WHAT IS ASHWAGANDHA? WINTER CHERRY ( INDIAN), WITHANIA SOMNIFERUM

ASHWAGANDHA, (INDIAN) WINTER CHERRY, WITHANIA SOMNIFERUM


Ashwagandha or Indian Winter Cherry or simply Winter cherry is also known by the name Indian Ginseng. Its Latin name is Withania somniferum. It’s a shrub which grows prolifically in Pakistan and India to a height of 170 cms. To the ancient Arabs it was a narcotic, health tonic and the root is used as an aphrodisiac, rather similar to that other root, safed musli but it has many more health benefits, rather like Brahmi.

Withania somniferum has yellow flowers and a red fruit which is berry-like in size and shape. It is an amazing plant which may in the future be used as an anti carcinogenic as it has shown able to restrict the growth of cancer cells in animals and cell cultures.

The Japanese have a patent application on it as a skin ointment and also use it to promote fertility. In the US the New England Deaconess Hospital has a patent for using it for the treatment of arthritis, which is one of the traditional uses of this shrub. It is an adaptogen and helps with stress related diseases.

The root is mainly used in traditional medicine on the subcontinent, and the berries can be substituted for rennet in making cheese. The leaves can be bruised, crushed and smeared onto arthritic joints as they are in Ethiopia. In Pakistan the cortex of the root is ground into a powder and mixed with water then kneaded into a paste which is smeared onto wounds to disinfect them and to promote rapid healing. In Africa the root is given as a sedative to children and to soothe teething pains. The ancient Assyrians used to burn the root and channel the smoke onto a painful tooth to cure the pain of toothache. In Yemen it is still used for this purpose.

A paste can be made from the ground leaves; they are ground to a pulp and sometimes the berries are also added to this to treat swelling, rheumatism and external inflammation. In India the leaves are smoked to soothe coughs and asthma.

However its primary use in folk medicine is as an aphrodisiac and it has been used as a love potion too for centuries. Folk healers still prepare love potions from the root of Ashwagandha.

The name Ashwagandha means ‘sweat of a horse’ and it is thought that this refers to the strength and sexual vigour of the horse. It is used to cure impotency, fatigue and waning memory, and it is now known that it boosts the immune system, relieves various types of stress, revitalizes muscles, and bones, and is good for a restful sleep, diabetes, general debility, and a stimulant. It also helps restore neurotransmitters and so is used for mental disorders associated with aging.

Winter Cherry helps support the reproductive systems and adrenals and is a diuretic. It can cure gastric ulcers according to recent medical research, and can help to stop a fever.

Apart from boosting the male semen count and helping with erectile dysfunctions, it also stabilizes the foetus and later boosts a nursing mother’s supply of breast milk.

The recommended dose is 3-5 grams of powder from the root taken daily in milk. Twice a day is more than sufficient for male sexual disorders and results are seen after a week in most cases, although it may take longer to work in some cases.

Like Gotu Kola and Brahmi this is another wonder herb, and an aphrodisiac that has been working for many centuries.

ROCKET or ARUGULA or ERUCA SATIVA: ROCKET SALAD WITH PARMESAN CHEESE RECIPE:TARA MERA OIL

ROCKET, ARUGULA, ERUCA SATIVA

Rocket or Arugula in American English is known as a salad vegetable which can be used as a substitute for lettuce. It has a nutty flavour, if you use young leaves, and they are good with a dressing of walnut oil. If the older mature leaves are used, they have a slightly bitter flavour and go well with a traditional vinaigrette dressing (white wine vinegar, olive oil and a mixture of herbs or just the herb of your choice). Rocket is usually used in Caesar Salads, and is great with all kinds of cheeses especially goats' cheese and gorgonzola. You can also steam rocket like spinach and use as a vegetable with others. The Italians love rocket and put it in meat sauces and with meats. A simple recipe is to spread rocket leaves with cream cheese and slivers of smoked salmon, roll them up and serve on a bed of rocket leaves. Its seeds can be used in cookery as a substitute for mustard seeds.

flower of rocket

It is native to the Mediterranean area and Central Europe and is naturalized in the US. The name ‘eruca’ is Latin for cabbage and it is related to the Brassica family.

The Romans used rocket mixed with other herbs they considered had aphrodisiacal qualities, such as lavender and dill, and put them in special sauces. They served the leaves as a salad with chicory and lettuce. It was believed that rocket increased sexual potency. The ancient Egyptians would give it to bridegrooms on their wedding night. The seeds and their oil have been used as an aphrodisiac at least since the first century AD.


Rocket is a great source of iron, potassium, magnesium, calcium, beta-carotene, sodium, dietary fibre and vitamins A, B, C and E. Modern medical research has shown that the constituents of Eruca sativa can cure gastric ulcers, and this is one of the many complaints it has been treating for millennia in the subcontinent. It is also known to reduce the secretion of stomach acids and it also mediates the activity of hormones. The volatile oil distilled from the seeds contains nitrogen and sulphur. It has anti microbial properties and is an antiscorbutic. A strong dose of the oil will induce vomiting.

In traditional medicine on the Indian subcontinent is used to cure erectile dysfunctions and is said to decrease stress, so is given to women too to increase their libido. It is also believed to help in the treatment of liver disorders and diabetes. It can also stop a cough apparently. It is a diuretic, and also a laxative, so don’t take too much oil! A teaspoon or two a day won’t hurt though.

In Pakistan and India the oil known as Tara Mera and used to kill head lice, and mixed with water is massaged into the scalp to get rid of dandruff, to strengthen the hair and to prevent hair loss. It is suggested that as well as using the oil externally you should take a teaspoon a day to help with hair problems and as a general tonic. You can use it as a salad dressing too, as it stimulates the digestive system.

The flower is white or purple, and is a symbol of deceit in the Language of Flowers because it has no scent by day, but at night gives off a perfume. The ancients called it the Vesper flower or Hesperis.





ROCKET SALAD WITH PARMESAN CHEESE

Ingredients

1 bunch of well-washed rocket, torn

1 tbsp capers

200 gr Parmesan, thinly sliced

300 gr tomatoes, roughly chopped
1 cucumber, roughly chopped
green and black olives, or stuffed green olives with pimento
balsamic vinegar
olive oil
salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

Method

Mix all the ingredients together and toss well before serving

This has Taste and is a Treat.

WHAT IS SAFED MUSLI? CHLOROPHYTUM BORIVILIANUM: A AMAZING MEDICAL HERB

SAFED MUSLI, CHLOROPHYTUM BORIVILIANUM, ASPARAGUS ADSCENDENS

Safed Musli or to give it its official name, Chlorophytum borivilianum has been used in Ayurvedic medicine on the Indian subcontinent for centuries. Its roots are used as a demulcent, a stimulant, diaphoretic, and to help milk production in breast-feeding mothers. They are given balls of the root to chew before and after the birth, so that their milk production will increase. It’s also given to cows for the same purpose.

It is used to cure general debility, in the treatment for diarrhoea and dysentery and as a vitalizer for the whole body. The root powder is fried in ghee (clarified butter) and chewed to get rid of mouth and throat infections. It is also used as a remedy for arthritis and diabetes. It is often an ingredient in paan in India and Pakistan.

It is used as an Allopathic, which means that a disease is treated with remedies which produce effects differing from those produced by the disease, for example antibiotics do this. The word come from the Greek, allos meaning different or other, and pathos, meaning suffering. The term allopathic or allopath was first used by the man who is regarded as the founding father of homeopathic medicine, Samuel Hahnemann.

It is also given to boost the immune system and modern medical research has borne out this use of it. Chlorophytum borivilianum has immuno-stimulating properties and it has been proved that increases rats’ sperm count after 60 days of being given regular doses of it. The researchers end their discussion with these words “roots of Chlorophytum borivilianum can be useful in the treatment of certain forms of sexual inadequacies, such as premature ejaculation and oligosperma” (R. Kenjale et al 2008 in Phytotherapy Research Vol 22(6)). In other words, rats have benefited from this plant and shown increased sexual activity and increased libido as well as having a “significantly” higher sperm increase. It is believed that this is the Natural Viagra and is now being cultivated on a much larger scale than before so that it can be exported for the benefit of men all around the world. It has been used as a tonic for sexual health by Indians or centuries and they believe it is an aphrodisiac for both sexes.

This plant also has antimicrobial properties, although these are not as efficient as those of the kikar tree, according to other research carried out by Rajesh Dabur et al.

The plant is a rich source of minerals, vitamins, proteins, carbohydrates, steroids and polysaccharides.

It clearly has amazing medical properties and modern medical research is showing once again that the old herbalists knew a thing or two about health giving plants.

WHAT IS PATCHOULI? KHOSHBODAR PUDINA IN URDU: PATCHOULI USES

PATCHOULI (KHOSHBODAR PUDINA, URDU) POGOSTEMON CABLIN

Patchouli is a plant that grows to about a metre and has white through to purple flowers, depending on the species. It originated in South East Asia but now grows in the Caribbean where it is cultivated and in the Indian subcontinent, Indonesia, Malaysia, China and South America. It is cultivated for its heady, musky, earthy oil which is used in perfumes and essential oils. It was very popular in the 1960s and 70s when it was associated with the hippie movement, protesting against the Vietnam War and having the common desire to make love not war. Patchouli, being an aphrodisiac would certainly have helped achieve the first of their aims.

The name comes from Tamil-patch=green and ilai=leaf. Personally I like the Urdu name for patchouli, Khoshbodar pudina which means ‘smelly mint’. Patchouli is a member of the mint family.

Patchouli oil has been used in traditional Indian medicine for thousands of years and was applied to parts of the body in Tantric ceremonies according to a 12th century Indian text by Somershvara. It has narcotic properties that liberate you from repressed sexual feelings, heighten the senses and sexual desire. It also encourages sensuality so it can certainly help your sex life if it needs spicing up. It cures frigidity, erectile dysfunctions and loss of libido. You can get patchouli scented candles and incense (joss) sticks to help too. You can combine the fragrance with rose, jasmine or lavender (a distant relative) if you add the oil to bath water.

There are different kinds of patchouli oil, and the older it is the better. It should be dark amber in colour, and be very viscous. You should think in terms of drops-don’t overdo it as it can make you nauseous it’s so pungent.

Apart from its benefits for your sex life it does the body good too as it is antifungal, so can get rid of skin problems such as athlete’s foot, and the Romans used it to heal wounds. Modern medical research has shown that it does this because it has astringent qualities. It has been used as a cure for digestive problems, and is a remedy for skin disorders such as eczema, and can make scars from acne, chicken pox and other diseases fade. It also used as a remedy for colds and the infection that starts a fever. It has antibacterial qualities and is a painkiller too. It helps lift people out of depression as it is an anti depressant. It helps remove feelings of anxiety and relieves stress. In Hindu temples it is burned as incense and gives grounding prior to meditation, so astral travelers can return to their body and not get lost in the Cosmos.

It is also used in beauty treatments as it helps tone dry skin, and prevents wrinkles. It is also an effective deodorant and astringent. If you rub diluted oil onto your hair and scalp it will get rid of dandruff and give body and shine to your hair.

In Victorian times it was wrapped in cashmere shawls on their voyages from India to the British markets, to keep moths and other bugs away. Women wouldn’t buy the shawls unless they had the smell of patchouli on them, as that way they knew they were genuine. It is also one of the ingredients of Indian ink, which gives it a distinctive smell. The Victorians may have gone down in history as prudes, but those shawls, the smell of patchouli and the number of children per family as well as the ‘naughty’ humour, tend to disprove the stereotype.

I’ve read that the leaves can be used as a vegetable, but I haven’t tried them. I suppose they can be as the oil is extracted from the leaves. No recipe though!

GOAZBAN IN URDU, BORAGE IN ENGLISH: BORAGE TISANE: KHAMIRA GOAZBAN

GOAZBAN (Urdu), BORAGE


Borage or Boragio officinalis, to give it its official Latin name, is believed to have originated in the southern Mediterranean area, and some writers have claimed that it comes from Aleppo. Whatever the case it has been naturalized in many parts of the world and it is believed that there are more than fifty species of this plant.

We know from Dioscorides that was used to make a cooling drink and Pliny tells us that it is a “euphorosinum” which means a plant of euphoria or extreme joy. In Welsh it is called llanwenlys or herb of gladness. It is also supposed to be the Nepenthe of Homer which, when steeped in wine brought about total forgetfulness. Romans would put the flowers and leaves in their wine and this was very popular. It was also used to give a man the courage to propose marriage, as it has long been believed that borage is the herb of courage.

Like lavender, borage has a natural calming effect so could be used in oil form to revive women who succumbed to hysteria in older times. Now it is probably best known as an ingredient for Pimms No1 (gin based) which is a cooling alcoholic summer drink. Borage has a slight cucumber flavour so is excellent to put in summer punches, be they alcoholic or not, as it is a natural coolant.

Goazban (the Urdu name for borage) has been used for centuries in traditional medicine as an expectorant, demulcent, diuretic, cardiac tonic, coolant, laxative, diaphoretic, emollient and febrifuge. It is said to relieve restlessness in fever suffers and stop functional palpitations of the heart, and often prescribed as a diuretic to relieve cystitis and other irritations of the urinary tract. It is also given in cases of bronchial ailments, dry coughs, colds, catarrh and is said to relieve asthma attacks. It is also prescribed for rheumatism, some symptoms of syphilis, probably skin irritations and leprosy.

Modern medical research has found that borage oil contains Omega-3 and -6 fatty acids which are crucial for brain functions as well as growth and development. In the West, people typically don’t get enough of the Omega fatty acids in their diets. These lift depression (as does borage) and help our sexual health as well as general health. These fatty acids can stimulate hair growth, maintain bone health and regulate our metabolism.

Omega-6 fatty acids in our diets normally come in the form of linoleic acid (LA). This is converted to GLA (Gamma-Linoleic-Acid) by the body and this can come from borage oil. It has a higher GLA content than Evening Primrose oil which is more commonly used in nutritional supplements.

Omega-3 fatty acids convert to DGLA which is effective in fighting inflammation, so borage oil is especially useful. If GLA is taken over time there is growing evidence to support the use of GLA to reduce nerve pain. There is also some medical evidence to show that this can also help in cases of breast cancer. GLA reduces stress and borage seed oil can be used to treat skin problems such as eczema and dermatitis successfully.

Leucotrienes are produced from the GLA found in borage oil, and these hormone-like substances can help reduce cholesterol levels, cause dilation of the blood vessels (necessary for the male reproductive system to work efficiently) as well as reducing inflammation in the joints.

Borage leaves can be boiled and left to cool so that the water can be used as an eyewash, or to help tired eyes, in the same way as a slice of cucumber can. If you boil the leaves or leaves and flowers, you can use the steam to revitalize dry, sensitive skin too.

In cookery the leaves can be eaten raw in a salad and the leaves are tasty steamed or sautéed in the same way as you sauté spinach. The stems can be steamed too with the leaves or sautéed or substituted for celery. The leaves and stems go well with poultry, fish, cheese and vegetable dishes and the flowers can be put in salads or used as a garnish. They can also be candied and used to decorate cakes. As a herb, borage goes well with dill, mint and garlic. If the leaves are added to pea or bean soup they give the finished soup a different flavour, and as they have traditionally been used as a pot herb you can boil potatoes etc with them. The leaves and flowers are good added to red wine especially if it isn’t a very good one - they make it more palatable. You can make hot or cold tisanes with the leaves, typically 1 oz of fresh leaves to a pint of boiling water and leave to steep for 15 minutes before straining. Add sugar and lemon juice to taste. However don’t drink too much as borage has a laxative effect.

In Pakistan there is a medicine called khamira goaz:ban which we would have liked to give you the recipe for, but it is made with gemstones and would be very difficult for a lay person to make. It’s used as an aid for recovery after any debilitating disease and can be used daily to boost the body’s energy levels. It is also used to treat depression and to boost the brain’s activity. I think you can buy it online, but that may only be for the subcontinent. You can also find it Asian shops in Britain.

If you dry the borage flowers, they can be added to pot pourris too. The borage plant is very versatile.



CUCUMBERS WITH BORAGE
Ingredients
3 large cucumbers
½ pint soured cream
(or single cream with a tsp of lemon juice added and stirred into it)
2 tbsps red wine vinegar
½ tsp crushed coriander seeds
½ bunch spring onions, finely chopped
1 tsp sugar
¼ cup fresh young borage leaves
salt and pepper to taste

Method

Salt the cucumbers and leave to drain upside down for half and hour. You should remove the seeds too.

Mix the other ingredients together.

Rinse the salt from the cucumbers and pat dry with absorbent paper. Thinly slice them.

Mix the cucumbers into the other ingredients, garnish with borage flowers and chill for an hour before serving.
This has Taste and is a Treat.

WHAT IS BRAHMI? WATER HYSSOP, BACOPA MONNIERI : A MIRACLE PLANT

BRAHMI, BACOPA MONNIERI, HERPESTIS MONNIERA, WATER HYSSOP

Brahmi is known by two Latin names which seem to be synonymous, although Bacopa monniera, is the more commonly used name in medical articles. There is some confusion though as in India there are two plants known as Brahmi, this one and Centella asiatica. This is because of the ancient Vedic medical texts written in Sanskrit.

Brahmi is known in English as water hyssop, although there are many varieties around the world. It grows in Florida, USA, in wetlands, is native to the Indian subcontinent, so grows in India, Pakistan, Nepal and Sri Lanka. It also grows in Central America, China and Taiwan.

It has been used in traditional Ayurvedic medicine for around 3000 years for many purposes, mainly for memory enhancement. The entire plant is apparently beneficial. Modern medical research trials have basically substantiated the ancient remedies, and have found it can help Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s sufferers.

It has antioxidant properties which mean that it is an effective reducer of stress and it has anti-aging effects on the brain. In experimental animal and in vitro tests it has also demonstrated that it helps the cognitive processes. Its antioxidant activity also explains why in Ayurvedic medicine it is used to strengthen the immune system, improve vitality and cognitive as well as sexual performance, as it improves circulation of blood and as an antioxidant can help men with erectile dysfunctions. It is also said to increase longevity.

Brahmi improves concentration and has been used in cases of Attention Deficit Disorder and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder with remarkable results. It can act as a sedative, but having said this is doesn’t make you drowsy, rather it gives mental clarity.

It is also used for skin ailments such as eczema and psoriasis and is used as a diuretic and in the treatment of asthma. Apparently it is a digestive aid too and good for the liver spleen, lungs and kidneys.

In 1998 the Nobel Prize in Physiology and Medicine was given jointly to Robert F. Furchgott, Louis J. Ignarro and Ferid Murad for “their discoveries concerning nitric oxide as a signaling molecule in the cardiovascular system”. Their experiments had been connected with Brahmi or Bacopa monnieri.

In India newborn babies are consecrated with Brahmi, in the hope that it will open up the pathway to the intellect. It is much revered by Indians, and it seems that they have been right about the amazing properties of this plant for 3000 years.It has much the same properties, according to tradition, as the Intellect tree.

Women with a high oestrogen count, those who take the contraceptive pill or have oestrogen replacement therapy should not take any supplements of Brahmi as it can cause temporary loss of hearing.
  It is a member of the Scrophulariaceae or figwort family of plants which makes it a relative of mullein and toadflax, among others.

WHAT IS GOTU KOLA? INDIAN PENNYWORT, CENTELLA ASIATICA

GOTU KOLA, BRAHMI, CENTELLA ASIATICA


Gotu Kola is the name used for Centella asiatica in India to distinguish it from the other herb known as Brahmi, (Bacopa monnieri or Herpestis monniera). Actually it has been used for much the same medical purposes as Brahmi and grows in the same countries, although once again it is native to the Indian subcontinent and China, it is believed, but it has become naturalized in the US centuries or perhaps millennia ago.

It has been found to help reduce gastric ulcers in rats, and has shown to have improved their cognitive processes (in different laboratory trials). There is hope that it can be used to help Alzheimer’s patients and to combat the effects of senility.

Traditionally it has been used in India and Pakistan as a cure all and modern medical research has so far supported these ancient uses although more trials are needed on humans before the researchers will say categorically that Centella asiatica is very good for us in lots of ways. They agree that it heals wounds effectively, and can improve blood circulation and help those with varicose veins. As it promotes blood circulation and strengthens veins, it is good for sexual disorders in both sexes, especially erectile dysfunctions in men. The good news for men in the US is that grows prolifically in wetlands and the dried leaves can be made into a hot tea. You’ll pay a fortune for it as a supplement or sex aid, but you can go and pick your own leaves and dry them- even grow American coinwort (as it’s known in the States) in your garden. (In other countries it’s known as pennywort but here we’re talking about Indian pennywort)

It can help decrease anxiety, stress and fatigue and is good for scleroderma, improving finger movements, joint pain and skin hardening. As it has a mild sedative effect it is good to cure insomnia, although your dreams may have more clarity. It is sometimes used as an aid to meditation, with the leaves burned as incense, as it clears the mind and gives mental clarity. It has been said that it helps in past lives recollection. It has the effect of balancing the right and left hemispheres of the brain.

Gotu Kola is mainly used in the West (at the moment) for its cutaneous anti-inflammatory properties as it can help in rheumatism.

In China it is reputed to promote longevity and the example often given of this is that of Li Ching Yun, a legendary healer who lived until he was 256 years old, presumably retaining all his faculties.

It has anti-aging properties for the skin and tightens older skin, helping to prevent wrinkling and can be used in creams to get rid of acne blemishes. In this respect it is rather like aloe vera.

If you are pregnant, or taking the contraceptive pill, or oestrogen replacement treatment, do not use gotu kola internally.





GOTU KOLA TISANE

Ingredients

1-2 tsps dried leaves of gotu kola

! cup boiling water

sugar to taste

slice of lemon



Method

Pour the boiling water over the leaves and leave to step for 15-20 mins before straining and drinking.

Take only 2 cups a day as it has a mildly laxative effect.

It may not have Taste but it is a Treat(ment).

WHAT IS AAK? THE WONDER WEED (CALOTROPIS PROCERA)

AAK, CALOTROPIS PROCERA, SODOM'S APPLE, SWALLOW- WORT

Aak in Urdu, Sodom’s Apple or Swallow-wort in English has the Latin name Calotropis procera. It is highly poisonous and should be treated with great care. If you get the juice in your eyes it causes instant blindness. Suicides have used it and it is an arbortifacient. Despite this it also has amazing healing powers and has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for centuries. It is native to Pakistan and parts of India.

Modern medical research is still underway on the properties of this plant, but it has been found to have antifungal properties and can be used to cure skin fungal diseases such as athlete’s foot and ringworm. It has also been found to have anti-carcinogenic properties in laboratory tests. It is also an effective anti-inflammatory agent. It contains the toxic glycosides uscharin, Calotropis and calotoxin. Uscharin is an effective killer of land snails if they become pestilential.

It also has anti-coagulant properties, so could help prevent blood clots although it has so far not been tested on humans.

In Ayurvedic medicine it is used for many purposes: the powdered leaves help wounds heal quickly are good for indigestion, liver disorders, constipation, intestinal worms and skin problems.

The flowers are used as a drink with milk to cure colds, coughs, catarrh and asthma. They are also used to cure piles.

The leaves can be boiled and used as a hot poultice to relieve stomach pains, headaches and sprains. A tincture made from the leaves is said to be good for fevers.

Parts of the plant are also given as an aphrodisiac and a sedative, and as it was found to stimulate the blood flow, it probably can help men with erectile dysfunctions.

The skin from the root is used in decoctions for skin problems.

It grows prolifically here and is considered a weed, although it was a sacred plant in Vedic times as the leaves were used in sun-worshipping ceremonies. The ancient Arabic nomadic tribes also had superstitions regarding this plant and may also have used it in sun-worshipping rituals.

The best advice I can give you though is to stay away from the plant if you don’t know what you are doing; it is highly dangerous and can kill.

WHAT IS KACHUR? WHITE TURMERIC, ZEDOARY, CURCUMA ZEDORIA: HISTORY AND USES

kachur root

KACHUR, WHITE TURMERIC, ZEDOARY, CURCUMA ZEDOARIA


Kachur, Curcuma zedoaria or white turmeric or zedoary is not very well known in the West. Apparently it was introduced into Europe by the Arabs in the 6th century and gained in popularity, if we are to believe manuscripts that were written prior to the 16th century. If these are indeed about white turmeric then it was a very popular spice which is rarely used in cooking these days. Either early writers mistook this root or rhizome for ginger root or turmeric or even salsify, or tastes have changed a lot over the centuries, as Kachur has a very bitter taste and smells of camphor. It is sometimes used finely grated in pickles in the Indian subcontinent, but is more often used in medicine. It is also used as medicine in China and Japan, but is native to northern India and Pakistan. In India its essential oil is used in perfumes and in alcoholic drinks. In Thailand the fresh young rhizome of white turmeric or Kachur is cooked and eaten as a vegetable. It might also be used in some curry pastes. It’s an ancient spice and related to turmeric. Kurkum in Arabic means saffron and it does make the saliva yellow when chewed, so perhaps there was a little confusion, as it is not related to the crocus from which we get saffron.

kachur plant

In India Zedoary is considered a weed, and it is believed that it grows in Panama and other parts of the South American continent where it is called the “Resurrection Plant.” It has been speculated that this is because it flowers at Easter, but we think it is more likely to have been given this name because of its many medicinal properties. This amazing root is still being subjected to medical trials and the medical researchers are being cagier than usual about its properties. They do say that kachur has anti-inflammatory properties, which has long been known in traditional medicine, and that it does have antiseptic qualities - it has been used for centuries to heal wounds on the Indian subcontinent. It can be made into a paste and applied directly onto the skin and is used for a wide variety of skin complaints. In India and Pakistan it is included in creams to prevent ageing and wrinkles. It is supposed to be extremely effective as an anti ageing agent.

kachur flower

You can make an infusion of this to be drunk as a tisane, by using 1 tablespoon of the finely chopped kachur root to 1 pint of boiling water. Allow it to steep for 30 mins and drink it two or three times a day. It is an antioxidant and is said to help sexual problems in both men and women. It is said to strengthen the uterus muscles and so help in childbirth and to cure male erectile dysfunctions, as well as being an aphrodisiac. Kachur is also used to stop diseases recurring (it’s an anti-periodic), and to treat colds, flatulence, digestive disorders, ulcers, gastro-intestinal problems, and the tisane will prevent indigestion if taken 30 minutes before a meal. It has also been used to clean and purify the blood and detoxifies the body. It helps in cell regeneration and is good for the immune system. It regulates body temperature and is used in cases of fever.

White turmeric has a high starch content and is often given to those who are recuperating after an illness and to the very young (it stops colic).Whether or not it actually is helpful in all these instances is open to debate. But a lot of people here swear by it as an “almost” cure all.

No recipe as we don’t eat it. Try the recipes with ginger or turmeric instead.

WHAT IS HAREER? TERMINALIA CHEBULA, HARITAKI, BLACK MYROBALAN

HAREER, TERMINALIA CHEBULA, HARITAKI, BLACK MYROBALAN


Hareer is another “wonder drug” from Ayurvedic medicine. It’s the fruit of a tree and is used as a cure all. I’m told the English name for it is Black Myrobalan, or Chebulic Myrobalan, but have to confess that I am none the wiser for knowing that so I will continue to call it Hareer. I was first introduced to Hareer when I had had a very bad fever and possibly dysentery, so I was feeling weak and fairly awful.

The doctor prescribed it for me as well as other high protein iron-rich foods. I was given hareer murabba, a preserve of this fruit to try and of course I really loved its flavour. I didn’t know what it was but determined to find out. This is the result of that research.

There are three types of hareer, known in Sanskrit as Haritaki, Vibhitaki and Arjuna. The names are given in Sanskrit as this is the language of the Ayurvedic medical texts. Haritaki is Terminalia cheboula, Vibhitaki, Terminalia belerica and Arjuna, Terminalia arjuna. The Arabs introduced Terminalia belerica (bastard myrobalan) into Europe, having discovered its healing properties from the Indians. The medicinal properties of the fruit and only the bark of Terminalia arjuna or arjuna are known in other Asian countries including Thailand and Tibet, but the trees are native to the Indian subcontinent, and perhaps to the Himalayan regions.Hareer is related to Terminalia catappa or the Indian almond too.

The fruit has been used since ancient times as an anti inflammatory, analgesic, digestive, liver stimulant, diuretic, expectorant, antispasmodic and the list goes on. It has undergone clinical trials which seem to support these old treatments, but more trials are underway as most tests have been on rats. One test saw a higher volume of sperm and increased potency in male rats, so it may have benefits for males who have low sperm counts and other problems relating to erections.

 Another test carried out in vitro concluded that the extract of methanol from the fruit had the potential to halt the growth of cancerous cells in leukaemia.It’s good to heal wounds by making a paste of 3 hareer fruit and 3 betel nuts and ghee or oil and placing it on the wound. It gets rid of any pus and thoroughly cleans the wound. The same paste can be applied to haemorrhoids.

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In decoctions hareer is good for sore throats and to heal mouth ulcers, bleeding gums and other oral problems. As an anti-inflammatory it is used in urethral ailments such as vaginal discharge and spermatorrhea, and the fruit will lower cholesterol levels.

In Hindu mythology it is said that the Terminalia chebula was created from drops of ambrosia which fell to earth while Indra (king of the gods) was drinking it.