While many people run to the hospital for a simple cold, the treatment could be right in their refrigerators.

Home remedies have been used as medicine for thousands of years, and recent studies have supported those claims. For something as common as a cold, onion soup can be used to treat it. The vapors in onions help unclog noses.

Also, other research has shown, the skin from an elderberry helps upper respiratory infection. The moisture in moss can be used in a wound to help heal. Hawthorne, which is a thorny tree shrub with a cluster of small reddish fruits, can be used to strengthen the heart and help circulation. According to www.healthy.net, citrus prevents scurvy and pumpkin seeds expel worms. Celery can be used to treat arthritis and gout, and parsley can be used to treat intoxication.

Fresh, raw, crushed garlic is used as an antibiotic and anti-fungal, according to mama.essortment.com. However, it can produce skin blisters.

There are many rumors of medicinal food uses, but some are just myths. For example, people might have heard garlic strengthens the heart. but, according to cardiologist Conrad Richter of University of California Medical Center, that is only a myth.

The list of medicinal foods goes on and on, but the most popular foods for medicinal use are herbs. The Egyptians discovered the first medicinal use in 3000 B.C.

Now in 2004, there are more than 100 billion natural herbs grown worldwide and twice as many uses for them. According to British herbalist Margaret Grieve, “Not only is cinnamon used in food for taste and decoration, but it is also used to stop vomiting, relieve flatulence, ease diarrhea and stop hemorrhaging of the womb”

There are two different categories of herbs. There are combination herbs, which usually have a specific use and are combined with other drugs. There are also loose herbs, which have multiple uses and are all natural. Examples of combination capsules herbs would be, St. John Wort, which is an anti-depressant. New Life, which contains natural estrogen and testosterone, is for women and is used to prevent pre-menopausal discomfort.

Sherry Ford, owner of Sweet Annie Herbs’ in Centre Hall, says that milk thistle detoxifies the liver. Mullein, which is a shrub with milky juice and yellow flowers, is good for asthma. Sassafras, which can be converted into oil and is widely used in North America, purifies blood and relieves pain. Ford also says green tea can be used to prevent cancer and reduce weight.

“What better internal cleanser than the dandelion, a plant and food by reputation is excellent for the liver, kidney and digestive problems.” says Dr. Ralph Moss an oncologist in his book titled, “The Cancer Industry.”

Angiosperms are flowering plants from which bee pollen comes. Bee pollen can be used to ease stress, enhance the immune system, fight acne and alleve athletes’ foot. It also can be used to treat anemia, atherosclerosis, constipation and liver disorders. Bee pollen is also used to treat allergies. “ Bee pollen can be used for just about anything.” says, Ford.

In ancient Greece, apples were used to treat flu, fevers, bronchial complaints, heart problems, lethargy and anemia. Apples were also used to decongest the nose and chest of mucus. In China, ju zi, or orange, is used to reduce the heart rate, lower fevers and relieve abdominal bloating.

Sometimes even unhealthy foods have medicinal uses. “Oils in some fats can be used for scaly diseases in skin and in chronic wasting diseases,” says Dr. Paul Kirkwood of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Cod-liver oil can be used for chronic forms of phthisis, bronchitis and emphysema, rheumatic disorder and atheroma of the arteries.