Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Thulasi Home Remedies for Cough, Cold, Asthma

Thulasi is well known for its action on lungs and associated problems. The lungs are affected due to cold, phlegm, cough, sneezing, runny nose etc. All these can be classified as kapha diseases.

In case of phlegm in chest, gather a handful of basil leaves, clean them and add a teaspoon of pepper to it. Add a glass of water and heat the combination. Reduce it to half glass, and then filter the water. Add honey to this water and drink it three times a day. Another alternative is to take 1-2 teaspoon of thulasi leaf juice once every four hours.

In case of allergy that results in sneezing, runny nose etc the following preparation is found to be useful. Powder of dried thulasi leaves 100 gm, powdered clove 100 gm, powdered cardamom 100 gm all these mixed thoroughly and stored in a bottle. Take a pinch of this mixture to a teaspoon of honey and take it morning and night after food. Regular intake can cure this annoying problem.

For people suffering from asthma, thulasi leaves 6 nos, pepper corn 6 nos and vilva leaf 6 nos are taken together raw first thing in the morning. Chew the combination and swallow down the juice such that it passes down the throat slowly. This will help relieve the attendant uneasiness.

For smokers cough thulasi is an excellent remedy. A handful of thulasi leaves, toothuvalai leaves and kandakathiri leaves are collected. Put all these leaves in a litre of water. Now add 5 gm each of dried ginger (chukku), pepper and thippili to this and heat it. Reduce it to half and then let it cool. Add honey and take it twice a day. Do this for 21 days, preparing this combination fresh each day. This can help cure smokers cough.


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Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Thulasi and Siddha Home Remedies

Some siddha home remedies made with basil or thulasi are discussed below.

The botanical name of ‘thulasi’ is ocimum sanctum. The common name for thulasi is ‘holy basil’. Thulasi holds a prominent place in the herbal world.

Even the breeze that passes through the thulasi plant acquires medicinal properties. People with malaria when they inhale this breeze can experience a marked reduction in symptoms.

Thulasi is nature’s mosquito repellent. Thulasi shrubs can be grown around houses to keep away the mosquito menace.

There are different variations in thulasi each with unique medicinal properties. Krishna thulasi, karunthulasi, rama thulasi are some of the well known ones.

The juice obtained on crushing thulasi can be used for all ailments of the upper respiratory tract. It is an excellent expectorant. It frees the airway and hence used in treating asthma.

Thulasi is well known for curing indigestion of the new born. When kids suffer from phlegm in chest, equal quantity of mother’s milk and thulasi are mixed and administered orally. This will bring out the phlegm effortlessly.

People with nervous weakness can regain their strength with regular intake of thulasi juice and honey.

Neem leaves and thulasi leaves of equal quantity are ground to a fine paste. This when taken internally cures stomach and mouth ulcers. It also expels disease causing worms from the intestines.

For joint pains thulasi juice is mixed with lime (calcium) and applied externally. This will help in reducing pain quickly.

For skin diseases, paste made of thulasi leaves is an excellent remedy.

A more detailed way of preparing some siddha home remedies using thulasi will follow in subsequent posts.

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Monday, December 29, 2008

Siddha Hair Oil for Hair Growth Method 2

Ingredients

Fenugreek 300 gm
Kizhanelli whole plant 150 gm
Karisalanganni leaves 150 gm
Henna leaves 150 gm
Coconut oil 900 gm

Method

Put fenugreek in an earthen pot and pour 600 ml fresh milk into it. Allow fenugreek to soak for 24 hours. Filter out the fenugreek and let it dry in shade. Once dried, powder the fenugreek to a coarse consistency.

Grind the kizhanelli plant to a thick paste. Similarly grind karisalanganni leaves and henna leaves separately to a thick paste.

Now pour coconut oil in an earthen pot and heat it. Put fenugreek powder and heat for 3 minutes at medium heat. Now add the kizhanelli paste to this oil and after 5 minutes add karisalankanni paste. After 5 minutes, add the paste of henna leaves. Reduce the heat to a simmer and allow the oil to reach a thick consistency. Remove the pot from stove and let it cool. Store the oil in a bottle.

Usage

Clean your hair using soap nut powder the previous day. Apply the hair oil as needed from the next day onwards. Once in seven days, for bathing purposes, use the oil as needed and wash it away with soap nut powder.

Note

Do not use this oil at times of cold, fever, diarrhoea etc.


Source: Venthayathin Sirappu Maruthuvam by Dr. Thirumalai Natarajan

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Saturday, December 27, 2008

Siddha Home Remedies Using Thulasi (Holy Basil)

The holy basil or thulasi holds a special place in the herbal world. Along with its medicinal properties, it also has a spiritual dimension, which brings together people from north to south and east to west.

The ordinary villagers in India know of the spiritual significance of thulasi. The Vedas contains notes of this herb. Thulasi is mentioned in the folklore and myths of India.

Thulasi is called Brinda in Sanskrit language. Bagvan Krishna’s abode is called Brindhavanam. The Indian women consider thulasi as a symbol of prosperity. Young women here believe that those who worship thulasi in the prescribed manner will be married soon.

Even these days you can find traditional Brahmin houses in India have a separate altar for the thulasi in their backyard where it is worshipped everyday. Garlands made of thulasi decorate Sri Mahavishnu’s chest, and he likes it a lot.

Needless to say the exceptional medicinal properties of thulasi gives it the prime place in the herbal as well as spiritual world.

All parts of the thulasi plant have medicinal value. Both Siddha and Ayurveda systems utilize thulasi to treat various diseases.

Subsequent posts will detail some of the remedies using thulasi for treating various ailments.


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Friday, December 26, 2008

Fenugreek Remedy for Excessive Menstrual Bleeding

Ingredients
Fenugreek 200 gm
Poppy seeds 100 gm
Athimathuram (Licorice) 50 gm
Bark of jambol tree 50 gm

Preparation
Wash fenugreek in clean water and then tie it loosely in a cotton cloth. Wet the cloth and then place the whole in an earthen pot. Keep aside the loosely tied fenugreek and after 24 hours dry it in shade. Once dried, powder the fenugreek nicely.

Take poppy seeds in an earthen vessel and pour 200 ml milk to it. Keep it side for 12 hours and then filter out the seeds. Grind the poppy seeds to a fine thick paste and spread it into small round thin flakes. Dry the flakes in shade and powder it.

Grind licorice to a fine consistency.

Pound the bark of jambol tree (also known as Indian blackberry, black plum etc) navalpattai in Tamil, and dry it in shade. Powder the dried bark.

Now, mix all the four powders and store it in a bottle.

Usage
Women suffering from excessive menstrual discharge should take this powder a tablespoon early morning one hour before breakfast along with a glass of warm water. Similarly a tablespoon of this medicine should be taken one hour before lunch along with a glass of buttermilk. The same is done one hour before supper. For best results the remedy is taken for seven days.

Ideal diet
Baked rice powder (puttu), idli, tender coconut water, buttermilk, yoghurt, tender vegetables, fresh coriander, lemon, greens etc.

Things to avoid
Pulses, groundnut, pumpkin, potato, ashgourd, oily food etc should be avoided. Do not wash your head on the days you take the remedy.

Note
Avoid constipation. Increase intake of buttermilk, ghee, greens etc if constipated. Take the remedy afternoon and evening only in case of diarrhea etc.

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Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Siddha Home Remedies Using Fenugreek for Swelling and Inflammation

This remedy is useful in bringing down swelling and inflammation due to injury, mosquito bites etc. This is an age old tested method and there are two variations in preparing the remedy.

Method 1

Ingredients
Fenugreek 50 gm
Poppy seeds 5 gm
Pepper 5 gm

Preparation
Soak fenugreek in warm water for 3 hours. Grind it to a fine paste.
Similarly soak poppy seeds in warm water for 30 min and then grind it to a fine paste.
Powder the pepper corns to a fine consistency.
Now mix the three in an earthen vessel and add 100 ml water to the mixture. Heat it over stove and stir the ingredients to a buttery consistency. Now remove from stove and let it cool.

How to use
Apply a thin film of the buttery paste over the swelling at night. Clean it with warm water the next day morning. Follow the procedure for three days.

Method 2

Ingredients
Fenugreek 50 gm
Poppy seeds 10 gm
Chukku (dry ginger) 10 gm

Preparation
Soak fenugreek and poppy seeds in warm water for 3 hours. Then grind them both together to a buttery consistency. Remove the skin of dry ginger and pound it to powder form. Add this powder to the paste and then heat the mixture to a buttery consistency.

How to use
Apply a warm thin film of this buttery paste at night and wash it away the next day morning.

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Monday, December 08, 2008

A Siddha Hair Oil for Hair Loss Using Fenugreek

Fenugreek is found to help hair loss. Detailed below is the preparation of a hair oil using some Siddha herbs and fenugreek, that has been very effective in arresting hair loss. This is for information purposes and please consult your physician before deciding to use this.

Ingredients:
Fenugreek 200 gm
Indian gooseberry 50 gm
Kizhanelly plant (phylanthus amarus, Niruri) 50 gm
Nilavembu (Kariyat) 50 gm
Henna leaves 50 gm
Coconut Oil 600 gm

Preparation:
Place fenugreek in an earthen pot and add 500 ml of pith of aloe vera to it. Keep it aside for 12 hours and then remove off the aloe vera pith. Dry the fenugreek in shade.

Cut the gooseberries and remove the seeds. Put gooseberries in a mud pot and pour 200 ml tender coconut water to it. After 12 hours, filter out the gooseberries and dry them in shade. Grind the gooseberries once dried.

Grind the whole of kizhanelli plant to a fine paste. Also crush the nilavembu to powder. Grind the henna leaves to a fine paste.

Pour coconut oil in an earthen vessel and heat it over stove. Once hot, put feenugreek into the oil. After a minute, put the gooseberry paste. Then add kizhanelli and henna pastes. After five minutes, add the crushed nilavembu and close the vessel with a lid. Once the oil reaches a thick consistency, remove the vessel from stove and let it cool. Store it in a bottle.

How to use
Hair fall can be arrested by applying the oil to hair roots once a week. Let the oil soak for half an hour and wash it off using warm water. Never use cold water for this purpose. Using soapnut powder for cleansing would help but not a necessity.

Note
Do not expose yourself to excessive sunshine on such days. Also avoid keeping awake late into night, sex etc on these days. Avoid cool drinks and fruit juices. Never use the oil when you have cold or runny nose. Children below 10 years should avoid using this oil.

My subsequent posts will deal wih some more variations of Siddha hair oil using fenugreek.

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Sunday, December 07, 2008

Fenugreek Remedy for Stomach Ache - Method 2

Given below is another variation of Siddha home remedy for stomach ache.

Ingredients:

Fenugreek - 200 gm
Cumin seeds - 50 gm
Dried ginger (chukku) - 50 gm

Method:

Place fenugreek in an earthen pot and pour 400 ml milk into it. Allow the seeds to soak for 12 hours. After 12 hours, filter out the fenugreek and let it dry in shade. Once dried, again place it in an earthen pot and pour 400 ml curd to it. After 12 hours, filter out the fenugreek and let it dry in shade. Once dried, powder the seeds and keep it aside.

Place the cumin seeds in an earthen pot. Pour 200 ml tender coconut water into it and keep it for 12 hours. Filter the seeds out and dry it in shade. Powder the seeds.

Remove the outer skin of dry ginger and powder it. Mix the fenugreek powder and cumin seed powder to it. Mix thoroughly.

How to use

Some experience stomach pain after food. They can take this powder one hour after food. Take a spoon of this powder and mix it with two spoons of honey. Do this three times a day one hour after food. Follow this regimen for seven days. This will help cure the stomach ache.

Follow the dietary restrictions mentioned in the previous post on fenugreek.

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Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Fenugreek A Siddha Home Remedy for Stomach Ache

Some Siddha Home Remedies made with fenugreek will be detailed below as well as its medicinal properties.

The name fenugreek is from the Latin word "Greek hay".

It is mainly used as a digestive aid. It is also widely used by nursing mothers to increase inadequate breast milk supply. Studies have shown that fenugreek is a potent stimulator of breast milk production and its use increases milk production to as much as 800%. It is available in capsule form in many health food stores.

By itself, fenugreek has a somewhat bitter taste.

Several human trials demonstrate the anti-diabetic effects of fenugreek and helps ameliorate most metabolic symptoms associated with type-1 and type-2 diabetes in both humans and relevant animal models. It is currently available commercially in encapsulated forms and is being prescribed as dietary supplement for control of hypercholesterolemia and diabetes by practitioners of complementary and alternative medicine.

In recent research, fenugreek was experimentally shown to protect against cancers of the breast. The hepatoprotective property of fenugreek seeds is also well known.

Also fenugreek is found to have the following properties, according to some Siddha texts.

1. Pacifies ‘heat’.
2. Stops diarrhea
3. Cures hemorrhoids
4. Cures halitosis or bad breath
5. Cures mouth ulcers
6. Soothes itching
7. Helps treat skin diseases
8. Arrests hair fall
9. Cools eyes
10. Clears red eyes
11. Softens skin
12. Strengthens body
13. Cures inflammation
14. Cures cough

Following is one of the many Siddha home remedies for stomach ache using fenugreek.

Ingredients

Fenugreek – 100 gm
Cardamom seeds – 25 gm
Sugar candy – 250 gm

Wash fenugreek thoroughly. Dry it in shade. Put it in an earthen pot and pour 300 ml lemon juice to it. Close the pot with a lid and heat it over stove. Reduce the juice to half. Remove from the stove and let it cool. Now filter out the fenugreek seeds and dry it in shade. Once dried, grind the seeds to a coarse consistency.

Similarly clean the cardamom seeds thoroughly and dry it in shade. Once dried, fry the cardamom seeds slightly over fire and then powder the seeds. Add this to the powdered fenugreek. Add powdered sugar candy to this mixture.

How to Use

Take a spoonful of the powder along with a glass of warm water in the morning one hour before breakfast. Similar procedure is adopted in the afternoon and night.

Things to Avoid

Groundnuts, oily food, meat, pumpkin etc should be avoided. Do not keep awake late into the night. Do not wander about in sunlight. Avoid excessive sexual indulgence.

Preferred Diet

Fresh vegetables, ghee, buttermilk, honey, pepper, garlic, pomegranate, orange, banana etc can be taken in plenty.


Source: "Venthayathin Sirappu Maruthuvam" by Dr. Thirumalai Natarajan. (Venthayam is the Tamil word for fenugreek).

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