Grapes and raisins have been a part of Indian diet for ages. White grapes are sweet due to the presence of glucose and are superior to black grapes, which are sour and irritate the throat. On the other hand, raw grapes are rich in oxalic, recemic, malic and tartaric acids, due to which they taste sour and tart.
The therapeutic value of grapes lies in the fact that they are rich sources of glucose. We know that glucose is a pre-digested food and is absorbed in the body soon after its intake. Grapes, by virtue of their easy assimilation, have a restorative effect.
According to the traditional ayurvedic medicine, grapes are demulcent (which protect mucous membranes), laxative, refrigerant, stomachic, diuretic and cooling.
Raisins are laxative, demulcent and expectorant. They are also attenuant (which increase fluidity of the blood), nutritious and blood-purifiers. Juice of unripe grapes, and leaves work as astringents (which produce contraction of organic tissue).
MEDICINAL USES
Different constituents of grapes like cellulose, sugar and organic acids make it a safe laxative in constipation. It is useful not only in evacuating the bowels, but also in toning up the stomach and intestines. Up to 250 grams of grapes can be consumed daily to get the desired effect.
Summer is the season for grapes. However, when fresh grapes are not available, you can use raisins, soaked in water. Strained grape juice in one teaspoonful doses, day and night, is given to children for constipation and also to prevent convulsions due to constipation.
The organic acids present in grapes are strongly antiseptic and their effect on the gums is very effective. However, for them to be effective, eat raw grapes.
Grape juice is a cooling drink in summer and quenches thirst. During fevers, grape juice increases the urinary output and eliminates toxins. Thirst due to diabetes can be quenched immediately by giving the person a cup of grape juice without sugar.
For acid dyspepsia, Chakradatta, an Ayurvedic treatise, advises to take raisins, sugar, honey and powdered amla in equal parts. Grape juice is also good for thrush in children, invaluable in severe colds and fevers. It is an excellent blood-purifier. They stimulate the liver to promote glycogenic functions and bile secretion. They are thus highly beneficial in the treatment of all liver disorders. Thus, grapes are a good diet if given twice a day during jaundice.
A paste made of grapes or raisins, dates, pepper, long pepper and honey in equal parts can be used in doses of one teaspoonful for quick relief from cough. Grapes provide relief from the burning sensation, which follows the scorpion sting. In case of external growths with open sore poultice, crush the grapes and spread its paste between the layers of cotton cloth. Place this over the affected parts and cover with dry cloth.
Grapes are also extremely useful in the treatment of alcoholism. It is a very effective remedy for those craving for alcoholic drinks as it supplies the purest form of alcohol.
Interestingly, in experimental studies, grapes were found to be deadly against Herpes and Polio viruses. Grape juice is also known to battle against bacteria and studies made on animals confirm that chewing grapes regularly could successfully thwart the tooth decay process. The fruits possess a very concentration of caffeic acid, a compound known to prevent cancer in animals and it could be linked to a low rate of cancer deaths in human beings.
• Alcoholism: Cold juice of grapes should be taken as a drink. It also acts as a carminative.
• Bleeding disorders: The juice of grapes should be used as snuff and put within nostrils. To arrest bleeding and cure associated anemia, lick the paste of raisins with honey twice a day. Also take decoction of grapes mixed with milk, added with jaggery and ghee regularly in the morning and sprinkle cold water or cold milk on your body.
• Blood pressure: Drink 1 cup of fresh grape juice.
• Burning sensation in the body: Take 1 cup of fresh grape juice everyday. It is helpful in prickly heat also.
• Constipation: Soak 2 tbsp grapes in half cup of water for 1 hour and take with water 2 or 3 times a day.
• Consumption: Ghee mixed with dates, grapes, sugar and honey along with long pepper removes hoarseness of voice, cough, dyspnoea, and fever.
• Diarrhoea caused by indigestion: Grind 1 tsp leaf juice with 2 pinches each of black pepper and cumin and boil the mixture in a glass of water. Filter and drink.
• Dry cough: Fry three tbsp grapes in one tsp ghee and take.
• Earache: Breast milk or cow milk boiled with grapes and liquorice (mulhathi) should be used for filling the ear.
• Fever: Take juice of grapes and aamla—it acts as a laxative and alleviates fever. In case of excessive thirst or burning sensation in fever, take decoction of grapes and aaragvadha. To combat dryness and get back the normal taste, keep paste of crystal sugar, grapes and pomegranate in the mouth and swallow the juice. To keep the tongue moist and smooth, apply the paste that has been made by pounding grapes, honey and ghee.
• Giddiness: Grapes heated on charcoal fire and mixed with the powder of salt and black pepper control giddiness.
• Pain during pregnancy: Grapes taken with honey reduce pain during pregnancy.
• Palpitations: Soak a few grapes in 1 cup of rose water for 10 minutes and take.
• Premenstrual syndrome: In the days just before or during the menstrual cycle, chew 1 tbsp of grapes along with the roasted sesame seeds.
• Retention of urine: Milk boiled with grape juice should be taken.
• To improve complexion: Extract half a cup of juice from fully ripen neem fruits. Add 1 tbsp each of the following after pounding or powdering cucumber seeds, almonds, cashew nuts, pista, coriander seeds, water melon seeds, saunf, liquorice; mix with l cup grapes, 1 cup mishry or sugar and 1 cup ghee. Now simmer the mixture till all traces of moisture evaporate and the mixture is a jam like consistency. Cool and bottle. Take 1 tsp twice a day regularly.
• Vomiting: Take cold juice of grapes to check vomiting.