I KNOW that my pension is transferred directly to my bank account every month, but occasionally there is a blip.How many others, I wonder, have had a similar experience. Shown below, is an actual letter that was sent to a bank by an 86-year-old woman. The manager of the bank thought it amusing enough to have it published in the New York Times. In future, if all else fails, I might try a similar approach.

Dear Sir:

I am writing to thank you for bouncing my check with which I tried to pay my plumber last month. By my calculations, three nanoseconds must have elapsed between his presenting the check and the arrival in my account of the funds needed to honor it. I refer, of course, to the automatic monthly deposit of my entire pension, an arrangement which, I admit, has been in place for only eight years. You are to be commended for seizing that brief window of opportunity, and also for debiting my account $30 by way of penalty for the inconvenience caused to your bank. My thankfulness springs from the manner in which this incident has caused me to rethink my errant financial ways.

I noticed that whereas I personally answer your telephone calls and letters, when I try to contact you, I am confronted by the impersonal, overcharging, pre-recorded, faceless entity which your bank has become.

From now on, I, like you, choose only to deal with a flesh-and-blood person. My mortgage and loan repayments will therefore and hereafter no longer be automatic, but will arrive at your bank, by check, addressed personally and confidentially to an employee at your bank whom you must nominate.

Be aware that it is an offense under the Postal Act for any other person to open such an envelope. Please find attached an Application Contact which I require your chosen employee to complete. I am sorry it runs to eight pages, but in order that I know as much about him or her as your bank knows about me, there is no alternative. Please note that all copies of his or her medical history must be countersigned by a Notary Public, and the mandatory details of his/her financial situation (income, debts, assets and liabilities) must be accompanied by documented proof. In due course, at MY convenience, I will issue your employee with a PIN number which he/she must quote in dealings with me. I regret that it cannot be shorter than 28 digits but, again, I have modeled it on the number of button presses required of me to access my account balance on your phone bank service. As they say, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

Regrettably, but again following your example, I must also levy an establishment fee to cover the setting up of this new arrangement.

And remember: Don't make old People mad. We don't like being old in the first place, so it doesn't take much to set us off.

May I wish you a happy, if ever so slightly less prosperous New Year?

Your Humble Client

What a perspicuous old lady. My hat's off to her. May I wish her a happy, healthy, and slightly MORE prosperous New Year!
Proof for Safflower?
I have written about it several times before, but it is probably worth repeating for the unwary.

You are enjoying a Mediterranean holiday and, while browsing in a local market, you come across a spice stall on which there is a huge pile of yellow powder marked as azafran. The stallholder confirms 'yes saffron'. However, if you think about it, it is unlikely that a market trader would display real saffron (Crocus sativus L.) in the open air, as it is worth a small fortune and he would likely lose his stock to the wind, even more so with powder. It is in fact probably turmeric (Curcuma longa L.). Marco Polo encountered it in 1280, saying “a fruit that resembles saffron, but it is nothing of the kind”.

In the same market, even on the same stall you may see something else labelled with a name like 'saffron'. This, at first glance, looks more like the real deal. The stallholder will be most insistent, yet offer you a huge discount for a large purchase. This should be a warning, as a closer look will reveal a small bud-like flower, with a central red stem and four or five orange and yellow strands about 1cm in length. It is the dried flower heads of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.).

Sad to say, several still return from holiday and inform me they have some 'cheap saffron'. A contradiction in itself. Although safflower is an ancient dye plant being able to colour both yellow and red, after it has been processed, it really has no use in the kitchen, lacking flavour and aroma, and with only a moderate amount of yellow dye. On the other hand, as many therapists will know, it is not without some value.

People on long term parenteral alimentation may suffer from Essential Fatty Acid deficiency and develop redness and scaling in the scalp and eyebrows and suffer hair loss. These changes may be reversed by the topical application of safflower oil, because of its high content of linoleic acid [Rook, A. & Dawber, B. Eds. 1991. Diseases of the hair and scalp. 2nd Edition. Blackwell Scientific, Oxford].

What's more, according to Thomas Bartram's Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine, use of safflower seed oil prevents hardening of cholesterol in the arteries and aids prevention of arteriosclerosis, arthritis and coronary heart disease, and both the seeds and oil are helpful to diabetics or those suffering with angina and circulatory problems.

Back in 1995, when Bartram's Encyclopedia was first published, I was prepared to accept his point about the prevention of the hardening of cholesterol, because Stier had reported earlier in his self-published book that safflower oil prevents cholesterol from hardening and normalizes its metabolism [Stier, B. 1990. Secrets des huiles de premiere pression a froid. Quebec. p.59], but I could find no proof for Bartram's comment about aiding diabetics, until last week.

The world's first clinical trial of human insulin is under way in the UK, raising the prospect of a new source of insulin to meet rapidly growing demand from diabetics.

“The demand for insulin is increasing dramatically as demographic factors and dietary changes increase the incidence of diabetes,” says Andrew Baum, chief executive of Canadian biotechnology company SemBioSys. Independent estimates suggest that the world market for insulin could double to £10.3bn a year by 2012.

A genetically modified variety of safflower that makes high cocentrations of human insulin in its seeds has been developed by SemBioSys. It chose safflower because it needed a species with seeds rich in oil, from which insulin could easily be extracted.

The trial will reveal whether safflower-derived insulin has the same effects on blod sugar levels as commercial insulin, which is now mainly produced by cultures of genetically engineered bacteria in very large fermenters. The traditional animal sources of insulin, the pancreas of pigs and cows from slaughterhouses, have been largely phased out.

The capital and operating costs of producing insulin in safflower seeds will be 70 to 80% less than in bacterial fementers, says Mr. Baum. That would particularly help developing countries facing an epidemic of diabetes.

Thirty healthy volunteers are taking part in the inaugural trial. Following this, from which the results will be known in six months, there will be more extensive testing with diabetic patients. According to SemBioSys, the product could be on sale within four years, but a demonstration of “bio-equivalence” will be essential to prove that the plant-produced insulin is biologically identical to human insulin before regulators approve sale.

Remedies for Ringworm.
The other night I awoke scratching wildly at my leg, but quickly fell asleep again. The following morning I had forgotten all about it until Jan commented, “That's ringworm, isn't it?” True enough, there was a red ring-shaped mark on my right leg.

'Ringworm' is a generic term used to describe many species of fungi which cause diseases of the outer layer of skin. The name 'ringworm' comes from the ring shape that appears on the skin and which is formed as the disease spreads outwards in a circular shape. This outer ring marks the active area of the disease while the centre heals as the fungi move outwards. It can be very itchy.

Ringworm is caused by the dermatophyte fungi - species of Microsporum, Trichophyton, and Epidermophyton - and also affects animals, a source of infection for humans. It can be spread by direct contact or via infected materials. The most common form of ringworm is athlete's foot (tinea pedis). Another common form is ringworm of the scalp (tinea capitis), of which there is a severe form - favus- caused by Trichophyton schoenleini. Favus, which is rare in Europe, is typified by yellow crusts made up of threads of fungus and skin debris, which form honeycomb-like masses.

Ringworm also affects the groin and thighs (tinea cruris), the face and beard area (tinea facei and barbae), trunk and limbs (tinea corporis), hands (tinea manuum) and nails (tinea unguium).

It is most likely that young Mick, the Glen of Imaal terrier, is the source of my discomfort. Within each genus, dermatophytes are categorised according to their origin: zoophilic, anthropophilic or geophilic (animal, human, soil). Zoophilic dermatophytes can infect human hosts; generally zoophilic species, probably Microsporum canis in my case, produce more inflammation than human-only species.

Tea Tree (Melaleuca alternifolia (Maiden & Betche) Cheel) is perhaps the most widely researched essential oil with numerous studies confirming its antifungal efficacy against a range of dermatophytes. I am applying it to the infected area three times a day until it's clear. Because I have been sploshing it on myself neat for almost forty years with no adverse effects, I am using the oil undiluted. However, for most, I would suggest 1 drop in a millilitre of vegetable oil.

If Tea Tree does not appeal, and I know that not everyone likes it, there are several other essential oils with proven antifungal activity against a range of dermatophytes. In addition to Tea Tree, Lemon (Citrus limon L.), Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare var. dulce Batt. & Trab.), and Lemongrass Citratus (Cymbopogon citratus (DC. ex Nees) Stapf) are all effective against Trichophyton, Epidermophyton and Microsporum dermatophytes. For Trichophyton species alone, Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia L.) and Geranium (Pelargonium graveolens L'Her.) are well worth trying. Others worth consideration for treating Microsporum-induced infections are Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) and Thyme (Thymus vulgaris L.). I would opt for the linalol type in both cases.

By the way, I read in Aromadermatology [ISBN: 978-1-85775-775-0] that, in conventional dermatology practice, it is not usual to identify the species of dermatophyte involved in infection. That's as maybe but I am jolly pleased that this excellent book details common presenting features of dermatophyte infections anyway, because the other day I was faced with a little girl suffering from acute ringworm of the scalp. Her scalp was an acutely inflamed, pustular mass. Normally, I would have expected it to be less inflamed with well-defined scaly areas, probably caused by the anthropophilic dermatophyte Trichophyton tonsurans, but this was very different. I rushed to the office for Bensouilah & Buck's comprehensive guide. As I thought, it was a zoophilic infection which required correct medical intervention. I then remembered that the little girl's parents are farmers and, likely as not, Trichophyton verrucosum, which is hosted by cattle, was to blame.

Not to be without, Aromadermatology is now on the shelf behind me at home, wedged amongst A Record of Grand Prix and Voiturette Racing 1900-1925, Werner Lantermann's The New Parrot Handbook and Michael Brett's How to Read the Financial Pages. Come to think of it, that little selection about sums me up! Oh, throw in Ann Woodrow's compilation, Rhodesian Ridgeback, and Whitaker's Almanack as well!

A book to watch out for.
Speaking of books, I have just received a flyer for an exciting new book due out later this year. Written by the indefatigable Joanna Hoare, The Complete Aromatherapy Tutor [ISBN: 978-1-85675-284-9] promises to provide everything you need to achieve professional expertise.

Joanna has been a practising aromatherapist for well over 20 years, and joined the IFA (International Federation of Aromatherapists) right at its start in 1985. She was elected Chair in 2004 and currently examines for the IFA and travels the world, in particular the Far East, lecturing and teaching on aromatherapy. In fact, I sometimes wonder when she is not on a plane!

A complete guide to the interesting and varied world of aromatherapy, the 256 pages, packed with 55,000 words, cover every aspect of this ancient healing practice, including its long and varied history, its basis in science, and a comprehensive list of essential oils and treatable ailments. There is also advice on how to establish your own practice and how to develop as a professional aromatherapist.

Repelling the moth.
I haven't bought a new sweater for years, but I'm beginning to think that I might have to. I have just been sorting through my wardrobe. Layers of pullovers, which haven't seen the light of day for decades, are in tatters, ravaged by the larvae of lepidoptera. Savvas Othon, technical director of Rentokil, puts it all down to global warming, better insulation and central heating. Good point! My father had it taken out at home and we all froze to death in unmunched sweaters!

“The warmer weather means that a moth can complete its cycle much quicker,” says Mr. Othon, adding that the trend for vintage clothing has exacerbated the problem, as “people are unknowingly bringing live insects into their houses”. Fair enough, but my knitwear is already vintage, and here!

Julia Dee, who owns Total Wardrobe Care, a company that provides cothes-care products and offers to purge your wardrobe of unworn items, believes the trend for disposable fashion has contributed to the problem. Definitely not my worry but, as Ms. Dee says, “When I was younger we had to look after our clothes. We would own twenty items of clothes that we'd wash and care for. Now we buy so much cheap fashion that we just leave it in the back of the wardrobe,” where they can be attacked by the pernicious webbing clothes moth (Tineola bisseliella), the case-bearing clothes moth (Tinea pellionella) and the tapestry moth (Trichophaga tapetzella). Before you know they are there, it's too late.

Female moths seek out dark corners, such as piles of of old woollen cardigans and scrunched-up sweaters in the back of wardrobes, where they can be undisturbed and lay up to 50 eggs, and this is where the trouble starts. “The larval stage can last for weeks during which a lot of eating can get done,” says Iain Whately, Enviroguard quality assurance manager. “The webbing clothes moth likes munching on anything made of animal protein: fur, wool, carpets, tapestry, cottons, or material that has been soiled with sweat and stains.” That's me sorted then. Where's the Persil and Bio-tex? Any other suggestions?

“When it comes to swapping summer clothes for winter ones, make sure the new season's clothes are clean [They're in the washing machine now, OK]. Then clean the wardrobe thoroughly and line shelves and drawers,” advises Ms. Dee. She also recommends new cedar balls. “Don't use the same ones you've had for three years. It won't work. If you're trying to economise you can rub some cedarwood oil into the old balls.” Fine, but mine are ordinary mothballs probably made of naphthalene. Still, I will readily swap a distillation of coal tar for cedarwood. “Whatever you do, please don't have wardrobes with fancy lattice fronts,” she adds. I don't, because the moths may get in. Garment covers are a good idea, she suggests, particularly cashmere bags. But I thought that moths particularly liked cashmere. Aha, I see where she's coming from. Anything else? “Pheromone moth traps, though put them behind a chest of drawers rather than in the wardrobe so as to draw moths away from the clothes.” Good idea! And you, Mr. Whately, what do you suggest?

“Exosect, which uses a technology called active mating disruption”. Sounds uncomfortable, how does it work? “Rather than killing the moths by pesticides, they are lured into a trap where they are covered in a pheromone powder that makes male moths mistake each other for females. Therefore, the mating cycle breaks down, the population plummets, pesticides aren't needed and no one gets hurt (just sexually confused).” Smart! Who uses it? “A number of stately homes as well as the Royal Opera House.” Sounds a bit grand for me, I think I'll check out what Valerie Ann Worword has to say in The Fragrant Pharmacy.

To keep moths away from your clothes use 2-3 drops of one of the following oils: Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia Mill.), Lemongrass (Cymbopogon spp.), Camphor (Cinnamomum camphora (L.) J. Presl), Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.), or Citronella (Cymbopogon nardus (L.) Rendle). Put the oil on small cotton-wool balls and lay them between your clothes. Drawer liners made with essential oils are also useful, and much nicer than those chemical-aroma ones. Cut some absorbent paper to the size of the drawer and dot with the essential oils. Then brush over with orris root powder, which acts as a fixative, shake off and put in the bottom of the drawer. Splendid, but I'll probably use corn starch as I can't put my hands on any orris root powder immediately.

Whatever catches my eye.
Oh Lord, I've just been reading through the e-mails scattered on my desk and realise that I have answered few of them. My sincere apologies, but I'll get round to them sometime. Still, I do note that many questions I've answered in previous newsletters and so it might be worth checking out our website first. Unfortunately, sat at home, I am easily distracted by whatever catches my eye. Also, there are now so many excellent books and journals covering alternative therapies that it is increasingly difficult to come up with something new. Therefore I tend to explore the more esoteric.

What do you know about pomegranates? I was asked the other day.

My first introduction to this member of the Punicaceae was as a boy in France. Denied stronger stuff, I would drink grenadine which is a very syrupy cordial made from pomegranates. Not especially palatable, but aptly named because a pomegranate resembles a 'grenade' in shape.  Pomegranate, on the other hand, is from the Old French pome grenate. Pome is any firm-fleshed fruit in which the carpels from the central core enclose the seeds, e.g., the apple, pear, and quince. Grenate is from the Latin granatum 'having many seeds'. By the way, a dress fabric of loosely woven silk or silk and wool is also called grenadine, 'grained silk' from the French grenu 'grained'.

Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) is a smallish tree, growing to about 5 or 6 metres, with pale, brownish bark. The buds and young shoots are red, the leaves are lance-shaped, thick, glossy and almost evergreen. It has scarlet flowers that are large and solitary. The fruit is the size of an orange, having a thick, reddish-yellow rind, an acid pulp, and a large number of seeds. Having no close relations, the tree has been placed in an order of its own.

So-called pomegranate root bark consists of both the stem and root barks of P. granatum. It occurs in curved or channelled pieces about 5-10cm long and 1-3cm wide. The outer surface of the stem bark has longitudinal corky furrows, a few shallow depressions and the bark apothecia of some lichens, while that of the root bark shows depressions where the outer layers have exfoliated. The barks are smooth and yellowish on their inner surfaces and break with a short granular fracture. They contain about 0.5 to 0.9% of volatile liquid alkaloids, the chief of which are pelletierine and pseudopelletierine, together with about 22% tannin. Pelletierine alkaloids are highly toxic.

Pomegranate rind consists of the dried pericarp of the fruit. It occurs in thin, curved pieces about 1.5cm thick, some of which bear the remains of the woody calyx or a scar left by the stalk. The outer surface is brownish-yellow or reddish. The inner surface bears impressions left by the seeds. Pomegranate rind is very astringent and contains about 28% of tannin and colouring matters. It should be carefully distinguished from the root bark, because of the alkaloids in the root bark.

In 1500BC, the pharaoh Tuthmosis reputedly brought back pomegranate to Egypt from Asia, where it had been known since Bronze Age Jericho. Prized as a fruit, it was also sought after as a remedy for worms. The Greek physician Dioscorides, in the 1st century AD, knew of the herb's ability to expel worms, but this attribute was subsequently forgotten in Europe for nearly 1,800 years. In the early 19th century, after an Indian herbalist used pomegranate to cure an Englishman of tapeworms, English doctors in India became interested in pomegranate and its medicinal properties were investigated.

Root bark is now considered to be a specific remedy for tapeworm. The alkaloids cause the worm to release its grip on the intestinal wall. Both the rind and bark are very astringent and occasionally have been used to treat diarrhoea. However, the rind or bark should never be used unless under professional supervision. In fact, in some countries, the plant, and especially its bark extracts, is subject to legal restriction.

The fruit is used for dessert, and the juice increasingly in drinks. The flowers yield a red dye, and with leaves and seeds were used by the Ancients as astringent medicines. However what the Ancients probably did not know is that the seeds contain 17mg per kg oestrone. Also, an extract of pomegranate fruit is, I believe, effective against HIV.

Oestrone is an oestrogenic hormone secreted by the ovary. One of three oestrogens, which also include oestriol and oestradiol, oestrone is the least abundant. Oestradiol is almost always present in the reproductive female body, and oestriol is abundant primarily during pregnancy, but oestrone is the only one of the three which is present in any quantity in post-menopausal women.

Oestrone is relevant to health and disease states because of its conversion to oestrone sulphate, a long-lived derivative. Oestrone sulphate acts as a reservoir that can be converted as needed to the more active oestradiol.

The Bible proclaimed it “a gift from God”; scientists at the University of California found it could soften hardened arteries, prevent cholesterol and reduce the likelihood of heart attacks and strokes; and, according to the dermatologist Dr. Nick Lowe, “it happens to be one of the most studied antioxidants in medicine”. Now it is the latest hero in skincare.

“When we first introduced pomegranate, it was groundbreaking. Nothing else was as effective for the dual action of hydrating and anti-ageing,” says Rebecca Korner, founder of Korner Skincare one of the first to put pomegranate into beauty products. “The pomegranate itself has high water content, and it retains that moisture in the skin by plumping up aquaporines [water channels in the skin that help to slow down the ageing process]. The aim of the pomegranate extract is to plump the hydration channels in the skin to regulate water flow and restore maximum moisture levels that decrease with age.”

Dr. Howard Murad, an LA-based dermatologist, says, “Ellagic acid [a polyphenol antioxidant found in numerous fruits and vegetables, such as strawberries, cranberries, walnuts, etc., that has been suggested as an alternative to prevent cancer] in pomegranate strengthens the cell membranes and helps them to attract water.” Furthermore, he is most enthusiastic about its role as a boosting ingredient in sunscreen. His studies demonstrated that both dietary supplementation with the fruit, and the addition of topical pomegranate to sunscreen formulas, improved significantly the SPF protective power of sunscreen.

Dr. Lowe comments: “There was a well-conducted study, done by the Kawasaki Dermatology Clinic in 2006, which showed that pomegranate has interesting  protective effects on pigmentation. And other research shows that it will definitely reduce UV damage and the induction of skin cancers.”

Believe it or not, four years ago we offered a soap from Israel, utilizing the ground leaves of the pomegranate and a specially formulated juice extract, but few showed any interest, including me!   

Finally.....
I'm off for a glass of grenadine, with something a little more explosive added!





charles@essentiallyoils.com

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