LEMON

Juicy, aromatic and highly acidic, lemons bring out the flavor in sweet and savory foods but they nearly always play a supporting role in the kitchen. Stop relegating them to the rim of your glass and give these winter citrus fruits their due - because they're serious cleaning and freshening powerhouses. These 20 unusual uses for lemon juice will make your home look and smell fresh, brighten your laundry, and improve your hair, nails and skin. Quick tip: roll a fresh lemon under your palm on the counter top to soften it up for easier juicing. 

Fingernail Brightener

 Nails looking dull and yellowed after a long period covered in dark polish? Just squeeze a lemon into a small dish, clean your nails and soak them in the lemon juice for a minute or two. Some women claim that this treatment will also make nails stronger, particularly when adding a tablespoon or so of olive oil to the dish.

Food Preservative

 Keep cut fruit and vegetables like apples, pears, avocados and potatoes from turning brown by squeezing on a little bit of lemon juice. You can also perk up droopy lettuce by soaking it for an hour in a bowl of cold water and the juice of one lemon.

 Emergency Deodorant

 Caught smelling less-than-fresh, with no deodorant around to save the day? Cut a lemon in half (or snag a wedge from your drinking glass) and rub it under your arms. The citric acid in lemon juice will reportedly kill odor-causing bacteria. In fact, you could use this trick to ditch conventional deodorants altogether.

 Odor Destroyer

 Even garlic, fish, mothballs and that disgusting gunk in your garbage disposal can't stand up to lemon juice's odor-eliminating power. Use a cut lemon or fresh-squeezed lemon juice to remove bad smells from your refrigerator, cutting board, microwave or practically any other surface. You can even add it to the cooking water of stinky foods like cabbage, or just simmer lemon peel in water on the stovetop as a natural air freshener.

 Insect Deterrent

 Many insects are highly sensitive to smell, including spiders, ants, fleas and typically so-hardy-they're-almost-alien cockroaches. Squirt lemon juice in windowsills, the thresholds of doors, along baseboards and into any cracks where insects might get into the house. Add lemon juice to your floor wash for even more insect-repelling action.

 Lighten Age Spots and Freckles

 There's some debate as to whether this actually works, but if you're desperate to reduce the appearance of freckles or dreaded age spots, lemon juice might be worth a try. Apply lemon juice with a cotton ball once per day and over time - we're talking months - they may lighten a little bit.

 Glass Cleaner

 Lemon juice will make hard water stains, debris and other marks on glass disappear. Use straight lemon juice on a sponge for tough jobs, or dilute a few tablespoons in a cup of water and spray it on. Wipe it off with newspaper for totally transparent windows (that might just kill a bird or two.)

 Stain Remover

 Sweat, mildew, berries, wine, oil - pretty much any substance that leaves a stain on fabric can be removed with good old lemon juice. Durable fabrics can be rubbed with a paste of lemon juice and salt while more delicate fabrics might require a gentler touch, saturating the stain with lemon juice and then washing it out.

 Sore Throat Soother

 Gargle with a teaspoon of lemon juice in 1/8 cup of warm water to help shrink swollen throat tissue and kill bacteria. Frequent cups of hot tea made with a tablespoon of honey and a tablespoon of lemon juice will also do the trick.

 Toilet Cleaner

 When mixed with household borax (not the insecticide kind), lemon juice can remove even those stubborn rust stains from the toilet bowl. Make a paste of borax and lemon juice and apply it to the stain with a scrub brush or sponge. Let it sit for up to two hours, then scrub away.

 Metabolism Booster

 Does lemon juice really boost metabolism? Some of the claims raise red flags as being a bit too enthusiastic, and most of these lemon-based "metabolism boosters" are recommended as food replacements in starvation diets. But hey, adding a little lemon juice to your water every day will make it taste better, and drinking more water can definitely help you lose weight. So, there's that!

 Dandruff Treatment

 Lemon juice may not cure dandruff or prevent it from occurring in the first place, but it can remove flakes that are already present so you don't have to worry about them making an appearance on your clothing. Massage lemon juice into your scalp, leave it on for ten minutes and shampoo as usual.

 Metal Polish

 Slice a lemon in half, dip it in salt and rub it onto metal surfaces like stainless steel ranges and copper pots to eliminate grime and make them gleam.

 Rice De-Sticker

 A few drops of lemon juice added to simmering rice will keep it from sticking to the pot, making clean-up a lot easier.

 

 Hair Highlighter

 You can achieve natural-looking highlights at home with nothing more than a little lemon juice, a sunny day and something to occupy your hands for an hour or two. Either apply it directly to the strands you want to highlight or get an overall lightening effect by spraying on a diluted mixture of 1/2 cup lemon juice to 1/2 cup of water. The intensity of the lightening will vary depending on your hair type and texture.

   Laundry Brightener

 Just as it removes stains, lemon juice can act as a natural, non-toxic alternative to bleach. Add a quarter cup of juice to the washing machine to brighten whites. Lemon juice's stain-removing power is further heightened by hanging the treated laundry up to dry in the sun.

 

 Heartburn Relief

 The efficacy of this trick depends on whether your heartburn is caused by too much acid in your stomach, or not enough. If it's the latter, drinking a little lemon juice in water can quickly relieve discomfort.

 Facial Treatment

 Applied with a cotton ball, a little lemon juice acts as an astringent, eliminating oil and tightening pores for a smoother look. Mix salt and lemon juice into a paste for an all-natural exfoliant.

 Itchy Skin Soother

 Apply full-strength lemon juice to unbearably itchy skin rashes like poison ivy to soothe them and keep them from spreading.

 Hangover Help

 The next time you're groaning in pain the morning after enjoying just a tad too much alcohol, try drinking a little lemon juice squeezed into warm water or tea. Not only does it help you re-hydrate, but the lemon juice can reportedly help balance the pH levels in your body and replace the vitamin C lost in the binge.

Kalonji (Black Seeds)

• The plants of Kalonji are found throughout India in the form of bushes. The height of the plant is approximately half a meter. It possesses blue flowers. It originated from Turkey and Italy. Later on, it was brought to Asia by physicians and cultivated in India. Seeds are triangular in shape, black in colour and possess a severe pungent smell, contain a considerable amount of oil. It is incorrect that Arabs learnt its use from the Greeks, because before the advent of Islam, no description or record is found about its use. Its therapeutic use was initiated after the advent of Islam, since; Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) mentioned its therapeutic efficacy and potential of cure.
  Chemical Composition - seeds contain 1.5% volatile oil, while 37.5% Non volatile oil. In addition to this Albumen, Sugar, Organic acids, Glucoside Melanthin Metarbin and bitter substances are also found. The Glucoside is toxic in nature, hence the use of Kalonji in large doses and prolonged use might be harmful.
  
  

  Hazrat Abu Hurairah States - “I have heard from Rasool(sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) that there is cure for every disease in black seeds except death and black seeds are shooneez.”

  
  

  Salim Bin Abdullah(R.A.) narrates with reference to his father Hazrat Abdullah Bin Omar that Rasool(sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) said, “Let fall these black seeds upon you, these contain cure for all diseases except death.”

  
  

  The same narration is found in Sanad-e-Ahmed from Hazrat Aisha (R.A.) and in Ibn-al-Jozi and Trimizi from Abu Huraira(R.A.). Hazrat Buraida(R.A.) narrates that Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) stated - “Shooneez is cure for all ailments except death.”

  
  

  It is stated in the books of seerat that Nabi-e-Akram (sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) himself used to take these seeds for therapeutic purpose but with the syrup of Honey.

  
  

  Khalid Bin Saad states that he was travelling with Ghalib Bin Jabr, when he fell ill during the journey. Ibn Abi Ateeq (nephew of Hazrat Aisha(R.A.)) came to meet us. On seeing the patient, he took 5 or 7 seeds of Kalonji and ground it, mixed it in olive oil and dropped in both nostrils, Hazrat Aisha(R.A.) told us that Prophet Muhammad(sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) stated that there was cure in black seeds for all ailments except sam. I asked him, what was sam? He said “Death”. Ghalib Bin Jabr became healthy with that treatment.

  
  Observations of the scholars of Hadith reveal that shooneez is equally effective for the diseases due to heat and cold. Zahbi states that kalonji removes the obstruction of any part of the body, expels the gases and strengthens the stomach.
• It is Emmenagogue, Lactogogue and Diuretic.
• It is an Anti-Helminthic, if taken with vinegar.
• It is useful in chronic cold. Inhalation of its smell is useful in common cold.
• The oil of Kalonji is effective in Alopecia.
• Half teaspoonful, if boiled in water and taken, is helpful in Asthma and diffuses the toxic effects of Bee and Wasps.
• Continuous use of kalonji is effective in mad dog bites.
• Fumigation of kalonji is useful in Respiratory Diseases.
• It is useful in Paralysis, Facial Palsy, Migraine, Amnesia and Palpitation.
• It is also an Expectorant and Antipyretic.
• It normalizes the secretions of stomach and pancreas.
• This phenomenon is very much effective and significant in the treatment of Diabetes Mellitus.
• It expels the Kidney and Urinary Bladder stones, if taken with the syrup of honey.
• It is effective in Jaundice if taken with milk.
• Its powder if taken with water is effective in treating Haemorrhoids.
• If Kalonji seeds are boiled in vinegar and this solution is applied on Gums and Teeth, it removes the Inflammation of the gums and relieves the pain also.
• It is also reported that its fine powder is effective if applied in early stages of Cataract.
• Kalonji is also used in Skin disorders.
• The oil of the seeds is also effective in Earache.
• If it is taken with Qust Sheering after breakfast and dinner, it is effective in chronic Dysentery and Asthma.
• Qust Sheering is a good medicine for sexual debility, but if it is taken with Kalonji seeds and Habburrashad, it becomes more fortified.
• Modern trials have proven that Kalonji seeds alone or in combination with other drugs are highly effective in Diabetes Mellitus, Vitiligo and other Skin ailments

AJWAIN, TRACHYSPRMUM AMMI BISHOP’S WEED

Ajwain is known in English as Bishop’s weed, although this may not be the correct name for this herb, as it also has discrepancies in its Latin name. The herb we use at home in Pakistan is Trachyspermum ammi, but there is a Trachyspermum copticum and Carum copticum. It is used for culinary purposes just like thyme, which is why we gave thyme that name in Urdu. However we stand corrected. Ajwain contains thymol, so is an anti-fungicide and also has antibacterial properties. It is believed to have originated in Iran and the Eastern Mediterranean.

Every household on the subcontinent probably has ajwain and its seeds, as it they are used in medicine as well as cooking. The seeds are carminative and classed as a spice. As a medicine it is used for a multitude of purposes, but if you dry fry the seeds and wrap them in cloth and put them near to you while you sleep they will clear nasal congestion if you have a cold. The plant is used for indigestion, diarrhoea, dyspepsia, dysentery, cholera, flatulence. The seeds are eaten with betel leaves to relieve dyspepsia, spasmodic disorders and flatulence. For colic take 3 grams of the following ingredients with warm water: 20gr Ajwain, 10 gr dried ginger and 5 gr black salt ground together.

The smoke from burning seeds is said to cure migraine, and ‘cigarettes’ made from ajwain seeds are used for respiratory disorders including bronchial asthma by villagers on the subcontinent. The seeds are also used in poultices with herbs to relieve asthma and arthritis.

The fresh herb is rubbed on warts to get rid of them. The boiled seeds cleanse the eyes and cure deafness it is said.

Another remedy is for earache: put ½ tsp seeds in 30 ml milk and heat this until the essence of the seeds starts to permeate the milk. Filter the milk and put it in the ear a drop at a time.

Ajwain is believed to have been known to the ancient Greeks and Romans and Dioscorides may have been describing ajwain when he mentioned “Ethiopian or Royal cumin”. It seems this plant has always been the subject of some confusion!The sap from the plant is collected by traditional healers or hakims and dried and sold in a type of crystalline form. You need just 1 crystal to a cup of boiling water and add honey to taste in order to keep illness at bay during autumn and winter. It is said to cure colds and coughs too. It tastes fine once you get over the initial smell, so don't be put off. It seems to work too!

To make a tisane with ajwain you need ¼ tsp fresh ginger root finely grated, ¼ tsp ground green cardamom seeds, ¼ tsp powdered cinnamon and ¼ tsp ajwain seeds. Mix the ground spices together and pour a cup of boiling water over the mixture. Leave this to steep for 5 minutes then strain and drink. This helps the body generally and is good if you have a cold.


The Dangs, a tribe from Southern Gujarat in India, mix ajwain seeds with imli (tamarind) seeds and fry them in ghee with gur (jaggery) and preserve the mixture. They say that it increases the male sperm count cures premature ejaculation and increases the libido of both sexes.

Another belief from subcontinental folklore is that the ajwain seeds should be soaked in lemon juice and dried seven times before being eaten in order to cure impotence and erectile dysfunctions. As ajwain contains calcium, iron, phosphorous, carotene, thiamine and riboflavin, there’s no denying that it is a health-giving plant.

• Here are the few health benefits of Ajwain:
• For Stomach Problems:
  
  Ajwain is very useful in alleviating spasmodic pains of the stomach and intestines in adults as well as children. Any colicky pain due to flatulence (gas), indigestion and infections in the intestines can easily be relieved by taking one teaspoonful of Ajwain along with 2-3 pinches of common salt in warm water. Ajwain is a very good digestive. It can be taken with buttermilk to alleviate digestion related problems. It is a good anti-acidic agent.
• Respiratory Problems:
• Common Cold:
  
  In an acute attack of common cold or migraine headache, put Ajwain powder in a thin cloth and smell this frequently. It gives tremendous symptomatic relief according to some Ayurvedic experts.
• For bronchitis:
  
  If you have chronic bronchitis and asthma, take the mixture of Ajwain and jaggery, heat it to make a paste and take 2 teaspoonfuls twice a day. However, diabetics should not take this preparation because of the sugar content. It helps to bring out the mucus easily and alleviates chronic bronchitis and asthma to great extent. It also helps in getting relief from chronic cold.
• For Cough:
  
  Ajwain is very effective in curing cough. One can drink hot water after chewing little Ajwain to cure cough. You can chew betel leaf with Ajwain at night before sleeping to control and cure dry cough.
• For nasal congestion:
  
  A tablespoon of crushed Ajwain tied up in a small cloth bundle can be used for inhalation. It also relieves nasal congestion while sleeping when placed near the pillow.
• For flu:
  
  A person suffering from influenza should drink the boiled water with 3gms of Ajwain and 3gms of Cinnamon bark for 3 days, thrice a day. This helps in curing influenza to a great extent.
• For Alcoholics:
  
  If people who consume excessive alcohol develop discomfort in the stomach, taking Ajwain twice a day, will be very useful. It will also reduce the craving and desire for alcohol.
• For Heart:
  
  Taking one teaspoon of Ajwain with hot water stimulates the heart and relieves heartache.
  For Ear ache:
  
  Ajwain oil can help in relieving ear ache with just one or two drops in the ear.
• Arthritis Treatment:
  
  Ajwain oil can also be used to massage legs and knees to get relief from pain from arthritis. It is beneficial in treatment of rheumatic and neuralgic pain.
• Tooth ache:
  
  The smoke of burning Ajwain seeds is effective in treating toothache. Gargle with lukewarm water prepared by boiling of Ajwain and little salt two to three times a day, it cures tooth pain.
• Ajwain Herbal Remedies
  
  Some of the common herbal remedies of ajwain seeds are as follows -
• During Pregnancy
  
  - In some regions, ajwain seeds are taken during pregnancy. The seeds are taken with gaud as it is believed that it purifies the blood and reduces lumbago.
• Venomous insect bite
  
  – In traditional Vedic medicine, paste of ajwain seeds is mentioned as a remedy for venomous insect bite such as scorpion bite, as it has pain killing properties.
• Toothache
  
  – Ajwain fumes are also inhaled to cure toothache, which is caused by decaying tooth.
• Hiccups
  
  – To instantly stop hiccups, ajwain seeds are taken with one or two sips water.
• Kidney stone
  
  Ajwain seeds are taken regularly with vinegar or honey for a week. This remedy removes kidney stone with the urinal flow.
• Stomach tonic
  
  Ajwain seeds soaked in water for a night and its water is taken next morning. This helps in stomach diseases as it cures digestion and acute dyspepsia.
• Acidity
  
  Dry roast one teaspoon of ajwain seeds and cumin seeds. Add to it one cup of water and bring it to boil and strain it. Add some sugar and take one teaspoon as a remedy for indigestion and acidity.
  
  The ajwain seeds are tiny in size. The seeds can cure certain mouth and heart diseases, vomiting, ascites, piles, abdominal tumor and pain. It should be taken in small doses as in some people, it can cause skin irritation.
  

10 Tips For Fast Weight Loss

Losing weight can be a challenge, especially if you have many pounds to shed. It can be difficult to sift through all the fad diets, and downright dangerous supplements and pills on the market today. How do you know what works and what doesn’t? Whom should you believe?

Here are 10 no-nonsense tips for fast, healthy weight loss :

1) Drink 8-10 glasses of water each day - this helps flush your body of impurities and fat. You can also substitute a few glasses of water for green or herbal tea.
2) Break up your meals into 5 or 6 smaller ones - this will help speed up your metabolism and keep you from getting too hungry in between meals.
3) Increase your fruit and vegetable intake - these are packed with vitamins.
4) Decrease your fat intake - try for no more than 20 grams per day.
5) Exercise for 30 minutes each day - take a walk, or play a game with your kids. Just get moving.
6) Find a hobby - take up knitting or painting to keep your hands busy.
7) Don’t eat that late night snack - Try not to eat for at least 2 hours before going to bed.
Listen to your body - your body will tell you when it is full, hungry, stressed, tired. Learn the signs and obey what your body is telling you.
9) Increase your fiber - choose whole grain pasta and bread.
10) Cleanse and detoxify - this may be the most important. Rid your body of harmful toxins and chemicals, while allowing it to function normally.

Cleansing is an important part of long-term weight loss success. Our bodies are laden with insecticides, pesticides, lead, and dozens of other harmful substances. These chemicals clog our internal organs and our bodies respond by coating these chemicals with layers of fat.

One way to cleanse your body of harmful impurities is by using Acai Berry. This fruit is a nutritional powerhouse and will get your body functioning normally again, so it can fight illness and disease. It will also allow your body to burn calories and fat faster and more efficiently. You will see a faster rate of weight loss, and you will be able to keep it off.

Acai berry has many health benefits as well, including increased circulation, increased metabolism, and increased mental clarity and focus.

Health Benefits of Mint (Pudina)

Mint or pudina is a very common herb that is known to people since years. It is so common that a lot of us plant it in our backyard so that we can get fresh access to it. We use it in teas, chutneys, gravies and a lot of other preparations. We even use it after a meal or a smoke as a breathe freshener. But little do we know that this so called common herb has some uncommon benefits.


Mint, scientifically known as Mentha, is a garden herb that has known to have originated in the Mediterranean region. It has been known for its curative properties since 2000 years. Even the ancient Greeks and Romans used it as a perfume and a bath scent. They also used it in medicine and in cooking. There are many types of mints like, apple mint, water mint, horsemint, pineapple mint, orange mint, pennyroyal and spearmint. From all of them, peppermint and spearmint are probably the most widely used species of mint. Mint leaves, without a qualifier like peppermint or apple mint, generally refers to spearmint leaves.

Mint is actually a greek name that is named after the Greek goddess Minthe. Story goes that Hades, God of the Underworld, fell in love with Minthe. But when Hades wife, Persephone, found out about this affair, she turned Minthe into a plant, so that everyone would walk all over her and trample her. Hades, not able to undo his wife's spell, gave Minthe a beautiful aroma so that everyone would be careful and not walk over her.

Mint is not only tasty but also very healthy. It has many medicinal properties as well. A few of these are mentioned below:

Good for stomach: Mint is a good appetizer and promotes digestion. Menthol, a volatile substance contained in the essential oil of mint, has a direct antispasmodic effect on the smooth muscle of the digestive tract. The ability to calm cramping stomach muscles makes it a superb treatment for reliving symptoms of indigestion, heartburn, stomachache and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS - an intestinal disorder that causes abdominal pain, bloating, and irregular bowel movements). It also helps the muscles around the intestines to relax thereby promoting less gas production and better overall digestion.

Fights headaches and other pains: Balms which are based on mint or mint oil, when rubbed on forehead and nose, give quick relief in headache. Because of its antispasmodic and nervine properties (beneficial to the nervous system), it is especially recommended for people with migraines. The strong and refreshing aroma of mint is also a quick remedy for nausea. So if you feel headache or nausea, smell the oil of mint or crushed fresh mint.

Skin care: Mint, because of its ability to act as an anti-pruritic agent (soothes and calms the skin that's itchy or infected), is used in a variety of beauty and skin care products such as skin creams, toners, body lotions and face masks. Mint pastes when applied to the face helps the skin rejuvenate and re-hydrate. It has been also beneficial to cure blackheads, pimples and acne because of the high content of salicylic acid found naturally in mint. This acid loosens up dead skin cells, allowing them to shed easier and thus helps to prevent your pores from clogging up, resulting in fewer pimples and clearer skin. It can be also used to treat insect bites because of its antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties. Mint is a very good cleanser for the blood as well so regular consumption can lead to a very glowing skin.

Dental care: Mint is used for dental care because of its germicidal and freshening properties. It reduces the growth of bacteria in the mouth and keeps your breath, tongue and teeth clean. It also helps keep oral diseases at bay. That is why it is extensively used in dental products like toothpaste, mouthwash, chewing gums etc.

Anti cancer properties: The phytonutrient, called perillyl alcohol, in mint has been shown in studies on animals to prevent the formation of skin, colon and lung cancer. However, further human studies are needed to see if this important benefit extends to the humans.

Beneficial in asthma and cough: Regular use of mint is very beneficial for asthma patients because of its strong aroma which helps in opening up congestion of nose, throat, bronchi and lungs. The soothing and cooling properties helps in the break down of cough. Being an effective expectorant, mint can also help in removing mucus and phlegm from the respiratory tract. Hence it is used widely in inhalers and cough medicines.

Enhances body's immunity: Mint tea acts as an immune system booster, since it is rich in nutrients like phosphorus, calcium, vitamin C, D, E and small amount of vitamin B complex. It also helps in keeping the body safe and protected from many infections and inflammations. Mint reduces the growth of fungus & bacteria in the body as well.

Benefits especially for women: It helps in reducing nausea and morning sickness during pregnancy. It is also beneficial in curing menstrual cramps during periods as it can help in relaxing the smooth muscles.
Precautions: Nursing mothers should stay away from mint as it can decrease your milk flow.

Mint is in fact so widely use that it is added in toothpaste, chocolates, chewing gums, mouthwash, liquor, lipsticks, candies, ice creams, inhalers and mouth fresheners. Mint has a lot of benefits for the body so make sure to incorporate mint in your diet today!

Cinnamon (Dalchini)

Cinnamon has been considered as both a spice and medicine for a long time now, and has been readily available throughout the year in two forms, Ceylon and Chinese, of which the former is slightly sweeter.


However, as we have moved from simpler times to an age of science and reason, studies have shown that there are several health benefits in adding cinnamon to the foods that you eat on a daily basis:

Benefit #1: For those with Type 2 Diabetes, consuming cinnamon can keep your blood sugar levels under control.

Benefit #2: In matters of heart health, studies have shown that half-a-teaspoon of cinnamon can lower LDL (bad) cholesterol.

Benefit #3: According to researchers at the United States Department of Agriculture, cinnamon has an inhibiting effect on diseases such as lymphoma and leukemia, as it is able to stop the continuous development of these cancer cells.

Benefit #4: Cinnamon has also been found to provide significant relief to patients with arthritis pain. They were given a mixture of half a teaspoon of cinnamon powder and one tablespoon of honey every morning before breakfast, which relieved the pain in one week while also enabling the patients to walk without pain after taking this mixture for one month.

Benefit #5: When it comes to yeast infections, cinnamon has the ability to stop these infections, especially if they are of the medicine-resistant types.

Benefit #6: In another study, smelling cinnamon improves memory and cognitive function.
Benefit #7: According to researchers at the Kansas State University, it has been found that cinnamon is able to fight E. coli bacteria present in unpasteurized juices.

Benefit #8: Apart from its medicinal uses, cinnamon has been found to prevent food spoilage as it is able to stop bacterial growth, making it a natural preservative.

Benefit #9: Additionally, cinnamon has been found to have an anti-clotting effect on blood.

Garlic (Lashan)

Name: Garlic

Biological Name: Allium sativum

Liliaceae

Other Names: Garlic, Lashan, Rasonam, Lashuna

Veluthulli, Ugragandha, Mlecchagandha, Lesan

Description:

Garlic is closely related to onion and chives. The largest commercial garlic production is in central California. The bulb is used.

Parts Used: Bulb and oil

Active Compounds:

The sulfur compound allicin, produced by crushing or chewing fresh garlic, in turn produces other sulfur compounds: ajoene, allyl sulfides, and vinyldithiins.

History:

Garlic is mentioned in the Bible and the Talmud. Hippocrates, Galen, Pliny the Elder, and Dioscorides all mention the use of garlic for a large number of conditions, including parasites, respiratory problems, poor digestion, and low energy. Its use in China was first mentioned in A.D. 510. Louis Pasteur confirmed the antibacterial action of garlic in 1858.

Medicinal Applications

Action

alterative, anthelmintic, antiparasitic, antiseptic, antispasmodic, aphrodisiac, carminative, detoxifier, disinfectant, diuretic, emmenagogue, expectorant, rubefacient, rejuvenative, stimulant, vesicant

Uses

Garlic is beneficial in:

Asthma

Atherosclerosis

Blood and lymph cleanser

Colds and flu

Colic

Congestive heart failure

Convulsions

Cough

Edema

Heart disease

Hemorrhoids

High cholesterol

Hypertension (high blood pressure)

Hypertriglyceridemia (high triglycerides)

Hysteria

Immune function

Impotence

Indigestion

Intermittent claudication

Nerve and bone tissue rejuvenative

Paralysis

Recurrent ear infection

Rheumatism

Skin diseases

T. B.

Tremor

Tumors

Round worms

Yeast infection

Circulatory Effects:

More than 250 publications have shown that garlic supports the cardiovascular system. It may lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the blood, inhibit platelet stickiness (aggregation), and increase fibrinolysis-which results in a slowing of blood coagulation. It is mildly antihypertensive and has antioxidant activity.

Note: Garlic only keeps clotting in check, a benefit for persons at risk for cardiovascular disease. It cannot effectively replace stronger anticlotting drugs; its primary value is as a preventive.

Antimicrobial Actions:

Garlic has antibacterial, antiviral, and anti-fungal activity' It may work against some intestinal parasites. Garlic appears to have roughly 1 % the strength of penicillin against certain types of bacteria. This means it is not a substitute for antibiotics, but it can be considered as a support against some bacterial infections. Candida albicans growth is inhibited by garlic, and garlic has shown long-term benefit for recurrent yeast infections.

Anticancer Actions:

Human population studies show that eating garlic regularly reduces the risk of esophageal, stomach, and colon cancer. This is partly due to garlic's ability to reduce the formation of carcinogenic compounds. Animal and test tube studies also show that garlic, and its sulfur compounds, inhibit the growth of different types of cancer-especially breast and skin tumors.

Miscellaneous

Garlic is often applied to indolent tumors, ulcerated surfaces and wounds. A poultice of the bulb is used for scrofulous sores and ring worm. A clove of Garlic when introduced into the ear passage give relief of ear-ache. It is locally used in sciatica, paralysis and neuralgic pains. Raw Garlic juice is inhaled in whooping cough and pulmonary tuberculosis. The oil in which Garlic has been fried is believed to be a useful liniment for rheumatic pains, nervous diseases like infantile convulsions, scabies and maggot infested wounds.

Garlic is useful for fevers, coughs, flatulence, disorders of the nervous system, agues, dropsical affections, pulmonary phthisis, whooping cough, gangrene of the lung and dilated bronchi. A decoction of garlic made with milk and water is given in hysteria, flatulence and sciatica. A syrup of garlic is a valuable remedy for asthma, hoarseness, disorders of the chest and lungs. The garlic oil is useful for paralytic and rheumatic affections.

Dosage:

Some people chew one whole clove of raw garlic per day. For those who prefer it, odor-controlled, enteric-coated tablets or capsules with standardized allicin potential can be taken at 400-500 mg once or twice per day (providing up to 5,000 mcg of allicin). Alternatively, a tincture of 2-4 ml can be taken three times daily.

Safety:

Most people enjoy garlic. However, some individuals who are sensitive to it may experience heartburn and flatulence.

Because of garlic's anti-clotting properties, persons taking anticoagulant drugs should check with their nutritionally oriented doctor before taking garlic. Those scheduled for surgery should inform their surgeon if they are taking garlic supplements.

There are no known contra-indications to the use of garlic during pregnancy and lactation.

Ginger

Name: Ginger

Biological Name: Zingiber officinale

Other Names:

Ginger; Ardrakam; Shunthi; Adrak; Sunth; black ginger; race ginger; African ginger; sheng jiang;

Parts Used:

Rhizome (root)

Description:

Ginger is an herb indigenous to southeastern Asia. It is cultivated in the U.S., India, China, West Indies and tropical regions.

Ginger is a creeping perennial on a thick tuberous rhizome. In the first year, a green, erect, reed-like stem about 60 cm high grows from this rhizome. The plant has narrow, lanceolate to linear-lanceolate leaves 15 to 30 cm long, which die off each year. The flower scape grows directly from the root and terminates in a long, curved spike. A white or yellow flower grows from each spike.

Active Compounds:

The dried rhizome of ginger contains approximately 1-4% volatile oils. These are the medically active constituents of ginger; they are also responsible for ginger's characteristic odor and taste. The aromatic principles include zingiberene and bisabolene, while the pungent principles are known as gingerols and shogaols.

Volatile Oil:

Components can vary greatly, depending on the country of origin. The main components of the volatile oil are:

( -)-zingiberene and arcurcumene

beta-bisabolene and arcurcumene

neral and geranial

D-camphor

beta-phellandrene

geranial

neral and linalool

(E)-alpha-farnesene, important as aroma carrier zingiberol (mixture of cis- and trans-beta-eudesmol)

Arylalkane - Pungent Substances

Gingerols:

chief components [6]-gingerol, [8]-gingerol, [10]- gingerol

Shogaols:

chief components [6]-shogaol, [8]- shogaol, [10]- shogaol

Gingerdiols

Diarylheptanoids: including, among others, gingerenone A and B

History:

Traditional Chinese medicine has recommended ginger for over 2,500 years. It is used for abdominal bloating, coughing, vomiting, diarrhea, and rheumatism. Ginger is commonly used in the Ayurvedic and Tibb systems of medicine for the treatment of inflammatory joint diseases, such as arthritis.

Remedies For:

For over 2,500 years, ginger has been an important herb in Asian medicine. Traditionally it has been used to promote cleansing of the body through perspiration, to calm nausea (

Action:

Aromatic, carminative, stimulant to the gastro- intestinal tract, diaphoretic, expectorant, antiemetic, and stomachic, also sialagogue and digestive; Externally, a local stimulant and rubefacient.

Ginger is used for:

Atherosclerosis, heart disease

Chemotherapy support

Migraine headaches

Morning sickness

Motion sickness

Nausea and vomiting following surgery

Rheumatoid arthritis

Belching

Laryngitis

Vomiting

Constipation

Incontinence

Flatulence

Colic

Spasms

Fever

Eye diseases

Asthma

Colds

Cough

Digestive System Actions:

Ginger is a classic tonic for the digestive tract. Classified as an aromatic bitter, it stimulates digestion. It also keeps the intestinal muscles toned. This action eases the transport of substances through the digestive tract, lessening irritation to the intestinal walls. Ginger may protect the stomach from the damaging effect of alcohol and non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (such as ibuprofen) and may help prevent ulcers.

Allergies and asthma:

Dried ginger can help in the management of allergies and asthma by offsetting the effect of the platelet-activating factor (PAP). PAP initiates inflammatory processes in allergy and asthma. It was found to become more active after changes in blood chemistry that occur in a high-fat diet.

Atherosclerosis and high cholesterol:

Arthritis, bursitis, fibrocystic breasts, lymphedema, and pain.

Ginger inhibits the production of immune-system components called cytokines. These chemicals are believed to create a long-term tendency toward inflammation. Ginger also stimulates blood circulation. These effects of ginger are taken advantage of in treating a number of disorders marked by swelling and pain, such as arthritis. Studies have also shown that ginger can relieve pain without the side effects typically found when using nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and steroids.

Anti-nausea/Anti-vomiting Actions:

Research is inconclusive as to how ginger acts to alleviate nausea. Ginger may act directly on the gastrointestinal system or it may affect the part of the central nervous system that causes nausea. It may be that ginger exerts a dual effect in reducing nausea and vomiting.

Colds, influenza, and strep throat:

Shagaol

Parasitic infection.

Ginger contains a chemical called zingibain that dissolves parasites and their eggs. In laboratory trials, ginger extracts have been shown to kill the anisakid worm (a parasite occasionally found in raw fish) within sixteen hours. Ginger tea is useful as a supplement in treating schistosomiasis, a parasitic disease.

Seizure disorders.

Ginger protects the body from the hepatotoxic effects of valproic acid (Depakene), a common treatment for seizure disorders. Ginger, when used on a daily basis, was found to improve the elevated levels of the liver enzymes alanine amino- transferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST).

Action and Uses in Ayurveda and Siddha

Ginger is an important herb used in Ayurveda. Ayurveda takes advantage of the following medicinal properties for ginger:

Analgesic, anti-emetic, aromatic, aphrodisiac, carminative, diaphorelic, digestive, expectorant, nervine, sialagogue, stimulant.

Ayurvedic practitioners consider ginger to be a truly a wonder drug, having so many healing properties. It was called the universal medicine. Taken with rock salt it reduces vayu; with rock candy it reduces Pitta; with honey it reduces Kapha. Thus it can be used to influence all tridoshas.

Ginger is used in the following ayurvedic remedies:

katu rasam, ushna veeryam, vata-kapha-haram, katu- vipaka, lagu, snigdam, pachanam, ruchyam, vrishyam, swaryam, vibhanda haram, in grahani agnimanthyam. amavatham, chardhi, swasam, soolam, arsas, anaham, hrith-rogam, udhara rogam. It is used externally in kapha, swellings, headache.

Action and Uses in Unani

The following actions of ginger is taken advantage of in Unani Medicine:

aphrodisiac, Carminative, digestive, removes obstruction in the vessels, removes viscid matter, and strengthens memory. In addition, ginger is used in nervous diseases, and for incontinence of urine.

How To Use Ginger:

For treating indigestion, flatulence, colic, vomiting, spasms, stomach and bowel pains with fever, colds, cough, and asthma:

Use ginger-jam.

How To make the Jam

Mix the juice from fresh ginger with water and cane sugar.

Boil it to a syrup like consistency.

Add saffron, powders of cardamom, nutmeg, and clove.

Store properly and use when needed.

For indigestion with want of appetite:

Mix together equal parts of ginger juice, lemon juice and rock salt. Mix well and take it before meals.

Alternately, combine equal parts of ginger and rock-salt. Mix well. Take it just before meals. This cleanses the tongue and throat, increases the appetite and produces a pleasant sensation.

For sciatica and other forms of rheumatism:

A compound oil named Saindha vadya Taila is traditionally used in Ayurveda for this condition

For bile and delirium due to biliousness:

Mix 2 parts of ginger juice with 7 parts of cow's milk. Boil to half volume. Add rock-candy powder. Take this before going to bed.

Alternately, combine two parts each of ginger juice, mango-juice, fine sugar and cow's ghee. Mix well. Melt it down to half the quantity. Take in the morning and evening daily.

For sore throats, hoarseness, and laryngitis:

Chew a piece of fresh ginger. This produces a copious flow of saliva.

For diarrhea:

Rub ginger juice on navel.

For diabetes:

Take ginger juice with rock candy twice daily.

For dyspepsia, loss of appetite and piles

Use Samasarkara Churna. Another remedy, Saubhagya Sunti is used as a carminative tonic in dyspepsia and; in disorders of the alimentary canal in females after confinement.

For nausea, and vomiting

Take a combination of ginger juice and onion juice.

For nervous headache

Mix ginger juice with milk. Let dry. Use as snuff.

For indigestion and low appetite:

Mix ginger with ghee or hot water.

For painful bowels or stomach:

Make an infusion of dry ginger. Mix it with 1-2 tbs. castor oil.

You can also take a mix of asafoetida and ginger powder.

For chronic rheumatism

Make an infusion of dry ginger (Sonth) (combining 1part dry ginger with 24 parts water ). Take this warm just before going to bed. Cover the body with blankets to induce perspiration.

For Dropsy and Cirrhosis of the Liver:

Ayurvedic doctors from India believes that drinking the juice extracted from fresh ginger in gradually increasing doses acts as a strong diuretic that is useful in cases of general dropsy.

Traditional literature suggests that:

"This method was tried 'in three cases of ascites with dropsy arising from cirrhosis of liver of recent origin and there was, when the juice was so administered, complete subsidence of ascites and disappearance of the dropsy.' The fresh juice of the drug acted as a strong diuretic. The patients passed gradually increasing quantities of urine daily."

This remedy, however, was not effective in treating dropsy of chronic Bright's disease and chronic heart disease. In fact, these conditions got worse when this remedy was administered. Also, "longstanding cases of cirrhosis with ascites did not derive the slightest benefit from its administration." The Ayurvedic literature goes on to state that "fresh ginger juice, when properly administered, will be found beneficial in cases of early cirrhosis of the liver with ascites and dropsy of the lower limbs."

For Dropsy

See Ginger Remedy for Dropsy

For rheumatism

See Sunta Ghrita. It is an Ayurvedic herbal remedy for rheumatism that incorporates ginger.

For headache

Make a ginger paste by mixing dry ginger powder with a little water or aloe gel . Apply and rub this paste to the forehead before going to sleep

For neuralgic head ache

See Ginger Headache Remedy

For tooth or face aches:

Make a paste of ginger powder and aloe gel or water. Apply the paste to the face.

For fainting

See Ginger Remedy for Fainting

For Cholera

In the collapse stage of cholera, powdered ginger is rubbed to the extremities, to check the cold perspiration, improve the local circulation, and to relieve the agonizing cramps.

For vaginismus

Mix powdered dry ginger well with castor oil or with the paste of castor-root. Apply this to the painful parts.

Miscellaneous Home Remedies Utilizing ginger

Ginger Rhubarb Digestive Remedy

This is an Ayurvedic child's digestive.

Ginger Rhubarb Tonic

This is an Ayurvedic tonic useful for digestion.

Ginger Ajowan Indigestion Remedy

An Ayurvedic home remedy for indigestion.

Ginger Stomach-ache Remedy

Ayurvedic home remedy for stomach-ache.

Dosage:

Most people take 2-4 grams of the dried rhizome powder two to three times per day or a tincture of 1.5-3 ml three times daily.

For treatment of nausea, people try single doses of approximately 250 mg every two to three hours, for a total of 1 gram per day.

For prevention of motion sickness, many people start taking ginger tablets, capsules, or liquid herbal extract two days before the planned trip.

Perhaps the most versatile of all herbs, fresh ginger can be topically applied as a warm fomentation to relieve spasms pain and cramps. Simply cut several slices of the fresh root and place them in a pan of boiling water. Saturate a flannel cloth with the tea and apply it topically as warm as the body will bear. This is an ideal treatment for stiff neck and shoulders. The herb is cooked with meat to aid its assimilation and detoxify it. Fresh ginger tea is the most ideal herb to use for the first signs of mucus, cold, cough, and so on. To make it taste better, add honey. Drinking ginger tea with meals will greatly aid digestion and assimilation and is useful for those with weak, cold digestion.

Safety:

Ginger is one of the most widely available and widely used herbal remedy on the planet. Billions of people use ginger safely daily as food and medicine. A few precautions should be followed, though.

Ginger should not be used by those with heat signs in the lungs or stomach.

Side effects of ginger are rare when used as recommended. However, some people may be sensitive to the taste or may experience heartburn. Persons with a history of gallstones should consult a nutritionally oriented doctor before using ginger.

Ginger can prolong the sleeping time induced by barbiturates. Use ginger with extreme caution if you are taking any kind of medication to induce sleep.

Ginger is contraindicated in morning sickness. Because of its cholagogic effect, ginger should not be taken in the presence of gallstone conditions except under the supervision of a doctor. The daily consumption of ginger root may interfere with the absorption of dietary iron and fat-soluble vitamins. Avoid taking ginger for two weeks prior to undergoing elective surgery.

Short-term use of ginger for nausea and vomiting during pregnancy appears to pose no safety problems; however, long-term use during pregnancy is not recommended.

Ginger can increase the potency of prescription medications used to prevent blood clots, such as aspirin, clopidogrel (Plavix), ticlopidine (Ticlid), or warfarin (Coumadin). Combining ginger with these medications could result in unexpected bleeding. Discuss with your physician before taking ginger to control nausea after surgery. If bleeding is a major risk, ginger should be avoided.

Clove

Name: Clove

Biological Name: Caryophyllus aromaticus, Syzygium aromaticum, Eugenia caryophyllata

Myrtaceae

Other Names: Clove, clovos, caryophyllus

Parts Used: Flower buds

Active Compounds:

Clove oil is 60 to 90 percent eugenol, which is the source of its anesthetic and antiseptic properties.

History:

During the Han dynasty (207 B. C. to 220 A. D.) those who addressed the Chinese emperor were required to hold cloves in their mouths to mask bad breath. Traditional Chinese physicians have long used the herb to treat indigestion, diarrhea, hernia, and ringworm, as well as athlete's foot and other fungal infections.

India's traditional Ayurvedic healers have used clove since ancient times to treat respiratory and digestive ailments.

Clove first arrived in Europe around the 4th century A.D. as a highly coveted luxury. The medieval German herbalists used cloves as part of anti-gout mixture.

Once clove became easily available in Europe, it was prized as a treatment for indigestion, flatulence, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. It was also used to treat cough, infertility, warts, worms, wounds, and toothache.

Early American Eclectic physicians used clove to treat digestive complaints and added it to bitter herb- medicine preparations to make them more palatable. They were also the first to extract clove oil from the herbal buds. They used it on the gums to relieve toothache.

Contemporary herbalists recommend clove for digestive complaints and its oil for toothache.

Remedies For:

Anodyne, antiemetic, antiseptic

Toothache, oral hygiene:

Dentists use clove oil as an oral anesthetic. They also use it to disinfect root canals.

Antiseptic Uses:

Clove oil is the active ingredient in several mouthwash and a number of over-the-counter toothache pain-relief preparations.

Infection fighter:

Clove kills intestinal parasites and exhibits broad antimicrobial properties against fungi and bacteria supporting its traditional use as a treatment for diarrhea, intestinal worms, and other digestive ailments.

Digestive aid:

Like many culinary spices, clove may help relax the smooth muscle lining of the digestive tract.

Clove oil will stop the pain of a toothache when dropped into a cavity. A few drops of the oil in water will stop vomiting, and clove tea will relieve nausea. Eating cloves is said to be aphrodisiac.

Description:

The clove is an evergreen tree, 15 to 30 feet tall, native to the Spice Islands and the Philippines but also grown in India, Sumatra, Jamaica, the West Indies, Brazil, and other tropical areas. It has opposite, ovate leaves more than 5 inches long; and its flowers, when allowed to develop, are red and white, bell-shaped, and grow in terminal clusters. The familiar clove used in the kitchen is the dried flower bud. The fruit is a one- or two-seeded berry.

Dosage:

Infusion: Use 1 teaspoon of powdered herb per cup of boiling water. Steep 10 to 20 minutes. Drink up to 3 cups a day.

Medicinal amounts of clove should not be given to children under age 2. For older children and people over 65, start with low-strength preparations and increase strength if necessary. For temporary relief of toothache prior to professional care, dip a cotton swab in clove oil and apply it to the affected tooth and surrounding gum.

Safety:

Toothaches require professional care. Clove oil may provide temporary relief, but see a dentist promptly.

Japanese researchers have discovered that like many spices, clove contains antioxidants. Antioxidants help prevent the cell damage that scientists believe eventually causes cancer. On the other hand, in laboratory tests, the chemical eugenol, has been found to be a weak tumor promoter, making clove one of many healing herbs with both pro- and anti-cancer effects. At this point, scientists aren't sure which way the balance tilts. Until they are, anyone with a history of cancer should not use medicinal amounts of clove.

For otherwise healthy non-pregnant, non-nursing adults, powdered clove is considered nontoxic. However, high doses of the oil may cause stomach upset when ingested. When used externally, it may develop a rash.

Clove and clove oil in medicinal amounts should be consumed only under the supervision of a qualified professional.