Being healthy is a luxury for everyone, young and old alike, especially in this time of pandemic. Talking about health, are you dependent on modern medicines and its treatment to stay fit and healthy? Have you ever given a thought of going the herbal way? Read on to know how a kitchen herb like Centella Asiatica, commonly known as Centella, Asiatic pennywort or Indian pennywort can be used to treat a wide variety of ailments and diseases.
Pennywort is a perennial creeping plant found along marshes, ponds and wetlands. This herbaceous and frost-tender perennial plant belongs to the Apiaceae family and locally known as peruk in Manipuri language. It is native to India, Sri Lanka, China, Indonesia, Madagascar, South Africa and Eastern Europe. Pennywort is both food and medicine. In Northeast India region, the whole plant, including its roots, is used in dishes like chutney, salad and beverages.
Here are 14 health benefits of the Indian pennywort as suggested by various wellness experts:
- Stomach ulcer and urinary tract infections: With its antibacterial properties, pennywort is commonly used to treat stomach and urinary tract infections. Boil the clean fresh pennywort, strain it into a glass, add honey and have it every morning to rid of stomach ulcer and urinary problems.
- Digestion: Having a digestion problem? Boil fresh pennywort with a pinch of salt and drink the juice every day for a healthy digestion.
- Stomach and liver: Some suggest eating pennywort with a banana every morning can help boost healthy stomach and liver.
- Wound healing: Pennywort, with its antibiotic properties, is said to help wounds heal faster. Apply a paste of dried pennywort powder to speed wound healing and boost the skin functions.
- Arthritis: The anti-inflammatory property in pennywort is said to treat Arthritis. Experts suggest eating two leaves of fresh pennywort daily.
- Cough and other respiratory disorders: Juice of the pennywort leaf with honey may help ease . Decoction of pennywort with holy basil, black pepper also cures cold and fever. To cure sore throat and cough, pound pennywort leaves and strain it and mix with sugar. Consume it for a week or until the throat or cough is cured.
- Chronic ulcer: Applying a paste of pennywort leaves to the wounds is said to improve the healing of chronic ulcers.
- Constipation: Got constipation problems? Try this healing herb. Eating pennywort as food is said to relieve constipation
- Immunity: Pennywort juice with honey is said to improve immunity in children below one year.
- Eczema, psoriasis: It is said that taking 1-2 spoons of leaf juice daily can help treat Eczema and psoriasis.
- Insomnia: Consuming 2-4 spoons of the pennywort juice with honey twice daily is said to help get rid of insomnia.
- Blood pressure check: Pennywort juice, if consumed with honey, may help control blood pressure.
- Hair fall: Is hair fall creating a nuisance to you? Go the pennywort way. It is said that a teaspoon of pennywort powder every morning or applying pennywort packs on the scalp can reduce hair fall.
- Acne: Pennywort is also said to be useful in treating acne. Here’s how you can use this herb - Grind pennywort with bitter gourd leaves, add a pinch of salt and apply to acne twice daily until the acne disappears.
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