CUMMIN

This is a cumin (known as jeera) plant at my garden.This is yet another important spice in Indian cooking.The flower are yellow and is beautiful. The seeds are used as whole or powedered. I have also used the leaves in salads and also in curries and it does taste good. This is a very easy to grow. Just soak the seed in water for about 1 hr and sow into the soil, simple as that........

Below are some useful information from http://www.ayurhelp.com/plants/Cumin-jeera.htm

According to ayurveda jeera exhibits the following medicinal properties :

• It reduces superficial inflammation and pain.
• Apart from kindling appetite, it digests food and normalizes vata in digestive system.
• Reduces pain experienced during indigestion, flatulence or heaviness of stomach .
• It purifies blood
• Cumin seeds act on female reproductive system by reducing inflammation of uterus.
• It is eulogized for its galactogog properties. (Increases milk production in lactating mothers).
• As it normalizes vata and kapha it acts as an aphrodesiac.
• It is a skin friendly herb and reduces itching.

Home remedies using jeera

• A fine paste of cumin seeds (cumin seeds ground with water), when applied on boils or aching body parts gives relief from pain.
• Water boiled with ground jeera has to be given regularly to lactating mothers. This increases breast milk and reduces inflammation of uterus.
• Boil ground jeera in water and allow it to cool down. Add a pinch of cardamom to filtered jeera water. Gargling with this flavored water helps to keep the mouth fresh, heals mouth ulcers and eliminates foul smell.
• Roast jeera without oil till it warm. Grind this to a fine powder along with rock salt. Massage gums with this powder. This helps to prevent bleeding from gums and strengthens them.
• Boil a tea spoon of jeera in a glass of water, allow it to cool. Consuming this water frequently relieves indigestion and flatulence.
• Consuming powdered jeera with honey reduces colic pain and reduces diarrhea caused due to indigestion.
• A tea prepared by boiling cumin seeds and a small piece of fresh ginger help to give relief in common cold.
• Mix a spoon of ground roasted cumin seeds ,½ spoon of fresh ginger juice and a pinch of salt in a glass of butter milk. Frequent consumption of this butter milk helps to relieve piles and sooths inflamed intestine.
• Patients suffering from irritable bowel syndrome can use pomegranate juice mixed with roasted and ground jeera powder. This helps to reduce frequency of stools and sooths colon.

Precaution has to be taken while roasting cumin seeds .Cumin seeds have to be roasted in low heat till it becomes warm and should be taken off from stove when it is sufficiently warm to touch. This precaution helps to prevent the escape of volatile compounds of jeera.

/>