Spices and condiments formed a major part while preparing the ayurvedic medicines. This chapter will describe the uses of them in certain ailments.
Aniseed (Sounf)
It is used for chewing, in spices and pickles, for processing certain medicines. It expels wind, is wind and gas repellent, aids in digestion, is diuretic, improves eye-sight, refreshes mouth and removes bad small, helps the bowels to expel faecal matters, relieves pain in joints. Boil about 6 grams of aniseed in water and let it cool and bottle it thereafter, after sieving the content. It will provide instant relief in cases of infantile colic and wind.
Fry aniseed in ghee, mix some sugar candy and bael powder/juice of fresh fruit, to have relief in loose motions. For burning in feet and hands and heaviness in these parts, powder aniseed and mix equal quantity of sugar to it, normal dose being 10 gms in the morning and evening, after taking meals. Take 5-6 gms of aniseeds to improve liver functioning and eye-sight. Decoction of aniseeds, with addition of some unrefined sugar (gur), will regulate menses. In a glassful of milk put a teaspoonful of aniseeds and let it be kept overnight under dew, keeping it covered with a sieve or fine muslin cloth. The contents should be taken in the morning and aniseeds be munched. It will prove as a vigourful and digestive tonic. In order to get rid of many digestive disorders, fry on iron plate (tawa) aniseeds until they are brown (but not to be burnt black) and mix identical quantity of unfried seeds—a teaspoonful or so should be munched after both principle meals.
Asafoetida (Heeng)
It is rich in iron, minerals and calcium and occupies very high place in cooked varieties, spices, medicines, for seasoning, but should be used in very small quantity. Foods, which have wind creating properties, are seasoned with asafoetida fried in ghee. In pulmonary disorders like bronchitis, asthma and pneumonia, it should be mixed with water (5-10 ml) and taken but, for stomach pain, this mixture should be applied over and around navel. In case of other stomach disorders, worms and indigestion this liquid should be mixed with thymol and reduced to a pill form. If there is malarial fever, it should be mixed with curry, and eaten as a normal food item. A good quality of asafoetida will completely dissolve in water, hence one should not go in for the fictitious type.
In case of whooping cough, pound and reduce to fine powder 6 gms each of camphor and asafoetida and make pills. One pill should be taken with water for relief. Yellow portion of egg should be mixed with of asafoetida and the liquid be applied on painful sites. It will also dispel pain in ribs due to constant cough or due to bronchitis complications. If a small piece of asafoetida is inserted into the cavity due to decay of the tooth, it will relieve the pain at once. Intoxication, due to excessive intake of opium or poisonous effects thereof, can be mitigated by giving 20 mg of asafoetida.
Cinnamon (Dalcheenee)
It is the inner bark which, if placed under heat of the sun, curls and folds into itself. It was used earlier as a scent or body perfume, burnt in temples as an incense. It is used in spices, pickles and to flavour dishes. Since it has highly warming effect, it should be used in winter and that too, in very small quantity. It is an effective and reliable remedy for colds and indigestion. Its oil is used in pain and swelling balms and ointments for local applications.
It allays cough and cold symptoms, helps in expulsion of mucus from lungs, if 250 mg is boiled in milk and given to the patient 3-4 times at an interval of 4 to 6 hours. In loose motions and gripes, mix a pinch of cinnamon powder with a pinch of catechu and give 3-4 times a day for relief of disorders. To thicken the semen and to improve digestion, 1 gm powder of cinnamon should be taken with hot water.
Cloves (Lavang)
Cloves are piquant astringent, pungent and of sweet fragrance, have warming effect, as such should rarely be used in summer season. They are used mainly in hot soups, teas, pickles and in powder form, are sprinkled on preserves, drinks and puddings. In betel leaves they serve as toothache killers and mouth refreshers. Clove oil applied on painful tooth provides instant relief from pain. The oil is also used in confectionery and cosmetics, Raw or roasted clove will relieve even a nasty and hawking cough. A clove piece should be fried in teaspoonful of ghee and kept until it is burnt. The ghee, so obtained, should be mixed with hot milk or tea to get relief in migraine, other types of headache, influenza and congestion of nose. In winter, it must be ensured that the patient does not get exposed to cold winds and cold. Hiccough can be controlled by keeping cloves in the mouth and sucking their juice. In case of nausea 3-4 cloves should be chewed.
Coriander (Dhania)
Its leaves are used in curries, chutnies due to its flavour and aroma, food and medicinal properties. Its seeds are used as part of spices. Its oil is pungent and has aromatic properties. Green leaves are also used for garnishing and in salads also juice of fresh leaves, if applied over head, will help in growth hair on head. Bleeding piles can be cured by of sugar candy mixing with dhania juice. Paste of coriander leaves should be applied on forehead to induce sleep or else, take orally fresh juice of leaves with some sugar-candy.
Excessive menstrual bleeding can be checked by taking rice water, mixed with fresh juice of leaves. Vitamin deficiency, night-discharge can be brought under control by taking coriander seeds powder with some sugarcandy (one teaspoonful each, morning and evening) for seven days. Ground equal quantity of seeds and sugar to be used in disorders like belching, nasal bleeding and palpitation. Ground to powdered form black pepper and coriander seeds, adding some salt to taste, to improve digestion and also to remove other stomach disorders.
Cumin (Jeera)
It is available in white or black colours, the latter being too costly, hence the white variety often used in food, spices, condiments and medicines. It is rich in iron, calcium, phosphorus, potassium and sodium, Vitamins A and B. Its seeds contain 3-5% thiamine in volatile oil and the smell and taste, in cumin seeds, is present because of thiamine. Its seeds help to increase milk in breasts of nursing mothers, regulate menses, help in facilitating easy delivery, remove various liver and stomach disorders. Paste of its seeds is applied to muscles which are stiff and painful. To control dysentery and diarrhoea, mix half a teaspoon of ground cumin powder to yoghurt.
Pregnant ladies should not use jeera in excess, as it may cause abortion. Ground cumin powder be boiled in water for 10 minutes and, after mixing sugar candy to taste, may be taken for 15-20 days, preferably in the morning and evening, so that energy and vigour are provided to the body. Prepare a kheer of cumin powder or seeds in milk and take the same, after mixing some sugar or sugar-candy to taste, to have better digestion, mental faculty and physique. Cumin seed is an excellent repeller and preventer of insects. Keep cumin seeds in woollen clothes, cup-boards, near books, after they have been kept and tied in a piece of cloth. Paste of cumin, ghee and salt will eliminate scorpion bite effects. Before going to bed, take a teaspoonful of cumin to have the worms expelled and continue for 2-3 days. Apply a paste, prepared from cumin seeds, til and mustard oil, on face to cure spots and freckles from face so as to give natural glow and softness and appearance. Further, washing the face with water in which cumin has been boiled will do the job left out by the above application of paste, The latter will beautify the face. Both can be tried, one after the another.
Turmeric (Haldi)
It is profusely used, as a condiment, in preparation of various vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes. It has aroma, fragrance and antiseptic properties. It is a bit sour but more stringent. It is diuretic, a skin tonic, blood-purifier, germicidal, antiflatulent, anti-phlegmatic, a general tonic, enhances R.B.Cs and purifies blood, is anti-inflammatory and imparts coolness to the body, a skin cleanser, carminative and pain reliever.
Children, during growth period, should be given a glass of milk with 2-3 gms of haldi powder daily. It will promote their growth, strengthen bones, purify blood and aid in the digestive process. Haldi powder sprinkled on open wounds, or bleeding sites will cure wounds and stop bleeding. In urticaria, ¼ TSP turmeric powder given with sugar candy/honey will be useful. Itching can be relieved if roasted haldi is taken with jaggery. Spots and freckles could be cured by applying haldi mixed lotion. Take equal quantity of salt and haldi with warm water, to get rid of acidity. Take 4-5 gms. of haldi powder with a glass of whey (twice a day), it will rejuvenate liver functioning. Male sexual debility can be cured by taking equal amount of haldi and honey with hot milk. Apply haldi, salt and mustard oil to teeth and gums daily. Take 4-5 gms of haldi powder with water/honey in diabetes.
Pepper
It is said that all peppers, heal, provoke, digest, disperse and clean the dimness of the sight. Pepper is rich in protein, calcium, iron, carotene and phosphorus, whether green or dry. For seasoning, it is next to salt only. Red Pepper is capable to replenish Vitamin A deficiency, whereas black-pepper is high in Vitamin-C also. Special flavour and fragrance can be had from grinding white and black pepper berries. All peppers are irritant to the stomach and so they must be used with caution and moderation. Peppers are unsuitable for sensitive mouths, infants, old persons, as they tend to disturb digestion. 5-6 black peppers taken with a spoonful of ghee and raw sugar improve eye-sight. If seeds are removed from the red pepper (known as chillies also) and the remaining portion is reduced to a pulp, then fried in ghee. If the ghee is used with cooked vegetables, it will increase healthy blood in the body, dispel heat and also cure ill effects of heat. The said preparation is often used in hot and sandy areas but those with sensitive digestion and stomach must avoid its use, when there are ulcers and burning sensation. If powder of black pepper is applied on pimples, after seasoning it with oil of coconut or ghee, it will cure pimples on skin but should never be applied near/ about sensitive organs.
