The kitchen cabinet of a housewife contains several spices which have medicinal properties and which could be used more to treat common and simple ailments.
Two common spices which could be used to treat indigestion are cumin, commonly known as jerra, and asafoetida, known as hing, Cumin is taken as a drink. It can be taken alone or along with other substance. One suck preparation is known as jaljeera. It can also be taken as a pill. There is a pill available in the market which is made up of equal parts of cumin, jaggery and the pulp of the tamarind fruit. This pill needs to be taken thrice a day. Hing is obtained from the plant, Asafoetida binn. It is the milky juice or exudates collected from the thick fleshy plant. It is preferable to use hing rather than jerra when the indigestion is accompanied by cramps in the intestines. It is also used to treat excessive bas in the intestines – an action usually described as its antiflatulent effect.
The seeds of the coriander plant known as dhania are used often for the treatment of sore throat and common cold. A decoctin is prepared from the seeds of the coriander – as a Tea – and this is to be drunk three times a day. Some ayurvedic physicians use roasted seeds of coriander for treating indigestion. Coriander leaves contain large amounts of Vitamin A. Its use should be encouraged in areas where a lack of Vitamin A intake may be responsible for including eye problems. Coriander leaves also contain vitamins B, B2 and C.
A commonly used plant in the kitchen is fennel known as saunf. It is reputed to be good for the treatment of flatulence or wind and is specially used for this purpose in children and babies who may be suffering due to this condition. The volatile oil of fennel seeds is mixed with sodium bicarbonate and the syrup is used for children. One of the reasons for serving sanuf at the end of the meal is that it removes all smells from the mouth. Further, saunf is used in patients or persons who lose their voice either due to infection or for hoarseness in the throat. A local treatment of the throat for getting back one’s voice is to boil saunf in wate till water is reduced to one quarter of its volume. Sugar or honey is then added and the hot drink sipped slowly.
Ajwain or lovage seed is another plant which is available in nearly every home. Seeds of ajwain are used not only to treat indigestion but to prevent indigestion. In several countries ajwain is recognised carminative medicine mentioned in the pharmacopoeias of those countries. There are many preparations in the market which contain ajwain as or eucalyptus. Although it has been mentioned in ayurvedic literature as being, used for many conditions, the two main indications for the use of ajwain are indigestions in adults and wind or flatulence in children.
Seeds from the mustard, commonly known as sarson in hindi, are also found in every kitchen. Mustard seeds are beneficial when applied locally in muscle injuries, sprain or joint injury. The mustard poultice prepared from the mustard seed will increase the circulation of blood and decrease the pain and inflammation. Mustard seeds in water are used for inducing vomiting when a person has been poisoned.
The six spices discussed here – cumin, asafoetida, coriander, fennel, lovage, and mustard – all possess medicinal properties and could be used more at home or kitchen remedies. It is interesting that the kitchen which is sometimes responsible indirectly for indigestion and flatulence – perhaps in food – contains the largest number of home remedies for the same.
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