History of cabbage:

Cabbage is a plant that has had a fundamental importance in Europe from the antiquity. Very well-known by The Celts and very appreciated by the Greeks that even served it in public meals and it appears to be mentioned in the scripts of playwrights as Epicarmo (VI C BC) whose characters advised their use to cure diseases. At the Roman time, it is mentioned by Cato in its work " De Re rustica" like a remedy for intestinal or pulmonary upheavals and, mainly, to increase the milk production in milking women.

It is very difficult to precise the exactly when cabbage (Brassica Oleracea L.) arrived at America, but certainly this plant had a fundamental paper in this continent by the importance that the native people gave the eatable wild plants. In studies made by colonists, few years after the discovery, (Bernal Diaz del Castillo, in 1538) revealed as the eatable plants, known like quelites played a fundamental role in the life of the natives. Nowadays these plants even have a very important value for the population, specially the urban one, up to the point that 300 species of superior plants are considered to be so, using them as curative vegetables, spices and plants.

For the Aztecs these plants still had more importance than they have nowadays. It seems that the conquerors despised these wild plants and were introducing their own ones. Cabbage, nevertheless, was one of the few that were accepted as substitute of the native plants. Throughout the centuries cabbage has even been considered itself as a real quelite itself.

Nicholas Culpeper (1616 - 1654) in its book " Completes Herbal " considers it such a valuable plant that says the mixed juice of the same with wine helps to improve the bite of the viper. Also, among other things, it affirms that, if boiled with a chicken a pair of times helps to release the obstructions of the liver and spleen. He also reaffirms that the good Cato - mentioned previously - did not take another remedy and aims at proven values like its emollient properties as we will later see in the section of its medicinal uses.

Components:

- Amino acids:

Alanine (Interesting as it takes part in the production of antibodies) Arginin (Essential in the elimination of ammonia, tissue repairing and muscular construction) Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C, essential in the prevention of diseases like scurvy, playing a fundamental role in the formation of the collagen) Cystine (hormones ) Folic acid (Vitamin B) Glutaminic acid (Improvement of the mental conditions, prevents the schizophrenia and vitalizes the organism) Leucine (infantile growth, balance of nitrogen) Niacin (Metabolism of fats, prevention of the hypertension and reduction of the cholesterol) Tirosin (Acts as a neurotransistor and it has much importance in the fight against the depression as well as in the good performance of pituitary and thyroid glands ) Sulfoxide of Methylcisteine S-... etc.

- Ammonia

- Nitrates

- Lutein: Yellow pigment

- Proteins

- Mucilages

- Chemical Elements: Bromine, aluminum, barium, calcium, fluorine, magnesium, phosphorus, Sulfur (in very elevated amounts, it takes part in the bony growth and the toxin elimination of the body)

Medicinal properties:

Internal use

Diuretic: It aids to eliminate the accumulated liquids in the body, reason why it is effective in diabetes, obesity, uric acid and diseases often associated to the retention of liquids. In this sense it is related to other foods that fulfill the same assignment, like the onion, the celery or the the lemon ( make a decoction of half an hour with the elements mentioned previously and take at discretion several times a day)

Anti-diarrheic: In cases of diarrhea it is suggested to take some cups of the preparation mentioned above.

Anti-bronchial: In order to alleviate bronchitis make a decoction of a cabbage leaf in glass of milk during 15 minutes. Take distributed throughout the meals of the day) the same decoction is useful in influenza, cold...etc.

External use

Emollient:

For the affections of the skin; pimples, pustules, blisters, burns. exerts a recovering effect on the skin, specially when it is mixed with just a little bit of olive oil ( crush the fresh leaves and apply them in form of plaster on the affected zone of the skin)

Food

As food it is very interesting, because we can assimilate many of the properties previously mentioned. Given its high vitamin C content , it is very suitable in growth cases of in convalescence or in cases of diarrhea. In general by the amount of vitamins, essential minerals and acids that contains we do not have to neglect to eat it as much as possible, When it cannot be taken fresh, we can go to fermented preparations , whose consumption is advised much more than the fresh one . We must consider at the time of cooking cabbages that these, like all the vegetables, lose most of their vitamins if we extend to much the cooking time, for that reason it is recommenced to introduce them in a container with little water once it has started boiling , not leaving them there more time than the necessary. We should use the broth to prepare other meals, because most of the nourishing elements have remained in it .The strong scent that this plant displays when boiling is due to the great amount of sulfur that it contains. For some stomachs it is very hard when combined with other foods. Reason why it is advisable to take it in combination with other vegetables and in the main meals , not for supper.

Toxicity: The presence of sinigrine or black mustard salt, and other glycosinolates are the cause of intestinal irritations in many people who take much amount from this plant.

Harvesting and conservation:

Many varieties of cabbages exist, (we are talking about western cabbages) all of them pertaining to the species Brassica oleracea L. that would be the wild plant and from which the other ones derive , forming different groups:

- Botrytis Group, where they would be including the cauliflowers

- Acephala Group, formed by curled cabbages.

- Capitata Group, that would be the white cabbages.

- Gemmifera Group, constituted by Brussels sprouts.

- Italica Group, by Broccoli and Calabrian

Once collected The leaves of cabbages. must be eaten ender. They can not be used in fito-therapy as dry plants.

Gardening : ( for more complete information)