Health Benefits of Herbs and spices

Health Benefits of Herbs

Turmeric: Turmeric has many medicinal values. It is a very useful intestinal antiseptic; it is highly beneficial in chronic diarrhoea and helps to prevent flatulence. It is a very useful home remedy for bronchial asthma. A teaspoon of turmeric powder with a glass of milk twice or thrice daily is very effective. It acts best on an empty stomach. It is also very useful for chronic cough and throat infections. An application of turmeric powder to boils speeds up the healing process. It is also very effective in the treatment of skin diseases like ringworm and scabies. In such cases juice of raw turmeric is externally applied to the affected parts.

Pepper: black pepper is stimulant, pungent, aromatic, and digestive and nervine tonic. Pepper has a stimulating effect on the digestive organs and produces an increased flow of saliva and gastric juices. A quarter teaspoon of pepper powder mixed in thin buttermilk can be taken during indigestion or heaviness in the stomach. Black pepper is also very useful remedy for common cold and coughs. One can take 5-6 pieces of it with warm milk or water for this. Finely powdered pepper and salt mixture when massaged over the gums relieves inflammation.

Fenugreek: Its regular use keeps the body clean and healthy. The leaves of fenugreek are aromatic, cooling and mild laxative. The seeds give soothing effect on the skin and mucous membranes, relieving any irritation of the skin and alleviating swelling and pain. They increase the secretion of urine, relieve flatulence and promote lactation in nursing mothers. A gargle made from fenugreek seeds is best for ordinary sore throat.

Garlic: Garlic has been used traditionally for asthma, deafness, leprosy, bronchial congestion, arteriosclerosis, fever, worms, and in liver and gallbladder problem. Garlic is good for the heart, a food for the hair, a stimulant to appetite, a strength giving food, useful in leukoderma, leprosy, piles, worms, asthma and cough. Garlic juice has a most beneficial effect on the entire system. The ethers in garlic juice are so potent and penetrating that they help to dissolve accumulation of mucus in the sinus cavities, bronchial tubes and lungs. They help in the expulsion of poisons from the body through pores of the skin.

Ginger: Ginger is extremely useful in the treatment of dyspepsia, flatulence, colic, vomiting, spasms and other painful affections of the stomach and the bowel not accompanied by fever. Chewing a piece of fresh ginger regularly after meals prevents these ailments. The protective action is due to the excessive secretion of saliva, diastase enzyme and volatile oil.

Basil: The leaves are nerve tonic and sharpen memory. The leaves strengthen the stomach. In cases of acute fevers, a decoction of the leaves boiled with powders cardamom in half a liter of water and mixed with sugar and milk brings down the temperature. Basil leaves are regarded as an anti-stress agent. It purifies the blood and helps to prevent several common ailments.

Asafoetida or Heeng: It is reputed as a drug which expels wind from the stomach and counteracts any spasmodic disorders. It is also a nervine stimulant, digestive agent and a sedative.

Cardamom: cardamom is the queen of spices. It reduces the air and water element, increases appetite and soothes the mucous membrane. Powdered seeds of cardamom if brewed in tea can be a very good remedy for depression.