Mediicinal Benefits of Banana Flower

All parts of the banana plant have medicinal value including the banana flower.  The banana flower or vaazhai poo in Tamil, is well known in the rural parts of South India for its healing action on stomach ulcers.  The banana flower or banana blossom is available throughout the year.  It is used in preparing some tasty and healthy dishes in South India.

Banana Flower for Stomach

The flower is found to help scanty and painful urination.  Soup made of banana flower is an excellent natural laxative. People suffering from pain and burning sensation in hands and soles of the feet can benefit from taking vaazhai poo on a regular basis.  Bad breath and sweat odor can become a thing of past with regular consumption of banana flower.

Stomach bloating and bilious vomiting can be arrested with consumption of vaazhai poo.  Male infertility can be overcome with regular consumption of vaazhai poo.  Kidney stones can be cleared with vaazhai poo.  Burning sensation in anal area can be cured with consumption of vaazhai poo thrice or four times a week.

Banana Flower for Women

Banana flower juice mixed with honey or palm candy benefits white discharge in women.  This should be taken on empty stomach first thing in the morning.  Similarly women with excessive menstrual flow can benefit from taking banana flower regularly.  This helps with painful menstruation too.

Juice of vaazhai poo 100 ml taken in the mornings thrice or four times a week reduces cholesterol levels in blood.  this also purifies it.

Banana Flower for Obesity

Obese people can take a soup made of banana flower.  Finely cut banana flower, ginger, garlic, coriander leaves are boiled together and reduced to half.  A pinch of salt can be added to taste.  This is taken four to five times a week.  This is found to be helpful in weight management.

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Siddha Home Remedies: Medicinal benefits of Greens

Greens (keerai in Tamil) had been part and parcel of South Indian diet from time immemorial. It is considered an easily digestible food than flowers, vegetables, and tubers. Though taking greens everyday is a healthy habit, it should not be taken at night. Taking greens at night can lead to formation of gas in the stomach and other gastric inconveniences.

Care should be taken in selection of greens. Greens with dark black patches should be avoided as they may be contaminated with heavy metals. Also avoid worm infested greens.

Pasalai keerai (Spinach)

This is said to have blood cleansing properties. It strengthens the liver and pacifies pitta. It is a well known remedy for diseases related to the urinary system. People with painful or difficult urination can benefit from taking spinach on a regular basis.

Sirukeerai (Amaranthus Polygonoides)

This greens belong to the amaranthus family. Singers can benefit from taking cooked Amaranthus polygonoides regularly. This is found to preserve and improve their voice. It also works wonders in the case of mouth ulcers and stomach ulcers. Regular consumption of this greens also benefits those with hemorrhoids. Skin conditions like scabies and eczema respond well to consumption of this herb.

Mulai keerai (Amaranth)

This is a tasty green consumed extensively in Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Recipes made of this green are very tasty as well as healthy. It cools and energizes the body. The more mature greens of this family is the ‘thandu keerai’. A very good blood cleanser, this green is also strengthens the heart. It loosens stools and helps treat painful and difficult urination due to increase in body ‘heat’.

Pulicha keerai

Known as gongura in Andhra Pradesh, there are numerous tasty recipes made using this green. Consuming this green helps constipation, stomach ulcers and digestive disorders.

Pannai keerai (Celosia argentea)

Pannai keerai has immense medicinal value. Regular consumption of this greens helps ward off ulcerative colitis, stomatitis, sore throat and similar conditions. This has a sweetish-sour taste and is found to be useful in treating eczema and venereal diseases. It loosens the stool and helps in easy bowel movement.

Ponnanganni keerai

Ponnanganni (Alternanthera Sessilis) is an excellent coolant. It neutralizes excessive acidity in the body. It helps keep away bad breath. It is useful in treating skin conditions like scabies, eczema etc and improves the skin tone and texture. It is an excellent herb for hair growth. Application of coconut oil boiled with ponnanganni leaves, shoeflower (hibiscus), arugampul helps in luscious hair growth.

Manathakkali keerai

This greens action on ulcers is well known. It has been very effective in treating all types of internal ulcers, stomach and mouth ulcers. Taking this greens twice or thrice a week keeps the body alkaline and takes care of acidosis, which is considered to be the root cause of all modern diseases.

Thoodhuvalai keerai

This green is an excellent remedy for people suffering from sinus related conditions. Thoothuvalai leaves can be ground to a fine paste adding a bit of tamarind and salt for taste. This paste is taken with hot rice twice or thrice a week. This green has a tendency to increase ‘heat’ in the body and hence should be taken in moderation.

Mint

Mint is well known for its action on gas. It adds strength to the body and improves digestion. Kashayam made of dried mint leaves is found to help with jaundice, stomach aches, headaches, hiccups, nausea and vomiting. Dried and powdered mint leaves can be used to treat mouth ulcers. It is also a well known breath freshener.

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Siddha Home Remedies for Gingivitis

Gingivitis is the inflammation of the gum tissue mostly due to plaque. When left untreated, this can lead to periodontitis, a destructive form of gum disease that can result in loss of tooth, infection of jaw bones etc. Some of the symptoms of gingivitis include swollen gums, bleeding gums after brushing, bright red or purple gums, tender and painful gums.

Conventional medical texts say that bacterial plaque causes gingivitis. Plaque gets concentrated in the tiny gaps, also known as plaque traps, between teeth. One such trap is the tartar formed on teeth. Gingivitis can be prevented with daily brushing and flossing. Hydrogen peroxide as mouthwash is found to be effective in preventing gingivitis.

Conventional treatment for gingivitis includes removal of plaque and reduction of oral bacteria. Of late, using essential oils as mouthwashes is found to be beneficial in treating gingivitis.

Siddha medicinal system uses tripalai (triphala) kudineer to treat gingivitis. The three ingredients of tripalai are kadukkai (Terminalia chebula), nellikkai (Embilica Officinalis), thanrikkai (Terminalia Belerica). 10 gm of the pulp of each of these ingredients is taken and ground to a powder of coarse consistency. This is then added to 800 ml of water and boiled and reduced to one fourth. 30 ml to 50 ml of this infusion is used as a mouthwash and gargle.

One advantage of this mouthwash is unlike the conventional mouthwashes this does not disturb the natural balance of bacteria in the mouth. The herbs have good wound healing properties and rapidly heal the gingival ulcers and strengthen the gums.

One simple complementary remedy would be ‘nallennai koppulithal’ or ‘oil pulling’ with sesame oil. Oil pulling helps in maintaining oral hygiene and quick healing of gingivitis. Oil pulling or oil swishing is the process where a tablespoon of sesame oil taken and swished in the mouth first thing in the morning, for 15 to 20 minutes till the oil loses its viscosity and becomes thin. The oil is then spat out, and the teeth brushed in the regular manner.

The tripalai and oil pulling regimen should be continued until the resolution of gingivitis. Oil pulling can be continued and made into a regular practice to prevent formation of tartar in the future. Oil pulling has a number of other health benefits too. Neem and cinnamon twigs can be used in cleaning the teeth. While extensive scrubbing with twigs can damage the gums, when used in moderation they are very effective in curbing bad breath, and offer the same protection as tooth brush without any chemical laden toothpastes.

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Mango Flower for Mouth Ulcers and Throat Problems

Tamil culture regards mango, jackfruit and banana as ‘mukkani’ or ‘the three best fruits’ in terms of their taste and nutritional value. The flowers of mango, jackfruit and banana are also valuable medicinally and nutritionally. Siddha texts as well as local folklore recommend preparations made using these flowers to treat various ailments that afflict us. I will share with you tips on various flowers and their medicinal uses in my subsequent posts. To start with I will dwell upon the medicinal uses of mango flower.

Mango is indigenous to India and grows well in tropical and sub tropical areas. It is the national fruit of India. People in villages use the tender mango leaves to clean their teeth. Unripe mango has a sour taste and is used for making pickles. The kernel of mango seed has immense medicinal value.

In India, mango trees flower during the January - April period. Raw mangoes start arriving in the market in February, March followed by ripe mangoes from April to June, July etc.

Mango Flower for Throat Problems

Collect mango flowers and clean them thoroughly in pure water. Boil them in pure water for a few minutes. Collect the water after filtering out the flowers. Mix lemon juice to this water. This can be used as mouth gargle. This cures most of the throat ailments.

Remedy for Diarrhea

Collect handful of dried mango flowers. Add 1-2 teaspoons of cumin seeds to it and powder them. Mix a teaspoon of this powder in a glass of warm water. This is an ideal remedy for loose stools. Another alternative is to mix a teaspoon of dried mango flower powder in yogurt and taken as needed.

Mango Flower for Mouth Ulcers

Mix a spoonful of dried mango flower powder in buttermilk and take this thrice a day for a week. This is an effective remedy for treating mouth ulcers and stomach ulcers. Another method is to fry the flowers in sesame oil and taken as needed.

Strong Gums

Chew fresh mango flowers for strong teeth and gums.

My next post will elaborate on jackfruit flower remedies.




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