Ayurveda & Healthcare

 

Babul Tree

Babul tree is a medicinal tree which is found in villages, towns and also in other urban areas. As it grows in every place, it is often said ‘There is no place without Babul tree and Mother.’ (Thumma leni, amma leni vuru vundadhu in telugu). It is called as ‘Babul’ in Sanskrit, ‘Nalathumma’ in Telugu, Indian Gum Arabic Tree and Babul in English and in Hindi as ‘Babool’. It belongs to the tree family of Maimoseisi and its scientific name is Acacia Arabica. It has the leaves like Prosopis Cineraria tree (Jammi tree) with big twin thorns. It gives yellow colour flowers and its pods are in ash colour. Its gum and its bark are available in Ayurveda medical stores as the bark, gum, leaves, seeds and pods of babul tree are used widely in Ayurvedic medicine.

The benefits of Babul tree : various parts of the Babul tree is used in Ayurvedic treatment for many ailments. Here are some of the following: - The gum of Babul can be used as medicine by frying and crushing it with ghee. - 

For reducing Jaundice : It reduces Jaundice. Soak Babul gum powder and cumin in water the previous night and drink the filtered water early in the morning. It brings immediate effect on the affected body. - 

For over sweating : Crush the leaves of babul tree with sufficient water and apply it on body. Once it gets dried up, apply the paste of Indian hog plum on the body, wait for one hour and then take bath. The result of it is seen gradually. - 

For Bed wetting : Prepare the paste with the equal amount of mixture of Babul gum powder, Babul Nut Grass (Thunga Musta) and Spikenard powder (jatamansi) and eat 1-3 grams of the paste twice a day with honey. It will bring good change. - 

For Dental healing : To cure the problems in teeth, it is recommended to brush the teeth daily once with the paste prepared with the mixture of Babul bark ash -50 grams, roasted alum- 10 grams and rock salt powder – 10 grams. It stops tooth ache, dental cavities pain and bleeding in teeth. - 

For Burn wounds : The paste of the bark of babul tree with coconut oil mixture heals the burn wounds, cuts and other injuries quickly. - 

For cracked feet and headache : The crushed Babul gum powder paste heals the cracks in feet and also controls headache. - 

For reducing the health problems of women : Fresh pods powder of a Babul tree with sufficient water mixture treats general disorders that often occur to women. - 

For Low Back Pain : The mixture of Babul gum powder - 50grams, Acacia Jaggery-50grams with milk heals the fractured bones. It strengthens the body muscles and reduces the inactiveness in body.

Jaggery

It is not exaggeration to say that jaggery occupies prime position in the culture, rituals and customs of Indians. We use jaggery in all most all functions viz. puja, festivals, rituals, marriages, and congregations. It is a common practice to use jaggery made of sugar cane juice or sugar in sweet preparations offered to the Almighty. By consuming such auspicious, holy and powerful ambrosia, we get neutralized of our mental and physical state. Jaggery is made from sugar cane juice. The juice is boiled and cooled. Jaggery is called gudam in Sanskrit, goood in Hindi, bella in Kannada, vellam in Tamil, sarkara in Malayalam and jaggery or triakil in English. Jaggery belongs to the gramina tree family and scientifically called shakeramafeeshanaalin. Consumption of old jaggery is good for health whereas fresh jaggery is unhealthy. Jaggery is used not only in the preparation of various food items, but also used in preparation of medicines to protect from illness.

Jaggery can be used in curing various diseases:

MIGRAINE HEADACHE Make a mixture of 100 grams of ghee and 100 grams of jaggery powder. Consume 5 to 10 grams twice a day. When migraine pain persists, grind jaggery, jinger to get juice and one or two drops of the juice should be placed in nostrils. The pain gets reduced very fast. 

FREE MOTIONS Make a powder of 50 grams each of jaggery powder and cumin seeds. Mix half spoon of this powder in 100 ml of water and consume in the morning and evening. This will reduce pain and burning sensation while passing stool. 

KNEE AND BACK PAINS Mix jaggery and lime with a little quantity of water or jaggery and tamarind be mixed with water. and paste should be applied on the affected parts. This will reduce pains and stiffness in muscles also. 

BLOATING Make a powder of 25 grams of old jaggery, dry ginger, black sesame seeds, and piper longum (pippallu)and mix this with 10 grams punarnavadimanduram available in ayurvedicshops. Consume one or two grams of this powder twice a day with honey. This will reduce swelling of legs and hands also. 

JOINT PAINS Add five grams of jaggery, 5 ml of ghee and one or two grams of dry ginger powder. Consume this with 200 ml of milk. 

IMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT Take half kilo jaggery, half kilo goose berry. Arrange a row of goose berry in a glass bottle and sprinkle jaggery powder. Again, arrange a row of goose berry and sprinkle jaggery powder. Arrange like this in three or four rows. Seal it and keep it for four or five days. The goose berry will soften. Thereafter, consume one softened goose berry every day in the early morning. This will improve immunity system and reduces falling sick frequently. 

CONSTIPATION Make a powder of 50 grams each of jaggery powder and sunamukhi powder. Take three to five grams of this powder with 100 ml of lukewarm water at bed time. 

SCORPIO BITES Make a paste of jaggery and mustard and apply the paste on the affected area. Pain and burning will reduce. 

LOOSE MOTIONS Grind 10 grams each of jaggery powder and mustard and make a tablet of the size of a small pea. Take one tablet twice or thrice a day. 

HAEMOGLOBIN DEFICIENCY / CALCIUM DEFICIENCY Make a powder of 100 grams of jaggery, ground nuts, white sesame, finger millet (ragulu). Take half spoon of this powder mixed in 100 grams of lukewarm water two times in the morning and evening every day. This will improve the blood count, and reduces calcium deficiency. 

BODY BURNING SENSATION One or two grams of jaggery mixed with 20 ml of coriander juice should be taken twice a day. 

EXTREME THIRSTY, FATIGUE Consume half spoon of jaggery powder, a few drops of lime, a small quantity of pepper powder mixed in 200 ml of water. 

URINATION WHILE SLEEPING Make a powder of 50 grams each of jaggery, black sesame seeds, popcorn, dry coconut. Chew one to five grams of this powder twice a day in the morning and evening.

Carum Seeds (Ajwain)

Carum seeds are easily available, which are extensively used in cooking and food items. This is a powerful medicinal item which in Telugu is also called 'Vomamu' in some parts of Telugu states. Several names are given in Sanskrit. It is called 'Yavaani' because it looks similar to 'Yavalu' paddy variety. It is also called 'Ajamouda' because goats and sheep eat them fervently. It is further called agnivardhani and deepani because it has warming qualities. Theevragandha, vaathari, sulahantri are other names because, it has pungent fragrance, reduces rheumatism, lessens pain respectively. Vaamu is called 'Carum seeds' in English. Other names are ajwain seeds, Bishops seeds. This belongs to yepiyesi tree family. Its scientific name is CarumCapticum. The medicinal benefits of carum seeds are - SPINGLES ( in telugu : daddurlu) : Make a powder of 50 grams of carum seeds with 100 grams of jiggery. Half spoon of this mixture should be chewed in the morning and evening. 

FOR CREATING HUNGER : Make a powder of 50 grams of carum seeds with 50 grams of rock salt. Two or three grams of powder should be taken with first bite while taking meals. This will create desire to eat.

VENTRIS CREPITUS (RELASE OF GAS) : Make a powder of 100 grams of carum seeds, 25 grams of black salt. Two or three grams of this powder mixed in 100 ml water should be taken twice a day after meals. 

JOINT PAINS BECAUSE OF CONSTIPATION : Carum seeds, dry ginger, karakkaya (chebulicmyrobalan) should be grinded into powder of about 50 grams. Consume half spoon of this powder mixed in 100 ml of luke warm water twice a day. 

BODY PAINS AND JOINT PAINS : 25 grams of carum seeds mixed in 100 ml of coconut oil should be kept soaked for about two to three hours. Thereafter boil this mixture till the carum seeds turn into black colour. Distil the oil. It can be applied once or twice a day on the affected body parts such as shoulders, joints, back by massaging lightly. It will reduce rheumatic pains. 

SWEAT IN PALM AND FEET : Take one or two grams of carum seeds powder and take it once a day along with one tea spoon gingily oil. 

INDIGESTION : Carum seeds, dry ginger, rock salt, black pepper. Take 25 grams each of these and make a fine powder. Take 2 grams of this powder in 50 ml of water once or twice a day after meals. It will arrest indigestion and reduces all stomach diseases. 

GASTRIC TROUBLE : Carum seeds, sompu, black salt. Make powder of 25 grams each of these ingredients. Consume one gram of this powder with 25 ml of luke warm water twice a day in the morning and evening to reduce all stomach related problems including gastric trouble, constipation, bloating, burning sensation and stomach pain. 

PIMPLES : Add half spoon carum seeds powder in one spoon curd. Apply this paste on the face for an hour. Clean with luke warm water thereafter. 

COMMON COLD : Take a small quantity of carum seeds in a big spoon. Burn it on light flame. Smell the smoke. 

STOMACH FLATULENCE (in Telugu :vubbaram) : Take two grams of carum seeds in beetle leaf and chew it. 

MOTIONS WITH STOMACH PAIN : Fry five grams of carum seeds. Mix this powder in 200 ml of water. Boil this water till reduces to half. Distil the water and consume entire water in three parts in a day. 

DYSPNEA : Warm the carum seeds and keep in a cloth bag and massage on the chest. Similarly, two spoons of carum seeds must be added to boiling water. Inhale the vapour. 

THROAT PAIN : Add one tea spoon of carum seeds in 200 ml of water. Soak it for a while. Boil till it becomes half. Gargle the solution when it is luke warm by adding one gram of salt. 

EAR ACHE : Take 30 ml of milk. Add two or three grams of carum seeds powder. Boil it, cool it. Distil it. Drop three or four drops of this in the affected ear. This solution must be made daily. Preserved solution should not be used. Take 40 ml of gingily oil, half spoon of carum seeds powder, one or two garlic smashed. Boil it till the garlic turns brownish. Distil it, cool it. Two or three drops of this solution should be put in the ear three times a day. It will reduce all ear related problems, such as ear ache, pus, itching, etc. 

PILES : Take five grams of carum seeds powder, turmeric powder. Make paste of this with water, coconut oil or castor oil and warm it up for some time. It can be applied on piles for reducing pain, itching, and any inconvenient situation. 

URINATION IN SLEEP : Twenty five grams of carum seeds powder, fifty grams of black gingily, seventy five grams of jaggery. Make a powder of all these. Half spoon to full spoon quantity of this to be taken twice a day to arrest urination in sleep. Frequent urination problem will also get solved. These are some of the remedies to be used.