Author: Mukul

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Herbs & Plants

Bakul (Mimusops elengi)

Botanical Name: Mimusops elengi
Family: Sapotaceae
Genus: Mimusops
Species: M. elengi
Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Ericales

Common Names: Spanish cherry, medlar, and Bullet wood.

Vernacular names: Maulsari in Hindi, Bakul in Sanskrit, Marathi, Bengali,Bokul in Assamese, “Tanjung” in Indonesian, “Elanji” in Malayalam, Manipuri, magizamaram and ilanji in Tamil, AND ranja “Bakula”, “Pagade Mara” “Vajradhanthi” in Kannada.

Botanical info: An evergreen tree, large in size, small white fragrant flowers, grows all over India, cultivated as ornamental and timbre tree.

Called the Mimusops elengi or the Mulsari in Hindi, this plant is found almost everywhere and belongs to the family of Sapotaceae.It is one of the most beautiful trees in India, commonly found in gardens and parks. It is also found in the Deccan Peninsula along Western Ghats from Mumbai southwards, Assam, W. Bengal, Eastern Ghats from Myanmar, Bangladesh, Andamans and Sri Lanka. The dense growth can be mostly seen in the moist forests of Western Ghats. The tribals of Orissa plant it in their backyards..

The Habitat:
Habitat : Mimusops elengi is native to tropical forests in South Asia, Southeast Asia and northern Australia.
This plant is very commonly  found throughout India as people usually grow it in herbal gardens. It is found particularly in forests of Western Coast of India and in Andman area.

Other Species Of Bakul:
There is description of ‘Big Bakul’ in one of the famous ancient Materia medica of Ayurveda – ‘Bhavaprakasha Nighantu’. This big Bakul is actually another species with the latin name Osmanthus fragrans Linn.

The Plant:
This plant takes its own sweet time to grow. This is a medium-sized tree, adorned with a dense and beautiful crown of shiny leaves. The leaves are oval, wavy at the margin and 3-7 cm wide. The tree has a long cylindrical stem. The flowers are pale white in colour and star-shaped. They are tremendously fragrant and the tree appears in full bloom during the months of February to April. Even after the flowers dry up, their fragrance remains afresh. Fruits are yellow in colour.

Description:
Mimusops elengi is an evergreen tree reaching a height of about 16 m (52 ft). It flowers in April, and fruiting occurs in June. Leaves are glossy, dark green, oval-shaped, 5–14 cm (2.0–5.5 in) long, and 2.5–6 cm (0.98–2.36 in) wide. Flowers are cream, hairy, and scented. Bark is thick and appears dark brownish black or grayish black in colour, with striations and a few cracks on the surface. The tree may reach up to a height of 9–18 m (30–59 ft) with about 1 m (3 ft 3 in) in circumference.   The bark is dark grey in color. The wood inside the bark is hard and heavy and it is reddish grey on the outside and dark red on the inside.

….CLICK & SEE 

Its flower is the provincial flower of Yala Province, Thailand

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The lovely evergreen Bakula tree of the Indian subcontinent, with its small shiny , thick, narrow, pointed leaves, straight trunk and spreading branches is a prized oranamental specimen because it provides a dense shade and during the months from March to July fills the night air with the delicious heady aroma of its tiny cream colored flowers. In the morning the ethereal flowers which so graciously scented their surroundings with their deep, rich, honey notes during the evening hours, fall to the ground. People living in their proximity love to collect them as they retain their odor for many days after they fall. They are offered in temples and shrines throughout the country. Because of their ability to hold their fragrance for many days the flower has a special symbolic meaning when offered to the gods and goddesses. An offering of Bakula flowers signifies the unwavering devotion of the aspirant for the object of their devotion just as the bakul flower maintains its wonderful perfume long after it has fallen from the tree. The flowers have also inspired a popular sayiing, “true friendship lasts like the scent of maulsari(bakul)” They are equally prized for making into tiny garlands which can be woven into the hair emitting a perfume that is a delight to the wearer and to those who come in their company.

The Leaves:
Shiny, smooth and oval leaves are 2 to 4 inch long and 1 to 2 inch wide.  Pictures

The Flowers:
Yellowish, white and fragrant flowers are of one inch diameter. Flowering occurs in April and May. Pictures

According to ayurvedic tradition the flowers are acrid, astringent, cooling and anthelmintic(killing or ejecting intestinal worms). The flowers are used to prepare a lotion for wounds and ulcers. They are also powdered and consumed in various preparations as a brain tonic. This powder taken as a snuff is said to relieve cephaligia. The flowers possess expectorant properties and when smoked relieve asthma. In order to truly correlate the findings of modern science with ayurvedic texts one can do an investigation of published scientific literature to see what can be discovered there. Then one would need to do a thorough gc/mc analysis of the CO2 extract to discover what the acutual componets of the oil are.

There can be no doubt that the fragrance of the flower itself is healing in that every lovely essence tends to make us aware of the finer things of life. In a moment they take us from the mundane into the sublime and help us orient ourselve to creative aspirations. Almost every human being is positively affected by truly natural fragrances. But if we need to determine specific uses for the flower and its volatile constitents we need to turn to the traditional indigenous medical literature concerning the flower and its uses and then see if modern science has done anything to colloborate those findings. A surprising amount of research has been done already and with the current interest in wholistic medicine it is possible much more will be done. It may be that many extraordinary discoveries remain to be uncovered regarding the healing virtues of flowers and their fragrance resulting from a coupling of modern science with ancient medicine

The Fruits:
One inch long and oval fruit is green, astringent and with milk when unripe. It turns yellow and it tastes astringent and sweet. Fruition occurs in rainy season.  pictures

The Seeds:..pictures
The fruit contains one and occasionally two oval, brown and shiny seeds.

Other Medicinal Uses:

This ayurvedic herb is a good astringent herb and is beneficial in dental problems, urinary and gynecological disorders.
The yellow fruits are edible. The tree is cultivated for the fragrant flowers that it produces. The flowers make beautiful and scented garlands. The flowers are also used in the perfume making process. The tree serves as a fantastic decorative piece when in full bloom. The wood serves as a good building material. The seeds are used to extract oil from them. The oil is used in cooking and making medicines. The unripe fruit and flowers, combined with other astringents are used in the preparation of lotions for sores and wounds. It is also used as a gargle in relaxation of gums.

A preparation made from dried and powdered flowers is used in curing a disease called Ahwa. The powdered flowers induce copious nasal discharge and relief from severe headache. The ripe fruit, powdered and mixed with water are given internally to promote childbirth.

It is the Vakula, Kesara and Sinha-kesara, “lion’s mane” of Sanskrit writers. Chakradatta mentions the astringent properties of the unripe fruit, and recommends it to be chewed for the purpose of fixing loose teeth. He also mentions a decoction of the astringent bark as a useful gargle in diseases of the gums and teeth. In the Concan a similar use is made of the unripe fruit, and the fruit and flowers along with other astringents are used to prepare a lotion for sores and wounds. MÄ«r Muhammad Husain notices the practice of planting this tree on account of its handsome appearance. He says that the unripe fruit and seeds have powerful astringent properties, and that the decoction of the bark is useful as an astringent in discharges from the mucous membrane of the bladder and urethra, and also as a gargle in relaxation of the gums, &c. He mentions the use of a snuff made from the dried and powdered flowers in a disease called Ahwa, common in Bengal. The symptoms of this disease are strong fever, headache and pain in the neck, shoulders and other parts of the body. The powdered flowers induce a copious defluxion from the nose and relieve the pain in the head. The flowers are much used by the natives on account of their perfume, which they retain when dry; pillows are sometimes stuffed with them, and they afford a distilled water. The juice of the bark and unripe fruit is used by silk dyers to fix colours. Rumphius states that the pounded leaves are applied to cure headache, that a decoction of the root is given in angina, whilst a plaster made from them is applied externally. The ripe fruit pounded and mixed with water is given to promote delivery in childbirth. (Hort. Amb. III., 17.) Horsfield (Asiat. Journ. VII. p. 262) describes the bark as an astringent tonic, and Dr. Bholanauth Bose states that a decoction of it forms a good gargle in salivation. (Pharm. of India, p. 131.)

The bakula  also produces a berrylike fruit, which turns yellow when ripe.  The pulp is given to patients suffering from stomach upsets, but the unripe berry is considered a useful masticatory, and is also used as an infusion to provide a general health tonic. The flowers, fruit, and bark of the bakula are all astringent, and they are used as elements in an Ayurvedic lotion for wounds and ulcers.  The bark, which is powdered and made into a gargle for infected mouth and gums, is one of the main ingredients in an Ayurvedic tooth powder recommended for patients with spongy gums.  Traditional remedies are: A decoction of the astringent bark or flower is taken to treat fever and diarrhea.  The leaves pounded with Nigella seeds are applied as a hot compress or burned and smoke inhaled to alleviate the discomfort of an ulceration nose. The juice of the leaves is dropped into sore eyes to treat eye ache. A decoction of the bark with tamarind bark is used as a lotion to treat skin affections. An infusion of the bark is used as a nasal wash against mucous discharge. The bark is used as a component in a poultice to treat leucorrhoea and pimples. The leaves are burned and smoke inhaled to treat asthma, affection of the nose and mouth. A decoction of the bark is gargled as a dental strengthener to fix teeth loosened. It also to treat sore throat or relaxed uvula to strengthen the gums. A tincture of the bark is employed as an embrocation to treat rheumatism and distended abdomen. A decoction of the bark is used to treat blennorrhea, sprue, gonorrhea and itch. Fruit of Bakula is made into a paste by grinding it with alcohol. It will stop menstruation, if taken during the period of menstruation.

Other Uses:

  *The edible fruit is softly hairy becoming smooth, ovoid, bright red-orange when ripe.
*The wood is a luxurious wood that is extremely hard, strong and tough, and rich deep red in color. The heart wood is sharply defined from the sapwood. It works easily and takes a beautiful polish. Weight is 1008 kg per cubic meter.

Disclaimer:
The information presented herein is intended for educational purposes only. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplements, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider

Resources:

http://www.holistic-herbalist.com/bakul.html
http://members.aol.com/parijata/bakula.html

http://www.destinationindia.com/travel_guide/nature/flora/bakul.html

http://iu.ff.cuni.cz/pandanus/database/new/detail.php?id=53

http://www.herbnet.com/Herb%20Uses_AB.htm

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Positive thinking

Working With Our Insect Neighbors

The Insect Kingdom
A change of season may bring about a change in the insect activity in and around your home. Rather than heading for the fly swatter or bug spray or calling the exterminator, try working with the insect kingdom rather than fighting it. Making this choice on a conscious level puts you in touch with nature, allowing you to create harmony within your ecosystem.

Insects “bug” us for shelter, water, or food, but they can also come into our lives to bring us a message. Though many cultures have decided what insects represent to them, you may be able to decipher their message just by thinking about their attributes. For example, bees may be telling you to communicate psychically with your family or to spread your talents like pollen. Their buzzing could be warning you about someone who could sting you or reminding you to stop and smell the flowers. Once you get their message, they may leave on their own. But if they don’t, you may want to spend a few days patiently inviting them to leave. In meditation or aloud, explain that this is your home and that the insect world is outdoors. While you understand their hunger and thirst, you will provide them with a designated place outside. Be sure to offer them appropriate food and make a commitment to replenish the supply regularly. You can even make a ceremony of it: Choose a time such as suns! et every Sunday, or every full moon, then create a line of demarcation around your home with sage or by sprinkling some herbs before giving your offering. This serves the dual purpose of keeping your bargain with your insect neighbors and keeping you in sync with nature’s cycles.

As we make the decision to respect nature, whether inside our homes, outside enjoying a picnic, or while gardening, we acknowledge that we all share the earth and need each other for our mutual survival. As we work together, we learn how to live in harmony with all living beings.

Source:Daily Om

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Categories
Ailmemts & Remedies

Whooping Cough (Petrusis)

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Definition:
Whooping cough – or pertussis – is an infection of the respiratory system caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis (or B. pertussis). It’s characterized by severe coughing spells that end in a “whooping” sound when the person breathes in. Before a vaccine was available, pertussis killed 5,000 to 10,000 people in the United States each year. Now, the pertussis vaccine has reduced the annual number of deaths to less than 30.

It is an upper respiratory infection and is a serious disease that can cause permanent disability in infants, and even death.

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Pertussis was recognizably described as early as 1578 by Guillaume de Baillou (1538-1616), but earlier reports date back at least to the 12th century. B. pertussis was isolated in pure culture in 1906 by Jules Bordet and Octave Gengou, who also developed the first serology and vaccine. The complete B. pertussis genome of 4,086,186 base pairs was sequenced in 2002.

In recent years, the number of cases has started to rise. By 2004, the number of whooping cough cases spiked past 25,000, the highest level it’s been since the 1950s. It’s mainly affected infants who are younger than 6 months old before they are adequately protected by their immunizations, and kids who are 11 to 18 years old whose immunity has faded.

Although whooping cough can occur at any age, it’s most severe in unimmunized children and in infants under 1 year of age (early immunization can usually prevent this serious disease in babies). But more cases have been reported in teens and adults, because their immunity has faded since their original vaccination. That’s why the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recently recommended that kids who are 11-18 years old get a booster shot that includes a pertussis vaccine, preferably when they are 11 to 12 years old.

Incubation:
The incubation period (the time between infection and the onset of symptoms) for whooping cough is usually 7 to 10 days, but can be as long as 21 days.

Signs and Symptoms:

The first symptoms of whooping cough are similar to those of a common cold:
After a 7 to 10 day incubation period, pertussis in infants and young children is characterized initially by mild respiratory infection symptoms such as cough, sneezing, and runny nose (catarrhal stage). After one to two weeks, the cough changes character, with paroxysms of coughing followed by an inspiratory “whooping” sound (paroxysmal stage). Coughing fits may be followed by vomiting due to the sheer violence of the fit. In severe cases, the vomiting induced by coughing fits can lead to malnutrition. The fits that do occur on their own can also be triggered by yawning, stretching, laughing, or yelling. Coughing fits gradually diminish over one to two months during the convalescent stage. Other complications of the disease include pneumonia, encephalitis, pulmonary hypertension, and secondary bacterial superinfection.

Because neither vaccination nor infection confers long-term immunity, infection of adolescents and adults is also common Most adults and adolescents who become infected with Bordetella pertussis have been vaccinated or infected years previously. When there is residual immunity from previous infection or immunization, symptoms may be milder, such as a prolonged cough without the other classic symptoms of pertussis. Nevertheless, infected adults and adolescents can transmit the bacteria to susceptible individuals. Adults and adolescent family members are the major source of transmission of the bacteria to unimmunized or partially immunized infants, who are at greatest risk of severe complications from pertussis.

After about 1 to 2 weeks, the dry, irritating cough evolves into coughing spells. During a coughing spell, which can last for more than a minute, the child may turn red or purple. At the end of a spell, the child may make a characteristic whooping sound when breathing in or may vomit. Between spells, the child usually feels well.

Although it’s likely that infants and younger children who become infected with B. pertussis will develop the characteristic coughing episodes with their accompanying whoop, not everyone will. However, sometimes infants don’t cough or whoop as older children do. They may look as if they’re gasping for air with a reddened face and may actually stop breathing for a few seconds during particularly bad spells.

Adults and adolescents with whooping cough may have milder or atypical symptoms, such as a prolonged cough without the coughing spells or the whoop.

Duration:
Pertussis can cause prolonged symptoms. The child usually has 1 to 2 weeks of common cold symptoms first. This is followed by approximately 2 to 4 weeks of severe coughing, though the coughing spells can sometimes last even longer. The last stage consists of another several weeks of recovery with gradual resolution of symptoms. In some children, the recovery period may last for months.

Transmission :
Pertussis is highly contagious. The bacteria spread from person to person through tiny drops of fluid from an infected person’s nose or mouth. These may become airborne when the person sneezes, coughs, or laughs. Other people then can become infected by inhaling the drops or getting the drops on their hands and then touching their mouths or noses. Infected people are most contagious during the earliest stages of the illness up to about 2 weeks after the cough begins. Antibiotics shorten the period of contagiousness to 5 days following the start of antibiotic treatment.

Diagnosis:
Because the symptoms during the catarrhal stage are nonspecific, pertussis is usually not diagnosed until the appearance of the characteristic cough of the paroxysmal stage. Methods used in laboratory diagnosis include culturing of nasopharyngeal swabs on Bordet-Gengou medium, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), immunofluorescence (DFA), and serological methods. The bacteria can be recovered from the patient only during the first three weeks of illness, rendering culturing and DFA useless after this period, although PCR may have some limited usefulness for an additional three weeks. For most adults and adolescents, who often do not seek medical care until several weeks into their illness, serology is often used to determine whether antibody against pertussis toxin or another component of B. pertussis is present at high levels in the blood of the patient.

Modern Treatment:
Treatment with an effective antibiotic shortens the infectious period but does not generally alter the outcome of the disease; however, when treatment is initiated during the catarrhal stage, symptoms may be less severe. Three macrolides, erythromycin, azithromycin and clarithromycin are used in the U.S. for treatment of pertussis; trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole is generally used when a macrolide is ineffective or is contraindicated. Close contacts who receive appropriate antibiotics (chemoprophylaxis) during the 7–21 day incubation period may be protected from developing symptomatic disease. Close contacts are defined as anyone coming into contact with the respiratory secretions of an infected person in the 21 days before or after the infected person’s cough began.

Some children with whooping cough need to be treated in a hospital. Infants and younger children are more likely to be hospitalized because they’re at greater risk for complications such as pneumonia, which occurs in about one in five children under the age of 1 year who have pertussis. Up to 75% of infants younger than 6 months old with whooping cough will receive hospital treatment. Infants and younger children are more likely to require hospitalization because they’re at greater risk for complications such as pneumonia, ear infection, dehydration, and seizures. In infants younger than 6 months of age, whooping cough can even be life-threatening.

While in the hospital, a child may need suctioning of thick respiratory secretions. The child’s breathing will be monitored, and oxygen may be needed. Intravenous (IV) fluids might be required if the child shows signs of dehydration or has difficulty eating. The child also will be isolated from other patients, with special precautions taken to prevent the infection from spreading to other patients, hospital staff, and visitors.

Home Treatment:
If your child is being treated for pertussis at home, follow the schedule for giving antibiotics exactly as your child’s doctor prescribed. Giving your child cough medicine probably will not help, as even strong cough medicines usually can’t relieve the coughing spells of whooping cough.

During recovery, let your child rest in bed and use a cool-mist vaporizer. This will help loosen respiratory secretions and soothe irritated lungs and breathing passages. (If you use a vaporizer, be sure to follow directions for keeping it clean and mold-free, usually with small amounts of bleach.) In addition, try to keep your home free of irritants that can trigger coughing spells, such as aerosol sprays, tobacco smoke, and smoke from cooking, fireplaces, and wood-burning stoves.

Children with whooping cough may vomit or not eat or drink as much because of frequent coughing. So offer smaller, more frequent meals and encourage your child to drink lots of fluids. Watch for signs of dehydration too, including: thirst, irritability, restlessness, lethargy, sunken eyes, a dry mouth and tongue, dry skin, crying without tears, and fewer trips to the bathroom to urinate (or in infants, fewer wet diapers).

Home Remedy: Sunflower seeds have diuretic as well as expectorant properties, and thus have been used successfully for the treatment of bronchial ailments such as bronchitis, coughs, colds, and whooping cough. Modern homeopathic use for Sunflowers includes treatment foren ailments, intermittent fever, nosebleed, nausea, and vomiting. A tea of the toasted seed may be used for whooping cough. The leaves are often included in herbal tobacco mixtures.

Herbal and Home Remedies for the treatment of Whooping Cough (Pertussis)

Herbal Tonic: 1 part White Horehound, 2 parts Mouse Ear, 1 part Sundew, 1 part Coltsfoot, 1 part Thyme. Mix all ingredients together. Use 1-2 teaspoon to 1 cup of boiling water. Steep 10 minutes.

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Prevention:
Whooping cough can be prevented with the pertussis vaccine, which is part of the DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis) immunization. DTaP immunizations are routinely given in five doses before a child’s sixth birthday.Pertussis vaccines are highly effective, strongly recommended, and save countless infant lives every year. Though the protection they offer lasts only a few years, they are given so that immunity lasts through childhood, the time of greatest exposure and greatest risk. To give additional protection in case immunity fades, the AAP now recommends that kids ages 11-18 get a booster shot of the new combination vaccine (called Tdap), ideally when they’re 11 or 12 years old, instead of the Td booster routinely given at this age. As is the case with all immunization schedules, there are important exceptions and special circumstances. Your child’s doctor will have the most current information.

Experts believe that up to 80% of nonimmunized family members will develop whooping cough if they live in the same house as someone who has the infection. For this reason, anyone who comes into close contact with a person who has pertussis should receive antibiotics to prevent spread of the disease. Young children who have not received all five doses of the vaccine may require a booster dose if exposed to an infected family member.

The tetanus toxoid, reduced diphtheria toxoid and acellular pertussis vaccine (Tdap) – will replace the Td (tetanus and reduced diphtheria toxoids) vaccine in the childhood immunization schedule. The Td vaccine is used for booster doses for adolescents and adults.

During a pertussis outbreak, unimmunized children under age 7 should not attend school or public gatherings, and should be isolated from anyone known or suspected to be infected. This should last until 14 days after the last reported case.

Some health care organizations strongly recommend that adults up to the age of 65 years receive the adult form of the vaccine against pertussis.

You may click to see:->Whooping cough vaccine call

Homeopathic Alternative to Vaccines

Disclaimer: This information is not meant to be a substitute for professional medical advise or help. It is always best to consult with a Physician about serious health concerns. This information is in no way intended to diagnose or prescribe remedies.

.References :

http://en.wikipedia.org , http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article , http/kidshealth.org/parent/infections/bacterial

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Herbs & Plants

Curry Leaves

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Botanical Name : Murraya koenigii
Family: Rutaceae
Genus: Murraya
Species: M. koenigii
Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Sapindales
Syninyms: Bergera koenigii, Chalcas koenigii

Common Names: Curry Tree or Curry-leaf Tree,The Curry Tree  (Tamil: karivepallai, Malayalam: kariveppila, Kannada: karibevina soppu, Konkani:  karibeva paallo, Telugu: karivepaku , kadipatta, Bengali:  Kari Gaas)  It produces the leaves known as Curry leaves or Sweet Neem leaves. Karivepillai in Tamil means black neem as the appearance of the leaves look similar to the neem leaves.

The small and narrow leaves somewhat resemble the leaves of the Neem tree; therefore they are also referred to as Kadhi Patta (Hindi), Mithho Limdo (Gujarati) Kadhielimba (Marathi), (Patta meaning leaf and Kadhi being a popular dish that consists of a thin soup or stew made from yogurt, among dishes this leaf is used to spice) Karivepaku in Telugu (aaku means leaf), Karuveppilai (translated to Black Neem leaf) in Tamil and Malayalam, Karu/Kari meaning black, ilai meaning leaves and veppilai meaning Neem leaf. In the Kannada language it is known as Kari Bevu. Other names include Karivepaku Karuveppilai, noroxingha (Assamese), Bhursunga Patra (Oriya), and Karapincha (Sinhalese).

Habitat: .The curry tree is native to India; today, it is found wild or become wild again, almost everywhere in the Indian subcontinent excluding the higher levels of the Himalayas. In the East, its range extends into Burma.

The name curry plant is often used for Helichrysum italicum (Asteraceae), a relative of immortelle; several subspecies grow in the European Mediterranean countries. The essential oil shows considerable infraspecific variation; its main components are monoterpene hydrocarbons (pinene, camphene, myrcene, limonene) and monoterpene-derived alcohols (linalool, terpinene-4-ol, nerol, geraniol, also their acetates); further important aroma components are nonterpenoid acyclic β-ketones, which give rise to a somewhat disagreeable flavour (e.g., 2,5,7-trimethyldec-2-en-6,8-dione, 2,5,7,9-tetramethyldec-2-en-6,8-dione, 2,5,7,9-tetramethylhendec-2-en-6,8-dione, 3,5-dimethyloctan-4,6-dione, 2,4-dimethylheptan-3,5-dione).

You may click to see the pictures

Plant family:  Rutaceae (citrus family).

Description:
It is a small tree, growing 4-6 m tall, with a trunk up to 40 cm diameter. The leaves are pinnate, with 11-21 leaflets, each leaflet 2-4 cm long and 1-2 cm broad. They are highly aromatic. The flowers are small white, and fragrant. The small black, shiny berries are edible, but their seeds are poisonous.

The species name commemorates the botanist Johann König.

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Propagation:
Seeds must be planted fresh; dried or shriveled fruits are not viable. Plant either the whole fruit (or remove the pulp) in potting mix and keep moist but not wet.
Sensory quality:
Fresh and pleasant, remotely reminiscent of tangerines.

Main constituents:
Fresh leaves are rich in an essential oil, but the exact amount depends besides freshness and genetic strain also on the extraction technique. Typical figures run from 0.5 to 2.7%.

The following aroma components have been identified in curry leaves of Sri Lanka (in parentheses, the content in mg/kg fresh leaves): β-caryophyllene (2.6 ppm), β-gurjunene (1.9), β-elemene (0.6), β-phellandrene (0.5), β-thujene (0.4), α-selinene (0.3), β-bisabolene (0.3), furthermore limonene, β-trans-ocimene and β-cadinene (0.2 ppm). (Phytochemistry, 21, 1653, 1982)

Newer work has shown a large variability of the composition of the essential oil of curry leaves. In North Indian plants, monoterpenes prevail (β-phellandrene, α-pinene, β-pinene), whereas South Indian samples yielded sesquiterpenes: β-caryophyllene, aromadendrene, α-selinene. (Flavour and Fragrance Journal, 17, 144, 2002)

Uses:
Its leaves are highly aromatic and are used as an herb. Their form is small and narrow and somewhat resemble the leaves of the Neem tree; therefore they are also referred to as Kari Bevu, translated to Black Neem, in the Kannada language and Karivepaku in Telugu again translating to the same meaning. In Tamil and Malayalam it is known as Karuveppilai, ilai meaning leaves. Other names include Kari Patta (Hindi), Kadi Patta (Marathi), Limda(Gujarati) and Karapincha (Sinhalese).

They are commonly used as seasoning in Indian and Sri Lankan cooking, much like bay leaves and especially in curries with fish or coconut milk. In their fresh form, they have a short shelf life and may be stored in a freezer for up to a week; they are also available dried, although the aroma is clearly much inferior.

Curry leaves are extensively used in Southern India and Sri Lanka (and are absolutely necessary for the authentic flavour), but are also of some importance in Northern India. Together with South Indian immigrants, curry leaves reached Malaysia, South Africa and Réunion island. Outside the Indian sphere of influence, they are rarely found.

In Burma, however, a completely different definition of “curry” is in use: Burmese “curries” owe their flavour to a fried paste of ground onions and other spices (see onion for details). Lastly, in Indonesia, any spicy food may be termed a curry (kari in Indonesian). Sometimes, one even hears about Ethiopian (see long pepper) or Caribbean “curries”, whatever this may mean (except, perhaps, the least common denominator of all those: Spiciness).

Medicinal Uses:-

Said to be tonic and stomachic.  In India, the young leaves are taken for dysentery and diarrhea.   The leaves and the stem are used as a tonic, stimulant and carminative.   An infusion of the toasted leaves is anti-emetic.  A paste of the bark and roots is applied to bruises and poisonous bites.  The seeds are used to make a medicinal oil called ‘zimbolee oil.’  Fresh juice of the leaves mixed with lemon juice and sugar is prescribed for digestive disorders, and eating 10 curry leaves every morning for 3 months is thought to cure hereditary diabetes.  A few drops of the juice are believed to keep eyes bright.  A liberal intake of curry leaves impedes premature greying of the hair.  The leaves, boiled in coconut oil, are massaged into the scalp to promote hair growth and retain color.  The leaves may also be used as a poultice to help heal burns and wounds.  Juice from the berries may be mixed with lime juice and applied to soothe insect bites and stings.

Curry leaves possess the qualities of herbal tonic.They strengthen the functions of stomach. and promots its action.They are also used as a mild laxative.The leaves may be taken mixed with other mild testing herbs. The juice extracted from 15 grams of leaves may be taken with buttermilk.

Digestive Disorders:Fresh juice of curry leaves and sugar,is an effective medicine for morning sickness,vomiting and nausea due to indigestion and excessive use of fats.One or two teaspoon of juice leaves mixed with teaspoon of lime juice may be taken in these conditions.The curry leaves ground to a fine paste and mixed with buttermilk can be taken in an empty stomach with beneficial results in case of stomach upsets.

Tender curry leaves are used in diarrhoea,dysentry and piles.They should be taken mixed with honey.The bark of the tree is also useful in bilious vomiting.A teaspoon of powder or decoction of the dry bark should be given with cold water in this condition.

Diabetes: Eating 10 fresh fully grown curry leaves every morning for three months is said to prevent diabetes due to heredity factors. It can cure diabetes due to obesity as the leaves have weight reducing properities.

Kidney Disorders:The root of the curry plant also has medicinal properities.The juice of the root can be taken to relieve pain associated with kindeys.

Premature Greying of Hair: Liberal intake of curry leaves is considered beneficial in preventing premature greying of hairs.These leaves have the properity of naurishing the hair roots.New hair roots that grow are healther with normal pigments.The leaves can be used in the form of CUTNEY or the juice may be squeezed and taken in buttermilk or lassi.

Burns and Bruises: Curry leaves can be effectively used to treat burns,bruises and skin eruptions.They should be applied as a poultice over the affected areas.

Eye Disorders: Fresh juice of curry leaves suffused in the eyes makes them look bright.It also prevents the early development of cataract.

Insect Bites: Fruits of tree,which are berries,are edible,They are green when raw but purple when ripe.Juice of these barries, mixed with equal proportion of lime juice is an effective fluid for external application in insect stings and bites of poisonous creatures.

Hair Tonic: When leaves are boiled with coconut oil till they are reduced to blackened residue, the oil forms an excellent hair tonic to stimulate hair growth and in retaining the natural pigmentation.

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Disclaimer:The information presented herein is intended for educational purposes only. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplements, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.

Help taken from:h,ttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curry_leaves http://www.uni-graz.at/~katzer/engl/Murr_koe.html and Herbs That Heal

http://www.herbnet.com/Herb%20Uses_C.htm

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Facial Expression

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Is your smile fake or genuine? Elena Conis unravels the myriad goings-on that bring about that enchanting facial expression .

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Mona Lisa’s smile is mysterious, the Cheshire Cat’s is devious, the Joker’s is mischievous and Buddha’s beatific. Humans probably have been smiling for as long as they have been around. But despite the long history of smiles, scientists still haven’t figured out exactly how or why the brain tells the lips to curve, the nose to wrinkle, the eyes to twinkle and the cheeks to lift.

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Babies generally start smiling at about six to eight weeks. Throughout childhood, boys smile just about as much as girls. That changes soon after puberty. Grown women smile more than men, and they also smile wider. Smiling, studies suggest, makes people appear more attractive, kinder and, by some accounts,easier to remember.

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Smiles carry myriad meanings: joy, amusement, politeness, mockery, disdain, lechery and deceit, to name a few. But no matter the emotion, all smiles call on many muscles and nerves, starting with one called cranial nerve seven.

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Cranial nerve seven leaves the brain and heads for the face, and at the point where the jawbone meets the skull, it branches off. Some of its tributaries travel to the muscles of the forehead, some to the eyes, some to the nose and others to the cheeks, lips and chin. When cranial seven sends its message to the face, the face will smile.

All smiles share something else in common: an emotional foundation. But there’s subtlety here. Depending on what the emotion is, the brain sends different instructions to the face — such was the conclusion of a young, 19th century French doctor named Guillaume Duchenne.

In the 1840s, Duchenne went from hospital to hospital in Paris carrying a box-like contraption of his own making. Using the coil and electrodes in the box, he applied volts of electricity to the faces of his patients. As their faces contorted, he took notes, ultimately creating a map of the face muscles and nerves.

In the process, Duchenne noticed that the range of human facial expressions includes two kinds of smiles: one that stops at the lips, and one that extends across the face, to the eyes. A smile engaging the eyes, he concluded, was a genuine smile, one that is technically called a  Duchenne smile.

A century after Duchenne, scientists studying facial expressions began applying electrical currents directly to the brain. They found that stimulating certain areas could induce a smile, and that stronger stimulation could make a person laugh.

But not all scientists got the same results. In one experiment, researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles, were examining the brain of a 16-year-old to find where her chronic seizures were originating. When they electrically stimulated an area on the left side of the girl’s brain, she grinned. When they increased the current, her smile turned to genuine laughter.

In another case, this one in Switzerland, researchers were looking for the source of seizures in a 21-year-old man. Stimulating an area on the right side of his brain caused him to smile, and increasing the current made him laugh. Unlike the 16-year-old girl, he insisted that he felt no joy.

The precise brain regions involved in smiling are still debated, but evidence from patients with brain damage has made one thing clear: The areas involved in instigating a polite, or voluntary, smile (the kind exchanged with a bank teller, for example) are not the same ones involved in genuine smiling (such as the kind that emerges on seeing a loved one or hearing a funny joke).

Some stroke victims, for example, can’t force a smile on demand, but will grin easily when truly happy  is  an indication that the stroke destroyed part of the brain controlling voluntary smiles. But sometimes the converse occurs: A stroke destroys the brain region controlling involuntary movement. In this case, the victim is no longer able to smile or laugh out of joy but can still force the corners of his mouth up into a polite smile.

Researchers are now tapping into another of the smile’s mysteries: They have evidence that a smile that’s a prelude to laughter may actually help the body heal. Preliminary studies suggest that genuine laughter can jolt the immune system into gear.

Source:The Telegraph (Kolkata,India)

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