Patzin: Sunflowers, Lemons & the Pits
By Patrisia Gonzales
Column of the Americas (c) July 2, 2007
Patzin (Nahuatl for Respect worthy Medicine) is a monthly edition on
Indigenous medicine

In Mexican Traditional Medicine, precious petals, leaves, seeds, rinds
and even pits are medicine that should be put to use. While the
girasol towers in gardens and on roadsides, we should not let the
power of Sunflower go to waste. Sunflower seeds, leaves, bark and
petals make excellent teas and tinctures for colds that affect the
lungs and respiratory tract. This tea also gently fortifies the body's
health. The petals, when collected while the dew is fresh and soaked
like a sun tea, provide clarity. As a flower that follows the sun,
sunflower remedies uplift the spirit. The bark should be tinctured
while fresh -- although a good sunflower stalk can grow tall and thick
and require some effort to cut up. Other similar flowers that are
cold-fighters are Mexican hat, margaritas, daisies and "Indian paint
brush."

Other summer medicine is found in citrus rinds, leaves and flowers.
The flowers and leaves of all citrus are relaxants and make excellent
tés y baños. The rinds of limón, lemon and oranges can be soaked in
water and drunk to stimulate the immune system, fortify the nervous
system and provide bioflavonoids and Vitamin C. (Of course, grapefruit
seed is well-known for its anti-microbial properties.) These rinds
also can be chewed on or soaked in honey (particularly to soothe a
cough). They also may provide relief for people suffering from
glaucoma and varicose veins. An enduring practice of many abuelitas is
to have a cup of warm water with the rind and juice of a limón first
thing in the morning to gently clear the liver. And then there is agua
of limón or limonada, which can be enhanced by blending an entire
pesticide-free fruit in water and straining and sweetening to taste.
Limón can also be combined with yerba buena or other mints to improve
digestion. Citrus rinds may be dried and stored for use in the
winters. Oranges are also eaten to combat mild depression in the
winter months.  A slice of lime or lemon can be placed on the forehead
or ingested to soothe some headaches.

All huesos de aguacate should be washed and saved! If they are
organic, they can be shredded or quartered and made into a tea that
battles diarrhea, intestinal bacteria and parasites (boil one
quartered or shredded pit in two cups water and add honey). The tea
also can be taken for menstrual cramps, muscular aches and when
combined with other herbs is useful for folks suffering from
arthritis. Even pits from conventionally grown avocadoes should be
washed and saved and used in a liniment, soaked in rubbing alcohol
with estafiate, ruda, chiles, and yerba buena. Combined with clavo,
timo, estafiate or epasote de comer, avocado pit makes a great
anti-parasitic remedio. Boiled with honey and apple, it makes a jarabe
that can be used for chest ailments that youngsters will tolerate. The
pits also are exceptional tinctures. When boiled, the tea becomes
orange, indicating its powerful medicinal content. (Of course, eating
avocados provides healthy fats, minerals and vitamins that are
protective of the heart, brain and skin.) In Mexican Traditional
Medicine, even the pits and the casacaras are medicines. So save your
pits and peels! Except for the use of lemon rinds, limonada or the
eating of fresh fruits and seeds, these remedies are not for pregnant
women.

(c) Column of the Americas 2007

Gonzales can be reached at: Column of the Americas, PO BOX 41552
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