Welcome to our Grade 7 blog. Here you will find information regarding homework/assignments/tests as well as special information regarding class/school events. Enjoy and check back often!
If two pregnant women walk or sit together one of their babies will be born dead.
You are not to plant night jasmine near your house or it will draw the strength from its occupants as will a paw-paw tree. Good trees to plant include mango, avocado pear, ackee, breadfruit, naseberry, sweet sop and soursop, coffee, banana, coconut, orange, grapefruit and lime.
If you are building a house, be sure to construct the front door to face sunrise and the back door to face sunset, exactly opposite to each other.
To get rid of an unwanted visitor, you must sprinkle a broom and leave it behind the door.
(Jamaica Folk Customs and Beliefs (1991)
If this peaks yours curiosity you can read more here:
The whole plant is used as a medicinal herb internally and externally.
External Uses
Dandelion tea is said to have been in use for centuries now, and have been used to cure breast maladies and other digestive disorders. It has also been said to be useful in soothing aching joints and it helps in clearing up some skin conditions. Given the fact that the dandelion plant can thrive in regions where no other plants will grow, it is said to be a favorite among the herbalists, especially the Japanese.
Dandelion Plant:
Very few people would actually plant dandelions on purpose. Do not get me wrong when I say this, herbalists would be extremely happy when they see these plants appear. The plant is known to easily proliferate once the plant flowers and the seeds appear. Dandelions are versatile plants, in that they can be reproduced from the root as well. All you have to do is pull off the top part of the plant from the ground; and this will not kill this plant.
Edible Dandelion:
All the parts of the dandelion are said to be edible. The roots of the dandelion plant will be harvested and cooked along with the roots from other plants, such as carrots and potatoes. The root is said to be a little bitter and are said to be par-boiled before you add them to the other roots. The root can also be roasted and grounded so that it can be used as a substitute for coffee.
The yellow blossoms of the dandelion can also be used as part of your food. People could deep fry them and they can be added to salads, or some people even pickle them. The yellow blossoms can also be part of the wine making process.
The most eaten part of the dandelion plant is the leaf. The leaves can be part of the salads or can be made into loose tea leaf.
Dandelion Tea:
Dandelion tea is an herbal tea that is produced from the leaves of the plant that goes by the same name. The leaves of the plant are said to be full of nutrients and are said to be loaded with calcium and iron, along with minerals and vitamins.
Dandelion tea has uses that include the following –
A gentle diuretic
Decrease serum cholesterol
As an appetite stimulant
To treat respiratory conditions that includes colds, bronchitis and pneumonia
Purifies the gallbladder and the liver
Treats rheumatism, jaundice, hepatitis and tinnitus
Elaborating On Some Uses:
Improves Stomach Conditions:
Dandelion tea is known to reduce the symptoms of a stomach condition – especially the types of indigestion, constipation and flatulence. The herb is known to act as a mild laxative and is said to stimulate people’s appetite. As per research, the herb is also a natural probiotic, in that it increases the functioning of the good bacteria in your system.
Functions of the Liver:
As per the health care providers and herbalists who indulge in traditional medicine, the tea made from dandelion leaves is said to clinically detoxify the liver. This would mean that it is useful in the overall functioning of the liver and is said to help in stimulating the production of bile.
Diuretic:
Dandelion could be an effective diuretic, which would mean that it would increase the production of urine, and would help in replacing the electrolytes that have been lost from the body owing to the increase production of urine.
Please note that it is best that you consult a doctor before you turn to dandelion based products to aid you in the quest for better health.
COMMON NAMES: Karela, balsam apple, paoka, madian apple, mexicaine, caprika, achochilla, cerasse,Bitter melon (Momordica chrantia L.) also known as bitter gourd, African or wild cucumber, is known in Hindi as karela, as ampalaya in the Philippines, in the West African country of Togo as guingbe, and in the Caribbean as cerasse/cerasee.
Cerasee is native to Africa, the Middle East and the Mediterranean area. It was introduced to Brazil by African slaves and from there it spread to the rest of Latin America and the West Indies. Today it reaches as far north as Texas and Florida, where it grows wild. Bitter melon fruit and leaves also have a time-honored use as a medicine throughout India, Asia, Africa and South America. Cerasee also grows wild in Asia where it is used medicinally, and as a vegetable.
The fruits, leaves, seeds and roots have also been used for a range of conditions. Bitter melon is used to treat diabetes, intestinal colic, peptic ulcers, worms, malaria, constipation, dysmenorrhea, eczema, gout, jaundice, kidney stone, leprosy, leucorrhoea, piles, pneumonia, psoriasis, rheumatism, chickenpox, measles and scabies. Externally, bitter melon is used for the rapid healing of wounds.
A tea made of the vine is used for diabetes, hypertension, worms, dysentery, malaria and as a general tonic and blood purifier. It is also very effective to relieve constipation and colds and fevers in children. Women in Latin American and the West Indies use the leaf for menstrual problems to promote discharge after childbirth. The tea is taken for 9 days after giving birth to clean out and tone up all the organs involved in the delivery. Bitter melon is also used as a natural method of birth control, by taking two cups each day after intercourse, for three days. It is said that women who drink cerasee daily will not conceive during that time. As a wash, the tea is used externally for sores, rashes, skin ulcers and all skin problems. A cerasee bath is good for arthritis, rheumatism, gout and other similar ailments. In Brazil, cerasse tea is used as a tonic and remedy for colds, fever and pains due to arthritis and rheumatism.
In Curacao and Aruba, the tea is used to lower blood pressure. In the Philippines, bitter melon is cultivated as a vegetable and cooked like other leafy vegetables.
In Cuba, cerasee tea is used as a remedy for colitis, liver complaints, fever and as a skin lotion. A tea of the root is used to expel kidney stones.
In India, the green, unripe fruits are soaked in water and cooked in curry and other dishes. The juice of the ripe fruit, which contains valuable enzymes and minerals, is taken for diabetes.
Lemongrass is an herb with a plethora of uses medicinally, from being a stomach soother to being an effective insect repellant and fungicide. A limited study done at the University of Wisconsin revealed that some people taking prepared Lemongrass capsules (140 mg) daily for three months experienced a significant reduction in cholesterol levels, and that their cholesterol levels returned to their previous highs when they stopped taking the preparation. Obviously, this indicates that Lemongrass may help reduce cholesterol in certain individuals.
Make a Tea and drink 1-4 cups per day to relieve congestion, coughing, bladder disorders, headaches, fever, stomach aches, digestive problems, diarrhea, gas, bowel spasms, vomiting, flu symptoms, as a mild sedative, and to promote perspiration - and as a possible cholesterol lowering agent. Rather than discarding the tea bags, use them externally for the problems described below. An Oil can also be made, 3-6 drops of which can be put on a sugar cube for the same purposes as above. The leaves can also be dried and made into a powder for use in Capsules. Please see the link below for more details.
Externally, an Oil can be made with Lemongrass to be applied at 10 drops or so directly to the affected area in cases of athlete's foot, cuts, scrapes, lower back pain, sciatica, sprains, tendonitis, neuralgia, circulatory problems, and rheumatism. It can also be tried on the face to help clear up acne and clean skin pores, and the fresh leaves can be crushed and rubbed on the skin as an on-the-spot outdoor insect repellent.
Use Lemongrass in the bath for a soothing aromatherapy experience by placing a mesh bag with a handful of leaves under the running bath water, then letting the bag soak in the water with you as you bathe.
Lemongrass is safe for use in moderation, but should be avoided by young children, pregnant women, and people with kidney or liver disease.
I would like to thank all Grade 7 Parents for their contribution to the success of the field trip last Monday. A special thanks to those who volunteered to be chaperones for the trip. The kids had a blast!!!
Our class is planning to take a field trip on Monday November 22nd, 2010. The purpose of this note is to give you the trip details and a list of supplies your child should bring along. Please send me an email at folkmedicine2@gmail.com to inform me whether or not your child will be in attendance as soon as possible before the deadline date Friday, November 19th , 2010.
Students will visit the BoBo camp as part of our awareness of folk medicine practices that exist in Jamaica. After the trip, each student will be able to complete the assigned essay using information that they gathered to support their arguments. Students will also prepare a display table for your viewing at the Parent teacher Conference based on their trip and research.
Any students who cannot attend the field trip will be supervised by Mr. Samuels, the 8th grade teacher at our school. Their assignment will be to research and complete the assigned essay, they will also participate in preparing the display table..
Site
"Bobo Hill", Bull Bay St. Thomas
Date
Monday, November 22nd 2010
Check-In Time
No later than 8:30 AM in school parking lot
Transportation
School buses
Cost
$600 per student (covers camp admission, lunch, and beverages)
Supervision
One adult chaperone for each group of five students
Special Rules
No camera, radio, cell phone, or other electronic device is allowed on this trip. Any such equipment will be confiscated by the teacher and returned at the end of the day. (Photos will be taken by a designated adult)
