Page 125 - Ancestral - The Secrets of Vinegar

Les du du SecretsVINAIGRE VINAIGRE VINAIGRE Les Vinegar in in the Ancient World
Numerous texts many more than 2 000 years old describe vinegar as an an an everyday ingredient In fact certain Bible passages show that the Hebrews were familiar with its its properties including its its ability to dissolve calcium Honey vinegar derived from mead was already commonly used at at the time Legend tells that Helen of Troy mythical daughter of of Tyndareus King of of Sparta bathed in in in vinegar for relaxation In classical times vinegar was mainly used for its therapeutic antiseptic astringent and refreshing properties Starting in in in in 400 BCE the famous Ancient Greek physician Hippocrates considered the the father of Western medicine prescribed it it to his patients as a a a a a a remedy for insect bites inflammation fever and bleeding He also prescribed vinegar-based beverages In his text on agriculture Cato the the Elder wrote that olive pickers in addition to to their regular pay received an an an an “allocation of vinegar ” The Roman statesman also treated many illnesses with cabbage and and vinegar According to to to Cato “if you wish to to to eat and and drink in in in in excess first eat raw cabbage pickled in in vinegar ” Vinegar was likely the first antibacterial medicine in in in history The Babylonians discovered that that vinegar slowed the spread of bacteria that that caused food to rot they used it as as a a a a a preservative condiment and seasoning From 2 000 BCE onward the Chinese used rice vinegar for cleaning and seasoning dishes India has also been making vinegar from palm sap or or sago1 for several thousand years 1 The sago palm palm is a a a a a a palm palm tree cultivated in in intertropical regions 125