(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:
- The local application of garden cress paste is useful for pain relief in conditions like backache, sciatica, lumbar spondylolisthesis, and other similar conditions.
- Its paste also has antibacterial properties and is useful for a variety of skin problems.
- Besides its paste, it is also taken orally for painful conditions because of its analgesic properties.
- Garden cress is useful for gout.
- Garden cress is helpful in improving digestive strength, so used in managing problems like low digestive fire and improper digestion of food.
- Garden cress has carminative properties and it is useful for gas and bloating.
- Garden cress is useful for abdominal cramps and pains.
- Garden cress acts as a binding agent (like psyllium husk).
- That is why it is useful in diarrhea and dysentery.
- Garden cress has blood purifying properties.
- Garden cress is useful for hiccups.
- Garden cress is useful in removing excess mucus from the body. This is why it’s used for various respiratory issues in Ayurveda.
- Garden cress has diuretic properties. It is useful for dysuria.
- Garden cress acts as an aphrodisiac in men. It is given in various problems related to men like increasing quantity and quality of semen.
- Garden cress is helpful in women’s health disorders like amenorrhoea, irregular menstrual cycle, and painful menstruation.
- 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.
- Garden cress has galactagogue properties. It promotes healthy lactation.
- 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.
