The Vedas describe the coconut tree as Kalpa vriksha or the Tree of Heaven and perhaps no other phrase can give a better description of this versatile tree. Almost every part of the tree has some medicinal value. Even the shell of this tough nut has its uses. Let’s take a look at what medical benefits each part has to offer.
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Ayurveda, which is often called National Medical Treatment of this country, recognizes castor oil to be a wonderful panacea for several health concerns. Botanically derived from the Ricinus communis, castor is an evergreen shrub, which grows wildly in warmer temperatures. In Ayurveda, castor oil is called Eranda taila or Gandharva hasta (hand of a celestial being) taila; in the West, it is known as Palma Christi (hand of Christ).
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Coriander is the most common household remedy that is available throughout the year. The whole plant, especially chopped leaves and seeds are medicinal.
MEDICINAL USES
According to Ayurvedic materia-medica, fresh leaves of coriander are pungent and aromatic.
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No dish is complete without a dash of salt. Common salt is not a food item, but takes part in almost all food preparations. Apart from the taste enhancing property, it is also useful in the maintenance of fluid balance in the body, muscle irritability, acid base balance, and osmotic pressure. Salt is necessary for the human body, but in a very restricted amount. A healthy adult needs three to eight grams of common salt per day. If you avoid common salt totally from all the food sources, then its deficiency causes weakness, giddiness, loss of appetite, cramps in the muscles which are exercised the most (particularly calf muscles), twitching and convulsions, collapsed veins, cold palms and soles, and low blood pressure. Associated water deficiency produces scanty urine, dry mouth, inelastic skin, and disorientation. Acute depletion of sodium by 30% will lead to circulatory collapse and death.
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Ayurveda has traditionally considered ghee to be one of the most health-promoting of all foodstuffs. Ghee is said to pacify all three of the doshas, strengthen the body, improve memory and mental functions, and promote longevity. It comes with a host of benefits that are listed in the traditional ayurvedic texts. Ghee has been given the cherished title of rasayana in Ayurveda—that helps overall health, longevity and well-being.
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Fenugreek, popularly known as methi, has excellent medicinal virtues. Seeds exercise soothing effect on the mucous membranes and skin. They show diuretic action, relieve flatulence, and promote lactation in nursing mothers. Due to the astringent action, they check the bleeding tendency in the body. Like the alkaloids of Cod-liver oil, the alkaloids of fenugreek seeds stimulate the appetite by their action on the nervous system.
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Curry leaf tree or Bergeria koenigii is known to everybody as a simple flavoring agent in curries, but its medicinal uses are unfamiliar to most. Let us take a look at some of its striking health benefits.
Known as kaala saakha (because it is dark in color) and Surabhi nimba (because it resembles the neem tree) in Sanskrit, this inexpensive condiment has excellent medicinal properties.
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At times, our eyes mislead us. Gokshura, a repulsive and thorny weed often found in wastelands of India country, controls the sewage disposal system inside our body! It assists in the prompt elimination of toxins, stones etc., that clog the genito-urinary tract.
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Ginger has been used as a spice and medicine for thousands of years. Its use has been recorded in early Ayurvedic treatises and Chinese texts. Ginger has a wide variety of herbal uses, many of which have been scientifically proven. Ginger is called ardrakam in Sanskrit and its anti-emetic, anti-inflammatory and anti-platelet properties have attracted considerable interest among researchers.
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Tinospora cordifolia (guduchi or gulbel) is an indigenous medicinal plant with a potent immunostimulant activity. According to the Ayurvedic treatises, Guduchi is referred to as Amrita. The term Amrita is attributed to this plant in recognition of its ability to impart youthfulness, vitality and longevity to its user. Therefore, it is categorized in Ayurveda as Rasayana. (Rasa means biologically transformable liquid nutrient of all the tissues in the body and aayana means a pathway. Thus Rasaayana bestows the strength of all dhaatus of the body! Rasaayana helps slowing down the ageing process, enhances memory, improves the functioning of vital organs, increases the ojus (the immunity factor) and nourishes all the tissues).
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