BERGAMOT

Bergamot (Monarda didyma):

Bergamot is an American herb that was once widely used.It was introduced to the early colonists by the Oswego Indians, and Oswego tea was made by colonists during the time of the Boston Tea Party. The dark pink, red and purple flowers smell pleasantly of oranges. They are a nice addition to the flower border and attract bees.

Uses Of Bergamot:

Use the leaves to make a facial steam.
The leaves and flowers add color and flavour to potpourri.

Lemon bergamot is a long-lasting cut flower.
Five or six large fresh leaves or 1 teaspoon dried leaves in 8 ounces boiling water make a refreshing and relaxing tea.
Improves the flavour of pork dishes.
Use fresh young leaves sparingly in salads, fruit salads and fruit drinks.

GINGER

Ginger is the monocotyledonous perennial plant. It is the edible part of the plant that is commonly used as a spice in cooking throughout the world. It is actually the horizontal subterranean stem or rhizome of the plant. Ginger as a plant has a history of cultivation known to have spread to India.Chinese have been using ginger for for more than thousands of years for digestion and treatment of stomach upset, diarrhea, and nausea. Ginger has also been used to for treatment diarrhea, arthritis, heart diseases and colic. Ginger is also use in around the world as an important medicinal herb for treatment for common cold, flu-like symptoms and headaches. Some people even use for painful menstrual periods. Ginger grows in fertile, moist, tropical soil. So cultivated in Jamaica in a great quantity. The Ginger of the West Indies is the best one. Ginger those are grown in Jamaica is a light-brown colour with short rhizome, very pungent. Cochin, India has a very short rhizome, coated red-grey colour. 'Coated or uncoated' is the trade term for peel on or skinned. Green Ginger is the immature undried rhizome.

Medicinal Uses of Ginger:

Ginger root is widely used as a digestive aid for mild stomach upset.
Used for prevention and treatment of nausea, vomiting, sickness, cancer chemotherapy and pregnancy.

Ginger is used as support in inflammatory conditions such as arthritis,
It is even used in heart disease or cancer..
Laboratory studies have also found that components in ginger may have anticancer activity.

Amla

Amla (Phyllanthus emblica):
Amla is a deciduous tree found both wild as well as cultivated over greater part of our country. The Amla branches give out branchlets, which bear two regular rows of simple leaves giving a false appearance of pinnate compound leaf with numerous leaflets. The minute flowers occur on the same branchlet, which develop fruits. The Amla fruit is fleshy rounded and slightly six-lobed with six lines running from tip to the base. When you open out the fruit, you will find its stone which contains 6 seeds inside it. The fruit (Amla) is green in colour and later changes into yellowish or brick red.Amla fruit is very rich in vitamin C, in quantities even 20 times that in vitamin C.
Uses of Amla:
Raw fruit is mildly purgative and removes constipation.
Powdered dried fruits help in curing anaemia, jaundice and bronchitis.
Amla sherbet taken along with lemon juice cures bacillary dysentery.
Powdered amla seeds have been found treating asthma.
Amla is very good in treating scurvy.(vit.C deficiency)

CINCHONA

Cinchona:

The Cinchona tree has been named after the Countess of Cinchona (1756-1639), wife of Spanish vice Roy of Peru. While in Peru she was severely laid down with fever. At the advice of the local inhabitants who used to suffer from such fevers (malaria) she was cured by the infusion of the bark of this tree. She was so convinced about the curative properties of the bark of this tree that she asked her relatives in Spain to introduce this plant there. From Spain it spread to Italy and many other countries including India and some other eastern countries. The Cinchona tree ranges from small to large in size. it is evergreen. The leaves are entire, opposite, leathery and mildly pointed. The floers are tubular. The bark yields 30 chemically related alkaloids of which quinine is important.

Uses of Cinchona:
Quinine is an excellent medicine for malaria.
It is also used for treating pneumonia, amoebic dysentery.
It had been used even for eye lotion.

ALOE VERA

Aloe Vera :

The aloe plant has been used as far back for its medicinal purposes. The plant was originally acquired from Socotra, a island located in the Indian Ocean. Even today, after making the pilgrimage to Mecca, Muslims place the Aloe plant over their doors as a protection from evil. The plant is a green spiny shrub that produces close to 25 leaves, forming an attractive rosette appearance.

Uses Of Aloe Vera:

The gel of the aloe plant’s leaves is used in cosmetics and skin treatments.
Europeans use aloe as a laxative and digestion aid.
Aloe contains a component that acts against viruses such as the flu, chickenpox, and herpes and can also kill bacteria.
Aloe also stops bowels from absorbing water. This speeds the passage and volume of the bowel’s contents, resulting in a laxative effect.Aloe Vera possesses healing properties and speeds the healing of skin injuries such as poison ivy and burns.

TURMERIC

Turmeric(Curcuma longa):
Turmeric is an important condiment, very commonly used in spices. It is the dried and processed rhizome(modified underground stem)of a herbaceous perennial plant. Turmeric is primarily the native of India and China.
The leaves are long, broad, somewhat pointed and bright green. The flowers are pale yellow.

Uses Of Turmeric:
1.> Turmeric is used as a powder. It paste in ghee or some oil is applied on skin injuries to prevent infections.
2.> Turmeric paste in ghee is aloso used for teating sprains.
3.> Boiled in milk and sugar added to it is used for treating common cold.
4.> Some people use turmeric-containing tooth paste for oral hygiene.

NEEM

Neem (Azadirachta indica):
Neem is called Margosa in English, Nimba in Sanskrit, Vepa in Tamil and Telgu, and simply Neem in Hindi, Bengali and most other languages.

Neem is a common tree growing almost throughout India. It is often planted near villages and along roads. It is a medium or large sized tree, and is evergreen with a dark rough bark.

Neem leaves are very distinctive. These are pinnately compound leaves with leaflets. The leaflets are obliquely curved with toothed margins.The flowers are small, pale yellowish coloured and honey-scented. The fruits (“Nimbolis”) are usually yellow or purple, 1.5-1.8cm long with a single seed inside.

Neem leaves contain a bitter principle which consist of Nimbin, Nimbidin and some sulphur.

Medicinal Uses Of Neem:
The green leaves are crushed and made into a paste or poultice for healing skin wounds, eczema etc.
An infusion of leavesin vegetable oils is used for curing skin infections.
Young leaves are also cooked and eaten to get rid of intestinal and other infections.
The Neem sticks are used as tooth sticks.The twig sap has bactericidal effect and helps in keeping gums and teeth free of infections.
Neem seeds are crushed to obtain the famous Margosa oil which is very effective in curing of leprosy and skin diseases.

TULSI

Tulsi:
The Tulsi or Ocimum sanctum "The Queen of Herbs" - is the most sacred herb of India Tulsi has been revered in India for over five thousand years, as a healing balm for body, mind and spirit, and is known to bestow an amazing number of health benefits. Tulsi is a venerated plant. It is considered as an important symbol and worshiped by Hindus. Tulsi grows wild in the tropics and warm regions. Tulsi has a greater medicinal value and each variety lends its own distinct and characteristic taste that contributes to the delicious flavor and aroma of our blend.
Tulsi is a perennial herbaceous plant. It is very commonly grown in Indian homes. Thus it is readily available for curing minor ailments. Its leaves are bright green with toothed margins. The small flowers are borne in a series around a long slender branch. The seeds are mucilaginous.

Medicinal Uses of Tulsi:
* The juice of leaves is used in catarrh (inflammation of mucous membrane of nose & air passages) and bronchitis.
* The juice is dropped in ear as a remedy for ear ache.
* The infusion of leaves is used for treating stomach disorders of children.
* The paste of leaves is used in certain skin diseases.
* Seeds are used genital and urinary diseases.

Thus, Tulsi’s extracts are used in ayurvedic remedies for inflammation,common colds, stomach disorders, heart disease, headaches, various forms of poisoning, and malaria. Traditionally, tulsi is taken in many forms: as an herbal tea, dried powder, fresh leaf, or mixed with ghee. Essential oil extracted from Karpoora Tulsi is mostly used for medicinal purposes and in herbal toiletry. For centuries, the dried leaves of Tulsi have been mixed with stored grains to repel insects.

Some people regularly consume one or two leaves every day either directly or boiled in milk or tea.