vegetarian

VEGETARIANISM

Most Indians tend to observe vegetarian diet at least two to three times a week. Some are life long vegetarians. There are many types of vegetarian:


a) lacto vegetarian : Diet includes dairy products but not eggs
b) vegan: Only plant based products are consumed
c) lacto- ovo vegetarian: Diet includes dairy products and egg.


No matter what type of vegetarian you are, you need to place importance on the type of food you consume for each meal. Some vegetarians only eat rice, rasam and pickles. By eating this type of food, you will not gain sufficient protein, vitamins and minerals.


Some vegetarians consume vegetarian mock meats, i.e. vegetarian chicken, vegetarian mutton, vegetarian egg etc. If we were to compare the nutrient value between vegetarian egg and a normal egg, there is a big difference whereby vegetarian mock eggs has more salt, sugar and fat content. In fact all vegetarian mock meats have high sugar, salt and fat content as the ingredients are needed to provide flavour to the product. Try to reduce consuming vegetarian mock meats as much as possible and opt for natural vegetables, fruits and grains to keep your body fit and healthy.


If a vegetarian were to eat a complete balance food, he/she will not have any health problems. By being vegetarian, you can prevent the risk of getting cancer, diabetes and weight problem. According to research done, if a vegetarian do not consume the right food, they will be prone to vitamin B12 deficiency. This is because vitamin B12 is only available in meat products and not in vegetable products. Therefore vegetarians should and must consume fortified cereals, breads and milk which are enriched with vitamin B12.


Vitamin B12 is an important nutrient for the heart and nerves.

Bone health,elumbu

BONE HEALTH

Bones are very important. Lots of people, when they enter old age tend to suffer from broken bones. This could be due to lack of certain nutrients. Healthy bones require calcium and phosphorous.

Calcium is found in milk, sardines, soya milk and yogurt while Phosphorous is found in milk and other types of food. Both minerals are vital as it helps to make the bones strong and solid. If you are not in favour of drinking milk, blend milk with fruits.

We tend to drink lots of coffee and tea. High caffeine intake will cause damage to the bones. High level of caffeine intake will cause bone calcium to be released from the body through urination. This release of calcium from the body will increase the risk of osteoporosis.

High intake of salt through frequent consumption of salty food, i.e. salted fish will also cause damage the bones. The effect of high salt intake will also cause bone calcium to be released from the body.

Smoking frequently will also affect the bones. Vitamin D is also very important to build strong bones. Make sure you receive morning sunlight for a few minutes to obtain vitamin D

food and sickness

FOOD AND SICKNESS

It is important to eat good food when we are ill as nutrients from the food will help strengthen our body. When we have fever, we normally eat porridge. This is not a good diet as rice porridge has high content of carbohydrate and less protein, vitamins and minerals. When preparing rice porridge, we have to maximise the nutrients in the porridge. Saute garlic and onion in ghee or oil and add the sauteed oil in the porridge. This method not only gives taste but increases the calorie content.

When we are sick, we need to consume protein food. Some may not be able to eat solid food when they are sick. They can only consume liquid and juices. If you are having this problem, blend a scoop of ice cream or fruits, i.e. papaya, strawberry and other types of fruits with milk.

If you are constantly vomiting due to food poisoning or due to chemotherapy treatment, you have to consume dry food like biscuit and bread. Do not wet the dry food with water or milk as the wetness of the food will create nausea feeling. Those who are nauseating, it is very important to eat small frequent meals to gain sufficient nutrients.

If you are suffering from diarrhoea, make sure you consume lots of fluids. Drink lots of water and soups as you need to replenish the loss of liquid from the body.

food for adults

FOOD SUITABLE FOR ADULTS

Many old people who are 65 years and above suffer from malnourishment as they believe that they should eat less due to their old age. This is a wrong thinking as old people must consume lots of protein food, i.e. chicken, fish etc.

Some old people have various types of sickness and perceive they should only eat porridge, bread and biscuits in small quantity. This notion is wrong as they will not gain/obtain sufficient nutrients. Due to lack of nutrients, the body's immune system will become low, decreases strength and leads to more diseases like pneumonia, flu etc.

Some old people do not have strong teeth and tend to eat soft food. They will stop eating rice, noodles, vegetables and fruits. If they unable to bite and chew food, it is best to mash vegetables and blend fruits for them to consume. Treat them like babies and do not omit from giving them nutritional food.

Old people require calcium. Milk is rich in calcium and has various nutritional values, i.e. protein, magnesium, zinc and vitamin B complex. If you were to have high cholesterol, drink milk which has low fat content. Make sure you consult a dietician before consuming any type of food.

OBESITY AND KIDS ,குழந்தை பருமன்

OBESITY AND KIDS

It is common for children to suffer from excess weight. Children who are obese have great tendency to suffer from hypertension and sugar related problems.


There are many causes for a child to suffer from obesity.
a) Medical reasons
b) The types of food they eat and
c) lack of physical activity


If your child is overweight, make sure you avoid feeding them with high calorie and sugary foods. You should also consult a physician or dietician if your child is overweight.To resolve your child's weight problem, make sure you do not introduce a weight reduction diet to your child immediately. This is because your child requires and needs sufficient nutrients for development.


An adult will not suffer from any effects if he/she were to reduce their weight and significantly reduces their calorie intake and protein foods. But when a child reduces their food intake, it will greatly affect the child's development process.Besides food control, an overweight child should perform lots of physical activity. Instead of watching TV and playing video games, it is best to accompany your child to a park.

Deepavali wishes ...தீபாவளி வாழ்த்துகள்,அகஸ்தியர் சித்த வைத்திய நிலையம்,

Happy deepavali to all my members...be healthy be happyஅன்பர்கள் அனைவருக்கும் இனிய தீபாவளி நல் வாழ்த்துக்கள்...சுற்றமும் நண்பர்களும்


agasthia@yahoo.com

http://www.agasthia.com/

03 404 13 505

016 2500004

pinang.johor.sentul.brickfields

TITLE OF THE SICKNESS ASTH MA

ASTHMA: First you must consider the person’s age .If infants or under 4 years old start of by just giving KANNAI ENNAI. This medicine is very good in loosening the flu .People might bring the patient’s, after giving a lot of cough mixtures. This instead of giving relieve to asthma hardens the phlegm and the patient finds more difficulty in breathing. KANNAI ENNAI cools the body. It loosens the bowels. You may discover that after constipation, asthma attacks will be more for the patients.

Furthermore we recommend NEERKORVAI THAILAM for bathing the affected children. Adults as well as children are given the same oil to bathe. After bathing you must apply the CHEST RUB on the ribs and chest. This external application oil is needed to keep the chest warm after taking bath. The above NEERKORVAI OIL or THAILAM is applied daily about 20 cents in size and thoroughly applied on the whole head .After 5 or 10 minutes the hair must be washed off by warm or cold water, without shampoo. This will help the person being cooled down. Once the body is heated up only water flows from the nose, sneezing starts and all the flu problems start. In order to be safe side we must bathe the children at least once a day from head to foot.

From the 5th day of birth onwards a child is ready for Indian traditional bath. But oil bath is recommended after the 15 th . The child after taking oil bath will be tired by the massaging and followed by aftermath rubbing the body by herbal powders to give a natural fragrance and natural glow. This powder is used to take off the oil from the body. After that to have a nice sleep and health we have to give a bit of KASTHURI MATHIRAI or BALA SANJEEVI MATHIRAI with the herbal juice of KARPURAVALLI. This is a special preparation for infants. This will prevent them from asthma when they grow.



FOR YOUR INFORMATION



For your family members it is a must for oil bath; which means in Malaysia we can always massage some NEERKORVAI OIL on the head and apply 2 to 4 drops of KAN KAATHU THAILAM in the eyes and ears. This will reduce our tension, calm our head and soothe our veins. You will have a good sleep after oil bath. Weekly once will do.

Father’s tension can be relieved after massaging the neck veins during their head oil massage.

Fun in oil bath is that people after seeing the Indian pictures, think that there must be somebody to rub their whole body with the oil. To be frank, in this modern era we do not have time and we are not prepared to spend time for it too ; But we can do the above treatment .Isn’t it?

Feeding is very important to children. They should not be given coco, chocolate drink; neither could they eat heat foods like injected and preserved chicken, nor could they be given durian or rambutan. As the children grow introduce to them as many grains as you can. A good serial mixture is recommended for those who are choosy in eating . NUITRYBOOST is a perfect food mixture to give asthmatic children.

OBESITY AND KIDS

OBESITY AND KIDS

It is common for children to suffer from excess weight. Children who are obese have great tendency to suffer from hypertension and sugar related problems.

There are many causes for a child to suffer from obesity.
a) Medical reasons
b) The types of food they eat and
c) lack of physical activity

If your child is overweight, make sure you avoid feeding them with high calorie and sugary foods. You should also consult a physician or dietician if your child is overweight.To resolve your child's weight problem, make sure you do not introduce a weight reduction diet to your child immediately. This is because your child requires and needs sufficient nutrients for development.

An adult will not suffer from any effects if he/she were to reduce their weight and significantly reduces their calorie intake and protein foods. But when a child reduces their food intake, it will greatly affect the child's development process.Besides food control, an overweight child should perform lots of physical activity. Instead of watching TV and playing video games, it is best to accompany your child to a park.

SUITABLE FOODS FOR BABIES (10 -12 MONTHS OLD)

SUITABLE FOODS FOR BABIES (10 -12 MONTHS OLD)

Babies who are between 6 to 8 months old should be given blended food.
Babies between 8- 10 months should be given mashed and babies from 10 months onwards can be given solid food. However the solid food should be cut into small tiny pieces.

Feed and introduce various types of vegetable to your baby and do not feed your child with vegetables according to your preference. Also it is not advisable to mention to your child that you dislike certain vegetables as it can influence your baby.

Babies at this stage will start to grip things. It is good practise if you can have them hold their food when eating, i.e. biscuits or boiled carrots. Make sure you supervise them during this period as they might get choked while eating.

Do not use salt when cooking baby's food. Types of food that are suitable to be eaten are fruits, vegetables, protein foods and legumes. Always remember, the types of food given during this period determine their health in future.

Do not feed your baby with peanuts and egg white. Any types of soft bread can be given between meals.

By feeding your baby with various types of fruits, vegetables and protein food will enable him/her to absorb the vital nutrients needed for their development process

SUITABLE FOODS FOR BABIES (8 -10 MONTHS OLD)

SUITABLE FOODS FOR BABIES (8 -10 MONTHS OLD)

As previously mentioned, food should be blended when given to babies who are between 8 to 10 months old. Babies who are 8 months and above should be given mashed food.

Egg white should not be fed to babies who are below one year old. You can feed your baby egg yolk but not egg white. Boil the egg and remove the egg white.
Mash the egg yolk with a fork and feed your child.

Babies at this stage are very active. Do not run after them while feeding them with food. It is a good practise if you can make them sit stagnant in a place when feeding them as it will help develop healthy eating habits.

It is also a good practise if parents to have their meals together with their child as it will set a good example in their child's mind.

Feed your baby according to time.

Besides egg yolk, you can also feed your baby with chicken and fish. Steam and mash chicken or fish before feeding your baby. Do not mash rice, vegetable and meat together. Mash and feed the different items separately. If you were to combine the foods together, the baby will not be able to identify the individual taste of each food.

Avoid using sugar, salt and oil when preparing food for your baby

SUITABLE FOODS FOR BABIES (6 - 8 MONTHS OLD)

SUITABLE FOODS FOR BABIES (6 - 8 MONTHS OLD)

How do you feed your baby and what are the types of food you can feed your baby who has reached 6 months old?

a) Babies who are at this stage can start eating rice, vegetables and fruits.
Vegetables are to be steamed and blended. Fruits are also to be blended and rice
needs to be cooked in porridge form. Make sure you sieve the blended items as
baby's food should be in liquid form.

b) Feed your baby with the any of the blended food after feeding him/her with milk.
Make sure your baby is not full when feeding them with the blended item.

c) When you feed your baby with blended fruit, i.e. papaya, it is advisable to add a
small quantity of milk into the blended fruit. The aroma of the milk will enable the
baby to accept the new type of food that is being introduced for the first time.

d) When you are introducing rice for the first time to your baby, do not add any
vegetables. Feed your baby with plain rice for the first 3 days. On the
4th day, you can add a vegetable with the rice. Do not combine vegetables and rice
together when introducing the food for the first time to your baby. This is because if
your child were to suffer from an allergy or rashes, you will not be able to identify
or determine which food caused the condition

COMPLIMENTARY FOOD FOR BABIES

COMPLIMENTARY FOOD FOR BABIES

Many parents make lots of mistakes when preparing food for their babies. When the food they prepare is tasteless, they tend to season the food with Soya sauce or salt. It is very important to avoid the use of sugar and salt when preparing food for infants who are below the age of one. This is because the baby's kidney is not matured enough to process any salty or sugary food.

Make sure you continue to feed your baby with milk even after introducing solid food. Milk should be given to toddlers until the age of two

Suitable food for babies

SUITABLE FOOD FOR BABIES

A new born baby should be given mother's milk continuously for 6 months. After 6 months, you can slowly introduce various type of food. Some mothers may get confused on determining the right type of food to be given to their baby. After the 6^th month, it is important to give the right type of food to your baby as this is the period to cultivate healthy eating habits. If wrong foods are given, the baby will have various types of health problem when they grow up.

To determine whether the baby is healthy is by checking the baby's weight. If a new born baby is 3 kg, the infant should be double the weight when he/she is 6 months old. Do not feed your baby with "nestum" or any other type of solid food before reaching 6 months as it can cause allergy and stomach problems. Check with your paediatrician on when to start giving solid food to your baby. After the 6^th month,

a) make sure the food is prepared in a healthy and clean way. This is because the baby's immune system is low and can be affected if the food is not clean or cooked in an unhealthy way.

b) do not feed your baby with nuts and egg whites. These types of food should be avoided to babies who are below one year.

Confinement period

CONFINEMENT PERIOD

Many cultures have various types of beliefs and restrictions for women who are in their confinement period. Some cultures believe newly delivered women should not eat vegetables, drink lots of water, eat cooling foods or heaty foods. If we were to analyse from the scientific perspective, some beliefs are true and some as considered totally false.

When breastfeeding, it is important for new mothers to consume proper and healthy food as it directly affects the quality of their milk. If breastfeeding mothers are to reduce their food intake due to restrictions on the type of food to be eaten during confinement period, the baby will not get sufficient nutrients from the mother's milk.
If breast feeding mothers do not eat vegetables, vitamin and minerals from the vegetables will not be absorbed into the mother's milk and they will suffer from constipation.

Some cultures believe in giving new mothers a small quantity of alcohol as it helps keep the mother's body warm. However if you are breastfeeding, you need to be extra careful when taking alcohol as it will be absorbed into the mother's milk.

Breastfeeding should be done before consuming alcohol. After consuming alcohol, it is important to drink lots of water. After 30 to 1.5 hours, the alcohol content disappear from the system and breastfeeding can be continued again.


During confinement period, some women are afraid to drink water as they believe that water will keep the body cool. This is a wrong perception and it is very important for breastfeeding mothers to drink lots of water. This is because when breastfeeding, the body will be constantly dehydrated and if the body is not replenished with sufficient water, the secretion of mother's milk will be affected which in turn affects the development of the new born baby.

bresasfeeding

BREASTFEEDING

It is important for a newly delivered mother to breast feed her baby as it provided lots of benefits to both mother and child.

Benefits to the mother:
a) By breast feeding, the mother's excess fat will be burnt. Excess fat gained during pregnancy will be easily burnt when breast feeding. This is because the body required at least 5000 calories a day to produce milk. Burning 5,000 calories is equivalent to 2 kilometres of jogging.

b) Reduces the risk of cancer and bone related diseases, i.e. osteoporosis

c) Regains the size of uterus.
The size of uterus will be enlarged during pregnancy. By breastfeeding, the uterus
regains its normal size.

Benefits to the baby:
a) Development of baby
Breastfeeding for 6 months will help the development process of the baby.
It will also help reduce the risk of lungs related diseases, diabetes and
weight related diseases.

b) Reduce the risk of hospitalisation
There are many nutrients in mother's milk. Serious attention should be taken on the
types of food eaten when breastfeeding as it directly affects the quality of the milk.

Proper care and attention on the types of food consumed during pregnancy should also be given during breastfeeding. By eating carbohydrate food, it will help provide energy while protein food and various types of vitamin helps increase the quality of mother's milk which directly helps the growth and development process of the new born baby

FOOD AND PREGANT WOMAN

FOOD AND PREGANT WOMAN

Some pregnant women have the wrong perception of the need to eat more and consume more nutrients during their pregnancy period. In order to gain more nutrients, they tend to purchase various types of vitamin supplements.

However we have to have the awareness that not all types of vitamins are suitable to be consumed as it could create harmful effect to the child.
For example: If vitamin A were to be taken excessively, it can cause harm to your baby's heart and nerve system. Therefore before consuming any type of vitamin capsules, make sure you consult your physician.

Types of vitamin which are important for a pregnant woman to consume are calcium, folic acid and iron. There also types of food which a pregnant woman should not consume.

Types of food which should be avoided are

a) half boiled eggs, half cooked fish, chicken or red meat.
This is because live micro organism could exist in these food and can harm the
infant. Therefore make sure the foods you eat are properly cooked.

b) Unclean Fruits and Salads.
Make sure fruits and raw vegetables are properly washed and cleaned before
consuming

c) Unpasteurized cheese
Pregnant women should consume pasteurised cheeses only. Blue vein cheese and
fermented cheeses should be avoided.

d) Unpasteurized Milk
It is important for unpasteurized milk, i.e. cow's milk is boiled to its boiling point
before consuming.

e) Processed Food and Junk Food should be avoided as we will not know
the types of colouring agent used in processing the food.

Morning sickness

MORNING SICKNESS

Morning Sickness is very common among women who are from her first to third month of pregnancy. Morning sickness could be due to hormonal changes or the type of food that is consumed.

Those who suffer from morning sickness or nausea are advised to eat small frequent meals. By eating this way, morning sickness will be greatly reduced.Vomiting could also be due to absence of taking food for a long time. To avoid or reduce the occurrence of morning sickness, pregnant women are advised to eat a light snack before sleeping, i.e. sandwich, a glass of milk or biscuits.

Some pregnant women may experience stomach bloatness or heart burn after eating. This is due to the pressure of the baby against the stomach which causes acidity and a feeling of indigestion. Do not sit after eating. Walk or move around and heart burn will be reduced. By consuming mint tea or mint sweets occasionally will help relieve the gastric or indigestion problem. If there is too much pain or extreme discomfort, it is best to consult your physician.

Leg cramps are also common among pregnant women. It could be due to lack of calcium. However to identify the actual reason or cause, you should consult your physician

NUTRIENTS FOR PREGNANT WOMEN

It is important for pregnant women to pay attention on the types of food they eat as the nutrient from the food will also be absorbed by the baby.

Within 9 months of pregnancy, women will put on weight from 9 to 13 kilos. This extra weight is an indirect way of determining the baby's health. Some women may put on more than the required weight as they tend to over eat due to the misconception of eating for two.

If pregnant women were to put on excess weight, they tend to suffer from various types of diseases and sickness like gestational diabetes and hypertension.If pregnant women were to eat less than the required amount, the baby will not be able to get the required nutrients and will affect the baby's growth development.

A pregnant woman should consume 300 to 500 extra calories a day

It is not sufficient to only eat 3 meals a day. They should eat healthy snacks in between meals. These extra calories are needed for baby's muscle growth and hormone development.Pregnant women should also consume extra protein. Protein food should be consumed during breakfast, lunch and dinner. Extra protein is very important for baby's muscle growth and organ development.

Pregnant women are to consume the below mentioned nutrients as it is very important for baby's growth:

a) Folate
Folate is a vitamin B nutrient. Folate is very important to prevent baby's nueral
tube defect disease. It is also important for women who are trying to conceive to
consume this nutrient. Folate is found in green vegetables and citrus food, i.e.
oranges and pineapples. However folate in green vegetable are lost when it is
cooked. Therefore it is very important for pregnant women to take folate
supplement during their pregnancy period.

b) Calcium
Calcium is very important to build baby's bones. Women who are in their 30's
requires a daily intake of 800mg of calcium. If they are pregnant, they require an
extra intake of 200 mg of calcium. Hence a pregnant woman around her 30s
should consume a daily intake of 1000 mg of calcium.

To consume 1000 mg of calcium a day, it is required to eat 3 types of food which
are rich in calcium.

In the morning, suggested food is 2 glasses of milk and a slice of cheese.
For lunch and dinner: Suggested foods are chicken and sardines.
Note: Sardine and chicken bones are rich in calcium


c) Fibre
Pregnant women who are in their third trimester (6 to 9 months) may suffer from
constipation due to changes in hormone level and diet. To avoid this problem,
pregnant women at this stage should eat more vegetable, fruits and whole grain
products.

d) Water
Some pregnant women do not drink enough water as it will cause them to urinate
more often. This is a very bad practise as lack of water will cause constipation and
improper blood circulation. A pregnant woman should drink 6 to 8 glasses of water
a day.

HOW TO CHOOSE HEALTHY PROCESSED FOOD

HOW TO CHOOSE HEALTHY PROCESSED FOOD

Besides checking the expiry date, we should also place importance in checking the food label. Food label is very important as it provides vital information whether the food is nutritious or high in calorie.

If you are not able to read and understand the nutrient content displayed on the food label, you should refer to the ingredient section.

Example:
Biscuit A: Ingredients are Flour, Sugar and Fruits
Biscuit B: Ingredients are Sugar, Flour and Fruits

You should opt for Biscuit A because according to food label regulation, the first ingredient stated is the most quantity used to prepare the product.
Therefore for Biscuit B, sugar is the most quantity used to prepare the final product and it is not healthy as it has high sugar and calorie content.

If sugar and fat are listed in the first 3 main ingredients, avoid buying the product as much as possible. Make sure sugar and any types of fat are listed as the last ingredient in the ingredient section label of any food product.

Some food may be labelled as low fat. But this does not mean that it is low in calorie.

Example: Low Fat Yogurt
The yogurt could be low in fat but for taste, extra sugar could be added in. The extra sugar will increase the calorie content. Hence when choosing healthy food, make sure the product or food is not only low in fat but also low in calorie.

Selamat Hari Raya

Selamat hari raya ...kepada semua pelangan yang menyambut HARI RAYA...Selamat hari Raya.
Dari pada
AGASTHIAR SIDDHA VAITHYA NILAYAMAS
03 404 13 505
agatshia@yahoo.com

Poolang kilangku

14th AUGUST 09: WHITE TURMERIC (poolan kilangu)
Different culture use white turmeric in different ways.
Chinese tradition boils white turmeric to gargle their mouth. The boiled turmeric water helps remove bacteria, infection and cures teeth related problems.
Malays use white turmeric leaves (cekur in BM) to treat women who are in confinement period.a) Ashes from the dried burnt leave are applied to treat swollen breast.b) Boiled white turmeric leave water is consumed to help i) clean stomach and blood ii) clear remaining dirt from the body
In Indian Tradition, white turmeric is powdered and used a fragrant agent while preparing oilment. The herb also helpsa) promote hair growthb) bring glow to the skin. When grinded together with turmeric, it acts as an antiseptic body scrub.c) cure dandruff. Apply boiled white turmeric powder on scalp for a few minutes before washing the hair.

Skin problem

13th AUGUST 09: SKIN PROBLEM
Not many of us have smooth and clear skin. Some individuals especially teenagers will either have pimples on their face or pimple like/boils all over their upper back.
To help remove any type of skin problems, it is effective if you were to apply turmeric paste over the affected areas. This is because turmeric has antiseptic properties and helps ripen the pimple/boils.
Neem leave are also effective. If your child is suffering from chicken pox, the only remedy to remove the pox is by using neem and turmeric paste. Apply the neem- turmeric paste on the face and body and leave it to dry for 10 minutes before washing off. The paste will help dry, remove and clear the pox and pox marks.
Pimples are normally caused by hormone imbalance, irregular menstruation cycle and constipation. If you are having any of these problems, you must consume medicine to a) have regular bowel motion andb) have regular menstruation cycle. Try to consume one ounce of turmeric juice when you are having your period as it helps remove dirt from the womb.

13th AUGUST 09: SKIN PROBLEM
Not many of us have smooth and clear skin. Some individuals especially teenagers will either have pimples on their face or pimple like/boils all over their upper back.
To help remove any type of skin problems, it is effective if you were to apply turmeric paste over the affected areas. This is because turmeric has antiseptic properties and helps ripen the pimple/boils.
Neem leave are also effective. If your child is suffering from chicken pox, the only remedy to remove the pox is by using neem and turmeric paste. Apply the neem- turmeric paste on the face and body and leave it to dry for 10 minutes before washing off. The paste will help dry, remove and clear the pox and pox marks.
Pimples are normally caused by hormone imbalance, irregular menstruation cycle and constipation. If you are having any of these problems, you must consume medicine to a) have regular bowel motion andb) have regular menstruation cycle. Try to consume one ounce of turmeric juice when you are having your period as it helps remove dirt from the womb.

Pumpkin

12th AUGUST 09: WHITE PUMPKIN
Indian Tradition believes in the concept of evil eye and there are many remedies and rituals to cure and help remove evil eye.
Some of the many methods are:a) by having "black pottu" on baby's cheekb) hanging a white pumpkin outside a new house to ward off evil and bad negative energy into the house.
It is also believed that evil eye could also be the reason for couples or family members to have constant misunderstandings and fights. To help clear the bad eye, white pumpkin should be hung outside the house. When the pumpkin becomes dry and black, replace the pumpkin on an auspicious day and time.
Besides warding off bad negative energy, the vegetable also has many medicinal values. It contains lots of water and the properties in the vegetable help clean and clear dirt from the kidneys. It also aids in regulating the excretion of water through urination

Lemon Grass

10th AUGUST 09: LEMON GRASS
Lemon grass leave is fragrant. Dried lemon grass leave are effective to be burnt together with incense as the smoke acts as an insect repellent.
Smoke produced from lemon grass and holy basil leave have the properties to ward off mosquitoes. Therefore instead of throwing the leaves, dry and store as it acts as an insect and bacteria repellent. Lemon grass leave can also be kept in your cabinet to remove cloths moths
Include lemon grass in your daily cooking either by grinding it to a paste or cutting into thin strips. Lemon grass can also be consumed as tea. The properties from the lemon grass have the ability to reduce pitta and create equilibrium to body. By maintaining a balance, it helps maintain the effectiveness and functionality of the liver. Excess pitta can lead to dizziness, hypertension and mental disorders. Therefore try to include lemon grass in your daily diet to help control the level of pitta in your body.

Custurd apple

7th AUGUST 09: CUSTARD APPLE
To have a healthy body, we need to eat lots of fruits. Custard apple is one fruit that has been forgotten and has many medicinal values.
The black seeds are not to be eaten. However keep the seeds as it is effective in treating boils and rashes. Powder the seeds and apply the powder on the affected areas. The properties from the seeds will help kill bacteria and remove dirt trapped in the boils or wound.
Do not eat the fruit regularly as eating it regularly can increase one's pitta level.The fruit, if consumed, provides antiseptic properties and helps strengthen the colon

Capsicum

6th AUGUST 09: CAPSICUM
Capsicum comes in 4 colors, red, green, yellow and orange and is widely used as a vegetable in western countries. In Malaysia, capsicums are used as a garnish or used in salads. Instead of using chilies in your cooking, you can omit them with capsicum.
Capsicums are good to be consumed regularly by rheumatic arthritis patients. The properties from the capsicum will help reduce the gas trapped in between the bones. Capsicum can be consumed by juicing it, cooked or eaten raw.

White crysanthemum

5th AUGUST 09: WHITE CRYSANTHEMUM
Take 5 dried white chrysanthemum flowers and soak in hot boiling water. You can add sugar to give good taste and aroma to the drink.
Medicinal values obtained by consuming chrysanthemum tea:a) helps reduce excess weight
Besides using white chrysanthemum flowers, you can omit the flower with dried jasmine flower, dried hibiscus flower or dried drumstick flower.
Tea made from dried flowers has the properties to produce blood and helps removes free radicals from the blood.

3rd AUGUST 09: BRINJAL
Brinjal or eggplant comes in many varieties. Brinjals are low in calorie and rich in potassium, sodium and folic acid. Obese or overweight individuals are advised to eat brinjals to help them lose weight.
However those who suffer from rashes or any type of skin disease are strictly forbidden to eat brinjals. Brinjals has properties to cure stomach cancer. Potassium from the brinjals also helps give nutrition to the brains.
To make a tasty brinjal dish:a) Cut the brinjal into small pieces.b) Fry the cut brinjalsc) Add masala powder and brown sugar and cook the vegetable until the gravy becomes dry.
Besides helping obese individuals to lose weight, brinjals also helps cure measles

Bitter gourd

31st JULY: BITTER GOURD
We have 72,000 nerves and for each nerve to function effectively, we need to consume food which is bitter in taste. This is because the properties in bitter food aids in strengthening the nerves.
Bitter gourd and its leaves have many medicinal values. To kill stomach worms and help clean your stomach, consume 1 tablespoon of bitter gourd leave juice once a month.
Bitter gourd is effective in treating diabetic patients. Instead of cooking the vegetable, try to consume 2 tablespoon of freshly squeezed bitter gourd juice once a week. If you are to practice this habit, nutrients from the bitterness will help strengthen the nerves and helps reduce the severity of diabetes. It also helps reduce sugar level in the body.

30th JULY 09:TURMERIC
To cultivate a turmeric plant, break either a dried turmeric or raw turmeric into half and plant in a pot filled with soil.
Pound and extract the juice of a small piece of raw turmeric.Pound and extract the juice of one clove of garlic.Pound and extract the juice of one small onion or one shallot.Mix all the three juices and prescribe half or one tablespoon of the juice to your child who is suffering from cold and chest phlegm. Excess phlegm in the chest area will be dissolved and removed from the body.
Prescribe one tablespoon of raw turmeric juice to your child. The turmeric juice has the properties to kill and remove stomach worms. Mix a small amount of freshly powdered dried turmeric with honey. The mixture is good in reducing the severity of jaundice.
Lastly, as mentioned in previous article (27th July 09), turmeric is good for liver as it kills and removes bacteria. It also provides nutrition for the liver to function effectively.

burdock root

29th JULY 09:BURDOCK ROOT
Peel the skin off and cut the root into small pieces. You can either make soup or stir fry the root. The root is available in supermarkets and is treated as a vegetable among the Chinese community to treat sickness and diseases.
Benefits of consuming the root:a) effective in melting kidney stonesb) good for cleaning kidney and liver and c) efficient in cleaning the blood
Diabetic patients are advised to consult their physician before consuming this root as the root is sweet. The root is very suitable to be eaten by gout and arthritis patients.Pregnant women are forbidden to eat this vegetable.
In short, those who are suffering from any disease except for diabetic patients are advised to eat once a week to obtain the medicinal values from the root.

28th JULY 09: RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS
Rheumatoid Arthritis attacks when vata or gas gets trapped in between the joint areas. When this happens, it will effect the nerves and bones and causes extreme pain and swelling.
Those who suffer from arthritis are
a) strictly forbidden to bathe in cold water. If you are suffering from extreme pain, add salt in hot water and pour the hot salt water over your body and affected joint areas.
b) Avoid constipation When you suffer from constipation or have irregular bowel motion, dirty gas will spread and gets trapped in the joint areas.
c) Make sure you do not have difficulty in urinating. Irregular urination will lead to accumulation of salt in the body which causes harm to the body system.
d) Excess phlegm can also lead to diseases. Therefore make sure your tridosha, i.e vata, kappa and pitta are in balance. To maintain a balance, practice oil bath and consume the necessary medicine to root out the cause of your sickness or disease.

turmeric

JULY 09: RAW TURMERIC
According to Hinduism, taking a human birth is a great privilege. This is because by taking the human body alone can one attain the goal of life. It is also stated in the scriptures that humans can live to more than 100 years. But how many of us are able to live up to this age without any sickness or diseases?
Today many of us are dying at a very young age. Many of us experience many types of sickness and diseases before or after 60 years of age. To maintain a healthy body system, we need to have a healthy liver. To maintain a healthy liver, we must
a) exercise regularly andb) eat proper food to provide nutrition to the liver to function effectively.
Turmeric is one type of food that can help to maintain a healthy liver. Raw turmeric ( ibu kunyit in BM) helps increase blood flow, avoids blood thickening and acts as an antibiotic. Try to use 2 inch of raw turmeric in your cooking everyday. Grind the raw turmeric and treat it as a " masala" paste.
If you are suffering from a disease or sickness, pound raw turmeric and extract the juice. Treat this juice as a medicine and consume once a week.

Corn

24th JULY 09: CORN
Corn has many medicinal values. Some babies will not have any teeth even after they are 1 to 1 � years old. To cure this problem, boil the kernels of young corn or blend the kernels and feed your baby continuously for 2 - 3 days. You will see amazing results! Teeth will start to form out and starts growing.
Corn kernels are fibrous and helps ease bowel motion. If your pituitary glands are not functioning properly, consume corn kernels once a week. Glands will start to function properly and you will mot feel tired anymore.

sundakai vathal

23rd JULY 09:DRIED PEA AUBERGINES ( sundakai vathal)
Pea aubergine is rich in vitamin C and calcium. Slightly dry the pea aubergines and soak in buttermilk "mooru" and salt. Dry the soaked pea aubergines again under the sun for a few days until it is completely dried. InTamil the dried pea aubergines are called sundakai vathal.
The dried pea aubergines can also be bought in any Indian grocery shops and very tasty to be made as "Vathal Kulambu".
Dried aubergines are effective in curing stomach bloatness. Most men have big stomach due to stomach bloatness. When this happens, the lungs and heart will be pressed down. They will not be able to breathe properly and the heart will not be able to pump blood effectively.Dried aubergine cures piles related problems and helps releases stomach gas.
To release excess stomach gas, grind dried curry leaves, dried pea aubergines and ajwain (omam) into powder form. Every time you suffer from gas problems, take 1 tablespoon of the powder, mix with ghee and rice and consume as your first course during your meal. This will prevent gastric formation and helps release the gas from the body.

epilepsy

22nd JULY 09:EPILEPSY
Toddlers when they start to walk, they tend to fall and have bruises. If they fall on their head, it can cause internal damage to the head. The fall or internal injury can lead to epilepsy.
Epilepsy can also be caused by a) Severe constipation b) Excess phlegm c) High feverd) Lack of iron
Epilepsy is related to nerves. Nutrition has to be given to nerves which are related to brains. Epilepsy patients need to be massaged from head to toe using various types of oilment to strengthen the muscles.
Young children who have bowel movement once in every four to five days will suffer from excess heat in the body. This will lead to high fever and can end up with epilepsy. Therefore it is advised to get treatment in curing constipation. When the feaces are released, excess phlegm will also be removed and this will reduce and cures the occurrence of epilepsy attacks.

dried avaram poo

21st JULY: DRIED AVARAM FLOWERS
Dried Avaram Senna flowers are best to be prescribed as tea. When boiling the tea, add dried ginger, coriander leaves and cardamom pods. This beverage is a good substitute for tea and coffee.
Dried Avaram Senna flowers are good in producing blood and increases blood flow.Avaram flowers, leaves, root, bark and gum have its own medicinal values and very beneficial if you can plant this tree in your home. The leaves are effective in warding off any insects and can also be used to create smoke while burning incense.
Dried avaram flowers are effective to cure bad body odour. Grind turmeric ( Kasturi Manjal), white turmeric ( poolan kilangu), dried avaram flowers, dried mung beans and chana dal into powder form.Make a paste and apply on your body and leave it to soak for 10 minutes. Apply regularly and you will notice your skin color will brighten slightly and bad body odour will be cured. In conclusion, avaram flower is the medicine to remove bad body odour.

nochi

20th JULY 09:NOCHI LEAVES
There are three types of nochi leaves, one leaf nochi, three leaved nochi and five leaved nochi. Nochi leaves are effective in curing 'vata' related problems, i.e. body pain, muscle pull and back pain.
To remove excess vata or gas from the body, either a) boil the leaves and inhale the steam b) or boil the leaves and bathe with the hot nochi water.
If you have joint pains, grind 7 young tender nochi leaves with 7 black peppers into a fine paste and shape into round balls and consume.
You will purge after consuming the nochi paste. Prescribe this herbal medicine 2 to 3 times and joint pain will disappear.

Lemon

17th JULY 09: LEMON
There are different varieties of lime. All types of lime are rich in vitamin C.
Lime juice is effective in curing morning sickness among pregnant women.Morning sickness among pregnant women happens when pitta predominates in the body. To normalize the level, lime juice is normally consumed.
Lemons are good to be made pickles. Cut lemon into small pieces and marinate with salt. Do not use vinegar to marinate lemon pieces as vinegar is very acidic and will damage the stomach and intestines if consumed regularly
Marinating lemon pieces with salt is a healthy way of preparing pickles The pickle can be a bit bitter but is very tasty if eaten with rice and other vegetable dishes. Above all pickle plays an important role in increasing ones digestive power.

16th JULY 09: SWEET TURNIP (sengkuang)
In Siddha Medicine, sweet turnip juice is used to prepare medicines for post natal women. Sweet turnip is good to be consumed by women who are breast feeding as it helps to secrete more milk.
Sweet turnip juice is also a good combination to be added with carrot juice as it not only gives a good taste but helps to dilute the thickness of the carrot juice. Sweet turnip is a cooling food. Those who have a heaty body should consume this root vegetable as much as possible. It can be consumed either by juicing it or eating it raw.

sweet beverage

15th JULY 09: SWEET BEVERAGES
Children love to drink sweet beverages. Instead of buying cordials from supermarkets which has high sugar content and chemicals, try making your own sweet beverages at home.
a) Boil Pandan leaves with sugar until it turns into thick syrup. Bottle it This beverage cools the body and helps burn fat.
b) Extract one glass of ginger juice. Keep aside for at least 20 minutes. A layer of residue will form at the bottom of the glass. Take the clear juice only and boil with honey.
c) Boil mango flesh until it melts. Strain and extract the juice. Mix with sugar and bottle it.
All the above beverages are very cooling and are thirst quenching drinks. You can even juice mint, cucumber and other cooling vegetables. Unlike the above said beverages, mint, cucumber and other vegetable juices cannot be kept for a long time It has to be consumed immediately.
You can also consume basil seeds (biji selasih) and add it in any sweet beverages. The seeds are very cooling and should be eaten regularly. You can even add the seeds in coconut water to give more cooling effect to the body.

Elephat Yam

14th JULY 09: ELEPHANT YAM (senai kilangu)
Elephant Yam is good in treating piles patients. Patients who are suffering from asthma, sinus, cold or running nose are strictly forbidden to eat elephant yam. This is because elephant yam is a cooling food and it will aggravate the condition even more.
This vegetable is only suitable for heaty bodies and hypertension patients.
To consume the yam, first boil the vegetable with its skin intact in salted water.Peel of the skin and eat the flesh. Instead of consuming high GI food for breakfast, i.e nasi lemak and fried noodles, try having elephant yam for breakfast.
Mash the boiled yam and mix with grated coconut and sugar. Shape into round balls and serve. This type of food is not only nutritious but also is very filling as yam has carbohydrate in it.

vegetables

13th JULY 09: ROOT VEGETABLE
In previous episodes, many types of leaf and root vegetables have been discussed. Potatoes are considered a root vegetable and are regarded as a gassy food. It has high carbohydrate content and should not be eaten regularly.
Elephant Foot Yam is the total opposite. It is regarded as a cooling food and effective in treating piles patients. It also aids in removing and curing colon related problems and increases digestive power.
To cook the yam:a) remove the skinb) cut the yam into small pieces andc) boil in salted water.d) throw the boiled water away and cook the boiled yam in any way you like.
Elephant Foot Yam is best to be cooked as "Puli Kari"

Sensitive Plant

9th JUNE 09:SENSITIVE PLANT (thottal sinugi)
This plant has many medicinal properties and is highly spoken by siddhas of yester years. This plant is very sensitive whereby the leaves closes by itself when it is touched.
The roots have the capability of melting kidney stones. Stones are naturally formed when there is excess accumulation of toxins in the body. To melt the stones, boil the roots and consume the boiled root water. Those who are facing obesity are also advised to drink the boiled root water as the herbal water helps burn fat. The roots are effective in treating hypertension patients.
The leaves can also be used. Grid or pound the leaves and apply on small wounds. The leaves heals wounds effectively.

sun flower seeds

8th JUNE 09: SUNFLOWER SEEDS
Sunflower oil is extracted from the seeds and is rich in vitamin E. There are many types of oil. Tamils regards gingerly oil and coconut oil as good oil while other cultures and traditions regards sunflower oil and date seed oil as good oil. In general any oil which is extracted from any seed is considered as good oil.
Sunflower seeds are normally dried and sold as "kuaci". The kernels are good to be eaten by all walks of life. Elderly people who are toothless, the kernel can be pounded and consumed.
Today, the seeds are roasted and treated as coffee. You can also apply sunflower oil on your body. Pour 1 tablespoon of sunflower oil on top when serving soups to your family members.

kovai keerai

7th July 09: KOVAI LEAVES
Young kovai leaves are good to be used in soups. It is not only nutritious but also gives good taste to the soup. Kovai plant produces small cucumber shaped fruits and is suitable to be cooked as "kutu" or included in "Sambar". The fruit can also be consumed raw with a pinch of salt.
Kovai leaf is a cooling food and is effective in curing piles patients. Treat this leave as any other green leaf vegetable and cook in any way you prefer.To treat piles, steam the leaves for a minute or two and place the leaves on your anus. The leaves have the properties to heal itchiness and prickling pain.

cashew nut

6th July 09: CASHEW NUTS
Cashew tree is very rare to be found and is mostly found around Kelantan , Trengganu, and sea coast areas. In India, cashew trees are cultivated in Kerala and are one of the main exporters of cashew nuts.
Cashew nuts are seeds taken from the fruit. Much is said about the seeds but very little is known about its fruit.Cashew fruit or also known as cashew apple is rich in vitamin c and iron. Sprinkle a pinch of salt over the apple before eating it as it gives taste to the fruit.
The young tender cashew leaves can also be consumed. The young leaves are suitable to be made chutney or "thuvaiyal". The young shoots have properties to secrete milk, hormones and produce semen.
Pregnant women who have early morning sickness are advised to boil the tender leaves and consume the boiled water. The leaves are able to reduce pitta level in the body.

Mengkudu

3rd JULY 09:NONA (Mengkudu)
Nona trees grow in tropical countries. Nona leaves and fruit have many medicinal values and is used widely by Australian aborigines from years of yore.
Grind or pound Nona leaves and apply on small or big wounds. The leaves have the properties to heal and dry the wounds.
Grind or pound unripe nona fruit with salt. This paste is effective in
a) healing broken bones. b) healing big boils or wounds which has inflamed into pus. The paste removes the pain and dirty blood.
Ripe nona fruit is very smelly. If you can't stand the smell, take semi ripe nona fruits, cut into four and boil in water. Consume the boiled fruit. By consuming the fruit, blood flow will increase and helps clear any blocks in the blood vessel.

Senna

1st JULY 09:DRIED SENNA LEAVES
Some Tamil families still practices giving their young children a tablespoon of castor oil once a month to help clear and flush dirt out from their body system.By drinking the oil, worms will be killed and toxins will be flushed out.
The flushing of waste and toxins from the body will help clean the child's stomach, increases digestion. The child will also be free from any sickness and diseases.
When worms start to live in a child's stomach/intestines, it will absorb all nutrients. Gas will start to develop in the stomach causing gastric and increases acidity in the body. To cure this problem naturally, you need to clear or prevent the worms from living or growing in the stomach.
Senna leaves are natural remedy, effective in removing body waste from the body. Boil the leaves and consume the water to help loosen the stools and ease bowel motion. If waste is not removed for a period of time, it will get stuck in the colon which can cause colon cancer. To prevent this, you need to remove the waste through bowel motion everyday.
Make sure you and your child opt for this natural treatment and consume the boiled senna leaves once a week or once a month to remove any dirt from the body through bowel motion.

Daun setawar padang

30th JUNE 09:DAUN SETAWAR PADANG (Rana kali)
Children to adults of all ages are prone to suffer from boils which can develop in any part of the external body. Boils are normally formed when one's glands or enzyme are not functioning properly. When this happens, toxins will start to accumulate and leads to formation of boils. Boils can also be formed when the blood is dirty.
Women normally develop boils on their breast. To cure this problem easily, cover 5 to 6 leaves over the boil and support the leaves by wearing a bra before you go to sleep. The leaves have the property to absorb the itchiness and pain caused by the boil. Use the leaves continuously for 3 days to see noticeable effect.
If your legs are painful or swollen, wrap the swollen area with the leaves. Dirty blood trapped inside the swollen area will be absorbed out and the pain will disappear.
If your child is suffering from a fever due to extreme heat, pound and boil the leaves.Serve the boiled herbal water to your child. The water not only cools the body but also reduces fever.

henna

29th JUNE 09: HENNA LEAVES
When pitta predominates in the body, palms will be itchy and soles will have a burning sensation. To cure the itchiness and burning sensation, pound henna leaves with either slaked lime (sunambu) or lime juice. Apply on your finger tips, palms and soles.
The root of henna tree are said to have properties to cure cancer. Pound the roots, boil and consume the concoction. It helps to clear/clean dirty blood. The roots have antiseptic properties whereby it kills and clears free radicals in the blood.
If your throat is painful, swollen or have developed a wound in the mouth, boil the leaves and gargle the concoction. You can also consume the boiled concoction. Since it has antiseptic properties, it cures mouth wounds very easily.
Damaged nails are difficult to be healed or cured. New nails will never grow until the damaged nails are healed. Henna leaves are the only cure to heal damaged nails Grind the leaves into a paste and apply on the damaged nails until you see noticeable effect.

basil holy basil

26th JUNE 09: HOLY BASIL (Tulasi)
Holy basil is regarded as a holy plant and plants which come under the holy plant category are said to have properties to cure any types of sickness or disease.
Take 10 holy basil leaves and soak in a glass of water. You can eithera) soak the leaves in the morning and consume the water in the evening ORb) soak the leaves at night and consume the water in the morning.Dried holy basil leaves are good to be burnt together with incense powder. Combine dried henna seeds and dried holy basil leaves with the incense powder. According to Indian tradition, smoke from the incense powder mix will ward off bad spirits and negative vibrations and bring prosperity to the house.
Dried holy basil leaves can also be consumed as tea. Boil the leaves and add rock sugar for extra taste. Individuals from all ages can consume this hot beverage.Holy basil tea is very effective and provides temporary relief to patients who are suffering from high fever and cold.
Holy basil leaves also has the properties to remove toxins through urination. The leaves also serve as an antiseptic. Blend the leaves into a paste and apply the paste on external wounds. The paste will dry and heal the wound.

white lotus

25th JUNE 09: WHITE LOTUS FLOWER
Lotus plant grows in water and produces flowers of 4 different colours, i.e. red, yellow, blue and white.
If you intend to grow lotus in your home, all you need to do is make a shallow pond and place a plant in the water. Soon you will notice new growth will begin to sprout out. The flowers, roots, seeds, young flower stalk and young leaves are all edible. Compared to all parts of the lotus, the seeds has the most nutritional and medicinal value (see artcile 12th March 09: Lotus Flower for more details)
a) Break the flower petals and boil them in water. Consume the boiled water. b) Dry the petals and grind into powder form. Add one tablespoon of the lotus powder when consuming any type of beverage.
By consuming the petals either in dried or liquid form will help improve and increase brain functionality. According to Indian Medicine, white lotus flowers are effective in improving brain functionality while red lotus flower are effective in healing heart related problems.

Potatoes

24th JUNE 09: POTATOES
Potatoes have high content of starch and are grown extensively in China. It is used widely in Indian cooking and we should try to avoid eating potatoes as much as possible.
Most of us normally boil or cook potatoes with its skin removed. This cooking method is wrong and we must boil or cook potatoes with its skin intact. This is because when you peel of the skin after cooking, you will notice a yellow layer on the outer flesh. This yellow layer is said to have protein in it. Many of us are unaware of this and tend to peel and throw the skins away when cleaning the potatoes and end up consuming the starch only.
Eating a potato is equivalent to eating a plate of rice. For westerners, potatoes are regarded as their staple food. However for Indians, potatoes are eaten together with their staple food, i.e. rice. By eating this way, you not only consume a high content of carbohydrate but also have a high tendency to gain weight.
Individuals who are fat or obese should forbid themselves from eating potatoes. Potato is not only starchy but also is a gassy food which makes one to bloat. Therefore try to avoid potatoes as much as possible.

Sweet flag

23rd JUNE 09: SWEET FLAG ( vasambu)
Sweet Flag plant requires wet soil to grow. Sweet Flag is effective to treat gassiness and stomach aches in infants. Burn the root until it blackens. Crush or pound the burnt root into powder form and mix with castor or coconut oil. Apply on infant's stomach.
If your child is suffering from diarrhoea, prescribe them a small amount of burnt sweet flag. It provides a temporary relief before consulting a doctor. As for adults, mix 1 tablespoon of honey with the burnt sweet flag. Purging will also stop.
Pound sweet flag into powder form and boil with milk and consume. Sweet flag is effective in improving memory power. In Indian Tradition, Sweet flag is tied around an infant's wrist on the 16th day as it is believed that the smell will help build good memory power. By giving a minute paste of sweet flag to the infant will also help build good digestion system

snake plant marul

22nd JUNE 09: SNAKE PLANT
Snake plants grow in dry areas and do not need much water to grow. This plant only requires sun light and moisture from the wind to live. The leaves are generally used for medicinal purposes.
In Indian Traditional Medicine,the juice is normally squeezed out by heating the leaves under a flame. The extracted juice is poured into the ears to treat ear related problems.The juice has the properties to flush out dirty water and excess phlegm from the ears.Do this continuously for 3 days, at least 2to 3 times a day to notice the amazing results.
For children who are suffering from cough and cold, heat the juice before consuming.It works wonderfully in curing cough and cold. This plant also bears fruit and is used to prepare leyham to treat piles patients. Individuals who are suffering from piles due to excess heat in the body are advised to eat leyham made by snake plant fruit.This is because the fruit is a cooling food and piles patients are required to eat cooling food

cloves

19th JUNE 09: CLOVES
Cloves are one of the many spices used in Indian Cooking. Cloves not only give taste and fragrance to the food but also aids in digestion.
Grind 5-6 cloves with luke warm water and apply the paste on your forehead, nose and below the eyes, around your cheekbone area. The grinded cloves will help remove and heal sinus pain around the face area.
For temporary relief of tooth pain, bite the clove with your problem tooth. Cloves are known for its antiseptic and anesthetic properties. The juice from the clove will help kill bacteria and create numbness to the problem area. You can also apply clove oil on your cheeks to help release the pain. Just like the clove, the oil will help create numbness and remove the tooth pain temporarily.
Pregnant women tend to have vomiting problems due to indigestion and increase of pitta in the body. To stop the vomiting, boil 2-3 cloves and drink 2 ounces of the boiled herbal water as the clove helps digest food faster.

Red amranth

17th JUNE 09: RED AMARANTH (Sigappu Tandu Keerai)
Green leaf vegetables are good for our body as it has many nutritional and medicinal values. Besides green leaves, leaves which are red in colour are good to be consumed as it has high level of carotene and helps produce red blood cells.

There are many types of green leaf vegetables, i.e. tandu keerai, manali keerai, parathai keerai, kuppa keerai, manathakali keerai, agathi keerai and many more. Tandu keerai or amaranth leaf comes in various types.

On of the many types are the red amaranth leaves. Red amaranth leaves helps in producing red blood cells. Before cooking, wash the leaves at least three times to remove any dirt or stones. Add a pinch of black pepper powder, salt, 2-3 cloves of garlic and 1 green chilli or dried chilli (optional) when boiling the leaves. Make sure the pan is covered with a lid when boiling the vegetable. Smash the boiled leaves and serve.

Red amaranth leaves also aids digestion and ease bowel motion. Children or adults who consume red amaranth leaves continuously for 48days will experience an increase in memory power!