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.

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.  ;)

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 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?

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.