Cultural and Medical Aspects of Buckwheat in

Sweden Gunilla Wieslander

Senior consultantProfessor Dep Medical Sciences

Occupational and Environmental Medicine Uppsala University

Linneacutes Bothanical Garden Uppsala Fagopyrum tartaricum (Gaertner) and Fagopyrum esculentum(Moenck) organized by Linne 1740-ties in beds the same way as today (1300 plants all with Latin names for family and species name)

Bothanical Garden Uppsala Orangeriet

Buckwheat in 15th to 19th century

The Swedish botanist Carl von Linneacutereported

on the buckwheat cultivation in 1749 on the sandy

slopes in Scandia in most southern part of

Sweden

rdquoBeautiful flowers that attracts the beesrdquo

rdquoPorridge from buckwheat was well boild

consumed and accompanied by beer drinking by

peasants in the eveningrdquo

Farmer Anders amp Birgitta Nilsson Raringglanda Farm2006helliphelliphelliphelliphellip

Swedish buckwheat Greatest farm (95 of areal) in Sweden

Revival of Common

buckwheat cultivation

2006-2007(after 150 yrs)

Tartary buckwheat 2012-2013

rdquoVaumlrmlandrdquo close to Norway

175 hectars 7 contractors 80 tons

Linneacutes Bothanical Garden Uppsala Fagopyrum tartaricum (Gaertner) and Fagopyrum esculentum(Moenck) organized by Linne 1740-ties in beds the same way as today (1300 plants all with Latin names for family and species name)

Bothanical Garden Uppsala Orangeriet

Buckwheat in 15th to 19th century

The Swedish botanist Carl von Linneacutereported

on the buckwheat cultivation in 1749 on the sandy

slopes in Scandia in most southern part of

Sweden

rdquoBeautiful flowers that attracts the beesrdquo

rdquoPorridge from buckwheat was well boild

consumed and accompanied by beer drinking by

peasants in the eveningrdquo

Farmer Anders amp Birgitta Nilsson Raringglanda Farm2006helliphelliphelliphelliphellip

Swedish buckwheat Greatest farm (95 of areal) in Sweden

Revival of Common

buckwheat cultivation

2006-2007(after 150 yrs)

Tartary buckwheat 2012-2013

rdquoVaumlrmlandrdquo close to Norway

175 hectars 7 contractors 80 tons

Bothanical Garden Uppsala Orangeriet

Buckwheat in 15th to 19th century

The Swedish botanist Carl von Linneacutereported

on the buckwheat cultivation in 1749 on the sandy

slopes in Scandia in most southern part of

Sweden

rdquoBeautiful flowers that attracts the beesrdquo

rdquoPorridge from buckwheat was well boild

consumed and accompanied by beer drinking by

peasants in the eveningrdquo

Farmer Anders amp Birgitta Nilsson Raringglanda Farm2006helliphelliphelliphelliphellip

Swedish buckwheat Greatest farm (95 of areal) in Sweden

Revival of Common

buckwheat cultivation

2006-2007(after 150 yrs)

Tartary buckwheat 2012-2013

rdquoVaumlrmlandrdquo close to Norway

175 hectars 7 contractors 80 tons

Buckwheat in 15th to 19th century

The Swedish botanist Carl von Linneacutereported

on the buckwheat cultivation in 1749 on the sandy

slopes in Scandia in most southern part of

Sweden

rdquoBeautiful flowers that attracts the beesrdquo

rdquoPorridge from buckwheat was well boild

consumed and accompanied by beer drinking by

peasants in the eveningrdquo

Farmer Anders amp Birgitta Nilsson Raringglanda Farm2006helliphelliphelliphelliphellip

Swedish buckwheat Greatest farm (95 of areal) in Sweden

Revival of Common

buckwheat cultivation

2006-2007(after 150 yrs)

Tartary buckwheat 2012-2013

rdquoVaumlrmlandrdquo close to Norway

175 hectars 7 contractors 80 tons

Farmer Anders amp Birgitta Nilsson Raringglanda Farm2006helliphelliphelliphelliphellip

Swedish buckwheat Greatest farm (95 of areal) in Sweden

Revival of Common

buckwheat cultivation

2006-2007(after 150 yrs)

Tartary buckwheat 2012-2013

rdquoVaumlrmlandrdquo close to Norway

175 hectars 7 contractors 80 tons

Pictures from Raringglanda Farm-great expansion

Porridge blini muumlsli cakes biscuits buns soba

Inhalation of flour dust is a wellknown health risk

PubMed Allergy 1983 Apr38(3)155-9 Buckwheat allergy health food an inhalation health risk Goumlhte CJ Wieslander G Ancker K Forsbeck M Thirteen out of 28

persons (14 men and 14 women) employed in a company which imports prepares and distributes plant products used in spices and as ingredients in so-called health food had developed work-related symptoms in the form of rhinitis conjunctivitis asthma itch or urticaria The symptoms occurred in connection with specific work operations especially in the grinding and packaging of buckwheat Seven out of 25 examined persons (28) had at least one positive allergy test (prick test or RAST) against buckwheat

RAST Radio Allergo Sorbent Test (a method to show antibodies to allergens in the blood by Pharmacia company 1974)

Porridge blini muumlsli cakes biscuits buns soba

Inhalation of flour dust is a wellknown health risk

PubMed Allergy 1983 Apr38(3)155-9 Buckwheat allergy health food an inhalation health risk Goumlhte CJ Wieslander G Ancker K Forsbeck M Thirteen out of 28

persons (14 men and 14 women) employed in a company which imports prepares and distributes plant products used in spices and as ingredients in so-called health food had developed work-related symptoms in the form of rhinitis conjunctivitis asthma itch or urticaria The symptoms occurred in connection with specific work operations especially in the grinding and packaging of buckwheat Seven out of 25 examined persons (28) had at least one positive allergy test (prick test or RAST) against buckwheat

RAST Radio Allergo Sorbent Test (a method to show antibodies to allergens in the blood by Pharmacia company 1974)

Inhalation of flour dust is a wellknown health risk

PubMed Allergy 1983 Apr38(3)155-9 Buckwheat allergy health food an inhalation health risk Goumlhte CJ Wieslander G Ancker K Forsbeck M Thirteen out of 28

persons (14 men and 14 women) employed in a company which imports prepares and distributes plant products used in spices and as ingredients in so-called health food had developed work-related symptoms in the form of rhinitis conjunctivitis asthma itch or urticaria The symptoms occurred in connection with specific work operations especially in the grinding and packaging of buckwheat Seven out of 25 examined persons (28) had at least one positive allergy test (prick test or RAST) against buckwheat

RAST Radio Allergo Sorbent Test (a method to show antibodies to allergens in the blood by Pharmacia company 1974)

Farmers Lung Disease Described in 1555 by last Catholic Archbishop in Sweden Olaus Magnus Most common occupational lung disease

The birthplace of Carl von Linneacute Buckwheat and other herbs Lectures every summer

Raringshult in Smaringland (south Sweden)

Gunilla Wieslander 1 Nina Fabjan 2 Maja Vogrinčič 2 Ivan Kreft 2 Blanka Vombergar 3 and Dan Norbaumlck 1

In conclusion buckwheat consumption

generally reduced the symptoms analyzed in this study A daily consumption of 3597 mg rutin-equivalents day-1 in the form of TBW cookies reduced fatigue in healthy subjects and it did not increase the levels of symptoms

Journal of Food Agriculture amp Environment Vol10 (2) 107-110 2012

The Tohoku Journal of Experimental MedicineVol 225 (2011) No 2 October p 123-130

Eating Buckwheat Cookies Is Associated with the Reduction in Serum Levels of Myeloperoxidase (inflammatory biomarker) and Cholesterol (risk factor for cardio-vascular disease)

FUNCTIONAL FOOD

The Tohoku Journal of Experimental MedicineVol 225 (2011) No 2 October p 123-130

Eating Buckwheat Cookies Is Associated with the Reduction in Serum Levels of Myeloperoxidase (inflammatory biomarker) and Cholesterol (risk factor for cardio-vascular disease)

FUNCTIONAL FOOD

Celiac disease-1 of populations world wide

Buckwheat is gluten free naturally

Celiac diseased can develop other autoimmune disorders like Type I diabetes and multiple sclerosis (MS) dermatitis herpetiformis (an itchy skin rash) anemia osteoporosis infertility and miscarriage neurological conditions like epilepsy and migraines short stature and intestinal cancers if not gluten free food

Studies on many health effects

Cholesterol lowering Antidiabetic Magnesium content (cofactor to insulin) Whole seeds especially beneficial Prevent gallstones Prevent progression of arteriosclerosis Prevent Artritis (rutin beneficial) Anticarcinogenic (leukemia colon cancer) Delaying Alzheimer

Rutin and quercetin health effects

Can reduce allergic and inflammatory reactions in different parts of the body

Can shift the immune system towards Th1 (less risk for allergy development)

Inhibit compounds in blood associated with cardiovascular disease

Inhibit effects of endotoxin on the lung Downregulate NO production in the body

Thanks

Studies on many health effects

Cholesterol lowering Antidiabetic Magnesium content (cofactor to insulin) Whole seeds especially beneficial Prevent gallstones Prevent progression of arteriosclerosis Prevent Artritis (rutin beneficial) Anticarcinogenic (leukemia colon cancer) Delaying Alzheimer

Rutin and quercetin health effects

Can reduce allergic and inflammatory reactions in different parts of the body

Can shift the immune system towards Th1 (less risk for allergy development)

Inhibit compounds in blood associated with cardiovascular disease

Inhibit effects of endotoxin on the lung Downregulate NO production in the body

Thanks

Rutin and quercetin health effects

Can reduce allergic and inflammatory reactions in different parts of the body

Can shift the immune system towards Th1 (less risk for allergy development)

Inhibit compounds in blood associated with cardiovascular disease

Inhibit effects of endotoxin on the lung Downregulate NO production in the body

Thanks

Thanks