Fenugreek (Methi)
Also known as
Latin : Trigonella foenum
English : Fenugreek
Sanskrit : Methika
Hindi : Methi
Tamil : Ventayam
Telugu : Menthulu
Malayalam : Uluva
Kannada : Mentya
How it looks�It is an aromatic, erect annual herb with pinnate, leaves and toothed leaflets. The flowers are white or yellowish white and the fruits are pods with many seeds.
What we use�Leaves, seeds
What it does�Leaves�refrigerant, aperients
Seeds�mucilaginous, aromatic, carminative, tonic, galactogogue, astringent, anaphrodisiac.
How we use it�
In
griping abdominal pain�A tsp of powdered fenugreek seeds mixed in buttermilk helps digestion and relieves pain
In
flatulence�Crush a few fenugreek seeds with a pinch of rock salt for quick relief from flatulence.
In
piles & oral ulcers�Including fenugreek leaves in plenty in the diet of a piles patient is useful.
In
eruptive fevers�Give plenty of fenugreek water during the early stage of small pox, chicken pox or measles. (A tsp of the seeds is soaked in a pint of water overnight to
prepare fenugreek water). The alkaloid trigonelline in fenugreek is antiseptic and carminative.
In
dandruff�2 tsp of fenugreek seeds are soaked overnight in water and the softened seeds are ground and left on the scalp for half hour to get rid of dandruff.
In
eczema�After washing the lesions with a solution of tea and rock salt, the part is dried and covered with a dilute paste of fenugreek and red sandal.
To
clean skin�A mixture of green gram, bengal gram and fenugreek seeds makes a good substitute for soap.
As a
shampoo�Similarly, shikakai green gram and fenugreek seeds in proportions of 2:1:1/2 are powdered together and used with water whenever necessary.
In
joint stiffness�Drinking a tsp of fenugreek powder in some warm water is useful in preventing tightness of the joints.
In
white vaginal discharge�Methi powder mixed with curds is effective in controlling infection. The same recipe is a tested remedy for diarrhoea.
After
delivery�Fry fenugreek seeds in ghee and finely powder them. Mix this in wheat flour and sugar and make a halwa- like preparation. This is proved to normalise a woman's
system after delivery. Dosa-1 table spoon every day.
In
heart problems�Fenugreek seeds in water everyday is a natural tonic for the heart.
As a
body coolant and tonic�Rice/starch water with a tsp of fenugreek powder is an excellent body coolant
Modern Studies
Recently animal studies have shown the effectiveness of fenugreek in reducing blood pressure.
As a diet in pregnancy, diabetes and anaemia, it has proved to be nourishing and vitalising.
