Index to Food Cures

Mahes Visvalingam
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(This site is under reconstruction)

Medicinal Use of Food Items

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There are many books and web resources on Food based Cures, especially for common ailments. This sub-web is mainly concerned with our experiences. Please note that one man's food is another man's poison - some people have food intolerance and allergies (See Disclaimer). Often this reflects a constitutional mismatch between the person and the food remedy.

We all get ill from time to time and sometimes put up with minor discomforts, which can become chronic. Sometimes, unsuitable food, medicines, and even the weather can exacerbate these conditions. For example, periodic stomach acidity could turn into gastritis, which can take weeks, if not months, to get over. But, the condition may be made more bearable by food, herbs and other complementary therapies. Once cured, it may be of benefit to continue the food regime periodically to remain in good health if the item of food is not contraindicated for your constitution. Sometimes, the food cure may be tolerated in one form (e.g. infusion of fresh ginger) when the whole herb may irritate the digestive system. St John’s Wort is beneficial in homeopathic form for depression and nerve pain but the herb itself can cause rashes, photophobia and can flush out some medicines.

NOTE: people can be intolerant of synthetic substances, including artificial sweeteners and preservatives in food, medicines and cosmetics.

Here is a growing list of common items used in our home remedies:

· black pepper

· ginger and cancer

· honey

· licorice

· linseed

· turmeric

Some properties of food items

anaesthetic	numbs sensation and reduces pain; e.g. clove
analgesic	relieves pain; e.g. willow bark
anti-cancer	although some food items are suggested, even those leading healthy lifestyles seem to get cancer, suggesting the overpowering effect of dietary and environmental pollution. I will cover some approaches with adherents on a different page in due course.
anti-cholesterol	flushes cholesterol; e.g. oats
anti-depressant	mood enhancing; e.g. ginger
anti-emetic	checks vomiting; e.g. ginger
anti-inflammatory	reduces inflammation; e.g. chamomile
anti-oxidant	reduce free radicals in the body; e.g. plants rich in vitamins http://www.botanical-online.com/english/antioxidants.htm
antiseptic	prevents infections; e.g. turmeric
anti-spasmodic	relieves spasms and cramps; e.g. peppermint, quill extract in cough medicines
astringent	drying and contracting; e.g. vinegar
carminative	aids digestion and reduces wind and digestive spasms; e.g. fennel
decongestant	relieves congestion; e.g. peppermint
demulcent	soothes irritated tissues and mucus membranes; e.g. honey
depurative	cleanses blood; e.g. nettles
diaphoretic	promotes sweating; e.g. ginger
digestive	aids digestion; e.g. ginger
diuretic	promotes urination; e.g. parsley
drawing	absorbs poisons from boils and abscess; e.g. oats and bicarbonate of soda
emetic	provokes vomiting; e.g. salt
expectorant	expels sticky mucus from lungs; e.g. thyme, biochemic Kali Bich
febrifuge	reduces fever; e.g. yarrow
hepatic	strengthens liver; turmeric
rubefacient	local irritant which reddens skin; e.g. mustard powder
sedative	calms the nerves; e.g. chamomile
stimulant	increases activity; e.g. cayenne for improving circulation

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