Ancient Natural Remedies Translated For Today

How ancient beliefs in healing properties of shark fins, sheep tail fat, whale fat and cartilage, bloodletting contributed to today’s healthcare.

Many skeptics out there question the use and effectiveness of natural remedies. Personally, I approach wisdom – regardless of its source – with an open mind.

Wisdom can be found throughout the world and history. There is wisdom to be found in modern medicine. (This wisdom however is frequently corrupt and not always used in the best interest of the patient.) There is wisdom in far away places and passed down through generations. There is wisdom in healing and culinary traditions that stem from antiquity.

Whether we are talking about modern medicine, ethnic or ancient traditions, ALL require the exercise of common sense.

The other day I delved into ancient natural remedies and culinary traditions. The outcome surprised me.

We all know stories, gossip, fairy tales and even horrifying news reports of cruelty toward animals committed in the name of “healing”. There are tales of killing and torturing animals to obtain specific body parts or organs for their alleged healing properties. There are therapies that can scare one half to death.

Let me throw a few examples at you:

• The Chinese obsession with shark fins
• The “miracle” of sheep tail fat
• Beliefs regarding health benefits of whale fat
• “Bloodletting”

These – of course! – are only some of the “highlights”. Having explored the claims behind some these beliefs, I have to agree that some have merit.

Am I defending barbaric acts committed in the hope of obtaining alleged health benefits? Absolutely not! But old traditions are like smoke and as the adage has it, where there’s smoke, there’s fire. Even the strange and unusual natural ancient remedies contain wisdom. Does it mean that we should return to the past, hunt, kill and destroy in pursuit of better health? NO! But I believe that we can and should learn from any source of valuable information without prejudice. The reasoning behind ancient and ethnic natural remedies derived from animals is not without merit. It proves that even without the formal knowledge of chemistry and medicine, our ancestors had pretty good understanding of the healing arts.

The Chinese obsession with shark fins

Historically: The Chinese ascribed – and still do – miraculous therapeutic properties to shark fins. According to the Chinese a soup made of shark fins is a cure-for-all ills. It allegedly has the power to prevent heart disease, cure cancer, improve virility and skin texture, extend lifespan, and more.

Healing properties of shark fins: The Chinese are right about the healing powers of… fish collagen. They are also right that it is best absorbed when served in form of a broth / soup. With that said, the exquisite benefits of fish collagen / broth / soup are not unique to shark fins.
We do not know whether shark fin soup was ever a cure-for-all but we know that it isn’t – and can’t be – a cure for anything, now. The high levels of mercury in sharks – and by extension, shark fins – today make them toxic and unfit for human consumption.

Modern alternative: Making a soup of any fatty fish with bones, tail and fins renders similar health benefits. Just make sure that the fish of your choice isn’t contaminated with mercury or go with farm-raised fish to begin with….

The “miracle” of sheep tail fat

Historically: the people in the Middle East and India used the tail fat of Bedouin sheep in treatment of sciatica, lower back pain and even broken bones.

Fact: Bedouin Sheep tail fat contains Lipids, fatty acids, essential & non essential fatty acids and Omega-3 and 6. (Omega-6 contains Prostaglandin type 1, 2 and 3 which relieve pain and inflammation.)

Healing properties of sheep tail fat: In particular Gamma Linoleic Acid (GLA) and Alpha Linoleic Acid (ALA) – components of Prostaglandin type 1, 2 and 3 – have significant healing properties which are confirmed by today’s science.

Modern alternative: There is no need to kill sheep to obtain the benefits of Prostaglandin.
Components of Prostaglandin, fat-soluble Gamma Linoleic Acid (GLA) and Alpha Linoleic Acid (ALA) can be purchased in health food / nutritional supplement stores. The supplements are derived from plant oils today and have benefits compatible with those of sheep tail fat.

Beliefs regarding health benefits of whale fat and cartilage

Historically in several countries and currently in Norway and Japan it’s believed that whale fat and cartilage have unique and significant health benefits.

Healing properties of whale fat and cartilage: It was believed – and the information is currently propagated by Norway and Japan – that the therapeutic properties of whale fat and cartilage are superior to that of any other sea creature. It is not impossible considering that whale is a marine mammal with an exceptionally thick blubber (fat layer protecting the whale from temperature changes).
I can’t either prove or disprove the uniqueness of whale fat and cartilage. I can confirm however that the whales are endangered species. No health benefits justify the extinction of any one specie. (Incidentally, dolphins are mammals too and have self-healing properties that amaze scientists. Physical injury to a dolphin’s body – unlike a physical injury to a human body – doesn’t get infected, heals to a level of a complete regeneration and doesn’t appear to cause pain. We are polluting the air, contaminating oceans, we brought about global warming, our military equipment is destroying marine mammals hearing. Are we going to decimate dolphins, next?)

Modern alternative: Fish oil available in health food stores. Chondroitin, sulfate-containing supplements – recommended for osteoarthritis sufferers – are made of either fish or bovine cartilage: choose bovine: Japan currently exports Chondroitin sulfate made of whale cartilage…

Bloodletting

Historically: bloodletting was considered a medical treatment for a number of diseases in ancient Egypt, China and Greece. With time it became popular worldwide. The practice of bloodletting however was considered controversial. (Incidentally, President George Washington died at least partially due to bloodletting.)

Healing properties of bloodletting? None: bloodletting isn’t an effective treatment for disease.

Modern twist: Controlled “bloodletting” – as in donating blood by a healthy person – has health benefits to the donor. (One of them is blood-thinning; another lowering high blood pressure.)

I unequivocally condemn cruelty in general, including animal cruelty, but it’s hard not to applaud the ancient healing arts. (Our medical and pharmaceutical knowledge developed thanks to countless successful and unsuccessful experiments. Till today, many remain inhumane.) Some of the barbaric, ancient remedies contributed to today’s knowledge and inspired the development of less barbaric alternatives.

Long story short, ancient remedies are not merely the stuff of fairy tales. They are – more and less legitimate – predecessors of today’s still imperfect and often cruel healthcare. And as such, the knowledge of them deserves to be preserved. Some of the ancient knowledge remains useful, some serves as a reminder of human selfishness which – in a more sterile and conceited form – continues today. We didn’t stop being destructive or inhumane mind you, only now we’re wearing rubber gloves, calling it science and making billions… Our healing methods have evolved, our morality didn’t.