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!