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).