A panacea is something that can simply cure everything. The word comes from Greek, rightly so, because those people have been masters of human health since forever. (5 B.C to be exact). So, without further ado, I will delve deep into 3 locally available panaceas that work for me.
Ginger
It was a tempestuous cold night when I was reading/chilling outdoors and I started feeling some cold symptoms slowly building up. Someone had told me about how she chewed raw ginger and it cured her cold overnight. I tried it and it worked like clockwork.
I slept well, felt great and had more energy the next day. So much so that I even started chewing this raw root everyday and of course, reading more about it and telling other people about its amazing benefits.
It’s particularly great for toothaches, nausea, morning sickness, blood pressure, relieving gas and/or indigestion.
Chewing raw ginger also helps with arthritis, muscle pain/soreness, menstrual pain & weightloss as it curbs your appetite. It is the perfect antidote for heartburn and even helps to fight stress, depression and anxiety.
Ginger spices up your bedroom by boosting libido for men & women and it also enhances performance.
Garlic
Garlic and ginger go together like rice and beans but I am not saying that you also start chewing this nutritional powerhouse of the allium family. If you can, please do but it is more palatable when juiced with something like pineapple, oranges or even sugarcane juice (which is better to buy, unless you have a sugarcane juicer at home which usually cost around Ksh 50 000.
I cook almost all my dishes with garlic which helps to boost immunity and flavour, which is important. I also boil it with ginger then mix with cayenne pepper and drink it everyday. It’s amazing for boosting energy, improving mood, improving heart health, prevents neurogenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and it even prevents hair loss.
Fresh Aloe Vera Gel
Do you want smooth skin? Use aloe vera. Would you like longer and stronger hair? Aloe vera is the answer. Tummy issues? This superplant is there for you.
This ‘lily of the desert’ is also beneficial to your cardiovascular system, immune system and it is even wonderful for brushing your teeth.
You can buy the plants from Marikiti and grow them in your container garden or garden. It works its magic best when used fresh. Don’t boil it, though, just slice it to expose the gel inside the leaf and use a spoon to scrape it out. Then use that gel in a smoothie or to apply to your hair and skin.
The healthiest way to consume it is to slice the leaf into 2 parts when it’s flat, scrape the gel with a spoon and take it. It has a gell-like texture like mrenda or soaked chia seeds.
The gel is also perfect for boosting the nutrition of your smoothies. You can even blend the aloe vera gel with plain water and take it. Studies show that it’s amazing for managing diabetes, preventing cancer, detoxification, balancing the hormones, treating wounds/cuts/burns, among a plethora of other health benefits.