Natural Foods with great Medicinal Value

Natural Foods with great medicinal values

We used fresh ginger, garlic, green chillies and coriander leaves in our cooking.

Ginger: Extremely good for all digestive problems and for nausea. My mother

would give us a piece of ginger with a pinch of salt whenever we suffered nausea.

As I was growing up I ate a piece of ginger whenever my stomach was upset. Have a

glass of water ready if you are not used to eating raw ginger. Start with a very tiny

piece. Eating a small piece of ginger after every meal will enhance your digestive

process.

Slice ginger 3” long and soak it in a glass bottle in 4 tablespoons of honey and leave

it for an hour. The juice from the ginger will come out and get mixed with the

honey. Have a teaspoon of this liquid when you have cold. You can use this ginger honey

in your tea as well. 

Use fresh grated ginger in all your recipes even home-made soups.

Boil Crushed piece of ginger (2” ling) and 3 cups of water for 30 minutes, squeeze a

lemon and add honey. Drink this mixture hot, ¼ cup at a time every 4 hours for

cough and cold. It even opens up the nasal passage and lets you sleep well.  Children

can have less than ¼ cup at a time. If you are not used to the spice of ginger, boil the

ginger for a shorter time.

Try applying a mixture of ginger powder and hot water over the eyebrows for sinus.

This stops the throbbing pain. This was my sister-in-laws remedy for her sinus. It

may not work if the sinus is severe.

Garlic acts as a blood thinner and therefore good for controlling blood pressure.

Eating raw garlic early in the morning to control blood pressure is practised

throughout India. Drinking plenty of water, eating healthy food and exercise also help

control blood pressure. If none of this works, then you may have to take the

prescribed medication. Remember to tell your doctor if you are taking raw garlic

every morning especially if you are going for any surgery. It has the same effect as

Aspirin and blood thinners.

 I was a very clumsy girl growing up in India. I would constantly bang my open toe

to the threshold and sprain it. It would swell and become very painful. My mother

crushed garlic, heated it in coconut oil and applied it warm on my toe covering it with a

light bandage, two or three times a day. Within two or three days my toe would heal

completely.  

Garlic boiled in coconut oil can also be very effective for ingrown toe nails. With a

dropper put a drop where the ingrown toe nail troubles. Use as hot as you can take. This

works well when the nail just starts growing in and when the problem is not severe.

I recently heard that drinking water which is poured on the slices of four ginger and two

cloves of crushed garlic and drunk the next morning is excellent for high cholesterol. 

Remember to pour boiling water on the garlic and ginger and leave it overnight. Drink

the strained water first thing in the morning. 

Green chillies are full of vitamin C. Use them instead of chilli powder

Boil pomegranate skin and drink the juice for diarrhoea.

1 – 3 years ¼ teaspoon. You can increase the amount as the child gets older (not

more than about 3 tablespoons for age 15 and about 5 tablespoons for adults.

Yogurt, rice, banana, clear soups and teas were also our foods for diarrhoea

When my neighbour’s son was very young, he had severe constipation problem.

Once, the parents even had to take him to the hospital. The doctor examined him

and asked the parent to get a fizzy orange drink and give it to him and wait for 20 minutes.

Low And behold, he passed he motion without any problem. Ever since then, this is

what I try first before buying anything from the counter. Lots of vegetables with

fibre, fruits, fish and soups are also good for constipation. Avoid meat and wheat

when you have constipation.

Though milk has proven to be bad for cold and cough, it has a soothing effect when

you drink hot milk with honey and a pinch of turmeric powder. Whenever we had

severe cough and congestion in the chest, my mother would beat a raw egg, mix it

with a glass of hot milk, honey and a spoon of brandy and gave it to us for 5

consecutive mornings. It always worked.

Neem leaves are very bitter, but extremely good for cleansing your digestive system.

Mahatma Gandhi used to eat Neem chutney (neem leaves ground with a little salt, chilly

and lemon) daily with his meals

Whenever children had measles or chicken pox, they were given small branches of

Neem to lightly pass on the skin. Neem branches are even put in a vase in the room

of the child, as it is supposed to purify the air. After measles and chicken Pox the

children are bathed with water in which neem leaves are boiled. Boil a cupful of

neem leaves in a large pot filled with water. Then mix this water to a bucketful of

warm water and pour this water on the body of the child as a final rinse and pat dry with a

towel.

Neem leaves are very potent. You should never rub them directly on the skin. The skin can swell.  

Neem oil along with Cynth (an Ayurvedic oil) is now being used in hospitals in India to

prevent bedsores on bedridden patients.  

 My very good friend’s mother had a fall and broke her hip. She underwent surgery

and was in the intensive care for a fortnight due to complications. Though she

recovered, she came home with a bad bedsore. All my friend was told to do was to

dip cotton in neem oil and shove it inside the bedsore. The bedsore was completely

healed within a month and she never got any sore again. All she did was sponge her

mother everyday and apply neem oil on parts of her body that touched the bed and

use an air mattress.  She was bedridden for 4 more years and never got a bedsore

again.

Dealing with hurts and pains of the heart:

          Every human being in this world experiences hurt and it stays deep in our hearts.

Some incidents later in our lives trigger this hurt and we feel very sad and almost

depressed. I was no exception to this. There were little things that caused me a lot of hurt

when I was growing up. I would push them somewhere under the conscious mind as you

cannot really cast them away. There were times when something would trigger to bring

those hurts to the surface. During my teenage years I devised a plan to cope with this. I

would assign one night to think and bring to the surface all the incidents of hurtI experienced in

my life thus far, as if they happened to me at that night. This would fill my heart with so

much pain that I would cry till all the pain was gone from my heart and then fell asleep.

There were nights when my pillow would be soaked with tears. However, when I got up

the next day I was as good as new for a few years or till the trigger brought about the

sadness again. Perhaps being in the boarding school from an early age, I had to learn to

cope with many things and find ways of dealing with things on my own. Eventually I

got stronger and was able to remember those incidents without feeling sad and hurt, 

in an objective manner. I knew that some of the things people said and did to me were

wrong, but it did not hurt me any more. Don’t get me wrong. There was no sexual abuse. The

physical punishment did not bother me as well as in those days all of us got beaten up for

a bad report card, complaint from the teacher or even for back answering your parents. It

was the hurtful remarks made by my mother, friends and siblings that hurt me the most.

People could call it psychological therapy. It worked for me and I am sure it would work

for all as long as they are able to bear the pain that will seize their hearts when they

bring to surface all the hurtful incidents, together.

          Today I am at peace with the world and the people around me. I have realized that

we are all human and make mistakes. “To err is human, to forgive is divine.”  I have

forgiven those who have hurt me, but not forgotten. My experiences have made me wiser

and not bitter. Furthermore I am content with what life has given me so far. I believe life

is a gift and everything in it including the sorrows, disappointments and despairs we

sometimes experience. As long as we are feeling something, no matter what, we are alive.

We die the minute we stop feeling and become apathetic. 

          If I am so, healthy at this age, it is because of the home grown fruits and

vegetables, chickens, eggs, milk, butter, yogurt and ghee that I ate when I was growing up. Everything we

ate was natural. The fish was caught in the streams or rivers. The chickens were fed with grain every

morning.  Our cows and buffalos were taken to be grazed in the open fields and were brought back in the

evening.  All extra fruits, vegetables and grains were the food for our cattle. Yogurt was always home-made

and eaten with brown rice conge for breakfast every morning. Honey was collected directly from the

beehives in the trees. Honey or home-made jam was eaten with rice pancakes and crepes.  Bananas were

sliced and dried in the sun and preserved in the remaining honey and eaten as dessert after food. Vinegar

and salt was our salad dressing. Once a year all of us had to drink some bitter liquid made from roots and

herbs to clean our stomachs. There were none of the preservatives in our food nor was any spray being

used on the vegetables or fruits we ate. By the time I was a teenager, bug sprays were slowly being

introduced to the coffee plants to increase production.

          As we were growing up, our mother gave us sprouted raw lotus seeds, every morning. They did

not taste the greatest, but she said that they were good for us as they were full of B Complex. Now I sprout

them and use them in salads, soups or just stir fly them with onions, garlic, tomatoes, walnuts and green

chillies and eat them semi raw. I sometimes add pieces of mango to this semi raw salad. You can sprout any

kind of lentils as long as they are not split. (The recipes below explain how to sprout lentils.) Then there

was a time when we had to eat a raw tomato every morning. Then she discovered a new and unique

porridge which was drunk in our house till the day she died on the 23^rd of  December 2011. The recipe of

which will be given later in the blog. That is the first recipe.

          My siblings and I were boarders in convent schools as there were no schools near the plantation here

where my father worked. We went home only for Diwali holidays and summer holidays. Christmas break

was too short for the travel. Hiking, playing “Seven Tiles” and catching crabs were some of the main fun

activities we were involved during our vacations. We called hiking as “climbing the mountain.” This hiking at

an early age was good for our health and for building stamina. We started this hike as early as age 9 or 10.

          Walking was another pass-time that kept us healthy. Exploring nature and finding sreams, fruit trees,

and even rocks with games carved on them. I still remember climbing an eight foot square rock and seeing a

game that we played with shells being carved on the top. We wondered how long ago this must have been

carved and imagined children or perhaps adults sitting and playing this game. Those were good times.

We were one with nature and our joys were simple and pure.  We knew all the insects that flew or crawled

including the centipedes and millipedes and the one that was called the 'bloodsucker'. We became familiar

with the different birds and their sounds. wodpeckers, minas, parrots, owls, koels and bats were the

common birds we knew by sound and sight. We ate the wild berries when we found them and drank the

clear water from the streams. If the tree was too high one of the brave boys would climb the tree and cut a

branch and all of us would sit round this branch and eat the berries. These were the joys we once had

which are alien to my children and grandchildren, who are happy watching the “idiot Box.” So much has

happened to ruin our health in just one generation around this world, including India, that is not surprising

knowing man's greed for better, bigger and more. Some may call those days backward, I call them divine.

We lived how man was meant to live by his creator.

          We did not have any toys except the ones made by carpenters. The board games were Snakes and

Ladders, Ludo,  and Monopoly. We were allowed to play cards only during summer holidays. Usually, we

played these indoor games either when it was raining or when it was too hot to go outside to play. Lunch

was our main meal of the day and we were all expected to rest for an hour or two after lunch, during

holidays. Now that I live in a commercial world, where it is very difficult or practically impossible to eat

and drink the pure stuff I once did, I do what I can to remain healthy with the means I have.

          The first step to good health is, to use less and less of the readymade food products. It is

healthier and much cheaper to cook your own meals. Here are the recipes that I use to prepare my meals.

They are not all necessarily Indian. Since we live in a multicultural society, I have recipes from all

nationalities. I have modified most of them to suit my taste. Many of them are improvised depending on what

was in my fridge at that moment. That is what I want you to do. You can always substitute ingredients or

even omit them altogether once you gain enough confidence.

              Religion and faith also played a very important part in our lives. We were Roman Catholics, but

that does not mean it is the only faith that is helpful for a healthy life. Prayer and thanksgiving were instilled in

us. We believed that God was Omnipotent, Omniscient and Omnipresent. We also believed that God was

all merciful, bountiful and powerful.  We were also taught to be content with what we have and learn to do

the best with resources at hand. This is my blog and I have written what contributed to my happy and

healthy life. You are welcome to disagree. I respect the opinion of all as each one has a right to his or her

own belief and convictions.

        

            

Here is a true story of how my son got cured of his stammering. When my son was 4

years old, he suddenly developed stammering. It was bizarre that a boy who spoke

fluently should all of a sudden start stammering. I was devastated. I later on found out

that my brother-in-law with whom we lived at that time and who loved my children

dearly, was trying to shoo a lizard (which are found on the walls of Indian homes,) with a

long stick. At the time he was also carrying my son in one hand. I heard that the lizard

fell down as my brother-in-law was poking at the lizard and my son was so scared that he

gave a loud scream and the stammering started after that.

            After the initial shock, I sat and thought about what I should do. Of course the

first thing I did was knelt down and prayed to God to cure my son. People said that I

should go to Mount Mary’s church in Bombay and offer a candle by the shape of a

tongue. Yes. I did that. I would do anything for my son. Besides I did have faith in

Mother Mary. I had now covered my faith base. I knew I had to do more. I bought some

books with the pictures of lizards and snakes and started reading about them to my son.

Initially he did not want to even look at the picture of the lizard. I did not force him.

Gradually he not only looked at the picture but he also touched the picture. Then I went

one step further. I brought two plastic lizards. I called them ‘mama lizard’ and ‘baby

lizard.’ I made up good stories about them and gradually my son held the lizard in his

hand. In the mean time his stammering started becoming less and less. Then I told him

that when his uncle tried to shoo the lizard with a stick, it must have hurt the poor

creature and it must have lost balance and fell down to the floor. “Can you imagine

how frightened the poor lizard must have felt?” I asked him. He was very sympathetic

towards the poor lizard. I

"If it was the mama lizard, what about the baby?"

"The baby must have missed its mother. The mother of course must have crawled up later and found its baby," I replied. 

In the mean time my son's stammering was getting lesser and lesser and eventually it stopped. I did go to ‘Mount Mary’s Church’ once again to light a candle of thanks.

I was not a psychologist. Therefore I think God alone must have given me the idea to use such a strategy to cure my son’s stammering. I was thankful.

September 21, 2012

Remedies for Unique conditions

           As I was growing up in a small South Indian town of India, we followed natural

remedies for most of the common ailments. I cannot categorically say that they were all

successful at all times. There were times when these remedies did not work and we

needed intervention from the doctors.  However, most of the time these remedies worked

for common cold, fever, stomach pain, sinus, sprains and allergies. Besides ailments there

were even remedies for other things. One such condition is explained below.

Getting Rid of Fright in Children:

           Some children get very scared when they hear any loud noise. They literally jump

up in their seats or in their beds. I was one of those children who was very scared of the

slightest noise. I am sure there was a psychological reason for this, which of course no

was aware. You may be surprised to know that there was a remedy for it.  

There were times when all of us children and women sat around the grinding stone. This

grinding stone was made up of two circular polished heavy stones places one on the top

of the other. The top stone had a wooden handle inserted tightly on the top and a hole in

the centre. Grain especially roasted rice of about two tablespoons would be poured into

this hole at one time. One person would then turn the top stone slowly so that the rice

would be ground and the flour would then pour out from between the two stones. A clean

white cloth would be placed below the stones to collect the flour. This flour was then

used to make Christmas sweets. (In the coffee plantation where I spent my summer

holidays, there were no mills. This was the mill at every home.) This was a long process

and the older women took turns to turn the stone. The children were there to listen to the

stories being told.

          At that time an iron rod would be heated to crimson red and placed in a brass pot. It

would be then slowly brought behind where I was sitting and water would be poured on

the rod. This would create such a loud noise that people would jump up. The first time they

did it, I jumped up so high and gave such a blood curding scream, that my father came

running to see what had happened.  The second time my screams were less and by the

fourth time, I hardly noticed the noise. This also got rid of my fright for noises. Though

this sounds primitive, it had psychological benefits. 

Introduction

Introduction

I decided to create this blog of natural remedies because of the different reactions

the present medications have on our bodies. I being over sixty and having a very good

health so far, attribute it to the following four things.

1. Faith or Spirituality: Faith in the almighty’s presence, power and mercy and the

peace, wisdom and humility that comes from this faith. I believe that it is very

important to have faith. I being born a Roman Catholic my faith was based on

Christianity. However, I do not believe that one has to be Christian to be spiritual

or possess this faith. In fact one could just be Spiritual as opposed to being

religious.

2. Contentment and gratitude:

      It is very important to be content with what we have and be grateful for the many

      blessings we enjoy.  

3. Forgiveness: Having a clean and burden free heart which has forgiven all and        

asked forgiveness from those offended or hurt by us intentionally or

unintentionally. It is true that when a person harbours grudge, hate or anger

towards the other, it is he or she who suffers and not the one hated.  It also has a

negative impact on the mental and physical state of the hater.

4. Healthy Lifestyle: Eating healthy food with less sugar and salt and having

enough exercise and sleep is also very important. The best way to do this is

cooking everything from scratch.