Garlic

Garlic or Allium Sativum as it is scientifically known belongs to the plant.

The plant is erect, and belongs to the same family as onions i.e. it is an annual herb. Entire plant that is the bulb, leaves, flowers are all edible though the cloves of the bulb are most popularly used. These are used either raw or roasted.

Early documents speak of garlic implying that it was grown in England, despite this it is not found in English cuisine.

It is medicinal ayurveda uses this extensively. Cherokee Indians use garlic as an expectorant. It is a potent antibacterial, antimicrobial and antifungal.

Medical use:

•  In treating common colds, asthma and bronchitis. A study conducted in 2001 where 146 volunteers for 12 weeks 24 of the garlic users showed reduced attacks of common cold as compared to the 64 in the placebo group.
• Arthrosclerosis,
•  It reduces cholesterol level as per the study conducted in 2009 comparing it with placebo.
• A possible reduction in cancer on regular intake of garlic was demonstrated by 19 studies in 2001
• Can cause vasodilatation
• Decreases platelet aggregation
• Regulates blood sugar level on regular use as in lowers homocystiens. This also helps in reducing the complication of diabetes mellitus.

Adverse effects                                being Halitosis, irritable bowel diahorrea, oral ulcers, anaphylaxis, thin’s blood particularly during pregnancy. It can also interfere with some drugs.

Storing garlic:  has to be stored in a dry open container. If at all it has been stored in vegetable oil then refrigerating is a must toavoid Botticelli formation.

Cooking garlic:   the thumb rule when cooking garlic is the finer it is cut the stronger is itsaroma and flavour.

Raw garlic has maximum smell

When cooked whole the flavour mellows to a sweet, nutty flavour.

While sautéing beware for it turns bitter on slightest of over frying.

Growing garlic:

Garlic grows well with other plants and flowers. For symbolic or practical reasons it is sowed on the shortest day of the year. It needs plenty of sunlight, and should not be very damp.

Cloves should be planted 4” apart from each other, and rows should be 18” apart.

Tolerates a pH range between 5.5 acidic to 8.5 alkaline.

It is not commonly troubled by pests, though if the root turns pink then the growth is stunted.

Kingdom	Plant Angiosperm Monocot
Order	Aspargates
Family	Alliacea
Subfamily	Alliodeae
Tribe	Alliene
Genus	Allium

 

Tulasi– the Holy Basil.

The north-east corner of most Hindu houses finds an aromatic plant symbolically called Vishnupriya, the love of Vishnu, contained in a flower-pot called the Vrindavan. This is a revered plant and is considered auspicious; the soil in which it is grown is also believed to become pure. Taxonomically the Tulasi belongs to family Labiatae and is called Ocimum Sanctum Linn. It presents itself as the white —shweta—Rama Tulasi popular in ritualistic use and the dark—Krishna Tulasi is predominantly used in medicines. Recent study by a group in Jammu have identified fifty strains world wide. Though the herb is very sturdy and grows in any kind of soil it flourishes best in black fertile soil. The major chemical constituents of Tulasi are Oleanolic acid, Ursolic acid, Rosmarinic acid, Eugenol, Carvacrol, beta_caryophyllene, Linalool Tulasi is a potent antibacterial, antiviral and insecticide. the leaves are processed and distilled the available alkaloid is medicinally used to treat cough, asthma, skin disorder, enhance oxygen levels in the blood, specially use for ladies uterine disorder. It is also a anti-inflammatory and pain-killer. The Tulasi plant is ritualistically believed to release the pranavayu or vital breathe which improve longevity, this is due to the high oxygen levels released by the leaves along with traces of aromatic oils that is breathed in with the waft. Tulasi ritualistically is used very abundantly. Tradition has it that women have to water the Tulasi, at dawn going three rounds, this is believed to purify the sins, Tulasi requires water, this is a symbiotic process where the housewife who inhales carbon monoxide exuded by the traditional cooking fire () is {countered and exposure to the rising sun activates the vit.D3 levels. Another reason for the insistence of growing Tulasi in one’s home was to have it available for home remedies. As its presence ensures a house free of insects and related ill-health, the security of antiseptic and emergency medicine Tulasi attains the honor of being the purifier of all sins in Hindu culture and mythology and the house is believed to be sanctified with its presence

 

By Dr.Archana Gaonkar

Seabuck thorn

            Is an interesting plant found in the cold deserts of Himachal. Jammu and Kashmir. This is rich in vitamins and cholesterol bursting properties. Contemporary medicine has now found it useful to treat jaundice, though folk and Tibetan medicine have been using it for generations.

            India is the 5^th largest producer of this.  Scientifically it is known as hippophae rhamnoides in 2007 1.4crores worth of berries were sold which is less that 5% of the regions  potential.

            It produces orange berries and is also found along the Atlantic coast.

            Helps in soil and water conservation, desertification control, land reclamation, erosion and water control and even reforestation.

            Seabuck thorn are also excellent nitrogen fixers.

            Called ‘Chharma’ in some native languages, oil from fruits and seeds is used for liver diseases, inflammation, disorders of the gastrointestinal system, including peptic ulcers and gastritis, eczema, canker sores and other ulcerative disorders of mucosal tissues, wounds, inflammation, burns, frostbite, psoriasis, rosacea, lupus erythematosus, and chronic dermatoses. In ophthalmology, berry extracts have been used for keratosis, trachoma, eyelid injuries and conjunctivitis. The sea-buckthorn is also known to kill tiny parasitic mites called Demodex.

 

Constituents of Sea Buckthorn Fruit (per 100 grams fresh berries)
Vitamin C	200-1,500 mg (typical amount: 600 mg)
Vitamin E (mixed tocopherols)	Up to 180 mg (equal to about 270 IU)
Folic acid	Up to 80 mcg
Carotenoids, including beta carotene, lycopene, zeaxanthine; these contribute the yellow-orange-red colors of the fruit	30-40 mg
Fatty acids (oils); the main unsaturated fatty acids are oleic acid (omega-9), palmitoleic acid (omega-7), palmitic acid and linoleic acid (omega-6), and linolenic acid (omega-3); there are also saturated oils and sterols (mainly β-sitosterol)	6-11% (3-5% in fruit pulp, 8-18% in seed); fatty acid composition and total oil content vary with subspecies
Organic acids other than ascorbic (e.g., quinic acid, malic acid; ingredients similar to those found in cranberries)	Quantity not determined; expressed juice has pH of 2.7-3.3
Flavonoids (e.g., mainly isorhamnetin, quercetin glycosides, and kaempferol; these are the same flavonoids as found in Ginkgo biloba.	100-1,000 mg (0.1% to 1.0%)

Health application of seabuck thorn.

The flavonoids make sea buckthorn an medicinally useful plant. 5 focal area of research are GI disorder, particularly ulcers, internal and topical therapy for skin disorders liver protective agent and a remedy for liver cirrhosis.

HEALTH APPLICATIONS

Sea buckthorn has been shown to have a potent antioxidant activity, mainly attributed to its flavonoids and vitamin C content ² Both the flavonoids and the oils from sea buckthorn have several potential applications ³ There are five areas of research that have been focal points for their use: as an aid to patients undergoing cancer therapy; a long-term therapy for reduction of cardiovascular risk factors; treatment of gastrointestinal ulcers; internal and topical therapy for a variety of skin disorders; and as a liver protective agent (for chemical toxins) and a remedy for liver cirrhosis.

Cancer therapy: Most of the work done in this area has been with laboratory animals. A group in India headed by HC Geol. (at the Department of Radiation Biology, Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Allied Sciences, in Delhi) has published several reports on the potential of a hippophae extract (an alcohol extract, which would mainly contain the flavonoids) to protect the bone marrow from damage due to radiation; his group also showed that the extract may help faster recovery of bone marrow cells ⁴ In China, a study was done to demonstrate faster recovery of the hemopoietic system after high dose chemotherapy (with 5-FU) in mice fed the sea buckthorn oil ⁵ The seed oil has been found to enhance non-specific immunity and to provide anti-tumor effects in preliminary laboratory studies ^6,7.

Cardiovascular diseases: In a double-blind clinical trial conducted in China ⁸ 128 patients with ischemic heart disease were given total flavonoids of sea buckthorn at 10 mg each time, three times daily, for 6 weeks. The patients had a decrease in cholesterol level and improved cardiac function; also they had less angina than those receiving the control drug. No harmful effect of sea buckthorn flavonoids was noted in renal functions or hepatic functions. The mechanism of action may include reduced stress of cardiac muscle tissue by regulation of inflammatory mediators ⁹ In a laboratory animal study, the flavonoids of sea buckthorn were shown to reduce the production of pathogenic thromboses ¹⁰ Some simple formulas based on sea buckthorn have been developed recently for treating cardiac disorders. For example, there is a liquid preparation of sea buckthorn flavonoids with carthamus (safflower) and licorice, called Ai Xin Bao (from the Shanxi Ai Xin Biological Technology Development Center), which is intended for use in treatment of coronary heart disease and sequelae of heart attack and stroke, through improving blood circulation and restoring cardiac function.

Gastric ulcers: Hippophae is traditionally used in the treatment of gastric ulcers, and laboratory studies confirm the efficacy of the seed oil for this application ^11,12 Its functions may be to normalize output of gastric acid and reduce inflammation by controlling pro-inflammatory mediators.

Liver cirrhosis: A clinical trial demonstrated that sea buckthorn extracts helped normalize liver enzymes, serum bile acids, and immune system markers involved in liver inflammation and degeneration ¹³ In addition, sea buckthorn oil protects the liver from damaging effects of toxic chemicals, as revealed in laboratory studies ¹⁴

Skin: An ingredient of the oil, palmitoleic acid, is a component of skin. It is considered a valuable topical agent in treating burns and healing wounds. This fatty acid can also nourish the skin when taken orally if adequate quantities of sea buckthorn or its oil are consumed; this is a useful method for treating systemic skin diseases, such as atopic dermatitis ¹⁵). The only other major plant source of palmitoleic acid is macadamia nuts; the oil is used to nourish the skin. Sea buckthorn oil is already widely used alone or in various preparations topically applied for burns, scalds, ulcerations, and infections. It is an ingredient in sunblock-hippophae oil has UV-blocking activity as well as emollient properties-and it is an aid in promoting regeneration of tissues ¹⁶. The fruit

References

1. Journal of science, food and agriculture.
2. Rosch D, et al., Structure-antioxidant efficiency relationships of phenolic compounds and their contribution to the antioxidant activity of sea buckthorn juice, Journal of Agricultural Food Chemistry 2004; 51(15): 4233-4239.

1. Li TSC and Schroeder WR, Sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides): A multipurpose plant, Horticultural Technology 1996; 6(4): 370-378.
2. Agrawala PK and Goel HC, Protective effect of RH-3 with special reference to radiation induced micronuclei in mouse bone marrow, Indian Journal of Experimental Biology 2002 May; 40 (5): 525-530.
3. Chen Y, et al., Study on the effects of the oil from Hippophae rhamnoides in hematopoiesis, Chinese Herbal Drugs 2003; 26(8): 572-575.
4. Yu Let et al., Effects of Hippophae rhamnoides juice on immunologic and antitumor functions, 1993 Acta Nutrimenta Sinica 15(3): 280-283.
5. Zhong Fei, et al., Effects of the total flavonoid of Hippophae rhamnoides on nonspecific immunity in animals, Shanxi Medical Journal 1989; 18(1): 9-10.
6. Zhang Maoshun, et al., Treatment of ischemic heart diseases with flavonoids of Hippophae rhamnoides, Chinese Journal of Cardiology 1987; 15(2): 97-99.
7. Xiao Z, et al., The inhibitory effect of total flavonoids of hippophae on the activation of NF-kappa ß by stretching cultured cardiac myocytes, Sichuan University Medical Journal 2003; 34(2): 283-285.
8. Cheng J, et al., Inhibitory effects of total flavones of Hippophae rhamnoides on thrombosis in mouse femoral artery and in vitro platelet aggregation, Life Sciences 2003; 72(20): 2263-2271.
9. Zhou Yuanpeng, et al., Study on the effect of hippophae seed oil against gastric ulcer, 1998 Institute of Medical Plants Resource Development, The Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing.
10. Xing J, et al., Effects of sea buckthorn seed and pulp oils on experimental models of gastric ulcer in rats, Fitoterapia 2002; 73(7-8): 644-650.
11. Gao ZL, et al., Effect of sea buckthorn on liver fibrosis: a clinical study, World Journal of Gastroenterology 2003; 9(7): 1615-1617.
12. Cheng T, et al., Acute toxicity of flesh oil of Hippophae rhamnoides and its protection against experimental hepatic injury, Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 1990; 15(1): 45-47, 64.
13. Yang Baoru, et al., Effects of dietary supplementation of sea buckthorn oils on fatty acids in patients with atopic dermatitis, 1999 Proceedings of the International Sea Buckthorn Congress, ICRTS, Beijing.
14. Ianev E, et al., The effect of an extract of sea buckthorn on the healing of experimental skin wounds in rats, Dermatology 1995; 48(3): 30-33.

 

 

Naati madhu

Naati madhu Or folk medicine These are medications handed by folk healers using available herbs. They are not aware of how the disease emerges or how the medication exactly works, but they are aware of the symptoms and what cures the symptoms. It is learnt partly as hand me downs and partly by observing nature. Some popular Naati medicines are: • Delayed menstruation the root of the coconut tree is made to paste with cows milk this should be taken twice ad ay. Till periods begin. • Excessive bleeding the root of hibiscus and the root of lotus are blended in equal quantity and dispensed through cow’s milk as vehicle. • White discharge: is handled by pounding root of cotton trees and mixing it with the extract with honey and taking it in.