Papaya - a world class meat tenderizer, natural digestive aid, prevents ulcers, and also a soft contact lense cleaner.Fragaria Vesca - ROSACEAE - Wild Strawberries
Fragaria Vesca
ROSACEAE
wild strawberries - the common, American, European, field, or native strawberry
There are several species and varieties of the strawberry, but for medical purposes the differences are unimportant. An infusion of the leaves or roots (1 ounce of dried material to 1 pint of boiling water) is said to be a mild astringent and diuretic, valuable especially for diarrhea in children and for disorders of the urinary organs. Contrariwise, the fruit eaten in quantity is likely to have a mildly laxative action. For some, it is poisonous to the extent that it may cause digestive disturbances or a skin rash, similar to smallpox in appearance.
Grieve’s Herbal recommends strawberries as a dentifrice and cosmetic.
The juice of the fresh fruit is retained for a few minutes on the teeth which are then cleaned with warm water containing a pinch of bicarbonate of soda. Cosmetically, a cut strawberry rubbed over the face after washing will whiten the skin and remove a slight sunburn. One assumes that the more acid the berries, the more efficacious the remedy.
Aside from the medicinal values, we agree with one ancient writer who said, “The Berries themselves are excellent food to refresh and comfort the: fainting spirits, and to quench thirst” and, we add, the wild ones most of all.