Handbook of Medicinal Herbs

(Nandana) #1
133

C


C


CABBAGE (Brassica oleracea var. capitata L.) +++

Few if any taxonomists and agronomists can distinguish all Brassica varieties and species, and
probably fewer chemists, herbalists, pharmacists, and physicians can be sure of the variety or
species. My entries can be no more reliable than their sources. Seems as though the cabbage group
might better be treated generically than specifically or varietally. We all know cabbage and cole
slaw as health food, but then there’s the more complex Chinese Cabbage, etc. The darker green,
the better, in many respects (see broccoli, kale, etc.).


Activities (Cabbage) — Allergenic (1; WO3); Anthelminthic (f; KAB); Antibacterial (1; WO2);
Antidote, mushroom (f; WO2); Antiseptic (f; WO2); Antiulcer (1; PH2); Antiscorbutic (f; TOM);
Astringent (f; TOM); Bitter (f; TOM); Cardiotonic (f; KAB); Diuretic (f; TOM; WO2); Emollient
(f; WO2); Fungicide (1; WO2); Gastroprotective (f; PH2); Goitrogenic (1; WO2); Hypocholester-
olemic (1; WO3); Hypoglycemic (1; WO2); Laxative (f; TOM); Monooxygenase-Inducer (1; WO3);
Nematicide (1; WO2); Pectoral (f; TOM; WO2); Stomachic (f; KAB; WO2); Vermifuge (f; WO2).


Indications (Cabbage) — Acidity (1; PH2); Adenopathy (f; JLH); Asthma (f; HHB; PH2; WO2);
Bacteria (1; WO2); Biliousness (f; KAB; WBB); Blister (f; WO2); Boil (f; DEM); Bronchosis (f;
HHB; KAB; WO2); Callus (f; JLH); Cancer (1; JLH); Cancer, breast (1; JLH); Cancer, eye (1; JLH;
TOM); Cancer, foot (1; JLH); Cancer, gland (1; JLH); Cancer, liver (1; JLH); Cancer, prostate (1;
JNU); Cancer, spleen (1; JLH); Cancer, stomach (1; JLH); Canker (f; TOM); Carcinoma (f; TOM);
Colic (f; WBB); Constipation (f; TOM); Corn (f; JLH); Cough (f; HHB; PH2; WO2); Dermatosis
(f; PH2); Diabetes (1; WO2; WO3); Dropsy (f; KAB); Duodenosis (f; PH2); Enterosis (f; PH2);
Escherichia (1; WO2); Felon (f; JLH); Fever (f; KAB); Fistula (f; JLH; WO2); Fungus (1; WO2);
Gastrosis (f; HHB; JLH; PH2); Gout (f; PH2); Hangover (f; TOM); Headache (f; DEM; TOM);
Hemorrhoid (f; KAB; PH2); Hepatosis (f; JLH; WO2); High Cholesterol (1; WO3); Hyperglycemia
(1; WO2); Hypothyroidism (f; PH2); Induration (f; JLH); Infection (1; WO2); Inflammation (f;
TOM); Itch (f; PH2); Mycosis (1; WO2); Ophthalmia (f; TOM); Pain (f; PH2); Pancreatosis (f;
HHB); Parotosis (f; JLH); Polyp (f; JLH); Rheumatism (f; KAB; WO2); Rhinosis (f; JLH); Roemheld
Syndrome (f; PH2); Sclerosis (f; JLH); Stomachache (f; HHB); Swelling (f; JLH; TOM); Thyroidosis
(f; PH2); Tuberculosis (f; WO2); Tumor (f; TOM); Ulcer (1; PH2); Uterosis (f; JLH); Wart (f; JLH;
KAB); Water Retention (f; TOM; WO2); Whitlow (f; JLH); Worm (1; KAB; WO2); Yeast (1; WO2).


Dosages (Cabbage) — Food farmacy; eat some almost every day, but don’t overdo it. Recommended
raw as slaw, fermented as kraut, or boiled redneck fashion. I use it as the broth for all my vegetarian
soups (JAD). A daily liter of cabbage juice for at least 3 weeks but not more than 6 weeks (PH2).
One tsp juice before each meal for gastralgia and acid stomach (PH2). 500 mg tablets (PH2).


Contraindications, Interactions, and Side Effects (Cabbage) — Not covered (AHP;
KOM).“Health hazards not known with proper therapeutic dosages” (PH2). In huge quantities,
glucosinolate/isothiocyanate containing crucifers might upset the thyroid. And in huge doses, hard
to get dietarily, indole-3-carbinol, might stimulate breast cancer rather than prevent it because it
does so at levels reasonably attainable through dietary consumption of crucifers (Brassicaceae).

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