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Kitchen Medicines

Kitchen medicines are the common herbs, spices and foods that are available in supermarkets everywhere. Most people do not consider them medicine, they are certainly not sold as medicines, but they can be used as medicines if they are used with that intention. These are readily available, easy to use and prepare, and for the most part, safe.

These are certainly not going to replace the doctor or the pharmacist, but they can help you with the headaches, stomach disorders, colds, flu and many of the other everyday ailments and pains of life. I am not recommending the supermarket as the best place to buy your herbs and spices. It would actually be my last resort, as you can get better quality and lower prices in an herb or health food store.

Folklore of all cultures is abounding with these kinds of remedies. People mostly used them because they were available and they worked. Your great-great-grandmothers could tell you many of these remedies, but in the present culture we have lost much of this knowledge. I would like to share with you some of my favorite kitchen remedies.

Most of the herbs and spice can be made into a tea. Use one teaspoon to one half ounce per cup of boiling water. Let the tea steep from five minutes to half an hour.

Herbs

Anise: Promotes digestion, helps alleviate cramps and nausea and relieves flatulence.
Basil: Digestive disorders, gastritis, vomiting and headaches.
Caraway: Promotes digestion, helps to alleviate cramps and nausea and relieves flatulence. Has been used for menstrual cramps.
Cayenne: Stops bleeding, internally and externally, colds and chills.
Dill: Promotes digestion, helps alleviate cramps and nausea and relieves flatulence. Old time remedy for baby colic.
Fennel: Coughs, helps expel mucous accumulations. Eyewash.
Garlic: Antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antiparasitic and is used for infection, colds and coughs.
Ginger: Indigestion, nausea, motion sickness, colds and chills. Fresh or dried.
Marjoram: Calming, promotes sleep. Used for indigestion, motion sickness and headache.
Rosemary: Headaches and digestive upsets.
Sage: Sore throats, upper respiratory congestion (use at half-strength of other herbs).
Thyme: Antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral and can be used for indigestion, colds and especially coughs.

Spices

Allspice: Stimulates digestion and relieves flatulence.
Cardamom: Stimulates digestion and relieves flatulence.
Cinnamon: Digestive tonic, gently warming and relieves flatulence.
Cloves: Helps control vomiting.

Fruits and Vegetables

Banana: Tape the scrapings of the white inner peel of the banana to a plantar wart or any wart with a painful core. Do this twice a day and the wart is usually gone in a few days.
Cabbage: The leaves, softened in hot water, are a good poultice for inflammation, infection, arthritis, gout, injuries, varicose veins and tumors (especially of the breast). The juice is used for indigestion, ulcers, colds and hangovers.
Lemon: Disinfectant and bleach for skin. Make hot lemonade for colds, coughs, laryngitis and sore throats. Rub lemon juice onto your sore, tired feet. Lemons sliced into the drinking water will disinfect it.
Onion: The uses are similar to garlic. An onion poultice can be used for sever bronchial congestion.
Potato: Grated or sliced potatoes can be used as a drawing poultice.

Other

Chicken soup: Sometimes called Jewish penicillin, it has been found useful for curing colds and clearing mucous. Be sure you add herbs to it also.
Honey: Antimicrobial, use for cuts, wounds, burns, boils and athlete's foot. Mix it with lemon juice and it is great for colds and coughs. It will help a throat tickle.
Yogurt: Improves the intestinal flora. Eat yogurt after taking antibiotics or when experiencing diarrhea and dysentery.
Vinegar: Use for burns, itching dry skin and athlete's foot.

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