Tamil Name: பெருஞ்சீரகம் Fennel is a perennial, pleasant-smelling herb with yellow flowers. It is native to the Mediterranean, but is now found throughout the world. Dried fennel seeds are often used in cooking as an anise-flavored spice. But don’t confuse fennel with anise; though they look and taste similar, they are not the same. Fennel’s dried ripe seeds and oil are used to make medicine. Fennel is used for various digestive problems including heartburn, intestinal gas, bloating, loss of appetite, and colic in infants. It is also used for upper respiratory tract infections, coughs, bronchitis, cholera, backache, bedwetting, and visual problems. Some women use fennel for increasing the flow of breast milk, promoting menstruation, easing the birthing process, and increasing sex drive. Fennel powder is used as a poultice for snakebites. In foods and beverages, fennel oil is used as a flavoring agent. In other manufacturing processes, fennel oil is used as a flavoring agent in certain laxatives, and as a fragrance component in soaps and cosmetics.
Tamil Name: வெந்தயம். Fenugreek is a plant. The seeds are used to make medicine. Fenugreek is used for many conditions, but so far, there isn’t enough scientific evidence to determine whether or not it is effective for any of them. Fenugreek is used for digestive problems such as loss of appetite, upset stomach, constipation, and inflammation of the stomach (gastritis). It is also used for conditions that affect heart health such as “hardening of the arteries” (atherosclerosis) and for high blood levels of certain fats including cholesterol and triglycerides. Fenugreek is used for kidney ailments, a vitamin deficiency disease called beriberi, mouth ulcers, boils, bronchitis, infection of the tissues beneath the surface of the skin (cellulitis), tuberculosis, chronic coughs, chapped lips, baldness, cancer, and lowering blood sugar in people with diabetes. Some men use fenugreek for hernia, erectile dysfunction (ED), and other male problems. Women who are breast-feeding sometimes use fenugreek to promote milk flow. Fenugreek is sometimes used as a poultice. That means it is wrapped in cloth, warmed and applied directly to the skin to treat local pain and swelling (inflammation), muscle pain, pain and swelling of lymph nodes (lymphadenitis), pain in the toes (gout), wounds, leg ulcers, and eczema. The taste and odor of fenugreek resembles maple syrup, and it has been used to mask the taste of medicines. In foods, fenugreek is included as an ingredient in spice blends. It is also used as a flavoring agent in imitation maple syrup, foods, beverages, and tobacco. In manufacturing, fenugreek extracts are used in soaps and cosmetics. Fenugreek leaves are eaten in India as a vegetable.
Tamil Name: கருங்சீராகம் Black seed is a plant. People have used the seed to make medicine for over 2000 years. It was even discovered in the tomb of King Tut. Historically, black seed has been used for headache, toothache, nasal congestion, and intestinal worms. It has also been used for “pink eye” (conjunctivitis), pockets of infection (abscesses), and parasites. Today, black seed is used for treating digestive tract conditions including gas, colic, diarrhea, dysentery, constipation, and hemorrhoids. It is also used for respiratory conditions including asthma, allergies, cough, bronchitis, emphysema, flu, swine flu, and congestion. Other uses include lowering blood pressure, lowering cholesterol levels, treating cancer, and boosting the immune system. You may read that a patent has been issued to cover the use of black seed to improve immunity, but don’t be misled. The presence of a patent doesn’t mean black seed has been shown to be effective for this use. Women use black seed for birth control, to start menstruation, and to increase milk flow. Black seed is sometimes used in combination with cysteine, vitamin E, and saffron to ease the side effects of a chemotherapy drug called cisplatin. Some people apply black seed directly to the skin for joint pain (rheumatism), headache, and certain skin conditions. In foods, black seed is used as a flavoring or spice.
Tamil Name: வெண்ணிலா நெற்றுக்கள் Vanilla is a plant. The bean (fruit) is commonly used to make flavoring, but it is also used to make medicine. People take vanilla to treat intestinal gas and fever. They also use it to increase sexual desire (as an aphrodisiac). In foods and beverages, vanilla is a well-known flavoring, but it is also added to foods to reduce the amount of sugar needed for sweetening. Some people add vanilla to food to help stop tooth decay. In manufacturing, vanilla is used as a flavoring in syrups used in making medications. It is also used as a fragrance in perfumes. Vanilla extract can be pricey. So lab-produced vanillin is often used as a substitute for vanilla. Sometimes vanilla extracts are diluted with less expensive extracts. Vanilla extracts from Mexico have been diluted with tonga bean extracts, but these contain a chemical called coumarin. Since 1954, the FDA has prohibited the use of coumarin in food.
Tamil Name: கடுகு Black mustard is a plant. The seed and oil from the seed are used to make medicine. Black mustard oil is used for the common cold, painful joints and muscles (rheumatism), and arthritis. Black mustard seed is used for causing vomiting, relieving water retention (edema) by increasing urine production, and increasing appetite. Some people make a paste by mixing ground black mustard seed with warm water. They pack the paste in cloth and apply the cloth directly to the skin as a “mustard plaster.” This preparation is used for treating pneumonia, pain and swelling (inflammation) of the lining of the lungs (pleurisy), arthritis, lower back pain (lumbago), and aching feet. In foods, black mustard leaves (greens) are used in salads and other dishes. Also in foods, black mustard seed is used as a spice and to flavor mustard condiment. There are approximately 40 different species of mustard plant. Three different types are generally used to make the mustard condiment. Black mustard (Brassica nigra) is the most pungent. White mustard (Brassica alba) is the most mild and is used to make traditional American yellow mustard. Brown mustard (Brassica juncea) is dark yellow, has a pungent taste, and is used to make Dijon mustard. It is easier to harvest the brown mustard seed than the black mustard seed, so many mustard condiments now contain brown mustard seed instead of black mustard seed.
Tamil Name: பிரின்ஜி இலை Sweet bay is an herb. The Greeks made it famous by crowning their heroes with wreathes made out of sweet bay leaves. In addition to decorative use, the leaves and oil are used to make medicine. Sweet bay is used to treat cancer and gas; stimulate bile flow; and cause sweating. Some people apply sweet bay to the scalp for dandruff. It is also put on the skin for pain, especially muscle and joint pain (rheumatism). The fruit and fatty oils of sweet bay are used on the skin to treat boils (furuncles) caused by infected hair follicles. Veterinarians use sweet bay as an udder ointment. In food, sweet bay is used as a seasoning in cooking and in processed foods. In manufacturing, the oil is used in cosmetics, soaps, and detergents.
