I do hope my husband never discloses what I was watching every night on television for the past nine weeks.
I like being in bed around seven o’clock. However, recently around 11 p.m. I got up to watch some favourites. During my primetime viewings I was filled with so many emotions that I often ended up drinking a cup of pomegranate tea. This tea normally calms me and allows me to think more creatively. Often, I found myself embattled in those emotions.
However, I have trained my mind to fuse emotions with silent doctors to receive maximum results. Mercifully I am being educated every night and I will not stop until I master every inch of my re-education. Now what will come out of all of this night work?
The first thing that comes to my mind is that as the year comes to an end, I am committed to continually providing readers of this column with information that will help them understand and appreciate silent doctors.
The Caribbean is a reservoir of herbal information and herbal remedies. However, just as I am being educated during my night fiestas, there are some plants that carry night to their names and some which are more effective and stimulating if used at night.
Silent doctor black nightshade, garden nightshade, wonder berry or small-fruited black nightshade is scientifically known as solanum americanum. The Earth Medicine Institute states on a website that solanum americanum is very closely related to solanum nigrum and are sometimes considered synonyms. I have observed these plants growing in my garden with their black berries and am awaiting them to spring back to life.
Although the toxicity of this plant is uncertain, in some cultures it is used as follows:
Philippines – Fruits used for diabetes. Young shoots are considered cooling, corrective and as a tonic, thus increasing virility in men and benefiting menstrual disorders in women.
Mexico – Decoction used externally as a cooling agent and as a vaginal irritant. Paste used for ringworms.
Bengal – Berries used for fever, diarrhoea, eye disease and hydrophobia.
Rhodesia – Malaria.
South Africa – Leaves applied to swollen painful testicles.
South India – Gastric ulcers and other gastric problems.
China – Kidney and bladder inflammation and virulent gonorrhoea.
Sinaloa – Cancerous sores.
Bohemia – Erysipelas.
You can research the other uses of this very spiritual and healing plant.
Finally, night life can also be filled with more excitement if we understand our Barbadian-grown plants. I believe I will continue to explore at night to gather information to keep inner desires flowing with interest.
Annette Maynard-Watson is a teacher and herbal educator and may be contacted via [email protected] or by telephone 250-6450.
DISCLAIMER: It is not our intention to prescribe or make specific claims for any products. Any attempts to diagnose or treat real illness should come under the direccton of your health care provider.
