Herbal Remedy Series

The Magic of Gooseberries For Health and Beauty Table of Contents Introduction How to Grow Gooseberries Gooseberry Varieties Planting a Single Shoot Gooseberry Tree Gooseberry Diseases Gooseberry Cuttings Gooseberry Harvesting Gooseberries for Health Magic Chyavanprash Chyavanprash Recipe: Gulqand – Rose Jam – Recipe: The Natural Cure For Sugar Diabetes Gooseberry for Increasing Brainpower Preventing Excessive Thirst and Prickly Heat Getting Rid of Cough Hoarse Throat Curing Migraine How Useful Is Gooseberry with Honey Try This Tip Preventing Vitamin C Deficiency Liver Problems Curing Jaundice Gooseberries for Beauty Suffering from Skin Ailments? Making a Gooseberry Skincare Cream Hair Loss Recipe Natural Conditioners for the Hair: Traditional Natural Shampoo Best Natural Rinse after a Shampoo How to make Rose water (Gulab Jal) Natural Hair Dye My Own Shampoo Hair Darkener How to Make Gooseberry Hair Oil Taking Care of Your Teeth Pyorreah Shaking teeth Gooseberries in Traditional Cooking Gooseberry Chutney Traditional Gooseberry jam Traditional Gooseberry pickles The Difference between Chutneys and Pickles Conclusion How to dry gooseberries? Desi ghee Author Bio Introduction Playing gooseberry may be an aphorism to describe an unwanted person, who is not needed in a self-contained and self absorbed group of two, but in reality, the common gooseberry is one of the most precious, wanted and valuable of natural plants. Gooseberry shrubs can be found all over the world, where the climate has plenty of sun, and the humidity content in the air is high. Native American gooseberries are larger than their Asian counterparts. Not only is this an excellent medicinal plant, but it is also well-known for its beautifying qualities. In fact, the ancient sages in the East. Make sure that they had plenty of gooseberries, in their daily diet, because they considered this fruit to be the reason for their longevity, everlasting good health, and youthful looks. The ancients called this the gift of the gods, and thought that the gods had given the gooseberry to man because even though they could not give him immortality, they could give him longevity in the shape of gooseberries. That is because Indian myth says that this plant grew from a few drops of nectar, dropping on the earth by the gods taking the treasures of the sea, to the heavens. These treasures were obtained by churning the seas by the gods and the demons. Out of them, the nectar of immortality was one. Gooseberries, also known as Emblica officianalis have long been a religious, and political symbol in India and China.This is the reason why, in ancient Indian history, myth and religious tradition, giving a gooseberry to somebody who you honored and revered was considered to be the prerogative of Kings. The Hindus worship the gooseberry tree, because they consider Lord Vishnu to live in this plant. Living in South India as a child, I consider myself to have been brought upon gooseberries, because that was what we used to gnaw at school, and best friends used to share their “nellikas” among themselves. Hiding your own supply of gooseberries was considered the height of selfishness and treachery among friends. These gooseberries were of course “purloined” from the gooseberry trees, growing in particularly targeted gardens. It is a wonder how we managed to digest those raw gooseberries, along with raw guavas. And all of us had the lyrics of a very popular song of the time down pat, of which the chorus was – Nellikai amma illi baa [lit – gooseberry lady, come here...] We enjoyed the extremely sour taste of gooseberries, when we did not have tamarinds around. And that is why, whenever we had some time to spare, we would be hitting the branches of the deciduous gooseberry tre

The Magic of Dry Fruit and Spices With Healthy Remedies and Tasty Recipes Table of Contents Introduction Dates The Hot and Cold Nature of a Date Weight Gain through Dates Date Seeds to Heal Wounds Suffering from Asthma? Multifarious Winter Ailments Cure Cashew Nuts Memory Enhancer Digestive Problems Cashew ice cream How To Make Coconut Cream And Coconut Milk How to Make traditional “Khoya” Cumin Seeds Cumin- water Suffering from Hemorrhoids? Suffering from Mild Fever? Suffering from Infected Skin Ailments – Including Acne? High Blood Pressure Remedy Conclusion Author Bio Introduction Being an avid botanist and herbal knowledge seeker since childhood, and later with a Degree in Natural Sciences, – Botany And Zoology foremost-I was happy to find that most of the plants, which I knew growing in my different gardens or in the woods just outside the boundary wires of our houses, nearly every plant had some medical, culinary or beauty use, coming down from the ages. The first medicinal compendium in the East was written more than 5000 years ago in India and before that, in China. In the West, also Western Wise men , especially in Greece, more than 3000 years ago began noting down the knowledge of the nature of plants and they are medicinal value and remedies, taught to them by their teachers and masters. One blesses the time, dedication, energy and effort taken in writing down all this knowledge, because in prehistoric times, all this knowledge was passed down through word of mouth. And most of it got lost because nobody had any visible and readable records of that knowledge. But the moment human beings got to know about writing materials like clay tablets, wax tablets, dried palm leaves and papyri as well as paper in China, this knowledge was preserved for the generations to come. We just needed to interpret it, and use it in the best way of which we knew. Most of this knowledge, when read from a scientific viewpoint is scoffed as quack remedies and sheer silly ignorance. I remember one of my acquaintances scoffing about an ancient Egyptian remedy, in which Egyptian grandmothers used to apply a paste of moldy bread, to a wound in order to cure it. That was done 4000 years ago. My sophisticated 21st-century totally scientifically minded friend shuddered at this idea full of ignorance, but what could you expect from such barbarians. When I told her that this remedy had passed down through the ages and was still in use, to cure infections. In 16th century Russia, every house had a moldy bread culture. Any bread, catching a mold would be put in a glass utensil, in which there was a little bit of water and some more moldy bread. And this culture was allowed to flourish. Anybody suffering from any cuts and wounds were immediately bandaged after the wound was washed, and treated to a moldy bread paste. When I told her that that same moldy bread was the basis of penicillin and other powerful antibiotics, discovered by Alexander Fleming in the 20th century, she blinked. These are the penicillins and sulfa drugs, which are being used by modern-day doctors. In the same way, she was equally surprised to know that the Gauls used to go to war, with huge quantities of fresh moss. The moment they suffered from wounds while fighting those Romans, those Vikings, those Juts, Firbolgs and perhaps even those Picts, -but not the Tuatha Danaan-they immediately scooped up a handful of moss, squeezed it, tied it on to the wound, bandaged it with a piece of any cloth or rope to keep it in place and continued fighting on.

The Magic of Basil – Tulsi To Heal Naturally Table of Contents Introduction How to Grow Basil Powdered basil As a Herb Getting rid of Malarial Fever Fever Influenza Rock salt Cure Preventive and Curative Fever Cures in Winter Ginger Tulsi Tea Mint Tea for Slimming A Basil Sanatorium Suffering from Acidity? Who Should Not Take Basil? How to Use Basil for Natural Remedies Caffeine addiction? Tulsi for beauty Using the Tulsi Steamer Dark Patches Dark Patches Fever Prevention in Children Fever Prevention in Children Whooping cough/dry Cough Traditional Cough Syrup Surefire Cold Remedy Powder Suffering from Chronic Cough? Curing Eczema Skin Oil To Cure Wounds Curing Burns Basil in Cuisine Preserving Basil Leaves Basil Pesto – a Genoese Dish Healthy Sprouts Mix Conclusion Introduction Basil has long been known as a valuable herb through the ages, when it was used to flavor foods. But this herb has also been a valuable an integral part of ancient alternative medicine. More than 4000 years ago, one of the greatest of ancient doctors Charaka wrote in his compendium that the juice from the leaves of the sacred basil mixed with honey taken three times a day could cure patients suffering from whooping cough and chest ailments. That was the time when people relied on natural cures, and their own inmate good health to keep healthy and live long. I am proud to present this book to you, about one of the most useful herbs available to mankind today, of which the significant benefits have been written in ancient books of the East. Oscimum sanctum is the scientific name given to the sacred basil. What is the difference between cooking basil and sacred basil? Well, to tell you very frankly, most of the cooks in the East prefer to use the plant, which has purplish colored leaves, in their food, just before serving. They call that the cooking basil. On the other hand, the sacred basil has smaller and greener leaves, more pungent in odor and in taste. One rule passed down from the ancients is that milk and Basil do not mix. So when you are getting rid of a cough and cold, you make up a mixture of one teaspoonful each of honey and dried ginger, eight black peppercorns, and 5 to 10 basil leaves and boil them in water. Drink them down twice a day, and there goes your cold. But if you are boiling these ingredients in milk, leave the basil leaves out. Sacred basil has a religious and mythological significance coming down the ages, both in the East and in the West. The Greek Eastern Orthodox church used basil in traditional rituals and the women of the house used to sprinkle sacred basil on the threshold of their houses on St. Basil’s day celebrated on 1 January in order to usher in a new and fruitful prosperous new year.

The Magic of Coconuts For Cooking and Health Table of Contents Introduction The Power of Coconut Oil Which Coconuts To Plant Coconut Birdhouse Growing of Coconuts in a Nursery Where to Grow a Coconut Harvesting coconuts. Other Uses of Coconuts How to Make Coconut Butter Coconut Cream and Coconut Milk Coconut Cream Coconut Milk Comes First How to Make Coconut Cream Last Longer Coconuts in Cuisine Indonesian Chili Chicken Simple Coconut Chutney Traditional South Indian Coconut Chutney Traditional Coconut Pudding Conclusion Author Bio Introduction The moment you hear the word “nut” you visualize a small, well, nut with a hard shell, which needs to be removed. So how did the coconut get to be called a nut, when it is definitely not a nut, but a drupe? Whether drupe or nut, the name Coco was given to this native of South America, by Spanish explorers, because they thought that it resembled the face of a monkey [Coco.] In fact, the eyes as well as the hairy appearance of the enough, made them think of a monkey, but in ancient eastern mythology, it was considered to be the face of Lord Shiva the destroyer in Hindu mythology who had three eyes For generations, the coconut has been considered to be the tree of life, because it has provided people down the ages, with everything they wished. Oil, juice, food to eat in the shape of coconut meat, coconut milk and everything nourishing, which you can get from the coconut is readily available at hand. All you have to do is climb the tree like a Coco and gather coconuts. Did you know that more than one third of the world subsists on coconuts for survival? Many Countries have based their economies on coconut products. And that is why, in many parts of the East, cutting down the coconut tree is taboo, because of its spiritual, emotional, and traditional associated bond with human beings. Coconuts are extremely rich in minerals, vitamins and in fiber. Doctors in coastal areas know that they do not have to worry about any harm coming to victims of typhoons and epidemics, as long as they are coconuts around. Asian, Eastern and Pacific cultures have long use the products of coconut, for healing and curing, especially in alternative medicines. Coconut oil is considered to be the best moisturizer as well as healing base for medical preparations since ancient times. So everything from massaging to conditioning your hair and making beauty cosmetics from coconut have been a part of Eastern, Pacific and Asian culture for millenniums. The West has finally woken up to the medical and healing potential of the coconut and its products. Thanks to extensive research being done in the UK and in the USA, people have got to know all about the healing power of the coconut. However, it was only when Jennifer Aniston was seen in the supermarket with lots of coconuts, that it began to become really popular in America as a healthy food item. Until then, it was just used as a hair conditioner or a skin moisturizer and in other natural beauty preparations. Nobody can suffer from malnutrition or dehydration, if you have a coconut tree around. It is surprising how recently modern research has found out that coconuts are both antiviral and antibacterial. In ancient Eastern medicine, people knew how to cure throat infections, mouth infections, bladder and urinary infections, kidney related diseases, influenza, pneumonia and other diseases caused by bacteria, viruses and fungi for millenniums. In fact, if you had a tree of life in your garden, you would live almost as long as did the tree. That is because you were eating itself the fruit, which would keep you healthy and with a strong autoimmune system throughout your life.

The Magic of Onions - Onions in Cuisine to Cure and to Heal Table of Contents Introduction – Knowing More about Onions Perfect Salad Recipe How to Grow Onions Planting an onion How and When To Harvest Onions? Traditional Onion Recipes Traditional Onion Soup Croutons Cream of Onion Soup Curry Powder Recipe Traditional chicken – Meat stock with onions Traditional Onion Pickle Kashmir Spice Mix Garam Masala Recipe Meat Doh Pyazah-Literally Meat Two Onions. Traditional Onion Mixed grain Bread Farmers Onion Chutney Traditional Buttermilk Sweet and Sour Onions – French Style Clarified Butter How to dry onions Conclusion Author Bio Introduction – Knowing More about Onions Is there really Magic in onions, you may say, because according to you, onions are those sharp and pungent smelling, vegetables, which you normally do not allow within smelling distance of your nose and kitchen? It is possible that you have been brought up with a feeling that onion and garlic – those odoriferous pungent smelling herbs are not acceptable in select circles. Did you know that the United States is the third-largest producer of onions in the world – after China and India, and followed by Egypt, Iran and Turkey. But then there was a time when onions grew – and still grow – wild all over the lands of the USA and Canada. The Native Americans enjoyed wild onions and the Pilgrim fathers planted the onion plant first and foremost, before corn, on American soil in 1658. That was because they knew a freshly pulled out onion from their garden added this bit of piquancy to their meals. The onions eaten by men more than 5000 years ago, according to archaeological findings may have been wild onions, but 3000 years ago, Egyptians were writing about cultivated onions and the important part this healing herb played in their food. Egyptian workers building Khufu’s pyramids ate these onions along with horse radishes in copious quantities 3000 years ago. [Incidentally, they were not slaves. They were free Egyptians. A majority of them were farmers who were asked by Khufu and afterwards Ramses, Soser and other pharaohs to help build pyramids, during the seasons when the Nile was not in flood to help cultivate their fields. So instead of sitting idly in their fields, they glorified in taking part in the building of monuments, which would magnify the pride of Egypt, and their Pharaohs throughout the world. There were no slave drivers with whips and lashes to make them sweat, whatever Mr. Cecil DeMille may want us to think. The diet of these farmers /pyramid workers was onions with herbs and horse radishes, bread made up of freshly ground corn and beer. They did not mind spending a part of their year building pyramids for their Kings who appreciated their hard work by allowing them grain from the nation’s granaries.] These Egyptians knew all about the value of onions, and worshiped them as a symbol of eternal life in many circles. Ancient Egyptians had onions placed on their eyes, before embalming or mummifying and burial, so that they could enter the circle of eternal life. With daily portions of Onions, salt and herbs Roman soldiers were happy! Roman soldiers also included onions in their diet, especially in the evenings, when they ate onions with red cayenne peppers and the salt they got as salary for the day’s work. In medieval times, onions were held to be so precious in many parts of the world, that landlords demanded onions as rent in lieu of coin from their tenants.

The Magic of Spices For Good Health and in Your Cuisine Table of Content Introduction Knowing More about Spices and Curry Powders Garam Masala Authentic Tandoori Mix Alkanet Curry Pastes Red-Hot Curry Paste Mint Best Digestive Booster Traditional Mint Chutney Spicy Mint water – Jal-Jeera – Literally Water – Cumin Seeds Making a Tamarind Infusion Mint Tea Constipation Are You Suffering from a Cough or Cold? Suffering from Nausea and Diarrhea? Asthma and Bronchitis Cure Chillies – The Spice of Life How to Use Chillies Chilblains Treatment Frequent Traveler Tip Powdered Black Salt Traditional Winter Hot Oil Bishops Weed – Lovage Lovage for Stomach Related Problems Lovage cure for Gas and Constipation Heartburn Tummy Ache Sinus Problems Asafoetida Tempering with Asafoetida Making ghee – clarified butter Spiced Salt Recipe Conclusion Author Bio Introduction The words “spice” in itself conjures up an exotic sense of something rare, something precious and valuable. Blessed be the man, who found out millenniums ago that there were grains, vegetables and fruit, which could be eaten and enjoyed. After that, there were other herbs which could enhance the taste of the pottages he made with the fruit, vegetables and grain. And then came more plant products, which he called spices, which would improve, enrich and heighten the eating experience. These spices were dried flowers, nuts, pieces of bark and other parts of trees, bushes and shrubs growing around him. Mankind did not instantly and instinctively get to know about these herbs and spices. He just observed his livestock eating some dried berries without any harm coming to them. So he tried those berries with fear and trembling. This is how coffee was discovered millenniums ago by a goat herder in far-off exotic Araby. He saw his goats munching on the dried berries of a plant. After that, he noticed that those goats were rather frisky and more energetic than their other companions. This adventurous goat herder, decided to collect the berries and grind them, because otherwise, they did not seem to be easily digestible. His wife must have told him to put them in water so that they could soften. Possibly they did not soften, but somebody drank that water. And that somebody showed quite an energetic display of enthusiasm and joie de vivre on a caffeine high. And so coffee was discovered. So what is the ruling that many of the spices discovered by mankind down the millenniums were found in just such a chance manner? Some spices are indigenous to particular areas of the world. That is why, they were very precious and used only by aristocrats. Medieval knights going away on their crusades were always told by their ladies to bring home spices. Not only would they gain respect in the eyes of their neighbors for having gone on The Crusades, but they could always sell the spices and become really rich. Well, they were just following the patterns of their ancestors millenniums ago, when Kings, princes and captured aristocrats were ransomed in spices.

Health Benefits of Rosemary For Cooking and Health Table of Contents Preface Getting started Chapter # 1: Intro Chapter # 2: How is rosemary commonly used? Chapter # 3: Types of rosemary Chapter # 4: Selection, cultivation and storage tips Chapter # 5: Precautions Benefits of rosemary to the brain Chapter # 1: Enhances memory and concentration Chapter # 2: Provides neurological protection Chapter # 3: Helps against migraines Chapter # 4: Eases stress Benefits of rosemary to the body Chapter # 1: Fights cancer Chapter # 2: Protects from macular degeneration Chapter # 3: Improves hair growth Chapter # 4: Improves digestion Chapter # 5: Skin care Chapter # 6: Good source of Vitamin C Conclusion References Preface Herbs have been used as natural remedies to all sorts of health problems for centuries. The ancients Greeks in particular, put a lot of emphasis on the use of herbs in the treatment of a variety of medical conditions. To this day, Greek medicine is practiced by its advocates as an alternative to contemporary medicine. In fact, modern science has started to prove what the ancient herbalists used in their medicine is actually effective. One prominent herb that has been used in medicine since millennia is rosemary. More specifically known as Rosmarinus officinalis, it is a perennial, woody herb that is characterized by sweet-smelling, needle-shaped leaves and flowers whose color may be white, blue, pink or purple. This herb originates from the Mediterranean region and belongs to the family of mint. Although it is used frequently by many people in several roast dishes and various types of stuffing for its characteristic aroma and strong flavor, in particular, in Italian cuisine, it has an astonishing lot of health benefits, many of which have been proved by research and some which, scientists are still in the process of researching on. These health benefits concern both the human mind and body, ranging from mild health conditions to extremely severe ones. The aim of this book is to provide you with all the information required to get acquainted with this humble yet potent herb, and how to properly include it in your daily consumption so that you can avail its benefits to the fullest. Once you have finished reading, you will realize how simple it is to take advantage of the many health benefits of rosemary. Rosemary is an herb which is surprisingly understated, but once you've read of its benefits, you’ll be convinced that it deserves to stand beside the most renowned of herbal medicines!

The Magic of Cardamoms For Cooking and Health Table of Contents Introduction How to Grow Cardamoms Growing Cardamoms from Seeds. Getting Your Seeds Ready for Sowing When to Harvest Cardamoms How to Store Cardamoms Traditional Spiced Masala Chai Making Traditional Chai Where to Use Black Cardamoms Traditional Noodle Soup Traditional Tandoori Masala Cardamoms for Healing Fighting Depression Throat and Chest Infections Conclusion Author Bio Introduction Cardamoms are considered to be one of the most expensive and precious spices in the world today, taking their place along with saffron, cinnamon, cloves and vanilla. So what is the magic about this fruit, which has made it the cause for sailors and soldiers going out to conquer lands where this plant was a native and grown extensively? Historians say that this plant is native to the Indian subcontinent, and that is why the tropical climate made this plant flourish all over Nepal, Bhutan, India, and surrounding areas. You may find cardamom in the market, packaged in green seed pods, which have to be removed so that you can find aromatic green seeds inside. The shell is papery and is equally aromatic as are the seeds. Guatemala is a top producing country for cardamoms, which are either black or green in color. Both of them belong to the same family, but are two different species. The green cardamoms which you enjoy sprinkling on your desserts , or just enjoy chewing on the seeds to freshen your breath are Elettaria, [this name has been taken from the traditional ancient name for cardamoms –elaichi- taken from the original Sanskrit ellaka] while the dark brown larger pods are Amomum. [This word has been derived from the Greek word amonos Or One without Reproach.] Many researchers believe that this is the spice referred to in the New Testament, – a large portion of which was originally written in Greek – and called amomon. In the same way, a priceless spice tablet going back more than 3000 years, and found in recent excavations in Mycenae in ancient palatial archives, talks about this precious spice-amomon. The great Greek botanist Theophrastus described this spice in 450 BCE, but he was not very certain about whether it originally came from Persia or from India. All he knew that it came from the mysterious lands of spices. Surprisingly enough, this family belongs to the same family as the well-known herb- ginger. The family is Gingiferaceae , with different genus and species making up the members of this family.

The Health Benefits of Oregano For Healing and Cooking Table of Contents Preface Getting Started Chapter # 1: Intro Chapter # 2: How is oregano commonly used? Chapter # 3: Cultivate your own oregano Chapter # 4: Ways to use oregano in cooking Chapter # 5: Oregano storage techniques Chapter # 6: Precautions Benefits of oregano to the brain Chapter # 1: Boosts mood and mental function Benefits of oregano to the body Chapter # 1: A potent antibacterial substance Chapter # 2: Strengthens the immune system Chapter # 3: Fights prostate cancer Chapter # 4: Fights eczema Chapter # 5: Causes weight loss Chapter # 5: Delays menopause in women Conclusion References Preface There are dozens of plants out there that nature has gifted with endless bounties. We use many of these plants merely for decorating our homes or spicing up our foods when in fact, they hold the secret to curing many deadly diseases and improving our lifestyle in novel ways. Our ancestors were aware of the health benefits of these plants but we have forgotten them in favor of contemporary medicine. We spend so much on health treatments when all we need is to inculcate these plants into our routine lives to take care of many dangerous health conditions. Of the many beneficial spices and herbs that nature has provided, oregano is one of particular note. Known scientifically as origanum vulgare, it belongs to the mint family and belongs originally to the warm to moderate regions of Eurasia and the Mediterranean. Having a height ranging from twenty to eighty centimeters, it is characterized by opposite leaves and flowers that are purple and spike shaped. Oregano has found uses in kitchens all over the world because of the scented, warm and somewhat bitter flavor of its leaves. The strength of this flavor is variable between the various types of oregano. Its most common use in modern day cooking can be seen in Italian-American foods which was popularized by the way it easily combines with spicy dishes, native to the south of Italy. It also has diverse uses in the cuisines of many other countries. Aside from this, oregano is rich in health imparting compounds that can boost your wellbeing both mentally and physically. Its health benefits were acknowledged by the Greeks and Austrians. This books will acquaint you with the various health benefits of this amazing herb, whose leaves are as important for medicine as they are for tasty cooking. It will describe all the best ways to utilize oregano and include it in your routine diet. Since it can be grown easily in backyard gardens, this book will also teach you the basics of that. When you finish this book, oregano will no longer be a mere topping for sautés and pizza in your eyes. Every time you visit a pizzeria where an oregano topped pizza flavor is offered, you’ll know that you’re not just eating something tasty, you’ll be eating something that will make you feel better on the inside.

The Magic of Cloves For Healing and Cooking Table of Contents Introduction How to Grow Cloves Growing from Seeds Time for Germinating Transplanting Your Seedlings Water Water Everywhere and Not a Drop to Drink... When Do You Get the Flowers and the Seeds? When Do You Harvest Them? Can You Grow Clove Plants from Cuttings? Clove Pomander Clove Oil Cloves in Ancient Remedies Cloves as Insect Repellent Suffering from Diarrhea? Not Feeling Hungry? Chest Congestion Throat Infections Healing Cuts and Bruises Clove – Cinnamon Ointment Cloves in Making Masalas Garam Masala Lamb Roast with Cloves Dal Fry Anyone for Tempering? Conclusion Winter oil Introduction I remember my father recounting a traditional and ancient Persian poem to me, which he had learned when his grandmother was busy cooking in the kitchen. She was just following ancient traditions, when women from the Mogul times – 14th-century – sang this song for fun in the kitchen, while cooking and amusing their kids at the same time. The translation from the vernacular goes something like this – Clove and cardamom – good pals they Went for a forbidden swim for kicks. And soon we heard Clove yelling. “Golly, cardamom has gone for a six ”. ¬ and so on, in more hilarious verses, about how clove would and could not bother to drag the drowning cardamom out of the water, because he would get wet, catch a cold, his momma had told him not to go swimming, and so on! Until cardamom came out of the water and both went home. Home, meaning the tummy of a gourmet who would appreciate the presence of cloves and cardamom in his delicately seasoned dish. The Association of cloves and cardamoms have been a part of the lives of spices in the East. Where you put in a couple of ground cloves, you may be asked whether you want to add some more cardamoms in, too. Most often, you say yes, because after all that is going to increase the taste quotient. Cloves also go well with cinnamon, star anise, basil and pepper. Nevertheless, this book is going to tell you all about the magic of cloves, which has been considered to be one of the most precious spices treasured down the centuries by the West. Wars were fought for cardamoms, cinnamon, pepper and cloves. Trade routes to the Indies, and to the East were jealously guarded by adventurous traders in the West. Cloves first originated in Indonesia from where traders took them all over the world, in ancient times. In fact, 3000 years ago, a Chinese emperor asked his courtiers to chew ding xiang in order to keep their breath fresh, when they came into his presence. Apart from its use in medicine, it was, and is also used extensively to add taste, sweetness, and warmth to a dish. Archaeologists have found traces of cloves in archaeological excavations going back to 1721 BC in Syria. So this shows how long this great and precious spice has been associated with mankind.

The Magic of Lemons - Using Lemons for Health and Beauty Table of Contents Introduction How to Grow a Lemon Tree How to Benefit from Lemons Traditional lemon squash (Nimbu pani- lit- lemon water) Asthma relief High Blood Pressure Cantaloupe Remedy Neem Juice Remedy Beetroot/Sugarbeet Remedy Anemia Cure Spinach Remedy Carrot Juice Remedy Pomegranate Horseradish Remedy Spicy Fried Liver Curing a Wound Infection Honey Lemon Juice Cure Sacred Basil Leaves Cure Burns Cure Burn Cure Paste Getting Rid of Burn Scars Rosewater How To Make Rose Water Where Do You Get Fullers Earth? Other Common Uses of Lemons Traditional Lemon Pickles Traditional Lemon Sherbet Traditional Bleaching Cream Lemon cleaner Easy Tips Conclusion Author's bio Introduction Lemon trees are very pretty and the lemon’s flower is sweet/but the fruit of the lemon is impossible to eat./¬ This song was very popular in the 60s and 70s, but the songwriter was wrong. Just not eating a lemon, because it is sour in taste, is going to prevent you from experiencing all the natural benefits of this versatile citrus fruit. Lemons are considered to have originated in Asia, – China and Burma – from where they managed to conquer the world. Christopher Columbus brought lemon seeds back to Europe, from his travels. It thus began to be cultivated in Europe, where before it was a rarity. It was only in the 1740s, that people in the West began to understand that there was some power in the lemons, which prevented sailors from suffering from scurvy and beriberi. They had not heard of vitamins C at that time of course, but sailing tradition spread the word through word of mouth that whenever sailors reached some islands, they had to eat of the fruit and the grasses there. That would prevent their gums from bleeding, pain in the muscles and in the bones and make them feel healthier. These fruits were citrus fruits, including lemons. This cause and effect apparent result made European Navies make it a rule that every ship sailing out of harbor should have a plentiful supply of lemons, green grasses and other citrus fruits to feed to the sailors and the officers, during the voyage. However, lemons have been known since 10 A.D. in Persia, where they were used for beautifying, culinary and medical purposes. Also, their gardens used to have lemon trees, and plenty of their traditional poetry described the lemon flower along with pomegranate flowers as a symbol of beauty and grace. The characteristic sourness of the lemon, is due to the citric acid content in it. That is why lemon juice, as well as its rind and pulp, is used in culinary preparations, all over the world. The whole of the lemon fruit can be used, with the rind ground to add a flavor to special baked dishes. Lemon juice or even the peel of the dried lemon can be used for preparing beauty products and also in natural herbal remedies.

The Miraculous Healing Powers of Ginger Table of Contents Introduction Knowing More about Ginger Natural curative properties of Ginger Precautions Ginger for Your Skin Cure infected boils Removing skin blemishes Curing Urticaria Cure itching What is Dodder? How to make desi ghee for natural remedies Pimple and blackheads remedy Ginger For Serious Diseases Rib Cage Pain Flu Jaundice Tetanus Gout Malaria Deafness Insomnia Ginger for your Throat Ginger for your Tummy Conclusion Introduction How many times have you heard this aphorism, “he has lots of pep, vim and Ginger in him” while talking about a very energetic and dynamic person. Yes, Ginger (Zingiber officinale) is that rhizome, which has been considered through millenniums to be a cure-all for all diseases in ancient medicine and give that extra zip to your life. It is a shrub, with its rhizomes growing underground. The Ginger root can have a diameter of anywhere between one – 6 inches. Ginger is best known for its strong odor and distinctively sharp taste. The origin of Ginger is supposed to be in the Indian subcontinent, from where it reached China and became a necessary part of Chinese herbal medicine millenniums ago. It has been in use as an important ingredient in herbal medicines as well as oriental cuisine for millenniums. Traders in the eighth and ninth centuries took Ginger, which is a considered to be a spice to the other parts of the world. Ginger cultivation is done mainly in India, China and Taiwan. In India, the Ginger species cultivated in Kerala is considered to be supreme in matters of taste, potency and strength. The medicinal properties of Ginger are considered to be tried and proven. Nevertheless, Western researchers are still looking for statistics which tell them that yes, Ginger works in curing diseases, and the result is visible. Well, this book should help them to get to know all about Ginger’s curative properties for diseases and to use any recipe given for any of their research. After all, these have been new ways to cure people naturally for millenniums by Chinese, Indian, [Ayurveda] Greek [Unani] and Persian physicians. For millenniums people have believed that if you have a little bit of Ginger in your daily diet, it is going to help keep you healthy. It is also going to keep your immunity system healthy, through winter and summer. Ginger is considered to be a heat producing rhizome and that is why it is eaten, more often in the winter than in summer. Dried ginger is known as a spice, while Ginger in its raw form, is considered to be a vegetable/herb. You can need Ginger raw or in cooked form. Ginger is also very popular as a Ginger pickle. So you find pieces of raw Ginger in your lemon juice accompaniment when you are eating out in an Asian restaurant, enjoy.

The Magic of Radishes to Cure and to Heal Table of Contents Introduction – Knowing More about Radishes How to Grow Radishes Harvesting Your Radishes Soils Summer Radishes Winter Radishes Radishes in Cuisine Wheat Radish Salad with Yogurt Apple Sauce with Horse Radish Thai Meat Salad With Radish Kimchi-or Fermented Radish/Cabbage Traditional Radish Stuffed Bread-Mooli Parantha Desi ghee Radishes to Cure Get Rid of Skin Diseases with Radishes Eczema Cure Blemishes on your Skin Appetite Enhancer Traditional appetizing and digestive Mint Chutney Tummy ache Dropsy Flatulence Problems Radishes for Your Hair Hair Growth Dental Care Shaking Teeth Pyorrhea Cure Toothache Insomnia remedy Conclusion Author Bio Introduction – Knowing More about Radishes I was once being shown around the organic farm of a friend of mine, and I noticed him giving me rather funny looks. “You have never been around an organic farm before, have you? Or it is possible that you have not lived in this area, have you.” Naturally, I had to ask him what made him say that, because I was used to going around organic farms, once being an organic gardener myself. He said that any native of that particular area would immediately pounce upon a radish growing in the fields, and pull it out – without waiting for an invitation from the owner – dip it into the nearest water source, and sink his teeth into it. When in Rome do as the Romans do. I did so. And thus I enjoyed the crisp natural sweetish taste of this taproot, Raphanus sativus, which has been the mainstay of so many civilizations since prehistoric times. The Romans could not do without the radish. In fact, it was eaten raw, cooked, boiled, made into salads, and not only the taproot, but even the leaves were finished by those people who enjoyed good food. The ancient Greeks and Romans used to make a paste of radish and onions with dried fish and eat it with every meal. In fact Apicius has spoken about radishes, best eaten with pepper in “his Art Of Cooking in Imperial Rome.” So I would not be surprised if the ubiquitous fish sauce, used to liquefy and spice dishes, and known as garum was not also added to dishes with another sharp flavoring agent – radish. One is grateful that radishes are available all over the world, but whether people use them for their own benefit as much as they should, is debatable. That is because many people think that radishes like onions and garlic have a distinctive odor. That is why, at parties or at get-togethers, they are just served as salad helpings, accompanied with onion slices and tomatoes.

Health Benefits of Turmeric - Curcumin For Cooking and Health Table of Contents Preface Getting Started Chapter # 1: Intro Chapter # 2: Nutritional Facts Chapter # 3: Uses of Turmeric Chapter # 4: Storing Turmeric Recipes Chapter # 1: Eggless Egg Salad Chapter # 2: Sprouted Lentil Veggie Burger Chapter # 3: Orange Turmeric Cake Chapter # 4: Quick Curried Beef Chapter # 5: Beef Carry Chapter # 6: Tagine of Lamb & Apricots in Honey Sauce Health Benefits of Turmeric Chapter # 1: Introduction Chapter # 2: Inflammation and Oxidation Chapter # 3: Cystic Fibrosis Chapter # 4: Childhood Leukemia Chapter # 5: Cardiovascular Diseases Chapter # 6: Alzheimer’s disease Chapter # 7: Cancer Chapter # 8: A Super Spice Conclusion References Nature has given us cures to every disease known to man in one form or another yet we still choose to pick synthetic treatments full of side-effects over them. These cures are right in front of us but we fail to see them; turmeric is one of these cures hidden in plain sight. Everyone in the western world knows turmeric when it comes to making curries but it is probably the most underestimated and least popular spice when it comes to its medicinal uses. For starters, turmeric is a plant from which the spice of the same name is obtained. The most common form of turmeric is its powder form, which is of bright yellow color. The use of turmeric for flavoring, for cosmetic purposes and for medicinal uses goes back to the Vedic period in India and it is since then that it has had a massive impact over the region which explains its high demand in most Indian households. This book will tell you about the health benefits of turmeric and how it cures & help fight fatal ailments. After reading this book, you will be surprised about how little you knew about this super spice and how including it in your daily life can bring back your body from the verge of expiration.

Health Benefits of Cinnamon Table of Contents Preface SECTION I – Getting started Chapter # 1: Intro Chapter # 2: How is cinnamon commonly used? Chapter # 3: Types of cinnamon Chapter # 4: Making the most of cinnamon in daily life Chapter # 5: Maximum daily dosage SECTION II – Benefits of cinnamon to the brain Chapter # 1: Boosts brain activity Chapter # 2: Protects against Alzheimer’s disease SECTION III – Benefits of cinnamon to the body Chapter # 1: Regulates blood sugar Chapter # 2: Aids in weight loss Chapter # 3: Helps fight cancer Chapter # 4: Combats infertility Chapter # 5: Reduces arthritic pain Chapter # 6: Has inherent anti-infectious properties Chapter # 7: Helps against acne SECTIONIV– Conclusion References Preface There is hardly anyone who does not consume spices regularly in one form or another. Spices find diverse uses ranging from natural flavor enhancement and brain simulation to traditional herbal medicine. There was a time when the spice trade was considered the most profitable and lucrative business by merchants who sailed from the West to the Indies. There is a plethora of extremely beneficent spices out there but the one particular spice this book is concerned with is cinnamon. Procured from the internal bark of many trees belonging to the genus Cinnamomum, it is has an international reputation as an integral part of many sweet and savory foods. What most people don’t realize is that this miraculous spice is truly a gift of nature. It has amazing benefits that go far beyond its pleasant taste and aroma. Recent studies in universities and medical research centers from around the world have proven what traditional herbalists claimed for ages: Cinnamon has powerful medicinal applications that are diverse as they are many. Its positive effects on the human physiology include those on both the mind and the body. This book contains information regarding cinnamon that will teach you its benefits and also how to use it effectively in your daily life. As you will see once you reach the end, cinnamon is a humble spice that can be incorporated into your daily consumption without disrupting normalcy. Cinnamon is nature at its most benevolent, and its benefits will leave you wondering what other secrets Mother Nature holds!

The Magic of Roses For Cooking and Beauty The Magic of Roses for Cooking and Beauty Table of contents Interested facts about roses Symbolism of Roses How To Grow Roses Roses in Cooking Rose water Gulkand( Gulqand) Recipe -Rose Jam Rose sherbet Rose sherbet Lassi-buttermilk Rose almond rice pudding Roses for Beauty Oil infusion- The slow sun method. How to make Desi Ghee (clarified butter) Quick kitchen Method Method two for essential oils Simple perfumed ointments Conclusion How to make a rose and lavender potpourri Author Bio Interested facts about Roses “A rose by any other name is still going to smell the same” so the Bard said. That is because the symbolism of the rose has been passed down through the ages since Classical Times. The word “rose” is still used to express the color pink or red in Greek, French, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish and Romanian – the Romance languages. It is believed that this woody perennial originated in Asia, and there were 160 species, which grew in number, thanks to the Empress Josephine’s interest in collecting one example of all the existing roses from 1815 to 1830. It is thanks to her that the interest in hybridization of roses began to grow in France, and from there, it spread to the rest of Europe. As hybridization of roses is an easy process, those 160 species grew up into 6000 species of roses of cultivars and hybrids. Prevost and Pepinieriste wrote down 880 names of different rose species in their Rose catalog. But other rose species, which were native to northwest Africa and North America were already being in use for medical purposes, cooking purposes, beautification purposes, and also as symbols, since ancient and medieval times. The idea of My Love Is like a Red Red Rose has been en vogue for centuries. Why is this so, because a rose is normally accompanied with “thorns” which were a defensive protective epidermal outgrowths. The original roses or creepers, and they managed to cling to plants with the help of these thorns. The idea of Roses for love have come down the millenniums as from the classical times when the rose was associated and identified with Venus – Aphrodite.

The Magic of Neem Margosa to Heal Table of Contents Introduction Neem oil Make Your Skin Blemish Free How to Grow a Neem Neem in Ancient Medicine Traditional Kajal How to Apply Kajal Curing Eye Infections Neem Seeds As a Pesticide Neem Seeds As a Pyrolysis/Stroke Massage Oil Curing Piles Sweet Neem? Halitosis Neem Seeds As Poultry and Cattle Feed Preserving Clothes and Books Curing Wounds with Neem Cleaning Infections Making a Neem Poultice My Own Neem Ointment The Slow Sun Method Another Neem Oil Method Neem Burn Remedy Sprains Prickly Heat Pain in Joints Do Your Shoes Bite? How to make Neem Ash Leukoderma Cure Fever Cure Getting Rid of Bedbugs Malarial Fumigation How to Make Neem Soap Appendix How to Make Desi Ghee Conclusion Authors Bio Introduction Most of us may have heard the name of an indigenous plant found in the East, – Neem. This is the local name for a plant called Margosa-the Indian Neem. Its scientific name is Azadirachta indica. This is a long living tree, which has come down in Indian mythology as one of the gifts of the gods, given to the people of Jambudwipa- the prehistoric and historic name of the area which consisted of the Indian subcontinent. That is the reason why this plant is worshipped in many ancient traditional rituals of some religious sects in India. Neem twigs are used as a toothbrush, even today. You break off a twig, chew it to keep your teeth healthy and then brush your teeth with this chewed portion. It is definitely bitter in taste, but you never will ever have to visit a dentist. No Indian garden is considered to be complete without a Neem tree growing. The idea is that the grandfather is going to plant the Neem tree, and the future generations up to the seventh generation are going to derive benefit of this plant. That is why the first thing one does when one buys a new house is plant a Neem tree and then plant some other fruit trees like mangoes and lemons. The Neem tree used to grow wild, but it is now cultivated extensively throughout the land. It is estimated that there are about 138 million Neem trees cultivated by farmers in Neem plantations throughout India. We are not talking about the ones which grow completely wild in the forests and in the woods or in your gardens. There has been a long mythological history of the Neem, coming down the ages. Let me give you one example. The Neem grown on the outskirts of the village, would be worshipped by ancient villagers, who wanted the friendly spirits living on the Neem to grant them their wishes. That is why, they often fed the Neem with milk or buried copper coins underneath the Neem tree. I do not know who took advantage of the buried coins, but I saw this pattern being followed as an adult, when people got to know about the only Neem tree, in the locality, which happened to have been planted by my grandfather four decades earlier.

The Magic of Yogurt For Cooking and Beauty Table of Contents Introduction Shopping for Yogurt? Investing in a Yogurt Maker How to Make the Perfect Yogurt. How to Prevent the Yogurt from Getting Watery? Yogurt in Cuisine Yogurt – cucumber soup – Tarator Raita- Mishti doi (literally sweet yogurt ) Yogurt As Tenderizer Chicken In Yogurt Making Whey at Home Buttermilk or Lassi How Do You Make Traditional Buttermilk? Yogurt for Beauty Yogurt As a Hair Conditioner. Curing Dandruff Yogurt As a Facemask. Rosewater for Beauty How To Make Rose Water Conclusion Author Bio Introduction Nobody really knows who first discovered yogurt. Butter is supposed to have been discovered millenniums ago, when camel’s milk was placed in animal skin hides while being transported from one place to another by Arab or Turkish nomads. The ambulatory movement of the camel walking across the desert seem to have a churning effect on the hides, and in the evening, when the milk was taken out of the sack, two new products were discovered. Butter and buttermilk. This possibly apocryphal serendipity is on par with the supposed discovery of wine. Millenniums ago, a Greek slave was suffering from toothache, and that was so painful that she found an earthenware pitcher full of fermenting grape juice left by some other careless slave. All those bubbles made her think that it was poison, and she would rather drink that, than suffer the pain of a toothache. So she did drink of the juice of the grape and fell asleep. And the miracle of wine was discovered to gladden the hearts of generations. No wonder the Greeks had a God Bacchus – also known as Dionysus and the Roman equivalent Liber to whom you liberally paid libations, before you drank wine – for wine. But nobody has told us how yogurt was discovered and by whom. But in ancient Indian medicine texts, the mixture of honey with yogurt eaten every day is considered to be the food of the gods to keep you everlastingly healthy. Along with yogurt, the side products of bacterially fermented milk included buttermilk and butter. Every house proud woman made sure that she kept some yogurt back from yesterday’s batch to prepare today’s batch of yogurt. These cultures have enzymes and bacteria, which are extremely beneficial for your digestive system. The enzymes produce lactic acid. Lactic acid is what is going to ferment the lukewarm milk. It is also what makes your yogurt sour if you leave it in a warm place after the yogurt has been made. So the moment you see the yogurt set, put it in a cool place.

The Magic of Salt To Heal and for Beauty Table of Contents Introduction Production of salt Differentiate between rock salt and black salt How harmful is salt really? Salt to heal common ailments Buttermilk Diarrhea Recipe for Khichri – kedgeree Flatulence Headache Dandruff Removal Oil Taking Care of Tooth Trouble Cold and Cough Remedy Salt Fomentation Bronchitis Relief Arthritis relief Traditional arthritis oil Salt for Beauty Sea Salt Scrub Skin problems Pimples and acne Prickly heat Skin Moisturizer for Itching Eczema Cure Fungal skin infection cure Where Do You Buy Rock Salt/black salt? Salt in Your Cuisine Tips Tasty Salt Spicy Mix Appendix How to make onion flakes How to make ginger and garlic flakes Desi ghee Conclusion Author Bio Introduction In this book of our Miracle Series, you are going to know more about the power of a very common ingredient, found in every one’s kitchen. This is salt, without which any salty dish is going to lose its savor and flavor. Imagine food without salt! Salt was held to be so precious in ancient times, that Roman soldiers were given salt daily at night, as salary. The idea was that they were going to have enough of salt in which they could cook their evening meal, with ground corn and onions. This was the diet on which the Roman legions marched and conquered half of the world. More than 3000 years ago, salt was used as a coin to ransom Kings and conquered prisoners, along with spices, which were considered to be more precious than precious stones and gold. It is a historically known fact that Portuguese, German and British rulers of Africa asked the local chieftains to pay their taxes in ivory, local produce, and salt. That is the reason why, the idea of “he eats salt with his food,” was said to describe a rich man. Even as late as the 19th century, when the transport system had improved imports of salt to Africa, the fierce warriors in innermost Africa still demanded salt from and of their conquered prisoners. The average man did not have salt to eat, and that is why he flavored his food with aromatic leaves and other herbs gathered from the forests. It is also a historical fact that the British tried out the same idea of taxation on salt in India, and that immediately brought the whole of India United up in arms, in their fight for independence. Salt was the birthright of every poor person in India, and putting the tax on salt was almost as much a tyranny, as putting tax on something like say, water or the air one breathed. The whole of India joined in the fight for independence, because they did not want rulers, who wanted to tax the salt they ate in their food. The quit India movement thus gained more popularity and impetus. And that is one of the factors which may be British decide to quit India in 1947. Ancient medical treatises in Egypt and Persia considered salt to be necessary ingredient in making up nostrums and remedies to cure ills. Also, salt was used as a scrub, instead of soap or even sand, to remove dust and grime after a hard days work. In many religious ceremonies, salt was considered to be with the most pure of ingredients, and that is why it was offered to the gods. If you go to Russia, you are going to be welcomed with the bread and salt. This has a historical significance. The idea of eating one’s salt, and being loyal to one’s salt has come down through millenniums, as the way in which feudal lords managed to keep the loyalty of the people under them. The one who had betrayed his own salt was a traitor to whom nobody would give any welcome. The underlying significance was a soldier worked for a feudal lord. He was paid enough with which he could afford to buy precious salt for his food. Even today in the East, one takes the pinch of salt offered to him by a friend, or by an acquaintan

The Magic of Pomegranates For Health and Beauty Table of contents Introduction Pomegranates for Beauty and Skincare Pomegranate peels for beauty Rose water Wrinkles Pimples Patchy skin – leukoderma Pomegranates for curing ailments and diseases Cure for obesity Insomnia Pomegranate peel Tooth powder Edema Joint Pain Tummy Aches Pomegranate Digestive Special Powder Diminished digestive capacity The Spicy Pomegranate Special Indigestion Acidity Diarrhea Gastric Problems Nausea Pomegranate digestive chutney Constipation Using Copper Utensils Sugarcane juice remedy Excess of Salivation Hot foods Suffering from a sore throat Nosebleed Pomegranate sherbet Urinary problems Bed-wetting Pomegranate dates chutney Conclusion Author Bio Introduction In this book of our Magic Series, the author is proud to bring pomegranates to the readers’ notice. Since ancient times, pomegranates have been an integral part of ancient medicine and natural remedies. Pomegranates have been called the Poor man’s doctor, because since ancient times, man has been curing himself with spices, fruits, herbs and nuts. That is why people of the 21st century are coming back to nature and looking for natural remedies, which are going to cure them of diseases and ailments. Chemical-based drugs may heal you very well on a short-term basis, but they are going to have an everlasting long-term effect on your body. On the other hand, fruits and vegetables as well as herbs are going to heal your body naturally, while making sure that you do not suffer from any sort of side effects. This is the reason why the magic series are going to tell you all about the wonderful medical and beauty enhancing benefits of different herbs, spices, fruit, vegetables and flowers. Ancient medical treatises in Egypt and Persia consider pomegranates to be a powerhouse of good health. That is because they thought that this fruit could cure people of many ills. The Latin name for pomegranate is Punica granatum. One wonders whether the Romans fought the Punic wars with Carthage, to rule over lands where they could get pomegranates, because after all, everybody knows that the Roman emperors ransomed Kings for black pepper, exotic fruit and other spices. According to ancient treatises, the pomegranate had the power to purify your blood, which would mean that your skin would not suffer from any sort of skin ailments, including pimples or boils. Also, when I was talking about pomegranates, with an ancient naturopath, he told me that sages of ancient time used to use pomegranate seeds to enhance brain power and vision, get rid of odema, renew the mineral resources needed for keeping our body working properly and reduce urinary inconsistency. In fact, he handed me some pomegranate seeds, mixed up with rock salt, to make me feel hungry. [I had lost my appetite, because of illness and also due to stress.] He said that that activated the stomach and made it do its job properly and naturally. It worked. So if you have a continuous access to pomegranates, lucky, lucky you! The pomegranate peels are going to keep you beautiful. The pomegranate seeds’ juice is going to keep you healthy, both externally and internally.

The Magic of Milk, Butter and Cheese For Healing and Cooking Table of Contents Introduction Knowing More about Buttermilk Traditional Buttermilk Making Butter Out Of Cream What Are the Health Benefits of Buttermilk Diarrhea Cure Loss of Concentration Insomnia Urinary Infections Mending Broken Bones Potential Chest Infections Buttermilk for Liver Problems Flatulence Cure Buttermilk Cake with Nuts Traditional Clarified Butter Salty Buttermilk How Do You Make Traditional Buttermilk Spicy Salt How to Make Cottage Cheese Is Tofu the Same As Cottage Cheese? Cream Cottage Cheese Tikka Now What Is Chaat Masala? Tikka Gravy Ros-Gollas Storing Cheese Cooking with Cheeses Favorite Stopgap Food – Macaroni and Cheese Cottage Cheese Salad French Cheese Pie Louisiana Cheese Fondue How to Make that Perfect Yogurt Conclusion Author Bio Introduction There is a beautiful mythological story of a God in Eastern legend. It seems he was a bit bored with his heavenly abode and decided to go exploring on the earth. Moreover, he kept staying on here, much to the dismay and surprise of all his friends, who missed him when they had feasts of nectar of immortality, and other heavenly delicacies. Therefore, they came hunting for him. And what did they find? He was sitting in the Hermitage of a saint and dining off fresh milk, butter and buttermilk. Moreover, just like Oliver, he wanted more. So the rest of the gods began to think that there was something here, rather special on this earth, which enticed a God away from Celestial spheres. Naturally, they demanded the rest of the members of the Hermitage to feed them exactly what that God was having. Yes, that one sitting over there with his hand in the clay earthenware pot, scooping out something white. In an attitude of contemplative and euphoric bliss. Well, yes, he is a God. You did not recognize him? Look at his feet. They do not touch the ground. Oh yes, ours do not touch the ground either. But then we are hungry for what he is eating. And so the gods discovered butter, and buttermilk, which they decided were the foods of the gods. However, they had to come to earth to eat it. That was because cows, buffaloes, goats and other milk bearing animals did not flourish so much in their lands. But they did on Mother Earth. Well, we are very lucky in one matter. Being thoroughly earthbound, we can indulge ourselves in butter, butter, milk, milk, and other milk products like cheese, cream cheese, and anything else of which you can think, to our hearts content. And if we have the pure stuff, that is going to help keep us healthy, and fighting fit. Did you know that Abraham said that it was butter and buttermilk, which gave him his longevity. Also, it was the reason why his tribe members were so fecund, when compared to other tribes. This belief is still held in the East, that a diet of homemade butter, and buttermilk drunk regularly every day keeps you healthy,virile and also potent.

The Magic of Marigolds - Marigolds for Health and Beauty Table of Contents Introduction Use of Marigolds In Herbal Lore And Tradition Planting Marigolds in Your Garden Beauty Products Made from Marigolds and Tips How to Make Marigold Skincare Cream Marigolds in Cooking Appendix Conclusion Introduction I was under the impression that the beautiful Marigold was just an ornamental flower looking great in my garden, until I found out that it was an herbaceous perennial, used in herbal medicines, natural remedies, and also in beauty recipes. So, this book is going to tell you all about the magic of marigolds, how to see them grow and flourish in your garden, and also use them in cookery, as well as in beauty recipes. In Asia, marigolds are an integral part of social life. Every auspicious ceremony needs garlands of marigolds and jasmines to adorn the houses, photographs of the gods, goddesses, and guests who have been invited to bless the ceremony with their presence. Marigolds are originally natives of North India, Africa, and Mexico. From here, they were taken all over the civilized world by traders. So that means you are going to see Calendula officinalis, otherwise known as garden Marigold , common Marigold and even pot Marigold , growing all in warm and temperate regions all over the globe. But a Mexican priest told me that ancient legend says the name Marigold is supposed to be in praise of the Virgin Mary – “Mary’s Gold”. Also, he told me that this flower named cempasúchil in Mexico was considered to be the sacred flower of the dead, and had to be offered during the celebration of The Day of the Dead, when people prayed to their departed near and dear ones. In India, this flower is called Satvarga- just like the Sun. Marigolds may bloom throughout the year, if the conditions are favorable, and the sun is warm and shining, so naturally this flower is one of the most preferred choices to use in happy celebrations, when you want to depict and praise light and sunshine. Do you know that the ancient Greeks, Romans, Egyptians and Indians used Marigold flowers as a natural dye? They also colored foods with Marigold flowers to give the dish a golden yellow tint, especially when they did not have turmeric or saffron around. So if you want to nibble Marigolds, remember that only Pot Marigold Species T. tenuifolia florets are edible. Do not use Marigold leaves in any culinary masterpiece.

The Magic of Vegetables Ancient Healing Remedies and Tips Table of Contents Introduction Preserving Tomatoes after the Harvest Is in Getting Rid of Strong Mustard Taste Boiling Old Potatoes Curing Baldness with Cucumber Hair Fall Curing Acidity. Fenugreek Leaves and Seeds Getting rid of Jaundice. Organic Brown Sugar Tomatoes for More “Blood”. Juice for Blemishes and Black Spots. Scars Diabetes Cure. Turnips for Controlling Diabetes Healthy Tomato Soup Recipe Preventing Dehydration. Burnt Cure. Curing Heartburn. Curing Night Blindness. Tomato – Potato Mix Getting Rid of Headaches Sugar Syrup. Black Pepper Decoction. Tuberculosis Cure. Cod Liver Treatment Conclusion Author Bio Introduction Vegetables are such an integral part of our daily lives, that we really do not bother much about their natural benefits and value. All we know is that they are those greens which we had to eat when we were children, because mommy said so, and she was bigger than us. And she was not a good cook. And also, she made every vegetable dish taste so boring, so blah and so bland, that one promised oneself that one would never eat it, when one grew up. That is the reason why so many of us grow up with an anti-vegetable subconscious feeling. But did you know that these green and leafy vegetables are the reasons why you kept so healthy, so energetic, and so bouncing when you were a kid. They were the natural mineral resources, which provided you with vitamins, minerals, and other essential nutrients, which help your muscles grow healthy, your skin glow and made you look so bright eyed and bushy tailed. And then you grew up and stopped eating vegetables. Instead, you began eating and other high-protein diet, without any greens or yellows or reds , which were harvested from plants/vines/herbs or shrubs. And that made your body deficient in all the essential vitamins. It also made you less healthy than what you were when you were a kid. And you did not get to know it. So here are some good reasons why you should eat plant produce, especially when they are green and leafy. Fibrous, leafy and green vegetables, fresh from the farm are, of course, the pride and joy of every health conscious and proud cook. If the proportions of these vegetables are increased in your daily diet, you are going to lessen your intake of carbohydrates, starch, and grain. This is going to benefit you and the general state of your health in the long run. It also means that you will never suffer from constipation. Nothing can take the place of cereals and grains in your daily diet in the same manner, vegetables have their own invaluable and irreplaceable place in the diet groups which make up your daily meals. The benefits of vegetables eaten raw, or cooked, then means that you are going to have a tasty meal, with natural digestive products being added to your system. Your blood circulation is going to get invigorated and your digestive system is going to get rid of any small ailments brought about by eating a starchy, fatty and high-protein high carbohydrate diet. Vegetables are amazing toxin eliminators. So if you are thinking of detoxifying your body with any star – endorsed detoxifying products, think again. Try increasing the amounts of vegetables in your diet. The best thing about fibrous vegetables is that it adds the amount of bulk to the fecal material so that it can be eliminated during the regular bowel movements every day. This keeps your system healthy. It also keeps your skin glowing, and you energetic. That is because there are no toxins accumulating in your body and weakening your system.

The Magic of Carrots To Cure and to Heal Table of Contents Introduction-Knowing More about Carrots How to Grow Carrots Mulching Traditional Compost Making Carrot harvest Carrots to Heal Digestive problems Indigestion Dyspepsia Camphor Cure Constipation Flatulence Amoebic Dysentery/Diarrhea Salty buttermilk Digestive Cramps Traditional Mung Dal Khichri Increase of Spleen Carrot Pickles Gallbladder Problems Sal Ammoniac Remedy Jaundice Sugarcane Juice Remedy Watermelon remedy Tomato Juice Remedy Carrots in Traditional Cuisine Carrots Sherbet Traditional Carrot Halva Carrots Chutney /Preserve Fresh Carrots Chutney Coconut Chicken with Cashew Nuts, Basil and Carrots Moroccan Carrot Salad Refreshing Traditional Black Carrot Juice – Kanjee Carrot and Orange Marmalade Traditional Carrot Cake Traditional Carrot Soup Creamed Carrots Carrots Glazed in Butter Conclusion Appendix Rose Water Desi Ghee-Traditional Clarified Butter How to Make Coconut Cream And Coconut Milk Useful URLs Author Bio Introduction – Knowing More about Carrots If some wise man had not discovered carrots, more than 3000 BC, you would not see that wascally wabbit otherwise known as Bugs Bunny, chewing on a carrot today. The combination of rabbits and carrots is about as taken for granted as is ham and eggs, and salt and pepper. Carrots were grown in China and in Afghanistan more than 1100 years ago. China is of course the largest grower and exporter of carrots in the world today. The different varieties are yellow, purple, white and red, even though we are so used to seeing orange carrots peeping out of the mouth of Bugs as Doc stalks him . If the carrot was white or yellowish in color, we would think he was munching a horseradish... Carrots belong to the same family, as other herbs like Parsley, cumin, dill and fennel. In fact, in most countries, the carrot greens are not discarded, but they are dried and used as herbs in cooking. So the next time you decide to harvest carrots, you do not throw away the tops. Instead, dry them, and try them out as dried herbs sprinkled on your soups. 77% of the carrot taproot is made up of Beta carotene. Apart from that, It Is Rich in Vitamin A. Are carrots really good for eyesight? When I heard a friend talking to her child to eat more carrots, because that would improve his eyesight, I thought that was a really good psychological ploy to get him to eat vegetables. This has a basis on a historical fact, where the British use this psychological ploy as propaganda. Carrots were not rationed during the second world war. British technology had discovered nighttime radar, which allowed the RAF pilots to see enemy planes in the dark. So, they could attack the enemy planes. The British propaganda machine made up a story, that it was the increased use of carrots in the pilots’ diet, which improved their vision, including night vision. This was accepted by the Germans, who already had some ancient traditional beliefs, saying that carrots improved eyesight. And so we children, including Dennis the Menace have to eat carrots whether we like them or not since that is what parents believe.

The Miracle of Honey - Health Learning Series Table of Contents Introduction Knowing More about Honey Benefits of Honey Natural Composition of Honey Honey for Stomach Ailments Indigestion Constipation Diarrhea Gas Nausea Ulcers Worms and Parasites in the stomach Honey for Serious Conditions Heart problems Lung problems Pneumonia Diabetes Stroke Cholera Kidney stones TB Typhoid Jaundice Flu Anemia Piles Insomnia High/Low Blood Pressure Honey for Your Throat Honey for your Skin Appendix Author Bio Introduction The moment you hear the word “honey”, you immediately visualize something tasty, sweet, and healthy. If you consider it being nature’s best and most excellent tonic, it is not going to be an exaggeration. That is the reason why newborn babies in the East are fed honey, the moment they enter the world and are bathed, before they are given to their proud moms for their first feed. That is because this is a predigested food, and it is easy to digest, is nutritious, and is health giving. And the best thing about Honey is that you may keep it for a long while, and it is not going to spoil. In fact, archaeologists found vestiges of preserved honey in 2000 year old earthenware pots, from excavated sites. A major part of the honey may have been absorbed into the earthenware with the passage of time, but there was still some left over from those days millenniums ago, when people were preserving honey and putting them into usage. As far as the natural and curative properties of honey goes, the fact is indisputable that this product has been used as a cure-all for diseases for centuries in Mesopotamian, Russian, Native American, Aztec, South American, Indian, Chinese, Egyptian, Greek and other ancient medical sciences. In fact, ask any wise man or shaman or herbalist who is well versed in ancient herbal lore about the importance of honey in making up his medicines. And he is going to nod his head widely, and praise it and the person who discovered it, and its natural curative properties. Did you know that during the American Civil War and during WW1, when doctors ran out of medicine, they asked people or the army suppliers to supply them with honey? This was then placed on the open wounds, so that the infection could be cured or prevented. It is strange to see that the West has forgotten the use of honey as a natural healer. This book is going to tell you all about the use of honey and its benefits in curing various ailments. The author is going to try her best to use commonly obtained ingredients easily available in your nearby market, garden or kitchen itself. Remember that if any remedy calls for warming up the medicine before use, do not heat honey to boiling point. This destroys all its curative properties. Just warm it mildly, for a couple of seconds, and that is going to be enough for the honey’s power to incorporate it in the ingredients to make Powerful Heal All. Also, you may find that some of the remedies and recipes ask you to take some precautions when you are eating a medicine made up of honey. This can be as simple as not eating spicy and fatty food. You may be also asked not to eat meat. Honey is without a doubt the best guardian of your health naturally. Ask all those people who have been using honey as a part of their natural diet every day. So if you suffer from any sort of disease, and want to look at the best way in which you can cure it naturally, all you have to do is browse through this book and find how honey is going to protect your health right now.

The Magic of Pepper and Peppercorns For Healing and Cooking Table of Contents Introduction How Is Black Pepper Grown? Best Temperature Harvesting Peppercorns Other Types of Pepper White Peppercorns Peppercorn Oil Hot Massage Oil Why Does This Pepper Burn so? Using Pepper for Tooth Problems Gingivitis Cure Sore Throat/Cold Relief Persistent Cold Treating Senile Dementia Throat Soother Diseases of the Scalp Keeping Your Tummy Healthy Tasty Digestive Mix Pepper in International Cuisine Indonesian Satay Using Green Peppercorns in Your Cuisine Traditional Mulligatawny Soup Is Pepper Good for Preserving? Making Coconut Cream at Home Making Desi Ghee at Home Conclusion Author Bio Introduction They tell a story about some extremely avid treasure hunters in the Caribbean about 20 years ago. They managed to get a treasure map about a buried treasure box, buried 400 years ago by some shipwrecked sailors, and with dreams and visions of gold coins and jewels and other precious stones, they began digging at night in all secrecy. In two hours, they struck a box of wood, and they dragged it out. They opened it and plunged their hands in only to find the box full of peppercorns. Those peppercorns had grown moldy, underground, because they had not been dried in the sun. So there were treasure hunters with a moldy smelling sneeze, making powder, which once would have commanded a King’s ransom. 400 years ago, this treasure would have been priceless. Today, like other spices, it is universally available all over the globe and anybody considering pepper priceless, like his ancestors used to do is either living in a remote area with no access to a grocery store or mall or does not know about pepper. So, for all those people want to know all about why this spice was considered to be the best ransom for kings and emperors, by Roman conquerors, here is a bit about its history. The pepper is supposed to have originated in the South of India, especially in the Tamil Nadu region where it was called pippali. In ancient times, the ships loaded with peppercorns were collected from areas like Tuticorin, Chettinad , Madurai, the Malabar coast in Kerala and Kanya Kumari (Cape Comorin) and sent all over the globe. Of course, the Romans considered this to be a great addition to their cuisine, and even Pliny the great historian of ancient times made sure that he spoke awarded pepper in his gastronomical delicacies gathered for posterity. He was dismayed with the fact that India drained the Roman Empire of 50 million sesterces every year with her different spices, of which pepper played a very prominent role. Black pepper, which is commonly called as Millagu in the local Tamil vernacular, was of course an integral part of all the cuisines of this area. So they tell a tale about a Tamil cook having to feed a hungry British officer. So he mixed up pepper and water, and made mulligan tanni-literally pepper water, which has been immortalized as mulligatawny in Anglo-Indian cuisine. Pepper was introduced to South Asia somewhere around about 4000 years ago, when it started to be cultivated extensively in Indonesia, Borneo, Java and Sumatra. The word pep comes from adding the missing zing or pepper to your spirit, so when pep talks are peppered with lots of moralizing and lecturing, they can spice up the proceedings really well. Many of the wars in the medieval times in Europe were caused to gain complete power and access to the trade routes to India. That is why, the Dutch, the Portuguese, and the British kept asking their soldiers and navigators and explorers to look for easier ways to get access to shipping routes to places where they could get spices. It is said that when Vasco da Gama reached Calicuta, the traders asked him what he was looking for. “Christians and spices.” was his answer. He started up the trad

The Magic of Chillies For Cooking and Healing Table of Contents Introduction What Is the Difference between Chillies and Chili Peppers? How to Grow Chillies. Growing Chillies from Their Seeds What Makes the Chillie so Hot? Why Do People Crave Chillies? Original Traditional Cuisine Including Curries. Spicy Dry Chicken Curry. Red-Hot Thai Curry Paste Massaman Curry Paste Massaman Beef Curry Measuring the Heat of Chillies Chillies for Healing Traditional Winter Hot Oil Chillies Infused Oil Appendix Traditional Hungarian Goulash. Desi Ghee How to Make Coconut Cream Conclusion Author Bio Introduction Why is it to that the word “Chillies” does not conjure up a vista of something really hot, in the Eastern mind, but does so, in the Western mind? That is because few Easterners are particularly fascinated by the heat of chillies, because as they say, Familiarity Breeds Contempt. They are so used to having chillies as a part of the daily cuisine, and in their natural remedies, that it has never been an exotic spice or a herb to them. An Easterner knows that chillies are hot. He knows that he can alleviate the burning sensation by taking a spoonful of yogurt, or a spoonful of sugar. In fact, in 1902, an American pharmacist William Scoville did some research on how many drops of sugar water were needed to alleviate the burning sensation of a hot chili pepper! But in the East, the chillies are just not restricted to their heat content – they are used to give the deep red color to gravies, especially hot red curries and gravies like Goan Vindaloos and Rogan Josh. Eastern sauces and pickles are given their piquancy with a handful of chillies. Some of the milder chillies are stuffed with a mixture of spices and mashed potatoes, and served as a vegetable. Capsicum is a good example of that particular chillie family. Chillies are just not an integral part of Indian cuisine; they are also very popular among the Chinese, the Thais and other oriental and Eastern cuisine, excepting the Japanese. The Japanese, have kept away from the Chillie Revolution, and that is why their food, though delicious and nutritious is comparatively bland in heat content. Thai cuisine is a mixture of heat and herbs and spices. Chillies are just sprinkle on the top of the Thai dishes, to lend color, and flavor. They are also sprinkle on Thai salads in powdered form, to give the salads the touch of hot piquancy.

Health Benefits of Black Cumin For Cooking and Health Table of Contents Preface Getting started Chapter # 1: Intro Chapter # 2: How is black cumin commonly used? Chapter # 3: Black cumin recipes Chapter # 4: Growing your own black cumin Chapter # 5: Precautions Benefits of black cumin to the brain Chapter # 1: Boosts memory Benefits of black cumin to the body Chapter # 1: Fights cancer Chapter # 2: Strengthens the immune system Chapter # 3: Alleviates allergic conditions Chapter # 4: Eases high blood pressure Chapter # 5: Counters the effects of radiation Chapter # 6: Reduces frequency of pediatric seizures Chapter # 7: Helps in weight loss Chapter # 8: Helps with migraines Conclusion References Preface Many plants that seem so innocuous to us today have been used in traditional medicine for centuries and have produced astonishing results. Greek and Indian medicine in particular has taken leverage of numerous herbs and plants in curing a wide variety of ailments. Only today has science caught up with what our ancestors took as common knowledge. Research conducted over the past few decades have begun to testify to the health benefits of these botanical wonders. One such amazing plant is Black Cumin more specifically known as Nigella sativa. It is a plant that blossoms yearly and was found originally in the southern and southwestern regions of Asia. Growing to a height ranging from twenty to thirty centimeters, it is characterized by its thin and straight leaves, fragile blue / white flowers and large bloated fruit holding the renowned Black Cumin seed. The seed of this plant has been used in cuisines around the globe but is particularly famous and notable in Sub-continental cooking. Its pungent taste and unique aroma has made it famous in many dishes. Its importance in the kitchen aside, this seed has a host of medicinal benefits that make it ideal for consumption from a health perspective. It can have a positive effect on both body and mind and scientific evidence has been gathered to support this. This book aims to educate you in the many benefits of this truly miraculous plant whose seeds work wonders for human health. It will instruct you on the best way to take advantage of Black Cumin’s benefits and easily make it a part of your daily life. There will also be tips on cultivating your own Black Cumin seeds to use in your kitchen! By the time you reach the end, this humble plant will have definitely made an impression on your mind. Many of you will have overlooked Black Cumin seeds as a mere spice to be used in cooking but after reading the health benefits of the same, you’ll begin to look at them with a new found reverence.

The Magic of Aloe Vera - Health Learning Series Table of Contents Knowing more about Aloe Vera Grow Aloe Vera in your garden How to use the Aloe Vera leaf? Aloe Vera In Ancient Medicine Diabetes Arthritis Liver Tonic Sprain remedy Aloe Vera in Cooking Traditional Pickle Traditional Aloe Vera Curry Aloe Vera as A Beauty Product alphahydroxy acids facial mask How to make Rose water Exfoliating Aloe Vera Facial Scrub Herbal Shampoo with Aloe Vera Face wash powder PH balanced skin toner Conclusion Author Bio Knowing more about Aloe Vera As a child, growing up in wild woody jungles and in mountain regions, where one had to continuously fight against the encroachment of the wild woods trying to take over one’s gardens, I noticed that some plants grew only in our gardens, while others grew only in the woods. One such garden plant was the Aloe Vera, which was a must on every gardener’s gardening list. It was always grown in a sunny area, outside the kitchen, and watered once every four or five days, or when one remembered to water it. This green plant was not very attractive to someone who liked flowers around them in their strictly regimented and well disciplined borders and beds. But it was extremely attractive to all those who wanted to know all about the medicinal qualities of this bitter tasting mucilaginous succulent. Also, it did not need lots of fussing to grow. Once it was planted, it flourished as an everlasting perennial Aloe Vera has been used for millenniums in ancient medicine recipes and remedies, down the ages and in different ancient civilizations. There was a time when it was supposed to grow over large areas in the wild in North Africa, Morocco and other regions around the Sahara desert region, which was once covered with green forests. But as the now desert area began to dry, this plant started dying out in the wild. Every ancient civilization’s medical teachers would tell their students, “Do not underestimate the power of the humble Aloe Vera, my son, because this plant under your kitchen window is going to keep you and your family healthy. Your children shall never suffer from any grave disease internally or externally, your wife shall remain everlastingly beautiful and you shall live a happy and prosperous life, as long as you know all about the benefits of this magical plant.” No wonder, it was considered to be a wonder plant by ancient herbalists and medicine men. Women knew all about its skin rejuvenating quantities millenniums ago, and I am sure that any ancient Egyptian queen would have told her tire woman – are you making up a skin beautifying remedy for me, with asses milk and spices and attar of roses? Add some Aloe Vera to it so that I may look like a goddess for mankind to worship.” Cleopatra did that and so did Nefertiti. This book is going to tell you all about the magic of aloe Vera, its beneficial health and beauty properties, the use of Aloe Vera in ancient medicine, and also how you can use it in cooking.