Long before the advent of modern medicine, people were using essential oils for medicinal purposes. The oil of the evergreen shrub, tea tree, was particularly venerated by ancient cultures, especially the Australian Aborigines. In fact, evidence shows that the Aborigines have been using the oils of their indigenous Melaleuca alternifolia tree for centuries to treat a wide array of conditions ranging from simple coughs to serious skin conditions. Today, tea tree oil enjoys a reputation…
It’s difficult to find a food product more versatile than baking soda. This white soluble compound, which is also called sodium bicarbonate, has been used for centuries – even as far back as ancient Egypt – as a natural cleaning agent and preservative. In 1843, when the British chemist Alfred Bird created commercial baking soda, the compound gained further popularity as a quick-acting leavener of baked goods. Today, baking soda can be found in almost…
The medicinal value of raw honey – honey that has been transferred from the hive to the honey jar without processing – has been known across the world for centuries. This sweet food, which some researchers have nicknamed “liquid gold,” is omniscient in ancient Indian, Egyptian, and Western medicine. It was used as an ointment for rashes and burns, to help soothe throats, to energize people during long travels, or as a culinary aid that…
