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.
