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Lythrurn salicaria

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Botanical Name : Lythrurn salicaria
Family: Lythraceae
Genus:     Lythrum
Species: L. salicaria
Kingdom: Plantae
Order:     Myrtales

Synonyms: Lythrum. Purple Willow Herb. Spiked Loosestrife. Salicaire. Braune or Rother Weiderich. Partyke. Lysimaque rouge. Flowering Sally. Blooming Sally.
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Habitat: Lythrurn salicaria is native to  Europe, including Britain. Russian and Central Asia. Australia. North America.

 Other names: Spiked loosestrife, or purple lythrum.

Description:
Lythrum salicaria is a herbaceous perennial plant, that can grow 1–1.5 m tall, forming clonal colonies 1.5 m or more in width with numerous erect stems growing from a single woody root mass. The stems are reddish-purple or red to purple and square in cross-section. The leaves are lanceolate, 3–10 cm long and 5–15 mm broad, downy and sessile, and arranged opposite or in whorls of three.
click & see the pictures
The flowers are reddish purple, 10–20 mm diameter, with six petals (occasionally five) and 12 stamens, and are clustered tightly in the axils of bracts or leaves; there are three different flower types, with the stamens and style of different lengths, short, medium or long; each flower type can only be pollinated by one of the other types, not the same type, thus ensuring cross-pollination between different plants.

The fruit is a small 3–4 mm capsule containing numerous minute seeds. Flowering lasts throughout the summer. When the seeds are mature, the leaves often turn bright red through dehydration in early autumn; the red colour may last for almost two weeks. The dead stalks from previous growing seasons are brown.

Lythrurn salicaria is very variable in leaf shape and degree of hairiness, and a number of subspecies and varieties have been described, but it is now generally regarded as monotypic with none of these variants being considered of botanical significance.

Medicinal Uses:
Parts Used: Herb, root

Constituents: Mucilage and an astringent principle, but it has not been analysed.

Although scarcely used at present, Loosestrife has been highly esteemed by many herbalists. It is well established in chronic diarrhoea and dysentery, and is used in leucorrhoea and blood-spitting. In Switzerland the decoction was used successfully in an epidemic of dysentery. It has also been employed in fevers, liver diseases, constipation and cholera infantum, and for outward application to wounds and sores.

It has been stated to be superior to Eyebright for preserving the sight and curing sore eyes, the distilled water being applied for hurts and blows on the eyes and even in blindness if the crystalline humour is not destroyed.

An ointment may be made with the water 1 OZ. to 2 drachms of May butter without salt, and the same quantity of sugar and wax boiled gently together. It cleanses and heals ulcers and sores, if washed with the water, or covered with the leaves, green or dry according to the season.

A warm gargle and drink cures quinsy or a scrofulous throat.

Other Uses:
Biological control: Purple loosestrife provides a model of successful biological pest control. Research began in 1985 and today the plant is managed well with a number of insects that feed on it. Five species of beetle use purple loosestrife as their natural food source and they can do significant damage to the plant. The beetles used as biological control agents include two species of leaf beetle: Galerucella calmariensis and Galerucella pusilla, and three species of weevil: Hylobius transversovittatus, Nanophyes breves, and Nanophyes marmoratus. Infestations of either of the Galerucella species is extremely effective in wiping out a stand of purple loosestrife, defoliating up to 100% of the plants in an area. The moth Ectropis crepuscularia is a pest species itself and unsuitable for biological contro.

Disclaimer:
The information presented herein is intended for educational purposes only. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplements, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.

Resources:
http://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/l/loopur40.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lythrum_salicaria

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Edelweiss

Edelweiss (Leontopodium alpinum)
Edelweiss (Leontopodium alpinum) (Photo credit: Franco Folini)

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Botanical Name : Leontopodium alpinum
Family: Asteraceae
Tribe: Gnaphalieae
Genus: Leontopodium
Species: L. alpinum
Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Asterales

Common Name :The common name comes from German edel, meaning “noble”, and weiß (also spelled weiss) “white”, thus signifying “noble whiteness”.

The scientific name Leontopodium is a Latin adaptation of Greek leontopódion    “lion’s paw”, from lé?n “lion” and pódion “foot” (diminutive of poús, podós “foot”).

The Romanian name, floarea reginei, means “Queen’s flower”. Also, another common name is floare de col? which means “the corner’s flower”.

The Persian name is gol-e-yax, which translates as “ice flower”

Habitat :Edelweiss is a favourite wildflower of the Swiss Alps, best suited to growing in a well-drained rock garden, scree or alpine trough.

The plant is unequally distributed and prefers rocky limestone places at 2000–2900 m altitude. It is not toxic, and has been used traditionally in folk medicine as a remedy against abdominal and respiratory diseases. The dense hair appears to be an adaptation to high altitudes, protecting the plant from cold, aridity and ultraviolet radiation.

Since it usually grows in inaccessible places, it is associated in many countries of the alpine region with mountaineering.

Description:
Plants form a low clump of silvery grey foliage, bearing odd clusters of woolly white flowers in early summer. These can be cut, or even dried. Short-lived in gardens, these will sometimes self seed when happy. Best in regions with cool summers. Drought-tolerant once established.

…YOU MAY CLICK TO SEE THE PICTURE

Leaves and flowers are covered with white hairs and appear woolly (tomentose). Flowering stalks of Edelweiss can grow to a size of 3–20 cm (in cultivation, up to 40 cm). Each bloom consisting of five to six small yellow flower heads (5 mm) surrounded by bracts in star formation. The flowers are in bloom between July and September……..CLICK & SEE  THE PICTURES

Cultivation:
Leontopodium alpinum is grown in gardens for its interesting inflorescence and silver foliage. The plants are short lived and can be grown from seed

Medicinal Uses:
It is not toxic, but has been used traditionally in folk medicine as a remedy against abdominal and respiratory diseases. Extracts and individual constituents of Leontopodium alpinum  were tested for their antimicrobial activity in two different assays. Extracts were screened in agar diffusion assays, whereas the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of single compounds were determined by the microbroth dilution method according to NCCLS criteria. Significant antimicrobial activities were found against various strains of Enterococcus faecium, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Streptococcus pyogenes strains. These results support the ethnomedicinal use of Leontopodium alpinum for the treatment of respiratory and abdominal disorders.

Symbolic uses:
*On the Austrian euro coins, a picture of Edelweiss is used on the two-euro-cent coins.

*It is the symbol of the Bulgarian Tourist Union

*It is also the symbol of the Swiss national tourism organisation

*On the Romanian 50 Lei banknote.

*Edelweiss Society

*In Austria, Edelweiß is also a brand of beer named after the flower.

*Edelweiss is the unofficial national flower of Switzerland.

*The Edelweiss is used in the logotypes of several alpine clubs such as the Deutscher Alpenverein (German Alpine Club) or the
*Österreichischer Alpenverein (Austrian Alpine Club). The Edelweiss is also used in the logotype of the Union of International
*Mountain Leader Associations (UIMLA).

*Edelweiss Air, an international airline based in Switzerland, is named after the flower, which also appears in its logo.

*The song “Edelweiss”, which is about the flower, is from Rodgers and Hammerstein‘s 1959 musical The Sound of Music, which takes place in Salzburg, Austria during World War II.

*”Bring me Edelweiss” is the best-known song of the music group Edelweiss.

*The Edelweiss was established 1907 as the sign of the Austrian-Hungarian alpine troops by Emperor Franz Joseph I. These original 3 Regiments wore their edelweiss on the collar of their uniform. During World War I (1915) the Edelweiss was granted to the
*German alpine troops, for their bravery. Today it is still the insignia of the Austrian, Polish, and German alpine troops.
Edelweiss was a badge of Edelweiss Pirates (Edelweisspiraten)—the anti-Nazi youth groups in Third Reich. It was worn on the clothes (e.g. a blouse or a suit).

*The Edelweiss flower was the symbol of Wehrmacht and Waffen-SS Gebirgsjäger, or mountain rangers, worn as a metal pin on the left side of the mountain cap, on the band of the service dress cap, and as a patch on the right sleeve. It is still the symbol of the Mountain division in the German army today.

*The World War II Luftwaffe unit, Kampfgeschwader 51 (51st Bomber Wing) was known as the Edelweiss Wing.

*The rank insignia of Swiss generals use eight-pointed stars representing the flower. A Korpskommandant for example (equivalent to a Lieutenant General in other countries) wears three Edelweiss stars on his collar.

*Polish professional ice hockey team MMKS Podhale Nowy Targ use an Edelweiss as their emblem.

Disclaimer:
The information presented herein is intended for educational purposes only. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplements, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.

Resources:
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_-NUXJCggdWE/TS8DkPZjj0I/AAAAAAAAABY/rsRnmVzGC3M/s1600/edelweiss.jpg
http://www.herbnet.com/Herb%20Uses_DE.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leontopodium_alpinum
http://strivectin.ucan.us/edelweiss_extract.htm

 

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New Risk for Laptop Users is Toasted Skin Syndrome

People who spend prolonged periods of time studying, reading, or playing games on laptop computers resting on their upper legs could develop “toasted skin syndrome,” a case report shows.Sounds ridiculous, but recent cases suggest it’s no joke.

The “syndrome” consists of a brownish discoloration of the skin caused by prolonged exposure to heat from the computer.

Researchers from Switzerland, reporting in the Nov. 5 issue of Pediatrics, focus on the case of a 12-year-old boy who developed a sponge-patterned discoloration on his left thigh after playing computer games with his laptop resting on his upper legs a few hours per day for several months.

“He recognized that the laptop got hot on the left side,” the researchers write. “However, regardless of that, he did not change its position.”

Other ‘Toasted Skin’ Cases Have Been Reported
The researchers say the boy is the youngest of 10 reported patients with the “laptop-induced dermatosis” since the condition was first described in 2004.

The condition can lead to permanent darkening of the skin, and in rare cases, damage that leads to skin cancers.

The heat that causes the condition originates from a laptop computer’s optical drive, the battery, or the ventilation fan.

The condition, technically called erythema ab igne, has been observed before on the lower legs of patients who worked in front of open fires or coal stoves. It also has been treated in elderly patients who used hot pads and blankets, according to the researchers.

The researchers say mild-to-moderate heat between 109.4 to116.6 degrees Fahrenheit is enough to cause burns. However, 111.2 degrees Fahrenheit is enough to cause toasted skin syndrome.

“Computer-induced lesions are typically found on only one leg because the optical drives of laptops are located on the left side,” the authors write. “The computer placed on a lap may completely or partially occlude [obstruct] the ventilation-fan exhaust.”

Looking Ahead:-
“The popularity of laptop computers will likely increase this diagnosis in the future,” the authors write. “Our patient has had only comparatively shortly used his laptop, which indicates that children’s skin is more sensitive to heat.”

The heat effect should be taken into account, the researchers suggest, when computers are purchased for use by children.

They also recommend that laptop computers carry a warning label alerting consumers about possible skin problems the devices can cause. Some major computer makers already do this.

Dr. Kimberly Salkey, who treated the young woman, was stumped until she learned that the student spent about six hours a day working with her computer propped on her lap. The temperature underneath registered 125 degrees.

That case, from 2007, was one of 10 laptop-related cases reported in medical journals in the past six years.

The condition is generally harmless but can cause permanent skin darkening. In very rare cases, it can cause damage leading to skin cancers.

The danger was highlighted by Swiss researchers in an article Monday in the journal Pediatrics.

Got a laptop? Don’t use it on your lap for long time.

Or do as the researchers suggest and put a carrying case or heat shield under it.

Resources:
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504763_162-20018447-10391704.html
http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/news/20101004/laptop-risk-toasted-skin-syndrome
toledo Blade.com

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Secrets of a Woman’s Wrinkles With Age

The dream of retaining youthful looks into old age came a step closer yesterday after scientists announced that they had identified the key genes involved in ageing skin. Using data generated by the human genome project – the international effort to decode human DNA – researchers have found 1,500 separate genes that govern how long people stay free from wrinkles.
…..…CLICK & SEE
The team – led by scientists working for cosmetics giant Procter & Gamble – also believe they have identified the eight major causes of ageing skin.
Despite decades of research and billions of pounds of funding, the cosmetics industry has struggled to develop creams and lotions that reverse ageing.
The best that most of the expensive anti-ageing creams can do is smooth over wrinkles or plump up the skin

Out of the 20,000 to 25,000 known human genes, they have found around 1,500 that play a key role in ageing skin.
‘The human genome project has made it possible for us to analyse ageing right down to the hundreds of genetic changes that happen in our skin as we get older,’ Dr Tiesman said.
Skin ages in eight separate ways, each one controlled by its own group of genes, he added.

Whether you grow old gracefully like Cliff Richard – or wrinkled like Keith Richards – depends partly on your lifestyle and partly on these genes.
Dr Tiesman and his research team believe one of the most important factors is hydration – the way that skin collects and retains its moisture, using molecules that bind water into skin.
As skin gets older, the genes that control this process become less active and skin can retain less moisture, leading to wrinkles.
Dr Tiesman found that up to 700 genes could be involved.
Another ‘ageing pathway’ involves collagen – the protein that gives skin its underlying structure.

CLICK & SEE
Why skin deteriorates with age: As people get older, the genes that degrade collagen can become overactive, leading to more wrinkles
As people age, the genes that degrade collagen can become overactive, leading to more wrinkles. The team has found 40 genes involved in the collapse of collagen. Inflammation was found to involve about 400 genes, while another group of genes influence how the skin reacts to sunlight.
The skin’s response to ‘free radicals‘ – the molecules that can damage a cell’s damage – is also crucial to how it ages.
By narrowing down the DNA involved with skin ageing, researchers hope to create drugs and creams which can stimulate some genes and suppress others to restore youthful looks.
Professor Anthea Tinker, who studies the social aspect of ageing at King’s College London, said: ‘Older people care about their appearance just as much as any other age group and they are an important and growing market.’
Most anti-ageing creams don’t stand up to scientific scrutiny. However, a reliable clinical trial published earlier this year showed that Boots No7 Protect and Perfect range actually worked.
Manchester University scientists found that a fifth of people who used the cream for six months saw improvement in their skin. The cream appeared to trigger the production of a protein called fibrillin-1, which makes skin more elastic.

Source:http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1200689/Secrets-womans-wrinkles-revealed-scientists-discover-genes-linked-eternal-youth.html#ixzz0LqDc4UJ8

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DNA -‘Creates that Initial Spark Between Two People’

Love at first sight? But, what creates that initial spark between two people? Well, it’s body odour, created by the genes involved in the  immune system, and more specifically the DNA, say experts.

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According to Tamara Brown, a Croatian geneticist based in Zurich, a section of the DNA called human leukocyte antigen plays a key role in searching for “true love” and the key lies in “secret signals” one picks up from another’s body odour.

“It’s chemistry of attraction. Somebody might not be Brad Pitt-good-looking, but there’s just something about them and you can’t put your finger on it,” Dr Brown was quoted by ‘The Sunday Times‘ as saying.

In fact, the catalyst for her study was the “T-shirt experiment”, a Swiss study at the University of Bern carried out in the mid-1990s that screened the DNA of male and female volunteers, then asked the women to smell T-shirts the men had worn for two nights and rate them for “attractiveness”.

The women, it turned out, preferred the smell of men with genes that were different from their own in this HLA section. All the women, except for those on the contraceptive pill, seems to affect their sense of smell.

Click to see–>Smell and pick your mate

Sources:The Times Of India

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