The Potato as a Natural Remedy

Most of us have heard that the potato is a starchy, filling vegetable that is okay when limited as a side dish, but in general is something we all need to cut back on.

Potatoes really are a great source of potassium in our diets and include other vitamins and nutrients we really do need, like niacin, magnesium and B-complex. But have you ever considered the potato when it comes to medicinal uses and first aid?

When researching all kinds of natural remedies for pain relief, I was surprised to find that potatoes can actually be used to relieve muscle, joint and bone pain. They make a great poultice because of their capacity to retain heat. And they are so much cheaper than many heating rubs, ointments or gel packs. Yes, you can try this at home! Boil about a pound of potatoes with their skins on. Put them in towels or a fabric sack and then mash them. Then apply to the painful area until the sack cools. You can use a strip of fabric or another towel, blanket, elastic, or whatever you may find to fit in order to tie your poultice to the area. You'll find that this method provides relief for quite awhile. If you have a wound that is slow to heal, you can dampen grated potatoes in milk, then place them in a cloth and apply to help heal a wound or inflammation.

A raw potato can adversely be quite cooling. The potato can be sliced and used to relieve itching or stinging from insect bites, hives, heat rashes, or bee stings. They will even relieve the swelling. Just place them on the affected area until the potato gets too warm.

The potato can also aid with digestive and intestinal difficulties. This is because they contain small amounts of atropine, a natural antispasmodic, and alkaline juices. You can make a substance like a potato juice to drink in the morning to neutralize stomach acid and relieve digestive upsets. Thoroughly wash and cut a potato up into very small cubes. Leave the cubed potato overnight in a cup of water to which you have added a pinch of sea salt. Strain the potato out in the morning and just drink the water. Again, you will find potatoes are much more economical, and just as effective as the over the counter remedies you'll find in the store!

It's important to remember when consuming a potato that most of the vitamins and nutrients are located in its skin. So when you're eating the potato, leave the skin on! Of course you will always need to give the skin a thorough scrubbing!

So next time you find yourself with a nasty bee sting or some sore muscles, you might not want to run to the drug store for a pricey remedy. Just check your pantry for those handy potatoes!

Sources:

http://www.mothernature.com

http://www.natural-healing-guide.com