Hippocrates was the first physician in the Western Hemisphere to state that food is man’s best medicine. It is very obvious that if food can nourish and create healthy, strong bodies, it must also be able to heal them if they are ill. The many decades of research that has been done on natural foods is the least biased and most authentic of all, because there is no drug company or manipulative food industry that could take advantage of these findings and market something that is already freely available to everyone.
I have listed just a few examples out of hundreds of foods that all have some amazing healing properties. It can be said that by not eating enough foods made by Mother Nature, a person is most likely to fall ill sooner or later. On the other hand, eating from her table, you may never become ill in the first place. But if you are ill now, in your search for a real cure to your ailment, you may discover that food is still the best medicine you can buy.
When you consider using foods as medicine, please refer to your body type charts to check whether these foods are actually beneficial for you. Although the foods listed below may have great potential healing properties, if your body is unable to digest them properly, they may not do you any good.
Broccoli’s Anti-Cancer Properties
Small quantities of fresh broccoli sprouts contain as much cancer protection as larger amounts of the mature vegetable sold in food markets, according to researchers at Johns Hopkins University. You would have to eat about two pounds of an average broccoli a week in order to reduce, say, your risk of colon cancer by about 50%. Although this is certainly possible, just 5 grams (0.17 ounces) of sprouts contain concentrations of the compound glucoraphanin equal to that found in 150 grams (5.2 ounces) of mature broccoli. The active compound is a precursor to sulforaphane, proven in animal studies to boost cell enzymes that protect against molecular damage from cancer-causing chemicals.
Like other cruciferous vegetables, broccoli speeds up removal of estrogen from the body, helping suppress breast cancer. It has also anti-viral, anti-ulcer activity. In addition, broccoli is a super source of chromium that helps regulate insulin and blood sugar.
Note for the Vata type: You may still benefit from broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables if you cook them with a good amount of oil or butter.
Cabbage – The Romans Cancer Cure
Cabbage was revered in ancient Rome as a cancer cure. Today, we know it’s cancer-curing effects from its numerous anti-cancer and antioxidant compounds. Cabbage speeds up estrogen metabolism, which is thought to help block breast cancer and suppress growth of polyps, a prelude to colon cancer. According to research, eating cabbage more than once a week cut men's colon cancer odds by as much as 66 percent.
As little as two daily tablespoons of cooked cabbage protected subjects against stomach cancer. Cabbage also contains powerful anti-ulcer compounds; its juice has shown to help heal ulcers in humans. It even has anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties. Red cabbage has twice the fiber as white cabbage. It is known for its balancing effects on blood cholesterol. Cauliflower and Brussels sprouts have similar benefits.
Bok Choy, which is brimming with minerals, has been found to lower high blood pressure by 30 points or more. No need for expensive prescription drugs that ruin your liver, kidneys and digestive systems.
Cauliflower Helps With Breast Cancer
Cauliflower is a cruciferous family member that contains many of the same cancer-fighting, hormone-regulating compounds as its cousins, broccoli and cabbage. Cauliflower is one of the least popular vegetables, but this doesn’t make it less important. Researchers have found it helps women to break down estrogen and produce estrogen-byproducts is a safe way, slashing breast cancer risk by 40%. It also helps ward off colon cancers.
The Great Carrot Phenomenon
Carrots are a rich source of beta carotene, a powerful anti-cancer, artery-protecting, immune-boosting and infection-fighting antioxidant. Recent research has shown that a single carrot a day slashed stroke rates in women by 68 percent! No drug can get even close that. If you are or were a smoker, the beta-carotene in one medium carrot cuts your lung cancer risk in half.
Your eyes will be grateful for that carrot per day as well. It has been shown that high doses of beta carotene, as found in carrots, substantially reduces odds of degenerative eye diseases (cataracts and macular degeneration). It also helps with chest pain (angina). The high soluble fiber in carrots balances blood cholesterol and promotes regularity. Cooking has shown to make it easier for the body to absorb the beta-carotene.
Celery – Better Than Viagra
Celery has long been known one of the best foods to keep your blood pressure normal. It dilates blood vessels like most potent drugs, but without the harmful side effects. Who would have thought, though, that this common food could turn out to be far more effective than Viagra or any other sex-enhancing drug ever produced? According to an exhaustive study of purported aphrodisiac foods, celery is the “sexiest” substance on earth. This unlikely -sounding candidate combines ideal amounts of vitamin E, magnesium, niacin, potassium and zinc – all required for optimum sex.
And it gets even better. Celery contains arginine, a natural amino acid that expands blood vessels much like Viagra. Yet, unlike Viagra, arginine also increases blood flow to the clitoris and makes female genitals more responsive.
Furthermore, the actual aroma of celery contains two steroids called androsterone and androstenol. The research showed that the subtle odor of these two chemicals travels through the nose and attracts the opposite sex.
Celery has other benefits, too. It contains an ingredient acetylenics, which has been shown to stop the growth of cancer cells. Celery is an excellent source of organic sodium, which gives it a slightly salty taste. Along with potassium, chlorine sodium helps to maintain the body’s electrolyte balance. Sodium is also necessary for hydrochloric acid production in the stomach and is involved in many glandular secretions. Celery is also an excellent source of vitamin C, a vitamin that helps to support the immune system.
Celery is a natural diuretic, and thus useful in circulatory disorders, such as high blood pressure and lymphatic congestion. Chinese physicians have long used celery to dependably reduce blood pressure. Now scientists have discovered exactly why it works so well. Celery contains unique oil that relaxes the muscles that regulate blood pressure, improving flow, and lowering pressure. Just 4 stalks a day (or some celery juice) do the trick.
Avocado – The Delicious Super Fruit
Avocado is a very dense fruit, packed with nutrients. It is especially rich in vitamin A. It also contains plenty of B vitamins, especially niacin, folic acid, calcium, iron, 9 essential amino acids, and a mountain of potassium.
The avocado has shown to benefit circulation, lower cholesterol, and dilate blood vessels. It's true that avocados are high in fat – one reason they've earned the nickname "butter pear." But it's primary fat, monounsaturated oleic acid (also concentrated in olive oil), acts as an antioxidant to block LDL cholesterol. A 1996 study by researchers at the Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social in Mexico looked at the health benefits of daily avocado consumption. The 45 subjects who ate avocados every day for just one week experienced an average of 17 percent drop in total blood cholesterol. Their cholesterol ratio also changed in a healthy way: Their LDL (low-density lipoprotein) and triglycerides dropped significantly while their HDL (high-density lipoprotein) levels climbed.
Avocados are also rich in beta-sitosterol which was shown to reduce cholesterol in 16 human studies. Beta-sitosterol is a widely prescribed anti-cholesterol drug that interferes with cholesterol absorption, but has serious side-effects. Avocados have four times the amount found in oranges that had previously been cited as the richest fruit source of beta-sitosterol.
Avocado has been found to have three times the amount of glutathione than in any other fruit. Glutathione is a powerful antioxidant shown to block thirty different carcinogens and to block the proliferation of the AIDS virus in test tube experiments. Studies have revealed a strong correlation between increased glutathione intake (from food) and decreased risk of oral and pharyngeal cancer.
I have been eating ½ avocado in my daily lunch salad (avoid eating it in the evening) for over 20 years and found it to be one of the most nutritious foods around.
Mashing an avocado and rubbing it into your hair for five minutes after washing will add luster to your hair; rinse afterwards. In South Africa, an avocado mask made of mashed avocados, honey, and lime juice is applied to the face as a moisturizing treatment to counteract the drying effects of the hot sun.
Blueberries and Cranberries Protect Kidneys, Heart, Eyes, Skin
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are triggered by bacteria, primarily E. coli, adhering to the walls of the bladder or kidney. Many scientific studies have found that blueberries and cranberries are beneficial in fighting UTIs by blocking or prohibiting the growth of bacteria. Cranberry juice has traditionally been known to clear up a bladder infection or urinary tract infection within 1-2 days. Take some juice 4 times per day, about ½ hour before meals and just before going to sleep.
Research shows that blueberries contain high concentrations of antioxidant compounds with medicinally beneficial properties. Blueberry's reported medicinal benefits include preventing urinary tract infections, stimulating anti-cancer activity, reducing heart disease risk, strengthening collagen, regulating blood sugar, improving night vision, reducing replication of the HIV virus, and treating diarrhea.
Cranberries are rich in bioflavonoids and natural vitamin C which stimulate the immune system and fight off infection. Just eating more cranberries in the winter can ward off colds and flu.
In addition, cranberries can reduce the occurrence of kidney stones. They can also help dilate the bronchial tubes during an asthma attack. They are even beneficial for Acne-suffers. Cranberries prevent Acne-causing bacteria from entering the skin, so breakouts are less frequent and less severe.
The malic acid contained in cranberries helps soften stones in the bile ducts of the liver, and thus may be helpful in the preparatory phase of the liver cleanse. It is best to use a pure form of organic, concentrate which can be diluted at the ratio of one part juice to four parts water.
The Healing Power in Green Beans
Also known as snap beans, green beans are loaded with nutrients of significant medicinal value. They are an excellent source of vitamin K (154.9% of the daily value in one cup). Vitamin K is essential for maintaining strong bones.
Greens beans also are a rich source of the equally important vitamin A (notably through their concentration of carotenoids including beta-carotene). And, as you know when you chew on green beans, they contain loads of useful fiber, which helps prevent colon cancer. In addition, green beans are packed with vitamin C, riboflavin, potassium, iron, manganese, folate, magnesium, and thiamin. Plus, they are a good source of thiamin, phosphorous, calcium, niacin, vitamin B6, copper, protein and zinc.
For atherosclerosis, diabetic heart disease, and stroke, few foods compare to green beans in their number of helpful nutrients. Magnesium and potassium work together to help lower high blood pressure, while folate and vitamin B6 help convert the potentially dangerous protein molecule homocysteine into other, benign molecules. Homocysteine can directly damage blood vessel walls if not promptly converted; high levels are associated with a significantly increased risk of heart attack and stroke.
The iron content in green beans is twice as high as in spinach. This useful plant iron comes in ionic, organic form, unlike the toxic rust (iron oxide) contained in food supplements and breakfast cereals. Iron is an integral component of hemoglobin, which transports oxygen from the lungs to all body cells, and is also part of key enzyme systems for energy production and metabolism. To properly utilize iron for hemoglobin synthesis the body requires copper, which is also amply present in green beans.
The vitamins C, A and Zinc present in green beans help to maintain optimal immune function and acne-free skin. Last but not least, green beans help maintain your memory with thiamin (Vitamin B1).
The many nutrients in green beans can help to prevent a number of different conditions, including Alzheimer's, atherosclerosis, diabetic heart disease, colon cancer, asthma, arthritis, acne, ear infections, and maybe even colds and flu.
Note: Green beans contain a measurable amount of oxalates. So if you suffer from oxalic acid stones in the kidneys, make certain to cleanse your kidneys before eating green beans on a regular basis.
The Bone Bone-Building Power of Brussels Sprouts
By age 70, one of every two women in the United States will likely suffer a painful fracture due to weak bones. Hip fractures are often fatal. But, a new woman’s study shows that by eating a 3-ounce serving of Brussels sprouts, women can slash the risk of a hip fracture by 30%. In addition, phytochemicals found in Brussels sprouts enhance the activity of the body’s natural defense systems to protect against disease, including cancer. Scientists have found that sulforaphane, a potent phytonutrient found in Brussels sprouts and other brassica vegetables, boosts the body's detoxification enzymes.
Brussels sprouts are a good source of fiber and folate and an excellent source of vitamin C. Vitamin C supports immune function and the manufacture of collagen, a protein that forms the basic substance of body structures including the skin, connective tissue, cartilage, and tendons. In addition, a cup of Brussels sprouts contains a whopping 1122 IU of vitamin A, plus 669 IU of beta-carotene, both of which are important for defending the body against infection and promoting supple, glowing skin.
Artichoke – For Good Digestion
The artichoke (Cynara scolymus) has been known for centuries for its beneficial effects on digestion. Its most noted effect is increased bile production. Because the body uses cholesterol to make bile acids, increasing bile acid production may balance blood cholesterol. Increasing bile acid secretions also aids digestion—one reason why artichokes have traditionally been used for indigestion. Its leaves contain phytonutrients with numerous health-enhancing effects.
Kale
This nutritious vegetable comes in quite a few variations and colors – green and purple being the most common. It has been part of a typical traditional diet in parts of Africa where people live very long and healthy lives.
Kale is a rich source of various anti-cancer chemicals. Being a member of the cruciferous family, it is endowed with anti-cancer indoles that help regulate estrogen and fight off colon cancer. It contains more beta carotene than spinach and twice as much lutein, the most of any vegetable tested. Kale is also high in the antioxidants Vitamin C. Collard Greens and other green leafy vegetables share similar benefits.
Nuts
In general, nuts have anti-cancer and heart-protective properties. Almonds and walnuts particularly help balance cholesterol levels. Both contain high concentrations of antioxidant oleic acid and mono-unsaturated fat, similar to that in olive oil, known to protect arteries from damage. Almonds, however, seem to be the most valuable of the two. A total of six studies showed the resounding results of almonds’ ability to lower total and LDL cholesterol and reduce the risk of heart disease by 10 percent. All it takes is to eat one small handful of almonds (1 ounce) a day.
Nuts generally are high in antioxidant vitamin E, shown to protect against chest pain and artery damage. Brazil nuts are extremely rich in selenium, an antioxidant also linked to lower rates of heart disease and cancer. Walnuts contain ellagic acid, an antioxidant and cancer-fighter, and are high in omega-3 type oil.
Nuts are also good regulators of insulin and blood sugar, preventing steep rises. This makes them appropriate foods for those with glucose intolerance and diabetes. It is interesting to note that nuts have been found lacking in the diets of those who later develop Parkinson's disease.
Beware of allergies and rancid nuts: Nuts, particularly peanuts, are a prime cause of acute allergic reactions in susceptible individuals. Avoid nuts that are broken, for they become rancid easily. Nut butters are also notorious for causing adverse reactions in the digestive system. When ground and thereby exposed to oxygen, they oxidize, i.e., become rancid. Rancid fats are very toxic and a major cause of illness. They may even lead to Crohn’s disease. Eat only fresh nuts. Avoid eating nuts that come mixed up with dried fruits or in commercially produced breakfast cereals (the nuts are rancid and the dried fruits contain fungi).
Fresh Corn Can Help Reverse Vision Problems
Almost every person with age-related macular degeneration, which is the leading cause of blindness, suffers from lutein-deficiency. A recent study showed that consuming 6 mgs of lutein in your food per day reduces your risk of this disorder by a whopping 43%. Fresh corn is an excellent source of lutein.
Rice
This common food has anti-diarrheal and anti-cancer properties. Like other seeds, rice contains anti-cancer protease inhibitors. Of all grains and cereals, it is the least likely to provoke bowel distress, such as intestinal gas or spastic colon. In Vata types, whole rice is excellent for constipation; it lowers cholesterol and tends to block development of kidney stones. Basmati rice appears to have the highest nutritious value. It is a rich source of iron, selenium, thiamine and niacin. It contains also a good amount of vegetable protein.
Coconut Oil – A Gift from the Tropics
Virgin Coconut oil is rich in lauric acid, a proven antiviral and antibacterial agent. It is currently being used in treating AIDS. Monolaurin is a monoglyceride of lauric acid. Lauric acid is also found in human mother's milk, which makes coconut milk and excellent alternative to milk-formula foods.
Delicious-tasting coconut oil is not only satisfying to your taste buds, but it also cleanses your colon by gently softening and loosening old fecal material, and helping to remove it without unpleasant side effects. It has a strongly alkalizing effect in the body, which is beneficial for every disease process. The tropical oil has a substance that has been shown to raise HDL cholesterol levels, the good kind, thereby lowering the risk of heart attack.
For those who are concerned about infestation with intestinal parasites and Candida albicans, coconut’s anti-parasitic properties help purge pathogenic organisms by robbing them of their protective coating. A natural anti-yeast treatment, coconut oil has been known for many centuries to prevent yeast infections in women in Pacific islands. During scientific tests, both capric and lauric acid found in coconut oil in very large amounts were found to be absolutely lethal to all major strains of Candida albicans.
Research comparing Pacific Islanders with People showed that their health was extremely good compared to Western standards. These Islanders had no signs of kidney disease or hypothyroidism that might influence fat levels. There was no hypercholesterolemia (high blood cholesterol). All inhabitants were lean and healthy despite a very high saturated-fat diet from coconut oil. In fact, the populations as a whole had ideal weight-to-height ratios as compared to the Body Mass Index figures used by nutritionists. Digestive problems are rare. Constipation is uncommon. They average two or more bowel movements a day. Atherosclerosis, heart disease, colitis, colon cancer, hemorrhoids, ulcers, diverticulitis, and appendicitis are conditions with which they are generally unfamiliar with.
Coconut oil also assists with dissolving and removing toxins that are trapped in fatty deposits, thereby making fat accumulation increasingly unnecessary (accumulation of fat is a survival mechanism to keep toxins engulfed within fatty tissue). This may explain why coconut oil helps to build lean muscles. Many body builders, personal trainers, Olympic athletes, and others use it for building lean body mass
Coconut oil is easily digested, even by weak and compromised digestive systems. It assists with most digestive disorders, such as Crohn’s disease and irritable bowel syndrome. This oil does not require any enzymes or carriers to be transported across cell membranes. Once it has reached the cell interior, it is used for energy. This makes coconut a readily available energy source.
Coconut oil has also been shown to balance hypothyroidism. It is a saturated fat made up primarily of medium chain fatty acids. Also known as medium chain triglycerides (MCTs), medium chain fatty acids are known to increase metabolism, and promote weight loss, and immobilize yeast bacteria If required, coconut oil raises basal body temperatures while increasing metabolism, which is great news for those suffering low thyroid functions, and those afflicted with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.
Coconut oil is useful for the very young and the very old. It is one of the healthiest and safest oils. Unlike most oils, coconut oil will not oxidize upon heating. This makes coconut oil the ideal cooking oil. With the exception of Kapha types, the average adult can safely include about 3.5 tablespoons of coconut oil per day in their diet. It will not make you fat, and best of all it is non-toxic, very much unlike many prescription antifungals. But, start out with a low dose until you find out what your side effects from the break down of yeast affects you. Apart from its internal benefits, when applied to the skin, coconut oil will protect from sunburn, drying, chapping and harmful germs.
A Banana a Day May Keep the Doctor Away
When you compare it to an apple, the banana has four times the protein, twice the carbohydrates, three times the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals. It is also rich in potassium and is one of the best value foods around. Bananas contain three natural sugars – sucrose, fructose and glucose – combined with fiber. In this form a banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy. Research has shown that just two bananas can provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout. The banana has also been found helpful for a number of illnesses and conditions:
Depression: Depressed people often feel better after eating a banana. This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin. This powerful hormone is known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier.
PMS: The banana’s vitamin B6 helps regulate blood glucose levels, which can positively affect your mood and calm the nervous system.
Anemia: High in organic iron (versus inorganic iron used in supplements), bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood and thereby improve anemia.
Blood Pressure and Brain Power: High in potassium, yet low in sodium, bananas are very effective in balancing blood pressure. This effect led the US Food and Drug Administration to allow the banana industry to make official claims for the fruit's ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke. And, for the same reasons, students were found to be more alert and increased academic performance when eating bananas for breakfast and at lunchtime.
Constipation: High in fiber, bananas in the diet have helped restore normal bowel functions in people suffering from constipation.
Heartburn: Having a natural antacid effect, bananas have helped people suffering with heartburn.
Banana neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.
Morning Sickness: Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness.
Mosquito bites: If bitten by an insect, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin.
Banana skin is known for reducing swelling and irritation.
Nerves: Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.
S.A.D.: Bananas can help SAD sufferers because they contain the natural mood enhancer tryptophan.
Smoking: Bananas have also helped people trying to give up smoking. The B6, B12 and the potassium and magnesium found in them, help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.
Stress: The banana’s potassium helps normalize the heartbeat, sends oxygen to the brain and regulates the body's water balance. During stress, our metabolic rate rises; this in turn drops potassium levels. Bananas can reverse this effect of stress.
Strokes: According to research published in The New England Journal of Medicine, eating bananas as part of a regular diet can cut the risk of death by stroke by as much as 40%!
Cinnamon –Medicine for Diabetics
Who would have thought that this culinary spice possesses numerous profound healing properties! Taking one-quarter to one-half teaspoon of cinnamon works just as well as the statin drugs in lowering cholesterol and triglycerides as well as blood glucose. Plus, you can get a pound of cinnamon for as little as $3, and save yourself dreadful side effects.
According to research conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, cinnamon helps to control blood sugar levels in type 2 diabetics. Ground cinnamon helps stimulate the production of glucose-burning enzymes and boosts insulin's effectiveness. In one study, cinnamon made insulin 20 times more capable of breaking down blood sugars. To benefit type 2 diabetes you will need to eat about ½ teaspoon of ground cinnamon per day. [According to other research, diabetics also benefit from ground fenugreek, turmeric, ginger, bitter melon extract, bilberry extract and gymnema sylvestre extract.] Cinnamon has also been shown to lower triglycerides and cholesterol levels, and to prevent and improve heart disease.
More recent research shows that cinnamon does more than just ward off diabetes and heart disease. It
• Supports digestive function
• Constricts and tones tissues
• Relieves congestion
• Alleviates pain, inflammation, and stiffness of muscles and joints
• Eases menstrual discomfort
• Stimulates circulation
• Kills bacteria, including E. coli.
Cinnamon also makes you smarter. In a study testing cognitive abilities, participants were given cinnamon, both orally and nasally. The conclusion of the study was that cinnamon is effective in enhancing cognitive functions. Cinnamon also reportedly scores high as an aphrodisiac for males.
So whether you use cinnamon to improve your health, your mental capacity, your love life, or all of the above, it makes good sense to include cinnamon in your diet whenever possible. You may add it to your cereals, vegetables or favorite beverage, such as herbal tea.
Scientists have also discovered that curry powder (mainly tumeric, cumin, cardamon, coriander, ginger, red pepper, fenugreek and fennel) with cinnamon, bay leaves and cloves triples the effectiveness of insulin. What a delicious way to help diabetes and numerous other disorders!
Turmeric – A Powerful Decongestant
Turmeric, Curcuma longa is the bright yellow constituent of curry powder. Medicinally, it is both an adaptogen and a bioprotectant. Practitioners of Ayurvedic medicine have used turmeric for millennia. The active principles, known as "curcuminoids,” possess anti-inflammatory properties comparable in strength to steroidal and nonsteroidal drugs. Curcuminoids are distinguished further for their antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal, antiparasitic, antimutagen, anticancer and detoxifying properties. Curcuminoids prevent the formation of free radicals while scavenging and neutralizing those already formed.
Traditionally, turmeric has been used to treat jaundice and other liver problems, promote circulation dissolve blood clots, relieve the pain of arthritis and rheumatism, and cure diarrhea, sinus congestion, and ear infections. Today it is also used by AIDS patients as an alternative, organic, natural herbal medicinal remedy to relieve throat and chest congestion by expelling mucus from the body. You can add generous amounts of turmeric to your cooked foods every day. Added to vegetables, rice, beans, soups, etc., tumeric does not just taste delicious, but is also deliciously healthy.
Tumeric can be applied externally (as a paste) to help heal hemorrhoids, wounds, cuts, and burns (beware of its yellow-staining effect).
Ginger Combats Motion Sickness
Conducted by Svensborg Hospital in Denmark, a seasickness trial and clinical study has shown that ginger was as effective as or superior to over-the-counter drugs in dealing with motion sickness. It is indeed a safer option than over-the-counter drugs which cause drowsiness. In another clinical trial conducted by Department of Anesthesiology at St. Bartholomew's Hospital in London researchers were able to show that 1g of ginger powder was as effective at preventing postoperative nausea and vomiting as the tranquilizer commonly used by hospitals and much safer.
Ginger is also effective for relieving the severity of nausea and vomiting of pregnancy. Using ginger to quell morning sickness does not raise the risk of birth defects, according to a new study co-authored by Dr. Gideon Koren, director of the Motherisk Program at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, Canada. The sickness-reducing effects seem more pronounced when the ginger is taken along with some honey.
Ginger has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for the treatment of inflammation and rheumatism. Indian research showed that a highly purified and standardized ginger extract had a statistically significant effect on reducing symptoms of osteoarthritis of the knee.
Research confirms that ginger acts as an anti-thrombotic and anti-inflammatory agent in humans. It has shown to have antibiotic properties in test tubes (kills salmonella and staph bacteria), and act as an anti-ulcer agent in animals. Also, it has anti-depressant, anti-diarrheal and strong antioxidant activity. Ginger is also high in anti-cancer activity.
Ginger has bee successfully used to in the treatment of vomiting, headaches, chest congestion, cholera, colds, diarrhea, stomach ache, and nervous diseases.
Other research on gingerols demonstrated, the active components of ginger (the rhizome of Zingiber officinale, Roscoe), represent a potential new class of platelet activation inhibitors. Ginger’s blood thinning effects account for its great benefits for heart disease patients.
Chewing on a small piece of fresh ginger with a little honey, drinking some water with a few drops of ginger extract, or taking capsules of ginger powder are the best options of choice.
Cayenne pepper – To Protect your Heart and Stomach
According to research by Italian doctors, red pepper powder (cayenne) has shown to reduce symptoms in more than half of patients suffering with functional dyspepsia. The subjects consumed 2.5 grams of red pepper powder each day (divided into capsules taken before each of three meals).
Many herbalists believe that Cayenne not only aids the digestive system, but also benefits the heart and circulatory system. It acts as a catalyst and increases the effectiveness of other herbs when used with them. Cayenne is very rich in vitamins A & C, has the complete B complexes, and is very high in organic calcium and potassium, which is one of the reasons it is good for the heart. Cayenne has been known to stop heart attacks within 30 seconds (a teaspoon of Cayenne extract in a glass of hot water every 15 minutes until the crisis has passed).
Cloves – Nature’s Pharmacy
Cloves have warming, antibacterial and antiseptic properties. This herb relieves pain, lessens nausea and prevents or relieves vomiting. It combats and neutralizes pathogenic bacteria and prevents infection. It is often used as a topical tooth and gum pain killer. Chewing on a piece of clove after meals helps remove bad breath.
Clove has great preventative value for a number of disorders. For example, it discourages blood platelet clumping, which is associated with cardiovascular disease. This herb contains volatile, essential oils that aid digestion and relieve gas pain and distention; it promotes peristalsis. Its astringent effect helps keep hemorrhages under control.
In addition, clove encourages the loosening of phlegm from the respiratory tract. It also stimulates blood flow to the skin causing local reddening. For those who easily get cold inside the body, this herb increases internal heat, dispels internal chill and strengthens metabolism and circulation. Clove strengthens stomach functions, and restores, nourishes, and supports the entire body; it exerts a gently strengthening effect on the body. For those afflicted with parasites, clove expels or repels intestinal worms.
One of the most promising effects of cloves is derived from its cholesterol lowering effects. Every day for about one month, let 6 pieces of clove soak in half a glass of water overnight, remove the cloves in the mornings with a spoon or fork, and drink this water every day for about one month. This should help restore your cholesterol levels back to what is normal for your body.
Honey – The World’s Best Wound Healer?
Would you have ever guessed that this delicious food made by honeybees is actually one of mankind’s oldest-known medicines? Dating as far back as 5,000 years, honey has been successfully used to treat burns, coughs and ulcers. Hippocrates, the Greek physician, also praised honey’s healing powers and came up with many honey-based treatments for ailments such as skin disorders, ulcers and sores. In World War I, German physicians used a mixture of honey and cod liver oil to treat gunshot wounds. According to John Riddle, professor of ancient science at North Carolina State University, a medical text written on papyrus from 3000 years B.C. specifies the use of honey for head wounds. He says that perhaps “the honey helped prevent swelling and sealed off the wound to keep air and infection out.”
Recent Research shows that honey is far superior to antiseptics and antibiotics. Israeli researchers took honey to the test. They applied the sweet, sticky food twice a day to wounds of nine infants after two weeks of intravenous antibiotic treatment and daily antiseptic cleansing failed to heal them. Following just 5 days of honey treatment, the babies’ wounds improved significantly. After 16 more days, they were closed, clean, and sterile.
In a Yemeni study, honey showed to have a significant advantage over antiseptics used for infected surgical wounds. Fifty women whose wounds became infected were divided into two groups. One group was treated with honey, the other with antiseptics. The patients in the honey group recovered within 7 to 11 days, whereas the antiseptic group needed 12 to 27 days.
Although modern creams and antibiotics may have healing effects, they have the disadvantage of killing tissue and causing scabs and scars. But how many of us think to put honey under that Band-Aid or bandage. Like in the above studies, results of a three year clinical trial at the University Teaching Hospital in Calabar, Nigeria, showed that unprocessed honey can heal wounds when more modern dressings and antibiotic treatments fail. In 59 patients treated for wounds and external ulcers, honey was effective in all but one case. Much to the surprize of the researchers, topical applications kept sterile wounds sterile until they had time to heal, while infected wounds became sterile within a week. Astonishingly, honey was even shown to remove dead tissue from persistent wounds, helping some patients avoid skin grafts or amputations.
According to the European Journal of Medical Research, topical honey proved to have positive effects on post-operative wound infections due to gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria following Caesarean sections and hysterectomies.
Honey provides a moist healing environment yet prevents bacterial growth even when wounds are heavily infected," notes Dr. Peter Molan of the Honey Research Unit at the University of Waikato, New Zealand. "It is a very effective means of quickly rendering heavily infected wounds sterile, without the side effects of antibiotics, and it is even effective against antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria."
The reason honey is able to stop infection may actually be quite simple. Ordinary honey ties up water so that bacteria in a wound have insufficient water to multiply. The water activity of honey inhibits bacterial growth. In addition, the pH of honey is between 3.2 and 4.5 – low enough to inhibit the growth of many common bacteria. The major antibacterial activity in honey, however, is thought to be due to hydrogen peroxide which is produced enzymatically. The level of hydrogen peroxide produced is antibacterial, but doesn’t damage the cell tissues.
Applications:
Apply honey to cuts, scrapes, or burns and cover with a clean bandage. Change dressings one to three times daily, as needed.
Use honey as a first-aid dressing material where there could be time for infection to set in before medical treatment is obtained.
For internal disinfection and as a preventative measure, every morning, drink a glass of warm water with a teaspoon of honey and a little lemon juice.
Honey also has sleep-inducing, sedative and tranquilizing properties.
Nursing salve: Nursing mothers, try covering cracked, sore nipples with honey-soaked gauze to prevent infection.
Note: excessive heat or prolonged exposure to light can rob honey of its antibacterial properties. Always store in a dark, cool place.