MEDICINAL CABBAGE by Veronica Smith
Apart from being one of the oldest known vegetables of Europe, Cabbage (Brassica oleracea) is also a medicinal plant! It was regarded as the “medicine of the poor” in days gone by, used by the Greeks and Romans and rediscovered by French “Natural” doctors in the 20th century.
Old fashioned Green Cabbage has better medicinal properties than White “salad” Cabbage. Red Cabbage has its own qualities, particularly strengthening the blood. Other Brassica types, such as Kale and the modern hybridised Brussels Sprouts and Broccoli, share similar qualities as Green Cabbage.
Traditionally used to aid digestion, as a joint tonic and a cure for skin ailments and fevers, Cabbage is classified as slightly sweet, salty, drying and cooling. It contains Vitamins A, B1, B2, C, and U, as well as minerals, amino acids and fats. Its actions include anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial and anti-rheumatic. It heals tissues by encouraging new cell growth. It also decongests the liver and lungs.
FRESH CABBAGE LEAVES are used EXTERNALLY on sprains, wounds, ulcers, varicose veins, inflammations, arthritic joints, mastitis, all kinds of skin conditions, including acne, in fact on any part of the body that is inflamed. The renowned French Dr. Valnet reported many cases where gangrenous wounds were healed by the application of cabbage leaves, in some cases avoiding surgery or amputation!
I myself have personal experience of the healing power of cabbage leaves. Some time ago, I got an eye infection that was very painful. The eye was running all the time, which also affected my sinuses, causing additional pain. In desperation, I grabbed a fresh cabbage leaf and slept with it covering my eye and sinuses. In the morning, the pain had gone and my eye had stopped running! As my old Granny used to say, the proof of the pudding is in the eating – or healing in this case!
HOW TO PREPARE A CABBAGE LEAF FOR POULTICE:
strip out the central rib of the leaf. Then gently beat the leaf to soften it slightly, releasing the juice. Some traditions suggest running a hot iron over the leaf instead of beating it! Either way, bruised cabbage leaves have been used for generations to relieve mastitis (engorged breasts). Simply place a leaf into each bra cup and wear throughout the day.
LOTION FOR ACNE AND OTHER SKIN RASHES:
Mix 250 grams of fresh Cabbage Leaves and 250 ml of distilled Witch Hazel in a blender. Strain. Add 2 drops of Lemon Juice Oil. Apply night and morning to reduce heat and redness.
Eating Cabbage as a vegetable cools the digestive system. It calms the kind of indigestion that includes not only swelling and flatulence but also acidity, burning, and inflammation. Great for gastritis and ulcers, it soothes all kinds of intestinal disorders, such as constipation, ulcerative colitis and irritable bowel syndrome.
CABBAGE JUICE can be taken as a medicine for any of these gastric conditions. The juice also loosens mucus in the respiratory system, working with expectorants to help clear congestion. Similarly, it relieves dry coughs and strengthens weak lungs.
Cabbage juice can be made with a dedicated juicer (I have a special “juicing pan” that extracts by steam) or by liquidising the cabbage and then pressing through a sieve. To take as medicine, you can serve it neat or diluted with water. It makes a refreshing de-tox drink if a small amount of cabbage juice is mixed with other juices, such as apple, carrot and celery.
Either Cabbage Juice or Cabbage Soup can be used for inflammation of the bladder, when there may be burning, discharges and problems urinating. These remedies can also soothe an inflamed prostate.
DECOCTION OF CABBAGE LEAVES TO RELIEVE COLITIS:
boil 60 grams of cabbage leaves in 500ml of water for one hour. Strain and drink in wine-glass doses.
You can make a syrup from the decoction, which is taken in 10ml doses for chesty coughs, asthma and bronchitis. Heat 500mls of cabbage decoction in a saucepan. Add an equal amount of honey or unrefined sugar (500grams) and stir constantly until dissolved. Allow the mixture to cool. Then pour into a dark glass bottle. Make sure to seal the bottle with a cork stopper because syrups often ferment and screw-top bottles can explode!
CABBAGE SOUP FOR THE LUNGS
Here, Cabbage is combined with herbs Thyme and Fennel (both expectorants) specifically to heal the lungs. Potato gives it body, creating a warm, soothing soup that eases coughs, catarrh and bronchitis.
You will need:
1 tablespoon of Olive Oil
1 small green cabbage, trimmed and shredded
1 large potato, peeled and diced
half teaspoon fennel seeds
half teaspoon thyme
sea salt and black pepper
1 litre / 1¾ pints of boiling water.
Method:
heat the oil in a large saucepan. Stir in the cabbage, potato, fennel seeds and thyme. Cover and cook without browning for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Then add the boiling water. Cover the pan again and leave the soup to simmer for about 20 minutes, until the potatoes are tender. Season to taste. You can serve the soup chunky, as it is, or liquidise it, depending on the patient’s needs. Enjoy!
So, the next time you start turning up your nose at the humble cabbage, think again! It can help you to heal!
REFERENCES:
The Herb Society’s Complete Medicinal Herbal by Penelope Ody, printed by Dorling Kindersley Limited, London in 1993. ISBN: 075130025X
The Kitchen Pharmacy by Rose Elliot and Carlo De Paoli, printed by Tiger Books International, London in 1991. ISBN: 1855015846
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