ASH GOURD
Ash gourd or white gourd or
wax gourd or winter melon is an ash coloured vegetable. It is used to make
curry. Young leaves and buds are also edible. It is mostly moisture and a
little protein, fibre, fat and carbohydrates. It also has many minerals like
calcium, iron, phosphorus, vitamin B & C. The seeds contain pale yellow
oil.
Medicinal properties of ash gourd have been
known to Ayurvedic practitioners over 1000 years ago.
Benefits:
1. Sweet prepared from the pulp is very
famous and is used to increase weight and as a cure for tuberculosis, weak
heart, body heat, thinness of semen and anaemia.
2. Juice of ash gourd is used to treat
peptic ulcer and inflammation of alimentary canal.
3. Dandruff: The peel and seeds boiled in
coconut oil is good for hair growth, prevention of dandruff and dryness of
scalp.
4. Blood in urine: Ash gourd acts as a
blood coagulant. Fresh juice mixed with lemon juice is used to stop bleeding
from lungs and presence of blood in urine.
5. Urine problem: Ash gourd has diuretic
action and hence it improves urination.
6. Worms in intestine: Seeds are anabolic
and help growth of tissue. If taken with coconut milk, they help to throw out
worms from intestine.
7. Ashgourd is used in Ayurveda to treat
epilepsy, lung diseases, asthma, cough, urine retention and internal
haemorrhage.
8. Diabetes: Rind is used to treat
diabetes.
9. Poisoning: Ashgourd juice is effective
in cases of mercury poisoning and snake bite.
10. Obesity: Being very low in calories,
ash gourd is good for people who want to reduce weight.
11. Peptic ulcer: Dilute juice of ash gourd
is good for curing peptic ulcer. Drink the juice early in the morning on empty
stomach. Don’t take any food for 2 hours. This is also good for inflammation of
alimentary canal.
12. Hair: the peel and seeds are boiled in
coconut oil. This is good for hair growth. It reduces dandruff and dryness of
scalp.
13. Shelled seeds of ash gourd are
anabolic. They promote growth of tissue.
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