Blackberry

This member of rose family is part of a large genus worldwide consisting of raspberries, dewberries, thimbleberries, etc. Most are used in a similar manner. Blackberries have provided food for man since ancient times which is attested to by fossil evidence. Flowers and fruit can often be seen on same plant at same time. Trailing, perennial plants found in dry or sandy soil. Canes heavily studded with stout, recurved prickles; leaves ovate, double serrate, pinnate with 3 to 5 leaflets; flowers white with 5 petals. R. fruticosus has a relaxed calyx. Was mentioned by Aeschylus (ca.525-456 BC) and Hippocrates (ca.460-357 BC). At one time, it not only had a reputation as a medicinal, but also as a charm against various illnesses. The dried bark was official in USP from 1820 to 1916 and in NF from 1916 to 1936 as an astringent tonic. Berries were official in NF from 1916 to 1926 as a flavoring agent in syrups. PROPAGATION: Spreads easily enough on its own, but can be propagated by seed, softwood cuttings in summer, leaf bud cuttings in late summer, hardwood cuttings in winter, division in early spring or autumn; root cuttings 1/2 inch long are taken in autumn and stored in sand over winter at about 50ºF, then in early spring cuttings are set vertically into soil and covered with 3 to 4 inches of soil (or branches can be layered in late summer when cane tips are slightly thickened and grow without leaves). R. fruticosus can be tip layered in summer and can also be trained against a wall.

Antiperspirants and Breast Cancer

ANTIPERSPIRANTS AND BREAST CANCER Most underarm antiperspirants contain as active ingredient, Aluminium Chlorohydrate, as you will probably remember there has been controversy about Aluminium, since 1950's when it was a popular metal used for making cooking pots, Saucepans and Fry Pans and that it could be one of contributing factors to Alzheimer's, now we have another problem that could also be related to Aluminium, Breast Cancer. Research shows that one of leading causes of Breast Cancer could be use of antiperspirants. The human body has a number of areas, that it uses to purge Toxins from body, these are, behind knees, behind ears, groin area, and armpits. The toxins are purged from body in form of perspiration and antiperspirant as name clearly suggests prevents you from perspiring, thereby inhibiting body from purging Toxins from armpit area. These Toxins do not just disappear, Instead, body deposits them in Lymph Nodes below arms, since it is unable to sweat them out. A concentration of Toxins then builds up in areas such as armpits, which can then lead to cell mutations, which is cancer.