Kantakari is an herbal plant which grows in most part of the Asian countries and especially in India. In botanical terms, it is known as Solanum Xanthoacarpum, and grows up to a height of 1.2 meters. Its branches are covered densely with star shaped minute hairs when the plant is young. When the plant matures, branches become zigzag, have yellow color and shining prickles that are pin sharp which spread towards the ground. Other nerves and midribs of the leaves consist of sharp prickles in yellow color and grow to a length of 10 cm. The Kantakari flower blooms are purple in color having five petals and grow up to 2 cm. These flowers grow in a bunch and sometimes they can be seen on the opposite sides of leaves. Kantakari mostly grows in wild areas where enough water is available. Various places in India are filled with these plants that spread over large areas.

The plant of Kantkari is glabrous which drops fruit berries which are pale yellow in color having green veins. This plant is cultivated in all parts of India in large numbers due to its herbal features. In different parts, it is known as:

Sanskrit: Nidhigadhika and Kantakari.
Hindi: Ringani, Katai, and Kateli.
Bengali: Kantakari.
Marwari: Bhuiringani.
Gujarati: Bhoyaringani.
Telugu: Vankuda, Nelamulaka, and Pinnamulaka.
Tamil: Kadankattiri.
Punjabi: Warumba, Mahori, and Kandyali.
Oriya: Ankranti and Bhejibegun.
Bihar: Rangaini Janum, Regnie and Bhat Khataya.

The names of the plant are different because it is easy to find and people used their own terms to define it. In the past people had been using it for different purposes and all these applications are still an important part of the Ayurvedic Herbal system. This plant has a great many medicinal properties. Many medicines use it.

Benefits and uses of Kantakari:

• It is very good in treating cold, fever, stomach worms, diarrhea, muscle pain, liver enlargement and urinary bladder stone.
• Asthma and Symptoms of Headache are easily controlled with the daily use of Kantakari.
• For dental infections dried Kantakari is used as cigarettes. The smoke has medicinal values. It treats gums and all other infections.
• Kantakari berry juice is very good for curing sore throat and gives instant relief.
• Kantakari helps in treating piles.
• Kantakari paste when applied on joints has a soothing effect and helps reduce the pain. For Arthritis patients it is a blessing because it is cheap and can be used many times.
• Its roots and seeds work as an expectorant for chest pain, cough and asthma.
• In case of scorpion and snake bites, kantakari roots can be grounded and mixed with lemon and used.
• Kantakari stem fruits and flowers have a bitter taste, but they aid in removing burning sensations.
• Kantakari fruit has a positive response in increasing seminal ejaculation, and reduces itching and body fat.
• In females, it helps in curing dysmenorrhea and irregular menstruation.

Preparing Kantakari gravy

Many people in different parts of India use the Kantakari gravy which is a delicious food. For preparing Kantakari the method is very easy. Only a few ingredients are needed. These are: 15 to 20 pieces of Kantakari, ¼ cup of Coconut, ¾ teaspoon of Cumin Seeds, 1 teaspoon of Coriander seeds, a handful of Shallots, Red chili and 2 teaspoons of tamarind Paste. Mustard seeds and Curry leaves are optional. Here is the preparation method:

1) Wash Kantakari well before cooking. Remove the thorns from the top parts and cut them in half. There will be seeds inside, which should be removed with a knife or a spoon. The seeds change the taste of the food and also they get burned quickly.
2) Pour oil in a pan and let it heat for a few mins. Then splutter some mustard seeds if you want. Cut the red chilies and curry leaves and put it in the pan and stir them well. Once a fragrance comes out, put Kantakari and fry it well.
3) In a different pan, fry shallots and add cumin seeds along with coriander seeds. Once it is fried, remove it and let it cool for some time. Add fresh coconut and put ¼ teaspoon of turmeric powder and grind it using water for making a smooth paste.
4) Put some cooked paste in the pan of Kantakari and heat it for a while. Add some salt according to the taste. Do not add too much salt as it can spoil the curry.
5) Cover the pan with a lid and let the gravy boil over low heat. Stir the gravy from time to time. Add a pinch of Jaggery and let it cool down.

This curry can be eaten with rice once in a week for health benefits. Be very careful when you are handling the fruit as it is very thorny. Every member of the family can enjoy this gravy at the table.

Ashwagandha is commonly termed as Indian Ginseng. It gives several health benefits such as fighting cancer, inflammation, asthma, arthritis, stress, hypertension and much more. It contains many antioxidants which help with the regulation of immunity system. For many centuries it has been a part of the Indian Medication System. Originally Ashwagandha means horse odor and the word signified – “stay fit like a horse”. It is mainly grown in dry regions and can survive in a high temperature of 40 degrees to low temperature of 10 degrees. Apart from being a part of ancient medicinal history, Ashwagandha has also been a key factor of modern science. Modern researchers are always amazed what else this plant can do:

Anti-Inflammatory

Ashwagandha is rich in saponins, steroidal lactones, and alkaloids which have Anti-Inflammatory properties. These properties make it very effective when comes to controlling pain and inflammation in the body. For older people and athletes, it is as it reduces the pain, helps people go back to their regular working schedules. When kings sent their troops for battle, they were provided with it as its pain relief works quickly. It also helped them fight for a longer time.

Cardio Protection

With the properties of antioxidants, anti-inflammatory, and anti-stress it protects the body from the cardiovascular problems. For heart patients, it is beneficial as it strengthens muscles of the heart. Levels of cholesterol are balanced, which keeps a person fit. Overall, it is very effective in balancing the heart. Even if a person is not suffering from heart problems he still can use it. Ashwagandha makes the heart strong and the person also feels much younger from inside. Stronger heart muscles mean the balance of blood circulation is maintained in the body. It also helps reduce the effects of heart attacks.

Prevention from Bacterial Infection / Depression

Since ancient times it has helped people live longer. The reason being that they were free from any kind of bacterial development in the body. It improves the body’s immunity and fights bacteria. It also alleviates mental health problem of depression, which can make a person to feel anxiety and worry. It also helps to balance the fluids in the brain and the person does not feel any kind of depression. Ashwagandha has proved beneficial for anxiety. It relaxes the body quickly and the person feels charged up and when taken in the night it helps with sleep related problems.

Protection against Diabetes

Ashwagandha can easily control diabetes when taken regularly for 4 weeks. It does so by balancing the sugar levels in the blood. Many of the modern medicines now have the properties of Ashwagandha. It lowers the sugar level and it has no side effects. It is entirely herbal in nature and the process is a little slow but very effective. If consumed by a person who is not diabetic, it still helps by keeping blood sugar levels in control.

Improves blood growth

Blood cells in the body continuously die and regenerate. Ashwagandha has Haematopoietic properties which increase the process of Haematopoiesis which in turn increases the rate of blood cell regeneration. Red and white blood cell counts increase within a few weeks of regular consumption. It brings about a noticeable change in the body.

Strengthens Immunity system

Ashwagandha is now a key product in many medications. One reason is it makes the immune system stronger and enables the body to fight against various diseases. Those people who easily become ill have a weak immune system. Their medication may not help to develop the immune system. Instead, it just cures of the disease. Taking Ashwagandha helps develop the immune system, as it has antibacterial and stress relieving properties.

How to take Ashwagandha

Taking Ashwagandha is very easy and convenient. It is recommended not to take it in large amount. The roots of Ashwagandha are available in the market in the form of powder, fresh roots or dried roots. It is also available online. Dried roots of Ashwagandha, or Ashwagandha powder can be added to boiling water and one can drink it like tea. Ashwagandha tea in the morning will keep the body fit for the whole day. The normal dose is one teaspoon of powder in one cup of water. It can also be taken with hot milk at night to reduce insomnia.

Triphala means combination of three different fruits – Amalaki aka Emblica Officinalis, Bibhitaki aka Terminalia Bellirica and Haritaki aka Terminalia Chebula. It is most commonly used for bowel problem and has smoothing effects over digestion. Ayurveda Triphala is utilized for various other problems too, like urinary, respiratory, nervous system related and reproduction related ones. It has powerful antioxidants that protect body cells from damage over the course of time. The anti-ageing substitute present in it keeps a person young by keeping them healthy. Many diseases occur due to improper digestion. Keep your digestion strong by consuming Triphala. Since ancient times, many people have used it for a longer and healthy lifestyle.

Three fruits used for Triphala have their unique effects on the body:

Amalaki: Amalaki is traditional Indian gooseberry which greatly supports digestion. It is also a main ingredient in many herbal supplements. Aside from digestion Amalaki gives various other benefits, such as balancing the sugar levels in blood, protecting the eyes, maintaining cholesterol levels, etc.

Bibhitaki: Bibhitaki has the ability to treat problems related to diabetes, headache, constipation and asthma. There are many minerals, vitamins and proteins present in it that the human body requires. It is recommended for hair problems including the occurrence of Dandruff.

Haritaki: Haritaki is a rich source of several minerals, including copper, potassium, iron, manganese and selenium. It has cardio tonic and anti-bacterial properties which prevent the growth of intestinal bacteria. All the five senses of the human body get benefits from this fruit, while their power also improves. In case of eye infection just washing the eyes with Haritaki decreases the effects of infection. Its pulp helps to increase levels of blood oxygen, thus enabling the tissues to live for a longer period of time.

When all the three fruits are combined, they complement each other. A person of any age can get benefits from it. Using it daily makes a person stay healthy and keeps them active all day long.

Balancing body weight

The body weight increases when unwanted fats are present in a body. These fats keep on growing because the digestion system is not clearing it. This is one of the reasons why there are more fats near belly areas. Triphala reduces the body weight by reducing these fats in body. People do exercises to reduce weight, but again food is needed to have energy. A person cannot stop eating food. But daily consumption of Triphala reduces and balances the body weight. With cholesterol and oxygen levels balanced, the body feels refreshed all the time. Triphala is also effective for gaining body weight. It divides the fats equally to every part of the body with balanced oxygen flow through the blood.

Skin Rejuvenation

If you want a simple method to keep the skin smooth and glowing all the time, then Triphala Skin Rejuvenation is what you need. Skin becomes dull because the proper amount of oxygen is not reaching it. This also damages the skin cells. These damaged cells can be seen as dark spots, which make a person’s appearance dull. Using Triphala prevents cells from being damaged and clears pigmentation. It also helps those with severe acne problems. Its regular use results in marked improvement within a few weeks. A Triphala face mask can also be prepared and applied on the face. It kills all bacteria that remove the cells, which makes the skin become fairer.

Hair and Dandruff problem

Hair fall makes everyone feel bad. With Triphala, those worries can be set at rest. Triphala is a simple and proven solution to hair fall problem. Cells present in the roots of the hair become week and this is why hair falls. The nutrients do not reach the roots of the hair, which reduces the strength of the hair. Dandruff is the other reason that makes the hair weak. Hair cells need to be strong so that they stick well. The scalp has to be moisturized well, so dandruff does not occur again and hair have their proper growth. Use Triphala before going to sleep and within a few months the hair problems are sure to reduce.

Using Triphala

Tea form: It is one of the oldest forms wherein Triphala Powder is added to boiling water. Just stir it well in warm water, or boil it and drink. It starts working rapidly for digestion problems. You will find five different types of tastes in it! Sour, Sweet, Bitter, astringent and pungent. This tea is recommended to be taken on an empty stomach. Take it once in the morning when you wake up, and take a second one 30 minutes after dinner.

Tablet Form: Triphala tablets are especially for those who find it difficult to drink tea of Triphala. Tablets are easily available at any Ayurvedic or online store. Be sure to take it in proper portions. Many people do complain that they are having problems while using it. The reason for this is that they consume it more than needed.