KITCHEN MEDICINE

“Let your Food be Your Medicine”

Dr. Mechelle A. Palma, MD, AMD
 KITCHEN MEDICINE
 Medicine found in our kitchen
 Medicine found in our backyards
 What makes your food a medicine?
 Active constitutents
 Vitamins
 Minerals
 Enzymes
 Water

Food Preparation will either enhance, retard

or delete some beneficial constituents
 Cabbage
(Brassica oleracea capita)
 Cabbage are also great detoxifying
inner cleansing agents.
 Wonderful remedy for stomach
ulcers.
 Fresh cabbage juice, (5x a day for 2
weeks)
 Bruised or cut up cabbage leaves
applied as a plaster draws pus and
infection from rashes, sores and
boils.
 Hot cabbage leaves applied to
muscle aches, neuralgia, and
rheumatism soothes the pain.
 Carrot
(Daucus carota)
 best sources for vitamin A
 It acts as antiseptic and anti-putrefactive
and has been used as a blood cleanser
and to stimulate the metabolism.
 Carrot juice is an excellent remedy for
excessive stomach acid and heartburn,
and also cleanses the intestinal tract and
combat intestinal worms.
 Vitalizing, helping to boost the immune
system, especially for children and cancer
patients.
 Cayenne
(Capsicum annum)
 Chili peppers are very rich in Vitamin C and
are excellent for spicing up teas for flues,
colds and coughs.
 Prevents arteriosclerosis
 reducing blood cholesterol and triglyceride
levels.
 Cayenne also reduces the platelet aggregation
and increases fibrinolytic activity = prevents
stroke condition
 They act anti-catarrhal, decongestant and
antiseptic and stimulate the circulation.
 Externally, mixed with alcohol or oil it
makes an excellent rubefacient for painful
muscles and joints, sprains, neuralgia and
rheumatism.
 Tomato
(Solanum lycopersicum)

 Tomatoes stimulate the digestive

juices and are beneficial for stomach
ulcers and liver complaints.

 They also act positively on edema,

neuritis and circulation complaints,
especially with regard to the
peripheral blood vessels.

 Externally fresh tomato juice can be

applied to wounds in order to prevent
infection and pus formation and to
take the heat out of inflammation.
 Anise
(Pimpinella anisum)
 Anise seed is an aromatic spice
 Anise seed is rich in volatile oils, which
stimulate the appetite and 'warm' the
stomach.
 They are demulcent, carminative, and
stimulate the flow of gall.
 They reduce stomach cramps & colic.
 Anise seed is a useful addition to herbal
mixtures for lung problems, coughs and
bronchial catarrh, (dry coughs).
 It is an old home remedy menopausal
symptoms, also stimulates lactation.
 Onion
(Allium cepa)
 They stimulate mucus secretion and act
strongly anti-putrefactive.
 They stimulate the heart and circulation,
act diaphoretic, diuretic and expectorant.
 An effective cough remedy
 made by cutting up an onion and covering it
in sugar. Leave covered overnight and use
the resulting liquid as a cough syrup.
 For ear infection
 heat a slice of onion and apply it to the ear.
 Onion juice stimulates the kidneys and
helps to dissolve small kidney stones.
 Ginger
(Zingiber officinale)
 stomach troubles, nausea, indigestion and cramps, it
stimulates circulation and digestion.
 It is often added to teas for colds and flues. Chewing
fresh ginger relieves sore throats, hoarseness and loss
of voice.
 Externally it can be applied to sore muscles and stiff
joints (crushed ginger or the essential oil of ginger)
 The oil is also good for treating dandruff.
 Its action is said to lower cholesterol and inhibit
coagulation, thus making it useful in cases where there
is a high risk of stroke.
 However, people with stomach ulcers or hyper-acidity
should avoid ginger.
THE 10 PHILIPPINE
MEDICINAL HERBS
 Garlic (Allium sativum)
 Wonderful home remedy whenever an
antiseptic/antibiotic is needed.
 Naturally, its action is most beneficial when
eaten raw.
 Mix raw garlic is to mix it with honey and lemon
juice as a dressing for avocados, or as is, as a
syrup.
 A soup consisting of lots of garlic, onion and
strong chilies is one of the best remedies to
ward off threatening colds.
 This should be eaten at the first signs of
weakness.
 Garlic reduces cholesterol levels, is
beneficial for the heart and blood circulation
as it lowers the blood pressure (vasodilator)
and inhibits arteriosclerosis.
 It is full of vitamins and acts strongly
antiseptic. It kills worms (enema) and
disinfects most foods
 (great precaution when traveling in
countries where one can't be sure of food
safety - always add a little garlic, chili and
lemon juice).
 It also stimulates the liver and
gallbladder
 Used to be a remedy for tuberculosis.
 Steeped in Olive oil it makes a good
application for ear aches. For severe
cases, a heated clove of garlic (lightly
toasted) can be applied directly to the
ear,
 wrapping it in a thin layer of gauze to avoid
a skin reaction.
 Peppermint
(Mentha piperita)

 Useful for conditions of the digestive tract,

such as flatulence, nausea and cramps.
 good remedy for insomnia,
 Never boil Peppermint as this destroys and
dissipates the volatile oils.
 It is anticatarrhal and has a reputation for
loosening tough and stubborn catarrhal
congestion.
 Akapulko or Acapulco

 Treatment of skin diseases:

 Tinea infections, insect bites, ringworms, eczema,
scabies and itchiness.
Used as purgative, for cough & fever, as a
laxative to expel intestinal parasites and other
stomach problems.
 A strong decoction of the leaves is an
abortifacient.
Ampalaya (Bitter Melon)
Momordica charantia

 Is an antioxidant, antibacterial & antipyretic

 Aids in lowering blood sugar levels, Helps in
lowering blood pressure Good for rheumatism and
gout
 And diseases of the spleen and liver
 Disinfects and heals wounds & burns
 Enhances immune system to fight infection

 Note: In large dozes, pure Ampalaya juice can be a

purgative and abortifacient.
 Bayabas or guava

 Antiseptic, astringent & anthelminthic, Kills bacteria,

fungi and ameba
 Used to treat diarrhea in children
 The fresh leaves are used to facilitate the healing of
wounds and cuts. A decoction or infusion of fresh leaves
can be used for wound cleaning to prevent infection.
Bayabas is also effective for toothaches.

 Note: Bayabas can cause constipation when consumed

in excess.
 Lagundi
(Vitex negundo)

 Relief of asthma & pharyngitis

 Treatment of cough, colds, fever and flu
and other bronchopulmonary disorders
 Alleviate symptoms of Chicken Pox
 The lagundi flowers are also good for
diarrhea and fever. Boil as with the leaves.
 The root is specially good for treating
dyspepsia, worms, boils, colic and
rheumatism.
 Sambong
(Blumea balsamifera)

 Good as a diuretic agent

 Effective in the dissolving kidney stones
 Aids in treating hypertension &
rheumatism
 Treatment of colds & fever
 Anti-diarrheic & Anti-gastralgic properties
 Tsaang Gubat

 Stomach pains, Gastroenteritis, Intestinal

motility, Dysentery, Diarrhea or Loose Bowel
Movement (LBM)
 Mouth gargle, Body cleanser/wash

 Gargle for stronger teeth and prevention of

cavities.
 Ulasimang Bato
(Peperomia pellucida)
 also known as "pansit-pansitan"
 it is effective in fighting arthritis and
gout.
 The leaves can be eaten fresh (about
a cupful) as salad or like tea.
 For the decoction, boil a cup of clean
chopped leaves in 2 cups of water.
Boil for 15 to 20 minutes. Strain, let
cool and drink a cup after meals (3
times day).
 Niyog-niyogan
(Quisqualis indica L.)

 - is a vine known as "Chinese honey suckle“

 It is effective in the elimination of intestinal
worms, particularly the Ascaris and Trichina.
 Only the dried matured seeds are medicinal -
crack and ingest the dried seeds two hours
after eating
 (5to 7 seeds for children & 8 to 10 seeds for
adults).
 If one dose does not eliminate the worms,
wait a week before repeating the dose.
Make your own Kitchens
and Backyards more
beneficial……