Prunus spinosa (also called sloe or Black thorn) is a small tree you can find in lots of Breton hedges. And it has its specific uses here in Brittany…

The tree is quite an old one : during the New Stone Age, stones were found in the houses of our ancestors…
It has other specifities : birds and insects like to rest or even more... in the bushes as it is full of spines.



Its bark was used to dye wool or flax in red. Its flowers are helpful when one suffer from digestive disorders or constipation.



In Brittany, its more common use is to make an alcoholic beverage…with its fruits.

Read it in French : Le prunellier : un arbuste aux qualités multiples

Sloe or Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) is a small bush that grows in hedges in Brittany (France). It blooms between March and April. They can help against a difficult digestion or a light constipation.

No wonder as Blackthorn is the brother of the plum tree.



The fisrt recipe is done with fresh flowers.

Massage oil done with fresh flowers of Blackthorn (digestion).

Ingredients :
One third fresh flowers of Blackthorn
Two third of olive oil (better an organic one)
3 weeks

Once you picked the flowers, put them in oil. Open the bottle every day so that humidity will evaporate and the flowers won’t mould. Shake every day.
After three weeks, use it to massage your tummy when you have digestive disorders. You can use it for your children too.

Recipe of herbal tea with sloe flowers (constipation).

Once you’ve dried the flowers, you need : 2 teaspoons in simmering water. Let it infuse for 10 minutes. Drink it 3 times a day during a week.

Read it in French : Recette d'huile de massage et recette d'infusion à base de felurs de prunelliers

What arrogance! And such bad taste! In a Breton news blog, daring to mention the flu!

Yes, I certainly will, but without any guarantee of success! And I wanted so badly... to tell my anecdote.

I have a friend, several and one of them is a physician acupuncturist and Chinese. Which caracteristic of him should I put first : physician … or Chinese ? Anyway, we were speaking about the influenza A H1 N1.

He told me :

In China, you know, the virus has mutated. And one have realized that people who worked in vinegar factories were not sick.

And he added :

You should inhale vinegar (1 tablespoon to a glass of water) that you have boiled, once a day for 2 minutes.

What kind of vinegar?

I asked incredulously.

The one you have at home. They all have the same properties.

It obviously interested me : I am in the at risk group: 30 / 45 years. And as I have young children, I put the magic potion on a burning smell once a day since then.
I know it's a fake scoop, vinegar has been used for ever… already against the great fever ... Yes, and then. What do I risk ? I do not know whether it will work or not but it costs almost nothing to try.

But you can keep on the precautions against the spread of the virus:

Wash hands and avoid sharing your handkerchiefs with everyone!
Do not splutter on your colleagues and avoid sneezing on your neighbour !

Some last minute informations :

In the newspaper Le Monde (a really serious one in France) this weekend, the paper explains the differences between influenza A, B and C.
The first one is very dangerous, the other two benign.
To these letters, one must add another 2: H and N.
The first comes in 16 variations, the second in 9. 144 different possibilities. A lifetime would not last to try them all, these viruses!

Apple cider vinegar (organic!) is quite nice to use for small pains… It is a “remède de grand mère” as we say in French, a home remedy... I know I had a great grandmother…

Hematomas and bruises : heat 5 tablespoons of vinegar with a teaspoon of salt. Soak a cotton ball and dab the bruise.

Sunburns : gently dab the burn with vinegar. You can also dilute a dose of water to vinegar and spray on your skin.

Insect Bite : dab the bite with vinegar. To make them fly : dilute the same amount of vinegar and water and coat the body. Hmm, what a perfume ...

Lumbago : soak a linen cloth with an equal portion of cider vinegar and water. Dab on the painful place and tighten it with a woolen cloth. Replace often.
You can also have a hot bath (add a cup of vinegar).

Migraines : dip a paper bag in vinegar. Place the bag over the head and tighten with a tissue. Keep on your head 15 minutes.

Nosebleeds : soak a cotton ball with vinegar and put in the nostril.

Cough : drink a full glass of water in which you have diluted 2 teaspoons vinegar.

Feet (horns): wash horns with vinegar and leave on it for 15 minutes.

Foot (fungus) : treatment of minimum 6 weeks. Several times a day, dab the fungus with vinegar or with an equal mixture of vinegar and garlic juice (it smells so good!).

Verruca : Bath 15 minutes in water. When the verruca is soft, dab with vinegar and let soak.

Read it in French : Santé au naturel : les bienfaits du vinaigre de cidre

Ready for a hike … As I used to work as a guide for walkers and cyclists ... I have some tips and advices to tell you.

1 - A map, it is always better to have one, even when you think you know the place … Cut paths or heavy rain that causes a forced retreat (I know ... I survived an amazing rain with a group in Jersey …)... It is always better to be abble to find a place to hide... Just in case ...

2 - Two is better as one... You never know ... A little twist (again, I had that problem once) ... and you're so happy not to be alone... with your bad foot !

3 - A minimum of "fast food" ... Water and something to eat... depending on the walk ... Classic cereal bars (I'm not a fan), dried fruit, a bag of cookies or chocolate ... (be careful, in summer, it melts ...). If it's a day's hike, think picnic with carbohydrates (bread) and protein (meat, fish, cheese ...), some fruits ...

4 - The minimum for your health ... dressings against blisters ... disinfectant and an advise that may be unuseful in the nowadays mobile phone's world... walk with an onion in your bag (for a "natural" home remedy...)... ... My aunt, a former scout, was in charge of several young girls .... They were singing while hiking .... and she (my aunt) did swallow a wasp or a bee that stings her throat ... Panic on board ... A farmer working in the field,gave him an onion to chew slowly ...... The swelling has deflated ... An old treatment that helped then... She still lives ...

5 - Clothing. Light clothes for summer, warm clothing for winter and the whole year a raincoat. Summer cap or winter cap ... Sunglasses ...

6 – Bike tour ... The minimum... pump, patches and tools or even the bomb. An elmet too...

7 - Walking tour : good shoes ... (waterproof if possible), and already used ...

8 - Worrying about the weather : it's better ... and avoid the coastal paths and cliffs on windy days ...

9 - Telling someone what you do ... It's easier if we are looking for and you've been eaten by a wolf ... Include in your mobile phone under the name ICE (in case of emergency) the person you would like to call if necessary).

10 - Have fun ... Touring is great... Enjoy the Tro Breizh , our paths Compostela ...

Read this article in French : Randonner à pied ou à vélo : les 10 conseils