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| Herbal
plants and medicinal properties |
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ALFALFA
Botanical Name - Medicago Satina
Indian Name - Alfalfa
ALFALFA is nutritionally on of the most versatile herbs yet
discovered. It is a leguminous herb which grows up to 50 cms
in height. It has rich green alternate leaves, purplish flowers
and adapts itself to widely varying conditions of soil and climate.
Alfalfa appears to have been discovered by the Arabs who called
it the 'king of kings' of plants and the father of all foods.
Alfalfa is a native of Europe. It is now widely cultivated in
the temperate regions, the subtropics and higher altitudes in
the tropics. It is grown through out India. Alfalfa is a valuable
source of vitamins A, B, D, E and G. It also has some vitamin
C and K. The rich quality and quantity and proper balance of
calcium, magnesium and phosphorous, chlorine, sodium, potassium
and silicon is of special value in Alfalfa.
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Properties :- The seeds, leaves and stems of the alfalfa plant
have important properties- derived from the root of the plant
which reach up to 12 meters in the subsoil and absorb the elusive
trace minerals from the depths. The most important this trace
minerals is manganese which is vital to the human digestive
system in its manufacture of insulin. Alfalfa is an outstanding
alkalizing food. Alfalfa build up for a healthy and vigorous
old age and resistance to infection. |
ANISEED
Botanical Name - Pimpinella anisum
Indian Name - Velaiti saunf
Anise is an annual culinary herb belonging to ajwain or celery
family. Its fruit, known as aniseed, is one of the oldest spices.
The seed is ground-grey to greyish-brown in colour, oval in
shape and 3.2 to 4.8 mm in length. It requires sunshine and
warmth and does not grow satisfactorily in the tropical lowlands.
Aniseed is a native of the Middle East. It was cultivated by
ancient Egyptians, who valued its medicinal properties and culinary
uses.Anise oil is a colourless or pale-yellow liquid, with the
characteristic odour and taste of the fruit.
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Properties :- Aniseed is esteemed in medicine for its properties
to relieve flatulence and to remove catarrhal and phelgm from
the bronchial tube. These properties are due to the presence
of the essential oil. The seed also copious perspiration and
increases the volume and discharge of urine.
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ARJUNA
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Botanical Name - Terminalia arjuna
Indian Name - Kahu
Arjuna is a dense tree attaining a height of 20 to 27
meters. It has long ,cone-shaped round leaves and white
bark which gives out milky juice when cut. Mainly the
bark of the tree is used in medicines.
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tree has been named Nadisarjja in the early Sanskrit treatises,
wherein its bark has been described as a cardiac tonic.
Arjuna tree is indigenous to India. It is found throughout
the sub-Himalayan tracts, the Deccan regions Myanmar and
Srilanka. It grows chiefly along water channels or marshy
belts. The bark contains unusually large quantities of
calcium, aluminium and magnesium. It also contains a crystallic
compound arjunine, lactone, arjunetin, essential oil,
sugar and the colouring matter. In ayurveda the arjuna
is beneficial in the treatment of asthma. |
| Properties
:- The bark of the arjuna tree is a cardiac stimulant
and has cooling and tonic effects. It is useful in arresting
secretion or bleeding. It helps to relieve fever. It is
also useful in removing calculi or stones formed in the
urinary system. |
ASAFOETIDA
Botanical Name - Ferula northex
Indian Name - Hing
Asafoetida is a resinous gum of a tall perennial
herb, with robust carrot-shaped roots. It is dirty
yellow in color with a pungent smell. |
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It
is used as a flavouring agent and forms a constituent
of many spice mixture. Asafoetida has several varieties
which are distributed from the Mediterranean region
to central Asia. An analysis of Asafoetida shows
it to consist of carbohydrates 67.8 per 100 gms,
moisture 16.0 per cent, protein 4.0 per cent, fat
1.1 per cent, minerals 7.0 per cent and fibre 4.1
per cent. Its minerals and vitamin contents include
substantial calcium besides phossphorus, iron, carotene,
riboflavin and niacin.
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Properties :- Asafoetida has been heald in great
esteem amongst indigenous medicines from the earliest
times in India. It is reputed as a drug which expels
wind from the stomach and counteracts any spasmodic
disorders. It is also a digestive agent and a sedactive.
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