Medicinal Benefits of Neem Flower

                      

Neem flower has numerous medicinal properties that benefit the young and the old.

• It is useful in treating ailments of the stomach.

• It neutralizes excessive pitha in the body.

• It expels intestinal worms in kids.

• It helps recovery after debilitating fevers.

The neem tree is called ‘village dispensary’ in India.  All parts of the neem tree have medicinal uses.  The neem tree blooms in the months of March and April.  The tiny looking neem flower is an excellent source of antioxidants.

Thoroughly cleaned, fresh neem flowers can be ground to a fine thick paste.  A small marble sized paste of neem flowers can be added to milk and given to children for 2-3 days in the mornings.  This is found to expel intestinal worms.

Decoction made of fresh neem flowers is found to help kids with craving for dirt.  Adults with potbelly can take neem flower decoction on a regular basis to control and bring down their waist size.  Siddha texts recommend eating in moderation, the rule of thumb being the stomach should have 50 percent food, 25 percent water and 25 percent remaining empty.  In short, overeating is frowned upon by the Siddha system.  Eating healthy and in moderation along with neem flower decoction everyday can take care of even stubborn potbellies.

Steam inhalation with neem flowers relieves headaches, ear aches etc.

The flowers collected are cleaned and dried in shade thoroughly.  Dried flowers are soaked in honey and stored in a bottle.  Half a spoonful of this honey soaked neem flowers can be taken in the mornings regularly.  This is found to strengthen the body with antioxidants, vitamins and minerals.

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Siddha Home Remedies: Medicinal Benefits of Thulasi (Holy Basil)

Herbs have been used in religious ceremonies since time immemorial.  Arugampul (Bermuda grass), vilva, neem, thulasi are some examples.  Thulasi or Holy Basil is the prasada given to devotees in Indian temples.  Thulasi thirtha or holy water infused with thulasi leaves is beneficial to both body and mind.

Thulasi is a kayakalpa herb.  It grows to a height of 75 centimeter to a meter with small hairy leaves and hairy stem.  It has white flowers and small black seeds. Siddha and Ayurveda medicinal systems make use of thulasi to treat fevers, vomiting, dysentery, malaria, bronchitis etc.  Unani medicinal system uses thulasi to purify blood, treat heart conditions and cool the body.

Tulsi is used in treating

•     Ailments of chest including cough, cold, bronchitis
•     Fevers like malaria, pneumonia and influenza
•     Heart conditions
•     Cholera, dysentery
•     Migraine
•     Asthma
•     Smokers cough
•     Inflammation of lungs
•     Blood pressure
•     Abdominal distention
•     Liver diseases
•     Hemorrhoids
•     Anal itch
•     Skin diseases
•     Leprosy
•     Head lice
•     Menstrual disorders
•     Poisonous bites
•     Nail infections

Thulasi for Children

Thulasi or holy basil is known to clear chest congestion in infants.  For this infants are fed milk mixed with juice of tulsi leaves.  This also helps cure indigestion and loose watery stools in kids.  One method to treat whooping cough in infants - collect mature dry tulsi leaves and flowers, long pepper and sweetflag in equal quantity by weight.  Grind and powder all the three to a fine consistency.  Half a teaspoon of this preparation is mixed with honey and given twice a day.

Thulasi for Asthma

Four tulsi leaves and four vilva leaves along with four peppercorns are taken first thing in the morning on empty stomach.  This is thoroughly chewed and then swallowed down.  This helps ease labored breathing of asthmatic patients.

Thulasi for Heart

Juice obtained from thulasi leaves is mixed with honey of equal quantity.  A spoonful of this is taken in the mornings on empty stomach on a regular basis.  This is found to benefit irregular palpitation and strengthen the heart muscles.

Tulsi for Lungs

Fresh tulsi leaves are crushed to obtain 25-50 ml of juice.  This is added to ginger juice of same quantity.  A spoonful of this mixture is taken with honey for a month or two depending on the intensity.  This is found to bring down inflammation of lungs.  This relieves asthma, cough etc.  In case of influenza, a pinch of powdered cloves and salt are added to tulsi steeped water and taken three times a day.

Tulsi for Teeth

Tooth cavity and diseases of gums can be taken care of with the help of thulasi.  Press powdered thulasi leaves, powdered cloves and a pinch of camphor on affected tooth.  The same preparation can also be used as a tooth powder.  This takes care of inflamed gums and removes bad breath.

Thulasi home remedy for Bloody Hemorrhoids

Juice obtained from crushed thulasi leaves 250 ml is added to kuppaimeni juice of equal quantity.  Castor bean oil 250 ml is added to this mixture and boiled thoroughly to remove the moisture content.  50 ml of the resulting oil is taken at night for a week.  This is found to relieve hemorrhoids.

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The Siddha Medical System

Siddha medical system consists of Yogam (yoga), Gnanam (gnana), vatham, vaithiyam (treatment), jothidam (astrology), manthrikam (magic) and so it is connected to spirituality and a way of life. To diagnose diseases that arise out of disharmony of Vatham, Pittham, Kapham, (tridoshas) is the treatment part of the system. It is claimed that there is no disease that cannot be cured by this system. It adopts the principle of “food as medicine, medicine as food” to translate literally the Tamil maxim. This system advocates vegetarianism.

This system not only cures diseases, it also prevent diseases and help in living a long and healthy life. For this purpose the Siddha system advocates a life style of dhyana (meditation), thavam (ascetic practices), pranayama, and kayakalpa. The Siddhas by their wisdom found that man is the microcosm and part of the macrocosm the Universe. What is there is in the Universe is what is within man (woman) and by knowing oneself one knows everything. This principle was expounded by the Siddhas in their works.