Jangli madan must ka phul - Madana Kama Poo

Botanical Name: Cycas Circinalis L.

Common Name: Sago Palm

Sanskrit: Hintalah

Tamil: Madana Kama Poo

Hindi: Jangli madan must ka phul

Kannada: Mund isalu, Goddu eechalu

Malayalam: Eentha pana

Marathi: Malabari supari;

Telugu: Per ita, Madana Kamakshi

Distribution:

Cycas Circinalis is an endemic restricted to the Western Ghats and hilly regions of the southern peninsula, in the states of Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and the south of Maharashtra.

Cycas circinalis is usually found in fairly dense, seasonally dry scrubby woodlands in hilly areas. The flowers are categorized into male and female and only the male flower is used for the medicinal purpose in Ayurvedic. Also the seeds and stems of the tree are in medicinal use.

Medicinal Uses:
- Cycas Circinalis dried flower powder is used along with other medicines for the Body weakness and sexual weakness in men.
- Drinking boiled milk mixed with Cycas Circinalis flower powder before bed will induce good sleep at night.
- Also the paste of the flower can be applied in place of paining area to get rid of pain.
- Seeds are powdered and in culinary use 
- Drinking Cycas Circinalis flower powder mixed with milk and Palm candy in the night will improve sexual ability in men.

Pipli - Thippili

Botanical Name: Piper Longum
Common Name: Long Pepper
Tamil: Thipili, Tipili, Thippili
Sanskrit: Pippali
Hindi: Pipli
Kannada: Hippali
Telugu: Pippallu
Bengali: Pipal
Malayalam: Tippali, Thippali
Punjabi: Maghaun
Bengali: Piplamor, Piplamul, Pipli
Gujarati: Piper, Pipli
Konkani: Hipli
Marathi: Pimpli
Urdu: Pipul
Oriya: Baihehi, Pippoli

‘Pippali’ is the term applied to the fruit of piper longum. This plant is indigenous to Northeastern & southern India and Ceylon and cultivated in Eastern Bengal.

The fruit is more useful and active when it is unripe. It is used after drying it under the sun / sunshade. The root is also the useful part and is called as “Pippali” in the classics.

Distribution and habitat
Piper longum occurs throughout the country extending upto 1,800 metres altitude especially in sub montane tracts. It occurs in the hotter parts of India, from central Himalayas to Assam, Khasi and Mikir hills, lower hills of West Bengal and evergreen forests of western ghats from Konkan to Kerala.

Flowering and fruiting time:-
Plant bears fruits during rainy season and fruiting after wards in Autumn months.

Health Benefits:
Long Pepper is also known as Piper Longum is very effective herb to enhance digestion, metabolism and assimilation of the food consumed.
Long Pepper is also used to make powerful Rasayana in Ayurveda and helps in detoxicating. It is also very useful in colds and cough.
Long pepper for obesity: Pippali is administered along with honey to treat obesity, Kapha imbalance disorders like cold, cough, asthma, fever. This combination improves digestion strength, acts as aphrodisiac
Long pepper for Asthma, anemia – Long pepper powder one part and jaggery two part is mixed and administered to relieve cough, asthma, anemia, cardiac disorders, anemia and intestinal worm infestation.
Pippali for tuberculosis: Long pepper is very useful to improve lung strength, because it is rejuvenative and anti aging, and because it improves appetite, it helps to avoid weight loss associated with tuberculosis and its treatment. It also helps to prevent liver damage that sometimes results from the medicines used in tuberculosis management.

Santra - Orange

Botanical Name: Citrus X Sinensis

Common Name: Orange

Sanskrit: Kaaling

Hindi: Santra,Narangi

Tamil: Orange,Kichilipazham

Malayalam: Madhura Naranga

Telugu: Kamala Pandu

Kannada: Kithilai

Bengali: Kamla Leboo

Gujarati: Santara

Marathi: Santre

Oriya: Kamala

Punjabi: Santra

Citrus sinensis, orange or sweet orange (to distinguish it from related species, such as sour orange, C. aurantium, and mandarin orange, C. reticulata), is a small tree in the Rutaceae (citrus family) that originated in southern China, where it has been cultivated for millennia. Oranges are now grown commercially worldwide in tropical, semi-tropical, and some warm temperate regions, and have become the most widely planted fruit tree in the world. Oranges are the world’s most popular fruit, and are eaten fresh and used for juice.

The orange tree is small, spiny tree, typically growing to 7.5 m (25 ft), but occasionally reaching heights up to 15 m (50 ft), generally with a compact crown. Leaves are leathery and evergreen, and range from elliptical to oblong to oval, 6.5-15 cm long and 2.5-9.5 cm wide, often with narrow wings on the petioles (leaf stems). The fragrant white flowers, produced singly or in cluster of up to 6, are around 5 cm wide, with 5 petals and 20 to 25 yellow stamens. The fruit, which may be globose to oval, is typically 6.5 to 9.5 cm wide, and ripens to orange or yellow. The fruit skin (rind or peel) contains numerous small oil glands. The flesh or pulp of the fruit is typically juicy and sweet, divided into 10 to 14 segments (although there are seedless varieties) and ranges in color from yellow to orange to red.

Orange Peel Powder is a rich source of Antioxidants and Vitamin C. It acts as a natural astringent to rejuvenate the skin, prevent signs of skin ageing like wrinkles, fine lines thereby making the skin healthy

Orange peels are a powerhouse of nutrients and antioxidants.The orange peels even have a higher vitamin C content than the fleshy inside!

Let’s look at the beneficial nutrients in orange peels and the benefits they offer for skin:

Nutrient in Orange Peel Benefit for Skin

Vitamin C:  Protects skin from free radical damage. Keeps acne at bay and promotes a healthy skin glow.

Calcium: Helps in renewing worn-out cells and prevents DNA damage. Good for healing dry, flaky, and itchy skin.

Potassium: Hydrates dehydrated skin. Helps preserve moisture.

Magnesium: Prevents oxidative stress in skin cells, for youthful, glowing skin.

1.Orange Peel Face Mask for Blemish free Skin

With this simple blemish-removing face mask, you only need two other ingredients: honey and yogurt. These powerhouse ingredients are full of nutrients that provide nourishing benefits to skin. Honey, in particular, helps in evening out discolorations and blemishes on skin.

Check out the benefits of each additional ingredient in this face mask in the table below:

Honey: Is a powerful antibacterial and antiseptic agent. Slows down the aging process of skin by fighting off free radicals. Moisturizes skin.

Yogurt: Contains live cultures that kill acne-causing germs and bacteria. Hydrates and nourishes skin.

Ingredients:

·         2 teaspoons orange peel powder

·         1 teaspoon organic honey

·         1 teaspoon yogurt

Directions:

1.    Mix all the above ingredients in a small bowl.

2.    Apply a thick coat of the mixture onto your clean face. Let it sit for 15 minutes or until it dries out.

3.    When the time is up, rinse your face gently until all of the mixture is completely gone. Pat dry with a towel.

4.    If your face is dry after this mask, use a drop of coconut or olive oil as a natural moisturizer.

2. Say Good Bye to Acne with Orange Peel Powder Mask

Orange peel contains powerful properties that help keep annoying pimples away. Apply a thick coat of this zit-busting orange peel face mask to deep-cleanse your pores and drive out the dirt, grime, excess oil, and bacteria, all of which cause pimples and blackheads to form on the skin surface.

This orange peel face mask contains three key ingredients, the benefits of which are listed here:

Oatmeal: Gently exfoliates and scrubs skin clean. Absorbs and eliminates impurities and dirt from the skin’s surface.

Baking soda: Deep-cleanses skin. (Make sure it is Baking Soda not Baking Powder)

Ingredients:

·         2 teaspoons orange peel powder

·         1 teaspoon oatmeal

·         1 teaspoon baking soda

Directions:

1.    Mix all the above ingredients in a bowl.

2.    Gradually add water until a thick paste is formed.

3.    Using clean fingertips, massage a thick coat of the mixture onto your face in a gentle circular motion. Let it sit for 15 minutes.

4.    Rinse your face with cold water and pat dry with a clean towel. Your skin will feel amazingly soft and look clean and moisturised. If your face is a little dry after the mask, especially in acne areas, simply use a drop of olive oil as a natural moisturizer.

 

3. Orange Peel Face Mask for Oily, Pimple-Prone Skin

Got very oily and acne-prone skin? Worry no more with this simple and cleansing orange peel face mask, which will leave your skin oil-free and moisturized at the same time! Orange peel is known to absorb excess oil or sebum from oily skin. This face mask also uses coconut oil, which works wonders in driving out the ‘bad’ acne-causing oil from deep within your skin pores.

This orange peel face mask contains two key ingredients, the benefits of which are listed here:

Coconut oil: Pushes out the excess sebum clogged in your pores. Hydrates and nourishes skin of all types including peeling, acne-prone skin.

Milk: Nourishes with vitamins and minerals. Leaves skin feeling soft.

Ingredients:

·         2 teaspoons orange peel powder

·         1 teaspoon milk

·         1 teaspoon coconut oil

Directions:

1.    In a small bowl, mix the above ingredients until a thick mixture is formed.

2.    Steam your face to open up your pores.

3.    Apply the mixture onto your face using clean finger tips in a circular motion. Let sit for 15 minutes. In this time, you can take a quick soak in the bath or read a chapter of that book you’ve been meaning to finish. Keep yourself relaxed.

4.    When the time elapses, gently and thoroughly rinse your face and pat it dry with a towel. Your face will have a wonderful glow and feel silky and soft!

 

 

Why Homemade Face Masks Are Better:

Homemade face masks are filled with nature's restorative goodness, in the form of the nutrients, minerals, acids, and oils explained in the tables above, without any of the chemicals that store-bought masks have to contain for an extended shelf life. Fruits are rich in AHAs and other micronutrients that nourish and heal the skin. When expensive skin creams claim to contain 'fruit compounds,' they usually only contain a fraction of the nutrients that are found in the fruit itself. Save yourself the money and the chemical damage and make your own homemade skin products.

Fullers Earth - Multani Mitti

Multani mitti also known as fuller's earth, has been used to get rid of skin issues and achieve radiant, blemish-free skin since ages in India. It is one of those age-old tips that has been handed over generations. Multani mitti is a great agent to clean, exfoliate and nourish your skin. It has active elements that effectively absorb oil, dirt, sweat and impurities, leaving the skin clean, soft and supple. One of the best things about the ingredient is that you can use it with a host of other ingredients to suit your skin type and achieve desirable results.

Skin experts have shared different ways in which you can make use of fuller's earth and make it an active part of your beauty regime, but before that, here are 10 reasons why you should get some:

Benefits of Multani Mitti

1. Fights acne and pimples

2. Removes excess sebum and oil

3. Deep cleanses skin removing dirt, sweat and impurities

4. Evens out skin tone and brightens complexion

5. Treats tanning and pigmentation

6. Effective in treating sunburn, skin rashes and infections (multani mitti is an effective cooling agent)

7. Can be used in cold compresses to treat skin inflammation and insect bites

8. Facilitates blood circulation, leading to radiant, glowing skin

9. Fights and helps in keeping away blackheads/whiteheads, blemishes, freckles, pimple/acne spots

10. Has antiseptic properties

Experts Tips: How to Use Multani Mitti

For oily skin:

Mix equal quantities of orange peel powder and multani mitti, blend the two together with the help of rosewater, apply on your face, let it dry and wash off. Using the pack twice a month will help keep excess oil off your face and acne/pimple breakouts in control.

For Dark Circles:

To get rid of dark circles, simply take half a potato and grate it. Mix it with lemon juice, one teaspoon fresh cream and multani mitti. Use this paste on your eyes and leave for twenty minutes. Wash off and see a remarkable difference in your dark circles.

Scrub & Exfoliate:

If you want to exfoliate your skin, there's nothing better than teaming orange peel, sandalwood powder and multani mitti. You can even add gram flour and basil to the paste and use it for deep cleaning your skin.

Deep Exfoliating Face Mask:

This good-for-all-skin-types face mask helps in removing dead skin and dirt off your face. All you need is one tablespoon of lime juice, brown sugar and sabudana and one teaspoon of multani mitti.

Directions: Mix sabudana and lime juice and add in a pan, and let it thicken over a low flame. Keep stirring, then take off the gas and let it cool. Now, add sugar and multani mitti, mix well. Massage on your face avoiding eye area and leave it for 10 minutes. Take a soft towel or washcloth, dampen it in tepid water and clean your face. Finish by washing your face with cool water and applying a moisturizer. You can even use this as a body scrub.

Beyond Beautiful Skin: You can use multani mitti even to apply it on your hair for shiny, healthy locks. Take three tablespoons of multani mitti and mix it with an egg. To this, add amla juice, lemon juice and one tablespoon of beer, mix well. Apply on your hair, leave for about 20 minutes and shampoo.

Tip: Always store fuller's earth away from extreme temperature and moisture, stored in an air-tight container.

Chopchini - Parangipattai

Botanical Name: Smilax China

Common Name : China Root, Chinese Smilax

Sanskrit : Madhusnuhi

Hindi: Chopchini, Chobchini

Tamil : Parangipattai

Bengali : Topchini, Kumarika, Shukchin

Gujarati : Chopchini

Marathi : Chobchini

Punjabi : Chobchini

Description : 

Smilax china is a climbing plant species in the genus Smilax. It is native to China, Korea, Taiwan, Japan and Assam in India. Chobchini or China root has been used for ages in various tribal and folk medicine for a large number of health issues. Technically called Smilax china, Chobchini is hailed as a wonder medicine in Ayurveda and Unani too. The root or rhizome of Smilax is used in herbal formulations in India, China, Japan, Iran, Indonesia and in many countries in Africa and South America.

The rhizome of Chobchini can be used in the form of powder or paste, cooked or raw. The daily intake of the rhizome should not exceed 10 grams a day, as heavy dosage may result in nausea and vomiting.

Home Remedies:

-        -  Leukorrhea or white discharge can be controlled effectively by taking Chobchini with milk. Take 5 mg of Chobchini powder, mix it in milk and drink it.

-       - Chobchini powder is also prescribed as a general health tonic. Chobchini is bitter in taste. A little quantity of Chobchini power can be taken after meals to tone up the body system and purify the blood and it can be used for skin ailments like psoriasis, leprosy and venereal diseases like syphilis.

-        - There are Chobchini formulations which serve as aphrodisiac, besides improving the sperm count.

-       - The most important medicinal properties of Chobchini are its ability to fight psoriasis, syphilis and leprosy. It is a preferred herbal treatment for psoriasis.

-     - Herbal and Unani doctors prescribe Chobchini for white discharge or leukorrhea in women. It has been found to be quite effective in controlling the problem.

-       - Chobchini contains several medicinal properties including control of swellings (anti-inflammatory), removal of pus from wounds, promotion of urine (diuretic), bringing down high body temperature, removing gas (flatulence) and clearing bowels.

Contraindication: 

This herb is not recommended during pregnancy or lactation. Large dose (many times the recommended dosage) may cause nausea and vomiting.

Dosages  :

Take 4-5 gms powder in Empty Stomach, mix with warm water or Honey 

Note: Siddha treatment is based on complete physical examination of the patient, Naadi diagnosis, and other diagnostic criteria of the disease. The content given in this article is purely meant for information and education purpose only. Kindly consult a Siddha physician before any sort of self medication.

Dill - Sathakuppai

Botanical Name: Peucedanum Grande
Hindi: Sowa, Suva
Sanskrit: Sathapushpi, Misi
Common Name: Dill
Tamil: Sathakuppai
Malayalam: Sathapushpam
Telugu: Sabasiege
Bengali: Sowa
Gujarati: Surva

Dill is a plant belonging to the celery family (Apiaceae) that can grow up to 40–60 cm in height.The leaves should be picked fresh, usually after the plant has reached 8.5 cm in height. The leaves are often difficult to dry successfully, and the dried leaves must be stored in closed containers in order to retain some of the flavor.The seeds should be collected when fully mature and then spread out and air dried.

An essential oil can be extracted both from the fresh leaves and from the seeds, these two oils differ slightly in terms of scent and taste.

Dill has been used both as food and medicine for a very long time. The herb was already mentioned in The Ebers Papyrus, an Egyptian papyrus of herbal medicine knowledge dating to c. 1550 BC, where it was described as a remedy for anti-flatulence, dyspepsia and constipation. The ancient Egyptians also used it in the production of cosmetics and perfumes.In Ancient Rome, dill was a well known and widely used herb. The Roman gladiators rubbed the dill oil into their skin and they used the burned seeds on wounds to speed up healing.

Dill is used as an appetizer. It is believed to stimulate peristaltic motion of the intestine and it has been used as an herbal remedy for heartburn.

Dill is high in calcium which promotes healthy teeth and bones. Also, dill seeds and leaves are very good mouth fresheners due to its anti-microbial nature.

Health Benefits of Dill

1. Dill contains essential oils which are stimulant in nature and activates the secretion of bile and digestive juices. These oils also help to accelerate peristaltic motion of the intestine.

2. The essential oils in dill are germicidal or bactericidal in nature, which help in inhibiting microbial infections, thereby curing diarrhea. Due to its effective digestive properties, it helps in cases of indigestion.

3. Dill can be very effective in curing dysentery, which is caused by fungal infections. The disinfectant nature of essential oils is capable of reducing the fungal infection successfully.

4. The essential oils of the dill stimulate secretion of certain hormones which further help in maintaining proper menstrual cycles.

5. Dill is an excellent source of calcium and helps in reducing the bone loss after menopause and in rheumatoid arthritis.


சீரகச் செடியைப் போல நாலைந்து அடி உயரம் வளரக் கூடியது. குடை விரித்தாற்போல் நரம்புகள் தோன்றும். அவற்றின் இடையே சிவப்பு மலர்கள் பூக்கும். ஒவ்வொரு காம்பிலும் நூற்றுக்கணக்கான மலர்கள் தோன்றும். அதனால் இது "சதபுஷ்பா" என்று பெயர் பெற்றது.

இந்தச் செடி எல்லா நிலத்திலும் வளரக்கூடியது. மலர்களில் விதைகள் தோன்றும். பழுத்ததும் தனியாகப் பிரிக்கப்படும். இலை இனிப்பும் கார்ப்பும் கலந்த சுவையுடன் வெப்பத்தை அதிகரிக்கும். லகு குணம் வெப்பத்தன்மை கொண்டது. சடராக்கினிக் குறைவையும் கிருமிகளையும் போக்கும். விந்துவைக் குறைக்கும். இதயத்திற்கு நன்மை தரும். மலத்தைக் கட்டும். இதன் வேரும் விதைகளும் மருந்தாகப் பயன்படுகின்றன. சூடு இருமல், வாந்தி, கபம், வாதம், பெண் குறியில் தோன்றும் நோய்கள் முதலியவற்றைப் போக்கும் மருத்துவக் குணம் உடையது.

வேறு பெயர்கள்: சோயிக்கீரை, விதை, மதுரிகை.
ஆங்கிலப் பெயர்: Peucedanum grande


மருத்துவக் குணங்கள்:

சதகுப்பைச் சூரணம் ஒரு கிராம் எடுத்து சிறிது சர்க்கரை சேர்த்து சாப்பிட்டு வரப் பசியின்மையைப் போக்கும். வாதநோயைக் கட்டுப்படுத்தும். இரைப்பை, நுரையீரல் ஆகியவற்றில் உள்ள மாசுகளை அகற்றும்.

சதகுப்பை, கருஞ்சீரகம், மரமஞ்சள் வகைக்கு சம அளவாக எடுத்து இடித்துப் பொடியாக்கி சம அளவு பனை வெல்லம் சேர்த்து அரைத்து 5 கிராம் காலை, மாலை இருவேளை சாப்பிட்டு சிறிது நேரம் கழித்து சோம்புக் குடிநீர் குடித்து வர உதிரச் சிக்கல், நீங்கிக் கருப்பை பலப்படும்.

சதகுப்பை இலையைக் கைப்பிடியளவு அரைத்து எடுத்து 500 மி.லி விளக்கெண்ணையுடன் கலந்து காய்ச்சி வடிகட்டி குழந்தைகளுக்கு உண்டாகும் மாந்த நோய்க்கு 5 சொட்டு வீதம் 3 வேளை கொடுக்கலாம். இதையே சூதகசந்தி, சூதகக்கட்டு, காக்கை வலிப்பு முதலியவற்றிற்கும் கொடுக்கலாம்.

சதகுப்பை இலையை நிழலில் உலர்த்திப் பொடி செய்து 15 கிராம் எடுத்து சிறிது சர்க்கரையுடன் கலந்து 3 வேளை சாப்பிட்டு வர தலைநோய், காது வலி, பசி மந்தம், கீழ்வாய்க் கடுப்பு, மூக்கு நீர்ப் பாய்தல் முதலியவை குணமாகும்.

சதகுப்பை இலையை விளக்கெண்ணெய் தடவி வதக்கி கட்டிகளுக்கும், வீக்கங்களுக்கும் வைத்துக் கட்டி வர சீக்கிரம் பழுத்து உடையும். தோல் சிவக்கும்படி இலையை இடித்து வைத்தும் கட்டலாம்.

சதகுப்பை இலையைக் காயவைத்துப் பொடியாக்கி நோயாளியின் படுக்கை அறையில் வைத்துப் புகைக்க தலை நோய், காது வலி, மூக்கில் நீர்பாய்தல் கட்டுப்படும்.

சதகுப்பை இலையை அரைத்து 15 கிராம் எடுத்து ஒரு டம்ளர் நீரில் கலந்து கொதிக்க வைத்து பின்னர் வடிகட்டி 30 மில்லியளவு 3 வேளையாகக் குடித்து வர பசி மந்தம், மூக்கு நீர்ப் பாய்தல் குணமாகும்.

சதகுப்பை இலைச்சாறு 10 முதல் 20 துளிகள் தேன் அல்லது கோரோசனையுடன் கலந்து 4 மணிக்கு ஒரு தடவையாகக் கொடுத்து வர குழந்தைகளுக்கு உண்டாகும் இசிவு, வயிற்றுப் புழு வெளியேறும்.

சதகுப்பை இலையைக் கைப்பிடியளவு எடுத்து இடித்து 500 மில்லி நீரில் போட்டு 200 மில்லியாக வற்றக் காய்ச்சி வடிகட்டி பிள்ளை பெற்றவருக்குக் குடிக்கக் கொடுக்க உதிரச் சிக்கல் அகலும்.

சதகுப்பை விதையை இடித்துப் பொடியாக்கி 30 கிராம் எடுத்து 500 மில்லி வெந்நீரில் ஊற வைத்துக் கொடுக்க குழந்தைகளுக்கு உண்டாகும் மாந்தம், பெரியவர்களுக்கு உண்டாகும் வயிற்றுவலி, வயிற்றுப் பொருமல், குணமாகும். இத்துடன் சுண்ணாம்பு தெளிந்த நீரைச் சிறிது சேர்த்துக் கொடுக்க இது அதிகப் பலனைக் கொடுக்கும்.

சதகுப்பை விதையை அரைத்து, வெந்நீராவியில் வேகவைத்து இதன் வேருடன் அரைத்து கீல் வாயுவிற்குப் பற்றுப் போட நல்ல பலன் கிடைக்கும்.


சதகுப்பைப்பூ ஒரு பங்கு, நீர் 20 பங்கு போட்டு கொதிக்க வைத்து வடிகட்டி 200 மில்லியளவு குடிக்க குருதிச் சிக்கலை அறுத்து வெளியேற்றும்.

Note: Siddha treatment is based on complete physical examination of the patient, Naadi diagnosis, and other diagnostic criteria of the disease. The content given in this article is purely meant for information and education purpose only. Kindly consult a Siddha physician before any sort of self medication.