Papaya - a world class meat tenderizer, natural digestive aid, prevents ulcers, and also a soft contact lense cleaner.Wild Cherry
Tasty Cough Syrup
Family: Rosaceae; (includes Rose, Plum, Almond, Apricot)
Genus and Species: Prunus Serotina, P. Virginiana
Also known as: Choke Cherry, Rum Cherry, Wild Black Cherry, Virginia Prune Bark
Parts used: Inner bark, root bark
Children’s cough remedies are often cherry flavored. That flavor is no accident. Since 1820, the bark of the native American wild cherry tree has been listed in the U.S. Pharmacopoeia as a phlegm-loosener (expectorant) and mild sedative. But this herb is not just kids’ stuff. It also contains a chemical similar to cyanide that might be deadly in very large amounts.
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Early colonists found many Indian tribes using wild cherry bark tea as a tranquilizer. sedative, and treatment for colds, coughs, diarrhea, labor pains, and other ailments. They adopted the Indian uses for the herb and also used it to treat bronchitis, pneumonia, and whooping cough.
During the 19th century, wild cherry bark ranked among the nation’s most popular botanical medicines, both by itself and as an ingredient in an enormous number of patent medicines.
Wild cherry bark was a favorite of America’s 19th-century Eclectic physicians, who considered it an excellent tranquilizer and mild sedative and a remedy for the dry, hacking cough associated with colds and flu. The Eclectics also recommended the herb as a tonic during convalescence from lengthy illnesses.
Contemporary herbalists recommend wild cherry for colds, cough, asthma, and bronchitis.
I can’t believe the almost instant relief I experienced after drinking a half cup of wild cherry bark tea! I had started to tighten up as usual after cleaning my peachfaced lovebird’s cage bottom and also my hypertension had been way up today (at one point 174/138 due to stress and intermittent asthma, etc). The tea made me feel relaxed and also lowered my blood pressure to 105/74 and the asthma was relieved also. I can’t get over it really. What a relief to know there is something to depend on rather than the costly and often detrimental inhalers and meds.
Comment by Karen V. Stefanini — April 29, 2008 @ 8:13 pm
Thanks Karen for you feedback… please don’t forget to consult with your family doctor. Green Papaya is unfamiliar with your medical history and that is so “very important” to appreciate the difference between helpful advice to you specific and harmful side-effects due to other conditions.
Comment by admin — April 29, 2008 @ 9:51 pm