Dareen's Favorite Remedies

This is a list of Foods & spices that first pop in my head when I'm in need of a fix. Reasons I've stuck with these remedies is because they have always worked for me with no fail. I also have done research on these items and have found them to be considered potent in many forms and help in a range of diseases and illnesses. You'll most likely find them in your house and are easily found in many supermarkets.

Here they are in no particular order:

Ginger	Sliced Fresh Root Ginger	I like the taste, so I nibble on it as it is I also use the slices to make tea I add flavor and health with grated ginger (I make sauces, salad dressings, dips, curries, marinades, or even sprinkle on baked potatoes or chicken with other ingredients prior to cooking) This is also a perfect hangover remedy. Yes I've had days of drinking where the next morning felt like it was still the night before, pounding headaches, upset stomach, lazy with lack of energy. Ginger Tea helps elimination of blood alcohol levels. I try to drink it right before I sleep but in the case that I don't, I make sure to make me a cup (or ask my sister to make me a cup to heal
	Powder Ginger	I'm trying to substitute this with the ginger candy. I sometimes use the powder to make a tea when I'm out of fresh ginger Quick meals calls for no chopping or dicing, so I add flavor and health with the powder (I make sauces, salad dressings, dips, curries, or even sprinkle on baked potatoes with other ingredients)
	Candied Ginger	I avoid this the most because of the sugar content, but it's helpful when you're on the go.I carry a pack in my car
	Pickled Ginger	Every sushi meal must start and end with this ginger. It also allows you to savor each and every flavor, but "cleaning" your palatte Helps with digestion  Increases appetite - works wonders when you're doing the all-you-can-eat
	Turmeric	Powder	I sprinkle this on EVERYTHING  perfect detoxifying agent, that increases and improves function of liver Has many more benefits, hence why i use it on so many foods I usually take it in the form of a tea - Green tea with a half tsp of turmeric Turmeric is also used in arabic sweets - SFOOF  I make Veggie sandwiches and add turmeric to it Salad dressing - with turmeric Baked or fried potatoes - always have turmeric part of the seasoning
Root		Difficult to find the root, so i stick to the powder
Turmeric (& Kolongi) Oil		During a trip to Dubai and visiting the "Souk" flea market, I came across many vendors who carried spices & herbs. I was in Wonderland!!  that's where I came across an infused oil with turmeric and kolongi.  it's a topical application and It's a healer.  My cuts healed in half the time they usually did. Baby diaper rashes that wouldn't heal because of constant moisture from the diaper, were reduced in size and severity with this oil. I've used it on some rashes as well with outstanding results.  This oil also contained Kolongi - a seed mentioned in the Quran as being "A healer of everything except death"
Apple Cider Vinegar		A shot a day keeps the doctor away	Indigestion, Upset Stomach and the list goes on. Apple cider vinegar is another go to item for nausea or indigestion, it also works instantly. I consider this a miracle drug.  I usually take a shot of it (but always mix it with water, so it doesn't damage the esophagus - remember it's vinegar) not the best tasting, but in time you'll acquire the taste (now I'm starting to like it) This has also been shown to help in weight loss. You'll find many "apple cider vinegar" pills out there.. but I prefer natural more.  Please note this is not apple cider, it's apple cider vinegar. Its constituents are different, both are good, but the vinegar holds many more benefits to it.  In my house we always have a bottle or 2 on the kitchen counter, easy access and convenient. It also reminds us to take it because it's infront of us. And the reason for 2 bottles, is because it's consumed fairly quickly. This remedy (my sister would say) cured her of Acid reflux.
		Anise Seed	Seed	I may have recommended this a million times to friends and family, even to the point where I have people joke about it saying, it's the go to medicine for every disease.  The reason I mention it a lot, is because most illnesses that i come across deal with colds, flu, mucus building, coughing, phlegm etc. Anise is a perfect expectorant - meaning it helps the body expels mucus from it's system. This in turn helps with stuffy noses, "wet" coughs, congested lungs.  I've also used this during every episode of having a cold. I found my self healing faster, and shortening my 'runny nose' days. Coughs reduced dramatically as well.
	Green Tea		Tea	This is also a staple every time I go eat sushi (by now you will have realized I'm a sushi fan - Omega 3/6/9 to the rescue) I'm a coffee lover but barely show it, I try to avoid it a lot, and thank you for green tea for making that possible.  Its a great picker upper, makes my body feel warm and comfortable and there's plenty more. Research has shown that green tea has many benefits. At times when i feel my body isn't at it's best, when i feel extra tired, extra moody etc, I make myself a cup of green tea with turmeric. I feel there is a reason for all this aching and tired feeling - Toxins, and what better way to fix this than by helping your liver and body to eliminate these toxins with turmeric and adding a little boost of energy with green tea.
			Fennel Seed	Seeds	The main use of this seed (for me) is for menstrual pain. I make sure to make myself a cup of tea infused with this fennel seed.  Fennel is also known to aid in digestion and flatulence. If you've even been to an Indian restaurant, you may have been offered a mix of seeds at the end of the meal. One of those seeds is fennel - Because we all know how tough Indian food can be to our stomachs and gut.
				Powder	I prefer the seed, since the shell of the seed prevents loss of flavor and potency
Garlic				Mashed	Please refer to the Lemon & mashed garlic below to see the many ways I consume garlic
		Whole or sliced cloves or Garlic		In dire need of a fix up, I've eating whole garlic while adding olives to enhance the taste. I've even used an open end of a garlic clove to rub on nails - it's been said this can improve the health of nails & strengthen them. (I stopped doing that, because the smell sticks) I season my meats, my veggies, my salad dressings, my sauces and dips.. almost everything I eat has to have a garlic base to it. Before I stir fry anything, I start off with stir frying the garlic first, to bring out all the flavor, then add what I please
	Powder	When no fresh garlic available, or in a hurry to make a quick meal, I sometimes opt for garlic powder or granulated garlic. As with turmeric, I can sprinkle this on anything and everything. I season my meats, my veggies, my salad dressings, my sauces and dips
	Lemon or Lime	Squeeze	I'm a citrus lover, if all foods were sour, I'd love food way more than I already do. In university I would almost always squeeze lemon or lime on what I was making. Lemons or Lime was always the base of my salad dressings.
		Juice & Pulp	Detoxify - A full squeezed lemon/lime (with some of it's pulp) in a huge glass of water.  This remedy has cured me of colds, prevented me from getting colds while being surrounded by sick people. And it tastes amazing. Since I like the lemon taste, I can bare it without sugar. The more water you add, the less citrus you taste, so rather than adding "an immune killer"  try to cover the taste with more water or go for alternative NATURAL sweeteners. Please Please Please Don't use artificial sweeteners. those are horrible for our health.
Juiced Lemon with mashed garlic & hint of Salt		I also make a mix of juiced lemons with mashed garlic and a hint of salt, this is a perfect dip or marination for many veggies.  I use the avocado as a bowl and mix this concoction with it, and eat it with a spoon Slightly Steamed or fresh Asparagus, Broccoli, Dandelion, Watercress marinated with this mixture. Just nibble on them or use them as a sidedish Carrots soaked in this make a wonderful appetizer or hors d'oeuvre. This used to be my studying snack, a perfect substitute for chips. Almonds soaked in this also takes wonderful Artichokes boiled and the fleshy tips & heart dipped in this mix is amazing
Kalonji		Seed	Strong Flavor, But I usually grind the seed to get most potency when I'm about to use it. This seed, also known as Black Seed, Nigella, Kolongi, is known for it's many healing properties. It has been known to be "the healer of everything except death" I used this in my salad dressings, and also sprinkling a little of it on sandwiches. We have a extra pepper mill on our dinner table - inside it we have Kalonji
		Oil	Refer to Turmeric (Turmeric and Kolongi Oil)
	Mustard Seed	Seed	Mustard comes in yellow, brown or black seeds.  I've come to love the flavor of mustard, and this is even beneficial after learning of all it's benefits. Great for colds and respiratory illnesses Mustard seed can also be used as a poultice to ease inflammation. (mom's been a perfect subject for this experiment, and she loved it. It eased your shoulder pain and tense muscles which were causing her tension headaches) Sometimes used as a laxative.  Can be used as a powder or as a seed form for marination or adding extra flavor Add mustard to salad dressings, it gives a little kick in flavor and aids in health.
		Cayenne Pepper	Powder	My go to remedy when I'm cold. Sometimes I experience cold feet and extremities, and cayenne is the first thing i think of. It's aids in blood circulation, in turn increasing circulation of oxygen and helps nourish cells and tissues. Cayenne has been shown to stop a heart attack as it happens (but please don't experiment on this.. leave it to the doctor) It's beneficial in weight loss by increasing metabolism It helps adjust with blood pressure. Cleans the arteries, gets rid of bad LDL cholesterol and tryglicerides. Stimulates peristaltic motion in intestines and aids in assimilation and elimination of unwanted matter. Warms the body internally and externally Been used as a frost bite remedy. I have experimented in the crude cold winters of Canada, by putting a sprinkle on cayenne in my boots. Not only did they keep my feet warm.. at points I couldn't wait to get home to remove my shoes because I felt so much heat, it felt like a burning sensation. I've also used cayenne poultice on stiff muscles.. neck strains are a nuisance especially when you need to move. A little bit of cayenne made into a paste using olive oil, and rubbed onto painful area. Please note: some muscle injuries get worse with heat applications - cayenne will only make it worse. (if your doctor says put an ice pack on it.. then NEVER use cayenne) Superb for rebuilding the tissue in the stomach, facilitating healing with stomach and intestinal ulcers. Cayenne pepper for ulcers is not something most would have considered, and it still should be considered as a slight irritant especially when you have ulcers, but a little at a time NOT on an empty stomach and you should be fine. Remember if you're unsure, you can always start of with the tiniest of doses.  And please remember NEVER to take it on an empty stomach.  I've experiment with cayenne and filled capsules with cayenne to get myself a bigger dose without tasting and feeling the heat on my tongue. Big mistake: I took the capsule on an empty stomach - and with in 20 minutes, there was an unpleasant party in my stomach - fire crackers and bombs. Too much cayenne can irritate the stomach - sometimes resulting in ulcers. It seems ironic that a substance that can heal ulcers can also cause them, but we always have to remember to Balance.  Getting too much of a Good thing, will not always result in a Good outcome.

Benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple Cider Vinegar


It's probably the last thing one might think of regarding a healthy diet; but apple cider vinegar goes a long way in helping us to sustain our bodies. It's a great aid for weight loss, it improves heart health, eliminate heartburn or acid reflux and, even helps your liver.




Digestion, Weight-loss & ACV: 

• Apple cider vinegar helps control cravings by reducing ghrelin (the 'hunger' hormone that's produced due to an empty stomach). 
• Keeps you feeling full for longer. By having the ability to delay the gastric emptying time, ACV allows you not to get hungry as quickly.  
• ACV can also improve nutrient absorption - helps specific digestive enzymes and beneficial bacteria.
• Helps in breaking down fat.
• Fixes your pH balance.

Cardiovascular 'Heart' Health:

• Helps in reducing the hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis)
• Also helps in reducing high cholesterol and hypertension, without any side effects.
• It has also been reported that a daily dose of apple cider vinegar in water has high blood pressure under control in two weeks! 

Gatorade be Gone.. Electrolyte Boost

•  Apple Cider vinegar has the same effects as all those thirst quenching drinks. Its full of electrolytes.  

Sore Throat? :

• Gargle with two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar and a quarter cup (pre-boiled) lukewarm water. It kills what you don't want. Try it and notice the difference.

 Diabetic? Perhaps Apple Cider Vinegar can help:

• Helps in lowering body's need for insulin. By slowing the release of sugar from your food into the bloodstream, ACV can aid in controlling & stabilizing blood glucose levels, in turn affecting insulin production and taking stress off your pancreas. 
• When your blood sugar is balanced, you are less likely to crave carbohydrates.

Protect thy Liver... you need it!! 

• The acetic acid present in apple cider vinegar may have the ability to protect our liver cells.

Nausea, Heartburn, Indigestion, Upset Stomach..... oooh

• Apple Cider Vinegar is almost always an immediate relief for all the above. The upside to ACV (as compared to the tums and pink fluids) is that it helps treat and potentially cure long term. While most heartburn relief medications are a cover up that mask the problem, this vinegar also improves nutrient absorption. helps specific digestive enzymes and beneficial bacteria (pro-biotic).

External Use - Cleanse your body:

• Use apple cider vinegar for acne, or even to cleanse your face.
• Soak in a tub of water and some apple cider vinegar to balance your body's pH.
• Can help in reducing dandruff

Be Clean & Green - Household Cleaner:

• With it's anti-viral properties both inside and outside the body - ACV has also proved itself worthy on counter tops too. Replace chemical cleaners (that can be fatal to our hormones) for apple cider vinegar and water to kill bacteria and viruses that can linger on surfaces. Sometimes it may shock you, but these natural product cleaners can sometimes outdo the chemical cleaners. Give it a try!

Although I usually like to write short and sweet, it's a shame not to include all the other known benefits of apple cider vinegar. So here what else it can benefit you with:  cures for allergies (including pet, food and environmental), sinus infections, acne, high cholesterol, flu, chronic fatigue, candida, acid reflux, sore throats, contact dermatitis, arthritis, enhances appearance of complexion, eczema, and gout.

 HOW TO: 

Salad Dressings, Marinades, Sauces, Dips, Juice, or take it as a shot of alcohol (with water).

DRINKS

Recipe 1: My top recipe is a couple tablespoons of apple cider vinegar in a cup of water
Recipe 2: Variation of recipe one is to do my D'tox drink: full lemon squeezed in cup of water with 2tbsp acv.
                   (you could add honey to taste, but it's better without - opt for natural sweeteners like stevia )
Recipe 3: ACV Cocktail - 1 tbsp  apple cider vinegar + 1 cup Sparkling water + ½tsp maple syrup

SALAD DRESSINGS

Recipe 1:  Mustard-Shallot Vinaigrette

1 tbsp minced shallot
1 teaspoon dry mustard
¼ teaspoon dry granulated garlic
¼ cup raw unfiltered apple cider vinegar
¾ cup extra virgin olive oil (more or less depending on how thick you make the vinaigrette)
sea salt and freshly ground pepper to taste 

Recipe 2:  Pizzeria Style Vinaigrette
¼ cup raw unfiltered apple cider vinegar
1 teaspoon dried oregano leaves
½ teaspoon dry granulated garlic
½ teaspoon dry mustard
¾ cup extra virgin olive oil – more or less as you like it
sea salt & freshly ground pepper to taste

Recipe 3: Sun Dried Tomato dressing
11/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/3 cup apple cider vinegar 
1/2 lemon - juice
1/4 tsp sea salt
1 tsp honey
1 tsp mustard (powder or liquid)
2 tbsp mixed fresh or dried herbs (choose from basil, rosemary, dill, chives, dried onion bits, thyme, sage, parsley)
2 - 3 cloves fresh garlic chopped
5-6 drops of hot red pepper sauce (or to taste)
2 tbsp. sun dried tomatoes.
Optional:  add 2 tbsp. capers

 

Don't take Apple Cider Vinegar on it's own, the acid can be too harsh on the throat. Mixing & diluting it with a little bit of water is all you need.

Remember Apple Cider Vinegar has a strong taste, if you're not used to it yet, you could always start with a lower dosage, and work your way up.  If you can't go without adding some type of sweetener then opt for something natural. Please avoid the artificial sweeteners at all costs and if possible least for the white sugar last.