Watercress-Nature's Miracle Tonic

[Guest guest]

Watercress

 

High-Potency Minerals

Direct from the Pond

 

You've heard of watercress. It's that green, leafy veggie found on

those tiny, delicate triangular sandwiches eaten by ladies-who-lunch.

But if more people knew how valuable that greenery really is, they'd

dig a pond in the backyard and start growing the stuff themselves!

 

Watercress (Nasturtium officinale) was called scurvy grass by the

early settlers who brought the plant to America in hopes of

preventing that dreaded disease.

 

The plant is loaded with vitamins A, B2, B9 (folic acid), C, D, and E

and with minerals such as copper, manganese, iron, iodine, phosphorus

and calcium. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA),

1 cup of chopped watercress has 1,598 IU of Vitamin A, 15 mg of

vitamin C, 41 mgs of calcium, 20 mgs of phosphorus, 0.1 mg of iron,

112 mg of potassium, and 7 mg of magnesium.

The great thing about watercress is that it grows almost anywhere in

the United States and Canada. Since it requires continual water, it

is usually found in shallow mountain ponds of streambeds. The active

medicinal ingredients in the leaves are highest when watercress is in

flower, usually during spring and summer.

 

What it does for the Body

Besides being an incredible natural mulivitamin, this pungent plant

achieves much of its healing success from its blood-purifying

abilities.

Because of this, watercress can work as a preventative to illness, a

rehabilitation tonic and a treatment for skin ailments.

In addition, watercress is also very effective as an expectorant for

respiratory ailments such as bronchitis, asthma, and even

tuberculosis.

Watercress is wonderful as a preventative against illness. This, of

course, goes back to the belief that watercress could prevent

diseases such as scurvy. With all of the vitamins and minerals within

the leaves, this concept isn't exactly a quantum leap of logic.

 

Which brings us to watercress' rehabilitative uses. There's no need

to be sickly, weak or anemic when you have herbs such as watercress

to help you on your feet again.

When you are in this condition, your body needs nutritious foods and

a hefty dose of vitamins and minerals. The more natural a source you

can draw from, the better.

 

Watercress Tea

A good mineral tea is one way to boost your body's immunity. There

are many mineral tea recipes, including this one:

 

Combine 2 heaping tablespoons each of fresh watercress leaves, fresh

dandelion leaves, fresh parsley, fresh or dried nettle leaves, fresh

or dried peppermint leaves, dried horsetail, dried red raspberry

leaves, dried alfalfa, dried rosehips, and fresh or dried red clover

blossoms.

Place the herbs in a large ceramic or glass container that has a

cover. Pour 12 to 14 cups (depending on the strength you prefer) of

boiling water over the herbs. Stir briskly with a wooden spoon, cover

and steep for 20 minutes.

Strain the herbs.

 

Enjoy 8 ounce cups of this mineral tea hot or cold. During periods of

rehabilitation from long-term illnesses, there is no way you can

overdose on this tea mixture.

 

Cautions:

Do not drink this tea is you are pregnant. It has been known to

stimulate the uterus and bring on a menstrual cycle.

 

If you're like most people, you'll head on down to the nearest

organic grocery and purchase fresh watercress. Stored in airtight

bags, it will keep in the refrigerator for up to three days,.

Feel free to put it in salads, toss it into pasta or drop it into

soups right before serving. And of course, you can even eat it on

those delicate triangular sandwiches.

Whatever you do, take advantage of this nutritious pond plant!

 

" Nature's Miracle Tonics "

By Laurel Dewey

Laurel Dewey's column, " The Humorous Herbalist "

appears in newspapers and magazines nationwide.

[Guest guest]

perhaps you should try taking a good 120mg of Gingo Biloba a day, does

wonders for the memory. I have never seen anything detrimental about

watercress - it is one of the best 'veggies' that you can get and very good

in a juice.

 

Marianne

 

 

> Vache

> (obviously whose memory is failing...)

>

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Huh? I thought something less than kind was posted uon here not so

long ago in regard to watercress? Or am I thinking of that white

crunchy thing eaten in chinese food?

 

 

Vache

(obviously whose memory is failing...)