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Is MSG bad for you? Not at all
by Simon Balissat
Why have our neighbours not heard of the cherry stone pillow?
6.6.2022
Translation: Jessica Johnson-Ferguson
What’s the secret behind the cherry stone pillow? Take a bit of cotton fabric, a handful of pits and pop it in the oven. These three things are all you need to take the edge off tense muscles and belly cramps. It’s a crying shame that many of our neighbouring countries have never heard of it.
Medically plausible
After a good 30 minutes, my cramps subside. All it took was heat. Why didn’t I think of this sooner? When I was a kid, my parents would put the pillow on my ear, stomach or neck if I was in pain. My dad even sewed one once. It worked like a charm, except if I was dealing with a nasty inflammation of the middle ear.
Neighbouring countries in the dark
Italy and France seem to be familiar with the hot water bottle, which is a close relative of the cherry stone pillow, after all. That’s at least something. Even if the bottle is clearly inferior. Water just doesn’t stay warm for as long as cherry stones do. And the heat-resistant rubber most water bottles are made of these days just doesn’t feel as huggy as the stones.
Besides, the cherry stone pillow isn’t just great for applying heat to the body, but also for cooling. Just pop it in the fridge for a few hours or in the freezer for 30 minutes. You should opt for the cold therapy if you’re suffering from an acute injury such as a bad bruise or sprain. The cold slows down your circulation as well as any swelling and inflammation. The pillow is a true all-rounder, as people in this country have known for a long time.
Who invented it?
Archaeologists discovered about 400 grammes of cherry stones during excavations in Münster in the late 90s. As the stones were found close together, the scientists concluded that they were probably once wrapped in a cloth bag. The findings are dated to the Late Middle Ages.
My life in a nutshell? On a quest to broaden my horizon. I love discovering and learning new skills and I see a chance to experience something new in everything – be it travelling, reading, cooking, movies or DIY.
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