I had a good and delicious dinner of the 'Hakka Lui Cha' cooked up by my mum and sis this evening. The Hakka Lui Cha is the perfect all in one dish with greens (choi sam, sweet basil or chinese basil, chinese parsley, long beans, salad greens) - all diced up with nuts, sesame, toufu and diced meat. The star of this dish is, of course, the blend of good Chinese tea (usually Oolong or Pu Erh), sesame, peanuts and herbs/greens that is pounded in the old days, but blended these days into a paste and made into tea soup. A rice bowl piled with the mixes of diced greens, nuts, toufu and meat is then served with hot tea soup poured into the bowl. For the vegetarian, it is perfectly fine to omit the meat.
Full of goodness of vitamins and proteins - a well balanced meal in one bowl!
As usual, during dinner mum was sharing on what has gone into the dish, bla, bla, bla.... and somehow launched into a variety of topics involving, what else, but FOOD! :)
Mental notes taken tonight include how to make yummy and believable 'meat' soup that is vegetarian (mock meat soup)! This involved using carrot, radishes, chinese turnips, corn and taugeh! All very healthy and nutritious ingredients in their own rights.
For chicken 'taste-alike' soup - boil carrot, turnip and taugeh together.
For beef 'taste-alike' soup - boil carrot, radishes and turnip.
Cool right? :)
Dinner was capped with dessert of taiwanese watermelon and sun melon, courtesy of W & D. So that puts more vitamins C into an already nutritious dinner!
While packing and storing the watermelon skins (see my piece on watermelon) my mum recollected how the watermelon skin (the tough green exterior plus the white soft parts) can be boiled with corn on hobs (corn still wrapped in its green-leaves exterior and including the cornsilk within) into a healing drink for diabetics. Apparently those with mild diabetic conditions have found cure by taking this simple concoction daily for a period of time.
After that last note, I thought I should quickly blog them while they are still fresh in my mind. So here it is dear friends. Have a good night!
Err...for no particular reasons, I am thinking of chocolate and carrot cakes right now! Or perhaps time to munch on that chocolate bar in the fridge ... decisions, decisions...!
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Friday, April 23, 2010
Soothes with Pears
Am in a mood for sharing tonight. So here goes my third entry for the day.
Ever found yourself preparing a nice Chinese dinner for the family or grilling that herbs marinated chicken for a candle light dinner for two, and yet you run out of ideas for a simple and yet great dessert?
Search no more. I have two suggestions! One, refer to my watermelon piece. Or, two, do something with pears.
This is a very versatile recipe, you can either double boil, slowcook it, or simmer in a pot.
Ingredients:
1. Pears. One pear serves two, split in half. Core or remove seeds. My favourite is to use Bosc Pears (the brown and slightly thick skinned pears). Or any other pears of your choice. However, Bosc pears when cooked has a beautiful aroma that is yummy in itself.
2. Winter melon sugar or rock sugar, or both. Sweetness to taste. I find that a medium sized piece of rock sugar (about 3" in diameter) and some 6 to 8 pieces of wintermelon sugar cooked in three bowls of water is just nice for my sweet bud.
3. a small pinch of tea leaves - you can use any good Chinese tea leaves, be it Oolong orTit Kuan Yin, and even Earl Grey.
Let's look at simmering this in a pot. Melt the rock sugar in a pot of water enough for two if you are cooking two half-pears. Stir in the winter melon sugar. Put in a small pinch of the tea leaves of your choice. Let this cook for a while or until the rock sugar is melted.
Add the half-pears into the sugar and tea water. Add another smaller pinch of tea leaves on top of the pears. Simmer at low for at least 45 mins.
You can serve this hot or cold. For a cold serving, simply remove from the fire and let it cool, before putting it into the fridge. But my preference is to serve warm. As with any food of medicinal/healing values, serving it warm is the best.
For double-boiling or slow-cooking, simple put in hot water and all the ingredients together. Cook for 1 and half to two hours if double boiling it. Whilst you can leave it longer if you choose to slow cook it. My favourite is to have it slowly cooked in a slow cooker for half a day, whilst I go about preparing the other dishes. Or take a nap.
You may alternatively add about half a dozen pieces of dried longan for the extra sweetness and taste. But i prefer it plain.
The pears cooked this way contributes yin energy, enhance complexion and regulate sputum in our body. This helps in dry and hot weather like now to move the phlegm from the lungs. Longans, if you use them, is tonic for the spleen and heart.
I have had this in a restaurant too, at a pretty expensive price per bowl. So I know this must be good stuff! Hehehe!
Well, enjoy and stay healthy.
Search no more. I have two suggestions! One, refer to my watermelon piece. Or, two, do something with pears.
This is a very versatile recipe, you can either double boil, slowcook it, or simmer in a pot.
Ingredients:
1. Pears. One pear serves two, split in half. Core or remove seeds. My favourite is to use Bosc Pears (the brown and slightly thick skinned pears). Or any other pears of your choice. However, Bosc pears when cooked has a beautiful aroma that is yummy in itself.
2. Winter melon sugar or rock sugar, or both. Sweetness to taste. I find that a medium sized piece of rock sugar (about 3" in diameter) and some 6 to 8 pieces of wintermelon sugar cooked in three bowls of water is just nice for my sweet bud.
3. a small pinch of tea leaves - you can use any good Chinese tea leaves, be it Oolong orTit Kuan Yin, and even Earl Grey.
Let's look at simmering this in a pot. Melt the rock sugar in a pot of water enough for two if you are cooking two half-pears. Stir in the winter melon sugar. Put in a small pinch of the tea leaves of your choice. Let this cook for a while or until the rock sugar is melted.
Add the half-pears into the sugar and tea water. Add another smaller pinch of tea leaves on top of the pears. Simmer at low for at least 45 mins.
You can serve this hot or cold. For a cold serving, simply remove from the fire and let it cool, before putting it into the fridge. But my preference is to serve warm. As with any food of medicinal/healing values, serving it warm is the best.
For double-boiling or slow-cooking, simple put in hot water and all the ingredients together. Cook for 1 and half to two hours if double boiling it. Whilst you can leave it longer if you choose to slow cook it. My favourite is to have it slowly cooked in a slow cooker for half a day, whilst I go about preparing the other dishes. Or take a nap.
You may alternatively add about half a dozen pieces of dried longan for the extra sweetness and taste. But i prefer it plain.
The pears cooked this way contributes yin energy, enhance complexion and regulate sputum in our body. This helps in dry and hot weather like now to move the phlegm from the lungs. Longans, if you use them, is tonic for the spleen and heart.
I have had this in a restaurant too, at a pretty expensive price per bowl. So I know this must be good stuff! Hehehe!
Well, enjoy and stay healthy.
wonder watermelon
This pink or sometimes yellow fleshed fruit is simply marvelous. It, not only, gives us the sweet juicy thirst-quencher of a fruit, but it also has many great uses.
The fruit is fully consumed in my family, not even the peel with its whitish juicy parts nor the seeds are wasted.
My mum make delicious 'leong sui' (cooling soup) by cutting out the whitish juicy parts and boiling them with wintermelon sugar. Sometimes with the green peel/skin too. Try it - it's really yummy. My old and wise neighbourhood aunty poh-poh (grandma) would dry the skin together with it's whitish flesh and pulverised them into powder that is great for relief of sore throats and mouth ulcers.
Other uses?
*To counteract summer heat, reduces fever in the body and promotes urination:
- eat the fruit!
*Clear lungs, lubricate intestines, quench thirts and aid digestion:
- eat the seeds! Chew them instead of spitting them all over.
*Treat diarrhea, dysentery, hypertension, toothaches:
- boil the roots and leaves for soup!
*Cure edema in the heart and kidney diseases:
- boil 60gm of fresh watermelon peel, or 30g of dried peel, in water and drink like tea!
*Quench thirst, and to cure cloudy urine in diabetics:
- boil 30gm of watermelon peel and wax gourd peel. Take as tea.
*Why is it so effective in combating heaty issues?
- watermelon induce heat in the pericardium (the membranous sac that covers the heart and the roots of major blood vessels) to travel to the stomach and small intestine, then to the bladder where the heat is excreted/expelled!
Oh, we forgot the seeds. Removed hygienically from the flesh with knife and spoon, rinse and dry, then toast it! It is kuachi! Without the chemical additives nor salt! Personally, I just like to chew on them with the flesh... a bit of crunch and a little nutty in flavour - yum!
* source: The Art of Long Life - Chinese Foods for Longevity by Henry C. Lu.
Tiger Trivia
- A tiger can only usually expect a one in twenty success rate when bringing down prey.
- On average a tiger can eat up to 60 pounds of meat at one time.
- After a feed, a tiger will usually bury the remaining animal carcass in an attempt to hide it from scavengers, and then exhume it for its next meal.
- All tigers have a similar marking on their forehead, which resembles the Chinese symbol Wang, (King)
- A tiger can go two to three days without eating.
- A tiger can spend up to eighteen hours sleeping.
- Tigers reach maturity and are ready for mating at the age of three.
- Tiger cubs are blind at birth.
- A tiger cub can gain 100 grams in weight per day.
- Tiger cubs play fight with their siblings, which enables them to gain strength and speed.
- The tail gives the tiger extra balance when running and is also used to communicate to other tigers.
- The tendons in a tiger's leg are so strong that it has been known to remain standing after it has been shot dead.
- tigers almost always attack from behind, a double sided mask had been shown to be effective in preventing attacks.
- There were 8 subspecies of Tiger at the beginning of the 20th century. 3 are now extinct, leaving 5 existing subspecies.
- tigers evolved in Asia.
- It is estimated that they have roamed the earth for over 6 million years.
- earliest fossil of tigers date back to between 1.5 to 2 million years ago.
- Tiger are protected under the CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Fauna and Flora) treaty. 158 countries have signed the treaty and agreed to abide by its terms, including those in which most tigers live.
- They have been on the Endangered Species list since 1970.
- We could lose the wild tiger in as little as five years time.
- The tiger has only one predator...MAN!
1. http://library.thinkquest.org/TQ0313003/Tigers/Tigers/Trivia.html
2. http://www.elvidge.com/users/jimbo/tigers/facts.htm
Picture:
- http://theinspirationroom.com/daily/print/2008/10/tiger_desert.jpg
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
HOT STATS.
World's favourite animalIn a poll conducted by Animal Planet, the tiger was voted the world's favourite animal, narrowly beating the dog. More than 50,000 viewers from 73 countries voted in the poll.
Tigers received 21% of the vote,
dogs 20%,
dolphins 13%,
horses 10%,
lions 9%,
snakes 8%,
followed by elephants, chimpanzees, orangutans and whales.
Animal behaviourist Candy d'Sa, who worked with Animal Planet on the list, said: "We can relate to the tiger, as it is fierce and commanding on the outside, but noble and discerning on the inside".
Callum Rankine, international species officer at the World Wildlife Federation conservation charity, said the result gave him hope. "If people are voting tigers as their favourite animal, it means they recognise their importance, and hopefully the need to ensure their survival," he said.
BUT ARE WE DOING ENOUGH TO ENSURE OUR FAVOURITE WILL NOT BE JUST A MUSEUM EXHIBIT IN THE FUTURE?
Text Source: wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiger
Picture Source: http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_73MI4VJObuo/SRVGBfzgRpI/AAAAAAAAAm4/dOWg2pVXo-Q/s400/tiger-cubs.jpg
Sunday, April 18, 2010
No Tiger or any animal parts please!!!
As we all know, many wildlife are now in danger of going the way of the dinosaurs. Bears, rhinoceros, whales, sharks, tigers and many more are joining the ranks of exotic animals sought for their skin, body parts, etc. It is our duty to create and promote the awareness of being a responsible citizen of the Earth, to ensure not just the survival of the planet but everything else that is on it, be it the water, air, forest or animals.
I hope to share with you and remind us all that we need to play our part in ensuring the survival of our natural and national treasure, the Malayan Tiger, which is only numbered at 500 in the wild now. This sub-species was only officially identified as unique to the Peninsular of Malaysia in 2004. Something for us to be proud of.
As in our culture, the faulty belief of the magical medicinal effects from tiger parts, has contributed highly to the dwindling numbers of this king of the forest. Not to mention the high price paid for tiger skin for ornamental purposes. Let's play our part and choose tiger parts-free products. Go natural, go herbs, which is in abundant and is sustainable!
Some interesting sites for you to read about the tigers and their plights are as follows:
1. http://www.panda.org/what_we_do/endangered_species/tigers/about_tigers/malayan_tiger/
2. http://www.tigersincrisis.com/trade_tigers.htm
3. http://www.21stcenturytiger.org/index.php?pg=1183113244
My kudos to the organisers of The Tiger blogfest:
• Planet of the Monyets (www.planetofthemonyets.blogspot.com )
Also checkout WWF Malaysia TX2 (www.tx2.my) website.
I hope to share with you and remind us all that we need to play our part in ensuring the survival of our natural and national treasure, the Malayan Tiger, which is only numbered at 500 in the wild now. This sub-species was only officially identified as unique to the Peninsular of Malaysia in 2004. Something for us to be proud of.
As in our culture, the faulty belief of the magical medicinal effects from tiger parts, has contributed highly to the dwindling numbers of this king of the forest. Not to mention the high price paid for tiger skin for ornamental purposes. Let's play our part and choose tiger parts-free products. Go natural, go herbs, which is in abundant and is sustainable!
Some interesting sites for you to read about the tigers and their plights are as follows:
1. http://www.panda.org/what_we_do/endangered_species/tigers/about_tigers/malayan_tiger/
2. http://www.tigersincrisis.com/trade_tigers.htm
3. http://www.21stcenturytiger.org/index.php?pg=1183113244
My kudos to the organisers of The Tiger blogfest:• Planet of the Monyets (www.planetofthemonyets.blogspot.com )
Also checkout WWF Malaysia TX2 (www.tx2.my) website.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Gingerly does it .....
As I was sharing with a friend recently of this ginger remedy for an upset tummy with a bit of runs, I reminded myself to put it down here too. So here it is. A simple and fast enough remedy with ginger as the main star.
On those nights or days when you find that whatever food we have eaten does not seem to agree with us, and is giving you some mild runs, as well as doubling you over in aches, try this:
1. Ginger - a generous portion of perhaps 2 inch by 2 inch or 3 by 3 of old ginger root that has been cleansed.
2. Next pound it in a mortar.
3. Squeeze the juice out into a glass
4. mix in a table spoon of honey and a squeeze of lemon juice.
5. Top up with a little water.
Now it is ready to be drank. From my experience, I get an almost immediate warmth of comfort radiating in my tummy. Followed by the tummy churning lesser and lesser.
I would of course advice everyone, as usual, to go see a doctor as the safest way to ensure you have not picked up more than what your tummy can hold in. I would also remind you that one should ensure proper hygiene in the preparation of such juice. Wash and scrub ginger, peel of skin if necessary, and run it through clean distilled water or hot water. Similarly utensils such as mortar used should be cleanse too with hot water before use.
Alternatively, the ginger root, lemon juice and honey can be quickly blended in a food processor too.
Ginger has been used in Chinese cooking for many purposes.
- It masks bad odour of meat and fish (ginger juice can be used to tenderise meat and remove meat odour too, in preparation of cooking)
- improve flavour with its aroma, and as well as
- being an indicator of poisonous factors in food. It turns black if poison is present. A common use of ginger is in cooking mushrooms - to ensure the fresh mushroom picked from forest ground is not poisonous. Imperial cooks for in China purportedly use either ginger or a silver needles to test for poison in the food before serving them to the Emperors in ancient days.
Ginger is considered a yang food that helps to stimulate the intestinal tract and promote digestion. The chinese also use boiled ginger water to induce perspiration which is considered good to fight and elevate the symptoms of the common cold and fever. Ginger cooked with chicken and Chinese wine is a staple for mothers in confinement after giving birth.
The humble ginger contains little amount of protein, carbohydrate, fibre, vitamins B1, B2, C and other trace elements needed by our body.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Hold it! What's with the wrist?
I am not sure if this would be useful. Apparently if you are in dire need to visit the restroom, and is caught in a jam, holding the wrist, ie the pulse point where doctors take your pulse, will keep the tummy aches a-bay. That is until you get to a proper place of depository! My dad swore by it. Hehehe! I think holding the wrist would certainly look more dignified than doubling over in pain, especially in a public place!
According to this website, http://www.travelband.com/morning-sickness.htm, which is selling wrist bands for ladies, pressure on the pulse point (wrist, nei kuan) keeps morning sickness away for the expecting ladies.
The above picture showing pressure points on the hand related to the relief of pain is interesting too. This is from the website of American Acupuncture. (http://www.americanacupuncture.com/ear_ac.htm#meridian_images).
About.com also shared a series of interesting taps on the body's meridian points, including that of the wrists', that you can try at home for the release of unwanted and negative emotions. Check it out at http://healing.about.com/od/esoanat_meridians/ss/mtt-steps_8.htm.
Do share your feedback if you decided to try any of the above. As usual,do read our words on waiver of liabilities of anything that you might decide to undertake from what is shared here - blog dated Tues, Mar 16, 2010. ;)
According to this website, http://www.travelband.com/morning-sickness.htm, which is selling wrist bands for ladies, pressure on the pulse point (wrist, nei kuan) keeps morning sickness away for the expecting ladies.
About.com also shared a series of interesting taps on the body's meridian points, including that of the wrists', that you can try at home for the release of unwanted and negative emotions. Check it out at http://healing.about.com/od/esoanat_meridians/ss/mtt-steps_8.htm.
Do share your feedback if you decided to try any of the above. As usual,do read our words on waiver of liabilities of anything that you might decide to undertake from what is shared here - blog dated Tues, Mar 16, 2010. ;)
Friday, April 9, 2010
FOOD for THOUGHTS?
We have shared remedies and tips on food that would help us strengthen the physical body so far. Has anyone given any thought to the maladies/ailments that we are prone to suffer affecting our personality, minds and psyche?
I could name a few of such symptoms - low self esteem, anger, hatred, judgmental, feeling victimised, feeling sorry for ourselves, be a martyr blindly, feeling absolutely superior of self to the effect of seeing others as minions to do our bidding, and many more. Perhaps, we feel that we are right, whilst the whole family, community and world is at war with us. Feeling sorry for ourselves and blaming everyone around us for our financial situation, for that hard-to-find-someone to love and share lour life with, or perhaps going no where with our careers? Sounds familiar, doesn't it?
I believe strongly that as the physical body need the proper food to upkeep and heal itself, so do our mind and psyche. So what shall we consume? Any natural remedies?
Hmm... to me, nothing is more natural than having a really look good look into our selves. A generous dose honesty and bravery is required. In my experience, having the courage of honesty in spirit, in thoughts, in words, in conduct is a massive step forward for me to look at myself and truly understand where i came from and where i intend to head to. Am i embodying the right philosophy and psychology of mind and soul to make the right choices in thoughts, words and actions?
I would ask myself, am I choosing to wallow in the negativity or is there a better way out? is my current state of mind going in circle and wallowing in negative thoughts? This will only serve to take me into a downward spiral. Now, how do i make that first step to go up an upward spiral instead? Perhaps see and understand situations, people and such from a different perspective, with larger all-inclusive lenses? Do I have my set of belief system that is stopping me from understanding other situations and people better? Would I harm myself or others by seeing and understanding things from another perspective? Will I grow positively as a person?
I could name a few of such symptoms - low self esteem, anger, hatred, judgmental, feeling victimised, feeling sorry for ourselves, be a martyr blindly, feeling absolutely superior of self to the effect of seeing others as minions to do our bidding, and many more. Perhaps, we feel that we are right, whilst the whole family, community and world is at war with us. Feeling sorry for ourselves and blaming everyone around us for our financial situation, for that hard-to-find-someone to love and share lour life with, or perhaps going no where with our careers? Sounds familiar, doesn't it?
I believe strongly that as the physical body need the proper food to upkeep and heal itself, so do our mind and psyche. So what shall we consume? Any natural remedies?
Hmm... to me, nothing is more natural than having a really look good look into our selves. A generous dose honesty and bravery is required. In my experience, having the courage of honesty in spirit, in thoughts, in words, in conduct is a massive step forward for me to look at myself and truly understand where i came from and where i intend to head to. Am i embodying the right philosophy and psychology of mind and soul to make the right choices in thoughts, words and actions?
I would ask myself, am I choosing to wallow in the negativity or is there a better way out? is my current state of mind going in circle and wallowing in negative thoughts? This will only serve to take me into a downward spiral. Now, how do i make that first step to go up an upward spiral instead? Perhaps see and understand situations, people and such from a different perspective, with larger all-inclusive lenses? Do I have my set of belief system that is stopping me from understanding other situations and people better? Would I harm myself or others by seeing and understanding things from another perspective? Will I grow positively as a person?
I find that these questions and more have certainly brought about great leaps in the way I am able to see and understand myself, others and the world around me. This has certainly helped to make me see life as the greatest adventure I could ever embark on. Now I ask myself, do I want to have positive experience or do i want to 'go to hell,' literally?
Every experience and moment has been hugely and positively different since I am learning to see and appreciate things in new ways. I found out that there is no short-cuts. No spectacles to wear, no books to read, no garment to put on to have that 'better wisdom' instantly. A lot of hard work in evaluating and understanding myself, watching my own thoughts, words and actions. Hard work yes, but darn exciting too! The light at the end of the tunnel? Well maybe not yet in sight but i could at least feel the glow in my heart that comes from that light!
I am further encouraged that eventually how I think and perceive affects the world I create around me. I am certainly going to create wonderful, joyful, positively great experiences.... that is for sure.
My lecturer once asked, "What would I want to be written on my tombstone?" - knowing this will definitely make our destination and journey clearer... I am still writing mine. How about yours?
Monday, April 5, 2010
of common herbs and spice ...
The following entry came from Weisuan too, however the original source or author of the compilation is unknown. There's some interesting stuffs in there for all.
Do have a read please ...
Kitchen Cabinet Cures
When I’m feeling ill, the last thing I want to do is drag myself out of bed to get to the nearest pharmacy. Besides the fact that medicine can get pricey, sometimes it makes me feel even sicker. When battling nausea, the chalky taste and artificial pink colour of Pepto Bismol is enough to turn me green.
I was happy to learn that we don’t have to run to the store for solutions to our stress-induced headaches, skin problems, and embarrassing gastrointestinal “issues”. Instead, remedies for what ails us can be found in our kitchen cupboards.
Basil
Ingesting basil promotes healthy digestion and decreases gas. Though mint teas are touted for their stomach-healing properties, a cup of basil tea is an even better choice when big, hearty meals leave us feeling overly full and bloated. It has also been said to alleviate constipation and cramping. Some believe it has a calming affect, so add basil to your diet when feeling stressed or anxious.
Black Pepper
People have used black pepper, one of the most popular spices in the world, to treat everything from earaches to tooth decay, and it’s even been used to treat skin maladies. One example of this is putting black pepper on a cut (after cleaning the area, of course) to halt the bleeding and heal the cut. Those who do this swear that it’s the best method for minimizing scarring.
Ginger
That ginger is good for stomach issues is no surprise—after all, ginger ale is a common recommendation for soothing upset stomachs. A study done at Chiang Mai University in Thailand even found that ginger was a useful remedy for morning sickness among pregnant women in their first trimester. What’s less known is that ginger also helps alleviate inflammatory issues, such as arthritis and headaches. A study conducted by Danish researchers found that taking ginger at the beginning of a headache quickly stops the pain in its tracks by reducing the inflamed blood vessels. Ginger tea and ginger pills are available to buy, or you can try adding ginger root to your meals.
Nutmeg
Nutmeg in limited doses (too much can be toxic) has healing properties associated with nausea and vomiting, and it’s known as an aphrodisiac in India. It’s also sometimes used as a sleep aid by those who practice Ayurvedic medicine. Ayurvedic (which translates to “the science of life”) medicine is a practice borne out of India that offers a more holistic, natural approach to treatment. An Ayurvedic recipe for “bedtime milk” includes a pinch of ground nutmeg to ensure a restful night.
Garlic
Aside from being a delicious addition to just about every meal, garlic is a healing powerhouse. It can treat asthma and fever; it’s great for kidney function. It even prevents the common cold! A study at the Garlic Centre in the UK found that participants who took a garlic supplement every day were less likely to catch a cold than those who didn’t.
Cayenne
Cayenne pepper can add a kick to your chilli or ease your joint and muscle pains. Those suffering from arthritis, skin blisters, and back pain find comfort by adding dried cayenne powder to hot water, pouring the mixture on a towel, and applying the damp towel to the problem area. Its cardiovascular benefits are numerous, ranging from increased circulation to stopping nosebleeds. If a nosebleed comes on (or if you’re prone to them), try drinking a cup of hot water with a few shakes of cayenne pepper. It will take pressure off the haemorrhaging area and promote clotting to stop the blood loss.
Rosemary
Ancient Greeks believed that rosemary increased brain activity and memory. Its smell is thought to stimulate the senses, relieving stress and elevating energy levels. In essential oil form, it may even prompt hair growth. Rosemary is also great for curing headaches because it opens up constricted blood vessels. Try putting a dab of rosemary oil on your temples, or brew a cup of rosemary tea and drink it a few times a day.
Cinnamon
The addition of cinnamon to meals can lower their blood sugar impact on bodies by increasing insulin activity, making the spice a good choice for diabetics. Even those who don’t like the taste of cinnamon can reap its benefits by smelling its fragrance. Research suggests that just smelling cinnamon or chewing cinnamon gum can improve brain power and memory. A study at the Teikyo University Institute in Medical Mycology in Japan also linked cinnamon to a reduction in fungi that causes ailments such as athlete’s foot and yeast infections. Drinking cinnamon tea is also a useful cure for diarrhoea and runny noses.
Turmeric
This is considered a wonder spice among the alternative medicine community. When added to food or drink, or even applied to the skin in a mixture, it targets anaemia, diabetes, allergies, and skin and cardiovascular disorders. Within the past few years, turmeric’s role in reducing the likelihood of developing Alzheimer’s has come under speculation. Research at the National University of Singapore suggests that turmeric strengthens brain function—elderly individuals who ate varying degrees of yellow curry (turmeric gives it the yellow flavour) were tested, and it was found that those who ate curry more often scored better on tests than those who hardly or never ate it. This also might explain why Alzheimer’s is so rare in India, where turmeric is quite popular.
Oregano
Oregano is not often thought of outside of Italian cuisine, but its medicinal properties are impressive. A tea mixed with the bold herb can cure all kinds of stomach issues, from flatulence and bloating to a dwindling appetite. The miracle tea can even affect throat problems, urinary issues, menstrual cycles, and it can be a substitute for Listerine. Those with cavities can apply the oil of oregano directly to the tooth to decrease pain, and it can alleviate skin disorders like eczema and dandruff.
Disclaimer
These herbs and spices are not cure-alls, and medical professionals should be consulted before attempting to use these to alleviate serious diseases. However, for those of us interested in alternative treatments, it might be worth a quick trip to our kitchen to see if the solutions to our problems can be found in our spice rack.
Do have a read please ...
Kitchen Cabinet Cures
When I’m feeling ill, the last thing I want to do is drag myself out of bed to get to the nearest pharmacy. Besides the fact that medicine can get pricey, sometimes it makes me feel even sicker. When battling nausea, the chalky taste and artificial pink colour of Pepto Bismol is enough to turn me green.
I was happy to learn that we don’t have to run to the store for solutions to our stress-induced headaches, skin problems, and embarrassing gastrointestinal “issues”. Instead, remedies for what ails us can be found in our kitchen cupboards.
Basil
Ingesting basil promotes healthy digestion and decreases gas. Though mint teas are touted for their stomach-healing properties, a cup of basil tea is an even better choice when big, hearty meals leave us feeling overly full and bloated. It has also been said to alleviate constipation and cramping. Some believe it has a calming affect, so add basil to your diet when feeling stressed or anxious.
Black Pepper
People have used black pepper, one of the most popular spices in the world, to treat everything from earaches to tooth decay, and it’s even been used to treat skin maladies. One example of this is putting black pepper on a cut (after cleaning the area, of course) to halt the bleeding and heal the cut. Those who do this swear that it’s the best method for minimizing scarring.
Ginger
That ginger is good for stomach issues is no surprise—after all, ginger ale is a common recommendation for soothing upset stomachs. A study done at Chiang Mai University in Thailand even found that ginger was a useful remedy for morning sickness among pregnant women in their first trimester. What’s less known is that ginger also helps alleviate inflammatory issues, such as arthritis and headaches. A study conducted by Danish researchers found that taking ginger at the beginning of a headache quickly stops the pain in its tracks by reducing the inflamed blood vessels. Ginger tea and ginger pills are available to buy, or you can try adding ginger root to your meals.
Nutmeg
Nutmeg in limited doses (too much can be toxic) has healing properties associated with nausea and vomiting, and it’s known as an aphrodisiac in India. It’s also sometimes used as a sleep aid by those who practice Ayurvedic medicine. Ayurvedic (which translates to “the science of life”) medicine is a practice borne out of India that offers a more holistic, natural approach to treatment. An Ayurvedic recipe for “bedtime milk” includes a pinch of ground nutmeg to ensure a restful night.
Garlic
Aside from being a delicious addition to just about every meal, garlic is a healing powerhouse. It can treat asthma and fever; it’s great for kidney function. It even prevents the common cold! A study at the Garlic Centre in the UK found that participants who took a garlic supplement every day were less likely to catch a cold than those who didn’t.
Cayenne
Cayenne pepper can add a kick to your chilli or ease your joint and muscle pains. Those suffering from arthritis, skin blisters, and back pain find comfort by adding dried cayenne powder to hot water, pouring the mixture on a towel, and applying the damp towel to the problem area. Its cardiovascular benefits are numerous, ranging from increased circulation to stopping nosebleeds. If a nosebleed comes on (or if you’re prone to them), try drinking a cup of hot water with a few shakes of cayenne pepper. It will take pressure off the haemorrhaging area and promote clotting to stop the blood loss.
Rosemary
Ancient Greeks believed that rosemary increased brain activity and memory. Its smell is thought to stimulate the senses, relieving stress and elevating energy levels. In essential oil form, it may even prompt hair growth. Rosemary is also great for curing headaches because it opens up constricted blood vessels. Try putting a dab of rosemary oil on your temples, or brew a cup of rosemary tea and drink it a few times a day.
Cinnamon
The addition of cinnamon to meals can lower their blood sugar impact on bodies by increasing insulin activity, making the spice a good choice for diabetics. Even those who don’t like the taste of cinnamon can reap its benefits by smelling its fragrance. Research suggests that just smelling cinnamon or chewing cinnamon gum can improve brain power and memory. A study at the Teikyo University Institute in Medical Mycology in Japan also linked cinnamon to a reduction in fungi that causes ailments such as athlete’s foot and yeast infections. Drinking cinnamon tea is also a useful cure for diarrhoea and runny noses.
Turmeric
This is considered a wonder spice among the alternative medicine community. When added to food or drink, or even applied to the skin in a mixture, it targets anaemia, diabetes, allergies, and skin and cardiovascular disorders. Within the past few years, turmeric’s role in reducing the likelihood of developing Alzheimer’s has come under speculation. Research at the National University of Singapore suggests that turmeric strengthens brain function—elderly individuals who ate varying degrees of yellow curry (turmeric gives it the yellow flavour) were tested, and it was found that those who ate curry more often scored better on tests than those who hardly or never ate it. This also might explain why Alzheimer’s is so rare in India, where turmeric is quite popular.
Oregano
Oregano is not often thought of outside of Italian cuisine, but its medicinal properties are impressive. A tea mixed with the bold herb can cure all kinds of stomach issues, from flatulence and bloating to a dwindling appetite. The miracle tea can even affect throat problems, urinary issues, menstrual cycles, and it can be a substitute for Listerine. Those with cavities can apply the oil of oregano directly to the tooth to decrease pain, and it can alleviate skin disorders like eczema and dandruff.
Disclaimer
These herbs and spices are not cure-alls, and medical professionals should be consulted before attempting to use these to alleviate serious diseases. However, for those of us interested in alternative treatments, it might be worth a quick trip to our kitchen to see if the solutions to our problems can be found in our spice rack.
Friday, April 2, 2010
Cough and flu came a visiting...
Wow! What did I invite to myself after that last article on home remedies coughs?!
Started the week with a nasty, dizzy, heavy headed and feeling-achy-everywhere kind of flu, right after I posted the previous article! Needless to say, my mum made the concoction shared in that article. It helped to keep the phlegm a bay i believed. But I guessed the virus that got to me is neither meek nor easily intimidated! I should take more of the concoction - this occurred to me, just! So while waiting for the a fresh batch to be ready I am sharing here my experience of the last few days.
It was a good thing I had my essential oils to help me in this war too. For my friends into Young Living Essential Oils, I especially would like to share today's posting with you. So listen up.... :)
I have been using the Thieves blend at night in my diffuser, usually mixed with a few drops of Peppermint or White Angelica. On the first few nights, I only rubbed two drops of Thieves into the sole of my feet when I go to bed.
However, yesterday when the flu developed into a terrible cough that kept me awake all night, I decided to be more adventurous. At 3 a.m., I concocted this mix when I coughed myself awake and felt that I had trouble breathing. It felt like the air that i sucked would not fill up my lungs properly. Not panicking, I first cleared my nasal passage by inhaling 2 drops of peppermint and a drop of Thieves rubbed into the palms of my hand and onto my chest. That was fantastic! Then I was inspired to use 5 drops of Thieves, 5 drops of peppermint and 2 drops of lemon in my diffuser. Double fantastic!!
Then I put my diffuser really close to inhale the essential oil mix i experimented with. Slowly I could feel my breathing easing and becoming more natural. In addition to rubbing Thieves on the soles of my feet, I also rubbed some on my chest. Needless to say I fell asleep soon after that and did not wake up till my alarm rang at 9 a.m.
I have been keeping up with Thieves on my chest every few hours, and lemon oil drops in my drinking water. :)
In addition to the use of essential oils, I have also been taking bee propolis, gamat extract and echinacea two to three times a day.
Of course, I had to nap throughout the day as I still felt weak, and needed more rest. As I woke up feeling hungry (yay! Good sign of a victory over the flu bug) just, I felt i needed a pick me up. Again, I turned to the essential oils. Another wave of inspiration washed over me as I put in 3 drops of Valor and 2 drops of Joy into the diffuser. Immediately I was awashed in the uplifting aroma of the oil mix! And I do mean immediately. That made me sit down and type this in before I forget, while gorging myself on some vegetarian and curry pau!
The hunger has reminded me again, how true the popular advice that one should, "feed the flu and starve the fever". My body feels like it has gone through a major battle and is famished. The heavy head has gone and seems like the cough and nasty phlegms has lessen tremendously too!
SO while I continue to feed my face with food (it's 5 p.m and dinner at 6 is just too far away...), I bid everyone a good and joyful evening!
Cheers!!!
p/s - the oil blends i mentioned are made up of the various mixes of fine therapeutic grade essential oils from Young Living Essential Oil.
Thieves is a blend of clove, cinnamon bark, rosemary, lemon, Eucalyptus Radiata.
Valor is from a mix of spruce, blue tansy, rosewood, frankincense.
Joy is made up of bergamot, lemon, palmarosa, ylang ylang, mandarin, rose, geranium, jasmine, rosewood, Roman chamomile.
These oils are achieved by means of accurate and specific proportions blending of the various single oils. The proportion of mixes are of course proprietary to Young Living. I believe I am unlikely to be able to come up with the exact scent and properties even if I have all the different ingredients and the recipe in front of me!
All I can say I have so much more to discover and learn about the natural healing properties of essential oils! And I can't wait to experiment more....
"Errr..... Ah Leng ah! Yeah, you in the GAGA tee and the watery, sniffling nose....want to be my lab rat ah?" Hehehehe......
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