STRAWBERRY

LEAVES:

Mainly the leaves & roots are used for medicinal purposes. Collect the leaves after the flowering stage.

Strawberry leaf tea is astringent, tonic & diuretic.
The tea can be drank to settle the stomach from diarrhea, or used as a mouth rinse for canker sores & sore throats.
Can be used in lotions topically to treat scratches & burns.
The medicinal value of strawberry leaf is similar to that of its cousin, the red raspberry. Strawberry leaves are rich in tannins & have anti-diarrhoeal, diuretic & astringent properties.
Strawberry leaf has been known to help heal wounds, scar tissue & fractures, builds resistance to infection, prevents & treats of the common cold & gives strength to blood vessels.
Strawberry leaf is a great tea in the treatment of diarrhea & helps soothe the stomach.
Can be used for intestinal flu, also in diseases of the kidney & urinary tract.
Use as a mouth wash rinse for mucosal inflammation of the mouth.
Strawberry leaves & fruit are considered to be a cleansing diuretic for urinary tract disorders, rheumatism, gout & arthritis.

FRUIT:

The Strawberry is rich in pectin, fibre, vitamins A, B, C , E, potassium, calcium, iron, phosphorus & antioxidants.

Antioxidants in strawberries help relieve inflammation & as such strawberries are a great remedy for arthritis & gum disease.
Also the ellagitannins in strawberries inhibit the growth of cancer cells in breast, skin, colon, pancreas & prostate.
The minerals & fiber in strawberries help reduce bad cholesterol & lower blood pressure, thereby reducing the risk of heart disease.
They have also been shown to regulate glucose levels in the blood & as such are great for diabetics.
 This fruit can prevent heart disease, healthy brain, cancer prevention & cure acne.

Consuming 1 cup of strawberries every day can reduce the risk of various types of cancer. Among cervical cancer, breast, colon & throat.

As an emergency treatment for mild sunburn, gently spread over the area.
On a ringworm infection, re-applying daily until the infection disappears.
Eat strawberry fruit for gastritis & as a liver tonic after hepatitis.

Combine in a tea with St. John's Wort for mild arthritic pain, or with celery seed for gout.
Strawberries also help in treating conditions such as constipation, high blood pressure & the flu.

PRECAUTIONS:

Allergies to strawberries are not uncommon, with reactions ranging from the mild (hives, itchiness, nasal congestion) to the severe (burning in the lips, mouth, ears, or pharynx; laboured breathing).
Response can happen within seconds of eating the food.

If you are allergic to strawberries, you may also experience a potentially severe allergic reaction to strawberry leaves, or the tannins & other compounds extracted from them.
Signs of an allergic reaction to strawberry leaves include swelling of your face & neck, difficulty breathing & the appearance of a skin rash or hives.

RECIPES:

In combination with raspberry & blackberry leaves is used as a substitute for real tea.

Tea:

Pour a cup of boiling water over the 1 tsp of strawberry leaves, let it stand for 5 minutes, strain it & drink it.
Drink 2 – 3 unsweetened cups a day

A tea from the leaves is useful to treat diarrhoea. Take a half cup every hour.

Strawberry Leaf Herbal Tea For Gout:

Steep 4 - 5 fresh strawberry leaves in 1 cup of boiling water for 10 - 15 minutes.
Strain the strawberry herbal tea, add honey & drink 2-3 times a day.
You could sweeten your health drink with honey & a dash of fresh lemon juice.

For gout one folk remedy recommends eating strawberries & nothing else for 2 days.

Strawberry & Amaretti Sundae: 

ca 5 strawberries for each glass
1 tsp sugar for each glass
vanilla ice cream
2-3 amaretti biscuits for each
Place the quartered strawberries on the bottom of the serving glasses & sprinkle over some sugar.
Place spoonful of ice cream over.
Crush the amaretti biscuits on top. 
So simple to put together & so delicious!

Strawberry Rhubarb Smoothie:

3 small rhubarb stalks, chopped into pieces
2 cups strawberries,
2 cups milk
1 tsp cinnamon
2 tbsp honey

Place all the ingredients into a blender & blend until smooth. 

Strawberry & Banana Milkshake:  

200 g strawberries

1-2 small bananas
50 g sugar
juice of half lemon
500 ml vanilla ice cream
300-500 ml apple juice
Blend it all! 

Rhubarb & Strawberry Soup:

2 rhubarb stalks,chopped
2 cups of water
1 tbsp cornflour + 100 ml cold water
1-2 cups of strawberries, blend
100-150 g sugar
Boil the rhubarbs, water & sugar for 5 min.
Mix together the cornflour & cold water,stir it into the soup until thickens.
Whisk in the strawberry puree, take off the heat.
Let it cool a bit & serve with vanilla ice cream. 

BEAUTY:

For gorgeous skin, try eating two 1-cup servings of fruits & veggies that are rich in vitamin C such as strawberries, oranges, grapefruit, red bell-peppers or broccoli.
To remove plaque & tartar, squash a ripe strawberry, apply to toothbrush & use to brush teeth.
Strawberries cleanse, exfoliate & refresh skin because the salicylic acid gets rid of the dead skin cells, it tightens the pores & brightens up the face making it look shinier.
They refresh, remove impurities, reduce swelling & redness & slightly whiten the skin.

Strawberry Mask For Oily Skin:

Mash enough strawberries until you have enough smooth paste to apply to your face.
Spread the paste gently on your face & neck.
Leave the mask on for 15-20 minutes.

Wash it off with cold water.
Use a strawberry mask at least twice a week during 3-6 months to see lasting effects.

Honey Strawberry Mask For Oily Skin:

8-9 ripe Strawberries
3 tbsp honey
Blend it to a smooth paste.
Apply to the face & neck for 15-20 minutes.
Wash it off with lukewarm water.

Strawberry Mask for Acne:

5-6 strawberries
1/2 tbsp yogurt or sour cream
2 tsp honey
Mash the strawberries & add the cream & honey.
Mix until you have a smooth substance.
Apply the paste gently & equally with your fingertips on your face & neck.
Leave the mask on for 20 minutes.
Wash it off with cold water.
Honey soothes & softens your skin.
This strawberry facial mask will leave your skin smooth & tight.
It also removes impurities in the skin & is a powerful acne fighter.

Tightening Strawberry Mask:

1 egg white
1/2 cup sliced strawberries
1 tsp honey
1/2 tsp lemon juice
Mix all ingredients.
Apply the mask over the face & neck.
Leave the mask on for 5-10 minutes
Wash it off with cool water.
Cleans, exfoliates, tightens & smooths your skin.

Exfoliating Strawberry Mask For Oily Skin:

1 egg
1/4 cup almonds
1 cup sliced strawberries
2 tsp baking soda
1 tbsp honey
1 tbsp yogurt
Put all the ingredients in a food processor & mix them well until you have a smooth paste that will stick to your face without it running off.
Apply the mask on your face & neck for 5 minutes.
Wash it off with cool water.
This mask will loosen dirt & dead skin cells, cleans it all up & soothes & softens.

MAGIC:

Be careful with whom you share a double strawberry. It is destined that the two of you may fall in love.
Because of their bright red colors & heart shapes, strawberries were the symbol for Venus, the Goddess of Love.
Henry VIII's second wife, Ann Boleyn, was thought to have been a witch because she had a strawberry shaped birthmark on her neck.
During medieval times, strawberries symbolized righteousness & perfection. 
In Bavarian folk tradition, Strawberries are gathered & hung in baskets  on the horns of cattle to pay the local natures spirits in trade for many healthy calves & cows who produce an abundance of milk.
It was said that if a pregnant woman carried strawberry leaves in her pocket, they would relieve the pains of pregnancy.
In Bavarian folk tradition, strawberries are gathered & hung in baskets on the horns of cattle to pay the local nature spirits in trade for many healthy calves & cows who produce an abundance of milk.

If strawberry has come into your life, perhaps it is time to clear away the husks of what came before to make room in your mind, body & spirit for the new season dawning in your life.
The fruit helps with magic spells, love potions & aphrodisiacs. The leaves can be used a good luck charm.
Burned for love & luck.
Strawberry can be used sparingly to draw fortunate circumstances into one's life.
Strawberry leaves & the fruit are good for love & lust spells.