Nature's Pharmacy: The Top 200 Natural Remedies

473 Pages·2021·23.472 MB·English

by  Charlotte Haigh

Nature’s Pharmacy
Charlotte Haigh, Anne McIntyre and Sarah Merson
First published in the USA in 2019 by Nourish, an imprint of Watkins Media
Limited. This edition published in the UK and USA in 2021 by Nourish, an imprint
of Watkins Media Limited. Unit 11, Shepperton House, 83–93 Shepperton Road
London N1 3DF
[email protected]
Parts of this book have previously been published in the following volumes:
The Top 100 Immunity Boosters by Charlotte Haigh
The Top 100 Herbal Remedies by Anne McIntyre
The Top 100 Traditional Remedies by Sarah Merson
Copyright © Watkins Media Limited 2019, 2021
Text copyright © Watkins Media Limited 2019, 2021
Photography copyright © Watkins Media Limited 2019, 2021
The right of Charlotte Haigh, Anne McIntyre and Sarah Merson to be identified as
the Authors of this text has been asserted in accordance with the Copyright,
Designs and Patents Act of 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any
electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval
systems, without permission in writing from the publisher, except by a reviewer
who may quote brief passages in a review.
Managing Editor: Daniel Hurst
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Designers: Karen Smith and Kieryn Tyler
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A CIP record for this book is available from the British Library
ISBN: 978-1-84899-395-2
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
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Publisher’s notes: While every care has been taken in compiling the recipes for
this book, Watkins Media Limited, or any other persons who have been involved
in working on this publication, cannot accept responsibility for any errors or
omissions, inadvertent or not, that may be found in the recipes or text, nor for any
problems that may arise as a result of preparing one of these recipes. If you are
pregnant or breastfeeding or have any special dietary requirements or medical
conditions, it is advisable to consult a medical professional before following any
of the recipes contained in this book.
The material contained in this book is set out in good faith for general guidance
and no liability can be accepted for loss or expense incurred in relying on the
information given. In particular this book is not intended to replace expert medical
or psychiatric advice. This book is for informational purposes only and is for your
own personal use and guidance. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, or act as a
substitute for professional medical advice. The author is not a medical
practitioner nor a counsellor, and professional advice should be sought if desired
before embarking on any health-related programme.
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CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
FRUIT
VEGETABLES
GRAINS
BEANS & PULSES
NUTS & SEEDS
HERBS
SPICES
DAIRY
FISH & SEAFOOD
MEAT & POULTRY
OILS & VINEGARS
MISCELLANEOUS

Introduction
An efficient immune system is the key to maintaining good health. It
helps to protect us from all manner of diseases from colds to cancer,
fights food poisoning and keeps allergies in check, as well as slowing
down the ageing process. But poor diet, an unhealthy lifestyle and a
toxic environment can all compromise and weaken the immune
system, leaving us prone to everything from common colds to more
serious infections.
HOW THE IMMUNE SYSTEM WORKS
The immune system, which acts like a defending army, is based
mainly in the lymphatic system and bloodstream, although the skin
and other organs, such as the digestive system, also play an
important role. The lymphatic system is a network of vessels which
returns fluid from spaces between cells to the blood circulation.
Lymph nodes, the spleen and the thymus gland are part of the lymph
system, and they produce lymphocytes – cells which identify then set
out to destroy and eliminate foreign substances, microbes and cancer
cells. There are two types of lymphocytes: B-cells, and T-cells. T-
cells, which are produced in the thymus, can destroy foreign bodies
directly, whereas B-cells – produced in the spleen – will secrete
antibodies against these undesirables in order to eliminate them.
Similar to lymphocytes are natural killer cells (NK) which are
particularly lethal against cancer cells, destroying them outright. The
white blood cells found in the bloodstream – phagocytes and
lymphocytes – play an important role in immunity by destroying
invading bacteria and removing dead and damaged tissue. An
optimally functioning immune system is in perfect balance. So,
although it is primed to destroy foreign substances, it allows entry to
those that we need, such as food. For example, the gut’s immune
ecology contains a balance of both friendly and unfriendly bacteria.
As long as the two stay in harmony, digestive immunity is strong. But
if the unfriendly bacteria start to proliferate – perhaps because your
diet is high in sugar and saturated fat – you can develop digestive
complaints and fungal infections.
IMMUNE-SYSTEM ENEMIES
All the immune system organs and cells rely on nutrients to keep
them working efficiently. For example, interferon, an anti-viral and
anti-cancer chemical secreted by tissues throughout the body, needs