I don’t know about you, but it sure has been HOT this month in Mexico. I’ve been sheltering indoors in the afternoons and lazing about in front of a fan in the evenings. Even then, the heat is getting to me.
In the mornings, I’ve been feverishly working on getting my ebook Exploring Herbal Remedies in Mexico ready for release next week with the next Herbs and Essential Oils Super Bundle from Ultimate Bundles so stay tuned for that!
This week, Ultimate Bundles teamed up with Stacy Karen, the founder of NoFussNatural to bring you the Natural Summer Care Kit to help you manage this summertime weather.
Here’s what you’ll get when you register for this free kit:
5 summer-friendly recipes using herbs and essential oils
a simple checklist for all your ingredients
a tutorial video where Stacy will demonstrate exactly how to make each recipe
This summer kit has recipes for after-sun spray, bug bite balm, cucumber cooling mist, summer lotion bars, and fresh berry facial masks.
It’s FREE so go ahead and pick up Your Natural Summer Care Kit right here. And keep your eyes peeled for the Herbs and Essential Oils Super Bundle coming next week!
Matricaria chamomilla (German Chamomile) has long been used to treat menstrual cramps. In fact, Matricaria comes from the Latin word for womb (matriz). It is an herb that didn’t originate in Mexico but has become a fast favorite since it was brought from Europe by the Spanish in the 1500s.
In Spanish, manzana means “apple,” so it’s only natural that chamomile (which also means apple), is called “little apple” in Mexico, not for its appearance but its apple-like scent.
Manzanilla is digestive, sedative, anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic. Breast pain associated with premenstrual syndrome (mastalgia) has been effectively treated with regular doses of chamomile extract. To make a traditional Mexican PMS tea, use 10 grams of manzanilla (flowers and leaves) for every half liter 3 times a day as needed.
Matricaria chamomilla has antifungal properties as well. To treat a yeast infection in the Mexican way, use 20 grams of flowers for every half liter of water for a vaginal wash. Allow to the infusion to steep for 15 minutes before use.
Manzanilla is given to laboring mothers as well as prescribed after delivery in Mexico. Some midwives (parteras) use an ointment from manzanilla leaves and onions fried in manteca (lard) to lessen labor pains. For postpartum discomfort, an infusion of canela (cinnamon) rosa de castilla (Rosa gallica) and manzanilla is made from equal parts of each herb.
Studies have shown that manzanilla has been helpful for women in returning to regular digestive patterns after a cesarean section. It has also been used successfully to treat parasitic infections of the stomach.
Manzanilla is often used to treat eye infections. To make an eyewash, add a pinch of salt before boiling the herb. Make sure the infusion is freshly made for each application. Although care should be taken with topical application. Some people have a sensitivity to manzanilla on the skin. Applying it to the skin may cause a rash or allergic reaction.
Colicky babies are often given a weak tea made with manzanilla in Mexico. Young children are given manzanilla to help with dehydration caused by diarrhea. The Tzeltal Maya of Chiapas, Mexico make a manzanilla tea with an orange and lime leaf added to improve the drinker’s mood.
In April, the jacaranda blooms in Mexico announcing spring’s arrival. Originating in Bolivia and Argentina, the jacaranda can be found as an ornamental plant in most of the world these days. In fact, in some areas, it has been elevated to an invasive species. The purple flowers cluster in bunches which later are replaced by woody seed pods that resembles a crab shell that has flat seeds inside. The leaves are fern-like and resemble the mimosa which is where the jacaranda mimosifolia gets its second name.The tree is exceptionally hardy. It with drought-resistant (a must for La Yacata), has very few pests or disease issues and even flourish in areas of extremely high pollution, like Mexico City where the jacaranda is iconic. These lovely trees can live up to 200 years. Surprisingly, the leaves, bark, and root are the components used medicinally most often rather than the flowers. The bark has a higher antioxidant composition than the leaves and may be useful in the prevention of oxidative stress induced and neurodegenerative diseases. Extracts from these sections of the jacaranda have a high antimicrobial effect against Bacillus cereus and Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Extracts from the jacaranda mimosifolia have also shown to lower blood pressure. The flowers from the jacaranda have the potential for use in the fight against cancer. In Mexico, not only are extracts from different parts of the jacaranda used to treat wounds but in traditional medicine, the jacaranda mimosifolia is used for dysentery and diarrhea as well as throat infections. For sore throats or sores in the mouth, an infusion made from the roots is gargled. For the treatment of venereal diseases, a root infusion is drunk for 4 days in 4-ounce dosages. To make the infusion, soak a section of the bark for 10 hours, discard the bark and dilute the essential oil with water. Infected wounds, acne, and skin sores can be washed with a jacaranda leaf infusion. Treatment for arthritis and rheumatism uses the same infusion as a muscle rub. To make the leaf infusion, use 30 grams of leaves per liter. Wounds can also be treated with a poultice of crushed leaves placed directly on the infected area. Parasitic infections can be treated by combining spearmint and jacaranda leaves for a medicinal tea drunk for 7 days. Another tea concoction can be made with spearmint, epazote and jacaranda bark.Although I found several forums where gardeners claimed that the jacaranda mimosifolia was toxic, I wasn’t able to verify that information with any botanical sources. The worst issue with this plant is the mess that the falling flowers create which when wet might cause treacherous road conditions.
Now, next time you are admiring your blooming jacaranda with your neighbor, you’ll be able to talk about its medicinal value too!
Surviving Mexico 