Kali Musli - Nilappanai

Botanical Name: Curculigo Orchioides Gaertner

Family name: Amaryllidacae

English: Black musale,
Sanskrit: Talmuli,Bhumitila, arshoghni, Musikaparni, Talpatrika

Hindi: Kali musli, Krishna musli, Muslikand, Syahmusali
Tamil: Nilappanai
Malayalam: Nelappana
Bengali: Taalmuli, Talusa
Gujarati: Kali musali,
Kannada: Neltal, Nelatale
Marathi: Kali musali, Bhuimaddi
Oriya: Talamuli
Punjabi: Syah musali, Musali safed
Telugu: Nel tadigadda

Morphology:
It is a perennial herb about 30 cm in height with a short or elongated root stock bearing several fleshy and lateral root which are blackish brown externally and cream internally.

Rhizome:
Drug occurs in transversely cut pieces of 2.5-5cm long, cylindrical, straight to slightly curved, cut surface 1.0 to 4.5 cm in diameter; external surface blackish-brown, cut surface cream colored; surface with numerous shallow wrinkles and transverse cracks; With a few rootlets and root scars; nodes and internodes prominent; taste, mucilaginous and slightly bitter.

Leaf:
Leaves are simple 15-45 cm long crowded on the short stem, sessile or short petiolate with sheathing leaf base and often produce adventitious buds at the tip when in contact with soil.

Flower:
Flowers are bright yellow distichously the upper few are male flower which are smaller in size, while the lower once are bigger and may be hermaphrodite or female.

Fruit:
Fruit is capsule, oblong glabrescent with a slender beak ans spongy septa, 1.5-2cm long 8mm broad; Seeds 8, globose, 1-2mm, black, beaked, deeply grooved in wavy lines

Uses
A decoction of the powdered rhizomes is used in China as a general tonic and analeptic in the treatment of decline (especially of physical strength), lumbago, arthritis, chronic nephritis, hypertension and as an emmenagogue. In the Philippines, Nepal, Thailand and India, the rhizome is used as diuretic and aphrodisiac, and to cure skin diseases (externally), peptic ulcers, piles, gonorrhoea, leucorrhoea, asthma, jaundice, diarrhoea and headache. In Papua New Guinea, the rhizome and leaves serve as contraceptive while in India, it is used to induce abortion and to produce flour.

Curculigo orchioides Gaertn. Is an endangered rasayana herb which is popularly known as "Kali Musli". The plant is native to India, and holds a special position as a potent adaptogen and aphrodisiac in Ayurvedic system of medicine. It is an important ingredient of many Ayurvedic preparations and is considered to have aphrodisiac, immunostimulant, hepatoprotective, antioxidant, anticancer and antidiabetic activities.

Medicinal Uses

- For lumbago, weak kidney, neurasthenia, urine retention, chronic nephritis, impotency, bed-wetting.

- Hypertension among women at late ages, chronic arthritis.

- Weakening of the knees and lumbar regions, numbness of the 4 limbs, rheumatic arthritis.

- Given with milk and sugar for gonorrhea, leucorrhea, and menstrual derangements.

- In Ayurveda, increases kapha and reduces vata and pitta; used for treatment of piles, asthma, gonorrhea, biliousness, fatigue and blood disorders. Also considered a sexual tonic.

- In Unani, used for bronchitis, ophthalmic, indigestion, vomiting, diarrhea, lumbago, joint pains.

- In India, Pakistan and China, tuberous roots have been used for cancer, jaundice, asthma, wound healing. Rhizome juice extract has been used as tonic to overcome impotence.

- In India, plant rhizome has been used as an aphrodisiac.

Medicinal Uses in Various system of medicine

1. It was first introduced in ‘Charak Samhita’ of ‘Agnivesha’, the epic treatise of the medicine school of thought of the Hindu system of medicine and narrated as an ingredient of a cigar to alleviate cough.

2. According to Bhavaprakash the drug is sweet, bitter, acts as an aphrodisiac.

3. In Raj Nighantu it has been described as sweet, cooling, mucilaginous, incrases Kapha and reduces Pitta daha (burning sensation), acts as stimulant, gives strength.

4. Musali prepared as a paste with goat’s milk or honey and applied locally over the face, brightens the complexion of the face.

5. Roots are prescribed usually combined with bitters and aromatics in the form of electuary, the dose being one teaspoonful twice a day.

6. The drug is given with warm milk and sugar in dises of two drachms in gonorrhea, dysuria, menorrhagia, leucorrhoea and menstrual derangements

7. Juice of plant is applied on cuts and wounds (like tincture of iodine) and is considered as an effective anti-infective and healing agent

8. In most Ayurvedic formulations the plant is used as a substitute to “safed musli”

9. Rhizomes are prescribed in treatment of piles, jaundice, asthma, diarrhoea, and gonorrhea. The plant also holds the reputation of being a demulcent, diuretic, tonic and aphrodisiac.

10. Two tea spoon of dried tuber mixed with one cup of milk is taken internally twice a day for one week against leucorrhoea.

Dosages:

Take 5grams powder morning and evening after food mixed with warm milk.

Sabja Seeds - Sabja Vidhai (Sweet Basil Seeds)

Sabja Seeds - Sabja Vidhai (Sweet Basil Seeds)

Sabja seeds closely resemble chia seeds and in India it is also called as falooda or tukmaria seeds. The seeds are not from holy basil but from sweet basil and we call it "Sabja Vidhai" in Tamil and Kamakasturi seeds in Kannada. The seeds are rich in fiber and has amazing health benefits.  

Sweet basil seeds or sabja seeds are one of the under estimated ingredient in indian cooking. Not many people use these seeds despite they have many health benefits. India is blessed with many herbs and spices but many times we don’t give them their due, unless they are supported by big brands.

Basil seeds are different from chia seeds. In India people know about sabja as they are added to a popular drink falooda. The sweet basil seeds do resemble the chia seeds and is known by the names sabja seeds or falooda seeds or tukmaria in India. they are basically the seeds of the sweet basil. 

Sabja seeds are most commonly used in making falooda and can be easily added to sherbets, milkshakes and other drinks. if you ever had a falooda then you would have tasted the basil seeds. although these sweet basil seeds do not have taste of their own but they give a good texture to the dish and make it healthy too. To use, take the sabja seeds in a cup and pour water till the seeds are completely immersed. Let it soak for 30 minutes. After half an hour, the sabja seeds would have soaked up the water and would have swollen up to twice its size and a translucent gelatin like coating is formed around them. Strain the left over water and now the sabja seeds can be added to any dessert. then use these soaked seeds in drinks, coolers, sherbets, Jigarthanda, Ice creams, Falooda or Kulfis. It can also be added to chilled milk along with little rose syrup and rose petal jam to make an easy and healthy drinks. This drink is very filling, very tasty and has wonderful health benefits.

Sweet basil seeds have many health benefits:

1. They are cooling and thats why they are added to many cooling drinks like falooda, rooh afza, nimbu pani and sherbets.

2. Good for sore throats, cold and respiratory disorders.

3. Helps in digestion and cure constipation.

4. They have calming effect and can uplift your mood.

Amazing health benefits of Sabja/ Tukmaria/ Sweet basil seeds

1. Sabja seeds for weight loss:

Though there is no scientific research to prove that tukmaria/ sweet basil seeds aids in weight loss, the sabja seeds are full of fiber, so you don’t feel craving for food. If you are looking for foods to include in your weight loss plan, sabja seeds will be a great addition.

2. Sabja seeds for body heat:

Usually sabja seeds are consumed during the summer time, as it is one of the best body coolant. This is also one reason that street vendors who sell sabja seeds based dishes close their shops during the winter time and reopen it only during the next summer. The addition of rose petal jam along with sabja seeds also help to cool the body.

3. Sabja seeds for diabetes:

Sabja seeds are said to be very effective for people with type 2 diabetes as sabja seeds help regulate blood sugar. If you are diabetic and want to consume sabja seeds, after soaking it in water, mix it with plain cold milk and add a few drops of pure vanilla. You have a wonderful healthy drink minus the sugar. You can also add it to other non dairy milk like almond milk or soy milk too.

4. Sabja seeds for constipation:

If you suffered from constipation, then adding sabja seeds to your diet will help you with the problem. Take sabja seeds along with milk before bed, try taking it regularly for few days to see results.

5. Sabja seeds for acidity:

Sabja seeds has soothing effect on the stomach. If you suffered from stomach burn or acidity, a cup of this sabja milk will do wonders. Substitute it for your cola and coffee for a few days and you will notice a nice difference. Try to take it along with the rose petal jam, as even rose petal jam helps in treating stomach burn.

6. Sabja seeds for skin:

Sabja seeds when mixed together with coconut oil are very effective for treating skin related problems. To make the oil, first crush the seeds without soaking it in water. Heat coconut oil in a pan and add the seeds and remove from flame. Strain and use for eczema, psoriasis and other skin related problems.

7. For healthy skin & hair:

Sabja seeds are very high in vitamins, especially vitamin K which is must for skin and hair health. It is also very high in protein and iron.  A small cup of this sabja seeds will almost satisfy your daily requirement of iron and protein.