Strawberry & Amaretti Sundae:

LEAVES:

Mainly the leaves & roots are used for medicinal purposes. Collect the leaves after the flowering stage.

Strawberry leaf tea is astringent, tonic & diuretic.
The tea can be drank to settle the stomach from diarrhea, or used as a mouth rinse for canker sores & sore throats.
Can be used in lotions topically to treat scratches & burns.
The medicinal value of strawberry leaf is similar to that of its cousin, the red raspberry. Strawberry leaves are rich in tannins & have anti-diarrhoeal, diuretic & astringent properties.
Strawberry leaf has been known to help heal wounds, scar tissue & fractures, builds resistance to infection, prevents & treats of the common cold & gives strength to blood vessels.
Strawberry leaf is a great tea in the treatment of diarrhea & helps soothe the stomach.
Can be used for intestinal flu,also in diseases of the kidney & urinary tract.
 Use as a mouth wash rinse for mucosal inflammation of the mouth.
Strawberry leaves & fruit are considered to be a cleansing diuretic for urinary tract disorders, rheumatism, gout & arthritis.

FRUIT:

The Strawberry is rich in pectin, fibre, vitamins A, B, C , E, potassium, calcium, iron, phosphorus & antioxidants.

Antioxidants in strawberries help relieveinflammation & as such strawberries are a great remedy for arthritis & gum disease.
Also the ellagitannins in strawberries inhibit the growth of cancer cells in breast, skin, colon, pancreas & prostate.
The minerals & fiber in strawberries help reduce bad cholesterol & lower blood pressure, thereby reducing the risk of heart disease.
They have also been shown to regulate glucose levels in the blood & as such are great for diabetics.
 This fruit can prevent heart disease, healthy brain, cancer prevention & cure acne.

Consuming one cup of strawberries every day can reduce the risk of various types of cancer. Among cervical cancer, breast, colon & throat.

As an emergency treatment for mild sunburn, gently spread over the area.
On a ringworm infection, re-applying daily until the infection disappears.
Eat strawberry fruit for gastritis & as a liver tonic after hepatitis.

Combine in a tea with St. John's Wort for mild arthritic pain, or with celery seed for gout.
Strawberries also help in treating conditions such as constipation, high blood pressure & the flu.

PRECAUTIONS:

Allergies to strawberries are not uncommon, with reactions ranging from the mild (hives, itchiness, nasal congestion) to the severe (burning in the lips, mouth, ears, or pharynx; laboured breathing).
Response can happen within seconds of eating the food.

If you are allergic to strawberries, you may also experience a potentially severe allergic reaction to strawberry leaves, or the tannins & other compounds extracted from them.
Signs of an allergic reaction to strawberry leaves include swelling of your face & neck, difficulty breathing & the appearance of a skin rash or hives.

RECIPES:

In combination with raspberry & blackberry leaves is used as a substitute for real tea.

Tea:

Pour a cup of boiling water over the 1 tsp of strawberry leaves, let it stand for 5 minutes, strain it & drink it.
Drink 2 – 3 unsweetened cups a day

A tea from the leaves is useful to treat diarrhoea. Take a half cup every hour.

Strawberry Leaf Herbal Tea For Gout:

Steep 4 to 5 fresh strawberry leaves in one cup of boiling water for 10 to 15 minutes.
Strain the strawberry herbal tea, add honey & drink 2-3 times a day.
You could sweeten your health drink with honey & a dash of fresh lemon juice.

For gout one folk remedy recommends eating strawberries & nothing else for 2 days.

Strawberry & Amaretti Sundae: 

ca 5 strawberries for each glass
1 tsp sugar for each glass
vanilla ice cream
2-3 amaretti biscuits for each

Place the quartered strawberries on the bottom of the serving glasses & sprinkle over some sugar.
Place spoonful of ice cream over.
Crush the amaretti biscuits on top. 
So simple to put together & so delicious!

Strawberry Rhubarb Smoothie:

3 small rhubarb stalks, chopped into pieces
2 cups strawberries,
2 cups milk
1 tsp cinnamon
2 tbsp honey

Place all the ingredients into a blender & blend until smooth. 

Strawberry & Banana Milkshake:  

200 g strawberries

1-2 small bananas
50 g sugar
juice of half lemon
500 ml vanilla ice cream
300-500 ml apple juice

Blend it all! 

Rhubarb & Strawberry Soup:

2 rhubarb stalks,chopped
2 cups of water
1 tbsp cornflour + 100 ml cold water
1-2 cups of strawberries,blend
100-150 g sugar

Boil the rhubarbs,water & sugar for 5 min.
Mix together the cornflour & cold water,stir it into the soup until thickens.
Whisk in the strawberry puree,take off the heat.
Let it cool a bit & serve with vanilla ice cream. 

BEAUTY:

For gorgeous skin, try eating two 1-cup servings of fruits & veggies that are rich in vitamin C such as strawberries, oranges, grapefruit, red bell-peppers or broccoli.

To remove plaque & tartar, squash a ripe strawberry, apply to toothbrush & use to brush teeth.

Strawberries cleanse, exfoliate & refresh skin because the salicylic acid gets rid of the dead skin cells, it tightens the pores & brightens up the face making it look shinier. 

They refresh, remove impurities, reduce swelling & redness & slightly whiten the skin.

Strawberry Mask For Oily Skin:

Mash enough strawberries until you have enough smooth paste to apply to your face.

Spread the paste gently on your face & neck.

Leave the mask on for 15-20 minutes.

Wash it off with cold water.

Use a strawberry mask at least twice a week during 3-6 months to see lasting effects.

Honey Strawberry Mask For Oily Skin:

8-9 ripe Strawberries
3 tbsp honey

Blend it to a smooth paste.

Apply to the face & neck for 15-20 minutes.

Wash it off with lukewarm water.

Strawberry Mask for Acne:

5-6 strawberries

1/2 tbsp yogurt or sour cream
2 tsp honey

Mash the strawberries & add the cream & honey. 
Mix until you have a smooth substance.

Apply the paste gently & equally with your fingertips on your face & neck.

Leave the mask on for 20 minutes.

Wash it off with cold water.

Honey soothes & softens your skin.

This strawberry facial mask will leave your skin smooth & tight. 
It also removes impurities in the skin & is a powerful acne fighter.

Tightening Strawberry Mask:

1 egg white
1/2 cup sliced strawberries
1 tsp honey
1/2 tsp lemon juice
Mix all ingredients.

Apply the mask over the face & neck.

Leave the mask on for 5-10 minutes

Wash it off with cool water.

Cleans, exfoliates, tightens & smooths your skin.

Exfoliating Strawberry Mask For Oily Skin:

1 egg
1/4 cup almonds
1 cup sliced strawberries
2 tsp baking soda
1 tbsp honey
1 tbsp yogurt
Put all the ingredients in a food processor & mix them well until you have a smooth paste that will stick to your face without it running off.

Apply the mask on your face & neck for 5 minutes.

Wash it off with cool water.

This mask will loosen dirt & dead skin cells, cleans it all up & soothes & softens.

MAGIC:

Be careful with whom you share a double strawberry. It is destined that the two of you may fall in love.
Because of their bright red colors & heart shapes, strawberries were the symbol for Venus, the Goddess of Love.
Henry VIII's second wife, Ann Boleyn, was thought to have been a witch because she had a strawberry shaped birthmark on her neck.
During medieval times, strawberries symbolized righteousness & perfection. 
In Bavarian folk tradition, Strawberries are gathered & hung in baskets  on the horns of cattle to pay the local natures spirits in trade for many healthy calves & cows who produce an abundance of milk.
It was said that if a pregnant woman carried strawberry leaves in her pocket, they would relieve the pains of pregnancy.