SPINACH (PALAK-KA-SAAG)
Spinach is used in winter in northern parts of our country, especially Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan. It has high content of iron, besides moderate presence of vitamins, AB,C E and K Spinach is frequently used in various soups, in cooked vegetable form, in mixed-vegetables, or in juice forms. Its fresh leaves contain Phosphorus, Calcium, Iron and Vitamin ‘C.
Since it is a store house of iron, it is very useful for removing anaemia (even of pernicious variety), constipation (chronic or acute), nervous disorders and upsets, neuralgic pains, and also as a general tonic, (female) sterility, (male) impotency, fatigue. It tones up and rejuvenates nervous system; hence a nervine tonic of a high order.
Use spinach juice, after being slightly heated, to seek relief in sore throat, tonsillitis, cough, by gargling with its juice or else. If spinach juice is taken (a glassful in diluted or pure form) in the morning, it will remove even obstinate and habitual constipation and also purge out other undesirable elements. Give juice of spinach daily to a pregnant women who often is found to have low iron-deficiency, it will make up for the lost blood, impoverished blood will be richer, and general health of mother and the baby will also get improved.
It is a natural way to compensate for lassitude of ferrous sulphate. Since its iron release is sustained, it is absorbed gradually and easily digested. In certain sensitive persons, spinach juice disturbs digestive system, sometimes causing diarrhoea or black stools or motions, hence sueh persons should taper quantity of spinach juice intake or dilute the pure juice with water.
A warning for patients who have stones in kidneys. Such patients should avoid spinach at all costs because it is said to contain sand (very fine) particles which help formation of kidney stones and, if stones are already there, it will hasten to add to their size. Lastly, spinach should always be thoroughly washed, like all other raw vegetables, before being used. Spinach not only causes formation of stones in kidney but it also precipitates their formation, rather it is one of the causatives of renal stone formation.
HORSERADISH (MORINGA OLEIFERA LAN)
Its root, gum, fruit, leaf, flowers, bark and seeds are all used for medicinal purposes because it has antibiotic properties, used in catarrh and scurvy. It is has Protein, Carbohydrates, Riboflavin, Vitamins A and C, Calcium etc. Its diuretic, stimulant and anti-allergic effects are well known. Its main medicinal uses are as follows:
(1) Bark of its stem is anti-asthmatic, anti-phlegmatic and an excellent stimulator of heart. Its bark of stem is useful in providing relief in neuralgia, rheumatism and irritation.
(2) Tooth-ache and ear-ache are relieved by local application of decoction of its root-bark and local application of its powder has also identical curative effects.
(3) Its flowers are eaten to prevent impending attacks of smallpox. They are of immense medicinal value in curing many spleen and liver problems, asthma, cold, cough, bronchitis etc.
(4) Local application of its poulitice, processed and prepared from its soft leaves will relieve agony of boils, multiple wounds and swelling, but it must be applied when not very hot.
(5) Fresh root and its juice are efficacious in fever, (intermittent), disordered digestive process, gouty, rheumatic diathesis, hystero epilepsy and paralysis.
(6) Its fruit has plenty of nutrients, viz. amino acids, iron, protein, vitamins (A,B and C). Hence its raw fruit juice is anti-pox (small pox and chicken pox), complex and acute problems arising from arthritis and rheumatism. It also relieves ear and tooth-aches and also relieves even shooting pains, arising due to dental cavities.
(7) In high blood pressure, its leaf juice will bring down raised blood pressure.
(8) The juice of its bark should be applied locally on ringworm, in the form of paste.
(9) To get relief from joints in pains, due to gout, arthritis, and rheumatism, its oil should be rubbed on painful joints to get speedy relief.