Benefits of Ginger ( Adrak )

                                                                Its mineral and vitamin contents are calcium, phosphorous, iron, carotene, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin and vitamin C.

Benefits:- 

1. Coughs and cold:- Extracted juice of ginger with honey is taken three or four times a day in case of coughs. In case of colds, take ginger cut into small pieces in a boiled cup of water. After straining, it should be taken hot with half a teaspoon of sugar.

2. Respiratory disorders:- A teaspoon of fresh ginger juice mixed with a cup of fenugreek decoction and honey to taste, makes an excellent diaphoretic mixture to proliferate sweating and reduces fever in influenza. It acts as an expectorant in bronchitis, asthma, whooping cough and tuberculosis of the lungs.

3. Digestive disorders:- Chewing a piece of fresh ginger regularly after meals prevents dyspepsia, flatulence, colic vomiting, spasms and other painful affections of the stomach and the bowels, not accompanied by fever. This protective action is due to the excessive secretion of saliva, diastase enzyme and volatile oil.

Benefits of Garlic ( Lahsoon )

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Botanical name:- Allium Sativum
Indian name:- Lahsoon
                                                              Garlic has been highly valued for centuries all over the world for its health building qualities. Its mineral and vitamin contents are calcium, phosphorous, iron, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin and vitamin C. It also contains traces of iodine, sulphur and chlorine.
                                                             The bulbs yields an essential oil containing allyl propyl disulphide, diallyl disulphide and two other sulphur compounds. They also contain antiseptic and hypotensive or causing low blood pressure principles - allicin, allisatin I allisatin II.

Benefits:- 

1. Tuberculosis:- A decoction of garlic boiled in milk is a wonderful drug for tuberculosis. One gram of garlic, 250 ml of milk and a litre of water are boiled together till it reduces to one fourth of the decoction.It should be taken thrice a day.

Benefits of Cinnamon( Dalchini )

1. Bad breath:- It serves as a good mouth freshener.

2. Acne:- Paste of cinnamon powder prepared with a few drops of fresh lime juice can be applied over pimples and blackheads with beneficial results.

3. Common cold:- It is an effective remedy for common cold. Cinnamon oil mixed with honey gives relief from cold. Coarsely powdered cinnamon boiled in a glass of water with a pinch of pepper can be beneficially used as a medicine in cases of influenza, sore throat and malaria.

4. Digestive disorders:- It checks nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. It stimulates digestion. A tablespoon of cinnamon water, prepared as for cold and taken  half an hour after meals relieves flatulence and indigestion.

5. Headache:- Headache caused by exposure to cold air is readily cured by applying a paste of finely powdered cinnamon mixed with water on the temples and forehead.

6. Healing power and Curative properties:- It prevents nervous tension, improves complexion and memory. A pinch of its powder mixed with honey will do the trick if taken regularly every night for these purposes.

Benefits of Aniseed ( Saunf )

1. Digestive disorders:- It is an ideal medicine for expelling wind from the stomach. It is also useful in preventing gas in the stomach.
An easy way to prepare an infusion is to mix a teaspoon of aniseed in a cup of boiling water and leave it covered overnight. The clear fluid is then decanted and taken with honey. This is an ideal treatment for indigestion, especially when there is gurgling in the abdomen. Gripe water for infants also contains aniseed extract.

2. Cataract:- In cataract, 5 grams of aniseed should be taken daily in the morning and evening.

3. Asthma:- It is considered beneficial for the treatment of asthma due to its expectorant properties.

4. Insomnia:- Tea prepared by boiling 300 ml of water and adding a teaspoon of aniseed is beneficial for the treatment of sleeplessness. The water should be covered with a lid and allowed to simmer for 15 minutes. Then it should be strained and taken hot either after meals or before going to bed.

Note -  Aniseed should not be boiled for long time as it may lose its digestive properties and essential oil during the process.

5. Head lice:- It is used externally as an insecticide against small insects such as lice, mites and vermin. It also has fungicidal properties.

Benefits of Cardamom ( Chhoti elaichi )

1. Digestive disorders:- Grounded cardamom seeds mixed with ginger, cloves and coriander is an effective remedy for indigestion. A tea made from cardamom is valuable in headache caused by indigestion. It relieves gas and heart burn caused by garlic and onion. It increases appetite.

2. Bad breath:- A few seeds chewed for a brief period removes foul smell. Its aromatic flavour is a breath freshener.

3. Depression:- Seeds of cardamom boiled in water with tea can be used in the treatment of depression.

4. Hiccups:- An infusion made by boiling cardamoms in a cup of water along with 5 leaves of mint relieves hiccups.

5. Genital-Urinary disorders:- Its powdered seeds mixed with a tablespoon of banana leaf and amla juice taken thrice a daily , will serve as an excellent diuretic for the treatment of gonorrhoea, cystitis, nephritis, burning micturation or urination and scanty urination.

6. Impotency:- A pinch of powdered cardamom seeds boiled in milk and sweetened with honey every night is useful in sexual dysfunctions like impotency and premature ejaculation.