Welcome spring! April, fairy dust!

During this month, we talk about “Sweet April showers, do spring May flowers”, “April comes in with his hack and his bill, and sets a flower on every hill”, “Tis worth more than oxen and wain” act. The buds hatch slowly in the first rays of the sun, without any forcing, therefore the rains and short thunderstorms can be a help especially for the harvest “April cold and wet fills barn and barrel”, “Betwixt April and May if there be rain”,  or worse if it is too much !!

In this period there is the awakening of the muscles and thus also the hormonal one! For some people this change is automatic without major adaptations instead for some it is a stress going towards a strong sense of tiredness (astenos in Greek means lack of strength), insomnia etc.

For this reason, I thought of some plants that are common in the mountains during this period, therefore watercress, hops and lemon balm.

Enjoy your reading and I await your comments! See you soon!

The cress (Lepidium sativum) is an annual plant (a vegetable) of the Brassicaceae family (such as cabbage, cauliflower).

It is preferred in the kitchen due to its acidic and spicy flavor and sometimes even as a spice one. The leaves are used fresh as one time dried they lose their properties. It has been cultivated since ancient times, appreciated by the Persians (they believed it helped the growth of children) and by the Romans as a promising aphrodisiac.

It arises spontaneously along streams and still waters. There are three different types of watercress: water (bitter taste), vegetable garden, lawns (slightly spicy flavor). It has a low calorie content (32 kcal per 100 gr of fresh plant). Contains water, carbohydrates, proteins, fiber, fats, and very important mineral salts such as K +, Ca2 +, P3- / 5 +, Mg2 +, Na +, Fe4 + and let's not forget the vitamins especially A, C (which facilitates the absorption of Fe, therefore a powerful anti-anemic), K (bone well-being), E, ​​folate (suitable in pregnancy to prevent certain fetal malformations) and those of group B (against fatigue). Its phyto-complex contains even antioxidants such as beta-carotene, glucosinolates (in particular gluconasturtiin which together with Zn is a powerful antiseptic therefore affections of the respiratory system, bronchitis, phlegm in the bronchi, eczema, pulmonary emphysema, gout, fever , wounds, flu, colds, firm and strengthen weak gums), lutein and zeaxanthin (counteract oxidative stress), isothiocyanates (powerful antitumors especially for the prevention of breast cancer). This phyto-complex also makes it suitable as a hypo-cholesterol-lowering agent. Finally, it is an appetite and digestive stimulant for the presence of bitter substances. You can use it in DIY masks as a nutrient for dry skin and in case of hair loss.

There are contraindications related to excessive consumption in case of gastrointestinal gastritis and ulcers; urinary tract inflammation; kidney disease.

There are various forms but I recommend the macerate by macerating in a liter of cold water 100 g of fresh and well-washed plant, after 12-14 hours (about a whole night) pour and drink 3-4 glasses of macerate sweetened with honey during the course of the day.

The wild hops are similar to wild asparagus; in fact, they blend very easily! They are mainly harvest in April until May and have excellent purifying, laxative, toning, refreshing and diuretic properties. They are low in calories !! It contains bitter principles, essential oils, tannins and flavonoids therefore it must be used as a mild sleeping pill, sedative in case of agitation for both adults and children, gastric nervous disorders, antibacterial activities, estrogenic activities.

A herbal tea is prepared by letting infuse 0.5 g of dry cones (almost 1 coffee spoon) in boiling water for 10-15 minutes. It is recommend to drink 2-3 cups a day, as a calming agent and to double the dose for a sleepy action. The "local" folk Venetian medicine advise to put the dry cones in a bag inside the pillow so the volatile essential oils would induce sleep! It is also considered blood antioxidant and stimulant of liver functions as well as the imperfections of cellulite.

Lemon balm is a perennial herb plant native to Southern Europe and Asia, of which leaves and flowers are useful for healing purposes. This plant (which is also my favorite) acts at different levels therefore

sedative: it acts on the central nervous system therefore useful on anxious and anxious-depressive syndromes and sleep disturbances of nervous origin, as well as on various manifestations of nervous origin such as palpitations, extrasystoles, tachycardia, dizziness, stress tinnitus, migraines of nervous origin and also the cough;

Antispasmodics on the gastrointestinal and genitourinary tract: soothes gastrointestinal disorders such as dyspepsia, aerophagia, flatulence, nausea, vomiting, gastritis, peptic ulcer, gastrointestinal spasms, and menstrual pain;

Antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal: it is able - for example - to treat herpes simplex type 1 labial infections and is a powerful antifungal;

Healing and astringent (if applied locally).

The side effects of Melissa officinalis can be contact allergy (cutaneous) with itching similar to urticaria. It is not recommended to use it for people with hypothyroid-like diseases even in cases where eutirox is taken because it acts by partially inhibiting the activity of the thyroid gland and consequently also by pregnant and lactating women. It can also increase intraocular pressure therefore, it is also not recommended for those with or at risk of developing glaucoma.

The herbal tea is prepared in the form of an infusion using 1 teaspoon of dried lemon balm leaves for each 250 ml cup of hot water, leaving to infuse for 5 minutes and then filtered. They should be drunk 1-2 cups a day according to the need.