Bindweed Medicine

I decided each time I enter the garden I must start with a morning glory walk. Yesterday I pulled a bucket-full. Once, I heard a bit of plant wisdom: one should not pull any unidentified weed. Better to have more intimacy with one's microcosm before going through and changing things. I have a long ways to go before I can truthfully follow such guidance.

Recently I came across the book Invasive Plant Medicine by Timothy Lee Scott, who is an acupuncturist and herbalist living in Vermont. He dedicates a couple chapters to the politics of "invasives", one which is titled "The Intelligence of Plants". He discusses 24 specific plants including barberry and dandelion -- a couple of my favorites -- blackberry, english ivy and scotch broom - restoration ecologist's nightmares - and bindweed - the gardener's bane.

I am fascinated by this book's portrayal of bindweed and now I don't know what to believe! I wonder if I should experiment with medicine making or what.

Convolvulus arvensis of the Morning Glory family, came to North America in the 1730's, and was sold as an ornamental, medicinal plant. In TCM no species have ever been used. In Ayurveda, a couple species have been used as a brain tonic, tranquilizer, blood purifier, for uterine bleeding, ulcers and venereal diseases. In Western medicine, bindweed has been used for internal bleeding, fevers, as a purgative and laxative.

Contemporary pharmacology regards bindweed as a purgative, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, cholagogic (bile stimulant) and tranquilizer. Studies have demonstrated the plant's efficacy in reducing tumor growth, decreasing the absorption of carbohydrates in the intestines, reducing different types of stress, and as antimicrobial.

Beyond the human body, bindweed serves in phytoremediation! It cleanses chromium, copper and cadmium from soil. It can survive areas full of heavy metals and assists in the degradation of fuel oil - for example in the Prestige Oil Spill of 2002. Calystegin compounds found in the roots feed rhizosphere bacteria with carbon and nitrogen.

Considering the ever deepening toxicity of our planet, plants like these we will need to turn to and honor for their ability to adapt. I can only wonder at the power of all these other plants in the book, the ways they serve us without our even knowing how to identify them outdoors. Our relationship to bindweed will surely shift in the time to come. For one, I need to reconsider merely stuffing them in the yard waste bin.

Spring Cleanse

In time for Full Moon March 5, Spring holiday March 21, and the reality of an early Spring I am contemplating safe cleanses to organize for myself beyond the intake of herbs -- to address body-mind and mind-heart. I happen to be serving at a vipassana meditation retreat March 5-8, which is perfect timing.

First of all I need to follow up on the ideas I explored with "purity herbs" giving preference to bitter tonics, liver tonics, and alteratives - particularly of plants naturalized in Seattle. I plan to drink a decoction of barberry, chicory, dandelion, oregon grape, burdock and yellow dock as often as possible - if not daily. Also making a tincture of these plants with brandy (pictured here).

In Vasant Lad's book, Ayurvedic principles for staying balanced in Spring involve reducing heavy, inflammatory, congestive foods (like dairy and various forms of protein) and increasing bitter, astringent foods and herbs, as well as juice fasts. This would be the perfect time of year to explore a raw food cleanse (but keep it simple). Lad also promotes taking ginger fennel tea and morning walks. Personally, I am aiming for 70 percent fresh, preferably in-season produce like leafy greens, nettle, lettuce, and so forth. Because I am so fortunate to buy from the store I have many more options before me. It can be really hard to lay off comfort foods but it is worth it for stronger health.

An important question is, what is the point of detoxification, or what is being cleansed out of the body? Another book I recommend is Balance Your Hormones, Balance Your Life by Claudia Welch (De Capo Press, 2011). Welch claims hormonal balance is the mirror that reflects optimal health, because imbalance is the first stage of disease. Toxic buildup, or ama in Ayurveda, which derives from sluggish digestion and environmental toxins, will manifest as chronic inflammation, digestive/elimination problems, exhaustion, and so forth. Or simply "unwholesome" particles interfering with vitality of tissue states, which may produce countless symptoms. Detoxification opens blocked channels allowing deeper ama to leave the body.So not overeating, and only eating when hungry; eating fresh, whole foods; paying attention to what you are eating while you are eating. Gentle exercise, meditation, Sleep, herbs to encourage restful sleep, herbs to tonify digestive and eliminative organs. herbs to infuse massage oil for self massage. All wonderful self care practices.

Why bitter and astringent? Bitter compounds, such as iridoids and sequiterpenes,stimulate the gall bladder and liver and therefore digestion. And depending on the plant, may be anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, hypotensive, sedative, analgesic, laxative, anti-tumor and antibiotic, Astringent compounds expel excess fluid from tissues like a diuretic, enhancing cell wall strength to withstand foreign particle invasion. A way of purifying cells through the body. Both TCM and Ayurveda recommend avoiding too much bitter or astringency which may dehydrate the body - so my heavy preference for these tastes will not last beyond a couple weeks.Through it all I am trying to stay well hydrated.