Bärlauch, Allium Ursinum

[georgswa (Georg Ruf) (RIP)]

I wonder if Bertie knows that herb ....???

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DEiACUmN55E

[SandyB]

Interesting ... pesto  for free ..  just make sure the bears dont see  you  taking their wake up feast ,, nice video clip Georg ...

[SandyB]

Just looking at the name .. Allium .. has something to do with garlic ...

[georg ruf jr.]

It tastes like garlic. If you go through the wods in spring you can be sure there'll not be any vampires around, because they don't smell the diffs... 

[Bertie Horak]

Wonderful, Daddy Georg!  When are you going back to get your camera? You cycled away without it!!!!!
Yes Allium ursinum is of the garlic family, called "Bear's garlic" or "ramsons".  Native to Europe and Russia.
Apparently it has the same sulphur-containing constituents, like alliin, as garlic (Allium sativum), and the leaves can be used medicinally for high blood pressure, cholesterol control and atherosclerosis.  Like you said, nice with pastas, but also in salads, omelets, sauces and other savory dishes.
I just wonder - do the bears perhaps eat this to help break down the "brown fats" they accumulate for winter hibernation?   Interesting....
Apparently it has clusters of white star-shaped flowers, would you be able to photograph one when they start flowering?  Great info, thanx for the video!

[georgswa (Georg Ruf) (RIP)]

Thanks for your comments

They will bloom in May, if i get there agin, i´ll take a picture.

I was always under the impression that they can not be eaten when blooming, now i read the blooms are ok to eat and so is the seed. Apparently good to chase off moth....
Here it is used for many dishes and types of food. Next week i go again, pending on the weather....must still collect my camera LOL

[Bertie Horak]

I also saw some papers on it where they mention that "...the young leaves are collected and eaten....", no mention of other edible parts.  So you might be right, and for safety I would stick to the younger plant leaves.  However I don't know of any poisonous constituents in the Allium family, only if the chemicals are too concentrated in laboratories and sold as oils - totally against my principles of course.  These highly concentrated oils can be dangerous, but then - so is concentrated Lavender oil!
Ha, glad I reminded you of your camera!

[georg ruf jr.]

Carefull you don't mistake them with Maigloeckchen. They're poisenos!!!!!   cuqui

[Bertie Horak]

True, Georg, and they look quite similar too!
Maigloeckchen is known in English as "Lily-of-the-Valley" (Convallaria majalis).  They are poisonous, but are also used medicinally.

I have had one patient with great results.  She was a heart attack waiting to happen, and my tincture contained 5 herbs with Convallaria being the main herb (king herb).  It is a heart stimulant and used when the heart is pumping insufficiently, or in arterial hypotension, and congestive heart failure.

It contains cardiac glycosides (called convallotoxin) which inhibits the ATPase enzyme and through this, strengthens the contraction of the heart muscle and heart efficiency.

HOWEVER, DO NOT SELF MEDICATE WITH THIS PLANT - ONLY TO BE USED BY REGISTERED PRACTITIONERS AND IT IS RESTRICTED IN MANY COUNTRIES!!!!

[Bertie Horak]

 
I'm so happy, happy, happy....
A few minutes ago one of my German patients came in with a big smile and handed me an envelope.  She just returned from visiting friends in Germany.  In the envelope.....
Bärlauch seeds!

So, one of these days I'll be able to harvest my own!  Unfortunately I'll have to put them in my fridge until May next year, for this is the Southern hemisphere, and their clocks are set so they think they're going into winter now.   

@ Georg Snr - I forwarded your Bärlauch video link to this lady - hope she'll be able to see it!

[Michael Alexander]

er...uhm, but how will this stuff taste on a prime piece of Namibian Rump..... done slowly over the coals..... 

[georgswa (Georg Ruf) (RIP)]

Hi Berttie

That link does not work anymore

Youtube has deleted the complete channel twice !!!!!, good that i have a ning channel

http://georgswa.ning.com/video/baerlauch09alliumursinum-1

[Bertie Horak]

@ Mike - we'll just have to organize a tasting, hey? 

@ Georg Snr - Thanx a lot! Will quickly forward the new link to her!