MEDICINAL VALUES OF INDIAN SPICES AND HOME REMEDIES

MEDICINAL VALUES OF INDIAN SPICES AND HOME REMEDIES

ASAFOETIDA Botanical name: Ferula Asafoetida. Other names: Hing. Used part: Oleo-gum Resin from rhizome and thickened root. Remedy for: Indigestion and used as antibiotic. Home remedies: A pinch of asafoetida dissolved in water can be taken before going bed for any indigestion problem. Grind asafoetida, rock salt, small harad and caraway seeds in equal amounts. Taken 3 spoonfuls thrice a day relieves dyspepsia.

CAROM SEED Botanical name: Trachyspermum ammi. Other names: Ajwain, Bishop’s Weed and Omum. Used part: Small fruits, incorrectly called seeds. Remedy for: Indigestion and Cold. Home remedies: These seeds soaked in water overnight and taken morning in empty stomach relieves indigestion. If the crushed seeds are tied in a bundle and inhaled it relieves the nasal congestion. The seeds can be put in boiled water and fumes can be inhaled in for adults.

cardamom Botanical name: Elettaria cardamomum (Green cardamom) and Amomum subulatum (Black cardamom). Other names: Choti Elachi (green) and Badi Elachi (Black) Used part: Seeds. Remedy for: Digestive Disorder, Bad Breath and depression. Home remedies: Ground Cardamom with Ginger, Cloves and coriander relieves indigestion problem. Cardamom chewed regularly removes bad breath. Cardamom Tea gives a pleasing aroma and cures depression.

CINNAMON Botanical name: Cinnamomum verum, Cinnamomum zeylanicum, Cinnamomum cassia and Cinnamomum burmannii. Other names: Dalchini, Pattai Used part: Stem Bark. Remedy for: Pimples, common cold, Bad breath and Digestive Disorders. Home remedies: Paste of Cinnamon powder with fresh lemon juice applied on pimples cures it. Powdered and boiled Cinnamon in water with a pinch of pepper and honey cures digestive disorder and cold. To avoid Bad breath, chew Cinnamon or gargle cinnamon water.

CLOVES Botanical name: Syzygium aromaticum. Other names: Lavangam. Used part: Buds. Remedy for: Eye Stye (an infection of the sebaceous glands at the base of the eyelashes), Dental problems. Home remedies: Apply clove oil on the eye lids to get relief from pain and infection in a week. Gargle diluted clove oil daily to ease the throat and relieves from any dental problem.

CORIANDER Botanical name: Coriandrum sativum. Other names: Dhania. Used part: Leaves, fruits and Root. Remedy for: Skin Disorders, Menstrual Disorders Home remedies: Coriander juice with pinch of Turmeric powder cures Pimples, Black Heads and Dry Skin. Coriander with boiled rice water or coriander powder boiled with water till it remains half amount checks excessive bleeding during menses.

CUMIN SEEDS Botanical name: Cuminum cyminum. Other names: Jeera, jeeragam. Used part: Fruits. Remedy for: Stomach worms, Burns, insect Bites and Piles. Home remedies: Cumin taken with water at night kills worms. Paste of cumin and dry ginger applied on insect bites eliminates poison. Cumin powder and Black pepper powder with honey stops pain and cures piles.

FENNEL Botanical name: Foeniculum vulgare. Other names: Saunf/Sanchal Used part: Fruits Remedy for: Lice Home remedies: When Fennel paste is applied over the scalp it acts as an insecticide.

FENUGREEK Botanical name: Trigonella foenum-graecum. Other names: Methi, vendhayam Used part: Leaves and Seeds Remedy for: Dandruff Home remedies: After softening them in water apply it to the scalp. After an hour wash with soap nut.

GARLIC Botanical name: Allium sativum. Other names: Lahsun, poondu Used part: The underground head called bulb Remedy for: Asthma, Cholesterol Home remedies: Three cloves of Garlic boiled in milk can be taken every night which gives relief from asthma. Drinking glassful milk boiled with Garlic every day reduces cholesterol level.

Ginger Botanical Name: Zingiber officinale. Other names : Adrak and Inji. Used part : Fleshy Rhizome. It is also available in sun dried form. Remedy for : Nausea, Vomiting, Diarrhea and Cold. Home remedies: Ginger Juice mixed with lime and mint juices and honey is a remedy for Nausea and vomiting. Ginger Tea and hot ginger juice with honey are good for cold and cough.

HOLY BASIL Botanical name : Ocimum tenuiflorum, Occimum sanctum Other names : Tulsi Used part : Leaves Remedy for : Cold, Cough, Teeth Disorders, Skin diseases. Home remedies: Applying basil and lemon juice in equal proportion cures any kind of skin diseases. Dried and powdered Basil leaves can be used to brush teeth. It avoids Bad Breath and disorders. Ginger and Basil juice with honey cures cold and cough.

LONG PEPPER Botanical name : Piper longum Other names : Thippali Used part : Fruits. Remedy for : Flu Home remedies: Half a teaspoon of Long Pepper and ginger juice with two teaspoons of honey taken thrice daily during initial stages of flu will help greatly.

MINT Botanical name : Mentha arvensis, Mentha asiatica Other names : Pudina Used part : Leaves Remedy for : Skin diseases, Hiccups Home remedies: Fresh Mint juice and papaya juice cures many skin disorders including spots, insect stings, eczema, scabies or other skin infections. Mixture of Fresh lemon juice, Mint leaves, common salt and lukewarm water reduces Hiccups immediately.

MUSTARD Botanical name : Brassica nigra (Black), Brassica juncea (Indian), Brassica hirta/Sinapis alba(white). Other names : Rai, Sarson, Kadugu Used part : Seeds Remedy for : Wheezing. Home remedies: Mustard plaster is very famous in stopping wheezing. Mix a half teaspoon of mustard powder and 1 teaspoon of flour with water. Warm the mixture. Spread this mixture in a cotton towel and place the pack on the patient’s chest. Remove this when the skin becomes red. It provides good first aid for any respiratory disorders.

NUTMEG AND MACE Botanical name : Myristica argenta, Myristica fragrans, Myristica inutilis, Myristica malabarica, Myristica macrophylla, Myristica otoba, Myristica platysperma Other names : Nutmeg- Jaiphal, Jathikai Mace-Javitri Used part : Nutmeg-Kernel of the fruit. Mace-Aril part, leathery tissue between the stone and the pulp Remedy for : Skin diseases Home remedies: Nutmeg paste prepared by rubbing it on a stone slab can be applied on the infected area.

PEPPER Botanical name : Piper nigrum. Other names : Kali mirchi, Milagu Used part : Dried fruits Remedy for : Toothaches, Digestive Disorders. Home remedies: A pinch of Pepper powder with clove oil can put directly to the cavity to stop toothache. Powdered pepper and salt mixture can be massaged over the gums to cure inflammation. Pepper powder mixed with Buttermilk can be taken during indigestion.

SESAME SEEDS Botanical name : Sesamum indicum. Other names : Til, Ellu Used part : Dried Seeds Remedy for : Cracked heels, Menstrual Disorders. Home remedies: Three teaspoons of Beeswax and one teaspoon of sesame oil. Warm it and apply on the cracked heels. Expected result will show up in a month. Half a teaspoon of sesame seeds taken twice a day reduces spasmodic pain during menstruation.

TURMERIC Botanical name : Curcuma longa Other names : Haldi, Manjal Used part : Rhizome Remedy for : Sprains, Measles Home remedies: Turmeric paste with lime juice and Salt applied over the sprain gives effective result. Dried turmeric powder with honey and bitter gourd leaf juice can be taken as treatment for measles.