It is said that the tree planted by grandfather will bear “fruit” at the time when his grandson grows up. Therefore, it is also known as “grandfather grandson tree”. An extract of leaves ofGinkgo biloba-Aziz Treeis useful in the treatment of cerebral insufficiency and vertigo.
Carob tree Family: Leguminosae Medicinal use of Ceratonia siliqua:
The pulp in the seedpods of carob is very nutritious and, due to its
high sugar content, sweet-tasting and mildly laxative. However, the pulp
in the pods is also astringent and, used in a decoction, will treat
diarrhoea and gently help to cleanse and also relieve irritation within
the gut. Whilst these appear to be contradictory effects, carob is an
example of how the body responds to herbal medicines in different ways,
according to how the herb is prepared and according to the specific
medical problem.
The seedpods are also used in the treatment of coughs. A flour made from the ripe seedpods is
demulcent and emollient. It is used in the treatment of diarrhoea. The seed husks are astringent
and purgative. The bark is strongly astringent. A decoction is used in the treatment of diarrhoea.
Edible parts of Ceratonia siliqua : Seedpods
- raw or ground into a powder. The seedpods are filled with a
saccharine pulp and can be eaten both green or dried. They are very
sweet but fibrous, the pulp can be used as a chocolate substitute in cakes,
drinks etc. It is rich in sugars and protein. The pods contain about
55% sugars, 10% protein and 6% fat. Seed - rich in protein. A flour is
made from them which is 60% protein, it is free from sugar and starch
and is suitable for baking. It can be used as a chocolate substitute. An edible gum is extracted from the seed, a substitute for Gum Tragacanth
(see Astragalus species). A stabilizer and thickening agent, it is also used as an egg substitute.
The roasted seed is a coffee substitute.
Chicory
is also known as Blue Sailors, Garden Endive, Succory, Wild Succory and
Hendibeh. The seeds, leaves and root have carminative and cordial
properties and are useful as a brain tonic and for headache, asthma and
bilious vomiting. It is an acclaimed hepatoprotective and, is used in
hepatic enlargement,sluggishness, jaundice, fever, vomiting and abdominal pain. Cleanses the urinary tract.
Chicory can
lower pulse rate and reduce cholesterol levels. It has cholagogue and
antiinflammatory properties and is useful in rheumatic condition and
gout. Strengthens the liver and checks bilious enlargements of the
spleen with general dropsy. Contains 45-60% inulin, which can lower
levels of blood cholesterol.
Women who suffer from premenstrual syndrome (PMS) may find that regular use of chicory root as a bitter and a liver tonic may assist inmaintaining hormone balance and lessening the symptoms of PMS. Chicory also supports the body’s ability to absorb calcium, a nutrient that helps build and maintain strong teeth and bones.
Parts used :Leaves - raw
or cooked. The leaves are rather bitter, especially when the plants are
flowering. The leaves are often blanched by excluding light, either by
removing all the leaves and then earthing up the new growth, or by
covering the plant with a bucket or something similar. Whilst this
greatly reduces any bitterness, there is also a corresponding loss of
vitamins and minerals. The blanched leaves are often used in winter
salads (they are known as chicons) and are also cooked. The unblanched
leaves are much less bitter in winter and make an excellent addition to
salads at this time of year. A nutritional analysis of the leaves is
available. Flowers - raw. An attractive addition to the salad bowl, but
rather bitter. Root - cooked like parsnip. The boiled young roots form a
very palatable vegetable. The root is said to be an ideal food for
diabetics because of its inulin content. Inulin is a starch that cannot
be digested by humans, it tends to pass straight through the digestive
system and is therefore unlikely to be of use to a diabetic. However,
the inulin can be used to make a sweetener that is suitable for
diabetics to use. Chicory-root is free of harmful ingredients, and is
essentially a concentrated combination of three sugars (pentose, levulose and dextrose) along with taraxarcine (the bitter principle of
dandelion). It is especially important as source of levulose. Roots are
used in seasoning soups, sauces and gravies, and to impart a rich deep
colour. The roasted root is used as a caffeine-free coffee adulterant or
substitute. Young roots have a slightly bitter caramel flavour when
roasted, roots over 2 years old are much more bitter.
Other uses of the herb:
The roots have the potential to be used for the production of biomass
for industrial use. They are rich in the starch "inulin" which can
easily be converted to alcohol. A blue dye has been obtained from the
leaves. The flowers are an alternative ingredient of "QR" herbal compost
activator. This is a dried and powdered mixture of several herbs that
can be added to a compost heap in order to speed up bacterial activity
and thus shorten the time needed to make the compost.
The ginkgo is the tree that blends our ecological past with hope for the
future.
We supply environmentalists with healthy, hand-grown ginkgo
seedlings for soil, water and air remediation or as fire barriers, Ginkgos help
indigenous species to flourish in the world without over-taking them. Since one
tree can survive for 1000 years, we recommend planting wisely!
The ginkgo
tree is a true survivor or " living fossil" from the Jurassic period. It saw the
dinosaurs come and go and is the only living tree to survive the atomic blast at
Hiroshima. It can thrive for 1000 years on polluted land while reducing taxins.
Besides being a highly researched medicinal wonder, they provide disease-free
ornamental shade tree or tenacious forests. They are the tree that blends our
ecological history with hope for the future. Ginkgo biloba
planting material is available for distribution/purchase for Research
institutions, universities, associations and NGOs and educational
institutions.