Potatoes Can Be Therapeutic

Potatoes are native of South America but were transported to Europe by Spanish sailors in the middle of the l500's. Potatoes did not become a main staple in the European diet until the l800's.. It gained popularity in many cultures because of it's nutritional value. Potatoes are a member of the nightshade family which also includes eggplants and tomatoes. Plants from the nightshade family have tiny amounts of atropine in them which is a deadly substance in large doses. But in small doses atropine can be used to ease gastrointestinal pain. There are more then one hundred varieties of potatoes in many sizes, shapes and colors. But despite there differences potatoes have about the same nutritional value. Potatoes are very nutritious with a good supply of complex carbohydrates and fiber. Potatoes re rich in vitamin A an C, copper, iron, niacin, potassium and magnesium.

Potatoes can be stored for long periods of time in a cool surrounding. Since potatoes were so full of nutrition and could be stored for a long time they were popular with the American pioneers. They were easy for the American pioneers to grow and didn't have a big pest problem. The pioneers could use the old left over potatoes for the next summer's potatoes seeds. Old potatoes make good seeds for the next summer since old potatoes make nice sprouts for new potatoes to grow from.

Potatoes have therapeutic effects. The alkaline in the potato can neutralize the acid of the stomach and relieve an upset stomach. It can help relieve heart burn or even a peptic ulcer can be helped by the alkaline in a potato. Use a juicer to juice a potato skin and all and then drink 3-4 tablespoons of the juice a half hour before a meal.

If you put a warm potato on a joint or muscle it can help improve the circulation and alleviate the pain. A potato wrap has been used to help joint pain for years. Boils some potatoes skin and all and then put them in a sack and mash them. Then put a towel over the effected area and cover with the hot potato mash. Be careful of the heat so as not to burn.