Tamarind is packed with many nutrients and is a very well known herb having many medicinal uses.
As tamarind is available in many forms, you can use tamarind paste for treating several health conditions.
How to Make Tamarind Paste At Home
Ingredients (240 ml cup used)
- 250 grams or ¼ kg tamarind / chintapandu
- 2.5 to 3 cups water (adjust , refer notes)
Step by step directions:
1.Clean up tamarind, check for any seeds, skin or unwanted particles and discard them.
2.Heat 3 cups of water.Soak tamarind in 1.5 to 2 cups of hot water for about 45 to 60 minutes in a large bowl.
3.Mash the tamarind as much as possible and pass through a filter to a heavy bottom tall pot(no wide pan). Discard more stones or debris that you might find.
4.Add the pulp back to the bowl along with left over water that was heated. Use only as required, we want to make a thick paste. Squeeze the pulp and pass through the filter once more.
5.The filtered pulp will be thick. Boil this for about 5 minutes on a medium flame. Cover the pot partially towards you to prevent splashes. you may stir it twice while boiling without opening the lid fully from a side.
6.Cool tamarind paste completely and store it in an airtight glass jar. Prevent using plastic jars and spoons.
Below is a list of some medicinal benefits of tamarind paste:
- Reduces skin infections
- Boils
- Colic
- Cold
- Pink eye or conjunctivitis
- Dry eyes
- Diabetes
- Severe dysentery
- Chronic diarrhea
- Gall bladder disorder
- Fever
- Indigestion
- Jaundice
- Liver disorders
- Bile disorders
- Gingivitis
- Keratitis or swelling of the cornea
- Leprosy
- Poisoning
- Paralysis
- Pregnancy related vomiting and nausea
- Production of saliva in the mouth
- Rheumatism or reduction of pain in the joints
- Sores
- Skin disinfection
- Sunstroke
- Sun screen
- Healing of wounds
- Blood tonic
- Preventing progression of fluorosis
- General body pain
- Urinary stones
The following is a list of more amazing health benefits of this herb and the reasons you should include it in your daily diet to keep you healthy and improve your overall health:
15 Amazing Tamarind Health Benefits
1. Tamarind is used to heal wounds and to prevent infections from spreading in the body.
3. It is also a natural laxative. Take two tablespoons of these pulps before you go to bed will improve the sluggishness of your bowels.
4. Add some tamarind leaves in your tea to reduce the symptoms caused by malaria fever.
5. Tamarind is a good treatment for bilious disorders.
6. Tamarind keeps the cholesterol levels on a normal level and keeps your heart healthy.
7. Simply gargle water mixed with tamarind pulp makes an effective treatment for sore throat.
8. Using a mixture of tamarind decoction and water can help children dealing with stomach worms.
9. The Vitamin A, C, and other antioxidants present in tamarind enables it to act as a natural cure for various inflammatory skin conditions. Mix tamarind extract with turmeric powder and fresh yogurt, use the mixture regularly.
10. Tamarind seeds when mixed with other solutions makes an effective eye cleansing.
11. Tamarind flower juice is often used for healing piles.
12. Tamarind is a good source of antioxidants that fight against cancer.
13. Tamarind has been used as a blood purifier since long time.
14. Tamarind can help you fight off cellulite. Mix one tsp of lemon juice with two spoons of tamarind extract, one tsp of sugar and ½ tsp of baking soda. This remedy is applied externally on the affected area. Use a brush and massage the area in order to scrub the mixture.
15. Tamarind is well known to help people prevent hair loss and promote hair growth. Soak a lemon sized ball of tamarind in water for 10 minutes. Extract the liquid and massage it all over your scalp and hair. Dip a towel in warm water and squeeze out the extra water. Use this hot towel to cover your hair and scalp. Leave for half an hour and rinse off thoroughly with a good shampoo followed by a conditioner.
Sources:
http://www.herbs2000.com/herbs/herbs_tamarind.htm
http://indianhealthyrecipes.com/tamarind-paste-recipe-make-tamarind-paste/
http://herbs.ygoy.com/about-herbs/herbs-in-medicine/
