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My grandmother, who was a certified midwife in the Arab world in the 1930's to 1970's, didn’t believe in treating our colds and tummy aches and other minor illnesses with medical prescription drugs. Instead she used kitchen herbs to help remove the problem. Of course as a kid I didn't really take into her boiling camomile flowers into tea to help me relax and sleep or sooth my aching tummy, or the same with thyme for my coughs, and other herbs such as sage and basil...etc
As I grew older and was in the age of rebelling I shied away from listening to her and sought the opinions of Medial Doctors telling her they know better, well all I can say is I was terribly wrong. The saying the older the wiser was extremely justified in the case of my grandmother who gave birth to so many and healed many more, and prove me wrong of course :). Which got me interested in finding out why she used the specific herbs she did for curing a certain problem and not the other.
1. Camomile
I would like to share with you a few of what I have learned over the years. Let's start with Camomile, which ancient Egyptians believed it to cure acute fevers and dedicated to their Gods. Made into tea is used to relax the nerves and help induce sleep for the insomniacs, as well as stomach nerves in cases of indigestion. In addition it helps relieve from cramps associated with menstrual problems, pains associated with arthritis, and aches and pains from colds.
2. Cinnamon
Cinnamon powder and sticks is commonly used in our arabic dishes to add scent and flavor to our food. Used as tea after boiling the sticks, helps sooth digestion problems such as vomiting and nausea, is used as a folk remedy for colds. It too has a relieving effect in the uterus and has been used to stimulate the appetites of anorexics.
3. Garden Sage
Salvia Officinalis also known as Garden Sage, was used by ancient Egyptians as a fertility drug. As tea or infusion is used for throat infections that's how my grandmother used it, also boosts liver function, aids with female sterility and menopausal problems, and is used for anxiety and depression.
4. Thyme
Last of my choice for today is Thyme, the name traced to Thymus the Greek name for “courage”. Very tasty with white cheese or grilled chicken, is used for bronchial problems, laryngitis and diarrhea. Due to its antiseptic properties can also be used as a mouthwash, skin cleanser, anti-fungal for athlete's foot. In paste form can be used for skin inflammations and sores.
These are just four, out of a long list of herbs and plants you can find in your kitchen that can help cure a common cold, headaches, fatigue and many many more. Such as Basil, sugar beet, licorice, ginseng or even garlic. Your turn: please share with me your "grandma's recipe" in the comments below, I'd love to know more about them.
picture via Kurt Stüber [1] under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.
