Health Fitness Blog: Herbs

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Marigold herb: effective health benefits

Marigold is a hairy annual herb, growing to about 50 cm high. The lower leaves of the plant are star shaped and the base of the upper leaves surround the stem. The plant has large, solitary and stout flower heads, flat and spreading flowers of the outer whorl, with color varying yellow to deep orange. The fruits are curved, with the lower parts having sharp point and upper part crested and slightly beaked.

The main constituents of the herb are carotenoids, resin, essential oil, flavonoids, sterol, saponins and mucilage.

Healing Power
Marigold is a bitter tonic. It induces copious perspiration and is useful in killing intestinal worms.

Rosemary is a sweet scented evergreen shrub which grows upto two meters high. Its leaves are narrow and resemble curved pine needles. They are green on top and grey underneath. The small pale blue flowers grow in little dusters up the stems. Dried leaves of rosemary are used for commercial purpose. Dried herb is brownish green in color. The leaves have a tea-like fragrance. Crushed rosemary, however, has spicy camphoraceous aroma and a pungent, bitter taste.

Rosemary has long been regarded as the herb for remembrance. Mystically, it symbolizes loyalty, love and immortality. It was once believed to strengthen the heart as well as memory.

Snake gourd herb helps in treatment of heart disorders and other diseases

Snake gourd is a climbing herb with tendril divided into three parts. It has hairy, angular or 5 to 7 lobed leaves which emit a fetid odor when bruised. It has white male and female flowers and cylindrical, slender, tapering fruits with a waxy surface. Its fruits are orange in color when ripe and pulpy red at maturity.

An analysis of snake gourd shows it to consist of substantial amount of and little protein, fat fiber and carbohydrates. Its mineral and vitamins contents are calcium, phosphorus, iron, carotene, little thiamine, riboflavin and niacin. Its calorific value is 18.

Turmeric, also known as haldi in hindi, is one of the most widely used spices to add colour and flavour to food. However, if you suffer from diabetes, this spice is an essential ingredient you need to include in all your food preparations without fail. Known to be a potent antiseptic and a powerful antioxidant agent, turmeric is packed with numerous health benefits. Moreover, turmeric acts as an effective natural remedy to keep your blood sugar levels in control. Here’s what makes it a natural anti-diabetic compound.

How does it work?

Leadwort is shrubby perennial herb with acid roots. It grows up to 2 meters high, with 10 to 20 stems growing directly from the root. The plant has smooth leaves and tiny, bright red flowers.

The herb contains an orange yellow pigment, plumbagin a sitosterol and a fatty alcohol. The proportion of the plumbagin varies within the limits according to the locality, growth, age condition of the soil and the reason. The older the plant and drier the soil, the greater is the quantity of active principle found in its root.

Henna is a middle-sized shrub with many branches. It has small white or pinkish fragrant flowers in large terminal bunches, and small round fruits. The trade name henna is based on the word hina which is the Arabic name of the drug.
The plant occurs in several parts of India, chiefly in the drier parts of the peninsula, and is usually cultivated in hedges. It is also cultivated for commercial purposes, in Punjab, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.

The leaves contain a glucosidal coloring matter and hennotanic acid. On petroleum ether extraction, the seeds of the plant yield a viscous oil containing behenvc, arachidic, stearic, palmitic, oleic and linoleic acids.

Gentian is robust annual herb, known as Chirayata in India which grows up to about 1.5 meters in height. It has leaves in opposite pairs about 10 cm long, without stalks, pointed at the tip. The plant has numerous flowers, pale green in color, tinged with purple, with long white or pink hairs and minute sharp pointed fruits. The whole plant, collected in its flowering stage and dried, constitutes the drug. The trade name chirayata is based on the local name of the plant. It has long been used by the ayurvedic physicians as a bitter tonic.

The plant contains a bitter glycoside chiratin, which yield on hydrolysis, two bitter principle, ophelic acid and chiratin. The latter is soluble in water. The ophelic acid is a brown hydroscopic substance which is soluble in water and alcohol. It also contains reins, tannin and 4 to 8 per cent of ash.

Margosa is a very common tree in India. It is a large evergreen dense tree growing some 10 to 10.5 meter tall with a girth of about 2 to 3 meters. The leaves are divided into numerous leaflets, each resembling a full grown leaf. The tree has small white flowers in auxiliary bunches and 1.2 to 1.8 cm long green or yellow fruits with a seed in each.
The margosa tree has played a key role in ayurvedic medicine and agriculture since time immemorial. It is indigenous to South Asia, where up to twenty million trees line the roads. The tree occurs naturally in the Deccan peninsula. But is, cultivated all over India. It is also common in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Japan and tropical regions of Australia and Africa.

Lemon balm is a perennial herb if the mint family. It grows up to 30 to 60 cm in height and lasts for two years or longer. It has a creeping root system, but is easy for two years or linger. It has creeping root system, but it easy to keep in check. The plant has egg shaped leaves and small white or pale pink flowers. It has a strong and agreeable odor, reminiscent of lemon, which gives it the name lemon balm. Its leaves and flowering tops constitute the drug.

The watercress is a perennial, aquatic herb, with hollow angular stems, and many branches. It has dark green, shining leaves divided into several leaflets. It has a pleasant and pungent flavor and is used in salads.

The Greeks regarded watercress as a psychic stimulant and the Romans used with vinegar as a remedy for mental disorders. Old English physicians recommended its use as a remedy for headaches and biliousness.

Watercress is a native of Europe. It is widely distributed in a wild state in Great Britain, South and Central Europe and Western Asia. This plant is now cultivated in Malaysia, Indonesia, Hawaii, West Indies and East Africa and grows in the Himalayas.

Cumin is an annual herb, with a smooth surface and long, slender root It grows up to a height of 35 to 45 cm. It produces a stem with many branches which bear long, finely divided, deep green leaves and small flowers, white or rose in color. The plant has aromatic seed-like fruit, commonly known as cumin seed. It is oval-shaped, approximately 6mm long and light yellowish-brown in color. It has a peculiar, strong and heavy odour. The dried seeds form an essential ingredient of curry powder.

Pergularia is a perennial, small, twining herb. It has hairy stems with milky juice and broad egg shaped leaves. It has greenish yellow or dull white small flowers in tiny clusters and fruits reflexed in pairs, covered with spinous outgrowths. The entire plant constitutes the drug and is used as medicine.

It contains a bitter resin, two bitter principles and a glycoside possessing physiological action similar to pituirin and several sterols.

Bay berry is an aromatic tree growing up to 10 meters height. The leaves of the tree are 7.5 cm long, pale to rust colored and alternate. The tree has hairy stalks with minute flowers growing solitary or on a common dropping stalk. It has wrinkled seeds.

The herb contains tannins, triterpenes (including myricadiol) flavonoid glycosides, resin and gum.

Healing Power
The bark of the tree is aromatic, stimulant, tonic and resolvent. It is useful in arresting secretion or bleeding and in expelling wind from the stomach. It is also an antiseptic. Myricitrin in bay berry is bacterial and encourages the fiber of bile. Another constituent of the herb, myricadiol is reported to cause retention of salt and excretion of potassium.

Fevers and Cold
Bay berry is valuable remedy in fevers and cold. A hot decoction of the herb can be taken in the treatment of fevers, catarrh of mucus membranes, affections of the chest and typhoid. The powdered bark can be used as a snuff for congested nasal passages, which are relived by sneezing. The decoction also makes a good gargle for throat infections.

Intestinal Disorders
Bay berry is also used to treat inflammation and infection of gastro intestinal tract.

Women’s Problems
The herb taken internally can be used to treat post partum hemorrhage. It can be used as douche for excessive menstrual bleeding and leucorrhea, or white discharge.

Respiratory Disorders
Bay berry is highly beneficial in treating respiratory disorders like asthma, and chronic bronchitis. Its bark may be take either in a decoction or powdered form as in the case of fevers and colds.

Teeth disorders
A paste of the bark made with vinegar can be used for strengthening the gums and relieving toothache.

Wounds and Ulcers
A compress of the herb can be used for dressing wounds and ulcers. The powder of its bark can be dusted over putrid sores.

Other diseases
Bay berry is useful in several other diseases like diarrhea, dysentery, and chronic gonorrhea. A decoction of the herb can be taken with cinnamon in chronic cough and piles.

Great Health Benefits of Cinnamon

Cinnamon is an evergreen tree which is small and bushy. Dried leaves of cinnamon, along with its dried inner bark are used all over the world as a spice or condiment It has a pleasing fragrance and a warm, sweet and aromatic taste.

The bark of the tree is thick, smooth and light or dark brownish in colour. The inner bark is obtained from carefully selected shoots. It is then cured and dried. While drying, the bark shrinks and curls into a cylinder or quill.

Cinnamon tree was known to ancient physicians even before 2700 BC. The Chinese used the bark of this tree as a medicine. The Romans also knew about the medicinal value of this bark. Eminent physicians like Galen, Dioscoredes and Sasaferes described various uses of cinnamon. Indians knew about the therapeutic uses of this herb before the 8th century. The oldest record available about the description of cinnamon is in the Tarak, the Jewish religious text. It was, however, Khizvenee who was the first person to give details about the medicinal virtues of this herb in the 13th century.

Cinnamon is a native of Sri Lanka and tropical Asia. It has been cultivated from ancient times. It appears to have reached Egypt and Europe by the fifth century BC. This tree occurs in South India upto altitudes of 500 metres but is more common at lower altitudes, even below 200 metres.

An analysis of cinnamon shows it to consist of moisture, protein, fat, fibre, carbohydrates and ash, besides calcium, phosphorus, iron, sodium, potassium, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, vitamins C and A. Its calorific value is 355.
Cinnamon also contains an essential oil known as cinnamon oil. This oil consists of substantial amount of eugenol. The bark and green leaves also contain oil. The root bark oil differs from both stem bark and leaf oils.

Healing Power and Curative Properties
Cinnamon leaves are used in the form of powder or decoction. They are stimulant and useful in relieving flatulence and in increasing secretion and discharge of urine. Cinnamon prevents nervous tension, improves complexion and memory. A pinch of cinnamon powder mixed with honey does the trick if taken regularly every night for these purposes.

Common Cold
Cinnamon is an effective remedy for common cold. Coarsely powdered and boiled in a glass of water with a pinch of pepper powder and honey, it can be beneficially used as medicine in cases of influenza, sore throat, and malaria. Its regular use during the rainy season prevents attacks of influenza. Cinnamon oil, mixed with honey, gives relief from cold.

Digestive Disorders
Cinnamon checks nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. It stimulates digestion. A tablespoon of cinnamon water, prepared as for cold and taken half an hour after meals, relieves flatulence and indigestion.

Bad breath
Cinnamon serves as a good mouth freshener.

Headache
Headache produced by exposure to cold air is readily cured by applying a paste of finely powdered cinnamon mixed in water on the temples and forehead.

Acne
Paste of cinnamon powder prepared with a few drops of fresh lime juice can be applied over pimples and blackheads with beneficial results.

Other Diseases
Cinnamon is highly beneficial in the treatment of several other ailments, including spasmodic afflictions, asthma, paralysis, excessive menstruation, uterus disorders and gonorrhea. It is sometimes used as a prophylactic agent, to control German measles.

Other Uses
Natural Birth-Control: Cinnamon can be used for natural birth-control. It has the remarkable effect of checking the early release of ova after child-birth. A piece of cinnamon taken every night for a month after childbirth delays menstruation for more than 15 to 20 months thus preventing early conception. It indirectly helps the secretion of breast milk. Prolonged breast feeding checks the restarting of menstruation after child-birth, according to studies.

Dried cinnamon leaves and inner bark are used for flavoring cakes and sweets and in curry powder. They are also used in incense, dentifrices and perfumes. Cinnamon bark oil is used for flavoring confectionery and liqueurs. "It is also used in pharmaceutical and dental preparations. Cinnamon leaf oil is used in perfumes and flavorings as also in the synthesis of vanillin.

Great Health Benefits of Acacia

Acacia, popularly known as babul, is a large tree, upto 14 meters high, with (horns on its branches. It has darkish grey bark and yellow flowers in spherical heads.

Babul tree is indigenous to Sind in Pakistan. It occurs wild; in India and tropical Africa. It is planted for its bark. The tree} yields a gum, known as babul gum. The bark of babul tree; contains tannin and Gallic acid. The leaves and fruits of the tree also contain tannin and Gallic acid.

Healing Power and Curative Properties
The leaves, the bark, the pods and the gum of the tree have medicinal virtues. The leaves and the bark are useful in arresting secretion or bleeding. The pods help remove catarrhal matter and phlegm from the bronchial tubes. The gum allays any irritation of the skin and soothes the inflamed membranes of the pharynx, alimentary canal and genito-urinary organs.

Diarrhoea
The various parts of babul tree are useful in diarrhoea of ordinary intensity. A mixture of equal parts of the tender leaves with white and black cumin seeds (zeera) can be administered in doses of 12 grams, thrice daily. An infusion made of the bark of the tree may also be taken thrice daily for the same purpose. The gum, used either in decoction or in syrup, is an effective medicine for diarrhoea.

Teeth Disorders
Chewing of fresh bark of this tree daily, helps strengthen loose teeth and arrest any bleeding from the gums. Dirty teeth can be cleaned effectively by brushing them with a' powder in which 60 grams of charcoal of babul wood, 24 grams of roasted alum and 12 grams of rock salt have been included.

Eczema
The bark of babul tree is useful in the treatment of eczema. About 25 grams each of this bark and the mango bark should be boiled in about 1 litre of water and the vapors allowed to foment the affected part After the fomentation, the affected part should be anointed with ghee.

Tonsillitis
A decoction of the bark, mixed with rock salt, should be used as a gargle in treating tonsillitis.

Conjunctivitis
The leaves of babul tree are effective in the treatment of conjunctivitis. The leaves, ground to a paste, should be applied on the affected eyes at night, supported by a bandage which should be untied the next morning. This removes pain and redness.

Epiphora
The leaves are beneficial in treating epiphora— that is watering of the eyes, in which tears flow onto the cheeks due to abnormality of the tear drainage system. About 250 grams of leaves should be boiled in one and a quarter litre of water until only a quarter litre of water is left. This should then be filtered and kept in a well-corked bottle. The eye-lids shield be painted; morning and evening with this liquid,

Leucorrhoea
The bark of the tree is useful in leucorrhoea. Its decoction should be used as a vaginal douche for treating this disorder.

Other Uses
Spermatorrhoea: Fresh pods of babul tree are effective in sexual disorders like Spermatorrhoea, frequent night discharges, loss of viscidity of the semen and premature ejaculation. In Ayurvedic, a preparation made from the pods is considered highly beneficial in treating these disorders. It is prepared thus about 1 to 1.5 meters of coarse cloth is spread evenly and its corners secured. The fresh pods of babul tree are pounded and their juice squeezed. This fresh juice is pasted on the both every morning and evening for at least 20 days until a 5-6 centimeters thick layer is formed on it. A small piece of this cloth weighing 5 to 9 grams is cut and boiled in a litre of cow's milk which is taken after adding brown sugar to taste.

It is also said to increase the power of retention of the semen. Even extremely; debilitated patients suffering from the bad consequences of masturbation are believed to get rejuvenated by its use and attain normal retentive power. It improves the viscidity of the semen and is an excellent medicine for Spermatorrhoea. Another preparation made from the pods is also a very effective remedy for Spermatorrhoea. Tender, seedless pods are dried in shade, powdered and mixed with an equal weight off brown sugar. Six grams of this mixture may be taken with in the morning.

Incredible Health Benefits of Hog Weed

Origin, Distribution and Composition

Hog weed is a creeping and spreading perennial herb, with a stout root-stock and many erect or spreading branches. It grows upto 2 meters in length. The leaves of the plant are simple, broad, somewhat rough, thick and brittle. The flowers are pink or red in colour. The fruits are oval in shape, dull-green or brownish in colour and about the size of caraway bean.

Hog weed is indigenous to India. It grows wild all over the country as a common creeping weed and is specially abundant during the rains.
The plant contains a crystalline acid known as boerhavic acid, potassium nitrate and a brown mass consisting of tannins, phlobaphenes and reducing sugars. The active principle of hog weed is the alkaloid punarnavine. The drug contains large quantities of potassium salts, which accounts for its diuretic properties.

Fevers
Tea made from fenugreek seeds is equal in value to quinine in reducing fevers. It is particularly valuable as a cleansing and soothing drink. Fenugreek seeds, when moistened with water become slightly mucilaginous, and hence the tea made from with them has the power to dissolve sticky substance like mucus.

Healing Power and Curative Properties
The herb has been used in indigenous medicine from time immemorial. It is laxative and produces a cooling sensation. In large doses it induces vomiting. Medicinally, the most important part of the herb is die root. It has a bitter and nauseous taste. It is beneficial in the treatment of several common ailments.

Dropsy
Hog weed increases the secretion and discharge of urine. It is effective in the treatment of dropsy, a disease marked by an excessive collection of a watery fluid in the tissues and cavities or natural hollows of the body. The fresh boiled herb should be given in the treatment of this disease. A liquid extract of the fresh or dry plant can also be given in doses of 4 to 16 grams.

Ascities
The herb is useful in the treatment of ascites, a disease characterized by accumulation of fluid inside the peritoneal cavity of the abdomen. Much more powerful effect on certain types of ascites— that is, those caused due to the cirrhosis of the liver and chronic peritonitis than some of the other important diuretics known. The herb can be administered in the same manner as for dropsy.

Stomach Disorders
The drug is useful in strengthening the stomach and promoting its action. It is beneficial in the treatment of several stomach disorders, particularly intestinal colic. A powder of the root is given in doses of 5 grams thrice a day. It is also useful in killing or expelling intestinal worms.

Asthma
Hog weed promotes the removal of catarrhal matter and phlegm from the bronchial tubes. It is, therefore, beneficial in the treatment of asthma. A powder of the root can be taken in small doses three times a day.

Fevers
Hog weed is beneficial in the treatment of fevers. It brings down temperature by inducing copious perspiration.

Other Diseases
The root of the plant is useful in the treatment of several diseases particularly of the kidney and heart as well as gonorrhoea. It is also valuable in oedema, anemia, cough, pleurisy, nervous weakness, constipation and paralysis.

Skin Diseases
The root of the plant is an effective remedy for several skin diseases. A paste of the root can be applied beneficially as a dressing for edematous swellings. A hot poultice of the root can be applied with gratifying results to ulcers, abscesses and similar skin diseases. It is also used for extracting guinea-worms. Charaka, the great physician of ancient India, used it in the form of ointment in leprosy and other skin diseases.

Great Health Benefits of Wormwood Herbs

Wormwood is an aromatic, bitter, hairy perennial herb. It has effect and ribbed stems, 30 to 90 cm high. It has egg shaped leaves, 2.5 to 5 cm long which are hairy on both sides unequally into segments. It also has numerous, minute yellow dropping flower heads and small, dry and single seeded fruit.

The Latin name of the herb comes from the Greek goddess Artemis who took care of women during childbirth. It helped to bring on periods and could be used externally as a compress during labor to expel the placenta.

The active principles of Indian wormwood consist of volatile oil which has an odor resembling cajuput oil and camphor, santonnin and an allied body artemisin

Healing Power and Curative Properties
The whole herb is used medicinally, but its leaves are preferred. The fresh plant is considered more efficacious that a dry one. The herb is tonic, useful in strengthening the functioning the stomach and promoting its action. It stimulates appetite, the digestive juices, peristalsis or movement of the bowels the liver and gall bladder. True to its name, it also expels intestinal worms, especially round and threads worms.

Intestinal Worms
Wormwood had been used by ancient Greek, Roman, Arab and Persian to expel intestinal worms. The flowering tops have been and still used in the Tibbi medicine in India as a drug to kill intestinal worms. They are usually powdered and administered in 8 to 16 gram for roundworms and tapeworms.

The oil distilled from the plant also possesses the property to kill worms. Mixed with eight times its weight of olive oil, it can be given in doses of 50 to 100 grams. An infusion of the herb can be given for killing worms in the rectum.

Bilious Disorders
The herb is essential in the treatment of bilious melancholia besides depressing the yellow bile of jaundice from the skin. An infusion of the herb or its powder can be given in small doses

Skin Disorders
Wormwood helps disperse or absorb a tumor or any other coagulated fluid in case of skin diseases. It also acts as an antiseptic and cleanser. It can be pickled in vinegar and applied with beneficial results to sprains and bruises.

Other Diseases
Wormwood is also useful in several other diseases such as atonic diseases of the digestive system, nocturnal pollutions or ejaculations without the sex act, involuntarily during sleep without any erotic dream, anemia wasting diseases and general debility. It should be given in small doses of 0.756 to 1.25 decigrams in such treatments. The essential oil of the herb is used as a cardiac and respiratory stimulant.

Precautions: The drug should be avoided during pregnancy and if needed, should be taken only for short periods.

Health Benefits of Dandelion

Dandelion is a hardy perennial herb and a tasty salad vegetable. The flower stem of this plant grows up to a height of 30 cm. The sharply-toothed leaves form flat rosettes on the ground. The fleshy hollow stem carries a single bright yellow flower.

The common name dandelion comes from the French dent de lion, meaning lion's tooth and refers to the dentate leaf edges. However, some believe that the name is derived from the resemblance of the yellow flower petals to an heraldic lion's golden teeth. The name of the genus comes from the Greek taraxos meaning disorders and okas meaning remedy, indicating the curative qualities of the herb.

A very common plant, dandelion grows wild almost everywhere. Dandelion is native to Europe. In India it is found throughout the Himalayas, from 300 to 5400 meters and in the Mishmi Hills.

Nutritionally, the dandelion has remarkable value. It contains almost as much iron as spinach, four times the vitamin A content of lettuce and is a very rich source of magnesium, potassium, vitamin C, calcium and sodium. An analysis of dandelion shows it to consist of protein, fat and carbohydrates. Its mineral and vitamin contents are calcium, phosphorus, iron, magnesium, sodium, potassium, thiamine, riboflavin, vitamins C and A. Its calorific value is 45.

Dandelion contains a bitter crystalline principle, taraxacin and a crystalline substance, taraxacerin. It also contains the phytosterols, taraxasterol and humotaraxasterol.

Healing Power and Curative Properties
One can find the significant medicinal values of Dandelion from the Arabian writings of the 10th century, Welsh manuscripts of the 13th century and English herbal literature of the 16th and 17th centuries. Thanks to the efforts of herbalists, its virtues are now well known and respected, both for its therapeutic properties and as an alternative to tea and coffee.
The entire plant is used by many herbalists, although the tea is usually brewed from its root, which are a tonic. It increases the secretion and discharge of urine and acts as a mild purgative.

Bone Disorders
The readily available organic magnesium in dandelion makes the juice of the leaves, wilh or without the roots, valuable for all bone disorders. It is often mixed with juices of the leaves of carrots and turnips for treating these disorder

Liver and Gall Bladder Dysfunctions
Dandelion benefits both liver and gall bladder in their vital role of handling fats within the body and aiding the detoxifying role of the liver. It is, therefore, useful in the disorders of these organs. Combined with the juice of watercress and with a diet without meat or much sugar and starch, it helps to make the liver and the gall bladder normal, and exercises a beneficial effect upon the nervous system. Sufferers from hepatitis can greatly benefit, from dandelion tea.

General Debility
Dandelion can be used as a general body tonic for its influence in supporting waste functions of bowels, bladder and skin, which are the hard-working eliminating organs of our body,

Urinary Disorders
Dandelion tea, made from die buds, flowers, fresh leaves or even blanched leaves, can be very useful in cases of urinary disorders. Its familiar names of 'piss-le-lit' and l>ed-wetter' point to its characteristic effect, that of increasing die flow of urine. It can be very helpful in cases of slow start to passing urine. It is, however, important with most urinary troubles to drink plenty of water or other harmless, non-alcoholic drinks so that there can be a free flow of urine.

Warts
Dandelion is useful in the treatment of warts. The milk from the cut end of dandelion should be put on the wart twice or thrice a day

Other Uses
Tender leaves of dandelion are used as a tasty salad vegetable. The leaves should be torn to pieces rather than cut to keep their pungent flavour. These can also be cooked in a little boiling water or in combination with spinach and cooked in the same way. A tasty and beneficial soup can be made with chopped dandelion leaves. The dried leaves are used for tea and as an ingredient in diet drinks. Dandelion coffee is made from its dried, roasted and ground roots. It is a natural beverage, without the harmful effects of the conventional tea and coffee.

Effective Health Benefits of Bloodwort

Bloodwort is an erect herb, 30 to 60 cm high, with fine, soft hair. It has leafy, grooved stems and alternate, oblong tapering leaves, 5 to 10 cm long. Its flowers are small and crowded with thin scales. The fruits are flat, oblong shapes and shining.

The herb contains volatile oil, lactones, flavonoids, tannins, cpumarins, saponins, sterols, a bitter glyco alkaloid, cyndine, amino acid and acid sugars.

Healing Power and Curative Properties
Bloodwort is bitter, aromatic, stimulant and tonic. It is useful in arresting bleeding. It induces copious perspiration.

Fevers
Bloodwort is one of the best known herbal remedies for fevers. A hot infusion of the herb induces perspiration which cools fevers and expels tonic.

High Blood pressure
The herb is useful in treating high blood pressure. Like all sweat inducing remedies, bloodwort encourages blood flow to the skin which helps lower blood pressure. It is the alkaloid in bloodwort which has been reported to lower blood pressure.

Stomach Disorders
Bloodwort is a valuable remedy for several stomach disorders like colic, heartburn and flatulence. About 30 grams of its decoction may be taken every hour in the treatment of this disorder. A dessertspoon of fresh juice of the herb, taken thrice a day, aids digestion and gastric disorders.

Piles
As it arrests bleeding decoction of the infusion of the herb is useful in bleeding piles. The powdered leaves and the flower heads are useful as a carminative to relieve flatulence when given in 6 to 30 centigram doses.

Women’s diseases
A hot infusion of the leaves is a powerful emmenagogue (a drug which induces menses) and thus useful in promoting and regulating menstrual cycles. In case of irregular menstrual flow, about 30 grams of decoction of the herb can be taken every hour with beneficial results. The essential oil extracted from the flowers has proved beneficial in the treatment of disorders of the female reproductive organs. About 5 to 30 drops of the oil can be taken in treating such disorders.

Wounds
Bloodwort is an effective wound healer. The tannins in it are probably responsible for this property. It is good for all kinds of bleeding both external and internal.

Most Effective Health Benefits of Fenugreek

Fenugreek is an erect, strongly scented, robust, annual herb, about 30 to 80 cm high. It has compound leaves of light green colour, 2 to 2.5 cm long, yellow flowers and thin pointed pods. The seeds are brownish-yellow and have a peculiar odour.
Fenugreek is a native of Eastern Europe and Ethiopia. It has been used since ancient times both as a food and medicine by the people living on the shores of the Mediterranean and across Asia.

The leaves contain moisture 86.1 per cent, protein 4.4 per cent, fat 0.9 per cent, minerals 1.5 per cent, fiber 1.1 per cent and carbohydrates 6.0 per cent per 100 grams of edible portion. Its mineral and vitamin contents are calcium, phosphorus, iron, carotene, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin and vitamin C. Its calorific value is 49.

Fenugreek seeds contain moisture 13.7 per cent, protein 26.2 per cent, fat 5.8 per cent, minerals 3.0 per cent, fiber 7.2 per cent and carbohydrates 44.1 per cent per 100 grams. Their mineral and vitamin contents are calcium, phosphorus, carotene, thiamine, riboflavin and niacin. Several alkaloids have been found in fenugreek seeds. Its calorific value is 333.

The seeds contain alkaloid trigonelline and choline, essential oil and saponin. Trigonelline has highly toxic action on neuromuscular preparations. The seeds also contain fixed and volatile oil, mucilage, bitter extractive and a yellow coloring substance. Air-dried seeds contain a little amount of trigonedine and nicotinic acid.

Healing Power
Fenugreek has excellent medicinal virtues. Its regular use helps keep the body dean and healthy. The leaves of fenugreek are aromatic, cooling and mild laxative. The seeds exercise soothing effect on the skin and mucous membranes, relieving any irritation of the skin and alleviating swelling and pain. They increase the secretion and discharge of urine, relieve flatulence and promote lactation in nursing mothers. They also arrest any secretion or bleeding and have an aphrodisiac effect. They are ihe best cleansers within the body, highly mucus-solvent and soothing agents.

Digestive Disorders
Fenugreek leaves are beneficial in the treatment of indigestion, flatulence and sluggish liver. Boiled and fried in butter, they alleviate biliousness. The seeds are also useful in the treatment of colic, flatulence, dysentery, diarrhea and dyspepsia.

Anemia
The leaves help in blood formation. The cooked leaves help prevent anemia and run down condition in girls, usually associated with the onset of puberty and a sudden spurt in growth. The seeds also help in recovering from anemia, being rich in iron.

Deadened Senses
The seeds help restore the deadened senses of taste or smell. The sense of taste dulls due to improper functioning of the salivary glands which often become clogged with mucus and accumulated juices, causing swelling. Similarly, the sense of smell is obstructed due to prolonged accumulations of mucus and other impurities in the nose where the olfactory nerves, that is, the special sensory nerve of smell are based.

Fevers
Tea made from fenugreek seeds is equal in value to quinine in reducing fevers. It is particularly valuable as a cleansing and soothing drink. Fenugreek seeds, when moistened with water become slightly mucilaginous, and hence the tea made from with them has the power to dissolve sticky substance like mucus.

Stomach Disorders
This tea soothes inflamed stomach and intestines, cleansing the stomach, bowels, kidneys and respiratory tract of excess mucus. It is beneficial in the healing of peptic ulcers, as the mild coating of mucilaginous matter deposited by fenugreek provides a protective layer for the ulcers, when it passes through the stomach and intestines.

Respiratory Infections
During the early stages of any of the, respiratory tract infections, such as bronchitis, influenza, sinusitis, catarrh and suspected pneumonia, fenugreek tea helps the body to perspire, dispel toxicity and shorten the gestation period of fever. One can take upto 4 cups of the fenugreek tea. The quantity may be reduced as the condition improves. To improve flavor, a few drops of lemon juice can be used. During the treatment, no other food or nourishment should be taken, as fasting aids the body to correct these respiratory problems in a few days.

Bad Breath and Body Odour
The tea is also beneficial in bad breath and body odour. Unpleasant odors emanate from the body due to accumulations of hardened mucus and other toxins in the nasal and oral passages, the gastro-intestinal tract, the urinary tract, the blood and the vagina. Fenugreek tea, taken regularly helps remove these accumulations from these spots where mouthwash and soap can never penetrate.

According to Lelord Kordel, one of the world's most famous nutritionist, "So potent are the volatile oils in fenugreek and so thorough a job of cleansing do they perform, that often a decided fragrance of fenugreek seeds emanates from the body jx>res of a person using the herb regularly. These oils seek out and penetrate the most remote crevices and creases of the membranous linings within the body cavities. The volatile oils are absorbed into the cell tissues to do their job of rejuvenating our body. Some of them finally find their way into the sweat glands to cleanse and awaken any sluggishness in these parts."

Diabetes
Fenugreek seeds can also be taken for diabetes. The normal dose is 2 teaspoons of powdered seeds taken daily in broth or milk. Two teaspoons of the seeds can also be swallowed whole, daily. Alternatively, they may be soaked in a cup of water at night and the water taken in the morning.

Dandruff
Fenugreek seeds are useful in the removal of dandruff. Two tablespoonfuls of the seeds are soaked overnight in water. In the morning, the softened seeds are ground into a fine paste and applied on the scalp and left on for half an hour. The hair is then washed thoroughly with soapnut (rita nut) solution or shikakai. A paste of the fresh leaves of fenugreek applied over the scalp regularly before washing (he hair also cures dandruff.

Mouth Ulcers
The herb helps in the healing of mouth ulcers. An infusion of the leaves is used as a gargle for recurrent ulcers.

Sore throat
A gargle made from fenugreek seeds is best for ordinary sore throat For the gargle, the solution should be much stronger than the tea. Two tablespoons of fenugreek seeds are put in a litre of water and allowed to simmer for half an hour over a low flame. It is cooled to room temperature and strained. The entire liquid is used as a gargle.

Leucorrhoea
Fenugreek tea used as a douche is very effective in treating leucorrhoea. The solution is prepared in the same manner as for throat gargle.

Swellings
A poultice of the leaves can be applied with advantage in external and internal swellings. It is also useful in burns due to its cooling properties.

Other Uses
Beauty Aid: A paste of the fresh leaves applied over the scalp regularly before taking bath, helps hair grow, while preserving the natural color and keeping the hair silky. The paste applied on the face every night before going to bed and washed with warm water, prevents one from getting pimples, blackheads, and dryness of the face and early appearance of wrinkles. It also improves complexion and makes one look years younger.

Pregnancy and Lactation: The seeds fried in ghee are finely powdered, with wheat flour and sugar to prepare a halwa. Taken in small quantity daily, this helps in quick normalization after delivery. The seed, made into gruel, and given to nursing mothers increases the flow of milk.

Steaming is considered the best method of cooking leaves; in this the vitamins are retained and the vegetable becomes palatable. The dried leaves can be compared to pulses for their protein content. They supplement the lysine-deficient cereal diets.
In Indian homes, fenugreek seeds are generally used as a condiment for flavoring. They form an ingredient of curry powder. They are also used in bread and bakery products in Egypt and Ethiopia. In Switzerland they are used for flavoring cheese. In the U.S.A. they are used in the preparation of spice blends and a wide variety of soups and stews. The seeds are used in the preparation of hair tonics and cosmetics in Java.