The Miracle Of The Fig Tree

The Fig Tree was first brought to the West Coast of the United States by the Spanish missionaries. Those first trees were planted in San Diego, California but they are grown all the way up to Seattle, Washington. They love it when you make an English garden complete with brick walls and grow them in large galvanized containers. Trees grown this way stay warm, grow very large,  and usually will give two crops of figs a year. I save all my scraps for the compost, which provides the perfect fertizer. These trees often grow for up to 100 years. 

Figs in the kitchen have always been a cooks delight. They are awesome served on big pieces of organic red leaf lettuce with sprinkles of blue cheese on top. Then there is an old stand by called Fig Pudding. They are also great as part of a healthy fruit plate, though they are an inverted flower, rather than a fruit. 

We know that figs are good to eat, but what about their medicinal uses?  Eating raw figs can be the perfect laxative for relief from constipation.  During their season, we include 3 figs a day on the breakfast plate to keep your system running correctly. Figs are full of vitamins and minerals and help to fullfil all your daily needs in this area. The real miracle, however, is not in the fruit, but the leaves. 

The leaves of the Fig Tree is where you can find help for diabetes, high cholesterol, eczema, and psoriasis. Three or four cups of fig leaf tea a day has been known to drop gluclose levels by 50%. For those who hoover on the border, it will normalize your blood surgar levels in many cases. Since, normalizing bood sugar can help with weight loss, it is also good for those wanting to loose weight. The Fig leaf contains natural chemicals that might even help people with Type 1 diabetes. It seems that drinking the tea possibly helps Type-1 diabetes use their insulin better.  

Making Feg Leaf Tea

You can gather the leaves anytime in the year except during the times when the leaves appear burnt. Gather your leaves and wash them 3-4 times. (Some people need to wear gloves when working with the leaves, as the white sap in the stem can have a caustic effect on the hands.) Watch the back side of the leaves, as that's where you may find very small bugs. After washing the leaves, spread out to dry in the sun or use a dyhydrator during times of little sun or if too humid. After the leaves are completely dry, you can store in paper bags or tin cans. I use old tea cans from the store. Prepare as you would any loose leaf tea using a strainer to strain the leaves from the tea. It makes an awesome tea that is also beneficial to your health. 

Allergies And Warnings

People who seem to be sensitive to the Mulberry Tree may also sensitive to the Fig Tree. Those who are allergic to natural rubber latex or the Weeping Fig may also be allergic to the Fig Tree. 

Some people use the white sap from the stems for skin tumors and other conditions. There has been no research done on this and it is not recogmended that it be done for more than 1 month. Some people have been successful in treating tumors using the sap, but it should only be done under the direct direction of a doctor familiar with Alternative Medicine.

As with all herbal treatments that are new to you, consult your doctor. Some herbs will interact with certain medications. 

  "Explore your World and soar like an eagle" 

       Enjoy the journey, 

 Marla Silva @ floridagypsy    

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