Medicinal Kitchen Cabinet-Peppercorns

The most important place in a household is the 'Kitchen'. Many may not be aware that a variety of ingredients which have medicinal qualities to heal and to cure health maladies are readily available with us at a stretch of our hand. Let us go through the same with Peppercorns.

The black powdered peppercorns are visible everywhere including food courts. The exploration of the world started with the accumulation of spices, to start with 'peppercorns'. This was considered as belonging only to the rich people and was as valuable as money. It was also legal trading currency during medieval times. India ranks among the top producer of peppercorns in the world. The emergence of pepper started almost 4000 years ago and is widely cultivated in the Malabar coast in India. They are the seed berries of Piper Nigrum (Piper means plant in Latin and Nigrum meaning black).

White and green peppercorns are seeds of the same variety growing in clusters. This vine is usually twined on huge trees and takes a full seven years to go into full production. The clusters are picked and separated and dried to get black peppercorns. To get the white ones, they are usually picked and dried when the berries are about to turn 'red'. They are soaked in water for almost a week when their outer covering becomes soft and easily removed to expose the while corn inside.
The raw green pepper is reaped while it is still tender and great when pickled with brine. It retains the pungence while accommodating the salt. Peppercorns when boiled in water with little jaggery added to reduce the pungent taste will produce a good concoction to be taken for sore throat and cough. The concotion to really get the flavour, should be made to stand and cool for sometime before consumed.

Peppercorns are also digestive stimulants and a good rememdy for digestive problems. Freshly ground black pepper mixed with little water when sprayed on plants relieves the plants of insects which feed upon them. Powdered pepper mixed with salt relieves inflammation of the gums. White pepper when ground and applied to the scalp will give relief to one's dandruff problems, of course there will be a slight burning sensation which will becoming soothing after sometime.

Most of the recipes have powdered or whole peppercorns in them. So, now when you think of spicing up your food, instead of the usual red chillies, add pepper.

When you take things for granted, the things you are granted, get taken. (Phil Hennessy)

Medicinal Kitchen Cabinet-Cloves

No doubt, when you hear the word 'cloves', the first thing that comes to the mind is the clove oil when applied to tooth ache giving us immense relief immediately.

The word 'clove' is derived from the Latin word 'clavus' meaning 'nail'. It is native to Molucca islands in Indonesia and is also grown in India, Sri Lanka, West Indies and Brazil. It was widely used during Indian and Chinese civilisations. The tree has a straight trunk growing between 10 to 12 mts.

Clove is an unopened bud of the evergreen clove tree. They are picked by hand when they are pink in colour, and dried till they become brown. A clove averages half inch tall with a small bud on the top. It resembles a nail and hence the name. It has hard exterior but when chewed gives out a very aromatic pungent oil which has many medicinal qualities.

Clove contains the component Eugenol which gives it the anti inflammatory property which makes it an interesting spice to research for more medicinal uses. Pregnant ladies and others who suffer from nausea can keep chewing a couple of clove pods which will instantly relieve them of the discomfort. It is also used widely as a mouth freshner which when chewed emits a strong flavour in the mouth and retains the freshness feeling for a long time.

Muscular cramps are relieved on application of clove oil. When prepared a concoction with other herbs, it serves as a good expectorant. When added to other spices in making masala, enhances the dish with a tongue licking aroma. It is used as a support ingredient when cooking dishes which might produce flatulence. Adding this, will reduce the effect.

We cannot store cloves powder for a long time, lest it loses its flavour. The best way to effectively use clove is by grinding it with the required ingredients for the respective dishes or by just dropping whole cloves in oil just to extract the flavour. Just a few pods bring out great flavour.

Few drops of clove oil mixed with coconut oil when applied on acne scars will fade the scars. A teaspoon of clove powder when mixed with honey and applied to acnes proves a good remedy to cure it.

It takes a day to find a friend, a moment to lose them but a lifetime to forget them.

Medicinal Kitchen Cabinet - Turmeric

This condiment is seen in all the households because of its many attributes. Most of the Indian preparations use turmeric in almost all the dishes for flavour and colour.

Turmeric is a root of the Curcuma Long plant and has a brown skin and orange inside. This plant thrives on tropical areas with hot and moist climate. This has long stem with beautiful long leaves and each plant carries many tubers with turmeric roots. Fresh turmeric is easy to cut through, but when cured and dried up, it becomes very hard like a stick. This is ground to make the fine Turmeric powder. Turmeric is also called 'Poor man's saffron' as it is easily available over the counter and not costly unlike saffron.

Powder turmeric when mixed in hot milk and taken at bedtime will relieve the nagging dry cough. When applied to the skin daily, it brings out the glow and clears the skin of blemishes and pimples. Powder turmeric paste mixed either with water or curds applied to wounds acts as an antiseptic and also cures eczema scars. It is also cited as a remedy for liver disease caused by Jaundice.

Turmeric is used in Ayurveda and Chinese medicine to cure inflammation and treat skin disorders. A thick paste when applied to a bleeding wound immediately stops and clots the blood. If applied on the wounds or warts and tied with a bandage heals the wound and removes the warts. It also acts as an effective burn ointment.

Turmeric is used in Indian weddings as customary. Traditional paste of turmeric is applied to the hands and feet of the bride and the groom ahead of the wedding.

Fools learn from experience. Wise men learn from the experience of others (Otto von Bismark)