<![CDATA[Frank's Forums]]> http://www.frankwoolf.com/forum/ A discussion forum for self sustaining environments, permaculture, homesteading, etc. en Thu, 09 Sep 2010 16:11:44 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.frankwoolf.com/forum/images/styles/bingo/misc/rss.jpg <![CDATA[Frank's Forums]]> http://www.frankwoolf.com/forum/ Building a boat http://www.frankwoolf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=925&goto=newpost Mon, 06 Sep 2010 09:41:51 GMT At last I got started on the first boat to be kept at the beach house. The boat is a 16 foot cruising catamaran designed by Ray Aldridge. The... At last I got started on the first boat to be kept at the beach house. The boat is a 16 foot cruising catamaran designed by Ray Aldridge.

The boat is designed for comfortable cruising, fishing and generally relaxing on the water. I will make some minor changes like a different boarding ladder and a bracket for a small outboard motor. The winds usually drop suddenly during the day where we are and the currents can be very strong so I think a motor will be essential.

The pictures below belong to Ray Aldridge and are of his prototype. For more info take a look at Ray's site here and the Duckworks page here.
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]]> Private projects Frank Woolf http://www.frankwoolf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=925 Yacon http://www.frankwoolf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=924&goto=newpost Wed, 25 Aug 2010 10:40:41 GMT Recently, yacon has become popular in the West as a natural treatment for diabetes. Several scientific studies have examined compounds that are... Recently, yacon has become popular in the West as a natural treatment for diabetes. Several scientific studies have examined compounds that are present in the yacon plant and found that it indeed posseses valuable properties that can be beneficial to people suffering from diabetes, a disease that is taking on epidemic proportions in the modern world.

The tuberous root of the yacon plant was grown by the Incans as nutritious food source and is still consumed by modern indigenous people in South America. Both yacon tea, made from the leaves of the plant, and yacon syrup, made from the root, have become popular with diabetics because of the blood-sugar-lowering effects of the tea and the low glycemic index of the sweet syrup.

Tea made from the leaves of the yacon plant is now widely touted on the Internet as an effective way to naturally lower blood sugar for people suffering from diabetes. A Brazilian study published in the July/Sept. 2008 edition of Revista Brasileira de Ciências Farmacêuticas found that an alcohol extraction of yacon leaves was able to reduce glycemia in both diabetic and nondiabetic rats as well as normalize glucose enzymes.

Yacon root has been found to be one of the highest natural sources of compounds called fructooligosaccharides, which are sugars that are believed to have a healthy effect on blood glucose levels. A Korean study published in the journal Biomolecules & Therapeutics in June 2009 found that yacon root extract significantly reduced blood glucose levels in diabetic rats as well as demonstrated protection from oxidative stress damage on the pancreas.

Yacon syrup is widely available in health food stores as a natural sweetener that is purported to be less damaging to blood-sugar levels then conventional products such as white sugar. An article published in Clinical Nutrition in April 2009 outlined an Argentinian study of daily consumption of yacon syrup. The researchers observed that the patients' fasting insulin-serum index was reduced; there was also a reduction in body weight and body mass index after 120 days.

Yacon shows strong promise as both a food and a medicine for the modern world in a time of decreasing food security and increasing rates of diseases with diet-related factors such as diabetes. Yacon is currently being cultivated in the Czech Republic as an experimental food crop that may provide a high yield and a nutritionally powerful staple for many modern cultures. ]]> Plants and what medicinal values they have Frank Woolf http://www.frankwoolf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=924 Spices that heal http://www.frankwoolf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=923&goto=newpost Wed, 11 Aug 2010 03:15:36 GMT 1) Cinnamon Cinnamon is one of the oldest spices— it was used for embalming in Egypt 2500 years ago. Most spices are the seed of a plant, but... 1) Cinnamon

Cinnamon is one of the oldest spices— it was used for embalming in Egypt 2500 years ago. Most spices are the seed of a plant, but cinnamon is the inner layer of bark from a tree, which is dried and rolled.

Traditionally, cinnamon is regarded as a warming expectorant, used to gently reduce congestion and phlegm in the lungs, and dry up runny noses.

Adding a cinnamon stick to your ginger tea will increase its potency. Ground cinnamon can be used to flavour porridge and muesli.

2) Cloves

Cloves are native to eastern Indonesia and were probably the first breath fresheners. In China, during the Han dynasty, courtiers would chew on cloves to sweeten their breath before addressing the emperor.

Among more than a thousand foods studied at the University of Oslo, cloves contained the most antioxidants per gram, with as little as 1g (about ½ teaspoon) of cloves containing about the same antioxidants as ½ cup of berries.

Cloves are still a useful addition to your spice medicine chest. They can be used to calm bloating and flatulence—fruit stewed with a pinch of cloves not only tastes good, but is also a digestion-calming dessert.

3) Paprika

The paprika plant is from the same family as chilli. Originally found in Mexico, Christopher Columbus took the plants back to Spain, where they were powdered and became a staple in Spanish cooking.

Paprika comes in several varieties: sweet, hot, mild and smoked, and they each have their own distinctive flavour. Be careful when buying "smoked" paprika that you get the genuine article, as some manufacturers just add smoke flavour and MSG to sweet paprika.

Like chilli, paprika is high in antioxidants, including betacarotene, capsanthin, quercetin and luteolin.

To make an easy seasoning blend, miix together:
2 teaspoons paprika
¼ teaspoon crushed black pepper
2 teaspoons dried oregano
Rub this into fish or lamb before cooking

4) Tumeric (or turmeric)

India has one of the lowest rates of bowel cancer in the world and that's believed to be partly due to turmeric. Recent years have seen an explosion of research into curcumin, an antioxidant found in turmeric. Studies have shown it has anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal and anticancer activities.

Turmeric has been used in traditional Indian, Thai and Chinese medicines for a huge variety of health problems. Closer to home, it's worth including more turmeric in your diet for its antioxidants.

You can up your turmeric intake by adding some to rice: use ½ teaspoon of ground turmeric to 1 cup of rice and 1½ cups water. Bring to boil, then simmer until the water has disappeared.

5) Chilli and cayenne pepper

In the history of herbalism, chilli is associated with some of the more heroic treatments. In the early 1800s it was used in massive doses to heat up the body and purge it of disease. We take a more gentle approach now, using much lower quantities to improve the circulation, and help clear out mucous and phlegm from the sinuses and nasal passages.

Capsaicin is the substance that makes chillies hot and this is currently being researched for a range of health benefits, including possible anticancer effects. Cayenne pepper is a blend of hot chillies mixed together to give a consistent heat. It's a hot powder, so use it sparingly in soup or mixed with burgers. Alternatively, sprinkle a pinch of cayenne over rice or poached eggs.

6) Anise

In ancient Rome, at the end of an indulgent feast, people would serve cakes made with anise to calm digestion and freshen the breath. In the 1930s, Margaret Grieve—in her highly influential book A Modern Herbal – said the "stimulant and carminative properties of anise make it useful in flatulency and colic".

Like ginger, anise has several uses. It's still used as an aromatic digestive, a group of remedies that calms digestive problems, and reduces nausea, gas and bloating. Anise can also be used as an expectorant and can be used for coughs and colds.

Anise works well in vegetable soups: add seeds or whole star anise when sautéing onion and garlic. You can also make a tea by pouring boiling water ofer slightly crushed seeds. Drink a cup of this after dinner, or anytime you are feeling a bloated or gassy.

7) Ginger

Medicinally ginger a multitasker, used to combat nausea and digestive complaints, yet also useful against mild coughs and colds.

At the first sign of a stuffy nose:
• Thinly slice about 1cm fresh ginger
• Place in a cup or small teapot and cover with boiling water
• Leave to steep for 5 minutes before drinking. Add lemon and honey if desired. ]]> Plants and what medicinal values they have Frank Woolf http://www.frankwoolf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=923 Honey http://www.frankwoolf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=922&goto=newpost Wed, 11 Aug 2010 03:13:30 GMT Not a plant but a product of plants and bees Honey has been used in other countries for years to promote the healing of diabetic ulcers and wound... Not a plant but a product of plants and bees

Honey has been used in other countries for years to promote the healing of diabetic ulcers and wound care in alternative medicine throughout Europe. Until recently, this possibility has not been explored here in the United States. Jennifer Eddy, a Professor at the University of Wisconsin
is setting out to prove this ancient treatment a success thru a controlled trial on patients who face possible amputation caused by diabetic ulcers.

Professor Eddy first heard of this Honey Therapy while still attending medical school. She tried this ancient remedy on her first diabetic patient as a last resort. The patient was 79 years old and had ulcers that were resistant to traditional antibiotic treatments and all other possibilities had been exhausted. After Honey Therapy was administered, the wounds to his feet healed quickly. She has since helped about a half dozen of her patients with similar topical treatments of this ancient cure.

Honey works much like a natural antibiotic. It has a broad spectrum of properties that act in several ways to fight off deadly bacteria.

Honey is very acidic and certain bacteria cannot grow or multiply in an acidic environment.

It also contains hydrogen peroxide therefore making it a powerful antiseptic.

Another important factor that helps honey eradicate bacteria deals with a process known as osmosis. Honey is so thick because it contains very little water. This osmotic process simply draws water from the bacteria in a wound or burn somewhat like a sponge. It dries up the bacteria making it harder for it to thrive.

The use of honey for medicinal purposes is not a new found idea. In fact, research shows that the use of honey dates back to pre-historic times for its medicinal purposes by many different cultures. The earliest written account showing that the Egyptians thought of honey as having healing properties and used it as a symbol of health.

Today in New Zealand, a research center has found thru its studies that honey kills a broad range of bacteria preventing infection. It is being used there to treat bedsores with much success. ]]> Plants and what medicinal values they have Frank Woolf http://www.frankwoolf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=922 Medicinal Plants for Animals http://www.frankwoolf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=921&goto=newpost Wed, 11 Aug 2010 02:44:21 GMT Farm animals like cattle, swine, goats, ducks, etc. can also acquire diseases quite often, however, there's a cheaper alternative for most common animal ailments. Instead of giving them medicines from vet stores, why not give them herbal plants that can be easily found right in your backyard or within your farm. It costs nothing but as effective as the meds.

The following have been tried and found helpful for the following animal ailments such as:

Intestinal Worms

1. Lagundi - crush ½ to 1 kilo leaves, mix with 2 to 3 spoons of sugar , give to the animal
2. Ipil-ipil - pulverize half a glass of dried seeds , mix with about ½ or 3/4 glass of water, give one dose. Do not give this to a pregnant animal.
3. Cadris - wash and crush about ½ to 1 kilo leaves, give to the animal
4. Amargoso leaves - crush ½ to 1 kilo leaves, give the juice 1 to 3 times.
5. Bunga - pulverize 8-10 young bunga, put in a glass of water and give to the animal.

External Parasites (Lice)

1. Kakawate - wash and crush the fresh leaves - apply on the affected part once or twice a day for one week.
2. Acapulco - do as in kakawate, but apply 2 times a day for 2 weeks.

Diarrhea

Loose bowel movement in animals may be due to microbes, worms, contaminated food or a combination of these. The signs are fever, watery discharge, and loss of appetite.
Because of loss of water, salt and nourishment in the body, it is necessary to give first aid to the animal. A good cure is young coconut juice with brown sugar and salt. To arrest the discharge, give concoction of cogon roots, guava or caimito leaves.

1. Caimito - boil ½ kilo leaves in 3 glasses of water until the amount is reduced to a glass. Cool and give to the animal two times a day for 2 days.
2. Banana - feed the animal with fresh leaves 2 times a day for four days or until the animal has recovered.

Wounds

1. Carrot - clean the carrot, scrape, and mix with dried tobacco leaves. Apply on the wound once a day or every other day.
2. Eggplant - pound eggplant leaves, apply on the wound once or twice daily for one week. ]]> Plants and what medicinal values they have Frank Woolf http://www.frankwoolf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=921