlic cloves for half an hour, then dip a tea cloth in the water to place over your head once it cools. 

NOTE: This article is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute providing medical advice or professional services. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health provider regarding a medical condition.