Aloe Vera - Lily of the desert

scientific name - Aloe Vera
English - Aloe Vera
Ayurveda- Ghrit Kumari
Tamil -  Sotru Kattraalai

Aloe Vera has long been a popular houseplant. Aloe Vera is a plant of many surprises. It is often called the 'miracle plant' or the 'natural healer'. It flourishes in warm and dry climates, and to many people it looks like a cactus with fleshy thorny leaves. In fact it is a member of the Lily family, staying moist where other plants wither and die by closing its pores to prevent moisture loss.

However, they make excellent house plants when they are given sufficient light. Potted Aloes benefit from spending the summer outdoors. Older specimens may even bloom, producing a tall stock covered with bright colored coral flowers. Aloe flower nectar is a favorite of hummingbirds!

Benefits

As balm for cut and burns

 Aloe vera has been used for centuries as a natural cure-all for human body until it is called as 'first aid  plant". Many people keep an aloe plant in their kitchen to help sooth burns, cuts and scrapes. If you burn yourself whilecooking, an immediate application of the inner gel of the Aloe leaf has relieved much of the pain and prevented blistering. It works as a wonderful soothing balm.  The aloe vera and juice contain restorative properties that can be beneficial for all types of thermal burns (injuries caused by temperature changes), including radiation burns and sunburn. Besides containing salicylic acid, which acts a soothing agent, the Aloe gel also has properties that help protect and heal the damaged skin.

Therefore, aloe vera can be use as action healing. Aloe has components that enhance wound healing through biosynthesis of collagen (protein) fiber in the wound area. It contains high levels of calcium, potassium, and zinc as well as vitamins C and E. These are good especially in wound healing.

It’s the action of removing dead skin, replacing it with new skin cells. It also allows the flow of blood through the veins and arteries, clearing them of small clots and lowers the risk of inflection.

Treat skin problems

Aloe vera juice and gel have proved helpful in treating many types of skin problems including insect bites, rashes, dry-chapped skin, abrasions, fever blisters, diaper rash, razor burns and fungal inflections. It also found to be quite effective to relieve itching from stings, bites and various 'stinging' plants, such as poison ivy. It is also good for the same problems, when they are encountered by your pets. When you need to use it medicinally, just remove a lower leaf from the plant, slice it open, and apply the gel on the affected area.

Beauty Products

Aloe vera being rich in Minerals, Amino acids, vitamins and fiber, aloe vera helps cell regeneration thereby boosting the immunity of the body. It is good for skin or cell regeneration.

We also can deactivate the aloin (yellow or brown liquid from the rind that will irritate the skin) by boiling it in water for 5 minutes. Then use the gel as a skincare treat or a hair gel.

The juice of the fleshy leaves is usually mixed with gogo by the Filipino women to prevent falling of the hair and to cure baldness. The juice from the leaves mixed with wine preserves the hair.

Internal Healing

Aloe Vera Juice is favored by those looking to maintain a healthy digestive system and a natural energy level with optimum health and nutrition. It can be  made by boiling pure aloe vera gel without the "rind" or so called, "whole leaf". It provides your body with 200 health promoting compounds, including 20 minerals, 18 amino acids and 12 vitamins.

Juice made from aloe vera gel good for:-

1.     Treating Digestive Problems

Three times daily take 1 to 2 Tablespoon of aloe juice/gel. This will act like a general tonic and mild regulator of the bowels.

2.     Immune Function and Support

It contains a hormone that accelerates growth of new cells, also eliminating the old ones. Aloe helps protect the skin’s immune system. Besides, aloe vera provides natural support for the immune system.

3.     Heal stomach gases 

4.     Energy boosting

 Aloe vera boosts the body energy.

5.   Asthma

 Boil Aloe Vera stems in a pot of water and breathe in the vapor.

6.   Treats Heart burn, Acidosis

7.   Liver and kidney detoxification

 Aloe Vera juice detoxify the organs of the residue waste material.

8.   Diabetes

 Aloe Vera stabilizes the body sugars.

9.   Treat intestinal worms and wounds

10.  Arthritis Treatments

We can dice up Aloe Vera leaves and place pieces in a jar of water, refrigerate. Then, we drink 4 tablespoons per day and top up water in the jar as consumed. The drink can be bitter but it does go away over time. Some may find relief right away; many don’t find relief until a couple months later. Make a fresh jar of leaves as needed.

Bilimbi/Irumban Puli

Scientific name : Averrhoa Bilimbi Linn.

English : Bilimbi/ Cucumber tree

Ayurvedha : Karmaranga/ Karmsaraka

Tamil : Irumban Puli/ Bilimbi

Bilimbi is a tropical plant. It is found throught Malaysia. Especially grown in vilages or housing areas. It grows in any type of soil and does not require intensive care. Bilimbi tree is a medium tall tree with lots of branches. Its leaf has two small strips leaflets and stacked neatly on both sides of the vein. This leaves easily fall from the stalk. Flowers of the tree are appear either on the tree trunk or on matured branches. It is red in color.

The tree Bilimbi fruits are often found in in a clusters. The fruits are available throughtout the year and it bears hundreds of fruits per year. The fruits are very crunchy when unripe. The tender fruits are bright-green in colour and turn  to yellowish-green, when they are ripe. Once ripen they fall on the ground. The outer skin is shiny, very thin and gentle, and the flesh will be greenish-white in color which will be very juicy and extremely sour.The fruit has a few flattened seeds which is brown in color.

            The fruit has a high concentration of oxalic acid. It is very useful for cleaning and bleaching especilly brasswares. Since brass is made of zinc and copper, its tarnishes easily. A non-coated brassware need a a good work to bring back its shine. A natural ingredient or cleaner at home like tamarind, lemon and rock salt will do the best. As far as I know, the the fully ripen bilimbi fruit  is one of the best natural cleaner for brassware. I use to clean my prayer vessels by squizing the fruit with rock salt on the prayer vessels and clean with water and dry it. And, the shine is back as newly bought. You may try it at home. No harm trying as the fruit can be a natural mosturaizer to your hands as well.

There are some other benefits of the fruit:-

Cosmatic

1. Facial Cleanser  

Pound some fresh and tender fruits. Mix it with the home-made body powder (bedak sejuk). Make it a mask, leave it for 10 minutes. Then rinse with warm water. You can feel the smootheness of the skin.

2. Eliminate acne

Grind or mash some fresh fruits. Add a little lemon juice. Apply on the infected acne. Wait a few minutes and rinse with running water. Do three times a day.

4. Ringworm

Pound a few pieces of fresh fruit and add a little white lime paste (Sunnnambu) and dab on infected skin. Let stand for 5 minutes and rinse off with water. Do it daily.

Health

1. Lowering blood pressure

Mash some fresh fruits. Drink the extraction mix with water for 2-3 times a day. 

2. Cough / phlegm

Pound few pieces of fresh fruit and the get the juice. Add 2 tablespoons of salt water and drink 2 times a day or boil some fresh fruits, leaves and flowers in equal quantities and drink the water 2 times daily or boiled some flowers with a little handful of pennywort (vallarai) juice (pounded and take juice), 2 red onion and 1 cinnamon stick. Filter the broth and mix it with honey before drinking. Drink it three times a day.

3. Toothache

Pound some flowers and paste it on the aching tooth or chew some fruit with salt.

4. dizziness

Pound some fruits to make a drinks or brew some leaves to make a drinks.

4. Diabetes

Drink the fruit juice (do not over-drink as fruit juices contain high oxalic content which can have side effects such as kidney disease of the urinary tract)

5. Hypertension

Boil some fresh fruits. Drinking the water after breakfast every morning.

6. Infant jaundice

Bath the baby with decoction of the leaves

7. joint pain
Make a fine paste with the leaves and  apply on the body. Wait for few minutes before taking a hot bath. Also good for the skin and get rid of ringworm.

8. High fever
Pound or crush the leaves with a little water. Place on a cloth. Place the cloth on his head. It helps to cool fevers.

9. Relieve itchiness

Make a paste with the fruits and apply on the body before bath. Good for the new mothers. It is used as soap as it has anti bacterial properties.

Food

1. As a syrup full of vitamin C

2. Replace vinegar or tamarind

Karpuravalli

Scientific name : Plectracthus Amboinicus
English : Indian borage / Indian mint / Cuban Oregano
Ayurveda : Patta Ajwain
Siddha : Omavalli
Tamil : Karpuravalli

It is used as a common herb in south Asian countries. It is a tender and fleshy perennial plant. It is planted as a home garden or potted plant. It is highly aromatic (camphor/karpuram aroma) with short, soft and hairy leaves. It can be planted just by stem cutting. It grows very fast with little water and sunlight.

Medicinal use 
treating cold, cough and fever in infants
improve digestion and stimulate appetite for small children
cure hiccough
cure malaria fever
treat sore throat and nasal congestion
relief stomach problems  such as flatulence, nausea and diarrhoea
antiseptic - treating infections, wounds, skin allergy, skin ulcer
prevent rheumatism
cure chronic asthma
promote liver health
treat epilepsy
combat colic pain
treat venomous insect bite
cure headache

Use as Food
dip the leaves in batter to make pakora or mix together to make bajji
flavoring meats
meat tenderizer
use as salad

How to use
1. leaves are crushed and the juice extracted (heated up for a while) will be mix with honey or sweetened water for infant and children
2. brew some leaves to make concoction
3. make tea using the leaves - add sugar (rock sugar) and drink
4. just chew some leaves together with some sweet stuffs
5. crush some leaves and patch it on wounds or insect bites

Aruvatham Patchai

Scientific name - Ruta Graveolens
English - Rue or herb of grace
Siddha - sada pillai
Tamil- Aruvatham patchai

It is a delicate plant until it is called as herb of grace. It is easily wither if it is happen to be touched with impurity  hands. Indians see it as one of the sacred plants. It has a special fragrance. The leaves are bitter in taste. It is a great help for newborn baby care. But, it is recommended to use in a small quantity.

Benefits:-
1. the leaves are used for treating discomfort or indigestion (non-stop crying) and also sudden burst of tremors or quivering among newborn babies - the leaves (one or two) are rolled to make small amulet and tie it to the infant hand as a wristband. Baby will sniff the leaves whenever it brings the hand close to the nose. This cures the discomfort in the baby.

2. crushed leaves are use to make cough syrup or decoction to prevent or combat phlegm.

3. boil few leaves to make decoction and drink it for improve bowel movement and detoxification.

4. smoke the dried leaves to purify the air and deter insects and also to fungal free our home environment.

5. can be used as edible food and salad dressing.

Now it is planted as an ornamental garden plant. Its bluish leaves and tolerance to the extreme climate and poor soil  make it  gardeners choice to beautify gardens. Its also good as insect repellent. It can be used to deter some animals that messing up our garden like cats - cats dislike the smell of this plant.

Puli

Scientific name - Tamarindus indica
English - Tamarind
Ayurveda -  Thinthrinee
Tamil - Puli

Its native is Sudan, Africa. But, it was introduced to India long ago. It has been adopted into Indian culture until worldwide it has been perpetuates the illusion of Indian origin.

Tamarind fruits are collected/ harvested by shaking the branches or let the ripe fruits fall naturally. The fruit is shelled and sprinkled lightly with salt as preservative. To store it for long the pulp should be steamed or sun dried for several days.

The fruit is generally, sour in taste. But, there are some sweet varieties  also, such as "Makhamwaan" from Thailand and "Manila Sweet" from USA.

The pulp of the is rich in calcium, phosphorus, iron, thiamine, riboflavin and niacin. Tender or young green fruits are rich in ascorbic acid.

The use:-

Food
1. tender fruit is cooked as seasoning with rice, fish or meat
2. the pulp is soaked and extracted to make chudneys, curries and sauces
3. seeded pulps are coated with sugar to eat as sweetmeats
4. homemade tamarind cordial drinks
5. commercial production of spiced tamarind beverages

In Industry
6. kernels are used to produce 'jellose', 'polyose' or 'pectin' -gel-forming substance.
-  It is used in manufacturing jellies, jams and marmalade.
-  It can be used to preserve fruits
-  It is used as stabilizer in ice cream, mayonnaise and cheese.
-  It is used as an ingredient or agent in some pharmaceutical products
7. The powder made from grinding the tamarind kernels are used:-
-  to sizing and finishing cotton, jute and spun viscose
-  for dressing homemade blankets
-  for colour printing of textiles, paper sizing, leather treating
-  for manufacturing structural plastic, a type of glue for wood, a stabilizer in bricks, a binder in         sawdust briquettes and a thickener in some explosives
-  painting dolls and idols as it produce  amber oil which works as illuminant or varnish
7. Its wood it hard, heavy, strong , durable and insect resistance. It is a good source for:-
-  furniture, tool handles, wheel, panelling, planks for boats, ploughs, rice pounders, mortars and
    pestles etc.
-  charcoal for manufacturing gun-powder
-  fuel for brick kiln
-  ashes for tanning and de-hairing goat-skin
-  young stems for walking sticks

Medicine
8. The tamarind pulp preparation is used as :-
-   refrigerants in fevers
-   laxatives
-   combating flatulence
-   remedy for biliousness or bile disorders
-   pulp extract and salt mixture (diluted) to gargle for sore throat
-   pulp extract and salt mixture (thick) applied as ointments for rheumatism and sun strokes
-   pulp extract for the restoration of senses for paralysis cases
-   tamarind drinks for digestion and alcoholic intoxication
-   vermifuge domestic animals - cattle, goats, elephant
9. The tamarind leaves and flowers (dried and boiled) are used  as :-
-   bandages for swollen joints, sprains and boils
-   treating Pink eye (Madras eye/conjunctivitis)  
-   antiseptic
-   treating dysentery
-   combating jaundice
-   curing erysipelas (red skin)
-   treating hemorrhoids
10. The bark of the tree (fried with salt and powdered)
-   cures indigestion and colic
-   herbal drinks curbs gingivitis, asthma and eye inflammations
-   ashes are applied open sores and rashes
11. The tamarind roots are made herbal drinks to cure :-
-   chest complaints
-   leprosy   

Siakai

Scientific name - Acaccia Cincinna
English - Shikakai/ Soap pod
Ayurveda - Shikakai
Siddha - Siakai/Shikaikai ( Shikai-treses , Kai-fruit)

Part to be used :- fruit pods, leaves and bar

How to use :- sun dried and ground to make powder or paste

Benefits:-
1. traditional shampoo (preserve scalp's natural oils)
2. good scalp cleanser (extremely mild cleanser with very low pH)
3. hair detangler (no need to use conditioner)
4. anti-dandruff
5. strengthen hair roots
6. promotes hair growth
7. coolant for the scalp
8. increase bounciness and silkiness of the hair
9. remove dirt and excess oil accumulated on the scalp
10. helps darken the hair
11. enhance natural hair dye (good preparation before hair colouring)

 Dried shikakai pod

powdered shikakai

Thiruneetru patchai

Scientific name - Ocimum basilicum Linn
English - Java Tea/ Cat's Whiskers
Tamil - Thiruneetru patchai/ Siva Tulasi

It is an tropical herbaceous shrub (height of 1.5 meters). Its flowers are  unique (purple or white and bluish with filaments) resembling a cat’s whiskers. It can be seen growing in the forest and along roadsides.
 

The benefits :-
1. treats ailments of the kidney, kidney stone, bladder stone, gall bladder,  
2. treats urinary tract infection
3. control and normalize the urge to urinate
4. treats back pain
5. treats cold and cough
6.anti-allergic, antihypertensive, antiseptic and anti-inflammatory
7. remedy for capillary and circulatory disorders
8. prevents and control diabetes/ stabilize and normalize sugar level
9. remedy for rheumatism and gout
10. Anti fungal and anti-bacterial
11. treats muscle and joints pain associated with cold
12. reduces cholesterol and high blood pressure

 

 

How to use:-
 
1. flowers, stem and leaves (fresh or dried) are used make  herbal tea drinks
2. fresh flowers and leaves are crushed or mashed to extract herbal substance
3. chew fresh leaves
4. make salad
5. cook as vegetable
6. dried flowers, stem, leaves are powdered to make capsules

                                                                                           dried leaves

Nunaa-kaai

Scientific name - Morinda Citrifolia
English -Indian Mulberry/Noni
Ayurveda- Aashyuka
Tamil- Nunaa

It is a tropical plant which is commonly grows as coastal or littoral forest shrub. Now it is widely cultivated for its medicinal use.

The use of Noni :-

a. fruit - cooked or even eaten raw when it has ripe.
b. leaves -  tender leaves for salad and cooked as vegetables
c. dried leaves and fruits - made into tea drinks
d. leaves, fruit, stems and roots - medicinal use
e. bark and root-dye clothes

Medicinal Use:-

a. fruit - treats high blood pressure, menstrual cramps, arthritis, ulcers, diabetes, kidney damage, nerve problem and gall bladder, sore throat and mouth disease, urinary disorder, control cancer cell growth, antiseptic, and as pain reliever, anti aging and anti oxidant.

b. leaves- reduce pain, inflammations of the skin and skin disease

c. roots and barks- dye (produce brownish purple for batik and yellow )

d. flowers - treat eye disease

e. roots - nasal congestion and haemorrhoids

Marunthe unavu, unave marunthu

Indian food encompasses dietary patterns emanating from cultural and religious teachings that have existed for thousands of years. For example, vegetarianism is the one highly suggested for, that it bestow humanity with spiritual, mental, and physical (nutritional) health - Manu Smirthi (Rules of conduct in Hindu Society). It is widely accepted as better diet to maintain our health, even by non Indian scholars.

 

"Nothing will benefit human health or increase the chances for survival of life on earth as the evolution to a vegetarian diet.  It is my view that the vegetarian manner of living, by its purely physical effect on the human temperament, would most beneficially influence the lot of mankind. Basically, Indians regard vegetarian diet to have complete health and wholeness that need to be applied in daily lives- Albert Einstein

Indians daily food and its benefits

Rice	Protects heart	Battles diabetes	Prevent kidney stones	Combats cancer	Prevent strokes
Wheat	Prevent colon cancer	Prevent constipation	Lowers cholesterol	Prevent strokes	Aids digestion
Suji (uppma)	Decrease diabetes	Prevents cancer	Combat heart disease	Helps bowel function	Prevents hunger
Yogurt	Prevents  ulcers	Strengthen bones	Lowers cholesterol	Supports immune systems	Aids digestion
Honey	Heals wounds	Aids digestion	Prevents ulcers	Increase energy	Fights allergies
Lemon/lime	Combats cancer	Protects heart	Control blood pressure	Smoothes skin	Stops scurvy
Tamarind	Antiseptic	Lowers cholesterol	Combat  jaundice	Curing malaria fewer	Curb cancer
Onion	Reduce risk of heart attack	Combats cancer	Kills bacteria	Lowers cholesterol	Fights fungus
Garlic	Lowers cholesterol	Controls blood pressure	Combats cancer	Kills bacteria	Fights fungus
Ginger	Reduce joint inflammations	Prevents cancer	Aids digestion	Curb all kinds of aches	Controls blood pressure
Parupu (dhal/lenthils)	Helps weight loss	Lowers cholesterol	Protects heart	Stabilizes blood sugar	Increase energy
Paasi payir (green urad dhal)	Lowers cholesterol	Fight breast cancer	Prevents osteoporosis	Weight control	Controls blood pressure
Ulunthu (black urad dhal)	Develops bone density	Cures nerve problem	Aids blood circulation	Promote hair growth	Helps weight loss
Chick pea	Lowers Cholesterol	Stabilizes blood sugar	Prevents colon cancer	Curbs osteoporosis	Helps weights loss
Corn	Aids digestion	Prevents anaemia	Balance energy level	Stabilizes blood sugar	Controls hypertension
Peanuts	Protects heart	Promotes weight control	Combat prostate cancer	Lowers cholesterol	Helps digestion
Tomatoes	Protect prostate	Combats cancer	Lowers cholesterol	Protects heart	Protects high blood pressure
Chilli	Aids digestive systems	Soothes sore throats	Clears sinuses	Combats cancer	Controls blood pressure
Carrot	Saves eyesight	Protects heart	Prevents constipation	Combats cancer	Promotes weight loss
Mullanggi (white radish)	Aids digestive systems	Repair body cells	Fights free radicals	Increase energy	Combats cancer
Pumpkin	Prevents kidney stones	Prevents ulcer and acidity	Cures constipation	Prevents insomnia	Combats heart disease
Brinjal	Battles diabetes	Protects heart	Aids digestion	Improves mental health	Promotes weight loss
Okra	Strengthening bones	Boosts memory	Combats colon cancer	Stabilizes blood sugar	Prevents asthma
Long beans	Lowers cholesterol level	Controls blood sugar level	Smooth bowel movement	Treats hypertension	Prevents constipation
Bitter  gourd	Lowers blood sugar level	Prevents  diabetes complications	Reduces hypertensions	Treats cancer	Helps eight loss
Bottle  Gourd	Aids digestion	Supports urinary systems	Helps weight loss	Boosts memory	Combats excessive thirst
Pudina	Lowers cholesterol	Treat cold and flu	Mouth freshener	Improves mental health	Combats cancer
Pasalai keerai	antioxidant	Cell rejuvenating	Increase energy	Combats prostate cancer	Fights free radicals
Murunggai keerai	Cures malnutrition	Controls blood pressure	Prevents constipation	Combats hair loss	Increase lactation for mothers
Cabbage	Combats cancer	Prevents constipation	Promotes weight loss	Protects heart	Help haemorrhoids
Broccoli	Strengthens bones	Saves eye sights	Combats cancer	Protects heart	Controls blood pressure
Mushrooms	Controls blood pressure	Lowers cholesterol	Kills bacteria	Combats cancer	Strengthens bones
Potato	Reduces inflammation	Increases brain function	Prevents kidney stones	Relieves external burns	Increase brain function
Sweet potatoes	Saves eye sights	Lifts mood	Supports thyroid glands	Strengthens bones	Raise blood level
Banana	Protects heart	Quiets a cough	Strengthens bones	Controls blood pressure	Blocks diarrhea
Pineapple	Strengthens bones	Relieves cough	Aids digestion	exfoliating  skin tone and complexion	Dissolves warts
Mangoes	Combats cancer	Boosts memory	Regulates thyroid	Aids digestion	Shields against Alzheimer's
Water melon	Protects prostate	Promotes weight loss	Lowers cholesterol	Helps stop strokes	Controls blood pressure
Papaya	Prevents pimples	Reduces  gastric problems	Aids digestion	Treat colon cancer	Combat high blood pressure