Hi, today let’s peep into the spice box in our kitchens. Masalas/spices are known to add flavours to our dishes but how many of you are aware that they also serve with various medicinal properties as well. here are some interesting facts. so be with us till the end.
1. Alkanet/Ratanjot
Alkana root has certain cooling effects in addition to its medicinal uses. rogan josh, rajmah curry, and shahi paneer are served mainly with ratanjot as one of the ingredients in their prep.
- It heals burn scars in addition to preventing skin infections and inflammation
- It promotes immune and cardiovascular health
- The essential oil of ratan jot derived from its roots helps in treating insomnia and sleep disorders
- It encourages sweating which might lower your body temperature when you have a fever
- It can be used as a natural hair colouring agent. it nourishes your hair from its roots.
Source: Pots and Pans
2. Asafoetida/Heeng
- It is used traditionally in the treatment of various diseases like whooping cough, asthma, ulcers, epilepsy, stomach ache, flatulence, bronchitis, intestinal parasites, antispasmodic, weak digestion, and influenza.
- It increases the secretion of saliva and the activity of salivary amylase. it plays a role in the digestion of dietary lipids by stimulating bile flow and enhancing bile acid secretion. also enhances the activities of the digestive enzymes of the pancreas and small intestine. also cures low acid levels in the stomach, flatulence and loose stools.
- An effective treatment for women as it cures unwanted abortion, difficult and excessive menstruation and leucorrhoea.
Source: PUBMED
3. Bay Leaf/Tejpatta
- Researchers are not clear regarding how much bay must be consumed to get its health benefits. still, the bay is full of antioxidants and is a good source of minerals and dietary fibre. bay leaf is used to treat stomach-aches, clear up mucus in the lungs, colds and sore throat.
- Traditionally it has been used for the treatment of GI problems such as impaired digestion, flatulence, eructation and epigastric bloating and used as a diuretic. it also has many analgesic effects.
Source: NCBI
4. Black Cardamom/ Badi Elaichi
It is used to soothe digestion problems. may also be used to treat respiratory problems such as asthma or respiratory spasms. it has anti-inflammatory properties, reducing muscle spasms.
Source: Tarla Dalal
5. Choti Elaichi/ Green Cardamom
Lowers hypertension as it has antioxidant and diuretic properties. may also have some cancer-fighting properties. Its antioxidant compounds may help protect cells from damage and slow down and prevent inflammation in your body. It has been shown to reduce the no. and size of stomach ulcers in rats. It can kill some common mouth bacteria and thus prevent cavities.
Source: Healthline
6. Caraway Seeds
As per some research, caraway oil showed antibacterial activity against S. aureus and E. coli. The antibacterial property of caraway oil is attributed to its key components like limonene, beta-selinene, beta-elements and caryophyllene oxide.
- Caraway oil has a reducing effect on oxidative stress in diabetes mellitus. Caraway was used as the main ingredient of anti-obesity drugs in traditional medicine.
- Caraway oil in combination with peppermint oil or menthol is used to treat functional dyspepsia in clinical studies.
- Its oil topically on the abdomen relieves the IBS symptoms in patients. Its direct use is not recommended for children below the age of 18 years. However, it can typically be used as an anti-colic and carminative agent in children or infants.
Source: ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
7. Carom Seeds/ Ajwain
Traditionally it has been used for various therapeutic effects including bloating, fatigue, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, respiratory distress and loss of appetite. It has other health benefits such as antifungal, antioxidant, antibacterial, antiparasitic and hypolipidemic effects.
Source: NCBI
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8. Cinnamon/ Dalchini
Cinnamon primarily contains vital oils such as cinnamaldehyde, cinnamic acid and cinnamate. In addition to being an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, anti-microbial, anti-cancer, lipid-lowering, and cardiovascular disease-lowering compound, cinnamon has also been reported to have activities against neurological disorders, such as Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease.
9. Coriander Seeds
Coriander seeds are full of vitamin K, which is important in helping your blood clot. Vit K also helps the bones to repair themselves, thus preventing problems like osteoporosis. It also helps in lowering the risk of heart disease.
Source: WebMD
10. Fenugreek Seeds/ Methi Dana
Antioxidants like choline, inositol, biotin, vitamin A, b vitamins, vitamin D, soluble and insoluble fibre and iron make it useful from a health point of view. It prevents constipation, loss of appetite, and gastritis. Stimulates breast milk production, prevents diabetes, relieves painful menstruation, relieves the symptoms of menopause, alleviates the pain of arthritis, lowers high blood pressure, and manages obesity.
Conclusion
There is a healing spice for every disease. Many of these are easily found in our kitchens. Masala used in the preparation of any food, imparts its healing properties as well to the food.
