Suffering from Depression? Maybe the Etrog is the Solution

Etrog

The etrog is one of the citrus fruits. Its fruit is splendid in appearance, its fragrance wonderfully pleasant, and its taste very mild. The Torah calls it "the fruit of a majestic tree," and in rabbinic literature, it is likened to the heart of man.

The etrog is part of the Four Species that are taken as a mitzvah on the holiday of Sukkot. The etrog has very beneficial and important medicinal properties, some natural and some mystical. Its mystical properties: Those suffering from eye pain should frequently look at the etrog's appearance. A woman who has difficulty in childbirth should eat an etrog on Hoshana Rabbah, specifically an etrog that was used for the blessing of the Four Species. One who buys a beautiful etrog and spends much money on it for the sake of Heaven and not for pride merits sons who are scholars.

It is customary to use the etrog that was blessed over, to make jam from it and eat it on Tu Bishvat.

Its natural properties: Those who have difficulty speaking should frequently chew etrog peels. Eating etrog peels strengthens the heart. The etrog balances liver activity, stimulates appetite, and refreshes. Those suffering from depression should increase their consumption of etrogs. Etrog juice helps quell intense thirst and stabilizes blood pressure. Those with blood pressure fluctuations should drink etrog juice daily. It should not be eaten in the middle of or after meals, but rather between meals or before a meal. However, it's important to know that etrog peel is hard to digest, and those with digestive problems are advised not to eat it.

To remove stains from clothes, it is recommended to rub the garment well with etrog flesh, and the stains will be completely removed. Additionally, the fragrance of the etrog repels cloth moths.

Myrtle

The myrtle is an evergreen ornamental shrub. It grows mainly in mountainous areas of the Golan Heights and around Safed and the Galilee. It is indeed cultivated as an ornamental plant in home gardens and public parks. There are many varieties of myrtle. Its distinguishing feature is its leaves, which grow in pairs or triplets.

Myrtle has flowers and berries, and these disqualify it from its mitzvah use, as the mitzvah of myrtle in the Four Species is specifically dependent on myrtle with leaves that do not have flowers and fruits.

The myrtle is mentioned many times in the Bible, first among the Four Species taken on the holiday of Sukkot. In the words of the prophets, it is mentioned in different contexts: in Isaiah, in the "Vision of Redemption," as a symbol of goodness and perfection, and in Zechariah, the prophet likens it to the people of Israel. In halachic and Aggadic rabbinic literature, much is spoken about the myrtle. The sages were well acquainted with it botanically, and in the Tractate of Sukkah, all parts of the myrtle are described.

As mentioned, there are many varieties of myrtle, some used solely for ornamental purposes. Others are for producing oil used in medicinal, perfume, and cosmetic industries. There are also edible varieties of myrtle.

The fragrance of the myrtle is delicate and very pleasant. The Kabbalists, as well as many from the Sephardi communities, follow the custom of the father of the Kabbalists, the Ari z"l, to smell the myrtle before Kiddush. Also, on Motza'ei Shabbat during the Havdalah, it is smelled for the blessing of spices.

The Sephardi communities also customarily smell myrtle during the joyous occasions of a Brit Milah and Pidyon HaBen. The Talmud narrates the wonderful custom of Rabbi Yehuda Bar Ilai, who would take myrtle branches and dance with them before the bride. Likewise, Rabbi Shmuel Bar Yitzchak would throw three myrtle branches one after the other and catch them during his dance before the bride. Why did they dance before the bride specifically with myrtle?

Being a beautiful shrub with a pleasant scent, and particularly as an evergreen, myrtle symbolizes success, freshness, and true love between couples and thus became a symbol of marital success. In the Tosefta, it is mentioned that myrtle was used to make "grooms' crowns" (Sota 49, b').

Myrtle is effective in stopping bleeding, treating constipation, diarrhea, strengthening teeth, and preventing uterine prolapse in women. It serves as an excellent antiseptic and is very effective against dysentery. It is very effective in healing various skin irritations and in treating inflammations and wounds. It prevents hair loss and refreshes its appearance. In the Talmud, myrtle is mentioned as a remedy for high blood pressure (Gittin 68, b').

Usage method: The myrtle leaves are dried, crushed, and mixed with olive oil. The ointment is spread on sensitive skin, hair, and gums. As a drink, the leaves are brewed and consumed like tea for intestinal inflammations, ulcers, constipation, and urinary tract inflammations. Ancient texts mention that for a woman who has difficulty in childbirth, myrtle leaves should be crushed and mixed with a heated cup of wine, to ease birth. Additionally, it is stated: A woman who often smells myrtle, especially on Motza'ei Shabbat, will merit wise children. The Druze custom is to anoint infants with myrtle powder to remove dandruff and strengthen hair roots. Asaph the physician writes about the power contained in myrtle oil: "Its force is warm and effective for gut disorders, strengthens the abdomen, relieves distress, stabilizes blood, benefits hemorrhoids, enhances hair, blackens it, strengthens and clarifies its appearance."

VOD Hidabroot - All the lessons on the topic of Sukkot