In this second part of looking at the many
health and curative or healing benefits of cabbage, I will be breaking it down
to some specific ailments that this wonder vegetable is able to perfectly bring
under control. Cabbage has been used both clinically and domestically to
achieve cures that are almost baffling; it is loaded with unique healing
properties as well as phytonutrients that aid in muscle building and general
cleansing.
Constipation: Cabbage
is a very rich source of roughage which is a non-digestible part of the food
and so would go to form bulk. It stimulates the intestines for a perfect bowel
movement. You can prepare a complete meal of raw cabbage which is perfect for
handling your constipation. When you do this, first chop the vegetable into
very thin slices and add a little salt, including black pepper, and lemon juice
to the cabbage. It will be well received and perfectly tolerated by your system
without any adverse effects.
Stomach Ulcers: More than three decades ago, Garnet Cheyney (MD) of Stanford University, did considerable work on
this and was able to administer cure to so many ulcer patients by just using
raw cabbage juice. Research has shown that duodenal or stomach ulcers tend to
respond with wonderful effect to treatment with raw cabbage juice. It has also
long been used in traditional societies to remedy such and similar problems.
The vegetable is said to contain an important anti-ulcer agent, vitamin U,
which is easily destroyed by cooking.
The treatment is carried out by the patient
taking between 90 – 180 gm of raw cabbage juice, three times daily, after which
a regular meal should be eaten. To render the cabbage juice more palatable for
consumption, you may need to add to it, pineapple juice, tomato juice, or
citrus juice such as orange. You can also refrigerate this mixture so as to
improve its flavor. However, it should not all be taken at once, but at many
intervals throughout the day. Also, if you do not have access to a blender or
juicer, or perhaps you do, but no power supply, you could still make do with
chewing on a little portion of cabbage four to five times in the day.
Obesity: Tartronic
Acid, a highly potent phytonutrient has been discovered in recent research
efforts to be highly present in cabbage. This substance plays a vital role in
inhibiting the conversion of sugars and carbohydrates into fat and so it
becomes a very practical and very effective way to handle problems of overweight.
Thus taking a daily salad of cabbage would be an easy and painless way to stay
trim and fit without any form of unnecessary harsh dieting exercise. It gives
you a good feeling of fullness while your system tolerates and digests it very
easily.
Skin Disorders: Cabbage
has also been used in the treatment of various skin disorders by the careful
application of the leaves: It is used in the form of compresses in the
successful treatment of ulcers, infected sores, blisters and skin eruptions
including psoriasis. Psoriasis is a chronic skin disease characterised by dry
red patches covered with scales; it occurs especially on the scalp and ears and
genitalia and the skin over bony prominences. Cabbage has been ably applied to effectively
treat this very ailment, including others such as burns as well as carbuncles -
an infection larger than a boil, and with several openings for discharge of pus.
It is the thickest and greenest outer leaves of
the vegetable that are most effective when used as compresses.