Herbal Legacy Articles

by Robert McCandless, M.H.
Vancouver, Canada

A Ginger tea pack is a simple home treatment for congestion in any part of the body - particularly dry cough with thick, sticky phlegm in lungs or sinuses.  It may help with stiff, sore muscles or swollen lymph glands. It is cheap, (probably under $5 for the ginger) and takes 2-3 hours. It is easy if you have a friend to help you. Evening before bed is best, so you can rest deeply.

What you will need:
- a big piece of fresh ginger root
- a grater
- a big pot
- a stove
- a sink
- 3 medium bath towels
- 2 large bath towels
- a bed, blankets, & pillow

How to do it:
1. Fill big pot with water.
2. Bring water to a boil, turn heat to low.
3. Grate the ginger, put it in the pot.
4. Simmer on low for 2 hours with lid on.
5. Keep pot on low heat. Put folded towel on top of pot to keep it warm.
6. Put big bath towel on bed & smaller towel on pillow (to catch drips).
7. Patient may drink some hot herbal tea or ginger tea.
8. Have “patient” lie on the towels on the bed.
9. Keep patient comfortably warm with blankets.
10. Hold both ends of towel & twist it into a spiral shape.
11. Dip middle of towel into ginger tea without your hands touching the hot tea.
12. Twist towel until it doesn’t drip.
13. Carefully open hot towel & lay it on patient’s chest (sinus or wherever).
14. Towel should be hot but not scalding.
15. Cover wet towel with big fuzzy bath towel to keep the heat in.
16. Leave hot towel on approx. 5 minutes or until it is no longer hot.
17. Dip another towel in cold water from cold tap. Wring out so it doesn’t drip.
18. Remove first wet towel, apply cold towel for approx. 1 minute.
19. Remove cold towel, apply freshly dipped hot ginger towel.
20. Alternate 5 min hot, 1 min cold, until all hot tea is gone.
21. Cover patient comfortably & let them sleep.

What you may expect:
Relief from pain and congestion, easier breathing in lung and sinus areas. Some people have coughed up loosened phlegm the next day, others have had runny noses for a week or more. Increased energy and vitality are common results.

© Copyright 2010 Herbal Legacy.  All rights reserved.  No reposting or reproduction of any kind without written consent is allowed.

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by Dr. John R. Christopher

Writing in Food, Yearbook of the U.S., Department of Agriculture, 1959, Dr. Oaf Michelsen of the National Institute of Health, tells us: Next to oxygen, water is the most important factor for survival of man and animals. A person can do without food for five weeks or more, but without water he can survive for only a few days.”

Dr. Allen E. Banik, in the book “The Choice is Clear” gives us a listing of the nine kinds of water:

Hard Water

This is saturated with calcium, iron, magnesium, and many other inorganic minerals. All water in lakes, rivers, on the ground, in deep wells, is classified as hard water. (Many city systems take water from rivers or lakes, or reservoirs supplied with mountain water; they erroneously call their supplies “soft water” but it is soft only in comparison with water which is harder.)  Practically all kinds of “bottled” water is hard water

Raw Water

This is water which has not been treated in any way.  It may be hard or soft – as hard as lime water, or as soft as rain water.  Raw water contains millions of viruses and bacteria, and is densely inhabited in every drop.  Chemicals dumped into our rivers may cause cancer, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

Boiled Water

Boiling helps remove some of the germs, but concentrates the inorganic minerals. Other germs are carried into a fertile element for rapid and lusty propagation of germs and viruses already in the body.

Soft Water

This water is soft in comparison with water which is harder. It may contain many trace minerals and chemicals, viruses and bacteria. It is not to be confused with “softened water.” Soft water may be classified as water which is harder than distilled water.

Rain Water

This has been condensed from the clouds. The first drop is distilled water. But when it falls as rain, it picks up germs, dust, smoke, minerals, lead and many other atmospheric chemicals. By the time rain water reaches the earth it is so saturated with dust and pollutants it may be yellowish in color. Water is supposed to act as an atmosphere purifier. If we had no air pollution, we would have far less pollution in our drinking water.

Snow Water

This is frozen rain. Freezing does not eliminate any germs. All snowflakes have hardened mineral deposits. Melt the cleanest snow and you will find it saturated with dirt, inorganic minerals, germs and viruses.

Filtered Water

This water has passed through a fine strainer, called a filter. Some calcium and other solid substances are kept in the filter; there is no filter made which can prevent germs from passing through its fine meshes. Each pore of the finest filter is large enough for a million viruses to seep through in a few moments. A home filter usually only picks up suspended solids and is effective for the time, maybe only for hours, until it is filled up. Then it is ineffective even for removing suspended solids, and at the same time becomes a breeding ground for bacteria.

De-ionized Water

Water processed by the de-ionized method effectively removes minerals, and compares to distilled water in this respect.  However, it does become a breeding ground for bacteria, pyrogenic matter and viruses.  The fault in this system lies in the resin beds which can become notorious breeding grounds.  Therefore it is not wise to have this possibility exist in your drinking water.  Furthermore, deionization does not remove synthetic chemicals such as herbicides, pesticides, insecticides or industrial solvents.

Distilled Water

This is water that has first been turned into steam so that all of its impurities are left behind. Then through condensation, it is turned back into pure water. It is the only pure water – the only water free from all contamination. Distilled water may well be considered the only pure water on earth.

Water is so valuable to the entire system of the human body that it is wise to use only the Best. Use pure steam distilled water for health and well being.

I personally did not know anything about distilled water until just a few years ago. My knowledge of it came in a rather odd way. I had been sitting in a wheelchair (and occasionally up on crutches) for approximately nine months-with both arthritis and also from an accident I had been in a few years before when I had received a concussion on my skull. Build-up of a calcification condition from the former fractured area had put pressure on the brain area causing a paralyzed condition on the right side of my body. I had lost my health-food store (the original “The Herb Shop”) in Orem, Utah, and was broke, so a friend offered me free rent to open another one in Salt Lake City.

Here was a ridiculous situation - a “health” doctor opening a health-food store in a wheel chair. The business started to grow slowly and one day as I sat there, a young fellow came in to do business with me and as he left he dropped a copy of “The Choice Is Clear”, by Dr. Banik, saying, “I’ll bet this will help you!” As I read the booklet through, I was completely sold on distilled water, so called up a company and had some delivered to me. I started using it faithfully and was out of the wheelchair in a very short time. Over the years I had helped patients leave their wheelchairs and had used the same procedure on myself that had cured them. It worked for them but not for me, until I combined my procedure with “pure” water.

© Copyright 2010 Herbal Legacy.  All rights reserved.  No reposting or reproduction of any kind without written consent is allowed.

Purchase Dr. Banik’s booklet, The Choice is Clear, here:

 http://www.christopherpublications.com/Banik_Choice_Clear.html 

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By Dr. James A. Duke in The Green Pharmacy Guide to Healing Foods

To most people, “mint” means spearmint, peppermint, and fresh flavors that are associated with mouthwash or gum.  Actually, there are hundreds of plants in the mint family – I have over 70 of them in my garden alone.  Many of them are herbs that you’d recognize from your spice cabinet, such as basil, rosemary, thyme, oregano, lavender, sage, and lemon balm.

All these spices are known for the great flavor they impart to foods, but they can do much more for your health.  Perhaps the most exciting breakthrough for the mint family is in the field of Alzheimer’s research.

Nutrient Nuts and Bolts: Members of the mint family, with their pleasant taste and aroma, are traditional stomach soothers, often in tea form.  Many of them also contain central nervous system stimulants, which work rather like caffeine, so they are nice alternatives to traditional coffee or tea.  These are the “uppers,” which include peppermint and spearmint.  Some mints, such as lemon balm and lavender, are actually “downers,” with sedative effects.  They’re also loaded with healthy-heart antioxidant compounds.

Perhaps the most exciting thing about the mint family is that most of its members contain at least a half dozen compounds that prevent the breakdown of acetylcholine.  Acetylcholine is the neurotransmitter that carries messages from one synapse to another in your brain.  When you’re deficient in this substance, the messages have a harder time getting through.  Keeping those connections strong may help us stay mentally sharp as we grow older, and adding more of the mint family to your diet just may be one of the keys to doing that.

How to Get More: The mind is certainly not something to trifle with, which is why I make mint tea part of my everyday routine.  By including a variety of mints (I often use rosemary, peppermint, and thyme), you can create an infusion with more than a dozen acetylcholine-preserving compounds.

Making the Most of Them: People often ask me about my recipe for mint tea, and I have to admit that I don’t really have one.  I generally take a pinch of this and a pinch of that, pour boiling water over it, and let it steep for 10 to 20 minutes before drinking it.  Over time, you’ll find that you like some flavors more than others, in which case you can add more of the mints you enjoy and less of the ones you don’t.  I have been known to make mint teas (and liqueurs) with a mixture of all the dozens of good-tasting mints in my garden.

Other Eating Tips: Another option for getting the benefits of fresh mint is to chop the leaves and add them to salads.  And, of course, many members of the mint family are ideal seasonings for a variety of healthful dishes.  You can put them into a muslin bag and steep them in your bath, since most of the acetylcholine-sparing compounds are transdermal, meaning they will go through the skin.

Printable Version: http://www.herballegacy.com/Mints.pdf

© Copyright 2010 Herbal Legacy.  All rights reserved.  No reposting or reproduction of any kind without written consent is allowed.

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By Dr. James A. Duke in The Green Pharmacy Guide to Healing Foods

I usually don’t play favorites, but when it comes to foods, garlic tops my list of healers.  Though a recent high-profile study called its cholesterol-lowering ability into question, it still has enough heart-protective benefits to rank high on my list.  It has other great qualities as well, including immunity-boosting and antiseptic properties.  Onions share many of the properties and healthful benefits of garlic, so they also deserve a mention here.  And in my Farmacy, I grow a nice batch of ramps, members of the garlic/onion family that you won’t find in many supermarkets (unless it’s ramp festival time in West Virginia and Ohio).  All of these plants contain the very important compound alliin, which converts to the super-medicinal allicin.

Nutrient Nuts and Bolts: When it comes to the heart, you can thank garlic’s many sulfur compounds, including diallyl disulfide, which prevent clotting and allow for smooth blood flow.  Of course, garlic also contains over a dozen immunity-boosting compounds that can fight off colds and other infections, maybe even more effectively than popular herbs like echinacea.  Recent research has also shown that several compounds in garlic can prevent cellular changes within the body that lead to cancer.

Onions offer many of the same sulfur compounds as garlic, but they bring even more to the table with their high amounts of flavonoids, specifically quercetin.  This flavonoid has been shown in studies to reduce platelet clumping and even prevent some forms of cancer.  So far, there is no better food source of quercetin than onion skins.

How to Get More: The other advantage of garlic and onions is just how easy they are to incorporate into your menus.  I add both to virtually all my soups and stews.  And when it comes to salads, just about the only dressing you’ll see me use is vinegar and oil mixed with fresh garlic and fresh diced onion, often with hot sauce or diced hot pepper.  That mixture alone has hundreds of healthful compounds.  Sometimes I even roast garlic and put it on toast for breakfast.

Making the Most of Them: Now I know what you’re thinking: “But Dr. Duke, what about the smell?”  Well, as much as it pains me to say it, studies have shown time and again that the more garlic stinks, the better it works. 
That’s why I often use it raw in salads or even eat whole cloves of the stuff if I don’t have anything social going on that day.

This isn’t to say that you can’t get benefits from cooked garlic; you can.  But you lose 40 percent of the original potency after garlic is cooked for 10 minutes, and you lose much more after 20 – but you never lose it all.  So, if you’re making a soup or stew, it might be a good idea to wait until near the end of the cooking time to add garlic.  Green tea, parsley, and coriander all have a unique ability to partially quell the smell, so you may want to consider brewing green tea and garlic together or adding parsley to a garlicky salad.  Or if you have a new potential client or lover or relative coming over, eat some parsley or coriander and drink some green tea quick!

Other Eating Tips: If you’re going for full effect and eating whole cloves of garlic, it’s important that you nick the surface of a clove first; that is, don’t swallow it intact.  I thought that was the way to go until my garlicologist, Larry Lawson, PhD, told me the skin should be broken before garlic enters the GI tract to get its benefits.  This ensures that the medicinal compounds of the bulb are released and will begin working more quickly in the body.

Now back to onions for a minute.  In one of the funny quirks of nature, most of the helpful flavonoids, such as quercetin, are found in the skin of the onion.  That’s why I always put the skins in a mesh bag and steep it in soups and stews when I’m making them.  Just remove the bag before serving.

© Copyright 2010 Herbal Legacy.  All rights reserved.  No reposting or reproduction of any kind without written consent is allowed.

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From The Green Pharmacy Guide to Healing Foods by James A. Duke, PhD

Few foods offer the unique combination of healthy nutrients and easy accessibility that beans do.  Eating more can provide a multitude of benefits.

Nutrient Nuts and Bolts: Beans get a lot of good press for being low in fat and high in protein, which makes then a great alternative to animal-based protein sources like red meat.  They’re also brimming with soluble fiber. 
This means that they are adept at whisking cholesterol out of your system via the intestines, making them good for your heart.

A lesser-known benefit of beans, though, is their high levels of isoflavones, compounds that are similar in structure to the estrogen produced by your body (which is why they are also called phytoestrogens).  These isoflavones may ease the symptoms of menopause, prevent some forms of cancer, reduce your risk of heart disease, and improve your bone and prostate health, among other benefits.

How to Get More: The nice thing about beans is how easily you can add them to any meal.  Pour them into soups and salads or use them in spicy Mexican dishes.  You also can’t go wrong with hummus, a mix a chickpeas, lemon juice, and garlic often served with pita bread or crackers.  Or try substituting tofu for meat in some of your main dishes.

Making the Most of Them: Dried beans may give you a slight nutritional edge, but not that much, so if you don’t have time to soak and prepare beans, don’t worry.  You can still gain a great benefit from canned beans. 
They’re often high in sodium, though, so you may want to drain and rinse them before using.

© Copyright 2010 Herbal Legacy.  All rights reserved.  No reposting or reproduction of any kind without written consent is allowed.

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by Jo Francks, MH

The urinary tract consists of the kidneys, bladder, ureters and the urethra.  The kidneys function is to remove waste from the blood and regulate fluid levels.  The kidneys process about 200 quarts of water per day and excrete about 2 quarts of waste products and extra water through the bladder per day in the form of urine.

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are the second most common type of infections in the body and account for over 8 million doctor visits per year.  UTIs can happen anywhere in the urinary tract, but most common is the bladder.  Women are more likely to develop a UTI than men.  One in five women will suffer from a UTI and about 20% of those will likely have another bladder infection.

Symptoms of a urinary tract infection may include cloudy urine, foul smelling urine, a reddish color if blood is present, painful or burning sensation during urination, frequent urge to urinate, and a low grade fever.

If the infection reaches the kidneys, other symptoms may appear such as pain in the lower back or side, nausea and vomiting, chills or fever, tired or general ill feeling.

Herbal treatment for UTIs:  In her book Dr. Mom’s Healthy Living, Sandra Ellis says she has never seen the following treatment fail:  Take 2 capsules of Dr. Christopher’s Kidney Formula with 1 capsule Solaray Cranactin 3 times a day and drink a gallon of distilled water per day.

Sandra says “There is an ingredient in cranberries that keeps the bacteria from adhering to the bladder wall, the kidney formula kills the infection, and the gallon of distilled water flushes it out.” 

Dr. Christopher’s Infection formula can be added to the above treatment if necessary.  Take 4 capsules 3 times a day.  Other herbs that could help with a bladder infection include dandelion which acts as a diuretic and blood purifier; buchu which helps relieve the burning sensation; uva ursi which is a strong diuretic and helps to dissolve stones; marshmallow root to help soothe the irritation; astragalus to boost the immune system; garlic to fight infection and boost immune function; cranberry juice, rose hips, yarrow, couch grass, juniper berries, corn silk, and hydrangea root to dissolve stones.

Prevention is the key – especially if a person has experienced a bladder infection in the past. Don’t resist the urge to urinate, and make sure the bladder is completely empty each time.  Wipe from front to back to prevent bacteria around the anus from entering the vagina or urethra. Take showers instead of baths.  Drink a gallon of distilled water every day.  Eliminate sodas, sugary drinks and processed foods.  Eat more green foods (try a green smoothie) and fresh fruits and vegetables.  Carrot juice, lemon juice and apple cider vinegar are all good to help change the Ph of the body to more alkaline.  Disease can’t grow in an alkaline environment.

If you are looking for the herbal remedies recommended in this article you can find herb shops we recommend on http://www.christopherwebsites.com.

Printable Version: http://www.herballegacy.com/UrinaryTract.pdf

© Copyright 2010 Herbal Legacy.  All rights reserved.  No reposting or reproduction of any kind without written consent is allowed.

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by Nathan Jaynes, MH

Fibromyalgia (or “FM” for short) is a complex, chronic condition which causes widespread pain and fatigue as well as a variety of other symptoms.

The name fibromyalgia comes from “fibro” meaning fibrous tissues (such as tendons and ligaments), “my” meaning muscles, and “algia” meaning pain.

Unlike arthritis, FM does not cause pain or swelling in the joints.  Rather, it produces pain in the soft tissues located around joints and in skin and organs throughout the body. 

Because FM has few symptoms that are outwardly visible, it has been nicknamed “the invisible disability” or the “irritable everything” syndrome.  The pain of FM usually consists of diffuse aching or burning described as “head to toe”, and it is often accompanied by muscle spasm.  Pain can vary in severity from day to day and change location, becoming more severe in parts of the body that are used the most (i.e., neck, shoulders, and feet).  In some people, it can be so intense that it interferes with the performance of even simple tasks, while in others it may cause only moderate discomfort.  Likewise, the fatigue of FM also varies from person to person ranging from a mild, tired feeling to the exhaustion of a flu like illness.

Although the exact prevalence of FM in the U.S. population has not been thoroughly studied, conservative estimates place the total between 4 and 6 million.  Other experts believe the true number is closer to 10 million.  An estimated 80% of sufferers are women, most of them working age.
 
Symptoms and syndromes associated with FM:
Pain, fatigue, stiffness, headaches, facial pain, sleep disturbances, cognitive disorders, digestive complaints, genito urinary problems, paresthesia (numbness or tingling), disequilibrium, restless leg syndrome, sensory sensitivity/allergic symptoms, itchy, dry, or blotchy skin, depression, and anxiety

Causes:
The causes of FM are so far unknown by the medical community.  There are several factors that may play a role in FM and other related diseases (chronic fatigue, irritable bowel syndrome, multiple chemical sensitivity, and Lymes disease).

Contributing factors may include:
• Increased use of chemicals in foods
• Home and personal products
• Decreased nutrients in food or lack of good food in diet
• Acidic body chemistry caused by poor diet
• Lack of exercise
• Exposure to environmental toxins
• Exposure to vaccinations
• Yeast infections
• Exposure to pharmaceutical drugs including antibiotics
• Lack of sleep

Herbal Therapy:
• Vitalerbs:  multivitamin to provide the body with increased nutrients
• Jurassic Green:  alkanalizes the body creating a healing internal environment
• Immuncalm: Strengthens the immune system but does not over-stimulate it.
• Skullcap: the best nerve food available
• Lower Bowel Formula: helps the body cleanse the lower bowel
• Kidney Formula: aids in eliminating wastes from the kidney and urinary tract
• Liver & Gallbladder Formula: helps cleanse the liver and gall bladder
• Blood Stream Formula: helps the body cleanse the blood

Other Therapies:
• Massage is effective against some muscle and tendon pain, relieves tension and stress
• Hydrotherapy is effective against pain
Remember, you can find herb shops we recommend on http://www.christopherwebsites.com.

© Copyright 2010 Herbal Legacy.  All rights reserved.  No reposting or reproduction of any kind without written consent is allowed.

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by Dr. Christopher
from the 100 Herb Syllabus

Peppermint is classed as a stimulant herb, the most pungent of all the mints. Dr. Christopher also recommended it as a marvelous antispasmodic, which can give tone to the entire body as well. It is a soothing sedative for nervous and restless people of all ages, promoting relaxation and sleep–a wonderful combination of characteristics. On top of all that, it is a very delicious and welcome tea.

HOME REMEDY

Peppermint is used for most of the minor ailments that plague people. It is a prime remedy for colds and flu. The classic formula for these ailments, which is said to break a fever quickly, is a combination of equal parts of peppermint and elder flowers. This is made in a tea and given hot to the sick person, who goes to bed and keeps warm until he begins to sweat. Sweating always breaks the fever (and that is why we hurry to make the patient sweat; dry fever kills, but a moist, sweating fever kills germs and brings the patient to better health than he was before the illness). You can also make hot cups of tea, as strong as you like, for the same purpose, without the elder flowers. The formula is soothing for restlessness and nervousness that often accompany the onset of illness; it can be used to calm people of any age no matter what reason their nervousness.

In place of aspirin or other inorganic, harmful painkilling drugs, take a cup of strong peppermint tea, lying down for a little while. It should relive the pain quickly; if need be, take two or three cups. This strengthens the nerves instead of weakening them as so many of the drugs do. Furthermore, it has been shown that aspirin destroys some of the bacteria-resistant protection in man; peppermint tea, on the other hand, only strengthens the person against disease.

For severe pain, Shook recommended a strong decoction of peppermint. This was made by mixing 3 ounces of peppermint leaves, cut, in 1 quart of hot distilled water. This was covered and let stand for two hours. Bring to a boil, then simmer slowly for five minutes. Add 4 ounces glycerine and again simmer for five minutes. Strain, cool, and bottle. This is given when a person suffers pains and feelings of discomfort in the stomach and abdominal region without knowing the cause.

This brings us to the other most common use of peppermint, the relief of gas in the system. Many people, because they lack sufficient enzymes, or do not chew their food properly, or eat improper combinations of foods or improper foods, suffer from flatulence. Some foods, such as the legumes, contain chemicals which cause gas formation in the system (although certain methods of cooking them can reduce the gas considerably). However, many people take a cup of Peppermint tea after meals as insurance against flatulence. Taken with meals, it will assist digestion generally and is much a preferable beverage for everyday use instead of coffee or tea, which hinder proper digestion and cause health problems generally. The mint will get rid of a queasy stomach and nausea; for this purpose it is often mixed with chamomile, which has pain reducing and relaxing properties as well. Many of us have experienced sudden, sharp pains in the abdomen, which are often caused by pockets of gas cramping in the system. Peppermint relieves these almost immediately; it is therefore a good remedy for colic in infants. The leaves can be slightly warmed and bound on the infant’s abdomen, which is a good method especially in cases of small infants who cannot tolerate the proper amount of tea.

Peppermint is a powerful stimulant, and will bring the body to its natural warmth, helping in cases of sudden dizzy or fainting spells, with extreme coldness and a pale countenance.

It is given in cases of diarrhea, and some doctors consider that it is one of the surest, as well as the simplest, remedies for this complaint. As soon as the diarrhea appears, drop 15 drops of essence of Peppermint in a cup of hot water, and sip with a spoon as hot as can be borne. Repeat every three hours until cured. The essence of Peppermint is also valuable in a nervous sick headache, such as a migraine. To a cupful of water add one teaspoonful of the essence; saturate a cloth with it and apply to the head and temples. For many persons this gives quick relief. As soon as the cloth becomes dry, wet the cloth again. This is one of the few herbs that the oil and essence are used without danger of overdosing, although they should always be mixed with water for internal use.

The oil of Peppermint can be applied, straight, to an aching tooth while awaiting a trip to the dentist. It works, like oil of Cloves, to relieve the pain.

To make an excellent liniment for reducing the pains of rheumatism, sciatica, lumbago, stiff and swollen joints, congestion of the chest, sore throat, and so on, including sores, even purulent sores and gangrene, Dr. Shook recommended making Liniment of Peppermint. To do so, heat 1 pint of pure olive oil, and add to it 1 dram (teaspoonful) of oil of Peppermint, 1 dram, menthol crystals, and 1 dram of flowers of camphor. Mix in a warm jar or bottle, shaking until dissolved. Let stand until cool, then keep in a cool place. This can also be used to reduce varicose veins, clear up acne, boils, abscesses, eczema, etc.

Of course, one of the nicest uses of Peppermint is culinary. Euell Gibbons pointed out that to him Peppermint wasn’t a medicine, but a delightful food. He had samples of wild mint analyzed for vitamins A and C and found that the freshly picked plant, had, on the average, approximately as much vitamin C as the same weight of oranges, and more carotene, or provitamin A, than do carrots, making this herb an excellent source of both vitamins (Gibbons:74). Instead of just an occasional garnish or flavoring you can use mint freely in your diet. In the near East, it is the main ingredient of salads, some of the best Gibbons has ever eaten, he said. Add a quantity of finely-chopped mint to almost any tossed salad, for it seemed (to him) to combine well with all salad materials. It must be chopped very fine, and the salad must be thoroughly tossed, but don’t be afraid to add enough mint. When it is tempered by oil and vinegar and mingled with the flavors of other greens, it takes at least a half-cupful of chopped mint to properly flavor a big bowl of salad.

Peppermint vinegar is made by filling a bottle with clean, freshly picked peppermint. Cover with apple cider vinegar and let steep for two weeks; strain off the vinegar. A small fresh sprig of mint can be added to the final bottles for beauty and quick identification. In small, decorative bottles, this is a lovely Christmas gift.

A good beverage is made by mixing cold Peppermint tea with apple juice and chilling. Mint ice cubes, frozen with a small sprig of mint in the center, make this a party drink.

Some people add cold Peppermint tea to their pie crusts instead of using Ice water. It makes a good flavor, subtle but pleasant.

Finely-chopped mint is wonderful added to fresh-fruit salads. You can garnish the combination with a few mint leaves.
Next week we will cover cultivation, collection and preparation of peppermint.

www.herballegacy.com/Peppermint.pdf

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by Dr. John R. Christopher

Rembert Dodens, Dutch physician to the Emperors Maximilian II and Rudolph, wrote in 1557 in his ‘History of Plants’:

“The juice of the cabbage softens the belly and makes one go to stool.  It cleans and cures old ulcers.  Cabbage juice mixed with honey makes a syrup that heals hoarseness and coughing.  The leaves, when cooked and applied to chronic ulcers, modify and heal them, and aid the resolution of tumors and wounds.”

Doctors Merat and Lens of the Faculty of Medicine of Paris wrote in 1829 (Universal Dictionary of Materia Medica): “The cabbage is one of the most valuable acquisitions of man.  It combats scurvy, it prevents gout, the tender leaves are applied to wounds, and seeds are indicated for worms.”

A Doctor Roques of the eighteen hundreds protected himself and his family for many years against the epidemic winter diseases by eating a daily salad of cooked cabbage.  He recommended the following treatment for cold and laryngitis; One pound of strained red cabbage juice, 3 grams of saffron, 1/2 pound of honey and sugar, the whole boiled to a syrup; 1 tablespoonful is taken in a cup of tea 3 or 4 times daily.

A Doctor Blanc wrote: “Cabbage is the bread and butter of therapeutics.  It is the doctor of the poor - the providential physician.  Let the incredulous experiment, nothing is simpler (than cabbage); the application is external and easy, the action is prompt and innocuous.  One can see it with the naked eye.  The virtues of this plant are numerous, and I defy anyone to present a good reason why cabbage should not be used therapeutically.”

The preparation of cabbage for various disorders is as follows: Wash the leaves or soak them for a few minutes in water to which lemon juice has been added.  Wipe dry, then use a knife or scissors to remove the central rib and, if the application is planned for an ulcer or sensitive wound, the secondary ribs.  Crush the leaves, one by one - with a rolling pin or bottle.  The juice appears at the surface of the leaves, ready for application.  One, two, or three applications will be required according to the severity of the disease.  Cover with a thick cloth and continue the application for several hours, generally overnight, or during the day if pain prevents sleep.

For a very sensitive wound, plunge the leaves for one or two seconds into boiling water, softening them, and reducing the possibility of irritation,

If cabbage leaves are applied to ulcers with swollen irritated margins, soak the leaves first for one-half hour in olive oil.  The resulting preparation will soothe inflamed tissues as well as combating infection and aiding healing.

Cabbage leaves applied to an infected wound, ulcer, or oozing eczema should be layered like roof shingles, allowing secretions to drain between the layers.  When treating lumbago, joint pain, or various afflictions of the nerve or bladder, poultices of cabbage leaves bring rapid relief.  A poultice is prepared as follows: Boil for 20 minutes 2 to 4 cabbage leaves and two whole chopped onions with 3 or 4 handfuls of bran and a little water. 
After evaporation of the water, place the poultice on gauze and apply hot for one or two hours, or even for the whole night. (Never apply heat to a painful abdomen.  Only the physician can properly diagnose the cause of abdominal pain, and the application of heat to appendicitis or infection of the ovary may be harmful.)

Doctor Garnett-Cheney, Professor at the Medical School of Stanford, published a report concerning the use of cabbage juice in the treatment of gastric ulcers.  Of 65 cases reported in his series, 62 were cured at the end of three weeks.  Cabbage has been recommended to correct anemia of experimental animals induced by an all-milk diet.

In research at the University of Texas.  Dr. W. Shive extracted from cabbage a substance he calls Glutamine, useful in the treatment of alcoholism and peptic ulcer.

Cabbage has been found to be of infinite value for pregnant women, and for patients with anemia, fatigue, infections, intestinal parasites, stones, and arthritis.

We list now some of the afflictions for which the cabbage has been used over the centuries to bring relief:

Acne:  Apply a lotion of freshly prepared cabbage juice preceded, if desired, by the application of leaves.  The eating of cabbage leaves or juice is also helpful.

Alcoholism:  Eat cabbage, steamed or raw and drink the juice.

Anemia:  Drink one or two glasses of cabbage juice daily.

Burns:  Apply mashed cabbage leaves to the burn area to relieve pain and speed healing.

Cirrhosis of the liver:  Drink cabbage juice and eat raw or steamed cabbage.

Colitis:  Apply 3 or 4 layers of cabbage leaves over the abdomen each evening and secure in place to be left on overnight.  Drink also the juice between meals.

Constipation:  Several glasses a day of cabbage broth.

Diarrhea:  Apply cabbage leaves to the abdominal region during the day and a fresh application for overnight and drink a cabbage broth.

Headache:  Apply cabbage leaves to the forehead and nape of the neck and leave on overnight.  Applications of the leaves over the liver may also be necessary.

Insect Bites:  Rub a crushed cabbage leaf over the bite.

Kidney disease:  Apply cabbage leaves over the kidney areas and leave on overnight and also for a few hours during the day

Menses, painful:  Apply cabbage leaves over the lower abdomen for several hours.

Sprains:  Tie three or four thicknesses of cabbage leaves around the sprained area and leave on overnight.

Next time you see the lowly cabbage plant consider that over the centuries many people have derived much relief from physical ailments through using it.

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by Dr. John R. Christopher

A Dr. Blanc in 1881 wrote the following: “About 1880, a cart driver in a small French village fell off his wagon and - a frequent accident in those times - one wheel rolled over his leg.  Two physicians agreed that amputation was necessary; a surgeon was called into consultation, he concurred, and the operation was booked for the next morning.  But at 5 p.m. that day the parish priest, Loviat of Saint-Claude, advised the patient’s mother to cover the injured leg with cabbage leaves.  Under the influence of this simple dressing, the man slept all night.  When he awoke, the family and one of the physicians who arrived to prepare the patient for surgery saw that he could move his leg.  The cabbage leaves were removed to reveal a leg without swelling and with improved color.  Eight days later, completely well, the man returned to work.”

The common cabbage has been of vital importance to mankind over the 4,000 years of its cultivation.  The medical use of cabbage, empirical for centuries, is based upon precise scientific considerations.  Hippocrates once remarked that physicians shouldn’t hesitate to borrow from folklore that which can be useful in medicine.  We now know, with sound proof, that the folklore of cabbage has stood the test of time and scientific experimentation.

Two other accounts of the medicinal use of cabbage might be of interest: A watchmaker suffered for a year with a painful eczema of both hands, preventing him from working.  The lesions were acutely inflamed, and the fingernails were separating, about to fall off.  Applications of cabbage leaves twice daily for a few days brought relief from pain, as clear fluid drained onto the dressing.  With continued treatment healing took place within two months.

In 1875 a 75-year old man suffered arteriosclerotic gangrene of the lower right leg and foot.  The skin was black and the front of the lower leg was decayed.  Following the local application of cabbage leaf dressings, the skin changed from black to brown to red, and then returned to its normal healthy color.  Three weeks later, writes doctor Blanc, there was a considerable improvement.

It has not yet been discovered why the cabbage leaf has such remarkable healing properties.  We only know that the cabbage leaf has a particular affinity for disease-causing fluids, forcing them from the tissues.  It even seems that treating small areas of extensive disease benefits the whole, as distant toxins are removed, the cabbage promotes healing and scar tissue, thus preventing complications.
The long history of cures obtained with cabbage, concern many different diseases, including simple and complicated injuries, rheumatic pains, facial neuralgia, headaches, leg ulcer, anthrax, and many others.  Cabbage - raw in salads, juiced, or steamed - has incomparable virtues in the most diverse maladies.

Hippocrates had a peculiar affection for this vegetable.  Should one of his patients be seized with a violent colic, he at once prescribed a dish of boiled cabbage with salt.  Erasistratus looked upon it as a sovereign remedy against paralysis.  Pythagoras, and other learned philosophers, composed books in which they celebrated the marvelous virtues of the cabbage.  Cato claimed that this plant infallibly cures all diseases; and that he used it as a panacea to preserve his family from the plague, which, otherwise, would not have failed to reach them.  It is to the use the Romans made of it, he adds, that they were able during six hundred years to do without the assistance of physicians, whom they had expelled from their territories.

The Romans used cabbage externally and internally for various illnesses, as a purgative, disinfectant, and poultice; Roman soldiers applied cabbage leaves to their wounds for healing.

Next week, we will get into more details about how cabbage can heal specific conditions.

Printable Version: http://www.herballegacy.com/CabbageI.pdf

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