Plants: Friend or Foe

    Now that I've established that I'm Violet from Willy Wonka in need of serious juicing, where do we go from here? Since my body is full to bursting with inflammation, I need the opposite: anti-inflammatories. Since plants got me into this mess, can plants also get me out?

    I've been researching herbs and their medicinal properties recently as I've felt let down by modern medicine. I'm also a complete nerd who loves history and learning about ancient times and people. So, down the rabbit hole we go.

    Cleopatra was renowned in her time for her knowledge of gynecology, pharmacology and aesthetics. She had extensive records of her findings, but unfortunately, the knowledge was mostly lost with the loss of The Great Library of Alexandria. Some say the Romans weren't ready for a powerful female adversary and worked diligently to smear her legacy and erase her from history. Three Ways Cleopatra Contributed to Science and Medicine

    This got me to thinking about all of the lost knowledge of the world. A prime example of this in the United States was the systematic attempt to eradicate the Native Americans. During this genocidal attempt, we discredited their vast knowledge of plants to our own detriment. Recently, I've discovered that the tradition of smudging has huge benefits medicinally, and better yet, is actually backed up by scientific studies. Smudging, when done correctly, kills 94% of bacteria in the air and lasts for 30 days after! The Art of Smudging: A Beginner's Guide to Lighting Sage This knowledge was reported by the Nation Health Institute in 2007. Medicinal Smoke Reduces Airborne Bacteria I, personally, would have loved to have had that insight during Covid! 

    Traditional medicine definitely has its merit, but so does holistic medicine. For over 5000 years one particular herb that has been revered for its health benefits is ginger. The Amazing and Mighty Ginger This potent anti-inflammatory fights germs and can keep RSV at bay. It also kills bacteria in the mouth that can cause periodontal disease. It has anti-cancer properties, eases nausea, and even soothes arthritis. Health Benefits of Ginger The key to gaining the most health benefits of ginger is through daily consumption. 

    In my quest for health, I recently had the pleasure of visiting my first Filipino restaurant to try their traditional ginger tea called Salabat. I first read about this in a Food & Wine article earlier in September and while my husband and I were visiting New York we took a side trip to Queens to go to Renee's Kitchenette. This Filipino Ginger Tea has Been a Long-Standing Cure-All Renee's Kitchenette has a motto "Arrive as a Stranger, Leave as Family." You could tell that the restaurant was filled with patrons who felt like family and we were no exception. The food smelled and tasted amazing and I was lucky enough to meet Renee, herself. She gave me a to-go meal to enjoy on my journey home. I'd love to tell you what it was, but I honestly have no idea. I just know it was like nothing I've ever tasted before and I savored each and every bite. It looked similar to an empanada or pasty. Her kindness knew no bounds.

    Since I've been searching for anti-inflammatories to add to my diet, I've been trying my hand at making my own version of fresh ginger tea. I prefer to use fresh ginger because the fresher the herb, the more effective the medicinal properties are. This tea recipe I've devised is a combination from South Korea and the Philippines with my own additions of other anti-inflammatory herbs and spices. 

Jewel's Ginger Tea

Ingredients: 

Ginger, 1 cup, washed, peeled, & pureed

Turmeric, 1 cup, washed, peeled, & pureed

Raw, Local Honey, 1.5 cups

Mix ingredients together and store in a pre-sterilized glass jar in the refrigerator.

Directions:

Place 2-3 TBSP of the mixture into a coffee cup. Fill with boiling water and place saucer over the cup to let steep for 10-15 minutes. Optional -  Add: 1/2 tsp Ceylon Cinnamon powder, 1 pinch freshly ground black pepper, juice from 1/2 lemon freshly squeezed, and 1 tsp organic coconut oil. Stir and enjoy! As always, don't sip for over 30 minutes and floss/brush after or chew a fresh sage leaf (washed) to prevent decay.

Caution: ginger, cinnamon, sage, and turmeric naturally lower blood sugar so please carefully monitor your blood sugar if you are diabetic and especially if you normally use insulin. Also, ginger is a blood thinner so be careful if you are on a blood thinning regiment.  Sage should be used sparingly or not at all during pregnancy or breastfeeding in order not to harm the newborn and milk production. As always, consult your physician if you plan to add any herbs to your daily habits.

21 Exciting Facts About Sage Leaves

Types of Cinnamon and Their Benefits

    **Most cinnamon sold in the US in not true cinnamon, but rather, is cassia cinnamon. If high amounts of cassia cinnamon is ingested it can lead to liver toxicity. Cassia cinnamon is typically sold in the supermarkets due to it's inexpensive nature, but is considered to be low quality. Most medicinal properties that cinnamon touts is from the Ceylon variety. Cassia cinnamon contains coumadin and therefore has blood thinner properties.**

Ceylon vs Cassia - Not All Cinnamon is Created Equal

10 Evidence-Based Health Benefits of Cinnamon

    Turmeric is another potent anti-inflammatory. It can improve brain function and help with depression among other issues. The thing to keep in mind with turmeric is that it is better absorbed if used in conjunction with black pepper or and oil like organic coconut oil. Be careful when working with turmeric as it can stain and has been used as a natural dye.

Health Benefits of Turmeric

Turmeric Benefits

10 Benefits of Turmeric and Curcumin

10 Conditions Turmeric Can Help With

    Plants are allies in our fight for health. This year I've had a lot of fun trying new things and am hopeful that by incorporating these anti-inflammatories in my diet it will have a direct benefit on my health. I know they offer supplements you can swallow of all of these herbs, but please keep in mind that supplements are not monitored by the FDA and their properties vary greatly. Fresh, whole, preservative-free foods are a better, and quite frankly, tastier option. Even if the FDA monitored supplements, it's my belief the FDA has been lacking in their role of protecting the American people and it's time we start advocating for ourselves.