Page 55 - Lost Book Remedies

The Lost Book of Herbal Remedies

Cabbage, is even more effective for treating intestinal problems
of all kinds.
Brassica oleracea Diabetes: Sauerkraut juice, mixed with a little lemon

juice, helps people control their diabetes and stabilize
The common cabbage is familiar to gardeners across their blood sugars. The sauerkraut juice stimulates the
the country, but many don’t realize how valuable it is digestion and pancreas.
as a medicinal plant. The plant is a biennial or peren-
nial, forming a round head that can reach up to 8 feet Constipation: Cabbage, cabbage juice, and sauer-
(2.4m) when fully mature. Most cabbages are har- kraut juice all have laxative properties.
vested long before they reach such a size. It is in the Treating Cancer: For treating cancer, especially
Brassicaceae (Mustard) Family.
cancers of the stomach, intestines, pancreas, and pros-
Identification: The leaves are gray with a thick tate, drink cabbage juice or sauerkraut
stem. Yellow flowers with four petals appear in the juice twice daily. Finely chopped cab-
spring. The leaves form a head during the late bage should also be eaten as toler-
summer of the first year. Cabbage can ated. Both cabbage juice and sauer-
also be reddish-purple, green, or kraut juice have many different ben-
white. All varieties have the health- eficial compounds that fight cancer
giving benefits detailed below. and help heal the body.

Edible Use: The cabbage is a com- Recipes: Sauerkraut. Equip-
mon vegetable, especially in the ment: Large glass jar or crock. I pre-
winter because it keeps well in the fer using a fermentation crock, but a
root cellar. It is eaten raw and glass jar will work, a fermentation
cooked. weight or a plate that fits in the con-
tainer, a large bowl or tub for mixing, a
Medicinal Use. Mastitis and Painful plate or tray. Ingredients for 1 gallon (4 liters) of Sau-
Breasts in Nursing Mothers: This is my num- erkraut: 1 large head of cabbage, shredded fine, a few
ber one use for cabbage leaves. For painfully engorged large leaves from the outside of the cabbage, 3 table-
breasts and mastitis, use a poultice made from cabbage spoons pickling salt and 1 tablespoon caraway seeds,
leaves. Cut out the vein from the cabbage leaf and optional.
crush or pound the leaf with a hammer. You’ll want
your leaf intact but badly bruised to access the healing Shred the cabbage finely and add 2 TBS of salt. Let the
sulfur compounds and the juice. Apply the bruised leaf cabbage stand for about 10 minutes to draw out juices.
to the breast or line the bra cup with the leaf. Repeat as Knead the cabbage for 10 minutes or more to bruise it
needed until the infection clears. and release more juices.

Treatment for Wounds, Leg Ulcers, Joint
Pain, Arthritis, Skin Cancers: Cabbage leaves
work well to clean wounds and prevent infection. They
are also useful in reducing swelling in painful joints
and treating skin tumors.
Chop the leaves and crush them to release the health-
giving juices and heat them in a very small amount of
water. Apply the leaves as a poultice over the affected
area. The cabbage detoxifies the skin and underlying
tissue, prevents bacterial growth, and reduces inflam-
mation.
Intestinal Problems: Cabbage is useful for treat-
ing intestinal problems due to its sulfurous com-
pounds. Fermented cabbage in the form of sauerkraut Cabbage, By Taken byfir0002, GFDL 1.2
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