Dear Readers,

Angella Peart wrote Lifeline from Greater Portmore, St Catherine. She stopped drinking coffee months ago as it was affecting her rheumatoid arthritis and acid-reflux condition adversely.

She has become interested in drinking herbal teas for their health benefits. She has been drinking a bit of the guinea hen weed tea. The weed grows in her garden as well as being readily available as tea bags in the supermarket.

Angella has heard that the guinea hen weed tea helps in cancer prevention and reduces pain in arthritis, as well as settling her always overactive sinuses, which drain a lot.

She asks Lifeline how healthy is guinea hen weed tea and can she continue to drink it regularly. She has heard that some herbal teas can affect the liver.

The guinea hen weed has been extensively studied in recent years and contains properties which help fight different cancers. Chemical analyses have shown that the guinea hen weed contains cancer-fighting elements, especially against leukaemia and breast cancer.

The guinea hen weed, also known as anamu, is said to selectively disorganise cancer cells, sparing the healthy cells in the body.

It also boosts the immune system by increasing the production of interferon and interleukins, substances naturally produced by the immune system. It lessens anxiety, reduces fever and pain and is said to reduce swelling (inflammation) when applied topically to the skin.

It kills fungi and viruses. It demonstrates broad spectrum anti-microbial properties against several bacteria, fungi and yeast.

It helps in the control of Diabetes by lowering blood sugar, helps treat sinusitis and diarrhoea, helps prevent nausea and is used by some as an aphrodisiac. One interesting recipe for treating diarrhoea is to boil the guinea hen weed with a little dried orange peel for three minutes, leave to cool and then drink a cup or two as a tea. This combination is said to have good results with halting diarrhoea which is occurring frequently in our communities in conjunction with chik-V. It is also used as a pain reliever for headaches and arthritis!

The guinea hen weed can also be used to expel worms and, in concentration, acts as an insecticide.

Cautions for use of guinea hen weed

Although there are many good uses for guinea hen weed in treating health conditions, there are cautions and restrictions to its use:

The herb should not be used by pregnant females or by women who wish to become pregnant, as it can stimulate uterine contractions and lead to an abortion.

Guinea hen weed contains coumadin and acts as a blood-thinner, which can cause complications if the person using it has a blood disorder, or is already taking blood thinners such as Warfarin.

Guinea hen weed lowers blood sugar, so a diabetic individual, who is already on treatment has to be careful that their sugar levels don't fall too low.

There does not seem to be any other side effects from using guinea hen weed, but this herb is still being researched and it is possible reactions could occur which are not yet listed.

To brew guinea hen weed tea:

Rapidly boil three cups of water.

Add one stalk of guinea hen weed, leaves, roots, or both.

Allow to boil for a further three minutes.

Remove from heat source and allow to cool.

Drink sweetened or unsweetened.

Serve hot or chilled.

Caution: Plants collected directly from a field or garden may be exposed to insecticides or excrement of rodents. Have your own herbal garden so you can control the growing conditions of the herb and wash well before use, as you should any herb or fruit removed from a garden.

Write to: Lifeline, PO Box 1731,

KGN 8

AJM