Vanilla crescents instead of cinnamon stars
Just a quick newsletter for Christmas, and no – this time, we’ll be skipping the associations that are to be expected at this time of year. Instead, we’ll be addressing biscuit baking and other seasonal pleasures.
What would cinnamon stars and cinnamon buns, baked apples and mulled wine be without cinnamon? It not only tastes good but also has a mood-boosting effect, which one can well do with during this dark time of the year. It is also said to have health-promoting qualities: antibacterial, antimicrobial, diuretic and analgesic, it lowers blood sugar levels and helps with obesity and digestive complaints.
But here’s the thing: cinnamon has an antispasmodic effect and can stimulate (premature) labour. In the past, it was sometimes used as a “home remedy” in this respect. (1) Therefore, pregnant women should not consume too much cinnamon.
Restraint is also required with juniper: small amounts as a spice, or in a sip of juniper brandy, are unproblematic (though pregnant women are advised not to drink alcohol anyway); to enjoy juniper in tea or as a concentrated oil, though, one must wait until the baby is born. Also known as savin, the plant was already known to Pliny (23–79 AD) and Dioscorides (40–90 AD) as an abortifacient agent and was also mentioned in the Capitulare de vilis and by Hildegard von Bingen. It was used as an abortifacient agent until at least the early modern period. In the past, if there was a savin tree in a village, this was a sure sign that a backstreet abortionist lived there. (2)
Finally, women should also put the brakes on when indulging in treats with aniseed (like Anisbögen): aniseed can be tolerated by pregnant women, but only in small amounts, as it can stimulate the uterus and thus trigger contractions. Pregnant women should avoid the associated oil altogether due to the high aniseed content. (3)
One of the most cherished Christmas customs is hanging sprigs of mistletoe. It ensures a festive atmosphere in entrances to houses, windows, or living rooms, and, even on the radio, Justin Bieber sings to us about how he stands “under the mistletoe” and kisses his beloved. Mistletoe (Viscum) also has medicinal constituents though. Traditionally, it is used to support the cardiovascular system and also in cancer therapy. But beware: pregnant women should not use mistletoe under any circumstances, because its active ingredients migrate into the placenta and can lead to developmental disorders in the child. (4)
Instead, switch to Vanillekipferl (vanilla crescent biscuits): vanilla, the “queen of spices”, has an invigorating, relaxing, choleretic and emmenagogic effect, strengthens muscles, increases virility, promotes digestion – and is an aphrodisiac. (5)
1) Hugo Vollmer: Über die Eignung von Gartenraute, Zimt und einigen anderen pflanzlichen Materialien als Abortiva (On the suitability of rue, cinnamon and several other plant materials as abortifacient agents), Fühner-Wieland’s Sammlung von Vergiftungsfällen 9, B69–B74 (1938)
2) https://muvs.org/de/themen/t-pflanzen/wacholder-oder-sadebaum/ (in German)
3) https://www.familie.de/artikel/anis-in-der-schwangerschaft-das-sollte-man-beachten--frjh7mfx8f (in German; accessed 28/11/2024)
4) https://www.plantura.garden/gruenes-leben/gesundheit/gefaehrliche-pflanzen-in-der-schwangerschaft (in German; accessed 27/11/2024)
5) https://www.medikamente-per-klick.de/apotheke/ernaehrungslexikon/vanille/ (in German; accessed 28/11/2024)