Bamboo leaves are utilized as a source of flavonoids (e.g., vitexin and orientin),
used as antioxidants. The flavonoids may reduce inflammation, promote circulation,
inhibit allergy reactions and for treatment of some chronic ailments, including
diabetes. Bamboo stem shavings are used for stomach heat syndromes that produce
incorrect flow of Qi, commonly causing nausea and loss of appetite, as well as
symptoms of hiccups, vomiting, irritability and insomnia. Bamboo shavings are
still used today in the treatment of epilepsy and other convulsive disorders. No
doubt bamboo leaf and shavings can be used to make a great sun-tea.
Horsetail (sHaVeGrass)
After bamboo sap, the two richest sources of organic silicon in the plant
kingdom are Dulse and Horsetail. Horsetail (Equisetum arvense) is a descendant
of ancient plants that grew as tall as trees during the carboniferous period of three
hundred million years ago and members of this family gave rise to many of our
coal deposits. For both ORMUS and silicon we might be able to use swamp plants
such as horsetail and calamus, if they have been wildcrafted from vital wilderness
areas. Growing everywhere but Australasia, horsetail is a wetlands plant that is
traditionally used for its silicon, for no other herb is so rich in silicon. Horsetail
has the ability to accumulate gold in its tissues as well as cadmium, copper, lead
and zinc.
The Chinese use horsetail to cool fevers and as a remedy for eye inflammations,
dysentery, flu, swellings, osteoporosis, sprains, dislocated joints, pulled hamstrings
or torn ligaments and hemorrhoids, benign enlargement of the prostate gland and
also for kidney stones. Horsetails, both field and swamp versions, contains the
enzyme thaiminase, which is a bone marrow toxin that can rob the body of the
vitamin B complex. But the enzyme is destroyed by heat or thorough drying, so
cooking the plant will remove the thiaminase. But you can use the “dried” horsetail
(course ground in a coffee grinder) for making sun tea and you can take the dried
horsetail as a brewed tea as well. Use the older rushes for teas, the younger more
acidic ones for topical infusions and capsules. Keep a bottle in the fridge to spike
your drinking water with. Horsetial harvested in winter has high levels of sugar in
it which act as a freeze retardant, keeping the plant alive over winter.
To make an infusion collect some of the young shoots of horsetail. Chop up
into 1/2 cm chunks and put in a small amount of water over a low heat, without
even simmering, for 1.5 hours. Cool the mixture, strain and apply to the hair and
scalp with your hands. It heals and flattens out the cuticle structure making hair
strong, shiny and more youthful. You can also apply this tea to your skin as well
with a small mister bottle. You can use this strong infusion to spray onto hair,
skin and plants, but run it through a coffee filter or tissue first in order to prevent
blocking up your spray bottle. Horsetail is the ultimate herb for healing any kind
of skin condition whether it be acne, eczema, chapping, fungi or bacterial infection
or burns.
Horsetail solution increases the elasticity, smoothness, healing rate, dermal
thickness and water holding capacity of the skin. As with the hair, it gives the