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There’s nothing aspirin can’t solve. Headache? Take an aspirin. Fever? Take an aspirin. For everything else, there’s MasterCard. Joke aside, this little pharmacological jewel is not only a great remedy for all sorts of pains and pangs but also a great helper around the house. Last I heard, some people use common aspirin to make pot plants stay green for a long amount of time.

And, quite recently, I’ve discovered that this wonder pill can really do amazing thing around the veggie garden. Not only that, but it also works on life stock (my father-in-law uses aspirin to treat whooping cough in cows and sheet).

Anyway, getting back to the subject at hand, aspirin’s really great for your veggie and flower gardens. Wouldn’t have believed that the same thing used to cure anything from fevers to hangovers could do them plants so much good. So, after getting some kickass results with my cabbage patch, I thought that the most sensible thing to do would be to share some of the reasons why I’ve decided to use the stuff in the first place.

So, without further ado, here are 4 reasons why you should stockpile and use aspirin in your veggie garden.

  1. No more fungus

No, I was talking about foot or nail fungus, but about that greenish stuff that chokes plants and makes gardeners cry. I’ve literally tried every damned anti-fungal solution on the market, but nothing seemed to work. That’s when a good friend of mine, who’s also a pharmacist, told me that I should add one or two aspirin tablets to the watering can. Apparently, salicylic acid is fungi’s number one enemy (has something to do with how the acid disrupts cells inside the fungal growth).

Anywho, if you want to get rid of all the fungus from your veggie garden, use aspirin in conjunction with water. Do keep in mind that the results are not instantaneous – in my case, I had to wait around two and a half weeks to see the results.

  1. Cut flowers will last even longer

I have to admit that I have a thing for freshly-picked flowers. Ever since I can remember, our family always had at least one vase with pretty flowers around the house – mom likes roses, just like my grandma. Still, the only trouble with cut flowers is that whatever you do, they will eventually wilt and day. And this happens faster than most of us realize.

Even that Valentine’s Day bouquet doesn’t last longer that one, maybe two days, provided that you don’t drown it. I read somewhere that flower dealers (yes, I know exactly how it sounds), use a sugar and salt combo to prevent wildflowers from wilting too fast.

I think that’s a load of crap – I’ve tried on many different types of flowers: roses, orchids, tulips, lilies. It doesn’t work. And no, it’s not about balancing the ingredients. Sure, among other things plants take from the soil is salt and glucose. But they also need plenty of other stuff to survive and thrive.

In searching for a better alternative, I tried adding a tablet of aspirin to a vase halfway filled with water. This time, my flowers of choice were Carson roses.  One week later, lo and behold, the roses were still clinging to life, more alive and greener and red than ever before.

  1. More veggies in the garden

In my opinion, starting your own garden is a gamble – you’ll never know what that land will yield or if anything will grow at all. Yes, I know that there are some veggies like potatoes or onions that can be grown anywhere, but this is not always the case.

After harvesting my very first crop, I’ve discovered, much to my dissatisfaction, that I ended up with a basket filled to the brim with nice and round onions, and another with some things that looked like Area 51 experiments. However, the thing that puzzled me the most is that the crops were two weeks late, although I followed the instructions to the letter.

The main issue was, of course, the soil. It needed a little bit of help to yield a better crop. After doing a little bit of online research, I’ve discovered that a surefire way to turn any kind of soil into a veggie-making mean machine was to add some aspirin. So, if you’re having the same problems, try this nifty little trick: dissolve four aspirin tablets in approximately four gallons of water.

Use this mixture to water your plants daily for at least two weeks. It may strike you as a little odd, but apparently, aspirin has a way of encouraging plant growth better than any chemical or organic fertilizer. According to the big and scary book of science, salicylic acids stimulate the soil to generate more vitamin C. And, wouldn’t you know it, even plants like a vitamin C infusion, not only human bones.

  1. Makes for stronger roots

Roots are everything to plants – strong and long one means that the plant will go to get all moisture and nutrients it needs in order to survive and thrive. Unfortunately, with all the chemicals used to stimulate plant growth, roots have become brittle, weak, and unable to properly feed the plant. And that’s bad news for you if decided to ditch supermarket veggies.

Apart from using only organic stuff, you can try and give those roots a little nudge. Yup, you’ve guessed it – aspirin is that swift kick in the keister each plant needs to develop stronger roots. Here’s what you will need to do. Head to the drug store and get some uncoated aspirin (the variety that doesn’t offer gastric protection). Before planting the seeds, dissolve one tablet in one gallon of water and pour the mixture into the hole. Allow the soil to absorb the mix. After that, you can plant whatever your heart desires.

So, what are your thoughts on using aspirin in the garden? Hit the comments section and let me know.

There’s nothing aspirin can’t solve. Headache? Take an aspirin. Fever? Take an aspirin. For everything else, there’s aspirin.

Red raspberry leaf tea is especially popular due to its possible benefits for pregnant women. And not only.

Botanical Name: Rubus idaeus, Rubus strigosus

Family: Rosaceae

Other Common Names: Red raspberry, European raspberry, American raspberry

Parts Used: Leaf, berry, twigs, and roots (less common)

Energetics: Dry

Thermal Properties: Cool

Actions: Astringent, nutritive, tonic

Taste: Sour, astringent

Plant Uses: Uterine tonic, mineral concentrator, decreases PMS symptoms, reduces blood sugar, reduces high blood pressure, high in antioxidants and bioflavonoids, used as a mouthwash for gum health

Plant Preparations: Herbal infusion, tea, food (fresh, juice, dried), tincture, pills, herbal vinegar

Toxicities/Warnings: Raspberry is generally regarded as safe. Red raspberry leaf is one of the safest of all the uterine/pregnancy tonic herbs. Some sources claim that raspberry leaf can start uterine contractions, but this action is under scientific debate.

Introduction

Red raspberry is a beautiful perennial herb that is both food and medicine—worth having in every garden. While many people’s preferred method of using raspberry leaf is in a nourishing herbal infusion, this herb lends itself well to teas, tinctures, and even smoking blends. The leaves of this herb are quite prolific and are well suited to forested settings and the shady parts of the home garden. Another gift of the raspberry plant is the ease of its own reproduction (its spreads itself around your garden easily). It should be no surprise that this is one of the foremost herbs related to human reproduction systems, as well!

Red raspberry leaves

Raspberry has been used throughout the world, dating back to Palaeolithic times. Interestingly, historical data can be found that almost every part of this plant has been used for either food or medicine. Raspberry was used by many Native American tribes for toothaches (Cherokee), as an eyewash (Chippewa), and for kidney issues (Iroquois).

Other historical uses for raspberry include as a mouthwash for canker sores and gingivitis and, in Tibetan medicine, as a tea for emotional disturbances and exhaustion. Even the fruit, infused in vinegar, has been used medicinally for sore throats and coughs. By the European Middle Ages, raspberry became well known as a women’s tonic and was regularly used during the childbearing years.

The common thread connecting raspberry to these conditions, through history, has been its tonifying actions in the body.

In modern times, red raspberry leaf is one of the most widely used herbs for women of childbearing age.

Its reputation as a women’s herb is well founded, with a long history of usage in treating everything from heavy bleeding during menstruation to easing and assisting with childbirth and postpartum recovery.

While raspberry is commonly used by women, this is an herb that is valuable to men and children as well, due to its extremely high nutritional content. It boasts an array of vitamins and minerals such as iron, niacin, and magnesium. With its agreeable flavor, red raspberry leaf is commonly added to tea blends.

Red raspberry’s scientific name, Rubus idaeus,comes from the Latin word rubus meaning red and the species name ideaus,whichrefers to its occurrence on Mount Ida, near Troy in northwest Turkey.

Benefits

Red raspberry

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Uterine Tonic: Raspberry leaf tones the uterus and muscles of the pelvic region, thus assisting in postpartum recovery. Its astringent nature also helps to minimize bleeding during menstruation. This effect is thought to be due to the active principle fragrine.

Highly Nutritive: Build up and nourish your body with this rich source of nutrients.

Eases Morning Sickness: This may be due to the astringent properties of the Rubus genus.

Eases Childbirth: Can reduce pain during labor and afterbirth by increasing blood flow to the uterus, thus increasing uterine efficiency.

Galactagogue: Assists in the production of breast milk.

Lower Blood Sugar Levels: Raspberry leaves can assist in blood sugar management for diabetics.

Soothing Mouthwash: Often used for a variety of oral inflammations.

Fruit

  • Heart Health: Improve heart health by improving cholesterol levels, thus reducing high blood pressure.
  • Diabetic Health: Helps to control blood sugar and reduces vascular inflammation in patients with pre-diabetes.

Medicinal Properties

Throughout history, red raspberry has been associated with pregnancy and childbirth. It nourishes and builds up a woman’s body as she takes on the epic task of growing a new life. For many people, morning sickness can also be managed with raspberry leaf infusions or tinctures. As childbirth draws near, raspberry leaf helps to strengthen the uterus and pelvic muscles. This lessens the mother’s pain and helps to facilitate an easier birth.

The astringent powers of the leaf also help to minimize bleeding. After the baby is born, raspberry leaf can continue to nourish the mother’s body and build her back up. It also helps to stimulate milk for the infant.

But let’s not make the mistake of thinking that red raspberry is only for mothers. Raspberry leaf is useful for men and women of all ages as a nutritive. It is also useful for those with heart disease or diabetes.

Nutritional Properties

Red raspberry leaves are a true nutrient herb, high in fiber; flavonoids; vitamins A, C, E; and several minerals (calcium, magnesium, manganese, iron, and potassium). Further, these nutrients are in forms that are readily absorbed by our bodies.

It’s good to know that red raspberry leaf is high in aluminum, as well. Aluminum is not a nutrient, and is actually quite dangerous to the body. However, aluminum from plants is very poorly absorbed. Virtually all of it will be expelled from the body.

Preparations and Typical Dosing 

One of the best ways to consume nutritive herbs is in a nourishing herbal infusion that is allowed to cool completely before straining. Mason jars and french presses are useful vessels for making these.

What is the difference between a regular herbal infusion and a nourishing herbal infusion? A nourishing herbal infusion is similar to a standard infusion (such as is used to make tea), but it is steeped much longer and uses a larger amount of the herb, thus creating a more medicinally potent beverage.

This long steep time is vitally important for extracting the minerals from our herbs. It has been found that a cup of nettle tea has 5-10 mg of calcium, but a nourishing herbal infusion of nettle can contain between 200-250 mg of calcium.

While a standard infusion is a sweet and beneficial way to consume herbs, a nourishing herbal infusion is the best choice when you want to extract as much benefit from your plants as possible.

Nourishing Herbal Infusion

Cover one once of dried raspberry leaf with a quart of boiling water. Allow it to steep for 4-8 hours. Drink 1-3 cups daily. Refrigerate any unused portion, and it will stay good for up to 3 days.Y

Tea

Measure out 1 teaspoon of crushed raspberry leaves into an 8 ounce glass. Cover with hot water and steep for at least 5 minutes. Longer is better! Drink 1-3 cups daily.

Herbal Vinegar

Place dried raspberry leaves into a glass jar and cover with vinegar at a weight-to-volume ratio of 1:5. This means that for every kilogram of herb, you would use 5 liters of vinegar. (Or, for a more manageable amount, that’s 200 grams of herb to 1 liter of vinegar.)

Tincture

A raspberry leaf tincture can be created using a 1:5 ratio, as above, but this time using 40% alcohol instead of vinegar. A common dosage is 2-4 ml 3 times a day.

Uses for Animals

Similar to the way it’s used for humans, red raspberry leaf can be used during pregnancy and during labor. Farm animals greatly benefit from the consumption of raspberry leaf tea after birthing, both to assist in postpartum recovery and to support milk production.

Precaution/Dangers/Contraindications

Red raspberry leaf is generally regarded as safe. However, it can be drying to the body when taken excessively and over long periods of time. You can mix it with demulcent herbs, such as marshmallow, to counter this effect.

While red raspberry leaf has been used extensively during pregnancy, some recommend using it sparingly until the third trimester. Its estrogenic effects may be a concern, as well. However, neither concern has been proven a problem through research. Speak to your health care practitioner before consuming large quantities of this herb during pregnancy. Similarly, if you have a condition that is exacerbated by exposure to estrogen—such as certain cancers, endometriosis, or uterine fibrosis—you should seek professional advice.

Due to red raspberry leaf’s ability to lower blood sugar, diabetics should monitor their blood sugar carefully and watch for signs of hypoglycemia.

Plant ID

American red raspberry is a native deciduous perennial shrub that grows up to 2 meters tall. The stems are biennial, covered with small thorns, and bend easily. The leaves are pinnately compound with 3 to 5 leaflets, rarely lobed, with silver undersides. Leaf margins are highly serrated. Their taste is weakly astringent and bitter.

Raspberry flowers are white to greenish white and drooping. They can occur singly or in small, grape-like clusters. The fruits are red, rounded aggregates. They mature between July and September on second-year canes. Unlike other Rubus species, raspberries are hollow and thimble-like when picked.

Raspberries have no dangerous look-alikes. Still, you should always be sure that you have the right plant before using it for food or medicine.

Where It Grows and Where to Find It

Red raspberries are native to North America and to Northern Europe through Northwest Asia. Edible relatives can be found throughout the world. Raspberries prefer full sun, but can tolerate shade. They like a medium amount of water. You can find them in fields and pastures, on the edges of forests, and in vacant lots.

Propagation is best by vegetative or root cuttings. They do best in drained, loamy soils, and will thrive in high soil fertility with plenty of organic matter. They can spread rapidly, so give them plenty of room to spread!

How and When to Harvest

Raspberries can be harvested when red, juicy, and plump. They don’t store well, so freeze any that you don’t plan to eat within a few days.

The leaves can be harvested whenever they look vibrant, ideally before the plant flowers and fruits. Wash and pat the leaves dry, if needed. Then lay them out on a screen away from dust and direct sunlight. You can also tie the stems together and hang them to dry. Depending on humidity, the drying process should take 1 to 2 weeks. Ideally, the temperature for drying would be between 70°F and 100°F (21°-38°C)

The leaves are dry when they crumble easily. Store them in a glass container in a cool, dark location.Y

Red Raspberry: A Wonderful Gift

Red raspberry is a wonderful plant to have in your life or your yard. With its bountiful, delicious fruit, it’s sure to please your palate—but don’t stop there! Hidden within the leaves of the red raspberry is a powerhouse of nutrition to support the health of the whole family. In addition, when bodies need a bit of extra support in tonifying tissues or for women who are of childbearing age, raspberry leaf offers gentle, effective support for the female reproductive organs. What a gift!

Red raspberry leaf tea is especially popular due to its possible benefits for pregnant women. And not only. Botanical Name: Rubus idaeus, Rubus strigosus Family: Rosaceae Other Common Names: Red raspberry, European raspberry,

Whether strolling through the park or romping in the backyard, there are a number of things that parents and caretakers should know and pass along, especially to young kids.

Recent statistics show that children younger than six account for a disproportionate percentage of poisoning cases, including nearly half of all poison exposures, according to the National Capital Poison Center.

The highest incidence of poisoning typically occurs in one and two-year-old, the poison center says, though all age groups are affected.

This guide will help parents and guardians know how to prevent poisonings from plants and pesticides and respond quickly to help keep kids safe.

Types of Poisonous Plants

The most common – and dangerous – types of poisonous plants found near backyards, parks, and trails include solanine, grayanotoxins, and cardiac glycosides:

  • Solanine can cause moderate nausea, vomiting, headaches or diarrhea. It’s found in a number of different foods and ornamental plants, but most often in Jerusalem Cherry, Nightshade, potato sprouts and unripe tomatoes. If a kid eats a plant that contains a lot of solanine, they might get drowsy, sweat a lot or experience changes in blood pressure and heart rate. Effects most often occur within two to 24 hours.
  • Grayanotoxins are common in azaleas, rhododendron, and other yard plants. If you’re off-road, watch out for Lambkill and mountain laurel. If a child ingests these plants, they might experience burning, tingling or numbness in their mouths. Other common symptoms include nausea, vomiting, sweating, and confusion and occur within three hours of exposure. In extreme cases, a child may have a seizure.
  • Cardiac Glycosides are most often found in Lily-of-the-Valley, foxglove oleander and squill. First signs include headaches, confusion, vomiting, stomach pain, and dizziness. Children might also experience changes in heart rate and blood pressure.

Here are some other plants to keep an eye out for:

  • Elephant ear plants
  • Daffodil and hyacinths
  • Larkspur
  • Wisteria
  • Acorn and oak leaves
  • Black locust
  • Mistletoe
  • Hemlock
  • Poppies
  • Poison oak, ivy, and sumac

How to Prevent Poisoning from Plants

The best thing parents can do for kids is to teach them never to pick or eat anything from a plant they find outside, regardless of how good it smells or looks. Make sure your children know to eat plants or fruits from outside only if they have permission and if the plant has been washed thoroughly.

Be careful not to confuse your child by picking items from a family garden and eating them outside. Be mindful of tops of potato plants and green portions of potato, which contain solanine, as well as rhubarb leaves, which are poisonous.

If you have or are taking care of a young child, take stock of backyard foliage before letting the child play. Keep berries, seeds, and bulbs out of reach, avoid using poisonous plants for decoration and eliminate all mushrooms from the yard. Be sure to double-check if it has rained recently.

In addition to regular supervision, consider constructing a safe gardening space within a raised garden or container and placing it in your yard. Fill the space with pesticide-free soil, smooth rocks or other items that are safe and will keep your child engaged.

If you’re planning a trip to the park, take a quick walk through the area and note any plants that may be poisonous. Same goes for any wilderness adventures or hikes. Remember that young kids will be attracted to plants with bright flowers or poisonous berries; avoid these at all costs.

What to Do If Your Child Touches or Eats a Poisonous Plant

If your child ingests a poisonous plant and starts to choke, has trouble breathing, swallowing or falls unconscious, call 911. If your child has come into contact with a poisonous plant but isn’t showing any immediate signs of distress, don’t wait for symptoms to show – call your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. Be prepared to share your child’s age, symptoms, and your best guess of the plant he/she consumed and, to the best of your knowledge, when the plant was ingested.

If you cannot seek immediate assistance, make sure that your child doesn’t have any fragments of the plant in their mouth and give them only small sips of water. Do not try to make them vomit. If there is any skin irritation, rinse affected areas with fresh water. Again call your local poison center as soon as possible.

Pesticide Safety

Remember that all pesticides carry a level of toxicity and pose a risk to all people, but especially to infants and small children, who are extra sensitive to their toxic effects.

If you choose to use pesticides, read the product’s label thoroughly. Shop around for the least toxic pesticide you can find and keep it in its original container and far away from children and pets.

When applying pesticides, take extra care to keep your children and pets as far away from the area as possible. Remember that the pesticide will take extra time to dry. If your lawn has recently been treated, ensure your children wear closed-toed shoes and sit on blankets or use other barriers between them and the grass. Make sure your kids wash their hands after playing in the grass.

Safe alternatives to combat pests in your garden and yard include insecticidal soaps, horticultural oils, and natural repellents. Here are a few ideas:

  • Vegetable oil mixed with a mild soap for insects like aphids and mites
  • Mild soap mixed with water for insects like whiteflies, beetles, aphids, and mites
  • Neem oil mixed with mild soap and water to disrupt the life cycle of insects and to protect plants before they become infested
  • Diatomaceous earth as a natural pesticide
  • Pureed garlic mixed with vegetable oil, mild soap, and water to act as an insect repellent
  • Garlic, onion, and cayenne pepper, mixed with liquid soap as a natural insecticide

Whether strolling through the park or romping in the backyard, there are a number of things that parents and caretakers should know and pass along, especially to young kids. Recent statistics