The knowledge that man has seen, heard, and experienced from nature and his own living environment is invaluable. Kitchen medicines and traditional medicine all, belong to this category. Many of these have been handed down to us by word of mouth. These are indigenous knowledge or knowledge of the villagers. Such knowledge, which has been handed down through generations, will continue to develop through time and practice. There is a lot of knowledge that the past generation acquired without going to school or from textbooks. One of them is kitchen remedies. The basis of this knowledge is nature. Many of the things in our kitchen like onion, garlic, ginger, and turmeric are medicines or ingredients in medicines. In short, our kitchen is a storehouse of medicine. Let’s get acquainted with some of the medicines from the kitchen.

Garlic-an excellent medicine from the kitchen

When we talk about medicines from the kitchen, let us start with garlic. It is no exaggeration to say that garlic is the number one in kitchen medicine because it has so many benefits. Known scientifically as Allium sativum, garlic is a member of the onion family (Amaryllidaceae) and is classified in the same genus as onion and shallot. Originally from central Asia, the garlic plant grows wild in southern France and Italy and is a classic ingredient in many national dishes.

 Garlic is found in almost every part of the world and is a popular ingredient in many dishes. Garlic is used in our homes in curries etc. for taste, smell, and nutrition. The qualities of this little spice make it an essential part of our kitchen. It is highly nutritious and has a number of medicinal properties. Garlic is said to be native to Southern Europe. Although garlic can grow in a variety of climates, it cannot withstand very hot or very cold climates. Moderate temperatures in summer and winter are suitable for its cultivation.

If you ask since when people started using garlic, the answer is that garlic has been used for thousands of years all over the world. In addition to being one of the oldest garden crops, garlic is also one of the most popular. There is abundant historical evidence that garlic was used for various purposes by the ancient Egyptians and Indians 5000 years ago, by the Babylonians 4500 years ago, and by the Chinese 2000 years ago.

The father of Western medicine, Hippocrates (around 460-370 BC), prescribed garlic as a medicine for many illnesses, which can be considered evidence. Hippocrates promoted the use of garlic for respiratory problems, parasites, indigestion, and fatigue. In ancient times, to be exact, garlic was given to Olympic athletes in ancient Greece to increase physical fitness, i.e. to perform better.

• Garlic is the protector of the heart.
• Garlic is a popular remedy for many heart problems.
• Garlic is widely used for many conditions related to the circulatory system and heart, including high cholesterol, heart attack, coronary heart disease, and hypertension.
• Apart from that, garlic is also used today to prevent lung cancer, prostate cancer, breast cancer, stomach cancer, rectal cancer, and colon cancer.
• In short, garlic can fight against any cancer.
• Crushing ginger and garlic and adding lemon juice and salt to it is a local treatment used by our grandmothers to cure indigestion.
• Adding garlic to one’s regular diet every day is believed to have a lot of health benefits.

Ginger-another medicine from the kitchen

Ginger is an important spice crop. Every kitchen contains ginger, an easy-to-grow plant. There are many health benefits to ginger, so ginger has the ability to treat many health problems in the body very easily. Ginger is a popular remedy for indigestion. We usually use the underground part of the stem of ginger. We use ginger in various ways such as raw ginger, dried, powdered, oil, and juice depending on availability.

Ginger not only aids in digestion but also improves blood purification and increases the flow of oxygenated blood to the kidneys.  During the rainy season, when digestive power and immunity are low, there are people who fight off monsoon diseases by drinking ginger coffee (dried ginger powder + coffee) only. Ginger has many medicinal properties and that is why our ancestors cultivated ginger in abundance and included it in their diet. Apart from pickled ginger and salted ginger, dried ginger was also preserved by our ancestors.

Let’s see the benefits of ginger that have made it a favorite of the medical world.

• Zingiber officinale is the scientific name of ginger.
• Ginger adds flavor, aroma, and quality to the dishes on our dinner table.
• Ginger fights germs that invade our bodies and keeps the body healthy.
• Some chemical compounds in ginger help in this.
• Ginger is also good for oral health.
• Ginger strengthens the immune system and reduces the risk of heart disease.
• Ginger inhibits cancer growth and lowers blood sugar.
• Ginger helps improve blood purification as well as increases the flow of oxygenated blood to the kidneys.
• Some people also add ginger while preparing lemon juice.
• When used in this way, not only the taste but also the benefits increase.
• Including a little ginger in our daily diet can support our overall health.
• In short, this kitchen medicine known as ginger is a remedy for almost all diseases.

If we talk about the methods of cultivation of ginger, the parts of the rhizomes known as seed rhizomes are used as seeds for cultivation. Ginger grows best in hot and humid climates. It is best to grow ginger in an area with 2 to 5 hours of direct sunlight as sunlight is beneficial for growth. Ginger can grow and harvest in eight to 10 months if properly cared for.

Pepper

Another medicine from the kitchen is pepper also known as black gold. As you gain a deeper understanding of its many properties, you will understand that the name black gold itself is an apt description. Pepper has been considered an important spice since ancient times. There is no doubt that pepper has had a huge impact on history or has controlled its course. Pepper is originally native to South India, but it grows abundantly in other tropical countries as well. History records that pepper was also used as currency in ancient Greece. In later years, it became crucial to the worldwide spice trade.

The medicinal properties of black pepper are endless.

• Here’s a piece of good news for those suffering from obesity, adding black pepper to your daily diet is one of the best ways to lose weight.
• Black pepper is capable of cleansing the intestines and stomach and prevents constipation.
• Including black pepper in the diet detoxifies the body and prevents cancer.
• Peppers are also good for improving heart health and help to regulate heart rate and high blood pressure.
• The presence of black pepper in the food helps to digest the food properly.
• So, sprinkling some black pepper powder on your salad while preparing it not only makes your food tastier but also aids in digestion.

Black pepper needs high rainfall and humidity for its full growth and hence it is found in abundance in Kerala. The hot and humid climate of the Western Ghats is suitable for its cultivation. Black pepper plants belong to the Piperaceae family. This is an evergreen plant, and its scientific name is Piper nigum. Since pepper plants are vines, they need another tree, a support tree, to support their growth. Traditionally, our ancestors used the Indian Coral Tree (Murik) as the best support tree for pepper cultivation. The Indian Coral tree is the best support tree for the pepper plant because this support tree not only supports the pepper plant but also provides necessary nutrients to the plant.

Turmeric

Turmeric is an herb that not only gives taste, aroma, and quality but also color and beauty to our dishes. Turmeric is also known as Indian saffron or golden spice. This golden medicine is the star of the kitchen. What makes turmeric so rich is the powerful compound curcumin it contains.

Turmeric has many scientifically proven health benefits

• Curcumin in turmeric has been scientifically proven to improve heart health
• Turmeric can also protect against Alzheimer’s and cancer.
• Turmeric has the ability to gradually increase the antioxidants in the body.
• Turmeric is also good for lowering cholesterol.
• Turmeric is an integral part of beauty products.
• Applying turmeric paste on the face every day before taking a bath was very common in ancient times.
• Doing this regularly will not only help improve the complexion but also reduce acne breakouts and the resulting blemishes.
• Antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties present in turmeric make the skin glow and fresh.
• When bitten by some insects etc., raw turmeric is rubbed on the bitten place.
• Mix turmeric powder with rose water and make a paste and apply it on mosquito bites or other insect bites for relief as turmeric has anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.

The botanical name of turmeric is Curcuma longa, Curcuma aromatica and it belongs to the Zingiberaceae family. The origin of turmeric is believed to be in Southeast Asia. The medicinal use of turmeric dates back nearly 4000 years. In Southeast Asia, turmeric is used not only as a spice and medicine but also as an ingredient in religious ceremonies. As turmeric is a shade-loving plant, there are people who grow turmeric indoors. If taken care of well, it will grow well indoors too. Turmeric grows best in temperatures of at least 68 degrees Fahrenheit. Well-drained sand or soil is suitable for turmeric cultivation. It also grows well where the sand content is high. 

Coriander

Coriander and Coriander leaves are important ingredients in the dishes on our table.  Coriander leaves play a major role in garnishing dishes. We can’t even imagine a salad or chutney without coriander leaves (cilantro). These green and fragrant leaves not only make the dishes tastier and more attractive but also keep our bodies healthy. Its scientific name is Coriandrum sativum. Its seeds are called coriander and its leaves are called cilantro leaves. In some parts of the world, they are called Coriander and Coriander leaves. Rich in antioxidants, coriander is a great remedy for many health problems. Coriander has an important place in the list of medicines from the kitchen.

• Packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, coriander and coriander leaves are essential for health.
• Coriander is good for lowering our blood sugar and fighting infection.
• Coriander also helps improve heart, brain, skin, and digestive health.
• Are you suffering from indigestion? then drink coriander water every morning and experience the change yourself.
• It helps to improve digestion and increase metabolism.
• Coriander leaves and seeds are rich in vitamins K, C, and A.
• All these are proven to be very helpful for hair strength and growth.
• Coriander improves kidney function.
• Coriander seeds are very effective in treating urinary tract infections.
• Coriander also improves heart health.
• Coriander lowers blood pressure.
• Rich in antioxidants and fiber, coriander also helps reduce the risk of heart disease.
• Coriander leaves and seeds are rich in vitamin K, which plays an important role in helping blood clot.

Honey

Rich in many nutrients, honey is loved by children, adults, and patients alike. The sweetness of honey is a term often used by poets and artists. The medicinal value of honey made by bees using pollen from flowers has been discovered thousands of years ago. Sweet honey is a suitable substitute for sugar. Therefore, using honey instead of adding sugar does not cause any harm, and research indicates that using honey instead of sugar can be beneficial for people with diabetes.

Let’s see why honey has taken a prominent place in our cupboards

• Honey is indispensable in home -remedies.
• The kitchen is where burns are most likely, apply honey to burns immediately before they bubble up.
• Honey has the ability to heal not only burns but also wounds.
• Honey improves digestion and also reduces body weight if consumed with water.
• Honey can also be used as a cough syrup.
• Take two or three small onions and a small piece of ginger, crush them both well, extract the juice, mix it with honey, and use it twice a day to relieve cough.
• Honey is the main ingredient in herbal remedies for eye diseases, respiratory asthma, throat infections, etc.
• Honey is also used in the treatment of tuberculosis, thirst, fatigue, dizziness, constipation, worms, piles, ulcers, and wounds.
• Honey is also used for beauty.
• Honey clears blemishes and moisturizes the skin.
• Honey is useful for sunburn, as well as gives a natural glow to the skin and reduces wrinkles.
• Apart from this, it is more appropriate to add honey instead of sugar in cooking and drinks.
• Spreading honey on roti and chapati will be a favorite among babies.

When asked what vitamins honey contains, honey is rich in B6, thiamin, niacin, riboflavin, pantothenic acid, and some amino acids. Honey also contains minerals like calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, and zinc. Don’t wait any longer. Make honey a part of your diet with so many benefits. We can maintain our health and beauty by consuming two spoons of honey every day.

Final thoughts

What has been said is about the things which are always available in our kitchen and which we use on a daily basis in our daily life. These are the gifts of nature. Apart from ginger, garlic, turmeric, and coriander, there are many other medicinal things in our kitchen and garden. Clove, Cumin seeds, Asafoetida, Cinnamon, Peppermint, onion, cardamom, and fenugreek all are medicines or ingredients for many medicines. There was a time when the old generation used to cure colds and coughs with home remedies. Today, times have changed, lifestyles and eating habits have changed, and new diseases have emerged. We should think that health is wealth. Avoid junk foods, fried foods, soft drinks, and ice cream. Drink only boiled water. Eat home-cooked meals as much as possible. Maintain personal hygiene and keep the house and surroundings clean. Include more pepper, ginger, garlic, onion, and curry leaves in our diet which will increase our digestive capacity and immunity. Let these medicines from the kitchen protect our health.

Disclaimer: The kitchen medicines mentioned in this article are based on the research and data available on the internet as well as handed down orally by the ancestors. However, this should not be considered professional medical advice.

Reference: Wikipedia

Image credit: Canva.com

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