Healing Kitchen Herbs

[Guest guest]

Healing Kitchen Herbs By Denine Rogers We usually think that basil is used only flavor to our pesto, soups andstews, or that cinnamon is only to be sprinkled on a baked apple. Theseherbs are usually used to cook our favorite dishes. Using them to treat anupset stomach or to cleanse our system was virtually unheard of; however,our grandmothers and great grandmothers have long used what is calledkitchen herbs for healing all types of aliments. Ginger (Zingiber Officinale) Ginger has been recently added to certain products that you probably haveseen in the market. Most likely you’ve made ginger tea, drunk ginger ale ortasted gingerbread cookies, but have you ever used ginger root when you havea loss of appetite, digestive problems (such as flatulence or bloating), orto prevent motion sickness? Ginger is a creeping tuberous rhizome perennial that is indigenous tosoutheastern Asia and is cultivated in the U.S., India, China, Africa, Japanthe Dutch East Indies and the West Indies. The Chinese have been usingginger therapeutically for more than 2,000 years. The Japanese serve gingerslices between sushi courses to cleanse the palate and aid digestion. In thefourth century, Greek bakers were using ginger imported from the Far East tomake gingerbread. The Spanish were cultivating ginger as early as the 16thcentury, and the conquistadors introduced it to the New World via Jamaica.It became so popular among Europeans that in 1884 Great Britain importedover 5 million pounds of the root. Today, ginger is used in many different forms to cure different aliments.Some researchers believe that ginger may help to prevent strokes, heartdisease, and arteriosclerosis (heardening of the arteries). Taken hot,ginger tea promotes circulation and cleanses the system through perspirationPour one cup of boiling water onto one teaspoonful of the fresh ginger rootor ginger powder and let it infuse for five minutes. Drink it hot, one totwo cups a day. If you like to use the tincture, you can mix 15 drops ofextract in one cup of warm water. This drink can be taken up to three timesdaily. Ginger is also available in a capsule form, which can be taken one tothree times per day. But beware of using large doses of this herb. Gingermay create an adverse reaction if you are taking anticoagulants, or if youhave peptic ulcers, morning sickness, or bleeding disorders. Cayenne or Capsicum (Capsicum frutescens) When was the last time you used hot sauce on your hot wings? Did you knowthat hot sauce contains a chili pepper by the name of Cayenne that can aidin treating arthritis? Most people do not associate Cayenne with medicinalherbs but it has been used to treat muscle pains, headaches and sootheindigestion. Cayenne, otherwise known as Capsicum, is a perennial plant shrub that growsin the native tropical regions of America. It is an annual when cultivatedoutside tropical zones. Cayenne is best grown in Africa, Asia, South AmericaWest Indies, Hungary, East Indies, and Central America. However, highquality cayenne can be produced in good quantity in the Southern UnitedStates, especially the states that lie along the southern line of Tennessee.The history of Cayenne is very interesting, due to its pungent, hot, spicyflavor. Since 7,000 BC the Cayenne pepper was native to northeastern coastalareas of South America and was used in folk medicine. The name Cayenne wasderived from the Greek word meaning to bite. The hot pepper first appearedin history books in 1493, when Peter Martyn wrote of its arrival in Italyafter Columbus’s voyage. It appeared in the West from India in 1548 and wasknown as Ginnie Pepper. In the 19th century, the pepper was used byphysiomedicalists for chills, rheumatism, and depression. Cayenne pepper can be taken orally or externally as a lineament. Cayennecapsules are available and you can take one capsule one to three times dailyThere are prepared teas available or you can make your own tea by pouringone cup of hot water onto 1½ teaspoonful of cayenne and infuse it for 10minutes. Be careful of excessive consumption, which can causegastroenteritis and kidney or liver damage. Persons that are pregnant,breastfeeding, have hemorrhoids and gastrointestinal problems should not useCayenne Peppers because it may cause irritation. Do not use the seeds sincethey are toxic. Look into your cabinets and see what spices you have available. The nexttime you have a bad headache or infrequent gas pains, try some of the herbson your kitchen spice rack. The ideas, procedures, and suggestions contained in this article are notintended to replace the services of a trained health professional, and youshould consult your physician before adopting any of these procedures. Allmatters regarding your health require medical supervision. Any applicationsof the treatments set forth in this article are at the reader’s discretion.

 

 

"When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on."

 

Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882 - 1945), quoted Kansas City Star, June 5, 1977

 

Check Out My Groups:

 

Everything Natural

http://health./

Everything Magick

EverythingMagick/