OTHER USEFUL PLANTS
There are several other useful plants which have medicinal properties. Brahmi is a brain tonic while cincha is used to prepare quinine—a drug used to use malaria. There are several other such plants which are described here.
BRAHMI (BACOPA)
Family: Scrophulariaceae
Indian names:
Hindi Brahmi, Safed Chamni
Gujarati Brahmi, Jalbrahmi, Jalnevri
Kannada Nirubrahmi
Malayalam Barna, Nirbrahmi
Marathi Ghola, Nira-brahmi
Sanskrit Saumyalata
Tamil Neerpirami, Sambrani elai
Telugu Sambra ne akhlu
English name: Thyme-leaved Gratiola.
The trade names Brahmi and Bacopa are based on the local Indian and scientific names of the plant respectively.
Description: This herb spreads on ground and its steams and small leaves are succulent, i.e. fleshy. Roots arise on the nodes of the stem also. Flowers arise in the axils of the leaves and are borne on short pedicels. One of the five sepals is larger than others. The corolla is bluish-white in colour and about 1 cm across.
Distribution: This herb is found in moist or wet places, such as on borders of water channels, wells, irrigated fields, etc., in all parts of India.
Drug and its Properties: The drug Brahmi consists of the whole plant.
It is valued in medicine as a tonic for nerves and is prescribed in nervous disorders (accompanied by convulsions or unconsciousness), mental diseases, constipation and as a diuretic, i.e. to promote urination. Leaf juice is given to infants in bronchitis; the relief is due to the vomiting and purging brought about by the drug. Leaf juice, mixed with petroleum, is applied on rheumatism. A poultice made of the boiled plant is placed on the chest of children suffering from cough. The plant is considered a blood purifier.
The tranquilising effect of the alcoholic extract of this plant has been successfully tested on animals experimentally. The plant contains an alkaloid Bramhine, which is a mental tonic, i.e. provides strength and tone to the brain.
IPECAC (IPECACUANHA)
Family: Rubiaceae
Description: A small trailing herb. Roots slender, spreading horizontally. Mature roots moniliform, in bunches. Leaves in opposite pairs, their tips pointed, margins entire. Flowers white, small, in small bunches.
Distribution: This plant is a native of Brazil and is cultivated in India in Assam, Bengal and on an experimental scale in South India.
Drug and its Properties: The plant’s rhizomes constitute the drug Ipecac.
This drug is useful in amoebic dysentery and loss of appetite; given in larger doses, it brings about vomiting and this property is utilised for bringing relief in cough. It also acts as a diaphoretic, i.e. brings about sweating.
The Ipecac plantation in West Bengal has been developed as the largest in the world, and India’s internal requirement is now amply met from this plantation. The Ipecac root has great export potential, and expansion of its cultivation has been recommended.
CINCHONA
Family: Rubiaceae
Indian names: The commonest local name is Kunain, it is based on quinine, the main active principle in the bark of Cinchona trees.
The trade name is based on the scientific name Cinchona. The genus Cinchona is not indigenous to India, and none of its species occur here in natural state. Several species are, however, now cultivated in India; four of them are more important. These are :
C. Cinchona calisaya Wedd. (Trade name : Calisaya Bark, Peruvian Bark). It is cultivated in Nilgiris and Sikkim.
C. Cledgeriana Moens (Trade name : Ledger Bark). It is grown in Bengal, Assam and South India, and is the commonest Cinchona grown in India.
C. officinalis L. (Trade name : Crown Bark, Loxa Bark). It is grown in Nilgiris.
C. succirubra Pav. ex Klotzsch (Trade name; Red Bark). It is grown in Satpura hills, Sikkim and South India.
Cinchona species grown in India are usually large or mediumsized trees; C. ledgeriana is a straggling tree.
Drug and its Properties: The dried bark of the above-mentioned species constitutes the drug Cinchona.
Cinchona bark yields several active principles, of which quinine is most important; it is well-known for its effective use in malarial fevers. The drug causes quick remission of fever and with repeated or regulated doses, checks relapse of malarial fevers. Quinine also destroys certain infections, and in certain preparations has been found useful in pneumonia, amoebic dysentery and for eye lotions.
Preparations of quinine are also useful as local applications on certain rheumatic pains and as gargles. Higher doses of quinine preparations can cause temporary (or even permanent) deafness, blindness, giddiness and nausea. Pregnant women and persons with heart ailments are not given quinine preparations.
Other uses: Preparations based on quinine and on the active principles of Cinchona bark have been used as insecticides for preservation of feathers, furs, clothes, etc., as moth repellants, and even as hair lotions.
The Cinchona bark from which quinine has been extracted, serves as a tanning material.
DHATURA (STRAMONIUM)
Family: Solanaceae
Indian names
Hindi Dhatura
Bengali Shet Dhatura
Gujarati Dholo Dhatura
Malayalam Ummattai
Panjabi Dhatura
Sanskrit Dhatura
Tamil Ummathai
Telugu Datturamu
The trade names Dhatura and Stramonium are based on the scientific name of the plant. In old Indian literature, the plant’s flower is believed to be associated with Lord Shiva.
Description: A bushy plant up to about 1 m high; leaves large, ovate, toothed. Flowers very large, white. Fruit ovoid, deeply divided into four, covered with long or short prickles.
Distribution: This plant occurs in temperate Himalayas up to 2,500 m and in hilly regions of central and southern India. Drug and its Properties : The drug consists of dried leaves, flowering tops and seeds of the plant.
The chief active principle in the leaves is hyoscyamine; the drug is, therefore, useful in the same manner as Belladonna or Hyoscyamus. The drug is useful in bronchitis or asthma, and controls salivaiton in mouth; it is antispasmodic and narcotic. The inhalation of smoke from the burning leaves in also good for relieving asthma. The seeds also contain hyoscyamine and have similar properties as the leaves.
OTHER SPECIES
Two other species of the genus Datura are useful in medicine. D. metel L. occurs throughout India in waste places. Its flowers are white to yellowish, often violet coloured outside. Fruits have short prickles. In cultivation, the flowers often have double corolla whorls.
A poultice of its leaves checks inflammation of breasts caused by excessive formation milk. The leaves and seeds have similar properties as Stamonium.
D. innoxia Mill (Mar. Dhatura) is an exotic plant, but has run wild in several parts of India. The corolla of its flowers is 10- angled (not 5-angled as in D. metel). Fruits have very slender prickles and brown seeds. Its leaves have similar properties as Stramonium. Expansion of this plant through cultivation has been recommended.
TILPUSHPI (DIGITALIS)
Family: Scrophulariaceae
Indian name
Hindi Tilpushpi
Gujarati Tilpushpee
The trade name refers to the scientific name of the plant. The Hindi name Tilpushpi refers to the flowers of the plant which somewhat resemble the flowers of Til plant, Sesamum indicum L.
Description: A biennial or perennial herb up to about 1.2 m high; lower basal leaves long-stalked, hairy, ovate, 15-30 cm long, the upper leaves almost without stalks, becoming smaller in size upwards. Flower 5-8 cm long, white or purple, with ciliate lobes, 30-60 cm long, one-sided bunches. Fruit ovoid.
Distribution: This plant is not indigenous to India, it is cultivated chiefly in hilly regions of northern India, such as in Kashmir; it was grown in Darjeeling and in Nilgiri hills also but these cultivations are now abandoned. The plants have escaped from cultivation and have become naturalised in some places.
Drug and its Properties: The plant’s dried leaves constitute the drug. The leaves must be dried at about 600C temperature and as soon as possible after collection.
The main use of this drug is in heart diseases. The drug promotes and stimulates the activity of all muscle tissues. It is used in cases of congested heart failure.
Digitalis forces more blood in to the coronaries and improve the nutrition of the heart. When blood circulation gets impaired and dropsy sets in, Digitalis helps in restoration and regulation of the function of the heart.
It improves the blood supply to the kidney and this promotes urination, and removes obstructions in kidney. Digitalis is used in some ointments for local application on wounds and burns. This drug, however, has some cumulative toxic effects and causes headache, giddiness, etc.
OTHER SPECIES
Another species of the genus Digitalis, viz. D. lanata Ehrh. (Woolly Foxglove), is being cultivated and also occurs as escape in Kashmir. Its flowers are smaller, hairy, and creamy, yellow or purple coloured. This plant has stronger medicinal properties, and its side-effects are not so toxic as of D. purpurea.
MULETHI (LICORICE)
Indian names
Hindi Mulahti, Mulethi
Bengali Jashtimadhu
Gujarati Jethi Madh
Kannada Athi Madhura, jeshta Madhu
Malayalam Iratimaduram
Sanskrit Madhuyashti
Tamil Atimadhuram
Telugu Yashtimadhukam
The trade name Licorice should not be mixed with the drug called Indian Licorice, which comes from an entirely different plant Abrus precatorius L. (Gunja).
Description: A tall herb or undershrub up to about 1.5 m high. Leaves compound, leaflets 4-7 pairs. Flowers lilac or light violet, small, in slender axillary spikes which are equal to, or slightly longer than the leaves. Fruits 1-3 cm long, flat, densely covered all over with small spinous outgrowths. The rootstock throws numerous additional roots; in some forms, there are several branches near the rootstock remaining underground.
Distribution: The plant is being cultivated in India.
Drug and its Properties: This plant’s dried roots and underground stems constitute the drug.
Licorice is believed to be useful in cough, sore throat, bronchitis, abdominal pains, consumption and epilepsy. For sore throat and cough, a small piece of raw Licorice is just chewed or sucked. Licorice promotes urination, and its diuretic activity, as also antibiotic and antibacterial activity, have been experimentally shown.
Due to its sweet taste and demulcent property, Licorice is largely used in making syrups and for masking bitter taste of medicines in mixtures or pills; it is useful in gastric and duodenal ulcers. Licorice powder, mixed with butter (ghee) and honey, is applied on cuts and wounds.
The leaves of the plant, if applied as a poultice, are believed to be useful in scalds of the heads.
Other uses: The powder or small pieces of the drug are commonly taken with betel leaves (Pan). Kashmir, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and T.N. have been suggested as suitable areas for cultivation of this plant.
ANANTMOOL (PERIPLOCACEAE)
Indian names
Hindi Anantmool, Salsa
Bengali Anantmool
Gujarati Anantmool Durivel
Kannada Sogadeberu
Malayalam Nannari Narunanti
Marathi Anantavel
Oriya Anantmul
Sanskrit Nagajihya
Tamil Nannarl
Telugu Muttavapulagamu
As the drug obtained from this plant serves as substitute for the true Sarsaparilla (which is the product of the genus Smilax), it is called Indian Sarsaparilla.
Description: A perennial twiner or creeper, rootstock woody, fragrant; stems slender, hairless; leaves vary greatly in shape and size, they are 5-10 cm long, but their breadth varies from 5 to about 4 cm, dark green, often with whitish blotches, pale or whitish, hairy on lower surface. Flowers very small, greenish, in small, compact cluster. Fruits 10-15 cm long, green, narrow, cylindric, pointed at tip, in pairs. Seeds small, black, with a tuft of white hairs at top, all parts of the plant have white milky juice. The plant occurs almost throughout India.
Drug and Properties: The dried roots of the plants constitute the drug.
The drug is useful in fever, skin diseases, loss of appetite, syphilis, leucorrhoea and other urinary complaints. The diuretic action of the drug has been shown experimentally. The drug is largely used as a blood purifier and in rheumatism. Tests in hospitals have confirmed the utility of Indian Sarsaparilla as a substitute for true Sarsaparilla, which is obtained from plants of the genus smilax.
Other uses: The leaves of the narrow-leaved form of the plant are chewed and are refreshing.
CASTOR-OIL SEED
Family: Euphorbiaceae
Indian names
Hindi Arandi
Assamese Bherenda
Bengali Bherenda, Eri
Gujarati Diveli, Erando
Kannada Haralu
Malayalam Avanakka
Marathi Erand
Oriya Jada
Sanskrit Eranda
Tamil Amanakku
Telugu Erandamu
Sometimes the various varieties of the plant have different local names; e.g. Bhat-rendi—for the variety having white seeds, Jogiarendi—for the variety having pale seeds.
In early literature the tree has been referred to by the names Chirtavija, Panchangula and Vatari; these refer to the shape or properties of the plant and its parts. Chitravija refers to the ornamentation on seeds; and Panchangula to the 5-nerved, palmate leaves; Vatari means enemy of rheumatism (Vata). The trade name is based on the common English name of the plant.
Description: It is a tall shrub, sometimes becoming tree-like. Leaves very large, broad, roundish in outline but partly divided into 7 (sometimes 9) lobes, margins toothed. Flowers large, in big terminal bunches. Fruit a prickly capsule, rather marked into six parts. Seeds oblong, seed-coat crustaceous. One form of this plant is almost perennial with woody stems and large red seeds. This is said to yield an oil suitable only for illumination and lubrication. The other form, which is grown yield oil suitable for medicinal uses. There is still another form with purple bronze leaves; it is grown only for ornament.
Distribution: The plant is largely cultivated on borders of agricultural fields, gardens, etc., and is also found wild in fields, gardens near habitations and in waste places.
Drug and its Properties: The seeds of the plant are used in medicine.
The seeds are poisonous and even 2 or 3 seeds can be fatal.
The oil obtained from the seeds, called Castor-oil, is used as a purgative. The Castor-oil is best administered with milk or fruit juice. Castor-oil is also used in ointments as a soothing agent and as an oil vehicle in eye-drops.
The use of Castor-oil for facilitating child-birth is doubtful, rather it should be sparingly used even as purgative for pregnant women and during menses.
Castor-oil is used in many contraceptive jellies and creams. (The tribes of Bastar rub the leaves of the plant on joints to relieve pain. They also pound young leaves and use them as purgative.)
A gel prepared from Castor-oil is useful in dermatosis and is a good protective in occupational eczemas and dermatitis.
ASOKA
Family: Caesalpiniaceae
Indian names
Hindi Ashok
Bengali Ashok
Gujarati Aasopalav
Malayalam Ashok
Marathi Ashok
Oriya Ashok
Tamil Asogam
The trade name Asoka is based on the local Indian names which have their origin from the legendary Ashok Vatika, where mother Sita was confined.
Description: A small tree, leaves compound, evergreen, forming a dense crown; leaflets 7-25 cm long, slightly leathery. Flowers bright orange-coloured due to coloured bracts, in small dense bunches. Fruits 15-25 cm long, flat; seeds many.
Distribution: The tree occurs in central and eastern Himalayas, eastern India and in the south, it is often cultivated for its showy flowers.
Drug and its properties: The dried bark of the tree is of medicinal value.
It is used as an astringent in treatment of excessive menstruation as a uterine sedative. It can be used as a substitute for Ergot in treatment of uterine haemorrhages.
Various fractions isolated from the bark of the tree have been tested for their utility in uterine disorders, but the results were negative. The use of the drug may, however, be due to some undetected fraction on combined action of the fractions.
Flowers pounded and mixed with water are useful in haemorrhagic dysentery. Seeds are reported to be useful in urinary discharges.
ASHVAGANDHA
Family: Solanaceae
Indian names
Hindi Ashvagandha
Gujarati Asan, Ashvagandha, Ghoda Asor,
Santhiana popda
Kannada Ashvagandhi
Malayalam Amukkiram
All other Indian languages Ashvagandha The trade name is based on the Indian local names of the plant.
Description: A small or middle-sized undershrub, up to 1.5 m high; stem and branches covered with minute star-shaped hairs. Leaves up to 10 cm long, ovate, hairy-like breaches. Flowers pale green, small about 1 cm long; few flowers borne together in short axillary clusters. Fruit 6 mm diameter, globose, smooth red, enclosed in the inflated and membranous calyx.
The plant occurs in drier regions of India; it is also cultivated.
Drug and its properties: The drug consists of the plant’s dried roots.
Ashwagandha is useful in consumption, sexual and general weakness and rheumatism. It is diuretic, i.e. it promotes urination, acts as a narcotic, and removes functional obstructions of body. The root powder is applied locally on ulcers and inflammations. The antibiotic and antibacterial activity of the roots as well as leaves has recently been shown experimentally.
OTHER SPECIES
Withania coagulens Dunal (Hindi-Akri, Punjabi-Khamjira) occurs in north-western India. Its fruits are useful in digestive and liver complaints.
GARLIC (ALLIUM SATIVUM)
It is an erect biennial herb and belongs to onion family, each bulb containing 6-30 shallots (also called ‘cloves’)) which are enclosed in a transparent, whitish, thick and glistering covering. It has been in use in medicines, food preparations, in oil form since 4500 B.C. Hippocrates strongly recommended its use in intestinal uses and therapeutic ingredients. It is grown almost all over the world.
It has volatile oil, (0.06%), mucilage (35%), starch and albumen. In addition, it has Carbohydrates 29%, Fat 0.1%, Protein 6.3%, Lime 0.03%, Mineral salts 1%, Phosphorus 0.31%, Iron 13%, sufficient quantity of vitamins A,B, and C, sugar, minerals (like manganese, albumin, lead, copper and chlorine).
The oil of garlic is obtained by distillation and is replete with various compounds of sulphur etc. Its colour is yellow or dark brown, odour repulsive, and taste pungent but possesses numerous medicial properties. In food and medicines its peeled cloves are used.
Medicinal Properties: Garlic is one of the mostly used vegetation in medicines and its curative properties include cure of Fevers, Leprosy, Asthma, Arteria-Scleroris, High Blood Pressure, deafness. It is also used as a heart tonic, to expel intestinal worms, piles, cough and asthma, catarrhal disorders, T.B., bronchitis, paralysis, sore throat, rheumatism, cancer, skin and blood disorders, whooping cough, to heal ulcers and wounds, diphtheria etc. In addition, it is also used as an aphrodisiac.
It should be used carefully by those who have bilious tendency, whose liver is damaged or hypersensitive, whose skin is sensitive and digestive system is depraved, who get urticaria or any other skin eruption.
Some people do not use it due to its bad odour and pungent taste, though all of them are fully convinced of its food values and medicinal efficacy.
ASTHMA
Peel a pod of garlic, crush and boil the same in 125 ml of pure malt-vinegar which should be strained after cooling, adding equal quantity of honey, for being preserved in a bottle. To hasten quicker recovery, add decoction of fenugreek to 1-2 tsp of syrup (which is a single dose) which should be taken in the evening and at night before retiring to bed. It will reduce severity of asthmatic attacks.
SUNDRY RESPIRATORY DISORDERS
Use garlic juice to dissolve trapped, tenacious and sticky mucus in the chest and sinuses, lungs and bronchial tubes. A decoction of garlic boiled in milk is a wonderful medicine for pulmonary infection, asthma, tuberculosis and pneumonia. Put one garlic in 250 ml milk and add 1 litre of water and boil all the ingredients until reduced to ¼th quantity of decoction which should be taken 3-4 times in 24 hours.
DIGESTIVE DISORDERS
Garlic has the properties of stimulating peristaltic action of intestines, eliminating waste and poisonous matters from the body, expelling flatus (but not acidity), to activate lymph activity, help in secretion of digestive juice. It is an excellent remedy for infections and inflammations of stomach and intestines. Garlic oil eliminated (partly) via our urine but is absorbed by alimentary tract. For all the side-effect, prepare on infusion of garlic (peeled and crushed) cloves in milk/water and take it regularly or till symptoms disappear.
Disorders like colitis, diarrhoea, dysentery and worms can be treated by taking fresh garlic cloves. Garlic cloves (2-4) may be soaked in milk and kept overnight. These cloves can be taken as first thing in the morning ( that is on empty stomach), or else reduce garlic cloves to pulp form and take with a tsp of honey.
BLOOD DISORDERS
It hardly matters how you use garlic but the only imperative being to use it regularly and use it for some time. Its herb is a great rejuvenator, as it helps to revitalise blood, stimulates blood circulation, promotes intestinal flora, is a bactericide and preventive of infection, and guards body against invative, harmful external elements. To allay all the said complaints you can simply take garlic pulp or simply chew the cloves or else prepare its pickle by adding cumin seeds, black salt, lemon juice and ajwain seeds.
CANCER
Use garlic juices and extracts, Effects, after use of garlic, have proved that it can kill and destroy germs, reduce swelling, pain and to retard growth of cancerous tumour. Take 2-4 garlic cloves (peeled) daily and also apply garlic oil/juice over infected areas. If redness and itching persist, discontinue local application of garlic juice or oil.
ARTHRITIS, RHEUMATISM, LUMBAGO
Garlic reduces inflammatory swelling, pain, stiffness. Take 2-4 shallots of garlic daily and apply garlic oil 2-3 times daily as local massage—the oil may be moderately heated in winter and hilly winds and then applied over painful and inflamed parts.
SKIN DISORDERS
Take 3 garlic shallots daily (or else 3 garlic capsules daily) orally. Apply raw garlic to cure acne, boils and pimples and blemishes. In rare cases, itching may surface, but, then, garlic juice may be applied with some vaseline/lotion. Garlic has strong capacity to purify blood. If garlic is rubbed over ringworm it will burn the area first and then enable the skin to peel off.
WHOOPING COUGH
To abort recurrent and violent spells of cough, take 5 drops of garlic juice diluted in a tsp of water.
HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE
Due to its property to ease spasm of small arteries, reduce pressure and tension, modify the heart rhythm and slow down pulse rate, relieve formulation of gas, breathlessness, dizziness, take 2-3 garlic capsules/cloves daily to lower the raised blood pressure.
Caution: Whenever there is any oral/local reaction, use of garlic should be abandoned. Approach your physician for proper guidance and advice. Persons with sensitive and weak digestion, having jaundice and bile-related problems, hepatitis must use garlic, in any form, with physician’s advice only. Overuse of garlic is also forbidden.
APHRODISIAC EFFECTS
Garlic can cure weakness and debility caused by overindulgence in sex, in impotency, nervous exhaustion of sexual incompetency, failing libido (particularly in old men).
GINGER (ZINGIBER OFFICINALE)
The ginger plant is about 1.2ft high, having ground part is known as ‘Rhizome’ which is the edible portion of plant and is commonly known as ‘Ginger-roots’ . When dried, it is called Saunth or driedginger, root and fresh one is simply called ginger or Adrak, It has bitter taste and is pungent.
Medicinal Uses: It is carminative, digestive, anti-flatulent, anti-pyretic, stomachic, invigorating, blood purifier. It is useful is cough, bronchial cough, nausea. It generates heat, expels sputum, checks purgation and griping. It is used often in medicines, in kitchen preparations, salads, with vegetable juices for seasoning and flavoring purposes.
It contains fat, volatile oil, crude liquid, mucilage, resin, starch, ash, Oleoresin gingerol or Gingerin. Its oil possesses aromatic odour, Ginger relieves muscular pain and is counter-irritant, has aphrodisiac properties.
In western countries, ginger is widely used in breads (gingerbread), pickles, soups, puddings, cakes, biscuits and is used in curries in the form of powder. Essential oil extracted from the rhizomes is used for perfumery and manufacturing essence. It is also used for medicinal and flavouring purposes. Its full pungency is preserved when oleoregin is extracted. Certain regions in our country consume raw ginger after peeling and slicing into small pieces. If it tastes pungent and unpalatable, it should, first be used in cooked vegetables so as to develop taste.
RESPIRATORY DISORDERS
(INCLUDING COLDS AND COUGH)
Cut ginger into small pieces and then boil, add some honey or sugar to a cup of liquid and sip it or put in some ginger pieces in tea—it will remove cold, cough and congestion from lungs alongwith fever (by including profuse sweating). For asthma, bronchitis, influenza, whooping cough and T.B. of lungs, prepare a cupful of fenugreek decoction and add a tsp each of garlic juice and honey. It is an expectorant and diaphoretic of high order, as it will expel sputum and induce sweating, and avert recurrent episodes and bouts of cough.
DIGESTIVE DISORDERS
Its protective action is because of its properties of volatile oil, diastase enzyme and excessive salivary excretion. Mix a tsp each of fresh juices of mint and lime, ½ tsp of fresh ginger juice, and a tbsp of honey to get rid of indigestion (caused by fatty, spicy and heavy meals), dyspepisa, nausea, vomiting (due to biliousness), piles, jaundice, flatulence and flatulent colic, morning sickness etc. Even chewing a piece of fresh ginger after taking meals, will also have salutary effect on almost all digestion related disorders. If the taste is felt too pungent, you may add some black salt to it.
Soak finely sliced and chopped ginger pieces in lemon juice, adding black salt, ajwain (Carum), cumin seeds (powdered) and use it as a palatable pickle. If you wish to make it more effective, may you also add cloves of garlic (peeled) to the above ingredients—this preparation is a panacea for almost (all) the digestive upsets.
PAINS AND ACHES
Ginger is an excellent analgesic and is capable of curing almost every type of pain/ache. Apply paste of ginger to temples and forehead to relieve headache (But ensure the ginger liquid does not fall into the eyes). It will also allay toothache, if applied over painful tooth. To seek relief from earache, 2-4 drops may be dropped in the painful ear.
IMPOTENCY
To cure impotency, premature ejaculation tone up sex organs, spermatorrhoea, etc. including seminal discharge (involuntary), take a half-boiled egg, ½ tsp of juice of ginger and a tsp of honey, to be taken at night for 30-45 days to remove the said sexual disorders.
MENSTRUAL DISORDERS
When irregular/painful menstruation is caused by taking cold bath or exposure to winds, boil a pounded piece of fresh garlic in water. When it is infused fully, add some sugar and take such a dose, 3-4 times daily.
PARALYSIS
Grind Urad Dal (Black gram Dal) and prepare a paste which should be fried in pure ghee, adding dry ginger powder and jaggery (Gur). Prepare laddus from this combination, add consume one laddu daily, or boil dry ginger in urad dal’s water, and drink the resultant water to cure paralysis.
ONION (ALLIUM CEPA)
Onion is a biennial herb that is grown, generally, annually. When crushed, all parts of onion produce a strong odour. Its plant is about a metre high, with succulent, cylindrical and conical leaves. Its colours are white, red or pale but for medicinal uses, its white variety is preferred. Its taste is both pungent and sweet.
Chemical Properties : (Per 100 gms of edible portion) Carbohydrates-11.6 to 13.2%,Protein-1.2-1.4%,Fat-0.1%, Mineral salt-0.4-0.7%, Phosphorus-0.05-0.06% Calcium-0.04- 0.18%, Iron-0.8-1.2 mgm, Vitamin B-40 I.U., Vitamin-C-11 mgm, Sugar-12%, Carotene-55 I.U., Thyme-120 mgm, Niacin-5 mcgm, Water-87% and evaporative oil that contains traces of sulphur.
Medicinal Uses: Increases vigour and vitality, acts as a stimulant, and is a source of expectorates phlegm, tones down raised heartbeat, prevents, dyspepsia and flatulence, induces sleep. It is also used for disorders like arthritis, acne, dental decay, hysteria, cholera, diarrhoea, jaundice, bleeding from nose, heart attack, menstrual upsets, insect bites, baldness (alopecia), prevention stone formulation, skin disorders, cold, cough, asthma, T.B. etc. In addition, it also is used in cases of high blood pressure, cholesterol rise in blood, arteriosclerosis.
HEART ATTACK AND HYPERTENSION
The latest research has established, cardiac utility of onion. It is next only to garlic, in gradational medicinal efficacy which is due to presence of certain heart-friendly ingredients found in tis essential oil. If one consumes 100 gms of raw onion daily, one can get rid of high blood pressure and coronary heart disease, as onion reduces high percentage of cholesterol in blood and also corrects thrombose.
CHOLERA
Add finely pounded seven black peppers’ powder to 25 gms of onion juice and serve to the cholera patient. It will also allay restivity, thirst, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. Add little sugar or black salt, as per taste, to enhance effectivity of the recipe.
RESPIRATORY PROBLEMS
Mix equal quantity of onion juice and honey (say-1-2 tsp of each) to cure cough, cold, influenza, bronchitis and common cold.
SKIN DISORDERS
Onion has the property to stimulate blood circulation, apart from irritation it. Mix 1/3 onion juice to 3/4 quantity of water and wash wounds and body with it. To help drain out pus, apply a paste (prepared from onion, turmeric powder and mustard oil) to boils and abscesses.
URINARY DISORDERS
For diuretic effects, take onion juice with hot water or take 5-6 gms of onions and boil in water—when reduced to half the quantity, let it cool whereafter the same should be strained and given to the patient. To treat retention of urine, remove burning sensation, grate an onion and mix 60 gms of sugar to it—it will start free flow or urine.
EAR DISORDERS
Drop moderately heated juice of onion (2-3 drops) in the painful ear or drop 2-3 drops of fresh juice of onion by dipping it in a piece of cotton swab in it.
MISCELLANEOUS USES
• Apply onion paste to heels, and also keep an onion in the pocket (which moving out in the heat) to cure and offset illeffects of heatstroke—the later device is useful as a preventive measure.
• To promote new hair growth, rub onion juice over the bald area on head.
• Dental problems, like tooth pain, tooth decay and bacterial growths, can be offset and cured by eating a raw onion daily.
• Infiltration of insects, mosquitoes can be dispelled if a piece of onion is tied near the lighting point.
• Entry of snakes in the room can be prevented by keeping a white onion in the room.
• Rub mixture of oil of sesame oil and onion juice on painful and swollen arthritic joints.
• To cure diarrhoea, apply onion paste on the navel region.
• Bleeding from nose (Epistaxis) can be cured if a few drops are inserted into each nostril. It will also enable a person regain consciousness within a short time.
• For dispelling hysterical attacks, let the patient inhale smell of a cut onion. Also rub his/her heels with a crushed onion.
• Soak small cut onion pieces in lemon juice or vinegar and mix black salt and black pepper. Let the patient use it twice, in the form of medicine, to cure jaundice.
• Use onion juice to reduce ill-effects of excessive intoxication.