26 Nov Herbal News November 2020

Greetings to you,

Another month has gone by, so fast! This newsletter is both later and briefer than usual, as I’m just arrived home, after 3 weeks away and busy…
I drove up to Auckland to attend the Herb Federation of New Zealand AGM; spending time both before and after with friends and family along the way; a wonderful road trip, sadly followed with a bereavement and funeral.

I would like to thank the Auckland Herb Society for hosting the AGM for us at ‘The Friends Room’ at the Auckland Botanical Gardens. Those who attended were given some wonderful demonstrations of how we can utilise herbs for the festive season ahead—delicious treats to be tasted, feasts for all the senses! This is a selection of herbal liqueurs; delish!

And this wonderful wreath, both looking and smelling fabulous. After lunch we held the AGM, which went well, fulfilling our constitutional requirements. Shonagh set up the opportunity for some members to be connected with a Zoom call; after a few initial issues, it worked out well. Thank you to the AHS members who welcomed your executive into their homes to host us and an extra big thank you to Jane and John Carden for hosting a fabulous dinner for us all on Friday night. The wonderful fireworks display in the park next store was a great and unexpected bonus!

How does our immune system work?

This year has brought this subject right up close and personal to all of us! Our life and health are dependent on a ‘well-functioning’ immune system, so what it this and how does it work? I found a very good article online, which gives us all a great ‘101’ on this subject and includes some valuable tips on how we can assist ourselves. This is timely; we all need to have at least some comprehension of this subject, especially while ‘covid’ is still raging in other part of the world…

So which herbs could be helpful to us?

Refer back to some of the e-newsletters from earlier this year to refresh your memory; just briefly, just to name a few, there’s Garlic (Allium sativa), Echinacea (Echinacea purpurea & angustifolia), Thyme (Thymus vulgaris), Oregano (Origanum species ), Olive Leaf (Olea europaea), Turmeric (Curcuma longa), plus Vitamins A, C, D & also the mineral zinc…

And this is another interesting and timely find:

Chemical Compounds in Foods Can Inhibit a Key SARS-CoV-2 Enzyme – November 30, 2020 Mick Kulikowski

Chemical compounds in muscadine grapes effectively inhibit an important SARS-CoV-2 protease. Photo courtesy of De-Yu Xie, NC State University.
De-Yu Xiedxie@ncsu.edu & Mick Kulikowskimjkuliko@ncsu.edu919.218.5937

Chemical compounds in foods or beverages like green tea, muscadine grapes and dark chocolate can bind to and block the function of a particular enzyme, or protease, in the SARS-CoV-2 virus, according to a new study by plant biologists at North Carolina State University.
Proteases are important to the health and viability of cells and viruses, says De-Yu Xie, professor of plant and microbial biology at NC State and the corresponding author of the study. If proteases are inhibited, cells cannot perform many important functions – like replication, for example.

“One of our lab’s focuses is to find nutraceuticals in food or medicinal plants that inhibit either how a virus attaches to human cells or the propagation of a virus in human cells,” Xie said.

So read on about these and other herbs and foods to assist to keep your selves well!

My next issue with hopefully be with just at the end of this month, so in the mean time I wish you all a joyous festive season and may 2021 bring up good health and happiness…

Wellness wishes,

Advisory Note: This text is given as a general guidance. If any adverse reactions occur or symptoms persist, please contact a qualified medical herbalist or medical doctor immediately.