Organic Growing News - Sept 2006

15-09-2006

Sara returned to New Zealand about two years ago, to find that there is not much knowledge of medical herbalism here compared to the UK. The New Zealand Association of Medical Herbalists was founded in 1983 and has about 140 members. Sara operates her practice in Queen Street, Levin as a retail shop and dispensary, with consultations available. A supplier in Auckland provides both dried herbs and tinctures. Quality control is good, with the facility to test the levels of active constituents in the herbs. There is currently more imported product than locally-grown material. Sara estimates that about 65% of the tinctures and 80% of the dried herbs are organic.

Sara has had a number of referrals from GPs and has a good relationship with several doctors, especially Cindy de Villiers. Sara needs to be aware of any medication a patient is taking in case of contra-indications. For instance, a few years ago it was found that St John’s wort had an adverse effect on heart transplant patients. The herb helped the liver to break down the pharmaceutical drugs the patient was taking, before they had a chance to be fully effective. A common contra-indication is with certain herbs which help to reduce blood sugar, when taken by diabetics. In such cases it is important for Sara to work closely with the GP to monitor blood sugar levels and other measurements, in order to determine the correct dosages.

At the first sign of a cold, Sara recommends acting immediately – the quicker the better. Her favourite remedy is tasty warm drinks, such as hot lemon with honey and ginger, at frequent intervals. Hot blackcurrant or elderberry are also good, as indeed are all dark berries.

For a chest cold, take elecampane root, which is also active against TB. A tea of elecampane, thyme and honey helps to clear mucous. Thyme tea on its own is good for the lungs and also for the memory. For an irritating cough, try coltsfoot. Garlic of course has great all-round healing properties.

For sinus problems, make a tea made from elderflower, camomile and eyebright. Add some marshmallow leaf if your sinuses are raw. Cool, strain, add ½ teaspoon salt and inhale through the nose. Unconventional but often efficacious, Sara says.

For general achiness in cold damp weather, try a hot mustard footbath.  Put mustard powder, bicarbonate and salt in equal amounts in a plastic tub, add water as hot as you can but not to hurt, soak feet then give a good rub, using comfrey cream if you like, then rug them up in woolly socks and go to bed. 

COUNCIL RESPONSES TO GE SUBMISSIONS
A few months ago, we made submissions to our local regional and district councils’ long-term community plan hearings. We have now received responses from all the councils involved, with mixed results:

Kapiti Coast District Council resolution – “That the Council agrees that the community debate on this issue should take place and be included in the Sustainable Development management work program. This should include consultation with both the Manawatu/Horowhenua and Greater Wellington regions as any District-wide management ignores the transferability of GE plants and organisms across territorial authority boundaries. The Council however considers that it would be premature to include reference to a GE free District or any further references to the GE free issue prior to community discussion and debate”. “That the Council refers to Council staff for preparation of a paper (to be reported no later than December 2006) on the issues and options involved and the potential approaches that might be taken by Council.”

Horowhenua District Council resolution – “That Council write a follow-up to its December 2003 letter to the Hon Marion Hobbs relating to GE/GMOs seeking a response from the Minister for the Environment on this outstanding issue [regarding perceived ambiguities in the legislation covering responsibilities and liabilities re GMOs]”. “The position that the Council has taken in relation to GMOs was the subject of extended discussion in 2003 and the matter need not be revisited as part of the Draft LTCCP process …further to the above I can confirm that the Council is on the Environmental Risk Management Authority mailing list for consultation in respect of any application for the use of GMOs. Such applications will be reported to the Council for consideration.” [During oral submissions, the Mayor indicated to me that this issue might best be considered at the review of the District Plan in 2007 – Singa]

Horizons (Manawatu-Wanganui) Regional Council – “Your concerns regarding the release of GMOs were debated and suggestion to encourage the Council to develop a policy in support was noted by Councillors at a meeting on Monday 12th June 2006. Many issues received both support and opposition. The Councils role is to evaluate all this feedback and make balanced decisions that benefit the Region and its ratepayers in the future … Please find a copy of the Final Community Plan enclosed.” [The Final Community Plan contains no mention of GE/GMOs – Singa]

Greater Wellington Regional Council – “Greater Wellington does not have any responsibilities for the operation of either the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act or the New Organisms and Other Matters Act. In addition, the commentary on the New Organism and Other Matters Act states that government members believe that Local Government does not have powers under the Resource Management Act 1991 or the Local Government Act 2002 to regulate GMOs. Such regulation is the role of the Environmental Risk Management Authority. This means that while it may be feasible for the community to set an outcome related to GE organisms, there is limited scope for either Greater Wellington or territorial authorities in the Wellington region to contribute to the achievement of such an outcome.”

• Planet Earth is 4.6 billion years old. If we condense this inconceivable time span into an understandable concept, we can liken the Earth to a person 46 years of age.
• Nothing is known of the first 7 years of this person’s life, and only scattered information exists about the middle span.
• However, we do know that only at the age of 42 (400 million years ago) did the Earth begin flowering.
• Dinosaurs did not appear until a year ago when the planet was 45. Mammals arrived only eight months ago.
• In the middle of last week, man-like apes evolved into ape-like men. Modern man has been around for four hours and during the last hour man discovered agriculture.
• The Industrial Revolution began a minute ago. During those sixty seconds of biological time man has made a rubbish tip out of a paradise. He has multiplied his numbers to plague proportions, ransacked the planet for fuel, and caused the extinction of 500 species of animals. Since man arrived in New Zealand, 58 species of native birds have become extinct.

• Full moon 7th
• Last quarter 14th
• New moon 22nd      
• First quarter 30th