Here I am going to discuss three most common but precious Ayurvedic medicines found in your house. They may be in your home kitchen or may be in the home garden.
Turmeric or Haridra
Turmeric which is also called as Indian saffron and its botanical name is curcuma Longa .Actually as we know that turmeric is a root, specially a finger like rhizome.
The primary bulb and the rhizome part is having medicinal importance for the presence of the yellowing matter. It manly consists of the essential oil called as ptolymethylcarbinol. The volatile oil consists of turmerone and zingiberene.
There are mainly two types of compounds found in turmeric – the bitter compounds and the aromatic compounds. The bitter compound mainly helps to relieve pain and any type of inflammation in the mucosal tissue; it also helps for the bile production. The aromatic compounds acts as antiseptic and sometimes helps in the production of digestive fluids.
Turmeric is used as spice, a primary components of curry powders. Turmeric is having antioxidant properties and inhibits the degradation of polyunsaturated fattyacids , thus it is very useful in degenerative diseases Like Cancer, Hodgkins disease, Alzheimer disease. Turmeric is having cytoprotective effects which in result inhibit chemically induced carcinogenesis.
Turmeric actually activates the immune system, its very useful as anti-inflammatory activity, diabetes, hay fever, bursitis, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis .Its having antidermatitic activity which is very useful in scabies and different wound healing. Its act as uterine stimulant it stimulates the liver function and acts as hepato-protective. It is used as preservative due to the presence of antibacterial activity; it can also be used in eye infection.
Overall in the tradition of India Turmeric is used for cleansing purpose to the entire body in case of fever. This old herb is also same useful in this modern era too.
TULSI
Tulsi , named as basil is aromatic in nature , its latin name is Ocimum Sanctum. Actually in India it is famous as holy plant, the hindus specially worship the tulsi plant and have at least one plant in their house.
The whole tulsi plant is having medicinal importance - its stem, skin, leaves and seeds.
In the fever tulsi is used as it reduces the temperature of the body, during ashthma bronchitis it helps in reduction of extra secretions in respiratory tract. As its having anti-viral and anti-bacterial action, it could be used in cold flue and during viral hepatitis. During ear pain, tulsi been used as pain killer.
Tulsi is a good antidote for snake and scorpion bite. In diabetes it is used to reduce the blood sugar level. It reduces the spasmodic pain during abdominal colic.In case of tuberculosis this herbal medicine been compared with some marketed drugs like Isoniazid and streptomycin. It is having a very effective anti-malarial action and could be used as mosquito repellent.
Tulsi improves the immunity of human body by increasing the antibody level. Tulsi been used in ringworm infection of skin. The aroma of tulsi is very much conductive to meditation .
GINGER
The dried form of ginger is called as Shunthi. Its botanical name is Zingiber Officialis .It is spicy and having bitter in taste.
The active ingredients of ginger are 2-5% of volatile oils which are medicinally active ingredients. The pungent principles are for gingerols. The medically useful parts are the roots.
In giddiness and migraine headache, ginger being used or applied on the forehead. In fever it is applied in the body, it increases the appetite in case of indigestion. In case of nausea, vomiting, motion sickness, ginger been used. In diarrhoea it reduces the pain in abdomen and solidifies the stool.
It increases the sperm count and reduces the heart pain .It is a very useful appetizer and been used in case of oedema. It reduces the pain in urethritis, but yes it is contra –indicated in peptic ulcer.
