Cabbage can be made into a tea and a poultice for home remedies for certain ailments. Cabbage is full of powerful antioxidants, preventing and warding off diseases and cancer. It is especially helpful for colon cancer. Cabbage boosts the immune system-so it makes a wonderful winter food to fight colds and flu.
Cabbage is rich in vitamins C, E, fiber, iron, calcium and potassium. It is also high in sulphur which helps the body fight bacteria. It flushes out impurities from the body and makes hair strong and shiny. If you suffer from poor circulation in your arms, legs or feet, include more cabbage in your diet. Try these 3 cabbage remedies to boost your immune system.
Cabbage Tea:
2 tablespoons dried cabbage
Sprigs of basil or thyme
Optional-add a dash of soy sauce, pinch of black pepper
Put the dried cabbage and basil or thyme in a cup and pour 1 cup boiling water from your tea kettle over the cabbage. Steep until the cabbage is soft. Drink the tea (and eat the cabbage) for calming your nerves, warm you from the chills, to help with nausea, and break up chest colds and congestion. Cabbage tea is wonderful for warming you up anytime.
Cabbage Plaster:
Cabbage plasters are used for rheumatism and arthritis.
Pound and bruise several outer leaves. Wrap the bruised leaves around the painful area. You can hold the plaster in place by using a piece of flannel.
Cabbage plasters bring fast relief for swollen, aching joints. The plaster has warming properties that reduce pain and swelling. Use for sprains, sore knees, twisted wrists and ankles.
Other external uses for raw cabbage leaves are to help improve circulation, reduce inflammation, chest infections, sciatica and tonsillitis.
Cabbage Poultice:
Shred a handful of green cabbage and use a pestle and mortar to pound it until mushy. Use the poultice for infected wounds to draw out the infection.
Wrap the area with a cloth and leave the poultice on for 30 minutes to 1 hour. Rinse the wound with boiled water that has cooled.
Repeat this process, using clean cabbage each time, until the pus is drawn from the wound.
This poultice works in drawing out splinters, thorns, thistles and slivers.
Cabbage is whole food that is used for its nutritional benefits as well as medicinal. Poultices, teas and plasters are easy to learn how to make and use at home. Learn to make these remedies for your family and enjoy a healthy lifestyle.
©2011 Shanna Ohmes
