Hour 74 Ayurveda – Medicinal Herbs V
Fenugreek and Coriander
8. Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum)
Taste and Properties:
- Taste (Rasa): Bitter, slightly pungent
- Guna (Qualities): Light, oily, hot, and moist
- Vipaka (Post-digestive effect): Pungent
- Veerya (Potency): Hot
- Prabhava (Special Effect): Balances blood sugar, aids lactation, improves skin health
Dosha Effect:
- Balances: Vata and Kapha
- Increases: Pitta (not suitable for bleeding disorders like nasal bleeding, heavy periods)
Health Benefits:
- Digestive Health: Carminative properties help relieve bloating, gas, and indigestion
- Respiratory Health: Beneficial for conditions like productive cough, asthma, bronchitis, cold, and chest congestion due to its ability to balance Kapha
- Lactation Support: Improves milk production in lactating mothers
Remedies :
- For Digestive Health:
- Soak 5 grams of fenugreek seeds in 50 ml water overnight, macerate and create a paste. Add 30 ml of water and consume to soothe the stomach, reduce inflammation, and ulcers in the digestive tract.
- For Constipation:
- Boil 10 grams of fenugreek seeds in 350 ml water, reduce to 100 ml. Add ½ teaspoon of ghee to the decoction and consume on an empty stomach for relief from constipation.
- For Lactation Support:
- Soak 5 grams of fenugreek seeds overnight. Cook with 200 ml milk for 10 minutes. Administer to lactating mothers to improve milk secretion.
9. Coriander Seeds (Coriandrum sativum)
Taste and Properties:
- Taste (Rasa): Astringent, bitter
- Guna (Qualities): Unctuous, light
- Veerya (Potency): Hot (Ushna)
- Vipaka (Post-digestive effect): Madhura (Sweet)
- Prabhava (Special Effect): Balances all three doshas (Vata, Pitta, Kapha)
Health Benefits:
- Digestive Health: Helps in better digestion and relieving indigestion, gas, and bloating.
- Anti-inflammatory and Antioxidant: Reduces inflammation and fights infections.
- Diuretic: Promotes elimination of toxins and excess fluids, aiding in detoxification and maintaining kidney health.
- Pitta Balancing: Useful for heat-related conditions like skin rashes, fever, and excessive thirst.
Remedies :
- For Pitta Balancing:
- Pound 5 grams of coriander seeds to powder, mix with one glass of water, and leave it undisturbed overnight. Filter it the next morning, add a pinch of rock sugar, and consume on an empty stomach to relieve heat-related issues like burning sensation and acidity.
- For Fever and Indigestion:
- Boil 5–6 pinches of coriander seed powder and 3 pinches of dry ginger powder in 1 liter of water for 15 minutes. Sip the water to get relief from fever, indigestion, and urinary infections.