The Spice is Right
by Caroline Robertson, Ayurvedic consultant Cert Ayur; ND; Dip Hom; DRM; Dip Bot. Med.
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Coriander
Next time you feel hot and bothered, sprinkle some cooling coriander leaves on your stir-fry or add to your juice. The seeds are also great for the first stages of conjunctivitis and urinary tract infections. Use as an eyewash for eye redness and drink the diuretic tea for the urinary tract. For the vast number of people suffering from allergies such as hay fever, a daily intake of coriander leaves can often reduce symptoms. This is attributed to the leaves natural antihistamine, vitamin C, and bioflavonoid content, which fortifies hyper-reactive mucous membranes. The high bioflavonoid content can also aid hemorrhoids, varicose veins, and spider veins. For cooking, the best powder is made fresh by grinding whole seeds, lightly frying and adding to dishes. Fresh leaves can be stored by cutting off roots, draining moisture away, and keeping them in a sealed plastic bag in the fridge.
Cumin
"Cum-an’ get it!" Perhaps the most popular spice in Ayurvedic cooking, cumin has a rich flavor along with a wealth of medicinal properties. Have you ever had a mix of spices offered to you after an Indian meal? These spices, including cumin, are to help your digestion and freshen your breath. To make your own mix at home, combine the following: 1 tsp cumin seeds, 1 tsp fennel seeds, 1/4 tsp ground ginger, 1/2tsp rock sugar and a pinch of rock salt. Munch on about 1/2 tsp after a meal to ensure healthy digestion.
Adding ground and roasted cumin or roasted cumin seeds to dishes and drinks is the easy way to access its healing powers. Both the black and brown cumin help to relieve gas, period pain, and diarrhea. Taken with fennel, cumin is a popular tea in India to increase breast milk in nursing mothers. A tea made from the seeds is also a safe drink to give to colicky children. For kids under six, add 1/2 tsp brown cumin seeds to 2 cups of boiling water. Simmer uncovered until reduced to 1 cup of water. Strain and cool to lukewarm temperature. Give 20 mls of this warm drink to the child every hour until pain subsides. To disguise the taste it can be mixed with peppermint tea or diluted buttermilk.
Curry leaves
To make a good Indian dish great, just add fresh curry leaves. The leaves must be fresh because once dried, they become relatively bland. The good news is that curry trees are one of the easiest and hardiest plants to grow. Curry leaves are added either fresh or lightly fried in oil to dishes generally towards the conclusion of cooking. They are then either taken out or left in, depending on the diner’s preference. Curry leaves are traditionally used to soothe stomach upsets. They are most effective in cooling the burning pain of ulcers and skin conditions. In Ayurvedic medicine, diarrhea and dysentery are also treated with curry leaves. They are often thrown into dahls and chutneys to combat gas and worms. To keep curry leaves fresh for months, keep them on the stalk and store them in the freezer in an air-filled plastic bag.
Fenugreek
People tend to avoid this wonderful spice because of its bitter taste. But the secret to reduce its bitterness is to dry roast fenugreek seeds, which renders them more palatable. Why bother using fenugreek at all? The ancient Greeks, Egyptians, Chinese, and Indians highly prized this spice for its ability to increase breast milk, ease childbirth, and reduce period pain and stomach cramps. Modern science has also confirmed its efficacy as a hypoglycemic agent for late onset diabetes. For stubborn pimples, boils, or cellulitis, make a poultice of the powdered seeds and apply the warm paste to the affected area for 20 minutes.
The Chinese recommended 1/2 tsp seeds daily to maintain a healthy female reproductive system. Its mucilaginous and lymphatic properties are also good for lymphatic conditions and lung problems such as smokers’ cough. This can be taken as a tea by adding 1 tsp of seeds to 2 cups of boiling water. Boil down to one cup, strain, and drink up to three cups a day. Fenugreek is a spice that should be avoided during pregnancy as it can promote uterine contractions.
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Articles FAQ
Next time you feel hot and bothered, sprinkle some cooling coriander leaves on your stir-fry or add to your juice. The seeds are also great for the first stages of conjunctivitis and urinary tract infections. Use as an eyewash for eye redness and drink the diuretic tea for the urinary tract. For the vast number of people suffering from allergies such as hay fever, a daily intake of coriander leaves can often reduce symptoms. This is attributed to the leaves natural antihistamine, vitamin C, and bioflavonoid content, which fortifies hyper-reactive mucous membranes. The high bioflavonoid content can also aid hemorrhoids, varicose veins, and spider veins. For cooking, the best powder is made fresh by grinding whole seeds, lightly frying and adding to dishes. Fresh leaves can be stored by cutting off roots, draining moisture away, and keeping them in a sealed plastic bag in the fridge.
Cumin
"Cum-an’ get it!" Perhaps the most popular spice in Ayurvedic cooking, cumin has a rich flavor along with a wealth of medicinal properties. Have you ever had a mix of spices offered to you after an Indian meal? These spices, including cumin, are to help your digestion and freshen your breath. To make your own mix at home, combine the following: 1 tsp cumin seeds, 1 tsp fennel seeds, 1/4 tsp ground ginger, 1/2tsp rock sugar and a pinch of rock salt. Munch on about 1/2 tsp after a meal to ensure healthy digestion.
Adding ground and roasted cumin or roasted cumin seeds to dishes and drinks is the easy way to access its healing powers. Both the black and brown cumin help to relieve gas, period pain, and diarrhea. Taken with fennel, cumin is a popular tea in India to increase breast milk in nursing mothers. A tea made from the seeds is also a safe drink to give to colicky children. For kids under six, add 1/2 tsp brown cumin seeds to 2 cups of boiling water. Simmer uncovered until reduced to 1 cup of water. Strain and cool to lukewarm temperature. Give 20 mls of this warm drink to the child every hour until pain subsides. To disguise the taste it can be mixed with peppermint tea or diluted buttermilk.
Curry leaves
To make a good Indian dish great, just add fresh curry leaves. The leaves must be fresh because once dried, they become relatively bland. The good news is that curry trees are one of the easiest and hardiest plants to grow. Curry leaves are added either fresh or lightly fried in oil to dishes generally towards the conclusion of cooking. They are then either taken out or left in, depending on the diner’s preference. Curry leaves are traditionally used to soothe stomach upsets. They are most effective in cooling the burning pain of ulcers and skin conditions. In Ayurvedic medicine, diarrhea and dysentery are also treated with curry leaves. They are often thrown into dahls and chutneys to combat gas and worms. To keep curry leaves fresh for months, keep them on the stalk and store them in the freezer in an air-filled plastic bag.
Fenugreek
People tend to avoid this wonderful spice because of its bitter taste. But the secret to reduce its bitterness is to dry roast fenugreek seeds, which renders them more palatable. Why bother using fenugreek at all? The ancient Greeks, Egyptians, Chinese, and Indians highly prized this spice for its ability to increase breast milk, ease childbirth, and reduce period pain and stomach cramps. Modern science has also confirmed its efficacy as a hypoglycemic agent for late onset diabetes. For stubborn pimples, boils, or cellulitis, make a poultice of the powdered seeds and apply the warm paste to the affected area for 20 minutes.
The Chinese recommended 1/2 tsp seeds daily to maintain a healthy female reproductive system. Its mucilaginous and lymphatic properties are also good for lymphatic conditions and lung problems such as smokers’ cough. This can be taken as a tea by adding 1 tsp of seeds to 2 cups of boiling water. Boil down to one cup, strain, and drink up to three cups a day. Fenugreek is a spice that should be avoided during pregnancy as it can promote uterine contractions.
[1 [2] [3]
Articles FAQ
