CORIANDER (LEAFS AND SEEDS) (DHANIA)
It is such a widely used green leafy vegetable, used (as peppermint is used) in various preparations, vegetarian or non-vegetarian, chutneys, medicines, as an aromatic agent, in salads etc. It is an essential household leafy vegetable. Its seeds are used jn spices and in green form for aforesaid uses. It is a flavouring agent. It has medicinal uses and applications due to its having pungent taste and aromatic oil. 840 % water forms its major constituent. It has mulcilage-3%; fixed oil-13%; Ash;fannin 5%, Volatile oil-1%.
It is not only a flavouring agent but is also preventive of excessive tliirst; quenches thirst; is stimulant, carminative, stomachic, relieves griping pain, is germicidal, antipyretic and tranquilizer. Its green leaves and seeds are freely used in curries.
Indigestion: Strain juice of coriander (5 ml. per dose) and add cardamom (Uaichi), and cumin seed (Jeera), also add some table salt (5 ml. dose), if taken after meals will remove indigestion. Further, if coriander extract (juice) is mixed with equal quantity of onioji-juice, adding a pinch of black salt (to taste) to it. Take 5 ml of the mixture after meals to get rid of gas formation, eructations, and general digestive disturbances.
Sneezing: Those who have tendency to sneezing quite often, should smell fresh leaves of coriander. A drop or two of the extract thereof, in each nostril, may be tried. Some persons may be sensitive to nasal drops of coriander. Such persons may only smell fresh green leaves.
Headache, vomiting, nausea and giddiness: Add some sugar or honey to extracted liquid of coriander, (5 ml) which will abort said complaints.
Eye-Sight: 5 ml or/1/2 tsp (2.5 ml) of liquid/paste mixed with equal quantity of Emblic ‘Myrobalans’ (Amla) 2-3 times a day (5 ml) can improve eye-sight and may also even help in retarding further decline of eye-sight.
Impotence and Night Discharge: It has been admitted and also advised by experts that too much use of coriander may lead to occasional or permanent impotency but its 3 ml extract mixed with sugar candy or honey in equal quantity will help in controlling abuse of night-pollution (discharge), one dose must be taken, an hour before retiring to bed as the last tiling at night.
Nasal Bleeding (Epistaxis): Smell the juices of fresh leaves and also apply coriander paste in forehead to get relief.
Alopecia (Baldness): Massage head and scalp slowly with coriander juice to help growth of fresh hair. But one has to use it *br some time regularly to derive desired result.
In addition to the above-mentioned curative values of coriander, in the from of juice from fresh green leaves or powder of seeds, it is also useful in Insomnia (sleeplessness or lack of refresliing sleep), Excessive menstrual bleeding, painful micturition, piles, malaria, heat stroke, insect bites, gastralgia,, pain in throat (gargle with juice of its heated liquid mixed with hot water but never in pure form); diarrhoea, dysentry etc.
It is claimed as chutney/juice of (mixture of juices) onion, pomegranate, coriander, peppermint, and lemon, adding some salt to taste, will provide relief in most of the digestive disturbance. This recipe, in the form of paste, can form part of one’s regular diet. In most Indian homes, chutney of dhania and pudina is almost a regular feature, especially of the dinner, and more so in summer days. It provides relief in many a digestive problem, provided it is not overloaded with pungent condiments.
PEPPERMINT (PUDINA)
It is one of the essential ingredients used in medicines and salads— both as a medicine and vegetable. It’s oil is used in various medicinal preparations. It is pungent, aromatic, green, giving a cool taste after use. It is also used for flavouring salads, desserts, candy, desserts, chewing gums, sweets and in confectionery. It is also used in pain balms in the form of menthol. It is digestive, removes flatulence, abdominal pain, sour eructations and helps in regulating functioning of bowels.
Medicinal & other uses: Take out juice of peppermint, mix it with onion juice; add some dry pomegranate seeds, salt, lemon juice may also be added to taste. Take 5-10 ml if there is any digestive problem. Those who have sensitive throat and stomatitis may find it a bit more irritating and pungent. It helps to ward off ill effects of heat/ sun stroke. Above mentioned preparation is equally efficacious here also.
Prepare a chutney (Jelly) of peppermint, adding raw onions (after removing skin etc.), equal amount of coriander, salt, some drops of lemon juice. This preparation can be stored in the fridge also for future use. If its leaves (raw) are crashed and its smell is inhaled it will clear nasal blockade and also facilitate process of breathing. Some people extract the juice of peppermint, mix it with luke-warm water-thus using it for gargling. This device can also be used for quelling bad odour from the mouth.
As we are primarily dealing with uses of juices, medicinal uses of’ method are being conspicuously avoided. But its multiple therapeutic uses are many and cannot be denied.