Cabbage (Juan Xi Cai)

Botanical Name: Western – Brassica oleracea. Eastern – B. rapa, B. pekinensis, B. chinensis.

High in fiber, vitamin C and K, and loaded with powerful antioxidants. Cabbage is a cruciferous vegetable that is being studied for its abilities to improve heart health, protect against radiation, prevent cancer, reduce the risk of diabetes and obesity, as well as reduce inflammation. Low in calories, it can assist weight loss while being an important source of nutrition. When fermented to create sauerkraut and kimchi, cabbage is very high in probiotics that help promote a healthy digestive system.

Watch a short video, from Ann Christensen, Founder and Creator of White Rabbit Institute of Healing™ – What does Fermented Cabbage Heal?

Below is an overview of cabbage, combining the best of Western Science, Oriental Medicine, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Shamanism, Folklore, and a wide range of healing modalities. Gain a balanced and thorough understanding of the healing properties of cabbage.

Parts Most Frequently Used: Leaves of the Cabbage Vegetable​

Flavors/Temps: Sweet, Pungent, Bitter, Neutral to Cooling

Caution: Considered safe. Drinking more than one cup of cabbage juice at a time can cause stomach upset or gas.

Key Constituents: Sulforaphane, Sinigrin, Vitamin C, B6, and K, Fiber, 3′-Diindolylmethane (DIM), Apigenin, Anthocyanin, Polyphenols, Flavonoids, Probiotics, Copper, Potassium, Manganese, Folate, Choline, Selenium, Iron, Calcium, Magnesium, Thiocyanate, Zea-xanthin

History/Folklore: Cabbage is one of the oldest known vegetables dating back to 4,000 B.C. in China. The vegetable is popularly identified with St. Patrick’s Day and eaten with corned beef. In the Middle Ages, it was called the “drug of the poor” because it improved digestion and was used to treat gout, headaches, and hangovers.

The probiotics identified with sauerkraut, pickled cabbage, are known for being outstanding for promoting a healthy gut biome. Cabbage is also known for lowering cholesterol, boosting immunity, and helping to prevent cancer.

The variety name, capitata, is derived from the Latin meaning, “having a head.” The B. oleracea derivatives have hundreds of common names used throughout the world. The word brassica, derives from the Celtic word for cabbage. It is believed that the ancient Egyptians did not cultivate cabbage, though it is likely that the ancient Greeks did. It is thought it may have been a luxury food in early Rome. The ancient Greeks used cabbage as a laxative and a liniment for bruises. They used the juice as an antidote for mushroom poisoning.

Pliny the Elder mentions seven different varieties of cabbage, including a Pompeii cabbage. Cabbage has also been used since Roman times, and by the ancient Greeks, to counter the effects of a hangover.

A compress made of cabbage leaves may reduce the symptoms related to headaches. The leaves can also be mashed into a paste that can be applied to your forehead until dry to help relieve the pain associated with headaches. Drinking a bit of cabbage juice may also help.

Cabbage is full of water and fiber that can help prevent constipation. In its fermented forms as sauerkraut or kimchi, it becomes a powerful provider of probiotics that can help strengthen your digestive system and improve your body’s ability to absorb vitamins and minerals.

The dietary fiber found in cabbage helps regulate inflammation and support a healthy immune system.

A study of 57,000 adults recently completed in Denmark indicated cabbage was one of two vegetable types (the other being root vegetables) that are a mainstay of preventing type 2 diabetes.

Cabbage contains over 20 different flavonoids and 15 different phenols, all of which are known to be highly effective antioxidants. This broad collection of powerful antioxidants highlights cabbage’s effectiveness in preventing heart disease, diabetes, and other chronic ailments.

Half a cup of cooked cabbage contains 81 mg of vitamin K. Cabbage juice and cabbage are excellent sources of vitamin K and C. Among its many important contributions to overall health, cabbage helps to keep hair follicles healthy and circulate scalp oil. Cabbage contains ⅓ of your daily minimum requirement of vitamin C and some sources day up to 190% of the recommended daily amount.

The sulforaphane found in cabbage is being studied for its ability to help prevent cancer. Cabbage also contains a compound, 3,3′-Diindolylmethane (DIM), that can protect against the negative effects of radiation. Sinigrin is one type of sulfur-containing glucosinolates found in cabbage that has been found to help prevent cancer. The anthocyanins, that give red and purple cabbage its bright color, are also known to help prevent the progression of cancer cells.

The compound apigenin found in cabbage, helps to decrease tumor size in mice with an aggressive form of breast cancer. The antioxidant, anthocyanin present in cabbage, has also been shown to kill cancer cells and stop the formation of new tumor growths. Anthocyanin also helps prevent inflammation that can lead to heart disease. This compound is known to be a major contributor for protecting red blood cell health and function.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine cabbage is used to strengthen the kidneys and brain. It is used to help those who are recovering from long-term illness or after a surgery to promote recovery. In China, cabbage is enjoyed several times a week to promote health and benefit the skin. Bean curd and cabbage is a staple of Chinese cooking.

Cabbage can be used internally or externally to heal and benefit skin health. It can help varicose veins, heal wounds, and soothe skin ulcers and skin eruptions.

Raw cabbage is easier to digest than cooked cabbage. Cabbage begins to lose its nutritional value the minute it is cut. Cabbage is best preserved refrigerated in plastic. Raw cabbage is 92% water, 6% carbohydrates, and 1% protein.

It is said that dreaming of cabbage is a symbol of hypocrisy or ambiguity. It is considered a sign that you will face a series of events that will be interconnected to one another. In China a stuffed cabbage is a symbol of prosperity and wealth