The Apple

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Apple

Malus pumila; (ceae)

Apples of all varieties (there are more than 2000 varieties grown today) are one of nature's healing gifts--food and medicine in one. Apples are one of the few fruits that grows best in temperate zones, needing some cool weather to reach ideal flavor. Apples grow wild in most countries of Europe. Wild apples reproduce sexually, so that each tree is unique, and wild apples lack the perfect appearance of cultivated varieties, although they may be more flavorful. They also are more resistant to disease and insects. Cultivated apples are usually grafted into wild or seed-grown trees. From the grocery stores we have become used to the taste of only a few standard varieties, but there are marvelously delicious varieties that grow in different localities.

All over the United States you can find apple trees growing in forests and overgrown fields as well as in cultivated areas. The European apple Malus sylvestris was planted as far west as Illinois by Chapman, otherwise known as ny Appleseed (1774-1845). He collected the seeds from cider presses and went by foot distributing and planting seeds everywhere he went.

You have probably heard the old adage, "An apple a day keeps the doctor away." "To eat an apple on going to bed will make the doctor beg his bread" is another. Apples have been proven to be antibiotic against various bacteria; one French physician claimed that the bacillus of typhoid fever (which is a streptococcus) cannot live in apple juice and therefore recommended that suspicious drinking water be mixed with apple cider.

Apples contain pectin, which natural healers have used to remove heavy metals from the body, such as lead, mercury, arsenic, and copper toxicity. Pectin also reduces blood cholesterol by binding with bile acids, thereby decreasing the absorption of cholesterol and fat in the small intestine. Pectin also slows the absorption of sugars and carbohydrates in the intestine, slowing the rise of blood sugar and increasing a person's energy. People with blood sugar problems, either hypoglycemics or diabetics, can therefore benefit from using a simple medicine--apples. Researchers at Yale's Psychophysiology Center found that the smell of spiced apples lowers blood pressure in people under stress.

Apples contain malic and tartaric acids, which neutralize an acidic body and assist in food digestion. The sugars in a ripe apple are practically a predigested food, passing into the blood quickly. Apples are one of the most easily digested foods. People with truly weak digestion can peel the apples, but most people benefit from eating the fruit whole. In fact, Dr. Shook pointed out that the valuable acids and salts of the apple are most concentrated in and just below the skin, so that you should avoid peeling apples if at all possible.

Fresh unsweetened apple juice can reduce the acidity of the stomach and prevent fermentation in the digestive tract. It is said that in countries where the unsweetened cider is used commonly, kidney stones are unheard of. If a person suffers from constipation, ripe juicy apples eaten at bedtime can cure some of the most stubborn cases. Sour apples--those with a higher proportion of pectin--work best for this purpose. Sour apples eaten at bedtime are also said to help overcome sleeplessness and liver toxicity.

If your children want a bedtime snack, given them apples, which will leave their teeth clean, both from the gentle acids in the fruit and the mechanical action of biting into the apple.

Early this century, Dr. D. C. Jarvis, a country physician, became intrigued with the uses of apple cider vinegar--as well as kelp, honey and other natural substances--on country farms. He wrote the famous book Folk Medicine detailing his findings. Dr. Jarvis felt that the daily use of apple cider vinegar could handle many human ills. Taking a daily dose helped animals and humans conceive where they previously could not by providing the body with a proper acid/alkaline balance and adequate potassium. In addition, the potassium will allow the body to kill bacteria by removing moisture from the pathogens, retaining moisture in the healthy cells.

Dr. Jarvis also maintained that apple cider vinegar is anti-pathogenic. He tells several stories of people who had eaten contaminated food, some of them taking diluted apple-cider vinegar before a meal, others eating the same meal but omitting the vinegar. In each case, the people not having taken the vinegar got sick from spoiled or tainted food, while the vinegar takers did not get sick. In addition, he asked his patients to gargle apple-cider vinegar in cases of strep throat, and then he repeated the strep tests; they came back negative after gargling!

He recommended taking apple-cider vinegar in every case of diarrhea or digestive upset, saying that most cases of diarrhea will end quickly, so that you can begin taking mild food again. He also said that kidney and bladder maladies respond to apple cider vinegar.

For overweight, he recommended taking two teaspoons of apple cider vinegar in a glass of water at each meal, suggesting that this simple measure in itself, combined with a reasonable diet, will help a person lose weight and inches.

Dr. recommended taking apple-cider vinegar as a daily supplement. He recommended it as the main seasoning in the daily salads, along with olive oil and herbs. Certain herbal tinctures, such as the acid tincture of lobelia, are prepared with apple cider vinegar.

Be sure that you choose apple-cider vinegar prepared from the whole organic apple, allowed to ferment naturally. This is much superior to supermarket varieties.

In addition, in cases of calculi--or stones--Dr. recommended a treatment of apple juice, lemon juice, and olive oil for safe, effective expulsion. For juice fasts, he recommended pure, unsweetened apple juice when available, preferably freshly-pressed.

In any case of pus-related diseases, said Dr. Shook, such as ulcerations, acne, boils, abscesses, carbuncles, tumors, eczema, psoriasis, lupus, athlete's foot, mastoiditis, necrosis of the bone, syphilitic sores, swollen glands, cancers, sore throat, infected wounds, and various ulcers, as well as any other disease that supports that creation of pus, you should use what he called a "magic remedy," consisting of: 2 quarts apple cider, 8 ounces fresh garlic juice, 1 ounce freshly grated horseradish. Put together and let stand in warm place for 12 hours, stirring occasionally. Remove to cool place and let stand for 12 more hours, stirring occasionally. Strain and press through sterile cloth. Saturated a piece of gauze and place on affected area. It is used in sciatic and rheumatism as well. Mix with glycerine in equal parts to apply on edema.

Apples contain a varying amount of organic acids, malic acid and gallic acid, and salts such as potash and soda, lime, magnesium and iron. As we mentioned above, they are an excellent source of potassium and also contain magnesium, vitamin C, and beta carotene, or pro-vitamin A. Apples also contain organic iron; dried apples contain a significant amount of iron.

All over the world apples are currently considered to be healing. In Spain, Turkey, Iraq and India they are considered to be laxative and to help with digestion. In Canada, Austria and Russia they are applied to warts. The Chinese use them for a variety of things, including parasites, gas, sleeplessness, and fevers. In many places they are used as a bactericide.

Suzi

What is a weed? A plant whose virtues have not yet been discovered.

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