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Home remedies

Home Remedies

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Home remedies sometimes give unexpected result to cure several  ailments.I therefore,tried to gather information of some of them and noted down .It will be a great pleasure for me if any one of them comes useful to some one.

FOR ABORTION:
2 Gms. of Tender leaves of Babool
2 Cups of Water

Boil it so that water becomes one cup. Strain, add Misri to taste. Use this 2/3 days once a day to check abortion.

FOR Acidity and Indigestion :

Roast one teaspoon each of dry cumin seeds and caraway seeds of ajwain in a pan. Add one-cup water and boil till it is reduced to half its quantity. Strain and add sugar to taste. Drink one teaspoon for relief from acidity and indigestion.
Arthritis/Gout: 1.Boil mustard oil (10ml) with one moderate pack of Garlic bulb, apply on the affected parts 3/4/ times a day.

2.Massage with camphor oil ¾ times a day on the affected parts.

3.Apply warm mustard oil on the affected parts at the time of bed rest and cover them with Dhatura leaves overnight. Keep doing it for 15 days. Repeat again as per need.

4.Massage with Turpentine oil/Eucalyptus oil 3/4 times a day on the affected part. Cover that portion with a wet towel and gradually pour hot water (not very hot) from the kettle on it. You may experience great relief.

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Bad Breath:Parsley leaves are rich in chlorophyll, nature’s own deodorizer. Chew some leaves regularly and your breath will remain fresh. Alternatively, you can chew some cardamom seeds to sweeten your breath.

Beautification of Lips:Massage your lips with coriander leaf juice for soft and rosy results.

Bleeding Gums:Take lemon juice in a glass of water daily for 3/4 days. Also gargle with salt.

Bruises:Slice a raw onion and place over the bruise. But do not apply this over grave injuries.

click to see:Topical Skin Cancer Treatment Home Remedy Formulations

Cataract:1 Gram of Tobacco leaves
4 Grams of Arandi ka Tel
Mix this material to very fine paste and keep it in a small bottle. Apply it to eyes with the help of a needle daily.

Catarrh :To get releif from congestion, mix a teaspoon of vinegar in a glass of warm water and sip frequently.

Chills:Instead of your regular hot tea or coffee, have a glass of hot water mixed with honey and lemon. Put a teaspoon of honey, lemon juice and a little grated ginger in a glass and add hot water stir & drink.

Cholera :Mix powdered red pepper with honey and prepare fine small pellets (equal to 1/2 pea size). Use 2 pellets when patient feels extreme weakness. It will bring dramatic relief in 2/3 days.

Cold :Drink plenty of lime juice everyday as the ascorbic acid (Vitamic C) content of lime helps heal wounds quickly, maintain your teeth, helps also hair, nails and complexion in good condition and guard against catching colds.

Constipation:
1.The best way to deal with constipation is to change food habits. Milk, boiled vegetables, fruits and their juices should be taken in large quantities together with foods containing a lot of roughage & fibrous matter.

2.10g of Senna leaves and 5g of Aniseed should be boiled in a cup of water with sugar, then strained and drunk before retiring for the night.

3.Half a litre of milk mixed with 50g of khand taken at night will give relief.

4.Another remedy is to eat 40g of Gulkand with milk everyday.

5.If these remedies fail to give relief, 6g of the Rind of Harr should be finely powdered and mixed with a little luke warm water and salt be taken.

6.Take bathu ka saag during the season for getting rid of obstinate constipation.

7.Simply eat a few liquorice sticks. One of its many properties is that it is a natural laxative.

8.If you have often constipation, eat more ladyfinger(OKRA) ‘Sabji’(AS VEGETABLE).


Cough:
1. Dip pieces of one medium size onion in 10ml of pure honey, leave it overnight. Remove the pieces and take one spoon juice 3 times a day.

Muli as vegetable

Anar & Angur juice

Liv-52 Tablet, 2 tablet 3 times a day

Take rest.

2. If you’re suffering from a nagging cough or chest congestion, boil three cups water with two fresh betal leaves & four crushed peppercorns, till the water is reduced to half. Strain and drink it every morning and night with a teaspoon of honey added to it.

3.1 Gram of White pepper
250 Mgs. of Misri
Grind these items to a very fine powder. Now mix it with one tsp Malai and take it bit by bit rather lick it gradually.

4.First cut an onion or several flakes of garlic into thin slice. Cover the slices with honey and leaves for two to three hours. Drink a spoonful of the resulting juice throughout the day.

Cough, Nausea and Vomiting :Take half a cup of onion juice mixed with two teaspoons of honey for relief from cough, nausea & vomiting.

Cracked Skin :Apply a mixture of grated potato soaked in olive oil. Leave this for 10 minutes and then rinse off.

Cuts/Wounds:Sprinkle powdered Mehndi or

Sprinkle powdered Haldi

Dandruff :Add a few drops of eucalyptus oil to the henna mixture before applying it on your hair if you want, dark copper colour. This also helps to get rid of dandruff and leaves your hair shining.

FOR DIARRHEA: 1.When Diarrhea is a constant problem,eat Archway Coconut Macaroon Cookies

2.A strong cup of unsweetened black tea is effective in stopping diarrhoea

.3.Another quick remedy is to peel apple and shred it. Keep the shredded pieces in a plate for approx. 20 minutes until they turn brown in colour, and then eat them.

Diarrhoea/Indigestion/Gas:Saunf and Dhania is to be mixed in equal proportion, powdered and a small amount of Misri or Khand is added. 2 tsp is to be taken morning and evening. This will stop diarrhoea/indigestion/gas formation and is helpful to eyes.

Dog-bite :
In case of dog-bite, first apply mustard oil on that part and then pack it with red pepper powder. It will check disease from spreading even if the dog is rabid.

Dropsy/Liver Inflammation :Leaves of Kasondi (1g) and Kali mirch (7) is ground together in water and filtered. Filtrate is to be taken morning and evening for one week (each time 1g kasondi & 7 kali mirch).

Dysentery : A teaspoon of fenugreek seeds in a glass of lukewarm water will bring relief immediately.

Dysentery/Tenusmus/Diarrhoea : Grind whole plant of Duddhi in water. Strained water extract (half cup) if taken 2/3 times a day gives quick relief.

Grind a lemon (including the seeds and the rind) to a paste, with a little salt. It makes an effective cure for diarrhoes.

Hari Harr & choti Harr half roasted in over and powdered. This powder, mixed with a pinch of black salt, if taken three times (1/2 tsp) will bring prompt relief.

Ecyzema : Apply garlic juice & lemon juice to the affected place. It will clear fungus infection.

Eczema/fungus infection of nails, hand & feet will be cleared with the use of Mehndi (Use continuously for a week). Avoid excess indulgence in water.

Use of tulsi leaves and lemon juice to the infected part will also cure eczema.

Enuresis (Passing Urine at Night) : Chewing one teaspoon of black sesame seeds (til) before going to bed is a sure shot treatment for such problem.

Eye Sight : One small piece of haldi is kept in lemon and when it dries, haldi is taken out & put in second fresh lemon and when it dries it is further kept in third/fourth lemon. Now, Haldi is ground with one/two drops of water & applied on the eyes with the help of a needle for 7/10 days or as needed.

Eyebrow in Perfect Shape ; Put a little warm castor oil on scanty eyebrows. This will enhance their growth.

Face Cream: 1/2 Cup of Channa ka atta (besan)
1 Tsp of Haldi Powder
1/4 to 1/2 Cups of Mustard Oil
Mix all these materials to a semi-solid paste and apply it on your face. It will bring marvelous glow on your skin. It can be used on hands & legs also.

Fever : Mix equal number of leaves of Tulsi, Neem and Lemon grass plus 7-10 black pepper. Boil it like making tea. Strain the water and drink 3/4 times a day.

Fever/Headache/Bodyache/malaria : Take 5 Leaves of Ghiraita,5 Leaves of Neem leaves, 10 Leaves of Tulsi, 5 Leaves of Lemon Grass and 10-15 Leaves of Black pepper
Mix all, boil & strain, add sugar to taste. Take half cup 3 times a day
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Files :
While going to toilet, put a medium piece of Alum (Fitkari) in water. Use this water after the toilet. Repeat till relief.

For all kinds of Fever :
Gilo (Gurach)-one gram is powdered and dipped in water. Water is strained and divided in two doses. Mix each dose with a spoon of sugar and take morning and evening. Better if Ajwain (250mg.) is also added to Gilo.

For Angina and Ischaemic Heart Disease ; Puskarmula

Arjun

Kut

Prishnaparini

Guggulu

Above plants are equally powdered and 10g powder is left overnight in a cup of water and taken in the morning.

For Body Resistance to Disease :
A mixture of Amla, Harr, Bahera and herb Giloya (1:1:1:1) if taken regularly makes the person immune to illness.

For Cold : 10 Leaves of Tulsi 2 Tsp of Honey
Make paste of leaves and mix with honey. Taken in the morning, it will keep out cold & cough away and will also help in bringing down blood pressure.

For General Debility : Sage is an excellent pick-me-up. Take 100g of fresh sage leaves and soak them in a bottle of white wine for two weeks. Add honey for sweetening and leave for an extra 24 hours. Use a muslin cloth for straining, making sure your press as you strain. Collect the solution in a bottle and drink a little before meals.

For Malaria :
10 Leaves of Tulsi
5 Leaves of Bhang
10-15 Leaves of Kali-mirch
Grind the above mixture to a paste and make pea size pellets. Dry it in shade. Take Two pellets three times a day.

For Nausea : Lime Water at the time of nausea will be helpful.

Soft kheera should be eaten gradually to get rid of obstinate nauseatic condition.

For Purifying Blood :
A Plant commonly called Mundi, its aqueous extract (one cup) daily purifies the blood.

For Vigour :
2 Tsp of Onion Juice
2 Tsp of Honey
1 Tsp of Adrak Juice
To be taken twice, morning and evening for ten or fifteen days.

For Vigour & Strength

2 Tsp of Onion Juice
2 Tsp of Honey
2 Tsp of Desi-ghee

Mix the above materials and warm it on stove, add Misri and take once in the morning for 15 days.

Gas/Giddiness :
1 Gram of Dhania Powder
250 Mgs. of Khand
Mix these two materials in the said ratio and keep it in a container, use two tsp after each meal with water.

Habitual Abortion : Grind fresh flowers of Anar (2g) to a fine paste. Add a little water and filter. Add sugar to taste in filtrate and use it morning and evening (taking 2g flower each time) for three days.

Haemoglobin : Prepare leafy vegetable ‘Sabji’ in an iron ‘Kadhai’. It will taste good. The ‘Kadhai’ is a good source of iron which is required to increase haemoglobin in blood.

Hair loss : 1. Don’t throw away lemon rinds, orange peels and pomegranate skin. Just dry them in the sun and grind to a fine powder. Mix this powder in coconut oil and apply to your hair to prevent hair loss and for glossy hair.

2. The Scottish dermatologists stated that “Cedarwood, lavender, thyme, and rosemary oils have hair growth-promoting properties. These oils have been anecdotally used to treat alopecia [baldness] for more than 100 years.Thyme vulgaris (2 drops, 88 mg), Lavandula angustifolia (3 drops, 108 mg), Rosmarinus officinalis (3 drops, 114 mg), and Cedrus atlantica (2 drops, 94 mg). These oils were mixed in a carrier oil, which was a combination of jojoba, 3 ml, and grape seed, 20 ml, oils … The oils were massaged into the scalp for a minimum of 2 minutes. A warm towel was then wrapped around the head to aid absorption of the oils. Patients were advised to use this technique every night.

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Healthy & Glowing Hair; Extract the juice of the aloe-vera plant and rub it into your scalp. This ensures the healthy growth of hair.

For glowing hair, grind a few whole green grams, lemon peels, a handful of curry leaves and a few “rithas” to a paste and apply to the hair before washing off.

Hiccups: Roast some peppercorns and breathe deeply. Your hiccups will stop at once.

High B.P.: 1.If your are suffering from high blood pressure, try this remedy. Boil two cups water with 10 to 15 basil leaves, a few peppercorns and a little sugar. Strain and drink it thrice a day.

High Blood Pressure :
5 Cloves of Garlic
5 Leaves of Tulsi
4 Tsp of Honey
Make a paste of above ingredients and eat once in the morning without taking anything.

Eat two bananas daily to balance excess sodium in the body. Banana contains enough potassium to cut ill effects of sodium (we use as common salt).

2. To control high blood pressure, mix equal quantities of onion juice and honey and take one teaspoon every day in the morning.

Hoarse Voice : Sprinkle common salt on the small pieces of adrak. Take the pieces gradually one by one.

Indigestion : Place a teaspoon of freshly grated ginger into a pan and add a cup of water. Cover and allow it to simmer for five minutes. Strain the contents & drink.

Insect Bite : To cure an insect bite apply any balm on it. It will relieve you of the itchy sensation.

Click for:-> Home Remedies for INFERTILITY MEN / WOMEN

Kidney Problem : Dry tulsi seeds and grind them with an equal quantity of sugar. One spoon of this powder, taken every morning, is good for the kidney.

Leprosy : 1 Gms. of Red Pepper (Powdered)
2.5 Gms. of Ghee
Mix and keep the above in a small container. Use it on the affected part 2/3 times a day. It will bring good results.

Leucoderma or White Spot on Skin :
(if it is senseless, it could be leprosy then do not use this prescription)
Eat Bathu ka sag daily during the season in form of Roti or Dall-sag and use its juice over spots daily at least 2/3 times. Eat Anjir regularly for a month.

Liver Problem : To maintain your liver in a good condition, eat a refrigerated pineapple slice dipped in honey, twice a day.

Losing Hairs : A mixture of almond oil, olive oil and castor oil in equal proportions acts as an excellent hair tonic.

Lovely Eyes : Place cotton wool swabs dipped in cold milk on closed eyes to soothe the eyes and remove dark circles.

Triphalla (Amla+Harr+Bahera) soaked in water overnight then boiled & filtered. The filtrate to be applied to the eyes along with rose water.

 

Malaria:Eating a leaf or two of tulsi takes care of many disorders specifically works wonders during complex diseases like malaria.

Malnurtrition: Banana is a complete food. It has all the ingredients necessary for body’s nutrition, growth & strength. So, it is specially recommended for children and old people. But it causes a little bit constipation so, it should be taken with black pepper & salt.

Medicinal Value of Basil Leaves : For immediate relief from toothache, take two basil leaves, a grin of salt and a pinch of pepper powder and press against the affected tooth.

Mix equal quantities of basil juice, honey, and caraway seed (Ajwain) juice and drink on an empty stomach if you are suffering from cough.

Migrain:

click to see: Home Migraine Remedies

Motion Sickness :
Chewing a couple of cloves while traveling will relieve motion sickness.

Nails :For glossy and strong nails, soak them in a mixture of lemon juice & glycerine.

Nausea : Powdered cinnamon and sliced ginger work by interrupting nausea signals sent from the stomach to the brain. If you are a herbal tea drinker, simply sprinkle powdered cinnamom on the tea and drink. You can also drink ginger-tea to check nausea.

Nausea & Stomach Ailments : Eat a slice of fresh ginger after each meal to protect yourself, from stomach ailments. For immediate relief from nausea, chew salted dry ginger sticks.

Nausea/Bile : Eat a slice of fresh ginger after each meal to protect yourself, from stomach ailments. For immediate relief from nausea, chew salted dry ginger sticks.

Nose Bleeds:Dip a cotton bud in rose water and dab it on to the inside of your nostrils to stop the bleeding.

Nosebleed : Stop nosebleeds by putting a few drops of pomegranate juice into your nostrils.

Preventing Insects in books: Place neem leaves in your books to prevent them from being attacked by insects.

Burn neem leaves in the courtyard or garden to keep mosquitoes away.

Skin Beautification :Banana is a natural skin whitener. Mash a ripe banana and apply it on the face and neck, and your tan colour will fade away.

Smelly Feet : Soak your feet in strong tea for 20 minutes every day until smell disappears. To prepare your footbath, brew two tea bags in 500 ml of water for 15 minutes and pour the tea into a basin containing two litres of cool water.

Sore Throat:
1. Drink tea with a pinch of pepper to get relief from bad throat.
2.Powder peppercorns and basil leaves and dry them in the shade. Use this powder to make black tea.

Spots: Herbs like tea tree oil and lavender oil, both antiseptics, can be applied neatly and quickly to pimples.

Sprain : Add a tsp of salt to two tsp turmeric powder and boil with a little water to obtain a thick paste. Apply while still hot over sprain.

Stomach Belches: Eat a small piece of jaggery after eating radish you can avoid unpleasant belches.

Stomach Upsets : 1. For quick relief from an upset stomach, chew a spoonful of ‘ajwain’ (fennel seeds) with little black salt.

2.5 Leaves of Tulsi
Few pieces of Adrak
10-15 pieces of Black Pepper
Boil these material. Strain and drink 2/3 times (half cup).

Tea : Tea is a wonderful drink. Brew your tea slowly, it takes three-four minutes for the anti-oxidants to make their way into the water. Anti-oxidants delay ageing.

Thirst : Eat a cardamom or two, especially during long journeys, to avoid feeling thirsty.

Tired Eyes :Lavender oil offers gentle relief for tired and strained eyes. Add a drop lavender oil to 500ml of water & shake the solution well. Dip two cotton wool pads in the liquid, squeeze out the excess water and place one pad over each eye (Don’t use contact lenses at this time).

To Check Bleeding :Sprinkle powdered haldi and henna over the oozing blood. This will stop flow of blood immediately.

To Stop Oozing Blood : Sprinkle haldi powder, flowing of blood will be stopped.

Toothache : 1.Cloves are excellent painkillers. You can either chew one, or place it near the tooth. As the juices flow and mix with saliva, they numb the gum and alleviate pain.

2.Take one teaspoon ginger juice, a little edible camphor, a little honey and a pinch of salt. Heat the mixture for a second and apply it on the aching tooth. You will get immediate relief.

3.A paste made of finely ground leaves of Tulsi should be warmed a little and applied to the aching tooth.

Ginger ground into a paste with a pinch of salt also relieves toothache.

Applying clove oil is also effective.

Brush your teeth with dried, powdered leaves of Tulsi to strengthen gums and prevent pain & pyrrohoea.

Brush your teeth after each meal to keep away dental problems.

Avoid chewing tobacco, pan-masala and other similar items to avoid early decay.

Wash and dry neem leaves. Grind them to a fine powder. Sprinkle this powder over the toothpaste before brushing your teeth. You will never have complaints of tooth decay or any mouth diseases.

4.For instant relief from severe toothache, press a little turmeric powder into the tooth.

Toxicity :
To check if mushrooms are poisonous, boil them in water along with a few garlic flakes. If water turns black they are poisonous.

Warts :Place some chopped onions in a dish, cover with salt and leave overnight. Twice a day apply resulting juice to the warts until they disappear.

FOR ARTHRITIS:1.A scientist noticed that when he got up out of his chair after watching a football game, his arthritis pain was greatly diminished.During the course of the game he had consumed a six-pack of diet soda containing aspartame. Putting two and two together, he thought this artificial sweetener might have contributed to his relief.
This research was published in the very respectable scientific journal, Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics.

2.Empty a packet sundried raisins into a bowl and pour in just enough gin to cover the raisins. Allow the gin to evaporate (about one week) and then place the moist raisins in a jar with a lid .Eat nine raisins a day. They go well on cereal, and it will help to get rid of Arthritis.

3. Purchase Certo in the canning section of your local grocery. It is a thickening agent used to make jams and jellies. Certo contains pectin, a natural ingredient found in the cell walls of plants.
There are two recipes: Take 2 teaspoons of Certo in 3 ounces of grape juice three times a day. As the pain disappears, this can be reduced to 1 teaspoon in juice twice a day.
4. Take turmeric pills and arthritis pain will disappear.Turmeric powder can also be eaten along with morning cereal.

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FOR WARTS:1. Tape a small piece of banana skin (with the fleshy side towards the wart) over the wart at bedtime. Leave it on overnight. Some people report that warts given this treatment daily disappear within weeks.

2.Research on duct tape was published in the Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine (Oct. 2002). Parents were told to cover the wart with a piece of duct tape for six days. If it fell off, they were to replace it.
At the end of the six days, they removed the tape, soaked the wart in warm water and then filed it down with an emery board. The duct tape was replaced the following day and the process was repeated for two months or until the wart disappeared.

In this study, 85 percent of the children treated with duct tape were cured. Most warts disappeared within the first month. In fact, the study found that duct tape worked better than freezing warts off.In this study, 85 percent of the children treated with duct tape were cured. Most warts disappeared within the first month. In fact, the study found that duct tape worked better than freezing warts off.

FOR CUTS:1.Sprinkle black paper dust on the cut .The bleeding stopped almost instantly, and the cut healed with barely a scar.

2. Leak the cut with your own tongue, put your own saliva on the cut let it dry,do this 3 or 4 times, your cut will be healed soon.

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FOR ASTHMA: During Asthma attack if you donot have inhaler in hand,or not available, drink 2 to 3 cups of coffee.It will give instant relief.Caffeine is very similar to a tried-and-true asthma medicine called theophylline.

FOR VAGINAL DRYNESS: Vaginal dryness is a common problem after menopause or certain cancer treatments. Finding an acceptable sexual lubricant can be a challenge.One
couple who used an old-fashioned moisturizing hand lotion called Corn Huskers for twenty-five years. They said it is slippery but not greasy and stays where you put it. Corn Huskers contains guar gum and algin as well as glycerin, an ingredient also found in personal lubricants such as Replens, Astroglide, Maxilube, or K-Y Jelly.

FOR FLATULENCE: A cup of fennel seed tea two or three times daily helps to get rid of flatulence. To make fennel seed tea, slightly crush a teaspoon of fennel seeds and pour boiling water over them.

One tablespoon of flaxseed powder in a glass of juice twice a day, together with two capsules of fennel seed two or three times a day will cure serious gas problem.

FOR INDIGESTION:

Parsley
A very effective and refreshing indigestion remedy is parsley. Eat about 1/4 teaspoon of dried parsley, or a few sprigs of fresh parsley and chase it down with a glass of water.

Celery
Some swear that eating a stick of celery at the first signs of indigestion works like a charm.

Potato
Some people claim that the quickest indigestion remedy is raw potato. When hit with indigestion, take a raw potato and eat a small piece about the size of your whole thumb. Chew it up real good and swallow it.

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FOR CONSTIPATION:1. Flaxseed is rich in soluble fiber. Some one has found a way to utilize this property to prevent constipation: Put three quarts of water on to boil, add two tablespoons of flax seed and simmer for fifteen minutes. Then cool it and strain it into containers. (It makes just over two quarts.) With two ounces in orange juice every morning, constipation will be over.

2. Drink every morning a teaspoon of lemon juice and one teaspoon of honey mixed in 8 ounces of warm water.This will act as a cure to your constipation. Try it and it will work.

3. 1 cup applesauce 1 cup coarse, unprocessed bran 3/4 cup prune juice
Mix all the ingredients together. They will turn into a pasty, stiff glop about the consistency of peanut butter. After mixing, it should be kept refrigerated. Take one or two tablespoons daily and wash it down with a full eight ounces of water.

FOR COLD:1.Grind about half an inch of fresh ginger root into a paste and place in a mug. Add boiling water and “steep” for several minutes. Strain the clear liquid into another mug, sweeten, and sip.Your symptoms start to subside within about twenty minutes. Drink this in the morning and evening, and your cold usually will get better by the second day.

2. A very good protection against Cold is to eat CHICKEN ADOBO, a Philippine chicken dish. Make it as follows:
6 pcs. Chicken 1 cup soy sauce 1 cup white vinegar 6″ piece fresh ginger root, peeled and sliced thin 1 tablespoon minced garlic 2 or 3 tablespoons brown sugar
Combine all ingredients in a casserole and bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour and 5 minutes.

3.Tamarind-pepper rasam is also considered an effective home remedyfor a cold in South India. Dilute 50 mg tamarind in 250 ml of water. Boil the diluted tamarind water for a few minutes with a teaspoon of hot ghee and half a teaspoon of black pepper powder. This steaming hot rasam has a flushing effect, and should be taken three times a day. As one takes it, the nose and eyes water and the nasal blockage is cleared.

FOR SEA SICKNESS OR BOAT SICKNESS: Sit keeping your spine straight,take a deep breath through nose,hold it for 2to3 seconds and release it very slowly through you mouth.Do this for 3 to 4 times and then drink a glass of worm water. Your sickness will be over within 5 minutes.

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FOR ITCHES: If you let the hot water tap run for a few minutes this should be about right. A few seconds’ exposure is all you need to produce several hours of relief from the itches. The water needs to be hot enough to be slightly uncomfortable but not so hot that it burns (120-130 degrees Fahrenheit).

FOR NOSEBLEEDS: Put cold keys down the back of your neck.. Within seconds the bleeding will stop. I don’t know how this trick works, but I am sure it works.

FOR DANDRUFF:Apply listerine mixed with baby oil on your hair. Within 2 to 3 days you will get rid of dandruff.

FOR LICE: Listerine Antiseptic Mouthwash contains essential oils including thymol, eucalyptol, menthol and methyl salicylate. It also has 26.9 percent alcohol, which may kill lice. An expert in lice treatment confided to us that alcohol does seem to be toxic to lice, so that may partially explain your success. Breathing in the mist may not be safe, so anyone who tries this technique should be extra cautious to protect a child’s face from the aerosol spray.

FOR TOENAIL FUNGUS:
Toenail fungus can be cured using a 50/50 mixture of vinegar and Listerine. Combine them in a quart jar with a screw-on lid and used a clean paintbrush to apply the liquid to the affected toes morning and nightThen put your socks on to keep it acting a while longer and protect the bed sheets at night. The fungus took about three months to clear up. It is slow growing, but is also slow to cure.
The herbal ingredients in Listerine may have anti-fungal properties, but home remedies rarely come with specific guidelines..

Many people have reported success soaking infected nails in one part vinegar to two parts water. Others got good results soaking their toes in Listerine. Such remedies won’t work for everyone and take several months to produce results.

FOR STINGS: 1.Mix 1/4 teaspoon of Meat tenderizer with 1 teaspoon of water to make a paste. Smearing this on a bee or wasp sting relieves the pain.

2. Cut an onion from the middle portion, hold it on the sting for about 20 minutes,it will take away the pain and stop swelling too.

FOR BACK PAIN:

Valerian

This is one of the most relaxing back pain remedies because it actually affects the nervous system. Take 20 drops of tincture every 2 hours per day, or two 250 mg capsules four times per day.

Cayenne Pepper

Because cayenne pepper, or red pepper contains capsaicin, a very potent pain relieving chemical, it is one of the most effective back pain remedies. Mash up a red pepper and apply it directly on the painful area of your back.

You can also take the mashed up red pepper and add it to any common, all natural, skin or body lotion, until the mixture starts to turn dark pink, and apply that to the area where the back pain is located.

Peppermint Lavender Rosemary Oil

Mix 4 drops of peppermint oil, lavender oil and rosemary oil with 1/2 ounce of safflower oil. This is one of the most soothing back pain remedies. Warm up the mixture and use it as an oil-rub to massage the affected area.

All three major ingredients will relieve inflammation, prevent muscle spasms, and decrease back pain.

Fire And Ice

Ice helps reduce swelling and strain of the back muscles. Apply an ice pack to the affected area and massage the area for about 10 minutes, every 3 hours, for 2 to 3 days. This combination of ice and heat is another one of the more soothing back pain remedies.

After applying ice for about 3 days, switch to heat. Place a soft towel into a large bowl of mildly hot water.Wring it out and while laying on your stomach, apply the warm towel to the affected area where the back pain is located.

Put some plastic wrap over that, and then apply a heating pad, set to medium, over the plastic wrap. Now place something rather heavy on top of the heating pad, like a telephone book, to create a bit of pressure.

Turmeric
Turmeric’s anti-inflammatory properties make it one of the better back pain remedies. Take 400 mg of extract in capsule form 3 times per day.

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FOR ATHLETE’S FOOT: Let your dog lick the portion of your leg pains.You will get rid of pain soon.Dog saliva does have some antimicrobial properties. Dutch researchers have identified compounds in human saliva called histatins that have antifungal activity. Canine saliva may also have similar properties.But never try this remedy if the skin is broken, however, since dogs can carry bacteria in their mouths.

FOR CANKER SORE: Take a tablespoon of sauerkraut juice in your mouth and swish it around morning and night, then swallow it. Do this twice a day and the canker sores
should go away.

FOR LEG CRAMPS: Put a bar of soap under the bottom sheet near your legs. And get rid of leg cramp.

FOR HICK CUPS: Just put a spoon of sugar under your tongue and get rid of hick cups.

FOR SWEATY PLUMS & SOLES :Boil five tea bags in a quart of water for five minutes. When the solution cools, soak your hands or feet for twenty to thirty minutes nightly.

FOR UNDER ARM ORDER: Wash under arms with vinegar mixed in water,and you will be oder free all day.Diluted vinegar should be applied only to unbroken skin (not after shaving), or it will sting. If it causes any rash or other reaction, it should be discontinued immediately.

FOR BODY ODOR:1. One of the best body odor remedies is arnica because it actually kills the odor producing bacteria. Apply arnica cream instead of a commercial deodorant. This can be found in most health food stores.

2. Eat 1 teaspoon of fresh parsley with each meal. As an alternative to the fresh stuff, take one 500 mg capsule each day.

FOR FUNGUS: Toenail fungus can be unsightly. Try soaking the infected nails for at least fifteen to thirty minutes daily. The recipe: one part vinegar to two parts warm water. Allow six weeks to see a cure.

ACNE, BLACKHEADS, AND PIMPLES:

  • Dab a small amount of toothpaste (paste, not gel) on pimples before bed; this helps dry out the pimples.
  • Mix equal amounts of lemon juice and rose water, apply to face with a cotton ball, and allow to sit for 30 minutes before rinsing. 15-20 days of this application helps cure pimples and also helps to remove blemishes and scars.
  • Apply fresh lemon juice on the affected area overnight. Wash off with warm water next morning.
  • For acne that hasn’t seemed to respond to anything, steep 2-3 tsp. dried basil leaves in 1 cup boiling water for 10-20 minutes, cool, and apply to affected area with a cotton ball.

A few more Home Remedies are written below:
1.FOR CLEAR AND GLOWING SKIN: –
Powder, equal portions of green gram and Bengal gram with a fist full of fenugreek seeds and preserve. When needed,ix the required quantity of this powder mixture in plain water and apply all over the body before bathing. Take bath without applying any soap. This is a special skin cleaning powder. Regular uses of this mixture not only clean the body but also make it glow.
It is ideal to massage the skin, especially face with curd, as it tones up dry and oily skin
Mixture of curd and Bengal gram paste with a little turmeric is very effective facemask.
Cut a ripe lemon fruit into two. Gently massage the face with one half. Squeeze the other half in a glass of water and drink it with a pinch of rock salt. Continue this for seven to eight weeks. This will remarkably improve the appearance of the skin by removing greasiness and lighting the colours.

2. FOR FAIR COMPLEXION: –
Those who are really concerned about skin colour consume a tablespoonful of honey in lemon juice daily. This improves complexion, because honey is rich in B complex factors. Eat lot of carrots, lime, cucumber, onion, fenugreek and coconut possibly fresh. Also if possible take an amla a day. Vitamin ‘C’ rich gooseberry (amla) lightens skin colour. Drink liberal amount of water, juice and like fluids. These will improve the complexion to a great extend.

3.FOR PIMPLES: –
Applying basil juice mixed with lemon juice in equal portion on the pimples, cures them effectively
Remove the outer layer of juicy onion. Soak it in salt solution for a couple of hours. After removing the onion from the salt solution, slice it or grate it, apply the onion juice gently on the face also apply rub the sliced onion the on septic spots. This is an effective cure & preventive for the frequent, septic pimples.

4.FOR LICE INFESTATION: –
Lice in children affect their growth. And using pesticide or chemical oriented medicines to remove lices is very harmful. Here is an easy effective home remedy. Put a pinch of camphor in coconut oil and use it as hair oil. Apply paste of fenugreek seeds as a medicine once in a week and wash the child’s hair with very dilute camphor water the lices will just vanish away.
This tow or three times in fifteen days. This will help to get rid of Lice.
5. FOR DANDRUFF: –
Human hairy problems should be handled delicately whether it is hair falling or dandruff or lice. Synthetic based modern shampoos do no good but lot of harm. Here are some very beneficial home remedies for the hair problems.

Soak a handful of fenugreek seeds in water, over night. Ground the seeds Into a fine paste. Apply this paste all over the head and leave it for half an hour. Wash the hair With soap nut Powder.

Regular use of lemon juice for the last rinse of hair while bathing prevents Dandruff
Twice the week, washing the hair with green gram powder mixed with curd Is also very useful in getting rid of dandruff.
6. FOR BALDNESS: –
There is some simple, harmless, home treatment for the sudden, patchy loss of hair. These home treatments are effective in stimulating reappearance of hair in the bald patches.

*Lemon seeds and black pepper seeds are ground to get a fine paste in plain water or ginger juice. This fine paste is applied on the patches twice a day for a few weeks. With a mild, irritant action, this remedy increases blood circulation and stimulates hair growth.

*Small piece of liquorice (mulathi) ground in milk with a pinch of saffron, as a paste and applied all over the bald patches at bed time for a few weeks, stimulates hair growth.

7.FOR INSECT BITE OR STING: –
*For scorpion sting, applying juice of mango leaf on the spot and given the leaf decoction to consume is a very effective and easy cure.

*Tulsi or holy basil leaves juice given orally and applied on the spot of sting an effective curative for any sting or bite.

* For wasp sting or some insect bite, rubbing lemon piece or onion slices with force is useful in decreasing the effect of poison.

* If there is swelling on the spot of any bite or sting, applying dry ginger paste with curd (little warm) is very effective to subsides the swelling quickly.

*Rubbing fenugreek powder over the area of the stings or bite also removes the harmful effects of the poison.

Home Remedies for Vinegar for itchy scalp,fennel seeds after meals helps to avoid flatulence and rinsing through nasal passages with a homemade saline solution to get rid of sinus trouble

Home Remedies With Herbs

Click for more Home Remedies

Natural Home Remedy for Arthritis Relief
Home Remedy for Acne
Home Remedy for Cold
Home Remedy for Cough
Home Remedy for Psoriasis
Home Remedy for Stubborn Cold Sore
Home Remedy for Constipation
Home Remedy for Heartburn
Home Remedy for Hemorrhoids
Home Remedy for Nasal Congestion
Home Remedy for Boil
Home Remedy for Canker Sore
Home Remedy for Ear Ache
Home Remedy for Ear Infection
Home Remedy for Fever Blister
Home Remedy for Fleas
Home Remedy for Head Louse
Home Remedy for Passing Drug Test
Home Remedy for Pimples
Home Remedy for Pink Eye
Home Remedy for Sore Throat
Home Remedy for Toothache
Ring Worms Home Remedy
The Benefits of Natural Home Remedies
Simple Solutions that Work: Home Remedy

Share Your Experiences

You may click & See also;

 *Alternative medicine
 *Herbal medicine
*Old wives’ tale
*Traditional medicine
 *Tamagozake
 *Folk medicine
 *Bates method

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://www.peoplespharmacy.org/archives/home_remedies/index.asp and http://www.home-remedy.org.

http://www.hashmi.com/homere.html

http://www.abouthomeremedy.com/

http://www.astrogyan.com/natural_herbal_tips/indian_ayurvedic_natural_herbal_home_remedy.html

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Categories
Herbs & Plants Herbs & Plants (Spices)

Black Pepper

black pepper
Image by Pinot & Dita via Flickr

Botanical Name :Piper nigrum
Family: Piperaceae
Genus: Piper
Species: P. nigrum
Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Piperales

Common NameBlack pepper.

Black pepper : Popularly known as “kali mirch” and a native of the western ghats in India , it is endowed with anti-coagulant properties. It is one of the few herbs which ayurveda describes as helping to open obstructions in different channels of the body. Starting from common cold, cough, sinusitis and bronchitis, black pepper is useful in a number of ailments like abdominal colic and sluggishness of the liver. Its overuse can result in intense burning sensation in the mouth. Desi ghee is considered its anti-dote.

Habitat :Black peppers are native to India and are extensively cultivated there and elsewhere in tropical regions. Currently Vietnam is by far the world’s largest producer and exporter of pepper, producing 34% of the world’s Piper nigrum crop as of 2008.

Black Pepper is one of the earliest known spices ever discovered, pepper is used worldwide in almost every household…..

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HISTORY:

Pepper has been used for the last 3,000 years. Native to India, Pepper was first cultivated in the tropics.Trade between India and Europe, introduced the Peppercorn to large audience. Once it arrived in the United States, Pepper become a common household ingredient.

Pepper PLANT:…..Click to  see the picture

Description:
The pepper plant is a perennial woody vine growing up to 4 metres (13 ft) in height on supporting trees, poles, or trellises. It is a spreading vine, rooting readily where trailing stems touch the ground. The leaves are alternate, entire, 5 to 10 centimetres (2.0 to 3.9 in) long and 3 to 6 centimetres (1.2 to 2.4 in) across. The flowers are small, produced on pendulous spikes 4 to 8 centimetres (1.6 to 3.1 in) long at the leaf nodes, the spikes lengthening up to 7 to 15 centimetres (2.8 to 5.9 in) as the fruit matures.[15] The fruit of the black pepper is called a drupe and when dried is known as a peppercorn.

Pepper can be grown in soil that is neither too dry nor susceptible to flooding, moist, well-drained and rich in organic matter (the vines do not do too well over an altitude of 900 m (3,000 ft) above sea level). The plants are propagated by cuttings about 40 to 50 centimetres (16 to 20 in) long, tied up to neighbouring trees or climbing frames at distances of about 2 metres (6 ft 7 in) apart; trees with rough bark are favoured over those with smooth bark, as the pepper plants climb rough bark more readily. Competing plants are cleared away, leaving only sufficient trees to provide shade and permit free ventilation. The roots are covered in leaf mulch and manure, and the shoots are trimmed twice a year. On dry soils the young plants require watering every other day during the dry season for the first three years. The plants bear fruit from the fourth or fifth year, and typically continue to bear fruit for seven years. The cuttings are usually cultivars, selected both for yield and quality of fruit.

A single stem will bear 20 to 30 fruiting spikes. The harvest begins as soon as one or two fruits at the base of the spikes begin to turn red, and before the fruit is fully mature, and still hard; if allowed to ripen completely, the fruit lose pungency, and ultimately fall off and are lost. The spikes are collected and spread out to dry in the sun, then the peppercorns are stripped off the spikes.

When the yellow-red peppercorns are mature, they produce a single seed. Pepper plants are mature enough to bear seeds at the age of 2-years, and will constantly produce fruit for as many as 40-years.

BERRY PICKING AND BOILING:

As berries turn bright red, they are picked and collected. The berries are then dropped into boiling water, where they remain for about 10-minutes. The water causes the berry to turn black.

DRYING

After the berries have been immersed in water, they are spread out to dry in the sun for several days. Once dried, peppercorns are shipped to pepper manufacturers and factories, where they will be ground and processed.

GRINDING

Grinding of whole peppercorns produces black pepper. After the short grinding process, ground black pepper is packaged and sold to distributors.

click to see

PEPPER VARIETIES

The pepper plant peppercorn can not only be made into common black pepper, but also white pepper. White pepper is made from ripe or overly ripe peppercorns. Instead of grinding the peppercorn, workers remove the outer shell of the peppercorn, after they have been exposed to high levels of moisture. The inside of the berry is then dried in the sun, packaged, and sold.

Green pepper
Green pepper, like black, is made from the unripe drupes. Dried green peppercorns are treated in a way that retains the green color, such as treatment with sulfur dioxide, canned or freeze-drying. Pickled peppercorns, also green, are unripe drupes preserved in brine or vinegar. Fresh, unpreserved green pepper drupes, largely unknown in the West, are used in some Asian cuisines, particularly Thai cuisine. Their flavor has been described as piquant and fresh, with a bright aroma.  They decay quickly if not dried or preserved.

Orange pepper and red pepper
A product called orange pepper or red pepper consists of ripe red pepper drupes preserved in brine and vinegar. Ripe red peppercorns can also be dried using the same color-preserving techniques used to produce green pepper. Pink pepper from Piper nigrum is distinct from the more-common dried pink peppercorns, which are the fruits of a plant from a different family, the Peruvian pepper tree, Schinus molle, and its relative the Brazilian pepper tree, Schinus terebinthifolius.

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Medicinal Uses:
Like many eastern spices, pepper was historically both a seasoning and a medicine. Long pepper, being stronger, was often the preferred medication, but both were used.

Black Pepper (or perhaps long pepper) was believed to cure illness such as constipation, diarrhea, Limonene, Safrole, earache, gangrene, heart disease, hernia, hoarseness, indigestion, insect bites, insomnia, joint pain, liver problems, lung disease, oral abscesses, sunburn, tooth decay, and toothaches. Various sources from the 5th century onward also recommend pepper to treat eye problems, often by applying salves or poultices made with pepper directly to the eye. There is no current medical evidence that any of these treatments has any benefit; pepper applied directly to the eye would be quite uncomfortable and possibly damaging. Nevertheless, Black pepper either powdered or its decoction is widely used in traditional Indian medicine and as a home remedy for relief from sore throat, throat congestion, cough etc.

Pepper is known to cause sneezing. Some sources say that piperine, a substance present in black pepper, irritates the nostrils, causing the sneezing;[31] Few, if any, controlled studies have been carried out to answer the question. It has been shown that piperine can dramatically increase absorption of selenium, vitamin B, beta-carotene and curcumin as well as other nutrients.

As a medicine, pepper appears in the Buddhist Samaññaphala Sutta, chapter five, as one of the few medicines allowed to be carried by a monk.

Pepper contains small amounts of safrole, a mildly carcinogenic compound. Also, it is eliminated from the diet of patients having abdominal surgery and ulcers because of its irritating effect upon the intestines, being replaced by what is referred to as a bland diet. However, extracts from black pepper have been found to have antioxidant properties  and anti-carcinogenic effects, especially when compared to chili.

Piperine present in black pepper acts as a thermogenic compound. Piperine enhances the thermogenesis of lipid and accelerates energy metabolism in the body and also increases the serotonin and beta-endorphin production in the brain.

Piperine and other components from black pepper may also be helpful in treating vitiligo, although when combined with UV radiation should be staggered due to the effect of light on the compound
Pepper has long been recognized as an ingredient for stimulating the appetite as well as being an aid in the relief of nausea and vertigo.  It was used to treat gastro-intestinal upsets, flatulence, fevers and congestive chills.  It is supposed to be of help in anal, rectal and urinary troubles.  In India it has been used as a medicine since time immemorial for the treatment of anything from paralysis to toothache. East Africans are said to believe that body odor produced after eating substantial amounts of pepper repels mosquitoes.  Black pepper contains four anti-osteoporosis compounds.  It is of singular importance as a metabolic stimulant in Ayurvedic medicine.  Black pepper has the ability to recirculate vital nutrients.  When fasting, grind seven peppercorns and take them mixed with a little honey each morning.

PEPPER FACTS

BLACK PEPPER is a healthy addition to any diet. Pepper aids in stimulating circulation and digestion.

BLACK PEPPER has been used for centuries in Asia to help treat colds and cough and muscle aches and pain.

BLACK PEPPER is know as “The King of Spices” worldwide.

PEPPER is the single, most commonly used spice in the world today.

PEPPER is used in many popular brands of multi-purpose spices.

PEPPER contains minute amounts of essential oil.

Key Benefits of black pepper:

# Aids digestion.
# Improves the appetite.
# Prevents disease since it is anti-bacterial.

# It is beneficial in many diseases. If taken in adequate quantity, a man never suffers from flatulation.
# It helps in digesting the food of those people, who are accustomed to having rich food.
# Using rice in the diet with kidney beans, neutralizes its power of causing the formation of excessive wind. It becomes cool and gives complete nourishment

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

Resources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Pepper091.jpg

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

http://www.anniesremedy.com/herb_detail45.php

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_pepper

Categories
Dry Fruit Herbs & Plants

Almonds

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Botanical Name: Prunus dulcis
Family: Rosaceae
Genus: Prunus
Subgenus: Amygdalus
Species: P. dulcis
Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Rosales

Synonyms:   Prunus amygdalus, Amygdalus communis, Amygdalus dulcis

Almond is called: Lawz in Arabic Baadaam in Farsi and Urdu

Habitat : The tree is a native of southwest Asia. The domesticated form can ripen fruit as far north as the British Isles.

Etymology:
The word ‘almond’ comes from Old French almande or alemande, late Latin amandola, derived through a form amingdola from the Greek  (cf Amygdala), an almond. The al- for a- may be due to a confusion with the Arabic article al, the word having first dropped the a- as in the Italian form mandorla; the British pronunciation ah-mond and the modern Catalan ametlla and modern French amande show the true form of the word.

Description:

The almond is a deciduous tree, growing 4–10 m (13–33 ft) in height, with a trunk of up to 30 cm (12 in) in diameter. The young twigs are green at first, becoming purplish where exposed to sunlight, then grey in their second year. The leaves are 3–5 inches long,[3] with a serrated margin and a 2.5 cm (1 in) petiole. The flowers are white to pale pink, 3–5 cm (1–2 in) diameter with five petals, produced singly or in pairs and appearing before the leaves in early spring. Almond grows best in Mediterranean climates with warm, dry summers and mild, wet winters. The optimal temperature for their growth is between 15 and 30 °C (59 and 86 °F) and the tree buds have a chilling requirement of between 300 and 600 hours below 7.2 °C (45.0 °F) to break dormancy.  The flowers are white or pale pink, 3.5 cm diameter with five petals, produced before the leaves in early spring.

Almonds begin bearing an economic crop in the third year after planting. Trees reach full bearing five to six years after planting. The fruit matures in the autumn, 7–8 months after flowering.

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The sweet fleshy outer covering of other members of Prunus, such as the plum and cherry, is replaced by a leathery coat called the hull, which contains inside a hard shell the edible kernel, commonly called a nut in culinary terms. However, in botanical terms, an almond is not a true nut. In botanical parlance, the reticulated hard stony shell is called an endocarp, and the fruit, or exocarp, is a drupe, having a downy outer coat. .

Origin and history
The wild form of domesticated almond grows in the Mediterranean region in parts of the Levant; almonds must first have been taken into cultivation in this region. The fruit of the wild forms contains glycoside amygdalin, “which becomes transformed into deadly Prussic acid (Hydrogen cyanide) after crushing, chewing, or any other injury to the seed.” Before cultivation and domestication occurred, wild almonds were harvested as food and doubtless were processed by leaching or roasting to remove their toxicity.

However, domesticated almonds are not toxic; Jared Diamond argues that a common genetic mutation causes an absence of glycoside amygdalin, and this mutant was grown by early farmers, “at first unintentionally in the garbage heaps and later intentionally in their orchards.” Zohary and Hopf believe that almonds were one of the earliest domesticated fruit-trees due to “the ability of the grower to raise attractive almonds from seed. Thus in spite of the fact that this plant does not lend itself to propagation from suckers or from cuttings, it could have been domesticated even before the introduction of grafting.”Domesticated almonds appear in the Early Bronze Age (3000–2000 BC) of the Near East, or possibly a little earlier. A well-known archaeological example of almond is the fruits found in Tutankhamun’s tomb in Egypt (c. 1325 BC), probably imported from the Levant.

Culinary uses:

While the almond is most often eaten on its own, raw or toasted, it is used in some dishes. It, along with other nuts, is often sprinkled over desserts, particularly sundaes and other ice cream based dishes. It is also used in making baklava and nougat. There is also almond butter, a spread similar to peanut butter, popular with peanut allergy sufferers and for its less salty taste. The young, developing fruit of the almond tree can also be eaten as a whole (“green almonds”), when it is still green and fleshy on the outside, and the inner shell has not yet hardened. The fruit is somewhat sour, and is available only from mid April to mid June; pickling or brining extends the fruit’s shelf life.

The sweet almond itself contains practically no carbohydrates and may therefore be made into flour for cakes and biscuits for low carbohydrate diets or for patients suffering from diabetes mellitus or any other form of glycosuria. A standard serving of almond flour, 1 cup, contains 20 grammes of carbohydrates, of which 10 g is dietary fibre, for a net of 10 g of carbohydrate per cup. This makes almond flour very desirable for use in cake and bread recipes by people on carbohydrate-restricted diets.

Almonds can be processed into a milk substitute simply called almond milk; the nut’s soft texture, mild flavour, and light colouring (when skinned) make for an efficient analog to dairy, and a soy-free choice, for lactose intolerant persons, vegans, and so on. Raw, blanched, and lightly toasted almonds all work well for different production techniques, some of which are very similar to that of soymilk and some of which actually use no heat, resulting in “raw milk” (see raw foodism).

Sweet almonds are used in marzipan, nougat, and macaroons, as well as other desserts. Almonds are a rich source of Vitamin E, containing 24 mg per 100 g They are also rich in monounsaturated fat, one of the two “good” fats responsible for lowering LDL cholesterol.

The Marcona variety of almond, which is shorter, rounder, sweeter, and more delicate in texture than other varieties, originated in Spain and is becoming popular in North America and other parts of the world Marcona almonds are traditionally served after being lightly fried in oil, and are also used by Spanish chefs to prepare a dessert called turrón.

In China, almonds are used in a popular dessert when they are mixed with milk and then served hot. In Indian cuisine, almonds are the base ingredient for pasanda-style curries.

Possible health benefits

Edgar Cayce, a man regarded as the father of American holistic medicine, also highly favored the almond. In his readings, Cayce often recommended that almonds be included in the diet. Claimed health benefits include improved complexion, improved movement of food through the colon and the prevention of cancer. Recent research associates inclusion of almonds in the diet with elevating the blood levels of high density lipoproteins and of lowering the levels of low density lipoproteins.

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In Ayurveda, the Indian System of Medicine, almond is considered a nutritive for brain and nervous system. It is said to induce high intellectual level and longevity. Almond oil is called Roghan Badam in both Ayurveda and Unani Tibb (the Greco-Persian System of Medicine). It is extracted by cold process and is considered a nutritive aphrodisiac both for massage and internal consumption. Recent studies have shown that the constituents of almond have anti-inflammatory, immunity boosting, and anti-hepatotoxicity effects

Fresh Sweet Almonds possess demulcent and nutrient properties, but as the outer brown skin sometimes causes irritation of the alimentary canal, they are blanched by removal of this skin when used for food. Though pleasant to the taste, their nutritive value is diminished unless well masticated, as they are difficult of digestion, and may in some cases induce nettlerash and feverishness. They have a special dietetic value, for besides containing about 20 per cent of proteids, they contain practically no starch, and are therefore often made into flour for cakes and biscuits for patients suffering from diabetes.

Sweet Almonds are used medicinally, the official preparations of the British Pharmacopoeia being Mistura Amygdalae, Pulvis Amygdalae Compositus and Almond Oil.

On expression they yield nearly half their weight in a bland fixed oil, which is employed medicinally for allaying acrid juices, softening and relaxing solids, and in bronchial diseases, in tickling coughs, hoarseness, costiveness, nephritic pains, etc.

When Almonds are pounded in water, the oil unites with the fluid, forming a milky juice – Almond Milk – a cooling, pleasant drink, which is prescribed as a diluent in acute diseases, and as a substitute for animal milk: an ounce of Almonds is sufficient for a quart of water, to which gum arabic is in most cases a useful addition. The pure oil mixed with a thick mucilage of gum arabic, forms a more permanent emulsion; one part of gum with an equal quantity of water being enough for four parts of oil. Almond emulsions possess in a certain degree the emollient qualities of the oil, and have this advantage over the pure oil, that they may be given in acute or inflammatory disorders without danger of the ill effects which the oil might sometimes produce by turning rancid. Sweet Almonds alone are employed in making emulsions, as the Bitter Almond imparts its peculiar taste when treated in this way.

Blanched and beaten into an emulsion with barley-water, Sweet Almonds are of great use in the stone, gravel, strangury and other disorders of the kidneys, bladder and biliary ducts.

By their oily character, Sweet Almonds sometimes give immediate relief in heartburn. For this, it is recommended to peel and eat six or eight Almonds.

Almonds are also useful in medicine for uniting substances with water. Castor oil is rendered palatable when rubbed up with pounded Almonds and some aromatic distilled water.

The fixed Oil of Almonds is extracted from both Bitter and Sweet Almonds. If intended for external use, it must, however, be prepared only from Sweet Almonds.

The seeds are ground in a mill after removing the reddish-brown powder adhering to them and then subjected to hydraulic pressure, the expressed oil being afterwards filtered and bleached, preferably by exposure to light.

Almond oil is a clear, pale yellow, odourless liquid, with a bland, nutty taste. It consists chiefly of Olein, with a small proportion of the Glyceride of Linolic Acid and other Glycerides, but contains no Stearin. It is thus very similar in composition to Olive Oil (for which it may be used as a pleasant substitute), but it is devoid of Chlorophyll, and usually contains a somewhat larger proportion of Olein than Olive Oil.

It is used in trade, as well as medicinally, being most valuable as a lubricant for the delicate works of watches, and is much employed as an ingredient in toilet soap, for its softening action on the skin. It forms a good remedy for chapped hands

‘The oil newly pressed out of Sweet Almonds is a mitigator of pain and all manner of aches, therefore it is good in pleurisy and colic. The oil of Almonds makes smooth the hands and face of delicate persons, and cleanseth the skin from all spots and pimples.’

The oil of both (Bitter and Sweet) cleanses the skin, it easeth pains of the chest, the temples being annointed therewith, and the oil with honey, powder of liquorice, oil of roses and white wax, makes a good ointment for dimness of sigh.

‘This kind of butter is made of Almonds with sugar and rose-water, which being eaten with violets is very wholesome and commodious for students, for it rejoiceth the heart and comforteth the brain, and qualifieth the heat of the liver.

RECIPES

–To make Almond Cake—(Seventeenth Century)
‘Take one pound of Jordan almonds, Blanch ym into cold water, and dry ym in a clean cloth: pick out these that are nought and rotten: then beat ym very fine in a stone mortar, puting in now and then a little rose water to keep ym from oyling: then put it out into a platter, and half a pound of loaf sugar beaten fine and mixt with ye almonds, ye back of a spoon, and set it on a chafing dish of coals, and let it stand till it be hott: and when it is cold then have ready six whites of eggs beaten with too spoonfuls of flower to a froth, and mix it well with ye almonds: bake ym on catt paper first done over with a feather dipt in sallet oyle.’

—Almond Butter—(Seventeenth Century)
‘Seeth a little French Barly with a whole mace and some anniseeds to sweeten but not to give any sensible tast: then blanch and beat the almonds with some of the clearest of the liquor to make the milke the thicker, and strain them, getting forth by often beating what milk you can: seeth the milke till it thicken and bee ready to rise, and turne it with the juice of a lemon or salt dissolved in rose water: spread the curd on a linnen cloath that the whey may run out, and let it hang till it leave dropping: then season the butter that is left with rose water, and sugar to your liking.’

—To make Almond Milk—(Seventeenth Century)
‘Take 3 pints of running water, a handfull of Raisins of the Sun stoned, halfe a handfull of Sorrell as much violet and strawberry leaves, halfe a handfull of the topps and flowers of burrage (borage), as much of Buglass, halfe a handfull of Endive, as much Succory, some Pauncys (Pansies), a little broad time and Orgamen (Marjoram), and a branch or two of Rosemary, lett all these boyle well together; then take a good handfull of French Barley, boyling it in three waters, put it to the rest, and lett them boyle till you think they are enough, then pour the liquor into a basin, and stampe the barley and reasons, straining them thereto; then take a quarter of a pound of Sweet Almonds, blanch them and pound them thrice, straining them to the other liquor; then season it with damask rosewater to your liking.’

—A Paste for ye Hands—(Seventeenth Century)
‘Take a pound of sun raysens, stone and take a pound of bitter Almonds, blanch ym and beat ym in stone morter, with a glass of sack take ye peel of one Lemond, boyle it tender; take a quart of milk, and a pint of Ale, and make therewith a Possett; take all ye Curd and putt it to ye Almonds: yn putt in ye Rayson: Beat all these till they come to a fine Past, and putt in a pott, and keep it for ye use.

Medicinal Uses:
*Almonds form an ideal tonic for your growing child. Soak 3-6 shelled almonds in warm water and than remove the skin. Grind them into paste, and mix it with milk. Add a teaspoon of honey. Feed your child daily. It can also be useful in adolescent girls with delayed puberty; crushed almonds, egg yolk, gingelly (til) powder, and a teaspoon of honey in milk will ensure good overall development during adolescence.

*An excellent food supplement in case of general debility and convalescence. Soak 12-15 shelled almonds in hot water and remove outer covering. Grind them into fine paste, and mix it with the buttermilk and mash a ripe banana in it. Strain it through a muslin cloth, add 4 teaspoons honey, and drink twice daily. Almond forms an ideal food for diabetics also as it contains little carbohydrates.

*Almonds increase libido and enhance general sexual performance in cases of frigidity. Grind a few almonds and 2-3 pinches of saffron and eat everyday for 40 days.

*Almonds are a good for constipation. Grind separately 5 teaspoons almonds and 5 teaspoons dried dates. Combine them and add 10 teaspoons honey.  Take 3 teaspoons of this mixture twice daily.

*In the case of head lice, grind 7-8 kernels with 1-2 teaspoons lime juice and apply on the scalp. Apply a little almond oil on the scalp regularly and massage.

*In the case of tooth ache and gum diseases, burn the shells of almonds, powder, and use as tooth powder.

*To get relief from psoriasis and allied skin troubles, powder a few almonds, boil and apply on affected areas and let it remain overnight.

*To improve skin complexion, mix equal quantities of almond oil and honey and apply to face. To protect from sunburn, apply the paste of almonds and milk cream along with coconut oil on exposed skin.

*In the case of insomnia, grind blanched almonds (8-10) along with khuskhus grass powder (1 teaspoon) and milk (half teacup) and smear the paste on palms and soles.

*To get relief from muscle sprains, mix equal parts of almond oil and garlic oil and massage over affected areas.
Disclaimer : The information presented herein is intended for educational purposes only. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplement, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.

Resources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Almonds

www.botanical.com

http://blog.tattvasherbs.com/tag/medicinal-uses-of-almonds/

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