The Roots Story

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Tag: herbs

  • The Roots Talks at InSpire

    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.
     

  • Ginseng

    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.

  • A Walk in Burgess Park

    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.

  • Bath Bombs & The Medical Herbalist!

    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!

  • Sarsaparilla!

    Sarsaparilla!

    You probably know Sarsaparilla best as a sweet soft drink, but did you know Sarsaparilla is thought to have many medicinal properties and used to be drunk as a curative tonic?

    Sarsaparilla is a vine, native to the rainforests of Central and South America. The root of the plant is the most valued part of the plant, and the part used for its medicinal benefits.


    Sarsaparilla was brought to Europe from the Americas in the mid-sixteenth century where it quickly became popular with physicians and the public.

    Today, Sarsaparilla is most often used for its anti-inflammatory properties, which make it a great treatment for sufferers of skin problems such as psoriasis, eczema and itchiness. Sarsparilla has also been used in the past to treat a variety of conditions, including gout, arthritis, rheumatism, impotence, depression, syphilis and some symptoms of the menopause.

    The root of the Sarsaparilla plant is very bitter, and so it was common for pharmacists to distill the useful chemicals from the plant and then to mix these with sugar and water. This tonic would often contain ingredients such as liquorice, cassia, ginger, cloves, coriander seeds, sassafras and wintergreen.

    Sarsaparilla was one of G. Baldwin & Co’s most popular remedies, where they used to serve it strong and frothy, and very different to the sweet carbonated drink Sarsaparilla is today! Did you ever try a glass of Baldwin’s Sarsaparilla?

    Today the anti-inflammatory action is still much in demand for treating arthritis and skin disorders like eczema and psoriasis, and supplements of the plant are still on sale in Baldwins today.

  • Herb Gardening at Art in the Park

    Herb Gardening at Art in the Park

    The first of The Root’s events was held on a (rather wet!) day in July, with an introduction to herb gardening and wild herbs in the lush gardens at Art in the Park in Burgess Park. (more…)