Medicinal Herbs

medicinal herbs health benefits

Medicinal Herbs and the Health Benefits of Indian Herbs. Find out about the Healing Powers of Turmeric, Cumin, etc. in Curry Spice

 

Medicinal Herbs - The Healing Power Of Indian Herbs

The medicinal herbs in Indian curry have been known for their anti-inflammatory powers for centuries. In more recent studies, Indian herbs and curry spices were also found to have other medicinal benefits for the treatment of cancer, Alzheimer's disease, heart disease, diabetes, indigestion, flu and cold, fever, and many more.

Curry is actually a summary name for a collection of spices. It is a combination of natural herbs like turmeric, cardamom, ginger, coriander, cumin, black pepper, chili pepper, cloves, fenugreek, fennel, etc.

The use of garlic in curry spices varies in India. While the turmeric benefits are widely known beyond India, all other medicinal plants and Indian herbs listed below have also been used as herbal treatment for ages.

mixed spices

 

Turmeric

Curry powder as it is used in India contains curcumin -the active part of the spice turmeric. Curcumin is a phenolic natural product from the underground parts of Curcuma Longa, a medicinal plant. Turmeric is a spice that is used in India, other parts of Asia, and in the Middle East.

Turmeric benefits are known as anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, and digestive aid. It is also said to help with arthritis pain, and recently new found turmeric benefits include the fighting of cancers. Curcumin was found to slow the growth of cancer cells by inhibiting the enzyme aminopeptidase N (APN), which is responsible for tumor invasion and spreading. Cancers that are believed to improve from curcumin are breast cancer, colon cancer, stomach cancer, and even blood cancer.

Other turmeric benefits include treating Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis, and radiation burns. Health stores sell turmeric in pill form as dietary supplement as well. Curcumin has not shown any known side effects so far, according to Ho Jeong Kwon, professor of Bioscience and Biotechnology at Sejong University, Seoul.

Cumin

The cumin seeds are medicinal herbs that can aid indigestion, nausea, morning sickness, and diarrhea. Cumin is also known to relieve flatulence and colic, and it is used as cold remedy due to its antiseptic properties. The whole cumin plant acts as a tonic and mild stimulant. The medicinal spice cumin is used in most Indian curry spice mixes and in the Middle East. It has a very unique and powerful taste.

Fenugreek

A widely known medical herbs use for fenugreek is stimulating the milk production in nursing mothers, which can be increased by up to 900%, based on an article on www.breastfeeding.org. Not just used in Indian herbs, fenugreek has many great medical benefits and is used around the world: it helps relieving digestive cramps, menstrual pain, and can reduce fever. It is also said to assist in treating diabetes.

Coriander

Once used as aphrodisiac in Egypt, coriander seeds are the dry fruits of the cilantro plant or Chinese parsley plant. Coriander is used to ease migraines and digestive upsets, and as medicine for a cold. Coriander seeds are also used as herbal treatment for clearing the body of mercury, lead, and aluminum.

Ginger

Ginger is a real power medicinal plant among the medical herbs with uses like suppressing nausea and vomiting, reducing fever and coughing, treating inflammation, congestion, cold, diarrhea, indigestion, and flatulence. Ginger can be blood thinning and cholesterol lowering. It is also proven to kill salmonella bacteria and can be used as food preservative. Ginger is used in curry spices in India, Thailand, and other parts of Asia.

Take a look at this soothing ginger tea recipe as a great aromatic herbal flu remedy for the cold season.

Fennel

This liquorice-tasting medicinal herb eases indigestion and reduces bloating. The medicinal benefits of fennel tea include the calming of an upset stomach. In Indian curry spices, fennel seeds are used to improve the eyesight, and studies have shown that it can treat glaucoma. Fennel is also part of a tasty after-meal mouth refresher in India, as it overpowers the sometimes pungeant tastes of other spices in Indian meals.

Chili

Chili peppers have their spice from a component called capsaicin, which has been used as pain reliever and blood circulation aid for ages. It can ease arthritic swelling and pain, and relieve joint aches. Chili also stimulates the mucus and clears the sinuses, which assists in fighting flu and cold symptoms. Of all the herbs and spices, chili peppers have among the highest dose of vitamin C that boosts the immune system.

Cayenne Pepper has also been used as herbal treatment to stop bleeding of an open wound. It further increases the metabolism and fat-burning capabilities of the body.

Cardamom

Cardamom stimulates digestion and works against fever. It's medicinal benefits include the treatment of infections of the teeth and gum, congestion of the lungs, and inflammation of the eyelids. Cardamom is one of the Indian herbs also used to break up kidney and gall stones, and reportedly can work as antidote for snake and scorpion venom. In some countries, the medicinal spice cardamom is used to treat digestion problems.

Cloves

They are medicinal herbs that can relieve tooth pain, stomach upsets, vomiting, and diarrhea. Cloves can assist in digestive treatments by warming the abdominal area in a topical application of clove oil. The oil is also used to treat skin disorders like acne and pimples, and to sooth skin burns and irritations.

Black Pepper

Black Pepper is loaded with antioxidants and relieves many pains including headaches, joint pain, and toothaches. It's medicinal benefits also include curing constipation and diarrhea (if used in moderate amounts).

Black pepper is further used as medicinal remedy for gangrene, heart disease, indigestion, insect bites, insomnia, lung disease, and sunburn.

Garlic

Garlic is a natural wonder drug among the medicinal herbs that is said to be antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal. It has medical powers like lowering blood pressure and high cholesterol, which can prevent heart disease. It is also assumed to work against cancer and assist with diabetes treatments. Garlic is further used for hoarseness and coughs in fighting a cold or flu. Additional qualities of garlic include being antiseptic, antimicrobial, and antifungal in treating intestinal worms, parasites, and fungal infections.

Curry Leaves

Curry leaves are natural herbs also called Sweet Neem leaves, and they are used in Indian curries, rasam, and sambar dishes.

Curry leaves offer medicinal benefits with their herbal tonic qualities. These spices can also be used as mild laxative, indigestion aid, and for burns and bruises. The root of the curry plant can be used to assist with kidney pain.