Fenugreek Leaves and Seeds - a good thing in life

Fenugreek / Methi / Uluva / Venthayam are many names for the same thing Fenugreek leaves and seeds. These are actually God's gift or say Nature's gift to man.  Fenu greek is rich in minerals  and vitamins like  Potassium, Calcium, Iron,Vitamin C and Vitamin K and are known to contain lots of fibre needed for the man.

They are known to be very good for health, particularly for the people who are suffering from Diabetes, anaemia and others. The leaves are known to contain less calories, only 49 caloroies for about 100 grams of the fenugreek leaves. They have many other health benefits too. like clearing phlegm, alleviating the burning sensation in the palms of hands and soles of the foot etc.

You can use these leaves in cooking . There are many recipessimple basiuc ones like adding to cooking dal, kneading atta, just add to vegetables when you are frying them etc.  You can make Methi Raita, Methi saag, Venthayakeerai Poriyal and Venthaya Keerai Koottu  are Tamil Nadu dishes and many more.

You have to ensure that you clean the leaves well of dirt in the leaves. The leaves should be fresh and not wilted. The best time to buy methi leaves would be either in the morning or in the evening when new fresh ones come in the market. Just check out the timings these greens come to the shops in your area and get them at that time. The leaves should not be discoloured and that is the main point.  Dried leaves also have health benefits. They are known as Kasoori Methi and is available in the shops and supermarkets.

Ajwain - a herb for every home

Ajwain is a herb which has an unusual smell and flavour and present almost in all households in India. This herb is used for cooking as well as medicinal purposes. Ajwain is called by different names in India like yavan in Gujarati, Omum in Tamil and Malayalam, Oma in Kannada, Vamu in telugu etc.

Thymol an oil is prepared by distilling the Ajwain seeds. The thymol oil is used as an antiseptic in surgeries all over the world. In India ajwain is grown in West Bengal, Bihar, Uttarpradesh, Madhyapradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan and Tamil nadu. You can also grow Omum / Ajwain in shallow pots at home. It will take about five months to flower and the seeds will be ready within two more months.

Ajwain is beneficial for the digestive ailments like, diaorhoea, dysentry, Dyspepsia and indigestion. There is a tasty churan which is prepared in many indian households which even children love to eat.
Mix equal quantities of ajwain and dry ginger and soak them in twice the amount / volume of the lime juice. Later, dry the mix , add enough rock salt  to it. Powder the mix nicely and store it.
If you  take a spoon of the mix in a little warm water, the problems of flatulence can be removed.
A tablespoon of ajwain seeds boiled in  a  glass of water and drunk will relieve colics.
Chewing Ajwain with a little rock salt and clove will help you with pharyngitis.
You can mix it with buttermilk and use it as an expectorant. Try doing it twice a day for clearing the problem.

Plantain Stems and their Health Benefits

About the Plantain Stem
Plantain stems are taken from the inner parts of the plantain tree after removing the outer layers which are greenish in colour. The inner stem which is used for cooking purposes is off white or creamish . Just like the fruits and leaves of the Plantain / Banana tree stem is also very useful.  
The stem is full of edible fiber helps to clear the wastage from our body smoothly and efficiently.

Uses and benefits of the Plantain stem
Plantain stem is  very good to be consumed if you have problems in : Obesity,  Urinary stones,  Ulcers, Burning sensation, Acidity, Diabetes, Bleeding disorders  and Menorrhagia

Properties associated with Plantain stem:
There are many who do not like plantain stems for their slightly bitter and astringent taste but the vegetable is very good for health
Natural diuretics helps in removal of excess fluids from the body and in treating of sciatica, lymphatic swelling, Pre menstrual syndrome, high blood pressure,  diluting and breaking down of kidney stones, gonorrhea and liver disorders.
Plantain stem is one such  natural diuretic.It helps to increase the urination and through that detoxifies our body. This stimulates the kidneys into better removal of uric acid also.  By helping the kidneys do their job cleanly the plantain stems help reduce high cholesterol levels and the astringent quality helps in blood coagulation.

How to get the stem ready for cooking
Choose the slender and tender plantain stem.
You have to clean the stem by first removing the outer portion of the stem. Take out the extra layers and keep the tender middle one.
Keep the stem in a horizontal position on the kitchen counter top or the table. Cut them with a sharp knife into thin round slices, slightly thicker than the way you slice potatoes for chips.   You can just remove the fiber you get from from the plantain stem with your index finger. You can twist the fibers you get with your index finger and later discard the fibres. We will not need them for cooking. 


Recipes with Plantain stem
1. Plantain stem / Vazhappindi Paruppu Curry
2. Plantain Stem - Cooked in Kerala Style
3. Plantain Stem Pachadi
4. Vazhappindi Payaru Thoran

Aloe vera - the wonderful gel

Aloe Vera, a medicinal plant and also known as medicinal aloe,  is a succulent plant. It grows in the dry and arid regions with very less water. Some of the abilities of the Aloe Vera plant have been proved after researches and one of them is that Aloe Vera extracts are helpful in the treatment of Diabetes and elevated blood lipids in humans.

Aloevera in Ayurveda Treatment.
In India, the plant is known  as Ghritkumari or  Gheekvar in Hindi , Kathazhai in Tamil,  and  used in Ayurvedic medicine as external and internal medicines.
Our skins duty is to block all the airborne viruses, rampant bacteria, environmental poisons pollutions and toxins.
But as time goes on, our skin gets beating in the shape of rigorous routine,through which we go;
1. Scrubbing with chemical laden and harsh soaps,
2. Removing hair from the body with creams and epilators, and by pulling out hair through threading,
3. Going about in the scorching sun, beating rain, pelting snow or stinging wind etc,
our skin wears and tires out completely. We do nothing to rejuvenate our skin.

Irritations on skin due to lack of moisture
Due to this we get skin diseases like Dermatitis, Psoriasis, Eczema, Chaffing and Chapping, Sunburn, Dryness, Scaling and Flaking , Allergic reactions and many more.
When the skin gets tired it gets itchy, red and to sag and dry out. Our body is not able to resist the infections and starts paying the price for the neglect.

Here Aloe Vera comes to help
The immune system loses out and we start getting every sickness we find in the locality,  here Aloe Vera can help us.
Aloe Vera can be a natural barrier which shields our skin , helps cure the scratches, cuts and bruises, make burns heal faster, destroy bacteria and help to relieve inflammation and redness, alleviates itchiness  and of all things Nourishes the skin and tissues with Vitamin E and C.

How to get Aloe Vera gel and its benefits

Grow Aloe Vera plants in the pots at home. When you scrape and remove the outer skin you can see the gel . The gel inside the Aloe Vera plant can be applied directly to the skin or hair.  The juice  can be drunk to help flush out the built-up toxins from within our body. The  people suffering from Irritable Bowel Syndrome can have achieve  good results by drinking  Aloe Vera juice for about three weeks. It will not do any harm  and there will not be any after effects either since it is a natural plant gel.

Thulasi ( Holy Basil )

In India you can find Thulasi plants in the porch of each and every Hindu house. The plant is grown not only in homes but in all the Hindu temples and shrines in India. It is an aromatic perennial shrub but also grown as an annual herb in the temperate countries..
We know what all the herb Thulasi can do and help us out during our day to day life.
Leaves, flowers, stem , everything about the Thulasi plant is a remedy
1. Make it a habit of taking a mix of 1 teaspoon juice of Thulasi leaves with 1 teaspoon honey at least once daily. This will help you to resist the infections you face and will develop immunity. This juice if taken regularly will give your face a shine which you will not get from artificial cosmetics.
2. To free the hair from lice problems apply the juice into the hair and scalp and leave it overnight. Cover with a towel or a cap to keep your pillow clean.
If you can do this regularly for some weks your hair will be completely rid of Lice and its problems. if you find lice in small children's hair, you can spread thulasi leaves on the kid's pillow. This will also remove the problem if done regularly.
3. Thulasi leaves can cure almost all types of skin diseases and irritations. Grind some of the Thulasi leaves and apply on the infected part. Do it regularly and you will see improvement.
4. The fine smelling leaves and flowers, in the form of tincture, tea or decoction are considered to be a digestive aid and expectorant, used in treating coughs, bronchitis, skin diseases, and diarrhea.
The leaves if taken regularly are prophylactic against the negative effects of environmental toxins and act well against cholera, influenza, malaria. If it is taken with milk or juice it is an antioxidant rich in Calcium A & D Vitamins and nourishes our health.
These leaves clear almost all the problems even when other medicines fail. That's why there is a saying in Kerala, ' eating a thulasi leaf daily will keep you healthy and bright '

Tomato Lotion

Another vegetable, tomato, which can be used as a suntan lotion during summer. Tomatoes are very nutritious for our body, it has got lots of vitamins and minerals which help us develop resistance against all types of infections.

It can be taken as a juice with just salt and pepper or a little sugar. It has got enough anti-oxidants to help you out of your stress and strain. Here it is, Tomato lotion, for you face.

Method:

2 tablespoonful Tomato juice,
1/4 teaspoon lime juice

Mix these two nicely and then apply to your face and neck. Leave it for 15-20 minutes or till it dries up.
Wash it off in running water.

Note:

This mix is good for the hyper pigmentation problems on the skin . So, if seen in arms and hands, you can apply this mix and wash if off later.
You can also mix with Green Gram flour and use as a scrub while taking bath. The skin will give a natural shine if used regularly.

Lotions - Natural Products

Vegetables are not only good for your health it is good for the skin also. For shining, glowing and wrinkle free skin, vegetable juices will help. You have to use these natural herbal remedies for a longer time but you will get the result.

Cucumber Lotion:

Two tablespoonfuls Cucumber juice ( squeeze 1/4 cup of grated cucumber using a muslin cloth),
1/2 tsp of Lime juice,
1 teaspoon Rose water
1 ice cube ( optional)

Mix all the ingredients together except the ice cube), apply on the face. Leave it for 15-20 minutes or till it dries up. Rub with the ice cube in circular motions all over the face and the neck area.
Wipe with a soft cloth and then wash the face with running water.
Do it at least twice a week. You will start seeing difference soon. This can be used as a suntan lotion also.

Keep Cool this summer

Face Packs to keep yourself cool and avoid suntan/burns.

1. Daily make it a point to apply a mix of equal parts of honey and lemon juice on to your face. Leave it till it dries off and then rinse your face. You can see the darkening of the face due to sun exposure noticeably lessen in a few days . It will almost vanish if you can use the pack regularly.

2. First make a brew of the green tea. Freeze it in the ice cube tray. Use the cube to rub all over your face gently. This method will give you a cooling effect during the hot summer days.

3. Freshly ground mint leaves takes away the internal heat in your body and leaves it cool for you. Leave the paste on for 15 minutes and then wash it off.

4. Aloevera is also another cooling face pack. It is also a remedy for the sun burnt skin. Just pluck a leaf from the Aloevera plant and remove the gel from inside the leaf.Apply the gel to the affected part and wash it after it dries off. This pack can also be used for face to prevent or lessen the suntan.

Henna / Mehandhi Hair oil

This hair oil can be used for the growth and the maintenance of the hair.

Mehandhi leaves 2 cups
500 grams coconut oil
1/2 tsp whole peppercorns

Grind mehandhi leaves with a little water to a smooth fine thick paste. Shape them into small flat pieces and dry in the sun. Store them in a airtight container.

Heat the oil in a frying pan. When it is about to boil add peppercorns and let them splutter.

Cool and add the dried mehandhi pieces to it and keep in an airtight container for two days. The oil will change to a dark green colour.

You can strain and use as and when you need and leave the remainder in the container itself.

Note:

When the oil gets over, you can heat more oil and add to the same mehandhi pieces.

You can use it twice if you like but don't use the mehandhi pieces if the does not change colour. Add new pieces to the oil.

Otherwise, there will be no effect of the mehandhi leaves in the oil.