Health and Nutrition
A blog for healthy benefits of cardamom, aniseed, garlic, ginger, cinnamon, coriander, clove, cumin seeds for treatment of various diseases at home without any investment and any side effects. These items are also used in various kitchen recipes.
Sunday, 25 April 2021
What are the benefits and medicinal uses of Bishop's Weed (Ajwain) ?
Friday, 23 April 2021
What are the benefits and medicinal uses of Nutmeg (Jaiphal) ?
Nutmeg has following names :-
Botanical name - Myristica fragrans
Indian name - Jaiphal
Origin, distribution and composition
Healing power and curative properties
The powder of the nutmeg, about 5 to 15 grams, mixed with apple juice or banana is used as a specific remedy for diarrhoea caused by indigestion of food.
The same quantity of nutmeg powder taken with a tablespoon of fresh amla juice thrice daily, is effective for indigestion, hiccups and morning sickness.
What are the benefits, uses , healing power and curative properties of Sandalwood (Chandan) ?
Sandalwood (Chandan) |
The Sandalwood has following names -
Botanical name - Santalum album
Indian name - Chandan
Origin, distribution and composition
Healing power and curative properties
Genito-Urinary disorders -
Gastric irritability -
Dysentery -
Prickly heat -
Skin diseases-
Fever -
Thursday, 22 April 2021
What are medicinal benefits of Asafoetida (Heeng) ?
Botanical name - Ferula foetida, ferula northex
Indian name - Hing
Many types of asafoetida are famous. For example, Kandhari asafoetida, European asafoetida & Indian asafoetida (Heera asafoetida). Asafoetida is actually resinous gum of a tree, which is yellow in color and slightly beige.
Asafoetida has several varieties which are distributed from the Mediterranean region to Central Asia. It is grown in Iran and Afghanistan. The other species, known botanically as Ferula narthex, grow abundantly in Kashmir, Western Tibet and Afghanistan.
An anlysis of asafoetida shows it to consist of carbohydrates 67.8 percent per 100 gms, moisture 16 percent, protein 4 percent, fat 1.1 percent, minerals 7 percent and fibre 4.1 percent. Its mineral and vitamin contents include substantial calcium besides phosphorus, iron, carotene, riboflavin and niacin. Its calorific value is 297.
It has a very strong smell. Fake asafoetida is often sold in the market. The aroma of real asafoetida can be smelt from very far. Many types of medicinal properties are found in asafoetida. Asafoetida is very hot & digestive.
It is used as a flavouring agent and forms a constituent of many spice mixtures.
Asafoetida is used in the following diseases:-
Rib pain -
Mix some asafoetida in hot water and apply it on the rib. Rib pain will stop immediately.
Stinging glass or fork -
Filling of the asafoetida solution at the affected place will bring out the pierced glass or fork and pain will also not be there.
Stomach disorders -
The herb is an effective remedy for several diseases of the stomach. It is one of the best remedies available for flatulence and is an essential ingredient for most of the digestive powders.
Tuesday, 15 September 2020
What are the benefits and uses of Saffron (Kesar)?
Botanical name of Saffron is Crocus Sativus.
Indian name is Kesar or Zaafran.
Composition and Description of Saffron:-
Saffron is a plant resembling onion, 45 cms high. Commercial saffron consists of the dried stigma and tops of the styles of the flowers.
It is one of the world's costliest herbs.
Saffron is more popular in the Tibbi than in the Ayurvedic medicine.
Saffron contains an essential oil which consists of terpens, terpen alcohols and esters.
Its other constituents are crocin and picrocrocin.
Healing Power and Curative Properties:-
Saffron is largely used in indigenous medicine across India. It enjoys a great reputation as a drug which strengthens the functioning of stomach and promotes its action.
The drug also counteracts spasmodic disorders, that is, sustained involuntary muscle contraction.
It is a stimulant and promotes libido.
Digestive Disorders:-
Saffron is beneficial in the treatment of several digestive disorders, especially flatulent colic.
Women's Disorders:-
Saffron is useful promoting and regulating menstrual periods.
It soothes lumbar pains which accompany menstruation.
Saffron is also useful in the treatment of other ailments concerning women such as leucorrhoea and hysteria.
Pessaries of saffron are used in painful conditions of the uterus.
Skin Disorders:-
Saffron is beneficial in treating skin disorders. A paste of the herb can be used as a dressing for bruises and superficial sores.
Precautions:-
The drug should not be taken in large doses by pregnant women as it may cause abortion.
Saturday, 12 September 2020
What are benefits and medicinal uses of Curry Leaves (Kadi Patta)?
What is Botanical name of Curry Leaves?
What is the origin and composition of curry leaves?
The leaves are slightly bitter and aromatic.
The curry tree is a native of India and Sri Lanka. It grows
in all tropical zones and more so in rich soils. It is cultivated extensively
for its aromatic leaves and ornamental values throughout India.
An analysis of curry leaves shows them to consist of 66%
moisture, 6% protein, 1% fat, 16% carbohydrates, 6% fibre and 4.2% mineral
matter per 100 grams.
Their mineral and vitamin contents are:-
Calcium
Iron
Phosphorous
Nicotinic acid
Vitamin C
Fresh leaves on steam distillation under pressure yield a volatile oil. Besides the oil, the leaves contain a residual glucoside named as koenigin.
What are the curative properties and healing powers of curry
leaves?
Curry leaves possess the qualities of a herbal tonic.
They strengthen the functions of stomach and promote its
action.
They can also be used as a mild laxative. The juice extracted
from 15 grams of curry leaves may be taken with buttermilk.
Diabetes: -
The diabetes which is hereditary in nature can be prevented
by eating 10 fresh fully grown curry leaves every morning for three months.
It also cures diabetes due to obesity, as the leaves have
weight reducing properties.
The diabetic patients stop passing sugar in urine, because
their weight reduces.
Kidney disorders:-
The root of the curry plant also has medicinal properties.
The juice of the root can be taken to relieve pain associated with the kidneys.
Eye disorders:-
Fresh juice of curry leaves put in the eyes makes them look
bright and improves eye sight.
It also prevents early development of cataract.
Digestive disorders:-
Fresh juice of curry leaves, when taken with lime juice and
sugar, is an effective medicine in the treatment of –
·
Morning
sickness
·
Nausea
·
Vomiting due to indigestion and excessive use of fats.
One or two teaspoons of juice of these leaves mixed with a
teaspoon of lime juice may be taken in these conditions.
The curry leaves, when grounded to a fine paste and mixed
with buttermilk can also be taken on an empty stomach with beneficial results
in case of stomach upsets.
Tender curry leaves are useful in diarrhoea, dysentery and piles, when taken by mixing with honey.
The bark of the tree is also useful in in bilious vomiting.
A teaspoon of the powder or the decoction of the dry bark
should be given with cold water in this condition.
Burns and bruises:-
Curry leaves can can be effectively used to treat burns,
bruises and skin eruptions. For this, these should be applied as a poultice
over the affected areas.
Premature greying of hair:-
A large quantity of curry leaves is beneficial in preventing
premature greying of hair.
These leaves have the property to nourish the hair roots. New
hair roots that grow are healthier with normal pigment.
The leaves can be used in the form of chutney (mixture) or
the juice may be squeezed and taken with buttermilk or lassi.
Insect bites:-
Fruits of the tree, which are berries, are edible. They are
green when raw, but purple when ripe.
Juice of these berries, mixed with equal proportion of lime-juice, is an
effective fluid for external application
in insect stings and bites of poisonous creatures.
Hair Tonic:-
The leaves are boiled in coconut oil till a blackened residue
is left. The oil forms an excellent hair tonic to stimulate hair growth and in
retaining the natural pigmentation.
Flavoring agent:-
Curry leaves have been used for centuries in South India as a
natural flavoring agent in sambar, rasam and curries.
Chutney (mixture) can be made by mixing the leaves with
coriander leaves, tomatoes and coconut scrapings.
The leaves, bark and the root of the curry plant are used in
indigenous medicine as a tonic, stimulant and antiflatulent.
Thursday, 10 September 2020
What are benefits and uses of Cumin Seeds (Jeera)?
Cumin Seeds - Jeera
The botanical name of cumin is Cuminum cyminum.
Its Indian name is Jeera.
Where is the origin of Cumin seeds?
Cumin is an annual herb with a long slender root and a smooth
surface.
It grows up to a height of 30 to 45 cm. It produces a stem
with many branches which bear long, finely divided, deep green leaves and small
flowers, white or rose in color.
The plant has aromatic seed like fruit, commonly known as
cumin seed.
It is oval shaped, approximately 6 mm long and light
yellowish brown in color. It has a peculiar, strong and heavy odor. The dried
seeds form an essential ingredient of curry powder.
Cumin is a native of Egypt, Syria, Turkey and the Eastern
Mediterranean region.
It was one of the commonest spices during the middle ages.
It is now grown in south-eastern Europe, North Africa, India
and China.
What is the composition of Cumin Seeds?
It consists of 6.2% moisture, 17.7% protein, 23.8% fat, 9.1%
crude fibre, 35.5% carbohydrates and 7.7% mineral water per 100 grams.
It contains the following minerals and vitamins:-
Calcium
Phosphorus
Iron
Sodium
Potassium
Thiamine
Riboflavin
Niacin
Vitamins A & C
It has a calorific value of 460.
The dried fruit is crushed and subjected to fractional or
steam distillation to yield a valuable volatile oil pale yellow in color, which
turns dark on keeping.
The cumin aldehydes present in the volatile oil is readily
converted artificially into thymol.
Healing Power and Curative Properties of Cumin Seeds:-
The fruit is a rich source of thymol.
Thymol is used as anthelmintic against hookworm infections
and also as an antiseptic in many proprietary preparations.
It is a stimulant, which increases the secretion and
discharge of urine and relieves flatulence.
It strengthens the functions of stomach and arrests any
bleeding.
Digestive disorders:-
Cumin seeds are very useful in digestive disorders like
indigestion, biliousness, morning sickness, atonic dyspepsia, diarrhea,
malabsorption syndrome and flatulent colic.
One teaspoon of cumin seeds is boiled in a glass of water and
the decoction mixed with one teaspoon of fresh coriander leaf juice and a pinch
of salt. This decoction can be taken twice daily after meals as a medicine for
diarrhea.
Piles:-
Black cumin is beneficial in the treatment of piles. About 50
grams of the seeds, of which half should be roasted, should be grounded
together, three grams of this flour should be taken with water.
Insomnia:-
It is valuable in relieving sleeplessness. A teaspoon of the
fried powder of cumin seeds mixed with the pulp of a ripe banana can be taken
at night to induce sleep.
Common cold:-
Diluted cumin water is an antiseptic beverage and very useful
in common cold and sores.
To prepare cumin water, a teaspoon of cumin is added to
boiling water, which is allowed to simmer for a few seconds and then set aside
to cool.
If the cold is associated with sore throat, few small pieces
of dry ginger should be added to the water.
It soothes throat irritation.
Boils:-
Black cumin grounded in water is applied as a paste over the
boils with beneficial results.
Renal colic:-
Black cumin seeds mixed with caraway seeds and black salt is
useful in renal coilc.
About 20 grams of cumin seeds, 12 grams of caraway seeds and
6 grams of black salt are grounded together and mixed with a little vinegar.
This mixture can be taken in doses of 3 grams every hour till
relief is obtained.
Problem of breast milk secretions:-
A decoction of cumin seeds mixed with milk and honey , taken
once daily during the entire period of pregnancy, helps the healthy development
of the foetus, eases child-birth and increases the secretion of breast milk.
Amnesia:-
Cumin seeds are valuable in amnesia or dullness of memory.
Three grams of black cumin seeds are mixed with 12 grams of
pure honey and licked to get rid of in this condition.
Scorpion sting:-
A paste of the cumin seeds prepared with onion juice, applied over scorpion sting will retard the frequency of upbeats.
What are the other uses of cumin seeds?
It is extensively used in mixed spices and for flavoring
curries, soups, sausages, bread and cakes.
It is an ingredient of curry powder, pickles and chutneys.
It is also used to some extent in India medicine as a
carminative.