Wednesday, September 18, 2013

The Hedge Apple's are Making

Bumper crop of hedgeapples in OK and KS this year!!

 

Hedge Apple's are on the ground!!

The Osage Orange Tree and the Hedge Apple.

 

 J. D. Burton wrote - The Osage Orange tree (also known as a Bodark tree) produces no sawtimber, pulpwood, or utility poles, but it has been planted in greater numbers than almost any other tree species in North America. Osage-orange was planted in great numbers, first as a field hedge, before barbed wire became available, secondly as a windbreak and component of shelter belts, and thirdly to stabilize soils and control erosion.

There was once estimated to be over 250,000 miles of Osage Orange hedge rows such as this. No other wood played such an important part in the early movement west of the settlers as the Osage Orange. It provided the necessary means to divide land and contain livestock. As it grew the branches were intertwined to make the hedge almost impenetrable by animals
as well as man. These "sharp as needle" thorns aided greatly to the fence effect as did the  quick growth of this species. Some say barbed-wire was modeled after this ferocious tree. 

 

Osage-orange heartwood is the most decay-resistant of all North American timbers and is immune to termites. The branch wood was used by the Osage Indians for making bows and is still recommended by some archers today. James Easter, Bowyer still handcrafts primitive bows from Osage-orange wood. Below is a photo of Easter's Osage-orange wood staves drying for bow making.


Dried Osage-orange heartwood is one of the highest in BTU's when used as firewood. According to Hedgeapple.com, "There is an person in Americus, Ks who makes Harps from Osage Orange because he believes it is the most dimensionally stable of all woods when aged and placed under strain."

Additionally, some believe the chemical properties of the fruit, seed, roots, bark, and wood may be more important than the structural qualities of the wood. A number of extracts of actual and potential value in food processing, pesticide manufacturing, and dye-making have been identified by researchers, but they have not yet been employed by industry.  

Now, about the HedgeApple...
Larger than a grapefruit and knobby to boot , the fruit of Maclura pomifera (cousin of the Mulberry tree) — known as the hedge apple or horse apple, turns yellowish-green when it ripens in the autumn. It also develops an aroma faintly like an orange (hence the name Osage Orange), but it certainly doesn't taste like an orange.


Some folks will tell you that Hedge Apples are poisonous, others will tell you this has been proven not to be true in university studies, and that this belief stems from old tales of farmers finding dead cattle or horses with hedge apples in their mouths. New research contends that  these animals died of suffocation and not poison. Others will tell you that deer and squirrel do munch the hedge apple.

Lots of folks swear by the hedge apples insect-repellent properties. Some folks just put them around whole, while others recommend cutting them up and putting them in a container before setting them around. They do contain a milky white sap that can be messy, but according to some folklore, that is what repels the crawling critters.




But the most interesting thing I have found is from Mullins Log Cabin in Berry, KY. under the heading on their website titled: Hedge Apples & Cancer. These folks convey stories of people who have reportedly used hedge apple to kill cancer cells in their bodies, by way of a chemical found in hedge apples known as Tetrahydroxystilbene. Judy Mullins states she freezes the hedge apples and then grates what she wants to consume each day. She says they taste a bit like cucumbers to her, but maintains some people don't like the taste and recommends putting the shredded hedge apple in a gelatin capsule for those folks.


I found another website, The Racehorse Dispensarywhere the author maintains, "Modern researchers are scrutinizing many of the compounds in the Osage Orange.  One of the active compounds is Tetrahydroxystilbene (THS) which shows significant anti-fungal activity and probably is the one we are most interested in. It is also known as a Resveratrol analog. That name may ring a bell with some. A phytoalexin present in grapes, peanuts and pines  that has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. The TV show, 60 Minutes did a piece on this exciting new compound as featured in wines a few years ago. There continues to be quite a bit of research done on THS. One will find this wonderful substance in the Osage Orange and at much higher levels than can be found in red wine!

I think I find these hypothesis so very interesting because of my desire to have a more holistic approach to medicine. In the last ten years I have observed several extended family members and friends battle and many succumb to cancer, despite traditional treatments like chemotherapy. I feel we may be doing ourselves a disservice in overlooking the old-time natural approach to medicine. Just food for thought.

23 comments:

  1. Thank you for your post.it is a so nice post.
    Gelatin capsules

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    Replies
    1. When I first moved to the Ozarks, a lot of the old Hillbillies were still alive. I'm a writer (The Sylent Knight) So I interviewed the ones that were over 70 years.Some of them said that the hedge balls were poison, but the others said, "That there hedge ball will cure whater' ails ya." I didn't do anything for twenty years. Then I got cancer. I didn't use the hedge apple. I used unwashed red grapes, or Black salve. But I started research on the Osage Orange. I have been taking it for six years, ( I don't go to the witch drs) I have several broken teeth and I have no pain. The last years we processed 400 lbs a year, This year we will be doing 1200 lbs. In the last five years. All the people that have came to me have been cured of cancer, Arthritis, COPD, Limes, constipation, and a fake virus called co-vid 19. I reserve my first amendment right to say or write anything that I need to! Quote: Disinformation is the code word for Truth! Sy

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    2. I would love to know how you process your hedge apples. I've been very interested and experimenting with them ever since I discovered them this past summer. I've kept psoriasis at Bay. I've seen scars get better overnight. I've eaten them myself and feel as if they detox me and give me a boost of energy and the nectar seems to make puffiness under eyes go away...I feel God lead me to them to help my wife with cervix cancer but she would not try them

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  2. Thanks for the feedback!Much appreciated!

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  3. do you have to wait when the fruit ripens in autunm and turns yellowish or can u eat them while they are still green?

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  4. I don't think "eating" them is the right term. For me, I can tell by the smell they do not taste very good. My research revealed that you should wait till the fall when they are ripe (to gain all mother nature has to offer) then wrap them in newspaper, then freeze them, grating off only what you need per serving (a tablespoon or two), then re-freezing for later. The original website I linked in my article is no longer available, however I did find this page - http://hedgeapple.com/guestbook.html/

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  5. I was looking to find someone that might have extra Hedge-Apples and would be willing to share. I have been told it is good for helping to fight cancer. Anyone please help...414tinkerbell74@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Bernice!
      Appreciate your comment on our headgeapple post.
      Here in Oklahoma they are out of season and will not be available again until the fall.
      The following web address will take you to the best site I have found regarding headgeapples.
      I would be happy to share if you are still wanting some in the fall.

      FYI - The following address will take you to a you tube video about the use of concentrated cannabis oil for the treatment of cancer - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vo_qlsJQtwc

      The video is a real eye-opener in regards to this forgotten natural treatment for a variety of ailments.
      From the video..."cannabis has been used as a medicine for over three thousand years"
      Wishing you the best of luck and please do let me know if you still want headgeapples in the fall.

      Delete
  6. Are the ones on the ground now any good to use or just rotten apples?

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    Replies
    1. The protocol calls for freezing and grating as needed - so if they are still green where you are I would say yes. Once the start turning brown and mushy - I wouldn't think so. - Good Question!

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  7. I would love to find organic hedge apples to consume for fighting cancer. I wouldn't think if the trees are in a highly chemically treated area that they would be good for fighting anything.

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    Replies
    1. I have an abundance of horseapples they grow everywhere on our property text me if ya need some and I will send them to you 4792433164 Tish

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    2. I have an abundance of horseapples they grow everywhere on our property text me if ya need some and I will send them to you 4792433164 Tish

      Delete
    3. When I first moved to the Ozarks, a lot of the old Hillbillies were still alive. I'm a writer (The Sylent Knight) So I interviewed the ones that were over 70 years.Some of them said that the hedge balls were poison, but the others said, "That there hedge ball will cure whater' ails ya." I didn't do anything for twenty years. Then I got cancer. I didn't use the hedge apple. I used unwashed red grapes, or Black salve. But I started research on the Osage Orange. I have been taking it for six years, ( I don't go to the witch drs) I have several broken teeth and I have no pain. The last years we processed 400 lbs a year, This year we will be doing 1200 lbs. In the last five years. All the people that have came to me have been cured of cancer, Arthritis, COPD, Limes, constipation, and a fake virus called co-vid 19. I reserve my first amendment right to say or write anything that I need to!
      Quote: Disinformation is the code word for Truth! Sy

      Delete
  8. How long can they be frozen for and still be good?

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    Replies
    1. A very good question, I would like to know too

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  9. I would think a good rule of thumb would be in accord with other items and freezer life span. If something has been in my freezer for more than 12 months, I am probably going to toss it out. With the hedge-apple being a free or very cheap resource why not replace them seasonally? In my opinion it would be worth a try, especially when all other resources have been exhausted. I have watched too many family members and friends die of cancer - after spending thousands and thousands of dollars on traditional treatments that were, in the end, unsuccessful - and, in addition, tend to diminish a person's quality of life . I have found many articles by traditional doctors who say there is no empirical research to confirm any of this information - which comes as no surprise to me. There's no profit in a patient who can go out into a field and "pick" their own medicine. Thankfully, I do not have cancer, so I don't take hedge-apple (H-A) everyday, but I have been taking two capsules of grated H-A every week for about four years and have observed no ill-effects. Of course, all of the above statements are only my opinion and in no way intended to replace the advice of medical professionals.
    In closing, I believe we must be advocates for our own health in today's system of "sick-care" for profit and if I find something in mother nature's pharmacopeia that help's - That's what I'll choose most every time. That's not to say that I won't go get an antibiotic if I have an ear infection - but we still use poinsettia sap for warts with success unmatched by any dr.'s acid or freeze treatment.

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  10. The tetrahydroxystilbene compound has way more benefits than just described above, here all some really cool studies: 2,3,5,4'-tetrahydroxystilbene-2-O-β-D-glucoside (TSG)

    3: Zhang L, Xing Y, Ye CF, Ai HX, Wei HF, Li L. Learning-memory deficit with
    aging in APP transgenic mice of Alzheimer's disease and intervention by using
    tetrahydroxystilbene glucoside. Behav Brain Res. 2006 Oct 16;173(2):246-54. Epub
    2006 Aug 9. PubMed PMID: 16901557.
    4: Gao X, Hu YJ, Fu LC. [Blood lipid-regulation of stilbene glycoside from
    polygonum multiflorum]. Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi. 2007 Feb;32(4):323-6. Chinese.
    PubMed PMID: 17455469.
    5: Zhang YZ, Shen JF, Xu JY, Xiao JH, Wang JL. Inhibitory effects of
    2,3,5,4'-tetrahydroxystilbene-2-O-beta-D-glucoside on experimental inflammation
    and cyclooxygenase 2 activity. J Asian Nat Prod Res. 2007 Apr-Aug;9(3-5):355-63.
    PubMed PMID: 17613621.
    6: Liu QL, Xiao JH, Ma R, Ban Y, Wang JL. Effect of
    2,3,5,4'-tetrahydroxystilbene-2-O-beta-D-glucoside on lipoprotein oxidation and
    proliferation of coronary arterial smooth cells. J Asian Nat Prod Res. 2007
    Sep-Dec;9(6-8):689-97. PubMed PMID: 17701557.
    Wang R, Tang Y, Feng B, Ye C, Fang L, Zhang L, Li L. Changes in hippocampal
    synapses and learning-memory abilities in age-increasing rats and effects of
    tetrahydroxystilbene glucoside in aged rats. Neuroscience. 2007 Nov
    23;149(4):739-46. Epub 2007 Sep 12. PubMed PMID: 17935895.
    8: Wang X, Zhao L, Han T, Chen S, Wang J. Protective effects of
    2,3,5,4'-tetrahydroxystilbene-2-O-beta-d-glucoside, an active component of
    Polygonum multiflorum Thunb, on experimental colitis in mice. Eur J Pharmacol.
    2008 Jan 14;578(2-3):339-48. Epub 2007 Oct 25. PubMed PMID: 17963744.
    9: Lv L, Shao X, Wang L, Huang D, Ho CT, Sang S. Stilbene glucoside from
    Polygonum multiflorum Thunb.: a novel natural inhibitor of advanced glycation end
    product formation by trapping of methylglyoxal. J Agric Food Chem. 2010 Feb
    24;58(4):2239-45. doi: 10.1021/jf904122q. PubMed PMID: 20104848.
    10: Li C, Cai F, Yang Y, Zhao X, Wang C, Li J, Jia Y, Tang J, Liu Q.
    Tetrahydroxystilbene glucoside ameliorates diabetic nephropathy in rats:
    involvement of SIRT1 and TGF-β1 pathway. Eur J Pharmacol. 2010 Dec
    15;649(1-3):382-9. doi: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2010.09.004. Epub 2010 Sep 18. PubMed
    PMID: 20854812.
    11: Wang T, Yang YJ, Wu PF, Wang W, Hu ZL, Long LH, Xie N, Fu H, Wang F, Chen JG.
    Tetrahydroxystilbene glucoside, a plant-derived cognitive enhancer, promotes
    hippocampal synaptic plasticity. Eur J Pharmacol. 2011 Jan 10;650(1):206-14. doi:
    10.1016/j.ejphar.2010.10.002. Epub 2010 Oct 14. PubMed PMID: 20951128.
    12: Xu XL, Huang YJ, Chen XF, Lin DY, Zhang W.
    2,3,4',5-tetrahydroxystilbene-2-O-β-D-glucoside inhibits proliferation of
    vascular smooth muscle cells: involvement of NO/cGMP/PKG pathway. Phytother Res.
    2012 Jul;26(7):1068-74. doi: 10.1002/ptr.3691. Epub 2011 Dec 30. PubMed PMID:
    22213189.
    13: Zhou L, Hou Y, Yang Q, Du X, Li M, Yuan M, Zhou Z. Tetrahydroxystilbene
    glucoside improves the learning and memory of amyloid-β(₁₋₄₂)-injected rats and
    may be connected to synaptic changes in the hippocampus. Can J Physiol Pharmacol.
    2012 Nov;90(11):1446-55. doi: 10.1139/y2012-121. Epub 2012 Nov 8. PubMed PMID:
    23181273.
    14: Zhang F, Wang YY, Yang J, Lu YF, Liu J, Shi JS. Tetrahydroxystilbene
    glucoside attenuates neuroinflammation through the inhibition of microglia
    activation. Oxid Med Cell Longev. 2013;2013:680545. doi: 10.1155/2013/680545.
    Epub 2013 Nov 14. PubMed PMID: 24349614; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3848273.
    15: Wang W, He Y, Lin P, Li Y, Sun R, Gu W, Yu J, Zhao R. In vitro effects of
    active components of Polygonum Multiflorum Radix on enzymes involved in the lipid
    metabolism. J Ethnopharmacol. 2014 May 14;153(3):763-70. doi:
    10.1016/j.jep.2014.03.042. Epub 2014 Mar 27. PubMed PMID: 24680992.



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  11. Thanks for all the good info, Brian! Scholarly articles promote critical thinking! Below are conclusions and URL's to some of the articles Mr. Barnabas provided, as it relates to Tetrahydroxystilbene glucoside or TSG (found in hedge apples):

    3 - "Tetrahydroxystilbene glucoside not only prevents, i.e. at an early stage, the learning-memory deficit in AD-like model, but also can reverse the learning-memory deficit in the late stage of AD-like model. Thus, TSG could be considered among the future therapeutic drugs indicated for the treatment of AD."
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16901557

    4 - "TSG, which shows effects and mechanism in part like atorcastatin, is a major constituent with blood-lipid regulating effect of P. multiflorum and can be explored as a potent medication for hyperlipidemia. Effects on LDL-C and AI, as well as on gene expression of TSG were first reported."
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17455469

    5 - "In summary, the data showed that THSG possessed an anti-inflammatory effect, which was perhaps related to the inhibition of COX-2 enzyme activity and expression in RAW264.7 macrophage cells."
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17613621

    6 - "In conclusion, THSG possesses the antagonistic effects on oxidation of lipoprotein, proliferation and decrease of NO content of CASMCs, which partially explain the mechanism of anti-atherosclerosis of Polygonum multiflorum Thunb."
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17701557

    7 - "In conclusion, THSG exerts protective effects on experimental colitis through alleviating oxygen and nitrogen free radicals level and down-regulating iNOS expression."
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17963744

    8 - "In conclusion, hippocampal synapses count and synaptophysin expression decreased in aged rats, which may be one of the mechanisms involved in learning-memory deficit. TSG reversed the above changes in aged rats, suggesting that TSG may be beneficial for the treatment of Alzheimer disease or cognitive impairment in old people."
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17935895

    9 - The results suggest that the ability of THSG to trap reactive dicarbonyl species makes it a potential natural inhibitor of AGEs (advanced glycation end products. Many studies have shown that AGEs play a major pathogenic role in diabetes and its complications.
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20104848

    10 - "These findings indicate that the protective mechanisms of TSG on diabetic nephropathy are involved in the alleviation of oxidative stress injury and overexpression of COX-2 and TGF-β1, partially via activation of SIRT1."
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20854812

    11 - "Our data demonstrate that TSG promotes LTP induction and this effect may contribute to the enhancement of learning and memory seen in animal models."
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20951128

    I'm not a doctor, so I don't understand all of this science lingo - but it looks to me like the hedge apple may have more health benefits that I ever suspected. Medicine - straight from the source - Nature!!
    Thanks again for all the good info Mr. Barnabas!

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  12. I was diagnosed with colon cancer last week and started eating the hedge apple. Not sure if anyone else out there has diabetes but my sugar levels normalized after 3 days. Not sure the apple helped but already cut back on my metfornan.

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    1. So sorry to hear of your recent diagnosis, but so pleased to hear you have chosen a natural alternative to aid in healing. Weather it is a standalone choice or in conjunction with traditional treatments I do appreciate your open-mindedness to look to nature for help.

      I hope you won't be offended by my suggestion to research the benefits of cannabis in fighting cancer. There is an ever growing body of evidence that supports the use of cannabis in the fight against cancer. The following web address will take you to a you tube video about the use of concentrated cannabis oil for the treatment of cancer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ak3Zo7-hNO0

      I have personally watched as Rick Simpson's hemp oil has changed the outcome for several cancer patients I know and love.

      Thanks so much for your comment. Sending you positive vibes across the ether for rapid healing and brighter days ahead.

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