Author: Shanth Babu

Moringa, also known as the ‘drumstick tree’, is being widely promoted as a “superfood” nowadays because of its rich nutritional profile. Let’s take a look at moringa’s benefits, uses, and its Ayurvedic applications.

Even though moringa has only recently gained popularity as a superfood, it has been a part of the Ayurvedic system of medicine for ages and is still considered a key ingredient in many Ayurvedic preparations.

COMMON USES :
Moringa leaves and immature pods are extensively used in South Indian dishes like sambar and chutney (a type of freshly prepared sauce).

Besides these dishes, moringa leaves, flowers, and immature pods are also used for culinary purposes in different parts of the world. Its roots are also considered edible in some countries.

Moringa can be used in making curries, vegetable soups, lentil soups, and sauces. It can be used as an independent vegetable or mixed with other vegetables. It can also be used for making sandwiches, bakery goods, and bread.

MEDICINAL BENEFITS :
A paste made up of the bark and leaves of moringa is useful in relieving burning sensation, inflammatory conditions and abscesses. Its paste is also helpful in wound healing.
The seed oil of moringa is helpful in relieving pain and has anti-inflammatory properties.
Moringa seed oil is useful in relieving pain caused by osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
The powder made up of moringa seeds is used in nasya (medicine is administered through nasal passage).
This nasya is helpful in headache.
Moringa increases nervine stimulus, as a result, it can be used as a nervine tonic for a weak nervous system.
Moringa is also useful in conditions like paralysis and facial palsy.
Moringa improves taste and increases appetite.
Moringa improves digestive strength (agni).
Moringa is binding in nature and is good for diarrhea. The red variety of moringa promotes proper bowel movements.
Moringa is helpful in problems like abdominal pain and abdominal distension.
Moringa is helpful in worm infestation.
Moringa is good for the heart and acts as a cardiac tonic.
Moringa is helpful in various Kapha dosha related problems.
Moringa is useful in cough and cold.
Moringa acts as a diuretic and has alkaline properties. So it is useful in dysuria (difficulty in passing urine) and if urine is more acidic.
Moringa is helpful in problems related to menstruation like amenorrhea and dysmenorrhea.
Moringa is helpful in managing overweight and obesity.
Moringa has detoxifying properties and useful in toxin-related problems.
Moringa increases sweating in the body.usefull in fever conditions.

CONTRAINDICATION:

1. Moringa increases Pitta dosha and vitiates blood. Using moringa is contraindicated in bleeding disorders and for people with a Pitta prakriti (prakriti means physical constitution).

2. Also, the excessive intake of moringa may lead to a burning sensation in the body and other symptoms caused by an aggravated Pitta dosha.

Pushkarmool is an Ayurvedic herb that offers path breaking results in chest pain, cough and respiratory discomfort. It is a useful herb that is used for treating bronchitis and heart diseases. The botanical name of this herb is Inula racemosa and it is probably one of the powerful herbs. It is basically an Asian plant belonging to the daisy family. The roots of this plant are used in the form of indigenous medicine and even as an expectorant. It is widely used in various health problems like asthma, chronic cough, sinusitis, cold, emphysema, lung collapse, and COPD. It is probably one of the most versatile herbs that can be used for its multiple medicinal benefits.

MEDICINAL BENEFITS :
It possesses antifungal properties and is quite effective in curing pain, swelling and pus formation.
The powder of this herb is effective in treating tuberculoid ulcers when sprinkled on them or when the paste is applied on the ulcers

The powder or the paste is used for relieving painful swelling conditions.
The herb is helpful in stimulation the nervous system and the brain and therefore it is quite effective in vata and cerebral impairment disorders.

It works in the form of a blood purifier and cardiac supplement. Therefore, it is useful in blood disorders and cardiac debility.
Pushkarmool is the most effective drug for treating cardiac asthma.
It stimulates the kidneys and helps in increasing the formation of urine.
It helps in clearing the airways and in alleviating hiccups, dyspnoea and cough.
It strengthens the digestive tract and improves digestion.
Pushkarmool improves cardiac circulation, relieves weakness and boosts tissue metabolism.
It helps in reducing menstruation pain and facilitates normal flow.
It is also used in the form of an aphrodisiac.

Note- any herbal formulation should be under taken under the supervision of a ayush doctor ,self intake is always not adviceable.

Brahmi has been used for centuries in the Ayurvedic system of medicine. Either by itself or with a combination of other herbs, brahmi has long been an important medicine in Ayurveda.

In renowned Ayurvedic medical texts like the Dravyaguna Vijnana (herbal pharmacology), brahmi has been categorized under medhya herbs.

Medhya herbs are used in Ayurveda as nootropics i.e. cognition enhancers to improve memory, intelligence, and other neurological functions.

MEDICINAL BENEFITS :

Brahmi reduces stress and anxiety as it decreases the levels of cortisol, which is known as the stress hormone. Brahmi counteracts the effects of stress by regulating hormones involved with the stress response.

Brahmi is known to help ease the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease due to the presence of the amyloid compound in the neuron that is responsible for damaging the brain. The bio-chemical known as bacosides in Brahmi helps in re-building brain tissues by influencing the brain cells.

(LEPIDIUM SATTIVUM) GARDEN CRESS
TAMIL NAME:ali vidhai
HINDI NAME:chandrashoor

Garden cress is also known by other names in different regions throughout the world. Some of its names include garden pepper cress, peppergrass, pepperwort or poor man’s pepper.

The botanical name of garden cress is Lepidium sativum. It belongs to family Cruciferae.

TOP 18 BENEFITS & USES:

1. The local application of garden cress paste is useful for pain relief in conditions like backache, sciatica, lumbar spondylolisthesis, and other similar conditions.
2. Its paste also has antibacterial properties and is useful for a variety of skin problems.
3. Besides its paste, it is also taken orally for painful conditions because of its analgesic properties.
4. Garden cress is useful for gout.
5. Garden cress is helpful in improving digestive strength, so used in managing problems like low digestive fire and improper digestion of food.
6. Garden cress has carminative properties and it is useful for gas and bloating.
7. Garden cress is useful for abdominal cramps and pains.
8. Garden cress acts as a binding agent (like psyllium husk).
9. That is why it is useful in diarrhea and dysentery.
10. Garden cress has blood purifying properties.
11. Garden cress is useful for hiccups.
12. Garden cress is useful in removing excess mucus from the body. This is why it’s used for various respiratory issues in Ayurveda.
13. Garden cress has diuretic properties. It is useful for dysuria.
14. Garden cress acts as an aphrodisiac in men. It is given in various problems related to men like increasing quantity and quality of semen.
15. Garden cress is helpful in women’s health disorders like amenorrhoea, irregular menstrual cycle, and painful menstruation.
16. In women, garden cress is administered after delivery to avoid postnatal complications. It is supposed to provide strength and help in purifying the uterus after delivery.
17. Garden cress has galactagogue properties. It promotes healthy lactation.
18. Garden cress improves strength and immunity.
    In Vata dosha disorders (like neuralgia and paralysis), garden cress is used in a powder form or boiled in milk.