Biblical Foods That Heal - Figs

Welcome to my blog about Biblical Naturopathy. My first few entries will focus on the medicinal value of whole foods; specifically the nutritious medicinal plants that are indigenous to the land of Israel.

For Adonai your G-d is bringing you into a good land,

a land of brooks of water, of fountains and springs, flowing forth in valleys and hills; a land of wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive oil and honey; a land where you will eat food without scarcity, in which you will not lack anything; a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills you can dig copper.

When you have eaten and are satisfied, you shall bless Adonai your G-d for the good land which He has given you.

Deuteronomy 8,7-10

The fig tree is the first fruit tree mentioned in the Bible. There was a fig tree in the Garden of Eden. Adam and Eve sewed fig leaves together to cover their shame and nakedness. In Deuteronomy, figs are among the seven plants that God promised the Hebrews when they reached the Promised Land: wheat, barley, grapes, figs, dates, olives, and pomegranates. Fig fruit, fresh or dried, was made into cakes and wine. Threading cakes or figs on strings made them portable for travel.

"Cakes of Figs" were a quick source of energy as mentioned in I Samuel 30,12. The Amalekite who reported the death of King Saul to David ate part of a cake of pressed figs and two cakes of raisins and was "revived".

Medicinally, the fruit was used as an effective laxative and tonic; it was used as well in poultices to treat infections, tumors, or boils. When King Hezekiah was dying from an inflammatory tumor, the prophet Isaiah pounded the fruit into a pulp for a poultice and applied it to the tumor. Hezekiah was healed.

And Isaiah said, Take a lump of figs.

And they took and laid it on the boil,

and he recovered.

2 Kings 20,7

The fig was used a symbol in the Bible. In Hosea 9,10 the "early fruit on the fig tree" represented the young nation of Israel and the destruction of the country's fig trees was a prophetic symbol of destruction of the land (Hosea 2,12).

When a fig tree grows in the wild, it remains a small bush, but when it is cultivated, it can grow to as large as 40 feet! A well cared for fig tree could then provide shade for the farmer.

He who tends the fig tree will eat its fruit,

And he who cares for his master will be honored.

Proverbs 27,18

In this era, it has been discovered that figs contain psoralen, an antidote to Staphylococcus, blood diseases and psoriasis. In 1998 Serraclara and associates found that a decoction of fig leaf taken with meals for a month lowered insulin doses for Type 1 diabetics by 12 percent. Another active ingredient found in figs is benzaldehyde which has been used to treat terminal cancer carcinomas.

Figs are rich in vitamins E, B6, B1, and B2. They contain a high percentage of the mineral potassium (232 mg/100 grams of raw figs). The concentration of the following minerals per 100 grams of dried figs is much higher than in its raw form: Calcium (144 mg); Magnesium (59 mg); Iron (2.23 mg). Dried figs were also found to have superior quality antioxidants as noted in a 2005 study on dried fruits.

Figs are easily digested, and have a soothing effect on the bronchial passages and the digestive tract. They also have laxative and diuretic properties. Fig consumption is particularly helpful in the following cases:

Bronchial Disorders

Dried figs that have been re-hydrated or boiled provide relief for coughs, facilitate expectoration, and soothe the respiratory tract. Their use is recommended in cases of chronic bronchitis, as well as acute respiratory infections such as the cold or flu.

Constipation

Both fresh and re-hydrated dried figs are very useful in cases of slow intestinal peristalsis. They soothe the digestive tract and stimulate peristalsis in the intestine which moves fecal matter. However, too much fig consumption can cause loose stools. Dried figs have 10 grams of fiber per 100 grams which is 40% of the recommended daily intake for women.

Bones Strengthens

Adding dry figs to your diet can help increase your calcium intake. There are 162 mg of Calcium per 100 grams of dried figs, which is 16% of the daily intake requirement.

Anemia

Figs are a rich source of iron which helps your body transport oxygen in the blood. 100 grams of dried figs contains 2.23 mg of iron which is 12% of the recommended daily intake requirement for women. Adding figs to your diet in addition to other sources is a natural way to support iron deficiency.

Controls Blood Pressure

Dried figs are loaded with potassium, which helps lower blood pressure by reducing the ill-effects of sodium in the body. 100 mg of dried figs will give you 680 mg of potassium. That is close to 15% of the required daily intake.

Skin Disorders

When applied externally, a recent study stated that the fig leaves can be used to help restore skin disorders. The protein-dissolving enzymes in the fig help get rid of unwanted skin growths, including corns and warts.

Corn/Wart Removal

• Open a fresh fig.

• Tape the pulp to the corn or wart overnight. Wrap the area with saran wrap and place a sock on the foot.

• Remove the fig the next morning and soak the foot in hot water.

• Remove the corn or wart.

• In stubborn cases, repeat overnight treatments three to five times.

In biblical naturopathy, there is a strong emphasis on nutrition when it comes to restoring balance to the body. Eating fresh or dried figs can greatly benefit the human body, but there be some people who need to watch their simple carbohydrate intake and cannot reap the benefits of figs. There are 48 grams of sugar in 100 grams or about 1/2 cup of dried figs.