Ginger

What are its medicinal qualities?

From an Ayurvedic perspective, ginger is a superfood, particularly for digestion, respiration and the joints. It is believed to destroy ama or toxins, enkindle the digestive fire, improve the secretion of digestive enzymes, prevents nausea and stop hiccups. It also improves peripheral circulation and warms up the body, reducing feelings of cold and pain - perfect for Vata or Kapha folk in cold climates. It can even be helpful in congestive-type cardiac disorders when used at a high dosage. Ginger clears phlegm in the lungs, alleviating coughs, colds and breathing difficulties. Despite its warming quality, it also reduces inflammation by inhibiting the activity of prostoglandins so is used in many traditional forumlations to treat arthritis. For the same reason, hot, fresh ginger tea is also great medicine for menstrual cramps. Ginger also has a rejuvenating effect on the body/mind and is considered Sattvic, helping to promote a calm, peaceful mind (1). In Ayurveda, ginger is used in a wide variety or formulations, in home remedies as a pulp or juice and even in herbal boluses for treatments like Pindaswed.

Cardamom

Cardamom is a gut friendly spice known universally for its rich aroma and commonly used in South Asia and middle east. It is extremely versatile and it often seen as one of the spices in 'masala chai', rice puddings and desserts; but also as flavouring agent in savoury dishes like the 'Biryani'. As for it's gut friendly role, it has been known to be a 'carminative', i.e. it helps in gastric relief when one if facing problems like bloating. Aromatically, it has a sweet fragrance and thus has been incorporated as an essential oil that can be used along with other essential oils like citrus and other spices.

Fennel

Fennel is another spice that is fondly used across many cultures and is loved for its aniseed like flavour. Often incorporated in desserts and mouth fresheners or 'mukhwaas', it is believed to have properties to relieve digestive discomfort, flatulence, cramps and improve digestion in general. They may be consumed as part of tempering in food, powdered, soaked in water - the options are endless!

Cinnamon

Apart from the fact the Cinnamon rolls and buns are a big hit worldwide and that they definitely make Christmas merrier; these sticks have a personality of their own! According to Ayurveda, it is one of the most potent spices with anti-oxidant properties. It is very commonly used a whole spice for flavouring savoury dishes in many cultures and offers a sweet, woody and earthy flavour to the dishes prepared using it.

Turmeric

Another 'super spice' with properties of being anti -oxidant, anti-inflammatory and most commonly for a colouring and flavouring agent in food. It's known to be extremely beneficial to the skin and is often used in pre-wedding ceremonies for enhancing the glow on the face of both brides and grooms in many South Asian cultures. Research also suggests that the active ingredient of turmeric , i.e. Curcumin has anti-microbial properties and has been investigated for therapeutic purposes in various types of cancers

basil

Basil as a herb is loved for its freshness and is used not just on pizzas but also to liven up our drinks! It offers a great combination along with red sauce for Italian food but also with Elderflower cordial and lemon for our drinks. In Ayurveda - it is believed to work really well for cold relief along with warm honey and help dealing with stomach spasms.