Curry leaf tree or Bergeria koenigii is known to everybody as a simple flavoring agent in curries, but its medicinal uses are unfamiliar to most. Let us take a look at some of its striking health benefits.
Known as kaala saakha (because it is dark in color) and Surabhi nimba (because it resembles the neem tree) in Sanskrit, this inexpensive condiment has excellent medicinal properties.
MEDICINAL USES
• Curry leaves show remarkable blood sugar controlling properties. During the recent past, investigators have successfully tested the hypoglycaemic potential of curry leaves. They have published these results in the Bulletin on Medical and Ethnobotanical Research in 1985. If you are a diabetic individual with obesity as a risk factor, then this drug exactly suits you. Eat 10 fresh and fully-grown leaves every morning for three months. As the weight begins to come down, you will be able to appreciate the results for yourself. The Indo-American Hospital of Bangalore has conducted a series of clinical trails on curry leaves and declared that it reduces high blood pressure and blood cholesterol by acting on angiotensin cell enzymes (ACE).
• Cholesterol circulates in the blood in several different combinations of fats and proteins; these are called lipoproteins. Most of the cholesterol occurs in the form of low-density lipoproteins or the ‘bad’ cholesterol. The more you have in the blood, the greater the risk of developing coronary artery disease. LDL results in the formation of fatty deposits that can narrow and clog the arteries. Some of the cholesterol in the blood, however, occurs as high-density lipoproteins or the ‘good’ cholesterol; it protects you against atherosclerosis. The more HDL you have, the less susceptible you are to developing coronary disease. Latest research conducted by the Department of Bio-chemistry, University of Kerala published that curry leaves resulted in reduction in total serum cholesterol and LDL and increase in HDL.
• Curry leaves are useful in treating emaciation, wasting conditions, skin diseases, worm infections, neurosis, poisons, etc. In addition, it improves the voice and stimulates digestion. Not only the leaves of this tree but also the bark, roots and fruits are used in medicine preparations. The important preparations using this are paamaantaka taila, jaatyaadi taila, jaatyaadi ghrita, etc.
• If you suffer from morning sickness, nausea and vomiting due to indigestion of fats and oils, try this! Extract juice from 15 grams of curry leaves. Mix it with buttermilk and drink it on empty stomach. You can even add lime juice and sugar to it if you like.
• Not only this, tender curry leaves are useful in diarrhoea, dysentery and piles. These can be taken in the form of a paste after mixing with a small amount of honey.
• If you are searching for a good hair tonic, then this serves the purpose. Boil curry leaves in coconut oil until the black residue of the leaves is left. Filter this oil and pour it into a bottle. This forms an excellent hair tonic to stimulate hair growth and in retaining the natural pigmentation.
• Fruits of this tree are green when raw and become purple when ripe. Keep in mind that the juice of these berries mixed with equal quantity of lime juice can be used as an external application for insect stings and bites of venomous animals, scabies urticaria, and eruptions.
• As the leaves contain vitamins A, B-complex, and other useful minerals, these can be a good health supplement to your growing child. Get your child into the habit of eating them.