a nourishing fruit
one – without boundaries.
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I grew up in Melbourne in an old Edwardian house. In fact, it was the oldest house in the street. It was full of fruit trees, vegetables and flowers.
One of my recollections was our fig tree that was on the side of the house and near the fence. My father nurtured and nourished the tree and each Summer came the fruit. Yes, figs.
My brother and I watched the tear drop shaped fruit with their purple and green peel getting larger and ripe. As we were about to pick them we noticed that so many were no longer there. As we were standing by the tree we noticed people passing by along the footpath and helping themselves to the juicy figs. The tree knew no boundary – its figs were for all who so desired. These people honoured the tree with no boundaries and helped themselves.
As I watched the figs walk off I noticed my neighbor coming over and asking for a few figs. She also wanted a few fig leaves. Being curious I asked her what is she going to do with them. She told me that in her native country women made fresh fig masks to cleanse and nourish their skin. And as for the leaves? She added that she dries them and makes fig leaf tea. Well, here I was standing next to the fig tree – a tree full of many stories of ancient times. A tree, without boundaries, moving from country to country, feeding, nourishing, beautifying and healing.
I always loved and enjoyed eating figs and to my amazement I learnt a few facts:
- an ancient fruit from the mulberry family – native to the Mediterranean
- technically not a fruit – an inverted flower
- used as a sacred symbol and emblem – religion/mythology
- regarded as a super food – nutritional value – high mineral and fiber content
- old Mediterranean folk medicine – plant’s milky sap – softens calluses/removes warts/deters parasites
- health value – improve digestion/heart health/blood sugar level/skin conditions; decrease constipation/anemia/potential cancer cells growth
Miriam Broder
References:
- https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/figs-benefits
- https://de.vapiano.com/en/blog/prepping-figs-everything-you-need-to-know-about-theseancientfruit
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_fig
Note: if health issues are coming up for you, please consult a qualified health professional.
Music: Now – Master Charles Cannon
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