Herbs are those plants that are used either as a food or for treating diseases. There are several herbs that we use on daily basis in our kitchen which are very helpful to maintain a good health. Let me inform you some of them.
Ferula Asafoetida: It is the member of Apiaceae, commonly known as Hing, have very unpleasant smell but this oleo-resin gum is carminative, antispasmodic, stimulant, digestive, sedative, expectorant and diuretic. It is helpful in treating flatulent colic, dyspepsia, asthama, hysteria, and cholera.
Curcuma Longa: The member of family Zingiberaceae, commonly known as Haldi or turmeric. Its rhizome is aromatic, stimulant, anti-periodic, tonic, and carminative. It is given in diarrhoea, dropsy, jaundice, liver disorder, and urinary troubles. It is commonly used for cleaning foul ulcers. Fresh juice is used for many skin infections.
Zingiber Officinale: Member of family Zingiberaceae, commonly known as Adrak or Ginger. Its rhizome is used as stimulant, carminative, and flavouring agent. It is given in dyspepsia and flatulent colic. It makes valuable drugs for disorders of digestive systems, rheumatism, piles, pulmonary disease, dropsy etc.
Cinnamomum Zeylanicum: Member of family Lauraceae, commonly known as Dalchini or Cinnamon. Its bark is given in diarrhoea, nausea, gastric irritation, flatulence, vomiting, spasmodic affection of bowels, tooth ache, paralysis of tongue, and labour caused by defective utring contraction.
Cuminum Cyminum: Member of family Umbelliferae, commonly known as Zeera or Cumin. Its fruit is a good source of thymol. It is prescribed in dyspepsia, diarrhoea, and hoarseness of voice. The fruit is given with lime juice to pregnant women for checking nausea and for promoting secretion of milk, cumin seeds are given after child birth.
Foeniculum Vulgare: Member of family Umbelliferae, commonly known as Saunf or Fennel. Its fruit is sweet, laxative, stomachic, stimulant, aromatic, corrective of flatulence, appetizer, and carminative. It is used in curing burning sensation, fever, excessive thirst, dysentery, chest diseases, and headache.
Kanchan Sharma
