Healing honey from Wales

[Hivemaker.]

When Jenny visited us she made a point of asking for NO filtered honey.

Do many ordinary hobby bee keepers filter their honey so fine as to remove most of the pollen?

 

[VEG]

Do whatever you like

 

[REDWOOD]

I use a fine mesh and you can still see pollen under a microscope

 

[Dusty Rhodes]

I use a fine mesh and you can still see pollen under a microscope

Well, you should do the dusting more often.


Dusty

 

[Salamagundy]

Just got a reply from the scientist at the National Botanic Gardens.

She says the two plants that seem to give enhanced antibacterial properties are bluebells and 'a species of galium.'

Anyone know how many species of galium grow in Wales?

What chance the active ingredient is being patented by a multinational even as I type this...?

 

[REDWOOD]

If it's Galium saxatile you often see this up on the hills

 

[Anduril]

Just got a reply from the scientist at the National Botanic Gardens.

She says the two plants that seem to give enhanced antibacterial properties are bluebells and 'a species of galium.'

Anyone know how many species of galium grow in Wales?

What chance the active ingredient is being patented by a multinational even as I type this...?

Cannot remember the last part of the name but it is a white flowering woodland plant. Galium ?????? In the future they hope all beekeepers will grow the plant.

 

[Anduril]

If it's Galium saxatile you often see this up on the hills

 

[Fatbee]

Galium aparine is cleavers which grow everywhere! On a quick google search they do have medicinal powers but never noticed the tiny flowers - don't imagine honey bees work them

 

[BrianO]

Fascinating Thread !!!!!!

 

[REDWOOD]

Galium aparine is cleavers which grow everywhere! On a quick google search they do have medicinal powers but never noticed the tiny flowers - don't imagine honey bees work them

That's the stuff that sticks to everything and often appears in my garden growing under a bush and soon ends up spreading everywhere but I have never seen a honeybee or any other bee on the flowers

 

[Anduril]

That's the stuff that sticks to everything and often appears in my garden growing under a bush and soon ends up spreading everywhere but I have never seen a honeybee or any other bee on the flowers

Also edible

 

[Fatbee]

Which parts? Burrs as well? Would need some convincing!

 

[REDWOOD]

Some interesting bits here;

Medicinal uses[edit]
As a tea, the plant acts as a diuretic and lymphatic.[12][verification needed][15][medical citation needed] As a lymphatic tonic, it is used in a wide range of problems involving the lymph system, such as swollen glands (e.g. tonsillitis).[16]

Poultices and washes made from cleavers were traditionally used to treat a variety of skin ailments, light wounds and burns.[17] As a pulp, it has been used to relieve poisonous bites and stings.[18] To make a poultice, the entire plant is used, and applied directly to the affected area.[19]

The asperuloside in cleavers acts as a mild sedative, and one study showed that cleaver extract lowers the blood pressure of dogs, without slowing their heart rate, or any other dangerous side effects.[citation needed] Ethnobotanist James A. Duke recommends a dosage of one ounce of dried leaves to a pint of water, 1 to 2 teaspoons of tincture, or 2 to 4 grams of the dried herb in a cup of boiling water, three times daily.[20]

 

[Laz]

There's also gallium oderatum,one of my favourite herbs,(sweet vernal grass, ladies bedstraw, sweet woodruff e.t.c) smells of newly mown hay. not too sure of it's medicinal properties though.

 

[Anduril]

Which parts? Burrs as well? Would need some convincing!

Leaves and stem can be eaten raw if you like the Velcro texture, otherwise boiled. It is rich in vitamin C, the seeds can make a cheap coffee as it is related to the coffee plant and you can extract a red dye from the roots.

 

[REDWOOD]

There's also gallium oderatum,one of my favourite herbs,(sweet vernal grass, ladies bedstraw, sweet woodruff e.t.c) smells of newly mown hay. not too sure of it's medicinal properties though.

---Medicinal Action and Uses---Woodruff was much used as a medicine in the Middle Ages.

The fresh leaves, bruised and applied to cuts and wounds, were said to have a healing effect, and formerly a strong decoction of the fresh herb was used as a cordial and stomachic. It is also said to be useful for removing biliary obstructions of the liver.

 

[Salamagundy]

There's also gallium oderatum,one of my favourite herbs,(sweet vernal grass, ladies bedstraw, sweet woodruff e.t.c) smells of newly mown hay. not too sure of it's medicinal properties though.

Ladies' Bedstraw - galium verum?

 

[Margaret Elisabeth]

Galium Palustris is a woodland species.

Galium Aparine makes a lovely, fresh tasting, thirst quenching and grounding or calming tisane or tea. Handfulls of the fresh plant put into a teapot with boiling water poured over and left to steep for ten minutes.pull off any root as it is not needed for the tea. Very rare the whole root comes up so once established it will regrow. If you like the flavour of pea pods you will like this. You need an awfull lot of the fruits to make coffee and they need roasting.

 

[Nige.Coll]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-west-wales-28283972

sorry if it has already been posted i'm too tired to read everything now.
If the welsh government and beekeepers want to make a killing from honey like NZ have well fair play to them.
They do a lot more for the beekeepers there than i see england doing.
I saw something about snowdonia national park giving free hives and courses to anyone living within the boundaries not long ago.
Their information about beekeeping on leaflets is accurate and simple to follow.

good luck to them.