Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Dried Neem Flower



Neem is used as anti-fungal,Hypoglycaemic,Antibacterial,Antitumour,Antigastric ulcer.
Herb
Neem flower (Dried)

Storage
Fresh neem flowers are collected by placing cloth or mat on the ground under the neem tree.
The flowers are then dried under hot sun (Until it becomes dried and the colour changes)
It is then cleaned by removing the unwanted dust.
Once dried this can be stored in an airtight container for few years.

Method
Heat 1 teaspoon of ghee.
Add a pinch of asofotida
Add the dried neem flower and salt.
You will get a good aroma!!
Fry until it becomes black.
Mix it with hot rice.

Sunday, February 15, 2009

Traditional Body wash powder (Sunnipindi)


This traditional body wash powder is used widely in villages in South India. It gives freshness, increases body colour, removes unwanted body hair in babies.
Can be tried for adults as well.
Though this takes more time to prepare, its worth doing it.
Ingredients
1.Vetiver - Take a bunch
The uses of vetiver in aromatherapy center on its calming, centering, relaxing effect, which has been exploited in India for thousands of years. Vetiver is known as "oil of tranquility", due to its psychological effect in eliminating anxiety and soothing insomnia and depression
2. Green gram Dhal - 1 kg
Makes the skin very smooth.
3.Kasturi Turmeric - 150 grams
This is used instead of plain turmeric because this does not give the yellowish colour on your skin. This helps in preventing unwanted hair growth.
Turmeric acts as a antespectic as well

4.Camphor - 1 teaspoons or lesser
This is a is a waxy, white or transparent solid with a strong, aromatic odor.
This is used to make this powder stay for a long time (This avoids insects to be formed in the powder)
5.Spikedd giger - 50 grams
Also called as SATI in sanskrit or Kapurkachri in Hindi.
6.Babchi Seeds -100grams
Also called as Karpurvarishi in Tamil (Let me know if you need any translations)

If this is used for adults
Rice -100gms
This gives an additional texture to the skin and cleans the porus in the skin.
The propotion can vary according to our wish, but make sure the green gram and kasturi turmeric needs to be more.

Method:
Dry all the above ingredients in hot sun.
Grind to make it as a refined powder.
Once you grind it cool it down for a while and store it in air tight container.
Can be stored for a year in air tight container


How to use:
Take the powder and mix it with water to make it as a paste.
While giving bath to baby,apply to the baby's body and rinse with lots of water.
For elders we can use as a face pack and can allow it to be in skin for around 5 mins.
Gives a good glow to the face and body. Ofcourse your baby is already glowing!!!