In our penultimate interview the wonderful Cynthia Smith shares her memories of the Jamaican herbs and remedies of her childhood.
Thank you Cynthia and interviewer Michael Holland for this interview.
Tag: herbal
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Brian Frampton’s Memories
We have another oral history to share with you as Brian Frampton recalls growing up in Walworth in the 50s (and his memories of Baldwins too, of course!). A great listen.
Thank you to Brian Frampton and interviewer Kitty Corish for a lovely interview.
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Mr Rudolph Francois Interview
As part of The Roots Project we have been training volunteers from Southwark Pensioners Centre to conduct and record interviews with local residents. These oral histories of local people are a wonderful view into their lives and the history of Walworth and Baldwins.
We’re really excited to share the first of these interviews now, Mr Rudolph Francois who was interviewed by Bibi Saffina Zafar in November of last year. Mr Francois shares some of his memories of Guyana, Baldwins and his aloe vera remedies… Enjoy!
Guyana and Arrival in the UK
Baldwins
Guyanese traditions
Aloe Vera
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More Chelsea Physic Garden!
Some more photos from our wonderful (if slightly damp!) trip to Chelsea Physic Gardens last year.
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Chickweed
Have you heard of chickweed? Chickweed is a little known herb thought to have a great variety of medicinal uses. It is also an edible plant which can be used in cooking or to make teas, (in tea form it is supposedly an excellent acne wash). And with its high content of vitamin C, calcium, magnesium and potassium it is rather good for you! Chickweed is sometimes applied to the skin to relieve pain and to aid healing, and is often an ingredient of various ointments and salves. Chickweed can even be added to a hot bath to help with sores, rashes, boils and burns.One of our volunteers gave us this recipe for Chickweek Ointment, for dry or irritated skin.
Do not use in place of advice from a doctor or trained medical practitioner. Use extra caution if pregnant – check dose and suitability before use.Chickweed ointment
Ingredients and equipment:
* Double saucepan or basin in a saucepan of boiling water
* Shallow wide necked screw top jar
* Sieve
* Odourless vegetable oil, grape seed is best
* Handful of chickweed, which you will find growing on soil that has been cultivated.
* Beeswax. (If you don’t know a beekeeper, Baldwin’s sell this)
* A few drops of essential oil e.g. lavender (optional)Method:
1. Remove any roots, dirt or dead leaves from the chickweed and cut into approx 2 inch lengths and place in an oven proof bowl. Press down and cover with vegetable oil. Put in oven at 150c degrees or less. Meanwhile, you can make a batch of shortbread, and by the time this is cooked, your chickweed will be ready for the next stage.2. Place a piece of beeswax about the size of an eyeball into the top of a double saucepan, add boiling water to the bottom half of the saucepan to melt the wax. Remove from heat. Strain the oil off the chickweed. Squeeze out the last drops of oil, then throw away the chickweed. Allow the oil to cool a little, then add to the melted beeswax in the double saucepan and stir.
3. Remove the top part of the double saucepan and leave to cool and set. You want this mixture to set into a thick cream. If it is too hard, re-melt and add some more oil. If it is still runny, re-melt and add some more wax.
4. When the consistency is right, re-melt and add some drops of essential oil to make it smell nice. Lavender is good.
5. Pour the melted mixture into the jar and leave to cool.
6. This ointment is good for dry or irritated skin. I keep a jar in the kitchen to use after washing up.
7. There are no preservatives in this ointment, so you should only make up a small quantity so that you can use it.
image via science.bayercropscience.co.uk
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Herb Garret Visit
In September we took a trip to the Old Operating Theatre Museum and Herb Garret near London Bridge, where we were given a fascinating talk on the history of herbal remedies. We were also able to explore some of the beautiful, 300 year old rooms in the old Saint Thomas Hospital where herbs and medical equipment was stored.
Thank you to the Herb Garret for a wonderful and informative afternoon!
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Dandelions
You may think the dandelion is a lowly weed, and although it is often regarded as a pest by gardeners, the dandelion has many beneficial uses! Historically, the dandelion has been used for a variety of medical purposes and even today many people praise its curative properties. The root of dandelion can be used for a liver tonic, taken as a decoction ½ hour before a meal as an aid to efficient digestion. The Dandelion is also thought to be a good treatment for bile problems and an effective diuretic.
The whole of the dandelion is edible. Young leaves can be eaten in salads in the spring, and were an ingredient of a traditional spring pudding. Some people roast dandelions and use it as a substitute for coffee. If it is harvested in the autumn it is sweeter. Do be careful though, dandelion pollen can cause allergic reactions when eaten, or adverse skin reactions in sensitive individuals!
And even for gardeners the dandelion can be quite useful! The dandelion is a good companion plant, it’s roots will bring up minerals and nutrients for shallower-rooting plants. Dandelions also attract pollinating insects.Did you know, in France the dandelion is called “pis-en-lit” which translates as “piss-a-bed”! This is because the leaves are diuretic.
(photo by mgpenguin86 via flickr)
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The Roots Talks at InSpire
On August 14th, as part of our programme of events The Roots held a series of talks at the InSpire community space in Walworth. These talks spanned the history of the local area, the history of G. Baldwin & Co and herbs and home remedies. We also had a poetry reading, quizzes, hand massages, sarsaparilla tasting and even some plants for people to take home with them at the end of the day!
It was an interesting and informative day, and thank you so much to the speakers (and masseuse!) who made it possible. Thank you Steve Dagnall, Professor Patricia Dark, Lucreta La Pierre, Mala Bissoon, Paula Appleton and Marva Donaldson.
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Ginseng
Traditionally regarded in China as the ‘Herb of Aging Emperors’ due to its high price and exclusivity, ginseng is a perennial plant with fleshy roots, which has been used all over the world for thousands years to improve peoples’ health. Luckily it’s much more widely available today!
The root (and sometimes the leaf) is the part of the plant most often used in herbal remedies. Did you know that the word “Ginseng” comes from a Chinese term meaning “Man”, this is because the forked root of the plant often resembles a small person!Ginseng is thought to be an adaptogen, this means it is able to help the body cope with stress and support the immune system (although it should not be taken when you have an infection).
Ginseng is often taken to increase a sense of wellbeing and stamina, and improves both mental and physical performance. Because of the supportive action of ginseng it is also used for depression, asthma, memory impairment, fatigue and premature aging.Ginseng is still very popular today, and is available in a range of forms including tablets, capsules, softgel, powder, extracts, teas, and creams.
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A Walk in Burgess Park
In August, for the second workshop with Art in the Park we went on a Wild Herb Walk around Burgess Park.
Burgess Park in Walworth is a beautiful space filled with wild herbs and plants which can be used for both cooking and healing. As we wandered through the park we learnt about some of the different plants growing in the park, what they can be used for and how to spot them!
Thank you again to all involved, it was a lovely (and very informative!) day.
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Bath Bombs & The Medical Herbalist!
Back in July, the Medical Herbalist and the Cuming Museum Youth Panel came to Art in the Park to share some herbal remedies and recipes with young people from Southwark. It was a great chance to get ‘hands on’ with some of the ingredients and techniques used in herbal beauty remedies, soothing creams and bath bombs!
Thank you to everyone involved!