Spices

Power Of Spices in Day-To-Day Life

In the art of Cooking Spices are the magic ingredients without which the art of cooking is dull & flavorless.. Few of these Spices have their own Medicinal Values & healing power which prove helpful in day to day life.

Here are some common herbs right off your kitchen shelf which have their health uses and help in herbal healing.

This information is educative not prescriptive. Always consult your doctor before treatment.

Aniseed	Aniseed helps improve eyesight, is a good diuretic  and carminative for bottle-fed babies.Fennel is  antiseptic and stimulating to the circulation and  respiratory systems.It is eaten after meals to aid digestion and sweeten the breath.Decreases bloating .  Aniseed tea is prepared by boiling aniseed in water and  is considered beneficial in the treatment of insomnia.
Asafoetida	Asafoetida cures diseases of the digestive system,  it’s the best remedy for flatulence and found in  almost  all digestive powders.

Basil - Tulsi	Stimulates digestion and blood circulation. Lowers fever. Daily consumption on empty stomach keeps bad breath at bay. Crush and apply on insect bites for quick relief. Drinking water boiled with basil leaves helps in relieving sore throat.
Black Pepper	Used to treat sore throats and gastric problems.
Betel Leaf - Paan	An anti-flatulent, betel leaf juice can function as a diuretic when mixed with diluted milk and honey. Crushed betel leaves can be applied externally to relieve headaches.

Celery	Regular use of celery leaves prevents kidney stone formation. Celery juice mixed with a spoonful of honey induces sleep.
Coriander Leaves	A teaspoon of fresh coriander juice added to buttermilk is beneficial in t reating indigestion and nausea. It also has soothing, calming properties.  Coriander juice is highly beneficial in deficiencies of vitamin A, B1, B2, C and iron

Curry Leaves

Eating 10 leaves every morning for three months is said to prevent diabetes due to hereditary factors. A teaspoon of fresh curry leaf juice coupled with lime juice and sugar helps in morning sickness, nausea and vomitting due to indigestion and excessive consumption of fatty foods

Dill Leaves

Dill leaves promotes breast milk in lactating mothers. Eating cooked dill regularly aids digestion and prevents constipation.

Fenugreek Leaves		Being highly mucus-solvent and soothing it works as an excellent internal body cleanser. Fenugreek tea taken regularly prevents body odour and bad breath. Fenugreek greens are a remedy for coughs, asthma, and rheumatism.
Fenugreek Seeds		The seeds are also used to temper food, helps in cases of constipation and lumbago. Also known as Kasoori methi.

Lemon	Lemon is an excellent source of Vitamin C and is widely used for making cosmetics, doing away with skin blemishes etc. It’s a treatment for enlargement of the spleen, jaundice and other ailments.
Lemon Grass	For relief from painful menstruation have lemon grass tea with black pepper. This tea is also useful in treating fevers. Lemon grass paste mixed with buttermilk can be applied externally to effectively treat ringworm.

Marjoram

It helps in regulating menstruation if taken regularly. It is also known to promotes milk flow in nursing mothers.Marjoram oil an be applied externally in case of sprains and bruises.

Onion	Leave chopped onions, rock sugar and jeera (cumin seeds) in a bowl for a few hours, it will soon secrete a thick syrup. This syrup works wonders against colds and coughs. Consuming finely ground onion mixed with sugar twice daily brings relief to patients with bleeding piles within a few days.
Oregano	It relaxes muscles, known to promote menstruation. It is rich in flavnoids (which strengthen blood vessels, improve circulationand are anti-inflammatory). Keeps liver troubles away, it is said to clear stuffy head and soothe coughs and sore throats.

Parsley

Parsley is a great herb for cooking and is also a medicinal herb. It is a natural diuretic. It is also good for the liver and stomach. Parsley can be used by women to alleviate irregular menstral cycles and ease the bloating that occurs during the time of the month. Chewing parsley will help with bad breath from food odors such as garlic.

Poppy Seeds	Poppy seeds are used in many tonics for insomnia, itchy skin, gripping pain, colic etc. with lime. Means kasa kasa.

Tamarind	Diluted tamarind water mixed with a teaspoon of hot ghee and half a teaspoon of black pepper clears up stuffed nose. Tamarind pulp is digestive, antiflatulent and a cooling laxative.
Turmeric	20 drops of the raw turmeric juice taken with a pinch of salt first thing in the morning is an effective worm expeller. If anemia is your problem then have a teaspoon of raw turmeric juice mixed with honey in the morning. Turmeric paste mixed with lime and salt can be applied to sprains and swellings caused by sprains. Half a teaspoon of turmeric mixed with fresh warm milk is an effective remedy for cough and throat irritations. Turmeric powder when applied to boils speeds up the healing process.

Saffron	Saffron paste can be used as an effective dressing for bruises and sores. It helps in promoting and regulating menstruation.
Sandalwood	Sandalwood paste is a cooling dressing in inflammatory and eruptive skin diseases. It is a natural deodarant , it prevents excessive sweating when mixed with rose water.

Bilberry aka blueberry

Bilberry is a relative of the blueberry, and its fruit is commonly used to make pies and jams. Bilberry grows in North America, Europe, and northern Asia.

Common Names--European blueberry, whortleberry, huckleberry

Latin Names--Vaccinium myrtillus

What It Is Used For

• Bilberry has been used for nearly 1,000 years in traditional European medicine.
• Historically, bilberry fruit was used to treat diarrhea, scurvy, and other conditions.
• Today, the fruit is used to treat diarrhea, menstrual cramps, eye problems, varicose veins, venous insufficiency (poor blood flow to the heart), and other circulatory problems.
• Bilberry leaf is used for entirely different conditions, including diabetes.  

How It Is Used

The fruit of the bilberry plant can be eaten or made into extracts. Similarly, the leaves of the bilberry plant can be made into extracts or used to make teas.

What the Science Says

• Some claim that bilberry fruit improves night vision, but clinical studies have not shown this to be true.
• There is not enough scientific evidence to support the use of bilberry fruit or leaf for any other health conditions.

Side Effects and Cautions

• Bilberry fruit is considered safe. However, high doses of bilberry leaf or leaf extract are considered unsafe; animal studies have shown high doses to be toxic.

asian ginseng

Common Names--Asian ginseng, ginseng, Chinese ginseng, Korean ginseng, Asiatic ginseng.

Latin Name--Panax ginseng

What It Is Used For

Treatment claims for Asian ginseng are numerous and include the use of the herb to support overall health and boost the immune system. Traditional and modern uses of ginseng include:

• Improving the health of people recovering from illness
• Increasing a sense of well-being and stamina, and improving both mental and physical performance
• Treating erectile dysfunction, hepatitis C, and symptoms related to menopause
• Lowering blood glucose and controlling blood pressure

How It Is Used

The root of Asian ginseng contains active chemical components called ginsenosides (or panaxosides) that are thought to be responsible for the herb's medicinal properties. The root is dried and used to make tablets or capsules, extracts, and teas, as well as creams or other preparations for external use.

What the Science Says

• Some studies have shown that Asian ginseng may lower blood glucose. Other studies indicate possible beneficial effects on immune function.
• To date, research results on Asian ginseng are not conclusive enough to prove health claims associated with the herb. Only a handful of large clinical trials on Asian ginseng have been conducted. Most studies have been small or have had flaws in design and reporting. Some claims for health benefits have been based only on studies conducted in animals.
• NCCAM is supporting research studies to better understand the use of Asian ginseng. NCCAM is studying how Asian ginseng interacts with other herbs and drugs and exploring its potential to treat chronic lung infection, impaired glucose tolerance, and Alzheimer's disease. 

Side Effects and Cautions :

• When taken by mouth, ginseng is usually well tolerated. Some sources suggest that its use be limited to 3 months because of concerns about the development of side effects.
• The most common side effects are headaches and sleep and gastrointestinal problems.
• Ginseng can cause allergic reactions.
• There have been reports of breast tenderness, menstrual irregularities, and high blood pressure associated with ginseng products, but these products' components were not analyzed, so effects may have been due to another herb or drug in the product.
• Ginseng may lower levels of blood sugar; this effect may be seen more in people with diabetes. Therefore, people with diabetes should use extra caution with Asian ginseng, especially if they are using medicines to lower blood sugar or taking other herbs, such as bitter melon and fenugreek, that are also thought to lower blood sugar.
• It is important to inform your health care providers about any herb or dietary supplement you are using, including Asian ginseng. This helps to ensure safe and coordinated care. 

Turmeric

Turmeric most of the grandmas favourite spice who would always tell you its good for health. But my mom usually said turmeric is not that great for men's health. I wondered on this idea & pondered over the WWW to find the truth. That is what made me click an article here on the nutrition, benefits & side effects of our everyday ingrediants. Below you can see some links that contains authenticated information.

Turmeric can be used in fair amounts everyday & every food & in every meal. So this you know for yourself because thats been the practise. But what one doesn't know about is it benefits & side effects. On a long run sure turmeric on large quantities like a supplement is going to hurt you. But for Indians or Asians are concerned they generally don't take a turmeric supplement.Like for its benefits turmeric is proved effective to cure lots of these diseases wholly or partly.
1.blood clot prevention
2.cancer
3.cognitive function
4.dyspepsia
5.gall stone prevention/ bile flow stimulant.
6.high cholestrol
7.HIV
8.inflammation
9.IBS
10.liver protection
11.oral leukopakia
12.osteoarthritis
13.peptic ulcer
14.rheumatoid arthritis
15.scabies
16.uveitis
17.viral infection.

http://www.nutritional-supplement-educational-centre.com/turmeric-benefits.html

http://www.lifescript.com/Health/A-Z/Alternative-Therapies_A-Z/NaturalRemedies/T/Turmeric.aspx

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/patient-turmeric.html

the above mentioned list contains technical or medical name but most of which are familiar condition like dyspepsia means a simple heartburn, gallstone is formation of stones in gall bladder like wise kidney, bile flow is gall bladder is said to secrete a chemical called bile to digest food properly and this called by our ayurvedic dr  as pitham. Too much secretion of bile sometimes will result in nausea. Well IBS is irritable bowel syndrome, peptic ulcer is nothing but ulcer in stomach, uveitis is eye inflammation.