I greet you with a pious purpose. I have good news. Authors Dr Michael Murray, Dr Joseph Pizzorno and Lara Pizzorno (2006) posit:
“A study revealed that a tea of fig leaves can help diabetics to reduce injection insulin intake.”
Additionally, this is Mother’s Month and my gift to readers is the presentation of four mothers who have made Barbados their home.
Indeed, two of the mothers will be herbal “silent doctors” and the others will be advocates of theirs. Last week in this column under the title Take Great Care Of The Anus, I recommended figs for constipation.
Later, I quoted a passage from Nahum 3:12 which made reference to figs, whose scientific name is Ficus carica.
Silent doctors figs are sacred spiritual masters. In fact, a Barbadian friend, Temidire Somorin from the Bay Land, has a fig tree which she purchased from Soil Conservation.
The fruits are purple, round, juicy and tangy. When I tasted the fruit, I could not help but remark: “These are absolutely delicious.”
This empowered me to purchase one. Please note these figs are not our yellow figs.
Research revealed that fig trees are among the oldest plants, with origins in Egypt. In fact, the Bible and ancient Hebrew books mentioned them and paintings of them were said to be in Egyptian pyramids.
Their nutritional value includes carbohydrates, water, fibre, protein, vitamin B 1, 2 & 6, potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc, copper and manganese. Figs are useful for treating bronchial disorders, including coughs. They soothe the respiratory tract and aid expectorations.
They restore strength and are very alkaline while their potassium maintains the blood pressure. They promote bone density and can be used to treat insomnia, anaemia, high cholesterol, shingles, ringworms, liver cirrhosis, ulcers, haemorrhoids, acne, pimples, some digestive challenges and obesity.
Baked figs, when applied to the skin, can treat boils and abscesses. Figs are good for people who are lactose-intolerant because of their calcium content. The juice of the green fig is good for treating and softening corns on the feet.
Figs are also rated as excellent sexual enhancers/aphrodisiacs. They fight free radicals, reduce the risk of breast cancer and students preparing for examinations would find figs useful.
Finally, the Creator inspired many prophets and apostles, including Nahum and St Luke to pass on information about figs. This shows their historical, divine and healing importance. Proverbs 27:8 likens tending a fig tree to looking after one’s master. Research why they are noted as the “poor man’s food”.
