A Reservoir of Health and Beauty
Fenugreek is a herbaceous plant with a long history of culinary and medicinal uses. Both the lovely, aromatic leaves and the distinctive, pungent-smelling seeds are used widely in India. The fresh leaves are used as greens and the dried ones as a flavoring, while the seeds are used whole, powdered or as sprouts.
Alternate Names
Botanical name: Trigonella Foenumgraecum
English: Fenugreek
Sanskrit: Methika
Hindi: Methi
Benefits
For thousands of years, fenugreek has been used in India as a versatile home remedy. It helps in tolerating summer heat, decreases flatulence and fever. It decreases burning sensation of urine, softens stools, helps promote hair growth and decreases abdominal pain. It is also used as a digestive aid and stimulant.
Practical Applications
- Sciatica: A poultice of fenugreek seeds may be applied over the area of pain.
- Anemia: Boil one cup of rice with two spoons of fenugreek. Add salt and consume every day for 15 days.
- Angina Pectoris: Boil one spoon of seeds in one cup of water and add honey to it. Consume every day.
- Indigestion: Consume sprouted seeds of fenugreek every morning.
- Giddiness, insomnia, and headache: Take two teaspoons of fenugreek leaf juice mixed with honey every day.
- Constipation: Have one cup of boiled fenugreek leaves every day.
- Hair fall: Apply fenugreek paste to scalp and wash hair after one hour.
- Burning micturition, abdominal pain, burning sensation of stomach: Add ¼th spoon of powdered fenugreek seeds to buttermilk and consume.
- Mouth ulcers: Prepare a decoction of fenugreek leaves and gargle 4-5 times a day.
- Pimples, blackheads: Apply fenugreek leaves to the face overnight and wash off with hot water in the morning.
- Breast enhancement: Mix ½ spoon of fenugreek powder with broken wheat and boil it. Consume this liquid paste.
- Throat pain: Gargle frequently with the decoction of fenugreek seeds.
- Dandruff: Soak fenugreek seeds in water overnight and grind it the next morning. Apply the paste over the scalp and wash hair with soap nut powder after half an hour. Applying a paste of fenugreek leaves every day to the scalp also keeps hair healthy.
This piece was written by Dr. Nisha Manikanthan, Senior Ayurveda Consultant of the Art of Living.