Indian spices and their uses - Maharashtra Today
                      Spices - Homemade spices and their benefits  -
                       Maharashtra Today
One of the things that people find intimidating 
about cooking Indian food is the vast array of 
spices used — both whole and ground, which 
are often combined into complex spice mixes.
 However, having taught classes on Indian 
food, I find that as soon as people are able to 
identify and understand the spices we use, 
then suddenly they find this cuisine is not as 
hard to make after all.
    Health Benefits Of Spices From Around The World
Spices play a significant role in the way we cook 
and consume food around the world. Every spice 
has its own flavoring and essence, and its 
addition or omission can literally make or break a 
dish. There are many spices we use in our day to 
day cooking, these include popular ones like 
cumin, black pepper, turmeric and coriander 
seeds.
In the ancient times, India attracted traders from 
remote parts of the world in search of exotic 
spices. Many of these traders went back with their 
share, while some even settled down and brought 
in some of their home-grown spices. 
            Ashwagandha - a horse-like plant!
Ashwagandha Vajigandha, Balda, Taurus is a medicine 
that gives strength. Useful in many ailments. The raw 
root smells like a horse so it is called Ashwagandha. 
Also, Ashwagandha is known as a horse-like stimulant, 
a strong metal enhancer. 
Ashwagandha is a pain reliever caused by wind. If 
goiter is swollen, apply a paste of ashwagandha leaves 
on it to reduce the pain of swelling. The oil made using 
Ashwagandha is useful for flatulence, weakness, pain in 
hands and feet. This ashwagandha oil is used for 
massage to reduce flatulence. The limbs strengthen the 
muscles.
Ashwagandha is a cough suppressant and asthma 
sufferer. Ashwagandha is used in cough, anemia and 
asthma.
       Turmeric: Medicinal gold in the kitchen
Turmeric, its introduction, is not new to Indians. Pre-
existing turmeric is used for your health. It is an important 
custom to wear turmeric during a wedding ceremony. 
Only turmeric is used in many skin products. This means 
that turmeric has such a good effect on our body and 
character.
Outsiders are telling you how good your turmeric milk, 
popularly known as Intermediate Turmeric Latte, is. And 
we have been getting turmeric milk easily since 
childhood.
Turmeric is applied immediately after any wound, bruise 
or bleeding. There are things you just get used to. Various 
names like Haridra (correction of body color), Kanchani 
(yellow like gold), Nisha, Varvarnini, Gauri, Krumighna, 
Yoshitapriya, Hattvilasini have come up in Ayurveda for 
turmeric.
Nutmeg - Aromatic and useful spice
Shrikhand Puranpoli is not fun without the aroma 
of nutmeg. Whether it is in betel nut or in basundi, 
if you add a little nutmeg, you get all the aroma, 
taste and medicinal properties. We can see how 
rich India is in terms of spices. Digestive aromatic 
spices for sweets e.g. Nutmeg Cardamom 
Cinnamon has flavor and digestion of sweets. Mire 
coriander cumin etc. for spicy foods. We have 
many spices. We use them in cooking. 
These nutmeg are known by various names like 
Jatiphal, Maltiphal, Majjasar, Kusumphal. When the 
fruit of the nutmeg tree ripens, the seeds are dried 
in the sun. The sound of movement from these 
seeds began to break and the seeds were 
removed and the inner nutmeg was sold in the 
market. Seed husk is also used as dried nutmeg.
                            Mire - kitchen spice
Black pepper is an important spice in cooking. A 
spice that adds spice to vegetables and soups. 
Vellaj (growing on the valley) Krishna Ushna 
Suvritta Palit Shyam Kol Krishna Yavanesht Vrutfal 
Shakang (used while making vegetables) Katuk 
(spicy taste) Various names have come up in 
Ayurveda for chilli or chilli.
There is a pepper vine. When the fruit is ready, 
the fruit is cut off and dried in the sun for a week. 
Mire reaches out to you by picking good fruits.
Mire tastes very hot. Mire is used as a spice in 
many vegetables and has many medicinal uses.
                  Cinnamon - Aromatic Spice!
Biryani, masale bhat, narli bhat or goda masala 
cinnamon are very popular. One of the fragrant 
spices. Whether it is khada masala or ground 
masala, cinnamon gives a different flavor. 
Cinnamon is an important spice in cooking as well 
as an excellent remedy for many ailments.
In Ayurveda, cinnamon has many alternative 
names. E.g. Passionate (pungent perfume) Skin 
(used for peel skin experiment) Facial cleansing, 
aroma, wheat odor, perfumery, heart, pleasing, 
alcoholic.
Cinnamon is a tall evergreen tree. The bark of an 
old tree is dry and brittle. It tastes a little bitter and 
spicy. We also use bay leaves or bay leaves of 
cinnamon tree in spices.
        Vekhand - Aromatic multi-useful tuber
Vekhand is well known in many homes, including 
grandmother's wallet, home remedies. Vekhand is used in 
various forms like Vacha Balguti, Dhuri, Lap. Vekhanda has an 
evergreen kshup. There are tubers that grow like ground 
tubers.
As it reduces pain and swelling, it is used in rheumatism, 
headache and rheumatic disorders.
The strong odor helps to reduce the phlegm that accumulates 
in the throat and chest. Therefore, in case of cold in the 
chest, if the phlegm gets thick, it is rubbed and applied. 
Cough is especially useful in children with asthma and colds.
If there is fever due to cold, remove the vekhanda and apply 
vekhanda on the forehead. So that the fever does not rise 
and go to the head.
Ahaliv- A small seed that increases strength!
A very big social change in Lockdown Many 
people have experienced that a trend starts on 
social media and everyone starts imitating it. 
You must have experienced a lot about 
gluttony. There were so many trends like broken 
fruit, cake, dolgana coffee at home that many 
made and shared on social media. 
I also got to read a trend called Ahaliv Laddu. 
Someone made it themselves as they have 
culinary skills. Someone asked for it. The 
importance of Ahaliwa was explained to 
everyone. In Ayurveda
                 Licorice - a sweet-tasting plant!
We use sweet sticks of Jeshthamadha or 
Madhuyashti in the mask. Licorice powder is 
used in finely chopped sweet betel nut. Licorice 
is readily available. Licorice is a sweet juice. 
It is also called Madhuk. In Ayurveda, senior 
honey is used as medicine in many places. 
Whether it is digestive disorders or respiratory 
or cold cough, it is beneficial to chew a piece of 
elder honey or powder. 
Licorice works best on all hair complaints. In 
case of hair loss or hair ripening, honey extract 
should be used for washing hair. If there is an 
injury or ulcer, the wound heals quickly if the 
elder honey is used as an ointment with ghee.
      Fennel - A beneficial dill in every home
Dill or fennel is present in every home. Dill is used in 
some foods to make it taste good. Many people have 
a habit of eating dill after a meal. A mixture of dill, 
elder honey, betel nut etc. is made at home in the 
form of mask. 
Fennel: In Ayurveda, it has various alternative names 
like Mishreya, Madhura (having sweet taste), Mishi, 
Madhurika, Chhatra. Misreya tastes like a sweet, 
bitter red mixed juice. Fennel or mishriya is cold. 
In case of frequent thirst, soak dill in hot water and 
strain it after cooling. It also quenches thirst and 
digestion. In case of sticky stools, colic with 
constipation, taking dill along with stomach cleansing 
medicine reduces constipation and clears the 
stomach. 
         Coriander - a cure for many ailments!
Cilantro or coriander is an integral part of any 
spicy food. Every housewife uses fresh green 
cilantro to enhance the taste of the food while 
cooking. Coriander or coriander powder is used 
in spices. 
Coriander and Cilantro: Planting, Growing, and 
Harvesting Coriander and Cilantro | The Old 
Farmer's Almanac In Ayurveda, there are various 
alternative names such as Dhanyak, Kustumburu 
(Kutsitam Rogsamuh Tumbati Ardayati Iti .
Coriander and cilantro are used as medicine both 
internally and externally. Cilantro paste is anti-
inflammatory.
    Sandalwood - an anti-inflammatory plant!
The fragrant sandalwood trunk is found in 
many temples. Sandalwood Soap Incense 
Cream Lotion Perfume We use this fragrant 
plant in many ways. Sandalwood Tika is applied 
in the form of sandalwood paste not only 
because of its pleasant smell but also because 
of its cooling properties. 
Sandalwood paste is useful if the skin is on fire.
If you are suffering from heat stroke, it is useful 
to apply sandalwood on the scalp.
If sweat is foul smelling, if body is smelling of 
sweat, sandalwood should be bathed in bath 
water. bile scarring and fire.
                     Clove - Keep the odor away!
Many people are accustomed to taking cloves 
for mouthwash. Clove is used as a fragrance or 
as a home remedy. Clove is especially used in 
pulao biryani, sugar rice, coconut rice or vidya 
leaves. 
Various alternative names like Devakusum, 
Sriprasun, Chandanpuspak, Warij have come up 
in Ayurveda for cloves. Clove is used in the 
form of buds.
 Drying is available in this market. Clove and oil 
extracted from it are useful for medicinal 
purposes.
          Sandhav - Salt beneficial to health!
Salt is an integral part of the diet. There is no 
taste in food without salt. In Ayurveda, the 
types and properties of salt are stated. Any salt 
should be used sparingly. In practice, we rarely 
use Sendha, sea salt or any other weed salt. All 
these salts have different properties. 
Accordingly, its effect on the body is seen.
 * Let's see what are the qualities of Sandhwa-
Of all the types of salt obtained from Sandhav, 
Sandhav is less sharp, sweet, beneficial for the 
heart, reduces the three defects of 
tridoshashamak, vata pitta kapha, is easy to 
digest, is mild, is beneficial for the eyes, and 
ignites gastritis.
        Triphala - Triphala medicine for many ailments!
Triphala powder is a medicine known to many. 
Triphala powder is famous for its stomach 
cleansing powder. But in addition to this, Triphala 
is a chemical medicine that cures many ailments.
The name Triphala suggests that it uses three 
fruits. These three fruits are Hirda, Behda and 
Amla. The fruits of these three plants are used in 
Triphala. What are the characteristics of these 
three plants -
Hirda - meaning green, contains 5 juices of 
shadars. Sweet, sour, bitter, bitter, all five juices 
are not just salty juices. It is easy to digest, 
increases gastritis, helps in digestion of food, 
cleanses the stomach. Besides, 
               ‘Cumin ` - Multiplicity will improve digestion!
Kitchen spices have many medicinal properties. 
That is why these different spices are used in 
different dishes in your home. Indian food culture 
is characterized by the use of this spice. These 
spices are skillfully used in every home. The main 
purpose is to taste the food; However, since some 
substances are hot, icy and increase bile, taking 
too much of it continuously can also cause 
disorders. 
Cumin: Very useful spice substance. We use cumin 
seeds to enhance the taste of amkti. Cumin is also 
called as digestive. In Ayurveda, Jirak and 
Krishnajirak (Shahajire) are described.
      Ova - a little ova is a must in every home!
Ojwa (Ajwain) is used in many foods for flavor. 
Ova tastes good with puri, paratha, chakli etc. 
Also, knowing that ova has many benefits, every 
housewife uses ova wisely. We take ova bhajan 
as a mask. In Ayurveda, many virtues of Ova are 
mentioned.
What a perfect name for Deepika! This is a 
feature of Ayurveda. Its nomenclature from the 
merits of the plant. You will also notice how 
large your vocabulary is. Dipyaka as the 
gastrointestinal tract illuminates! So Ova is hot. 
Therefore, it is mitigating / reducing but 
increasing bile. The main one that enhances 
interest, reduces colic is the best dewormer. Is 
deworming.
          Ginger: Herbal medicine in Ayurveda!
You may know a Marathi saying ‘Sunthivachun 
khokla gela’. Used to mean solving a problem 
without any treatment. But do you know how 
useful this ginger is for many ailments like cough?
Ginger is made by drying ginger. Ginger is hard to 
digest while ginger is light (due to loss of 
moisture).
Increases appetite, digestion. Cough and 
flatulence.
In Ayurveda, shunthi (made by drying) is said to 
be a herbal medicine, Vishwabhesaj (being useful 
for many ailments).
Advantages, uses and disadvantages of ginger - 
Ginger ... In Ayurveda, it is said to use ginger in 
the diet while explaining the rainy season. 
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