From the Earth to the Bar

By Kyle Branche
www.KylesCocktailHotel.com
Source: Andrew Chevallier’s Encyclopedia of Medicinal
Plants

Part 6 – 8 Entries
Cinnamon – Eggplant – Gentian – Hyssop –
Licorice – Potato – Sweet Cherry - Turmeric
 Cinnamon
Cinnamomum verum ( Lauraceae) – Dalcini (Hindi)

Part used – Inner bark, twigs

Native to India and Sri Lanka, it is also cultivated throughout the tropical
regions of the world, especially in the Philippines and West Indies.

An evergreen tree growing to 25–60 ft, with soft reddish-brown bark,

and yellow flowers.

With a long history of use, it is traditionally taken in the native land

even today, for colds, flu, and digestive problems.
Actions – Warming stimulant, carminative, antispasmodic, antiseptic, antiviral.
It’s medicinal value is largely due to its volatile oil.

Preparations – Tincture, infusion, powder, and essential oil.

Eggplant
Solanum melongena ( Solanaceae )

Part used – Fruit, fruit juice, leaves

Native to India and Southeast Asia, it is now cultivated in many tropical areas.
The fruit is gatherd when ripe in summer or autumn.

An erect herbaceous perennial growing to 28 in,

with slightly wooly leaves, violet flowers, and large purple fruit.
Eggplants have been cultivated as a food in Asia since ancient times.
They contain proteins, carbohydrates, and vitamins A, B, and C.

Actions – Diuretic, emollient. The fruit lowers cholesterol levels in the blood,
and is a suitable part of a diet to help regulate high blood pressure.
It can also be used as an oil or ointment. The leaves (used externally only,
due to their toxicity) are a soothing poultice for burns, cold sores, and abcesses.
 Gentian
Gentiana lutea ( Gentianaceae )

Part used – Root (fresh and dried)

Native to the Alps and other mountainous regions of central and southern
Europe from Spain to the Balkans, flourishing at 2,300–8,000 ft.
The root is dug up and dried in early autumn.

An erect perennial growing to 4 ft, with star-shaped yellow flowers and oval leaves.

A powerful bitter, the herb is an essential ingredient of traditional aperitifs

and bitters such as the brand Angostura bitters.

Amorogentin, one of gentian’s key bitter constituents, when tested at certain

dilutions, is possibly the most bitter substance on the planet.

Actions – Bitter, digestive stimulant, eases stomach pain, tonic in old age.

Gentian stimulates the bitter taste receptors on the tongue, causing an increase
in the production of saliva and gastric secretions, which in turn stimulates the
appetite, improving the action of the digestive system, increasing the absorption
of nutrients across the gut wall, enabling it to cope effectively with a heavy meal.

Preparations – Tincture, decoction

Hyssop
Hyssopus officinalis ( Labiatae )

Part used – Flowering tops, essential oil

Native to southern Europe, it grows freely in the Mediterranean countries,

especially the Balkans and Turkey. Preferring sunny, dry sites, the flowering
tops are harvested in the summer when the plant is in flower.

Hyssop is used to flavor some liqueurs, including Chartreuse.

In the past, this herb was highly esteemed and regarded as a virtual cure-all.

Actions – Medicinally, it is a strong expectorant, as it has a positive effect

on bronchitis and respiratory infections. As a sedative, it is a useful remedy
against asthma in children and adults, which leads itself to have a calming
tonic effect on the body.
Due to the volatile oil’s certain level of toxicity, the essential oil should only
be used under professional supervision, as it can cause epileptic seizures.

Licorice
Glycyrrhiza glabra ( Leguminosae )

Part used – Root (fresh and dried)

Licorice grows wild in southeastern Europe, and southwestern Asia,

and is now extensively cultivated.

A woody-stemmed perennial growing to about 6 ft,

with dark leaves,. and cream to mauve flowers.

Taken medicinally for several thousand years, it is among the most used
herbs in European medicine. A powerful anti-inflammatory, it is effective in
conditions as various as arthritis and canker sores.

One of the constituents, glycyrrhizic acid, is 50 times sweeter than sugar.

Actions – Expectorant, demulcent, adrenal agent, anti-inflammatory,

and as a mild laxative.

Preparations – Tincture, dried juice stick, and powder.

Potato
Solanum tuberosum ( Solanaceae )

Part used – Tuber

Native to Chile, Bolivia, and Peru.

The many varieties of the potato plant are cultivated around the world.
The tuber is normally unearthed from autumn to early spring.

Perennial growing to 3 ft, has branching stems with compound leaves,

white or purple flowers, green berries, and swollen tubers (potatoes).

All parts of the plant except the tuber (potato) are poisonous.
Even excessive doses of potato juice have a toxic effect.

Potato contains starch, large amounts of vitamins A, B, C, and

especially K (potassium), and minerals.

Actions – Juice taken in moderation can be helpful in treatment of

 peptic ulcers. The mashed pulp may be used externally for headache,
skin rashes, and painful joints. In India, potato skins are used to
heal burns and treat swollen gums.

Sweet Cherry
Prunus avium ( Rosaceae )

Part used – Stems, fruit

Native to southwestern Asia, it is naturalized in Europe and cultivated in temperate

regions around the world. The stems and ripe fruit are collected in summer.

Deciduous shrub or tree growing to 25 ft, with reddish-brown bark,

oval to elliptical leaves, clusters of 2-6 white flowers, and spherical red fruit.

The stems contain phenols and tannins. The fruit contains vitamins
A, B, and C, and small amounts of salicylates and cyanogenic glycosides.

Actions – In European herbal medicine, cherry stems have long been

used for their diuretic and astringent properties. The cherry fruit can be
a helpful participant in treating arthritic problems. The high sugar content
also makes cherries a mild laxative. The seeds are toxic, and not to be consumed.

Turmeric
Curcuma longa ( Zingiberaceae ) – Haldi (Hindi), Jiang Huang (Chinese)

Part used – Dried rhizome

Native to India and southern Asia. Propogated by cuttings from the root, it needs
well-drained soil and a humid climate. The rhizome is unearthed in winter.

A perennial reaching 3 ft, with a short stem,

lance-shaped leaves, and a knobbly rhizome.

Indian food lovers are familiar with the spicy taste of turmeric, but its ancient
use as a medicinal for treatment digestive and liver problems has
confirmation by scientific research.

Actions – Anti-inflammatory, antioxident, antibacterial, and eases stomach pain.

In the last two decades, research shows it helps to lower cholesterol levels, and
inhibits blood-clotting. Turmeric bitter principles reflect its use for digestion.
Curcumen is a key constituent responsible for its strong antibacterial action,
 and also has a stronger antioxident effect than vitamin E.
Resin is the other of Turmeric’s key constituents.

Definitions

Spasmolytic Relaxes muscles

Stamen Male fertilizing organ of a flowering plant

Stigma Female organ of a flower

Sympathetic Nervous System Part of the nervous system involved in

maintaining arousal, alertness, and muscle tone

Terpenes Molecules that form the base of most constituents of volatile oils

Tincture Plant medicine prepared by macerating herb in water and alcohol