Fighting Weeds Old School

Summer has finally arrived. They sun in shinning, the birds are singing, the beers are chilling, but there is one thing ruining this amazing weather: weeds. Any one who owns a garden or works in the landscaping industry knows these little guys are a pain, sometimes literally. Some have sprawling or deep root systems which are difficult to remove and if left when removing the weed will allow the plant to come back stronger and more pissed off them ever. Some have have even grown spikes and produce irritating toxins which even the thickest gloves can't stop at times.

In the past the norm was to use things like RoundUp, which though very effective and specific, were expensive and used harmful chemicals which had adverse effects to the surrounding environment. Resent legislation in Ontario has made it pretty much illegal to use these past products for none commercial/agricultural purposes and even more so in places that are environmentally protected like The Moran or Niagara Escarpment. This has left many people without many options has to control the growing weed infestation. Many natural products are available, but they are often expensive, costing anywhere between $20 - $50+ per bottle and aren't often specific, killing pretty much everything. Products like RoundUp were used because they only killed unwanted weeds. Additionally, many companies have converted over and now offer natural methods solutions as well but they can cost $100 - $1000+ depending on your acreage. 

The easiest and cheapest way to remove unwanted weeds is to physically remove them, but it often ruins you lawn with holes and can sometimes results in more weeds growing where their fallen comrades once grew.  It is also labour intensive and if you have a large property pretty much impossible to remove them all on your own.

The solution, though not specific in its killing ability, is effective, cheap, nontoxic and can be used for your dinner (minus the soap). The weed killing mix consists on nothing more then white vinegar, salt and liquid dish detergent. If you search around the web you will find many different ratios of the three, but below are two different mixtures I made up and I found most effective.

Instructions (Hand held sprayer)

Created 4 batches and only cost $20 at the grocery store

1. Pour 4-5 cups (0.95 - 1.18L) of white vinegar
2. Add 1/4 cup of salt 
3. Add 1 tbsp of liquid dish detergent 
4. Mix it all together (Stir/shake)
5. Spray directly onto weeds or pour into cracks

Instructions (Lawn/Garden Sprayer) 

1. Pour 1 Gallon (3.79L) of white vinegar
2. Add 1 cup of salt
3. Add 2 tbsp of liquid dish detergent
4. Mix all together (stir/shake)
5. Spray directly onto weeds or pour into cracks 

NOTE: These mixtures are by no means set in stone and I would suggest your try different variations, but remember to keep the salt and liquid dish detergent much lower then the vinegar content. The vinegar is the tip of the sword here and the other two are just the added blade meant to finish off the plant.

Recommendations: 

1. Best applied on hot sunny days, in direct sunlight and with little cloud cover
2. Not as effective in cloudy conditions
3. DO NOT apply if it calls for rain or is raining since the rain water will only wash the mixture off the now happy weeds.

Cautions: 

1. This mixture is not toxic, but will burn if you get it into your eyes, open cuts, nose or mouth.
2. This will kill most vegetation so be careful when spraying around the lawn or other plants
3. The acetic acid found in vinegar can make your soil acidic. Most plants don't grow well in acidic conditions. If you have a more alkaline soil conditions the vinegar may help make it more natural.
4. If using on the lawn be sure to use a sprayer which can be adjusted to a straight stream and ONLY spray the weed itself. If you get some on the grass blades around the weeds that is okay because the grass blades will regrow. I would also suggest ditching the salt, since this can have a detrimental effect on your soil quality.

The Science Behind the Mixture

Look how happy they all look

White vinegar contains a chemical compound called acetic acid. This compound is responsible for the pungent taste and distinctive smell associated with vinegar. It is classified as a weak acid, but can be extremely corrosive and irritating to the skin, eyes and mucous membranes when in its more concentrated form. Luckily household vinegar contains a concentration no greater then 5% and thus is virtually harmless. There are products, such has those used in commercial pickling which can be 10%+ and do require the use of protective gear to avoid skin irritation. Most effective are rubber gloves since the acetic acid can leach through latex gloves. 

Plant should have kept hydrated when in the sun for 5 hours

This is the compound most responsible for the destruction of plant vegetation. Even in its dilute quantity it effects plant cells membranes by causing them to leach precious water. Hench why this mixture is most effective in direct sunlight, a time when plants are trying to conserve water. The acetic acid only effects the top growth since plant roots do not absorb this compound. Perennial plants will reshoot due to their root system, but remember there is more to this mixture then just white vinegar. 

Simple table salt is made up of sodium chloride and are important macromolecules in our diet for things like never conduction and the regulation of fluid balance within out bodies. Water likes to follow sodium, something a plant already loosing water doesn't want present. The presence of salt literally only adds salt to injury by drawing out more water from the already drained plant. The salt also has an added effect of disrupting the uptake of important compounds and reducing the ability to absorb water effectively through the plants root system. There's a reason why salt water spewing hurricanes and tsunamis destroy farm land. This adverse effect on soil is why I would suggest ditching the salt when applying to your lawn.

Nice and crispy after 24 hours

Liquid dish detergent is probably one of the strangest parts to this mixture, but it is very crucial though it is in the smallest quantity. Liquid dish detergent is made up of a series of surfactants. These surfactants make sure the vinegar gets up nice and close the plant and sticks to it. Liquid dish detergent can also be used as an effect pesticide, but I will save that for a later article.  

So there you have it, a natural weed killer you can literally cook up in your own kitchen. Try out

The Power of Thor in Plant Form?

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Well not exactly. You won't see the plant causing earthquakes, shooting lighting or forming due to thunder, but you will see it do some amazing things within your body and too things that would harm it. I had recently seen the movie Thor, and as I watched him smash through some frost giants, it got me thinking about a paper I wrote. During my first semester at CCNM I wrote a short assignment on a herb of my choosing and set upon one which share a name in common with Thor; Thunder God...Vine! It's a pretty neat little plant, but keep in mind many of the studies show great promise, but much more is needed before definitive results can be claimed. Oh and sorry in advance for the chemical names and medical terms; it was a paper for school after all.

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Thunder God Vine (Tripterygium Wilfordii), is a plant known by many names: Huang-T'eng Ken, Lei Gong Teng, Lei-Kung T'eng, Taso-Ho-Hua, Threewingnut, Tonnerre de la Vigne de Dieu, Tripterigium Wilfordii, Yellow Vine¹. Thunder god vine has been used in traditional Chinese medicine as an immunosuppressent, anti-inflammatory, and anti-proliferative¹.

The major therapeutic action often associated with Thunder God Vine and its phytochemicals is the reduction of Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and the symptoms associated with it⁴. There have been several studies conducted to assess the plants ability to accomplish this lofty goal. For instance, during a double-blind, placebo-controlled study, which assessed an extract of thunder god vine, significant therapeutic benefits were found when compared to placebo⁴. The study showed that when taken orally improvements in physical function, pain and inflammation of joints were found to occur⁴. Another study looked at the effectiveness of thunder god vine when applied topically in tincture form³. Results showed that when applied over affected joints, stiffness, tenderness and swelling associated with RA seemed to decrease³.

Though RA can be seen as the major therapeutic action associated with thunder god vine there are several others. For instance, preliminary studies have shown that when taken orally, thunder god vine may be effective as a male contraceptive in which sperm function returns to normal after discontinuation¹¹. Additionally, preliminary clinical evidence suggests that thunder god vine may be effective in the treatment of nephrotic syndrome in children and for nephritis associated with systemic lupus erthematosus ^5,6.

Thunder god vine has also been used orally to treat excessive menstrual periods, multiple sclerosis, abscesses, boils, fever, inflammation, HIV/AIDS, psoriasis, and Behcet's disease¹.

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The major active compounds found within the plant are triterpenoids (image right) ¹. Triterpenoids, made up of 6 isoprene units (30C), are terpenoid derivatives of triterpene molecules. To date at least 21 types of triterpenoids have been identified^1,2. These include tripchlorolide, triptolidenol, triptolide, tripdiolde and 16-hydroxytriptolide¹. Another plant that contains triterpenoids is Psidium Guajava. Found within its leaves are two triterpenoids, guavanoic acid and guavacumaric acid ¹⁴.  It can be noted that this plant, like thunder god vine, has immunosuppressive effects¹⁴.

These various triterpenoids result in a wide variety of mechanisms of action. For instance, when looking for a potential mechanism of action for thunder god vines anti-inflammatory power we can look at a study in which researchers assessed the anti-inflammatory activity of several Chinese medicinal vine plants. Upon completion of the study thunder god vine was shown to be the most potent in its ability to inhibit cyclooxygenase 1 (COX-1), 2 (COX-2) and 5-lipoygenase (5-LO) activity ⁹.

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There are several studies’ that show possible mechanisms of action for thunder god vines immunosuppressive power. The triptolide constituent of Thunder god vine is often attributed to the immunosuppressive effects of the vine (image left)¹. In an early study an alcohol extract of the plant known as T2, containing triptolide, was found to inhibit antigen and mitogen stimulated T-cell and B-cell proliferation, in addition to the production of interleukin-2 (IL-2) and B-cell immunoglobulin production⁸. An additional study was created to observe the inhibitory effect of anti-rheumatic herb formulas, including the T2 alcohol extract of thunder god vine⁷. Results showed that the T2 alcohol extract was able to inhibit lymphocyte activation and T-cell expression of IL-2 at very low concentrations⁷. This same study showed that the thunder god vine was also able to inhibit the release of prostaglandin 2 from mononuclear leukocytes. Finally, a study, looking at the effects of anti-rheumatic herbal medicines on cellular adhesion molecules, found that an extract of thunder god vine was able to inhibit the activity of cellular adhesion molecules (integrins and selectins) of leukocytes and endothelial cells¹³.

When looking towards a possible mechanism of action for thunder god vine’s potential male anti-fertility effects you can look at several studies¹.  For instance, during a study to assess the potential of triptolide, extracted from thunder god vine, as a potential male contraceptive, results showed a significant decrease and inhibition of sperm mobility maturation and transformation¹⁰.

The most interesting mechanism of action was found during two studies that assessed the effect of neotripterifordin, tripterifordin, and salaspermic acid extracted from thunder god vine and their ability to inhibit HIV replication. In one study tripterifordin showed anti-HIV replication in H9 lymphocyte cells while, in another study, salaspermic acid acted as an inhibitor of HIV reverse transcriptase and HIV replication in H9 lymphocyte cells ^12,13.  

1 THUNDER GOD VINE. Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. 12 Nov 2010. <http://naturaldatabase.therapeuticresearch.com.ezproxy.ccnm.edu/nd/Search.aspx?cs=&s=ND&pt=100&id=824&ds=>

2 Duan H, Takaishi Y, Momota H, et al. Triterpenoids from Tripterygium wilfordii. Phytochemistry 2000;53:805-10.

3 Cibere J, Deng Z, Lin Y, Ou R, He Y, Wang Z, Thorne A, Lehman AJ, Tsang IK, Esdaile JM. A randomized double blind, placebo controlled trial of topical Tripterygium wilfordii in rheumatoid arthritis: reanalysis using logistic regression analysis. J Rheumatol. 2003 Mar;30(3):465-7.

4 Tao X, Younger J, Fan FZ, Wang B, Lipsky PE. Benefit of an extract of Tripterygium Wilfordii Hook F in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Arthritis Rheum. 2002 Jul;46(7):1735-43.

5 Kao NL, Richmond GW, Moy JN. Resolution of severe lupus nephritis associated with Tripterygium wilfordii hook F ingestion. Arthritis Rheum 1993;36:1751-2

6 Jiang X. Clinical observations on the use of the Chinese herb Tripterygium wilfordii Hook for the treatment of nephrotic syndrome. Pediatr Nephrol 1994;8:343-4.

7 Chou CT, Chang SC. The inhibitory effect of common traditional anti-rheumatic herb formulas on prostaglandin E and interleukin 2 in vitro: a comparative study with Tripterygium wilfordii. J Ethnopharmacol 1998;62:167-71.

8 Kao X, Davis LS, Lipsky PE. Effect of an extract of the Chinese herbal remedy Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F on human immune responsiveness. Arthritis Rheum. 1991 Oct;34(10):1274-81.

9 Li RW, David Lin G, Myers SP, Leach DN. Anti-inflammatory activity of Chinese medicinal vine plants. J Ethnopharmacol. 2003 Mar;85(1):61-7.

10 Lue Y, Sinha Hikim AP, Wang C, Leung A, Baravarian S, Reutrakul V, Sangsawan R, Chaichana S, Swerdloff RS.10 Triptolide: a potential male contraceptive. J Androl. 1998 Jul-Aug;19(4):479-86.

11 Qian SZ, Hu YZ, Wang SM, et al. Effects of Tripterygium hypoglaucum (Levl.) Hutch on male fertility. Adv Contracept 1988;4:307-10.

12 Chen K, Shi QA, Fujioka T, et al. Anti-AIDS agents, 4. Tripterifordin, a novel anti-HIV principle from Tripterygium wilfordii: isolation and structural elucidation. J Nat Prod 1992;55:88-92.

13 Chang DM, Kuo SY, Lai JH, Chang ML. Effects of anti-rheumatic herbal medicines on cellular adhesion molecules. Ann Rheum Dis 1999;58:366-71.

14. Sabira Begum, Syed Imran Hassan, Bina S. Siddiqui, Farhana Shaheen, M. Nabeel Ghayur and Anwar H. Gilani. Triterpenoids from the leaves of Psidium guajava. Phytochemistry October 2002;61(4):399-403

The Mineral With 300+ Jobs

Magnesium, it's quite a simple element within the periodic table, and often overlooked in our day to day nutrition. When asked, most people know that they must get their daily vitamin C or vitamin D, but often minerals such as magnesium are overlooked. In fact, it is one of the most common mineral deficiencies found in North American, and is often higher in men then women. It's no surprise when you factor in the increased stressed experience in modern society. An increase in physical and/or emotional stress can results in not only an increase in urinary excretion or magnesium, but also a decrease in its intracellular concentration. Some common symptoms of deficiency include fatigue, insomnia, anxiety, memory loss, muscle cramps, just to name a few.

So what does this little mineral due that it's absence causes such a wide array of symptoms? Well for one thing 50-60% of magnesium is found in bone and of that 70% is associated with Calcium and Phosphorous as part of the crystal matrix which gives our bones it's strength and durability. It is involved in over 300 enzymatic reactions within our body as structural co-factors, allosteric activators and as a requirement for the production of ATP. It is also involved in a wide array of physiological processes such as neuronal activity, electrical properties of our cell membranes and cardiac excitability. This is in addition to me additional beneficial effects it provides within out bodies such has the inhibition of platelet aggregation, the promotion of blood vessels dilation and antispasmodic effect on our skeletal and smooth muscles.

The great thing about magnesium is that it is found in many things, some which are pretty delicious to consume:

Not a bad way to get some magnesium - source

    •    Nuts and Seeds
    •    Legumes
    •    Whole grains (oats, barley, brown rice)
    •    Seafood
    •    Green leafy vegetables
    •    Corn
    •    Carrots
    •    Dairy products
    •    Coffees and Teas
    •    Cocoa and Chocolate
    •    Blackstrap Molasses

Now this is just a rough list. For instance, when I say chocolate I don't mean got out and eat a case of Mars Bar at the convenience store. When I say chocolate I mean unrefined/unprocessed dark chocolate. In fact, many of the magnesium containing food would be consume anyways if your diet was balanced and packed full of nutritional goodness.

Now some of you may be wondering about supplements and what you should take. Well that I can't fully answer and should be something you ask a health practitioner such as an MD, ND or Nutritionist. Often by changing your diet and/or taking a daily multivitamin you should more then meet your daily requirements. But the one thing I will say is be careful when taking magnesium supplements or any for that matter, make sure to follow the instructions given by your health practitioner and only take additional doses as prescribed.

You may be wondering what the big deal is if I just start popping magnesium like candy. It's only a mineral right? It's not like some pharmaceutical drug that will kill off my liver if I take to much. Well, not entirely, but do you remember how magnesium has an antispasmotic effect on smooth muscles? Well one of the most common side-effects of magnesium supplementation is something I like to call Montezumas revenge or as the medical community calls it, diarrhea. This is in addition to more extreme effects such as double vision or muscle paralysis. This isn't to say you should fear it, but it's like anything, to much of even a good thing is bad for you or in this case makes you need to have either a toilet or constant supply of adult diapers nearby.

Diarrhea, a surprise every time - source 

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