KALI MUSLI, GOLDEN EYE GRASS, CURCULIGO ORCHIOIDESKali musli is native to Malaysia, India, and Pakistan although it now grows in temperate zones in Africa, the Middle East and Arabia, usually found at altitudes above 6000 feet. Its roots are used as a sex tonic and aphrodisiac especially when mixed with safed musli (Chlorophytum borivillianum) It is used for menstrual disorders and is a good sex tonic for women when mixed with safed musli and Asparagus racemosus. Apparently men can take this root on its own for erectile dysfunctions, and low sperm count. The root should be powdered and the powder taken in milk. The properties of both muslis are ‘hot’ so it is best to take them in the winter months, not on hot summer’s days.
Paste made with the powdered root can be applied onto the skin to get rid of burning sensations (its good for piles) and to stop itching. It is also good for all skin problems and will get rid of pimples and other skin eruptions. You can inhale the smoke from the burning root to relieve a cough, cold or asthma. The powder taken in milk is supposed to aid digestion and stop flatulence, indigestion and constipation. It is also good for the functions of the liver and helps in treating jaundice. People use it in winter as a general health tonic. Hakims, herbalists, use it in this way: - boil onion juice and honey then add the powdered roots of safed and kali musli and continue boiling and stirring until it reaches a thickish consistency. They prescribe it in different doses depending on the ailment. These hakims suggest not using safed musli alone, but always mixing it with kali musli. This makes a degree of sense as they tend to grow together in the wild. Interestingly, safed musli is being depleted in the wild in India and Pakistan but kali musli isn’t according to Poudhia. They say that it’s OK for a man to take kali musli alone though. So far kali musli is not being cultivated in the same way as safed musli, and is still prolific in forests and woodland in the subcontinent.
The paste can also be applied as a face mask to improve the complexion and give it a healthy glow. It is said that it relaxes the muscles of the male’s corpora cavernosa (erectile tissue) which means that more blood can flow into the penis, making it stay erect for longer and preventing premature ejaculation. It has been shown to be a uterine stimulant in pregnant and non-pregnant rats, guinea pigs and rabbits in laboratory tests, which tends to prove that it can act as a libido enhancer for women. This is because of the flavonone glycoside the kali musli root contains.
The recipe below can be used with or without safed and kali musli.
ADADIYE RECIPEIngredients
250 gr black grams (lentils), ground into powder, or black gram flour
250 gr ghee
150 gr powdered milk
250 gr powdered sugar or gur (jaggery)
1 tsp dry ginger
1 tsp ground cardamom seeds
milk or water
100 gr blanched almonds, finely chopped
25 gr dried apricots, finely chopped
25 gr dried dates, finely chopped
25 gr dried papaya or guava (optional)
20 gr desiccated coconut
Method
Heat a little of the milk and mix the ghee in it, and then mix this into the gram flour and knead to a dough. Leave this to stand for 15- 20 minutes.
Heat more ghee and fry the dough in it until it is soft and brown. Add the sugar and milk powder and stir until the mixture leaves the sides of the pan. Mix in the cardamom and ginger powder along with the powdered safed musli and kali musli root.
Remove from the heat and spread the mixture onto a greased baking tray and sprinkle with the remaining ingredients.
When cool, cut into the desired shapes and serve when you want to.
You can also add the safed musli and kali musli to the dough at the beginning of this procedure.
This has Taste and is a Treat.
