This weeks column delves into the world of natural healing. To be more specific, foods that heal. I have long been a believer of the therapeutic affects of certain foods in our diet. I have decided to include a few of the most powerful healing foods this week, specifically, my favorites.
Coming from Appalachian roots, I grew up with Ginger tea for nausea. Merely steep a small piece of ginger root in a cup of hot water for fifteen minutes or so, remove the ginger, add honey or sugar to taste. Ginger is also good in preventing motion sickness. Those taking anticoagulant medications should limit their use of ginger as it also thins the blood. It has been noted in the book "The Food Pharmacy" by Jean Brown, that ginger can lower cholesterol. Frankly, I hated ginger tea as a child, but now I prefer it to pharmaceutical remedies.
Garlic is another spice with wonderful healing affects. Not only does garlic help prevent cancer, it is a wonderful expectorant/ decongestant. I make sure our diet is rich in garlic whenever we are fighting colds or flu I, being an Asthmatic, find that garlic lessens the frequency of my "attacks", but that is just me. I am not recommending it medicinally, as I am a nurse, and could get into big trouble for "practicing medicine without a license".
Garlic has been used in healing potions since at least 4000B.C. If eating lots of garlic is not something you desire, for whatever reason, garlic tabs are available at most health food stores. Just as a side line, I used to give my dog 400 IU of garlic every day, and she never had a flea. My veteranarian recommended this as she is also a holistic vet.
Chili peppers have amazing healing properties also. Capsaicin, the "hot" in hot peppers is now being used in arthritis creams. It has been proven that chilies have anti inflammatory properties, much the same as garlic. Try eating some, the hotter, the better. when your sinuses are stuffed up. Clears you right out.
I cannot say enough about the powerful healing effects of the blueberry. I learned as a child that a bowlful of fresh blueberries would cure diarrhea. What I did not know was that it also cures/prevents constipation. Blueberries also contain strong antibiotic properties. In a Canadian study, it was proven that crushed blueberries effectively killed off the poliovirus within twenty four hours, even diluted to a 10% solution. I'm not sure of the healing properties of crushed, fermented blueberries, but I'm sure there are some. You're welcome, Hannah.
The cranberry is widely known as a urinary tract cleanser. It does not matter if eaten whole, crushed,dried, or in a juice drink. The effect is maintained. The reason for this is that the cranberry's Ph is the same as the bladder's normal Ph. Eating cranberries effectively restores the balance, preventing or curing bladder infections. It also deodorizes the urine and can prevent kidney stones if taken regularly.
The lovely tomato has healing properties also. Tomatoes contain a substance known as lycopene, a powerful antioxidant . Lycopene, however ony becomes effective if the tomatoes are cooked. Tomato sauce, catsup, and the like are loaded with Lycopene. Fresh tomatoes may taste great and have lots of vitamin C,A, and potassium, you will not reap the cancer prevention qualities.
To be continued.
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Comments: 14
Thanks, Dawn
You'll find this interesting. I was visiting my 88 year-old mother in law at the care facility where she resides yesterday. She was telling me how she had a bout with nausea a few days earlier. Basically, she said that the nurse gave her something for it, but it didn't help much. At that point she told me how much she wished she had some Ginger tea, she felt certain that would have cleared things right up.
No she here in Cincyland.
Here's hoping that belief hold!
That sounds like a splendid idea.