Tuesday 19 March 2024

Plants We Used to Use 439. Sun spurge

Sun spurge (Euphorbia helioscopa) is claimed to have anti-inflammatory; anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties. It has consequently been used to treat digestive problems; respiratory infections and skin diseases.

Plants We Used to Use 438. Summer snowflake

In traditional medicine, Summer snowflake (Leucojum aestivum) was used for headaches; fevers and digestive issues.

Plants We Used to Use 437. Sulphur cinquefoil

The bland fruit of Sulphur cinquefoil (Potentilla recta) is edible. This plant has also been used as a dietary supplement to treat digestive issues and skin problems, as well as to relieve joint pains.

Monday 18 March 2024

Failure By Design?

In 2018, the then Environmental Secretary made a speech, promising the UK's environmental protection measures would be 'strengthened', after the country left the EU. The actuality is very different. The UK government now allows the use of many dangerous substances, banned by European rules. UK Reach, is the body now tasked by the Health and Safety Executive, with assessing dangerous chemicals. George Monbiot opines that it's underfunded; understaffed; underskilled and has an 'impossible' workload (https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/mar/18/britain-toxic-chemical-dump-brexit-europe). Monbiot calls this 'Failure by Design'. It's, of course, just the same in the current operation of England's Environment Agency. This body has also been deliberately financially 'starved' into a state where it has become incapable of 'policing' laws. It can't deal with illegal discharges of sewage by privatised water companies and farmers; use of banned pesticides on crops; the killing of protected species; fly-tipping etc., etc. It's clear you don't need to actually pass laws, allowing the use of dangerous chemicals and/or dodgy practices. You just need to ensure that your 'friends' are rarely caught and prosecuted! Simples!

Plants We Used to Use 436. Strapwort

in traditional medicine, Strapwort (Corrigiola litoralis) was used to treat digestive system problems including diarrhoea; constipation and gastrointestinal disorders.

Plants We Used to Use 435. Stone parsley

Stone parsley (Sison amomum) was employed in traditional medicine to treat respiratory infections; rheumatism and skin conditions. This plant appears to be a natural insect repellent. Oil, from its seeds, has been used on head lice.

Plants We Used to Use 434. Stone bramble

Stone bramble (Rubus saxatilis) berries are edible raw or cooked. A Stone bramble root decoction has been used to treat loose bowel symptoms and dysentery. The astringent leaves have been applied to some types of bleeding.

Plants We Used to Use 439. Sun spurge

Sun spurge ( Euphorbia helioscopa ) is claimed to have anti-inflammatory; anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties. It has consequently be...