The ubiquitous kadi patta or curry leaf not only gives the much-needed flavour to South Indian dishes like sambar, rasam, dal and fried food items, but also keeps your hair strong and shining. Regular intake of kadi patta either through food or as a herbal concoction will help in fighting severe nausea, vomitting, dehydration, stomach upsets and piles.
The curry leaf, also called sweet neem, has one great medicinal property. It strengthens the roots of the hair and prevents hair fall. Practitioners of traditional forms of medicine invariably prescribe curry leaf for premature greying of hair and hair fall. It is considered as a good nutritious tonic for the scalp and hair.
Since the leaf is stiff and not tender, many people remove it from sambar, rasam, dal or upma before eating the dish. A popular saying has also emerged surrounding the curry leaf over a period of time. A person described as kariapak or curry leaf means that he has been used and thrown out.
Ayurveda and Unani doctors advise that one should not discard curry leaf while eating, as it is good for general digestion. It is also a mild laxative and gives relief from constipation. The roots and fruit of the curry leaf tree are also used in herbal medicinal systems.
Those who cannot take the whole leaves, may grind them and mix the paste with curries or buttermilk for good flavour and good health.
Home remedies
* On a hot summer day, consume buttermilk mixed with curry leaf paste, cumin (jeera) and fine pieces of ginger to beat the heat and sunstroke.
* Take fresh curry leaves, ground them to a paste, add lemon juice and honey to the paste. Take one or two teaspoons of the paste to keep away severe nausea.
* Those suffering from regular stomach upsets may try a teaspoon of paste made from fresh curry leaves, coriander and mint (pudina).
* If you want your hair to be black and strong, ensure you add curry leaf (or curry leaf powder in case you do not like the whole leaf) to your dishes.
* Diabetics may try a few fresh curry leaves every morning to keep sugar levels under check.