Manathakkali

Manathakkali

One of the herbs that offer various health benefits to the human body is "Manathakkali" or Black Nightshade.

Manathakkali is said to offer coldness to the body but it can grow even on dry lands. It can be one of your kitchen garden plants. It is available on all seasons. It is named Manathakkali since it yields fruits in the bead form. As it resembles the look of pepper, it is also called as "Milagu Thakkali".

Each part of the plant has medicinal values. The parts like leaves, stem, fruit and root are used for preparing various medicines. People mostly dislike it since it tastes bitter. But it can offer you a long life when consumed periodically.

All the edible parts of this plant is worth eating and source protein, fiber, minerals and salts. It can be had along with cereals, as gravy and as soup. Let us see some of its medicinal values.

Mouth Sour

It is the best medicine for mouth sour and stomach ulcer. People, who are suffering from mouth ulcer, can keep the juice extracted from Manathakkali leaves for a while in their mouth and spit after some time. Doing this twice a day, will heal the sour quickly. The juice is also ideal for sours in stomach and intestine.

The sufferers are suggested to reduce the hot, salty and spicy foodstuffs in their meals.

Heart

Manathakkali leaves are good for strengthening the heart. The leaves have to be cooked adding ginger, garlic, cumin seeds, pepper and should be had regularly for supplying enough strength to the heart.

Skin sour and White patches

It is also ideal for healing the skin sour. When the leaves are consumed continuously for more than a week, the skin gets a new and shining look.

Many people suffer from white patches. When they appear in visible areas like face and hands, they get depressed with their self-image.  Rub the Manathakkali juice against the white patches seen on the skin when you take bath everyday; you might observe the patches disappear slowly.

Common Medicinal Values of Manathakkali leaf

1) Reduces fever

2) Drives fatigue

3) Reduces the intensity of fits

4) Cures prolonged headache

5) Heals boils and reduces inflammation

6) Cures constipation and ulcer

7) Balances the body heat

8) Ideal medicine for jaundice sufferers

9) Kills germs in the intestine

10) Increases the memory power

11) Reduces tummy fat when had regularly

12) Reduces inflammation due to piles

13) Cures liver diseases

14) Purifies blood and provides good sleep

15) Ideal medicine for mouth ulcer, stomach ulcer, sour throat and sours in intestine

Benefits of Manathakkali raw fruit

1) Removes body pain

2) Removes fatigue and keeps the body brisk

3) Expels the poisonous liquid present in the body

4) Drives away the vomiting sensation

Benefits of Manathakkali fruit

1) Removes pain in the ear

2) Reduces fever

3) Cures gasping in the stomach

4) Offers strength to the uterus

5) Supports pregnancy

Benefits of Manathakkali root

1) There is no natural medicine that can replace Manathakkali root for curing constipation.

2) The root is used for preparing various siddha and ayurvedic medicines

Mineral contents of Manathakkali (in 100g leaves)

1) Calcium - 400mg

2) Phosphorous - 70mg

2) Iron - 20 mg

4) Vitamin C - 10mg

Besides the above, it also contains required cholesterol and fiber. Consume this precious herbal leaves and attain good health.

Indian Herbs in Siddha Medicine

In this modern world due to the influence of western culture and the changing lifestyle of people in India, we have lost something that is valuable. Yes, what I am mentioning here is about "Siddha Medicine" which inherits ageless Indian herbs.

In olden days, South Indian kitchens used to have "Anjarai Petti" holding the basic ingredients which are not only meant for the mouth watering south Indian dishes but also for health of the inmates of the house. The middle section of the box always had turmeric that has antiseptic properties. The next medicinal ingredient is the "Jeera" (Cumin seeds). People of today consume it as sugar coated sweet balls.

People eat Pizza just to show some attitude and disregard the healthy Indian foods that are prepared involving many ageless Indian herbs. Keep it in mind, Pizza does not contain the basic ingredient involved in any kind of Indian dishes - the turmeric which is a valuable herb especially grown in India. We neglect the honey and palm jaggery and consume crystalline sugar inviting diabetes.

Those who drink Coke are not aware of the values of "Paanagam" (Drink made at home using jaggery, dry ginger). Saints say that have your basic food in the form of medicine and keep away all the diseases away from you. Medicine practiced abroad does not eradicate the diseases but our Indian medicines analyze the root cause of the disease and eradicate them.

For example, you generally get cold when you eat ice creams. But this should not happen even if you have 4 to 5 ice creams at the same time. Siddha and Ayurveda completely prepare your body for this condition. Your body is fertilized to prevent the attacks of these diseases.

Indian medicines do not cause any side effects. There are certain medicines in Siddha practice that totally destroy the traces of diseases such as heart diseases, diabetes etc. The herbs like Terminalia Arjuna (the seed of Marudha tree), Hibiscus leaves and Withania Somnifera (Aswagandha) are capable of destroying the heart diseases.

More such Indian herbs will be discussed later.