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March 2000 issue of the Ageless herbal newsletter
Ingredients
- pancakes
- quarter pound (100 gram) fresh spinach leaves, 1 cup (100 gram) all-purpose flour, pinch of salt, 1 egg, two-thirds cup milk (150 ml) - lard for frying
- filling
- two cups cream cheese (450 gram), sea salt and freshly ground pepper, quarter cup (4 tablespoons) chopped chives.
Wash and drain spinach and process in your juice extractor to obtain about a quarter cup of spinach "juice". If you do not have an extractor, cook spinach in a little water, and press the soft leaves through a strainer (sieve). Sift flour and salt, beat in egg, and add the processed spinach. Allow to stand before baking the pancakes.
Season the cream cheese with the sea salt and freshly ground pepper and add the finely chopped chives.
After baking the pancakes, spoon in filling, roll and serve.
This humble herb, comfrey, has been used for centuries as a healing plant and has been recommended in both internal and external treatments. Comfrey has in the past been used for healing wounds by placing the leaves on the wounds.
Comfrey is no longer used in open wound healing and since it can be toxic when ingested, is also no longer indicated for internal use. It was found that it promotes healing so well, that the deeper lying regions of the wound do not always have time to heal, which can cause a whole new set of problems.
Records going back thousands of years show healers of that time using comfrey - and although they might not have had knowledge of the exact contents of the plant, (such as
allantoin) they were aware of the healing properties that this plant contains.
To grow comfrey
Comfrey grows in most types of soil, and loves a bit of damp. Sow the seeds in early spring and after flowering, thin out and plant about 12 - 18 inches apart. Divide the roots, this should be done in spring. Doing this can also increase its growth. It is not very successful in containers, since the root system is rather large, and needs plenty of water when fully grown.
Uses
Fresh comfrey leaves can be cooked like spinach and eaten as a vegetable - add a white sauce for extra taste. Fresh comfrey leaves can also be added to green salads, and comfrey fritters make interesting snacking. To make the fritters, dip young fresh leaves in batter, and deep-fry them.
For more information on comfrey, please access the herbal index.
We have been conditioned for so many years to look after our skin in summer, and to cover up to prevent aging sunrays from damaging our skin. Very few of us have however been warned about the dangers faced regarding skincare in winter.
Winter is the time when we can lose a large amount of moisture through our skin and this, coupled with the cold environment, can be detrimental. Although frostbite is a severe form of cold exposure, daily exposure without adequate protection and moisture during the cold winter months can also cause our skin to age more and lose its healthy glow and vitality.
When you have been out in the cold, skiing, ice-skating, or simply walking around, and your skin starts to go patchy white in places surrounded by a bright red area, be aware that you are nearing the pre-frostbite stage.
Even inside your house and office your skin might be having a rough time - climate controlled environments might be comfortable, but may be lacking in moisture and humidity. If you are in a dry, moisture-robbing environment, make sure to feed your skin with high moisture content products.
Other articles of interest
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