Semester 3, Week 4, Day 6

I slept.  Not enough but I got some good sleep. I got a 100% on my paper on my topic for Nat 503 but my instructor want's it to be more refined to the purpose of the class.  I will work on that.  I struggled with that with botany as well.  I tried out my new pruning sheers yesterday and I LOVE them.  Once hubby mows the lawn, I know a bunch of saplings out there that need to be cut down.  They are too close to the house or I'd leave them alone.  The bedroom is nice and cool because of the trees but we can't have them growing up against the house or between the house and the AC unit.  No thanks!  Plus there is one trying to grow up right in Rosie's living space.  I can't allow that either.  She needs her space.  I also have something for the ants once the lawn is mowed.  Cross your fingers that it works!  I finished adding the information from Chevallier into my herbarium entries for this semester yesterday.  I still need recipes, labs and research for them but the majority of the fields are now filled out.  I have 5 labs nailed down.  I'll go through my other books looking for something interesting.  I'm sure I have recipes but the bladderwrack is going to be the most difficult.  I'll probably just make an infusion with it if I can't find anything more extravagant. I have a lecture this morning and hope to make it. We will see.  It's in an hour.  We have a LOT to get done today so I will leave you with the new herb, Buchu.  As I stated previously, this one is endangered so please only use it from sources that cultivate it (intentionally grown) rather than wild-crafting sources. 

Active Constituents: diosmin and hesperidin - anti-inflammatory, cholesterol-lowering, and vasoprotective properties. The essential oil contains diosphenol as well flavonoids. Hoffman (2003) says Volatile oil (limonene, menthone, pulegone); flavonoids (rutin, diosmetin, diosmin, hesperidin, quercetin, derivatives)

Therapeutic Actions: Mills and Bones (2010) state urinary antiseptic and mild diuretic. Hoffman (2003) says diuretic, urinary antiseptic.

Indications: Ulbricht (2010) says this can be used for an (topically) insect repellant and internally for stomach issues, rheumatism, and bladder problems. Hoffman (2003) says infections of the genitourinary system – cystitis, urethritis, prostatitis.

Safety: Some may have allergic reactions. May increase risk of bleeding with blood thinners. May block calcium but this has not been studied well.  Hoffman (2003) says it may irritate those with a history of kidney disease.

Tomorrow I'll discuss this in more detail.  Have a great day!