Botanical description: From the shores of the Mediterranean to Ireland so-called kale grows in the wild, which people began to use for food from the beginning of times, and all currently known varieties of cabbage descended from it. Anyway, cabbage considered to be the oldest cultivated plant, but in the same time because of an enormous number of its forms , it is difficult to believe in a common ancestor. Cabbage widely used as a vegetable crop, but only recently it was discovered that the white cabbage remarkable medicinal plant.
Active ingredients: Chemical composition of cabbage is not too different from other vegetables (mineral salts and trace elements, vitamins, sugar, starch, cellulose, a little bit bitterness and organic acids). Especially it is worth to mention substance by which cabbage helps with ulcers of the stomach, so-called antiulkus factor, discovered in 1950 by Cini. This substance was connected to a group of vitamins and called vitamin U. In addition, cabbage contains glycosides of mustard oil.
The medical effect and application in scientific and traditional medicine: Traditional medicine is constantly praises the cabbage as a curing mining for stomach ulcer (juice). It has been tested by science, and the results were astounding. But external use, strongly recommended in folk medicine, perhaps yet needs to be discussed.
Cabbage juice is obtained from squeezing fresh leaves of cabbage. It has a pleasant aroma and subtle taste. The raw juice has a beneficial effect on diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, especially in case of stomach or duodenal ulcers. It was used on practice in central U.S. hospitals. U.S. doctors have reported in 1956 ( "California med.") that the X-ray studies clearly showed a faster healing of ulcers after treatment with cabbage juice.
This fact was confirmed by the Swiss clinic. Patient receives a light meal and after eating drinks fresh raw juice (about 1 liter per day). Such feelings as brash and pain very quickly disappear. Course lasts for 4-5 weeks. In most cases cabbage juice is well tolerated by patients. Sometimes, though, happens bloating, but it is easy to pass over with drinking the caraway tea. Cabbage juice also has good affects on inflammatory processes in the small and large intestines. Additional studies have reaffirmed that cabbage juice is well tolerated and has a curative effect by antiulkus factor that protectively effects on gastric mucosa and intestine. This substance is found also in other green plants, but mostly in the cabbage.
Sauerkraut is also very useful. It is very healthy to eat regularly the sauerkraut, because it provides a good condition for the growth of helpful intestinal bacteria. One important substance of sauerkraut is lactic acid. Regular and excessive consumption of fresh cabbage or sauerkraut leads to improvement of bronchitis, sluggish bowel, eczema, sciatica, inflammation of the veins and even rheumatism. No wonder that a cabbage leaf was highly valued as a medicine in ancient Greece and later in the Roman Empire.
Cabbage leaves apply to the wounds and ulcers, especially to bad healing. To do this, take the inside fresh leaves. Rinse with warm water, give it to drain, then cut out the rough central rib and a slightly squash with a rolling pin. Cooked this way leaves are applied to the wound and fixes with not too tightly bandage. Change twice a day. Leaves pull out malodorous purulent discharge, the wound is cleaned, and begins to healing. At each change of bandage the wound should be thoroughly cleaned with warm chamomile extract, which, in turn, accelerates the healing process. Compress from cabbage leaves also helps with herpes zoster, rubella, and other eruptions.