42. FENUGREEK

FENUGREEK

Fenugreek is also called ‘methi’ or ‘menthya’. The seed is used as a spice and the leaves are used as herb. The seeds are used in the preparation of various dishes like curry, sweets, idli, desserts, dosa, pickles, etc. It is roasted and powdered.  Young leaves are used as a vegetable raw or cooked. The leaves and seeds have a little bitter taste.

The seeds are a rich source of polysaccharide galactomannan. They are also a source of saponins, mucilage, volatile oils and alkaloids like choline and trigonelline.

Benefits:                                                                                

1. Hair: The seed is mixed with yogurt and used as a hair conditioner.

2. Diabetes: the seed is used as an herbal medicine for diabetes.

3. Butter: Seed is used in the preparation if clarified butter which is similar to ghee.

4. Tea: In Egypt the seeds are boiled and sweetened to prepare tea.

5. Kidneys: The seeds improve the functioning of the kidneys.

6. Breast milk: Fenugreek seeds are given in the form of capsules to lactating mothers to increase the production of breast milk.

7. Muscles: Fenugreek seeds are used to prepare Testfen, a muscle boosting supplement.

8. Cold: The seeds are use in preparation of medicine for cold.

9. Pain: Seeds are used raw or roasted to reduce pain in groin.

10. Diarrhoea: Eat the mixture of menthya powder and curd.

11. Drinking a glass of lemon juice with powdered fenugreek early in the morning will keep you fresh and energetic.

12. Black heads: Make a paste with fenugreek leaves and apply to face. Leave this for 15 minutes and wash your face with warm water.

13. Body heat: Tender coconut or water taken with menthya powder cools the body. Add one tea spoon of fenugreek powder in rice water and drink to cool the body.

14. Breast milk: Boil menthya seeds, smash and mix it with honey and eat it for good milk secretion.

12. Dandruff: Make a paste of mustard and fenugreek seeds. Rub it at on your head to the base of hair. Take bath after ½ hour.

13. Stomach pain: One table spoon of menhty powder in curd helps reduce pain.

14. Gas problem: Menthy powder and rock salt is a good cure for flatulence.

15. Piles: Use of fenugreek leaves in food is good for relief from piles and oral ulcers.

16. Small pox/chicken pox/measles: Soak one table spoon of the seeds in water and keep overnight. Drink the liquid. This drink is a tonic for all.

17. Eczema: Clean the boils and apply a paste of fenugreek and red sandal.

18. White vaginal discharge: Mix methya powder with curd. This is good for reducing the discharge.

19. Fenugreek is used in the production of flavouring for maple syrup.

20. After delivery: Fry menthy seeds in ghee and powder them. Make a sweet with sugar and wheat flour. Take one table spoon daily to bring back your body to normal.

21. Painful/irregular periods: include sprouted fenugreek to your salad.