The Spice of Life
We use spices everyday to add specific tastes and flavours to our dishes. But before medicine was made in a laboratory, people used what they had access to for common health ailments. Garlic, cinnamon, ginger, and many other spices hold medicinal properties that you can use when a medical practice is out of reach. It’s like having a pharmacy in your own kitchen spice drawer!
GARLIC can be used in most foods to add its distinctive flavour. In South Africa, most foods made traditionally call for at least a teaspoon of it or your pot would just not taste the same. Did you know, though, that in the past, garlic was mostly used for its medical benefits? Daily supplementation of garlic can reduce the common cold by just over 60%! Also, when a cold or the flu is contracted, garlic also reduces your sick days from an average of 7 to 1.5!
Tooth pain got you in the middle of the night with no dentist in sight? Not to worry. Not only is garlic good for colds, it also has anti-inflammatory properties and can relieve pain too. Chew on a piece of it, or mash it up with a mortar and pestle and place it on the affected tooth. Also, CLOVES are good for toothache as well, as they too have anti-inflammatory as well as antibacterial properties. Bite down gently on a whole clove with the affected tooth to release its oils.
With diabetes being a common illness which affects so many, a great way to help control blood sugar levels is by using CINNAMON. This spice is also known to lower cholesterol and is a great substitute when wanting to add some sweetness to a drink or meal.
Digestive issues affect the best of us as our diets these days are not what they were 100 years ago. IBS, acute diarrhoea, and many other problems arise, and over the counter medication can sometimes wreak more havoc on our bodies than good. A natural alternative such as CORIANDER is good to try as it has been known for years by the Mexican, Indian, and Thai people as the answer to all digestive problems. Try making a tea of coriander seeds and see for yourself.
GINGER is another staple in many dishes, as its distinctive flavour adds that extra ‘oomph’ to food. While many may know that ginger can be used for digestive problems much like coriander, many may not know that it has properties in it that help reduce the feelings of nausea. Good to know when you’re about to step on a boat, for example!
And for those who enjoy a good detox, you’ll be pleased to know that not all of them involve buying special juices or certain fruits. Instead, CAYENNE pepper has been known to detoxify the body. By heating up the body, it allows for excessive sweating, thus releasing toxins and impurities from the body. It also increases circulation of the body by opening up capillaries, and kick starting the metabolism.
And there you go! Who would have guessed that spices have so many versatile uses? So next time, try one of these natural treatments to cure your health ailments before heading to the pharmacy!