DOKUDAMI- Traditional Herbal CURE-ALL Flourishes In Japan`s Damp and Shadowy Places
By Avi Landau
DOKUDAMI in Tsukuba ( June 3rd 2011)
By June, the shadowy fringes of my front yard are carpeted with low lying, heart-shaped leaves, atop which have appeared little white, four- petalled flowers. At the center of each of these, sticks out what looks like a tiny ear of corn. My BACK yard, which is on the north side of the house and gets very little direct sunlight, is literally overcome by this same plant, which gives off a strong and distinctive odor when stepped on or touched ( a smell which has best been described as being similar to that of OZONE). This scent is SO potent that you still might catch a whiff of it on your hands after garden work – EVEN when you had been wearing gloves !
DOKUDAMI is also known as JU-YAKU ( Tsukuba June 3rd 2011)
Though their flowers are certainly cute, and even beautiful at night when they seem to glow dimly in the the darkness and dance with the summer breezes and rains, I would never have given these weedlike plants, which grow so commonly in Japan`s shadowy areas, much thought. But I have found that more often than not, when Japanese friends step into the wilds of my front yard in this season, they look down and exclaim- DOKUDAMI ! – attesting to the fact that this is an extremely familiar and easilly recognizable plant of cultural significance.
In Japan and many other Asian countries ( especially China, Korea and Vietnam), DOKUDAMI has traditionally been, and is STILL used as an herbal medicine, a CURE-ALL of sorts, said to be good for almost anything that ails you,and an elixir and beauty aid as well. Because its powers are believed to be numerous, in Japanese this plant has an alternate name- JU-YAKU (十薬 ), Which I guess could be translated as TEN MEDICINES IN ONE, which is also used as a seasonal keyword (for summer) in Haiku poetry. The plant is also used as a vegetable. In Vietnam, the leaves of the DOKUDAMI (giap ca) are added as a garnish to many dishes in the same way that basil or corriander are used. In Southern China DOKUDAMI is cultivated as a root vegetable, and even in Japan some people cook the roots or use the leaves for tempura.
Over the years I have asked my Japanese friends and acquaintances if and how they use DOKUDAMI ( this word derives from the characters DOKU, 毒, poison, and DAMI,to stop- thus, it is THE POISON STOPPING PLANT). I have stopped being surprised by hearing how many people have tried it. The most common way of using the plant for medicinal purposes these days is by drying the leaves (by hanging in a shady place or leaving them in the car! ) and brewing DOKUDAMI-CHA (dokudami-tea). Of course, this tea can also be bought at shops or ordered over the internet, but using the leaves from your own garden is much more economical, safer ( you know exactly what you`re drinking), and of course infinitely more fun. Besides containing plenty of essential vitamins and minerals, DOKUDAMI-CHA is said to have antimicrobial and disinfectant properties. Many Japanese also belive that it keeps the skin beautiful and slows down the effects of ageing.
Another way that people still use DOKUDAMI is to pick the leaves, crush them, and rub them into the nostrils to relieve congestion. Leaves are also rubbed on wounds to prevent infection (you might want to remember this for when your hiking and forget your First-Aid Kit).
As I have mentioned before , DOKUDAMI has been used historically for just about every kind of physical ailment. However, I think that in this day and age, we should still look to its name- THE POISON STOPPER – as a guide to how it should best be used. The Japanese government officially classifies DOKUDAMI as a detoxifier. With all the chemicals and other junk to which we are exposed to everyday, drinking DOKUDAMI TEA made from dried leaves from your own garden might be a good way of keeping your body LESS TOXIC. This is certainly cheaper than ordering expensive DOKUDAMI products (just check the internet), and it also a way to put this common plant , which is probably taking over your garden, to good use.
Whether you try out its medicinal and culinary uses or not, DOKUDAMI shows us once again that if we take the time to look carefully at the little things around us, and then do a little research, we can almost always discover something amazing ( or at least interesting!)
Close-up of a DOKUDAMI flower ( Tsukuba- June 3rd 2011)
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Don’t Get Bitten by the Winter Bug
In the UK around this time of year, the chances of falling victim to a norovirus (Winter vomiting bug) are always high, and this year there are projections that as many as 200000 people will contract one. It’s ironic then, that having lived my entire life in Britain without having caught one of these highly unpleasant viruses, that I should come to Japan – a country so concerned about hygiene that people will happily don facemasks in the street – and catch one almost as soon as winter arrives. Happily, now I’m over it, but noroviruses can hit the elderly and the very young hard and so are worth exercising cautious over.
I won’t go into too much detail about noroviruses here as frankly, nothing about them is pleasant, but more information, should you desire it, may be found here (English language).
No, the reason I’m discussing noroviruses is to give a little advice to people who may not already be familiar with them on how to avoid contracting one.
The dreaded norovirus
The virus may survive in the environment – that is, outside of a human body – for several days, and as many as a few virus particles entering the body can be enough to make you feel very ill indeed. In fact, even after recovering from a norovirus, a person can still be 'carrying' the virus for some time after, and for this reason infected people are advised that they should remain in quarantine and away from public places for at least 48 hours after recovery.
With the exception of breathing air in an area near to where the virus has been aerosolised (i.e. near where someone has vomited), the only way to contract norovirus is by touching an infected area and subsequently transferring the virus particles to your mouth. For example, touching an infected doorknob without gloves on and subsequently having lunch without washing your hands. Places in which the virus spreads easily are mainly confined to places such as schools and hospitals, but the virus may be present anywhere. Simply washing your hands with soap thoroughly before eating and when you arrive home after work could save you a lot of hassle – this is because soapy water kills the virus effectively.
For those who are interested, chlorine-based cleaning agents are far more effective at killing noroviruses than are alcohol-based agents.
One thing to note, though: please don’t think that every single surface that you touch will be infected with a norovirus as this simply isn’t true. Remember that in 20 years of life in Britain, where far more people catch noroviruses than they do in Japan, I never once became ill and I admit that I was very ignorant about the risks.
Only be vigilant - just in case.
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Enjoy the Moss, Get Rid of the Mould! (again)
By Avi Landau
Most days during Japan’s month long rainy season (tsuyu), are overcast and damp, even when there is no actual precipitation. When it IS raining, it is as if your town or city has been transported into the shadowy depths of a thick, wet , forest. It can stay like that for days. For this reason, Japan is a veritable paradise for MOSS (koke苔), which thrives in such conditions. Taking a June stroll, umbrella in hand, within the precincts of some old shrine or temple is like an in-depth tour into the WORLD OF GREEN, with mosses of varying degrees of verdure growing on stones, tree trunks, or the ground, forming delightful combinations.
It is clear that the darkness of the rainy season and the deep warm shades of moss have had a huge impact on Japanese aesthetics. For example, compare the Buddhist temples or clothes from the brighter lands of India or Thailand, with those of Japan. In the sunnier countries they often have bright, bold or shimmery colors and surfaces, which are necessary to keep them from being washed out by the brightness of the sun. In shadowy Japan, different , darker , colors, more natural and earthy , came to be utilized and loved. Moss and moss green have been an important part of this sensibility. This can be seen most clearly in Japanese gardening and landscaping, the cultivation of miniature trees (bonsai) and in fabric design.
There are several temples which are actually famous for their moss gardens, including Saiho-Ji and Gio-ji in Kyoto. Nearer to Tsukuba is Myoho-Ji in Kamakura. (Did you know that JR trains can be taken directly to Kamakura from Tsuchiura or Ushiku Stations during the summer?) These are nationally renowned Koke-dera (moss temples), but it is by no means necessary to leave our city to partake in the pleasures of moss viewing. As I mentioned above, the sacred grove of any shrine or the grounds of any temple will do, especially on rainy days.
Unfortunately, the same conditions which allow moss to thrive are favored by various types of mould and mildew, and foreigners who come to live in Japan are driven to despair by their relentless proliferation. Walls, books, photos, are all common victims. Once I discovered that a pair of white sneakers I wanted to wear had turned black with mould! I the same time I found that a formerly black pair of shoes had turned white! This is not just a nuisance-it is a health hazard as well.
Of course, this is a problem for the Japanese, too, but since their ancestors have had to deal with the problem for millennia, there are plenty of bits of folk knowledge passed down from generation to generation which help to cope.
The most important point to remember is good ventilation. Make sure that the air in a particular room does not stagnate too long. Whenever the sun DOES shine you might want to let its rays do their work on anything you are worried might get mouldy. Remember: the light of day is the best disinfectant!
A more recently developed trick for dealing with mold was introduced to me by Harumi Takaya, who is always a great source of information about traditional life in Tsukuba. This is the use of baking soda. For example, baking soda mixed in with your laundry detergent at a ratio of 3 to 1 will prevent your laundry from getting moldy (if like most Japanese, you don’t have a dryer). Putting a mixture of baking soda and water into a spray bottle and spritzing it on the walls etc… is also a good idea.
Don’t let the darkness and the rain get you down! Go out and explore Japans endless SHADES OF GREEN! For the summer months THESE are the Emerald Isles!
I have also written about the many different words for rain in the Japanese language here:
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Enjoy the Moss- Get Rid of the Mould and Mildew (yet again)
By Avi Landau
Most days during Japan’s month long rainy season (tsuyu), are overcast and damp, even when there is no actual precipitation. When it IS raining, it is as if your town or city has been transported into the shadowy depths of a thick, wet , forest. It can stay like that for days. For this reason, Japan is a veritable paradise for MOSS (koke苔), which thrives in such conditions. Taking a June stroll, umbrella in hand, within the precincts of some old shrine or temple is like an in-depth tour into the WORLD OF GREEN, with mosses of varying degrees of verdure growing on stones, tree trunks, or the ground, forming delightful combinations.
It is clear that the darkness of the rainy season and the deep warm shades of moss have had a huge impact on Japanese aesthetics. For example, compare the Buddhist temples or clothes from the brighter lands of India or Thailand, with those of Japan. In the sunnier countries they often have bright, bold or shimmery colors and surfaces, which are necessary to keep them from being washed out by the brightness of the sun. In shadowy Japan, different , darker , colors, more natural and earthy , came to be utilized and loved. Moss and moss green have been an important part of this sensibility. This can be seen most clearly in Japanese gardening and landscaping, the cultivation of miniature trees (bonsai) and in fabric design.
There are several temples which are actually famous for their moss gardens, including Saiho-Ji and Gio-ji in Kyoto. Nearer to Tsukuba is Myoho-Ji in Kamakura. (Did you know that JR trains can be taken directly to Kamakura from Tsuchiura or Ushiku Stations during the summer?) These are nationally renowned Koke-dera (moss temples), but it is by no means necessary to leave our city to partake in the pleasures of moss viewing. As I mentioned above, the sacred grove of any shrine or the grounds of any temple will do, especially on rainy days.
Unfortunately, the same conditions which allow moss to thrive are favored by various types of mould and mildew, and foreigners who come to live in Japan are driven to despair by their relentless proliferation. Walls, books, photos, are all common victims. Once I discovered that a pair of white sneakers I wanted to wear had turned black with mould! I the same time I found that a formerly black pair of shoes had turned white! This is not just a nuisance-it is a health hazard as well.
Of course, this is a problem for the Japanese, too, but since their ancestors have had to deal with the problem for millennia, there are plenty of bits of folk knowledge passed down from generation to generation which help to cope.
The most important point to remember is good ventilation. Make sure that the air in a particular room does not stagnate too long. Whenever the sun DOES shine you might want to let its rays do their work on anything you are worried might get mouldy. Remember: the light of day is the best disinfectant!
A more recently developed trick for dealing with mold was introduced to me by Harumi Takaya, who is always a great source of information about traditional life in Tsukuba. This is the use of baking soda. For example, baking soda mixed in with your laundry detergent at a ratio of 3 to 1 will prevent your laundry from getting moldy (if like most Japanese, you don’t have a dryer). Putting a mixture of baking soda and water into a spray bottle and spritzing it on the walls etc… is also a good idea.
Don’t let the darkness and the rain get you down! Go out and explore Japans endless SHADES OF GREEN! For the summer months THESE are the Emerald Isles!
I have also written about the many different words for rain in the Japanese language here:
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Exposure to Asbestos and Harmful Mold in Tsukuba`s Earthquake Cracked Old Houses Might Pose a More Serious Health Threat Around Here Than the Radiation
A cracked bathroom wall might be releasing asbestos or harmfull mold into damaged houses
By Avi Landau
Despite the fact that we are assurred repeatedly by government officials and various experts who tell us that it is PERFECTLY SAFE, the fact that radiation is being released into the air about 180 kilometers away, has many of us here in Tsukuba in a state of unease. This feeling especially comes to the fore under certain conditions or at certain moments- when we realize the wind is blowing in from the north, when it is raining ( and especially when these happen at the same time!), when we sit down at a restaurant and the waiter puts the glasses of water down on the table ( is it radiated tap water?), or when spinach is included somewhere in a dish we`ve been served.
So even if there is no real danger from the radiation itself, the continuous stress IS taking its toll. I cant help but notice all the baggy eyes, haggard looks, and new gray hairs on people around town.
A crack in the wall outside the kitchen let some mice into the house
I dont want to add to everyones worries, but the fact is that some people in this area, specifically those living in old houses, apartments or dormitories ( and there are plenty of THOSE here in Tsukuba) are now very likely being exposed to some things BESIDES radiation that pose very serious long term health threats- especially to young children. I am talking about ASBESTOS as well as certain harmfull types of MOLD which have been released into living spaces through holes and cracks in walls, ceilings and floors, created by the earthquake of March 11th.
Asbestos, which is known to be a cause of cancer when particles of it are inhaled, was commonly used for construction in Japan, and MANY of Tsukuba`s older structures probably contain the deadly substance in the walls, under floors, under the eaves, etc.
Also, the amazon-basin like conditions of the Japanese summer are perfect for all sorts of mold to thrive in. And though we can deal with the mold that we can SEE ( though sometimes with great difficulty), it is almost impossible to get rid of it if it starts growing in those same normally behind the scene areas where asbestos can be found.
A moldy stain which appeared on the wall after a leak in the roof
Since the house that I live in here in Tsukuba was built in the Golden Age of Japanese asbestos use ( the 1970s),and also because it was severely cracked, both on the inside and outside, during the earthquake ( and subsequent aftershocks), I became immediately concerned about exposure to these dangerous substances ( especially with two small kids). My friends concurred with my insticts and recommended that I leave the house immediately.
After sending my family off to Tokyo ( and then New York), I stubbornly stayed on in the old place ( filled with so many memories), and was determined to find out whether in fact asbestos was used to build the house or not.
I figured that the best thing to do would be to go to the city office. I was surprised, however, to find out there that city governments are NOT responsible for, and do not deal with asbestos.
Mold and rot which formed under a bedroom windowsill
Calling the first companies on the list, I found that they would not deal with individual customers ( only the government or other companies).
I finally did find one which could help me- but they told me that checking ONE ROOM in my house would cost me about 60,000 Yen! This would involve an instrument being brought to the house and left in on of the rooms for a few hours. The instrument would then be picked up and taked best for analysis.
Look carefully! You can see all the way to the outside through a crack between the wall and the floor
Since I am not currently in the financial position to ask for this costly asbestos check ( after all the earthquake damage and subsequent work stoppage), I have had to WAIT on finding out whether or not there really is any asbestos behind my walls ( about mold, there is no question- note the photos I have posted!).
What I did instead, was ask my landlord. She said- "Asbestos was not used to build the house- I THINK". And for me, that I THINK has continued to ring in my ears.
I havent left yet. In fact, Im writing this post right here on the living room floor ( Im gazing now in disbelief at the piles of hail which has just fallen in a short but furious April 29th storm!).
Now I cant be sure if its psychological or not, but for the past few weeks Ive had the strangest feeling in my lungs and just cant stop coughing..................... and worrying!
One more reason to wear a surgical mask !
For more on asbestos and its effects on our health see:
Fallen camellia blossoms lie among the hailstones (April 30 2011- Tsukuba)
The next morning garden in Tsukuba was still strew with ice balls from the hailstorm
( If you are interested, here is an album of original music recorded ( by Xenophonia) in the tatami room at my old house in Tsukuba:
http://www.jamendo.com/en/album/2425 )
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