3rd MEETUP GROUP MEETING
YOUR FOOD IS YOUR MEDICINE!!!
FOOD REMEDIES:
GINGER
Ginger is one of my favorite kitchen herbs that I use for a variety of medicinal uses.
Ginger has been used by Chinese herbalist for more than 2500 years as flavoring in food and also as a
medicine. Ginger can be used for a wide range of ailments such as nausea, digestive problems,
circulation and arthritis. Nausea caused during pregnancy or by travelling can be easily helped by
chewing on organic crystallized ginger candy.
Ginger is also known to have the ability to calm an upset stomach and to promote the flow of bile.
Stomach cramps can be eased and circulation can also be improved.
Ginger has anti-inflammatory properties that can lessen the pain of rheumatoid arthritis, menstrual
cramps and headaches.
My number one usage of ginger is for a cold or flu. I use a ginger-lemon-honey tea at the first sign of a
cold or flu, just when I feel chilly and not really sick yet!!
Here is the recipe for the famous ginger tea:
Grate a half inch fresh ginger into one big cup
Fill cup with boiling water over ginger, cover and let steep for at least 15-20minutes.
Add a little bit of fresh squeezed lemon juice and local honey before drinking.
ENJOY!!
Use ginger to help ease a cough. Ginger is an expectorant, which means it thins the mucous so you can
cough it up and out. It also helps with respiratory infections. Ginger can be helpful in case of
hypertension, since ginger has a lot of anti-inflammatory properties more than bromelain in pineapple.
It reduces serum cholesterol and thins blood by inhibiting platelets from sticking together.
Ginger is active against several food-borne pathogens, including E. coli, salmonella. In countries where
the climate is so hot and food can easily rot, ginger is a very common ingredient in most of their meals.
KALE
Kale is definitely worth to mention especially since I like food as medicine!!
Most people don’t realize how many benefits you get buy just eating a handful of kale!
Kale is absolutely rich and abundant in CALCIUM, LUTEIN, IRON, VITMAIN A, C and K.
Lutein is one of the carotenoids, yellow and orange pigments found in many fruits and vegetables.
Known to prevent eye disease! Vitamin K is considered the blood clotting vitamin. It helps to attract
and bind calcium to the protein in the body.
Kale has seven times more beta-carotene than broccoli and ten times more lutein! Kale is rich in
Vitamin C and high in fibers which we are all lacking especially in a diet high of processed food. Kale is a
great liver cleanser. The naturally rich sulfur content of kale triggers the liver to produce enzymes that
detoxify cancer causing chemicals. My favorite way to eat Kale is sautéed with onions, garlic and olive
oil. You can also add fresh kale leaves into a salad or a vegetable fruit juice daily!
HERBAL REMEDIES:
ASTRAGALUS ROOT
Astragalus is one of the most popular herbs used in the Orient; the Chinese name for astragalus is Hunag
Chi.
Astragalus is well known for strengthening the immune system and helping prevent bacterial and viral
infections. In studies performed at the National Cancer Institute over the past 10 years, it has been
positively shown that astragalus strengthens a patients’ immune system.
Astragalus is helpful for young adults for energy production and respiratory endurance. And astragalus
is helpful for patients undergoing chemotherapy and radiation treatment. Astragalus protects the heart
against oxidative and free radical damage.
During flu season take astragalus tincture once a day 30-60 drops in a warm tea.
LEMONBALM
Lemon balm was used medicinally by the Greek some 2000 years ago.
Today lemon balm is widely used to treat anxiety and insomnia.
In a study of lemon balm at a University in England students were tested for weeks while using either
lemon balm or a placebo The students did significantly better on the tests after taking Lemon balm and
continued to post improved scores for up to six hours after taking the herb. The students taking Lemon
Balm were noted to be calmer and less stressed during the tests. (From Prevention Magazine Sept.
2004) Another study showed that using lemon balm improved memory and lengthened attention span
in individuals suffering from Alzheimer’s disease.
Lemon Balm can help in the treatment of cold sores. Creams or ointments containing lemon balm speed
healing, relief symptoms such as itching and redness and stop infections from spreading.
ACID/ALKALINE MINI COURSE
The body contains both acid and alkaline substances. To keep a balance between them is critical to your
health. The normal pH is around 7.35. When there is change away from this ideal pH the body is more
susceptible to disease.
The health problems that this can cause are quite varied: chronic fatigue, stress, excessive nervousness,
depression, rheumatic disorders, tendinitis, eczema, tooth decay, and so forth. Acids have properties
that irritate the tissue and can go on to cause inflammations, for example of the joints and tendons. In
order to keep a normal pH range the body tries to neutralize the excess acid by using its mineral storage.
Overtime organs and tissues lose their mineral content and become weaker and more fragile (dental
cavities, eczema) An acidic body’s enzyme functions are slowly reduced which leads further into energy
loss, tissue regeneration, chronic fatigue, depression, loss of enthusiasm.
To keep a healthy pH balance you have to consume more alkalizing and less acidifying foods and
beverages.
Foods that are more acidic: meat, flour, fat, refined sugar, soda, coffee,
Foods that are more alkalizing: salad greens, raw and cooked vegetables, potatoes, almonds, bananas,
avocados
Poor elimination by skin and kidneys, stress, negative mental attitude, vitamin deficiencies are all causes
of a pH-imbalance.
If you like to determine your accurate pH-level, you can use a litmus paper strip to measure your urinary
pH level. The normal acid content of the urine is the same as that of the entire body, which should be
around 7. Take the test right after awakening in the morning. Morning urine is more accurate since your
body goes through a cleansing process during sleep, so if you pH-level is very low your body did not have
enough mineral storages to buffer the excess.
General guidelines for reading your result: 6-8am pH-level 6.5-7.00, below 6.5 very acidic
Alkalizing remedy:
Drinking some warm water with fresh squeezed Lemon Juice is highly alkalizing and nourishing for the
body!
If you are interested in learning more about acidic/alkalizing balance, here is a great webpages that can
give you further information (few mp3 video lessons)
http://www.naturalhealthschool.com/pH-balance.html#top
http://www.phmiracleliving.com/
use this webpages as information only do not fall into the trap of buying every single supplement
suggested on the webpage, I am a strong believer in nourishing the body with food first and then use
appropriate supplements like Omega’s etc..
Thank you your Herbalist Birgit