METHI

(Trigonella foenum-graecum Linn., Methika)

Used For:

• Diabetes

• Body ache

• Lactation (to increase mother’s milk)

• Dandruff

• Hair conditioning

Remedies:

• Diabetes: 2 gm powder with milk, twice daily.

• Body ache: 2 gm Methi powder mixed with 2 gm Jeera powder in warm milk with sugar, twice daily.

• Lactation: 5 gm powder with milk and sugar in the morning.

• Dandruff: Massage the scalp with Methi paste mixed in water, ½ hour before bath.

• Hair care: Coconut oil boiled with Methi powder should be applied regularly. Use of Methi paste also acts as an excellent natural hair conditioner.

MADHU (Honey)

(Commonly used as a vehicle with Ayurvedic medicines, especially in respiratory disorders)

Used For:

• Obesity

• Loss of appetite

• Cough

• Wounds / Ulcer / Burns

• Pyorrhoea (Bleeding gums)

• Face pack / Skin glow

Remedies:

• Obesity: One teaspoon of honey with a glass of water every morning.

• Loss of appetite: Take honey with a pinch of pepper powder, three to four times a day.

• Cough: Take honey with a pinch of clove (Laung) powder, three to four times a day.

• Wounds / Ulcer / Burns: Mix honey and ghee, and apply locally.

• Pyorrhoea / Bleeding gums: Apply a mixture of ginger, pepper, rock salt, honey, and ghee to the gums twice daily.

• Face pack / Skin glow: Direct application of honey gives a natural glow to the skin.

Note: Honey should never be boiled.

LAUNG

 (Syzygium aromaticum (L.) Merr & Perry, Lavanga)

Used For:

• Cough

• Cold / Hiccough

• Indigestion

• Toothache

• Bad breath

• Ear pain

Remedies:

• Cough: To be chewed frequently or 1 gm powder with honey, 2–3 times in divided doses.

• Cold / Hiccough: 20 ml warm decoction prepared by boiling 1 gm clove; take 3–4 times daily. Useful in both dry and productive cough.

• Indigestion: 1–2 gm powder with honey in three divided doses.

• Toothache: Crushed clove should be kept in the carious tooth.

• Bad breath: Small piece should be chewed frequently.

• Ear pain: Warm coconut oil prepared by boiling clove powder should be instilled in the ear twice daily (Do not use when there is discharge).

LAHSUN

(Allium sativum Linn., Rasona)

1. Ear Pain

• 2–4 drops of warm, fresh juice for instillation in the ear twice a day.
  (Do not use when there is discharge.)

• Alternatively, a little paste boiled in coconut or mustard oil can be used for ear instillation 2–3 times a day.

2. Flatulence

• 6 ml of fresh garlic juice mixed with honey, taken twice daily.

3. Cough / Cold

• Crushed bulb boiled in water and taken with sugar.

4. Joint Pain

• 5 gm paste of garlic bulb taken with honey or mixed with food twice daily.

• Warm paste of garlic mixed with any oil should be applied over the affected joints.

KARELA

(Momordica charantia Linn., Karavellaka)

Indications & Remedies:

1. Indigestion

• Take 5–10 ml juice of the fruit twice daily.

2. Diabetes

• Take 5–10 ml fresh juice on an empty stomach every morning.

3. Loss of Appetite

• Take 5–10 ml juice with buttermilk once or twice a day.

4. Skin Diseases / Acne

• Take 1–3 gm seed powder with water twice a day.

5. Intestinal Worms

• Take 10 ml juice with jaggery in the morning for 3 days.

KALIMIRACH

(Piper nigrum Linn., Maricha)

Used For:

• Cough

• Skin diseases

• Hoarseness of voice

• Hiccough

• Indigestion

• Loss of appetite

• Bleeding gums / Tartar / Bad breath

Remedies:

• Cough: 1 gm powder of seeds with ghee and honey, twice daily.

• Skin diseases: Little powder mixed with coconut oil for local application.

• Hoarseness of voice: 1–2 gm powder of seed fried with ghee, kept in mouth twice daily.

• Hiccough: 1–2 gm powder of seeds with sugar, twice daily.

• Indigestion: A pinch of powder with a piece of crushed ginger and rock salt before meals.

• Loss of appetite: A pinch of powder with 2 teaspoons of lemon juice and water, taken ½ hour before food.

• Bleeding gums / Tartar / Bad breath: A pinch of powder mixed with honey applied to gums after gargling with warm salt water, twice a day.

JEERA (Cuminum cyminum Linn., Jiraka)

Indigestion

3–6 g powder of fried jeera mixed with rock salt to be taken with warm water, thrice daily.

Diarrhoea / Dysentery

1–2 g powder of fried jeera to be taken with 250 ml buttermilk, four times daily.

Hyperacidity / Skin Diseases

5–10 g ghee boiled with jeera to be taken with rice during meals.

Cold

1–2 g powder of fried jeera to be taken with milk twice daily.

Cough (Dry or Productive)

Warm decoction prepared from:

• Jeera – 2 g

• Dhania – 5 g

• Haldi – 1 g

• Methi powder – 1 g

• A little pepper

Take with honey or sugar and lemon, two to three times a day.
Alternatively, chewing a few jeera grains frequently also helps relieve cough.