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Pertinax

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  4. Lost_Warrior

    Posted

    LW as regards Ostara, do you have a personal opinion on the "weight " of this festival , as it is very "neo-pagan" (rather than those of more hoary pedigree and specific purpose , (like say ,Beltaine "ner cast a clout till may be out " being a folk saying here, that is , shed no garment till the may blossom has appeared around beltaine)? I have no agenda here I am speaking conversationally, in case you were worried that I was "looking for controversy".

  5. Primus Pilus

    Posted

    GO is obviously a keen follower of Doctor leech , from Blackadder...

     

    "Edmund: Look, am I paying for this personal abuse or is it extra?

     

    Doctor Leech: No, it's all part of the service. I think you're in luck though. An extraordinary new cure has just been developed for exactly this kind of sordid problem.

     

    Edmund: It wouldn't have anything to do with leeches, would it?

     

    Doctor Leech: I had no idea you were a medical man.

     

    Edmund: Never had anything you doctors didn't try to cure with leeches. A leech on my ear for ear ache, a leech on my bottom for constipation.

     

    Doctor Leech: They're marvelous, aren't they?

     

    Edmund: Well, the bottom one wasn't. I just sat there and squashed it.

     

    Doctor Leech: You know the leech comes to us on the highest authority?

     

    Edmund: Yes. I know that. Dr. Hoffmann of Stuttgart, isn't it?

     

    Doctor Leech: That's right, the great Hoffmann.

     

    Edmund: Owner of the largest leech farm of Europe.

     

    Doctor Leech: Yes. Well, I cannot spend all day gossiping. I'm a busy man. As far as this case is concerned I have now had time to think it over and I can strongly recommend a [in chorus] course of leeches.

     

    Edmund: Yes. I 'll pop a couple down my codpiece before I go to bed.

     

    Doctor Leech: No, no, no, no. Don't be ridiculous. This isn't the dark ages. Just pop four in your mouth in the morning and let them dissolve slowly. In a couple of weeks you 'll be beating your servant with a stick, just like the rest of us. "

     

    Ahh Dr Hoffman..

  7. Primus Pilus

    Posted

    To add to what ive mentioned via msn: best natural painkillers are white willow and valerian, the best spinal painkiller is (believe it or not) St John Wort (but this can clash with or potentiate other chemical medicines), If the nerve pain is more toward the c6/c7 areas scutelleria would be useful. Sciatic pain caused by acidity (as aopposed to postural problems) responds to an alkaline diet (plain veggies to you! No food you actually like) and a mix of Yarrow and Burdock tinctures (astringent and anti-histamine respectively). A lot of people dont drink enough water , and modest dehydration doesnt help spinal pain at all. As you may know standing up straight is the least loading on the spine, sitting doubles it and slouching at that keyboard not only increases the load a lot further , but it causes strong shearing forces that can make disc movement worse(prolapse). I have heavy accupressure/massage every week and try to sauna as often as possible.Sleep with a very smal pillow or cushion trapped between the knees , lying on one side ..this is awkward at first , but helps keep the back pain free at night. Never sleep with a woman who weighs twice as much as yourself, she'll steal all the duvet (what did you think I was going to say?).

  9. Pertinax

    Posted

    Did Agatha Christe ever use any of this stuff to bump off some unlucky lout? :)

     

    :)

    She was big on poisons, id be very surprised if she didnt use what was a celebrated late Victorian murder weapon.

     

    Some more info: tartar emetic (the brand name) can be hidden in food , but it tastes very bitter ..I recall a woman trying to poison her loving husband by spiking his coffee, the bitter taste caused him to reject it, she then tried antimony paste on a sandwich which made him very ill , but was rumbled and prosecuted for attempted murder. The effects appear similar to arsenic poisoning, "gastric fever" , jaundiced appearence and anemia with complaints of dizziness , loss of appetite and a very dry throat.

    Catherine De Medici and the Borgias used antimony as a weapon of choice alongside arsenic.

  17. Pertinax

    Posted

    Oh dear , drunk at the keyboard again. Two unrelated outbreaks of disease in the UK (the E.coli above and "bluetongue" a mite borne infection of ruminants) , emphasised the constant mutation of aggressive bacteria in the face of broad spectrum antibiotics.The mutation of Y pseudo to Y.pestis tends to make me think that any new plague will be immuno -resistant regardless of the technology thrown at it (nay, because of it ). The Justinian episode actually ran for near 200 years and re-shaped Europe, the Influenza epidemic of 1919 hit a much bigger population (with colossal casualties, more than Stalin managed to kill and starve even) but did not denude the main centres of population.

  19. Pertinax

    Posted

    In the southwest U.S., a number of plague victims are recorded each year. How does this occur?

    Rats are the main vector , but other ground rodents do carry the disease. Various squirrel and prairie dog populations have endemic plague problems (any "wild rodent" is a possible vector) , and it is suggested (as a mutation ) some scavenger birds. The "other rodents" are not usually near major concentrations of humans , but you can get unlucky and get bitten.Usually mature adults are more susceptible because one needs to be bitten quite a lot to be "hit " by a carrier flea (as not all fleas are infected) small surface area (kids) dont get bitten as often as large surface area (adults) having less skin.

  24. docoflove1974

    Posted

    Doc I have it :

     

    Iridoids (as in the Iris) are usually glycosides , however a small group are non-glycosides including the sedative valepotriates.The latter are found in valerian , and chemically are very similar to nepetalactone which is in catnip (Nepeta cataria) The eucalypt you mention contains cineole which is a widely distributed chemical in many myrtle species, the eucalypts vary in strength but all are pain killers and inhaled ,mild, cardiac tonics.

    From Pengelly:

    http://www.amazon.co.uk/Constituents-Medic...5432&sr=8-1

  25. docoflove1974

    Posted

    This cat is addicted to the smell of menthol/eucalyptus. I have no clue what it is about that smell...it's not like she climbed a bunch of eucalyptus trees when she was younger. But she also loves to smell everything...oh, and lick watermelon :)

     

    Isn't it proposed by someone (the Japanese?) that there is a 'savory' element on the tongue? It's unquantifiable, cannot be characterized, other than being the 'savory' taste?

     

    Indeed , there is (as far as I know ) just one herb that has all the tastes present and that is Schisandra (Wu-wei-zi) from China and Korea.Ive tasted the fluid extract and its literally a kaleidoscope of sensations.Catmint and Valerian also drive kittys wild.

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