Indian borage medicinal values, in recipe
Indian borage also known as karpuravalli in Sanskrit, Doadda pathre, Sambara balli in Kannada, and also it is named as Ajwain, Mexican mint etc., Its scientific name is Coleus amboinicus.
It is one of the main herbal plant used for ages to treat many ailments in Ayurveda. The plant leaves have a unique fragrance.
It is native to Africa and also found in South East Asia and South America. The plant grows 1 to 1.5 feet height and its stem is fleshy and delicate. The leaves are fleshy and the leaves have a pungent smell.
It is grown in many Indian houses in their kitchen garden or terrace garden which is used in cooking and home remedies. It can be easily grown in pots and it can be grown in pots as an ornamental plant.
It is used as a flavouring agent in many types of dishes from soups, rasam, chutney and in varieties of curries.
Oil is extracted from the leaves and used for medicinal purpose. Leaves are dried and powdered and are used in home remedies and in Ayurvedic medicine.
Dodda pathre in home remedies :
Heat leaf of dodda pathre on Tava and keep it on the head which cures cough and cold in children above 5 months old.
Juice of dodda pathre leaf, tulsi and betel leaves with honey can be given to cough and cold in children. Dodda pathre leaf juice with honey can also be taken.
Dodda pathre leaves with salt cure indigestion and cough.
Heat leaves on Tava with cumin and take out juice from it and add salt and honey to it. This preparation is taken before food 2 to 3 times a day cures stomach pain in children.
5-6 leaves are heated on Tava and juice is taken from it. This juice is taken two times a day cures fever.
Juice of dodda pathre also relieves from itching and other skin problems.
A paste of leaves is applied to ringworm infection. It also relieves the condition of insect bites and scorpion bites. The paste is also applied as first aid in case of wounds.
The leaves are rich in vitamin A and C and its benefits for eye health. Daily use of dodda pathre improves eye health considerably.
If you eat the leaves every day for one week, it treats jaundice. It improves the health of the liver.
The leaves used in daily food is good for digestion and relieves from irritable bowel syndrome.
Paste prepared using borage leaves is applied on forehead treats migraine and headache due to stress and tension.
Leaf juice with hot water relieves intestinal worms.
You can gargle with dodda pathre leaves juice to cure throat infection, nose block due to mucus formation.
Leaf paste is applied on hair removes dandruff and avoids hair fall. It strengthens the hair root.
Daily taking juice of leaves helps to overcome stress and anxiety.
It also improves the health of joints.
Daily taking leaves with food helps to remove unwanted salt and fat from the body which in turn improves the health of kidneys.
Cultivation :
Although it is a herbal plant you can also grow it as an ornamental plant. It needs less maintenance. You can grow it in pots. It needs direct sunlight. But in summer it needs some shade.
You can grow it from plant cuttings. It needs well-drained soil and soil should be alkaline. It needs less manure. As this is herbal plant do not use inorganic manure. This plant repels mosquitoes because of its pungent smell.
Dodda pathre in the recipe :
Indian borage or dodda pathre leaf chutney :
Indian borage leaves are used in cooking makes the dish nutritious and healthy. Its unique fragrance adds good aroma to the chutney. Chutney prepared using the leaves goes well with dosa, idli, roti and rice. Regular intake of this improves digestion and overall health of the body.
Ingredients needed for chutney :
Indian borage leaves 8-10
Fresh grated coconut 1 cup
Cumin 1/2 tsp
Black pepper 1/2 tsp
Tamarind
salt
Red chilli 3-4
For seasoning :
Mustard seeds 1/2 tsp
Urad dal 1/2 tsp
Curry leaves 6-8
Ghee 1 tsp
Preparation :
Dry roast cumin, black pepper and red chilli.
Roast the leaves till its water content gets evaporated.
Then grind all the roasted ingredients with freshly grated coconut, tamarind and salt.
Season this chutney with mustard seeds, urad dal, curry leaves and ghee.
You can add garlic also which enhances the flavour.
Indian borage or dodda pathre Bonda :
This snack is crunchy and tasty which goes well with tea. Borage leaves make this bonda nutritious one.
Ingredients needed :
Dodda pathre fresh leaves 8-10
Chilli powder 2 tsp
salt as per taste
Curd 3 tsp
Ajwain 1 tsp
Besan flour 200 gm
Oil to fry
Preparation :
Mix chilli powder, curd, salt, ajwain, besan flour and then make a thick paste of it adding water.
Heat oil in a pan.
Dip the leaves in besan paste one by one and fry it well.
Dodda pathre rasam :
Ingredients needed :
Dodda pathre leaves 8-10
Fresh grated coconut 1/2 cup
Black pepper 6-8
Cumin 1/2 tsp
Mustard seeds 1/4 tsp
curry leaves
Garlic 6-8
Ghee 2 tsp
curd 1/2 cup
Preparation :
Heat ghee on tava and add cumin 1/4 tsp, black pepper to it.
Fry it well so that you smell the aroma of fried cumin.
Then add garlic pieces to it and fry for a minute.
Next, add washed dodda pathre leaves to it and fry well so that all the water content of the leaves evaporates.
Then grind the above-fried ingredients with fresh grated coconut and salt.
Boil this mixture adding water to it. Add water till it gets rasam consistency.
Finally, add curd to it.
Season this rasam with mustard seeds, cumin, curry leaves with ghee.
The opinions expressed herein are authors personal opinions and do not represent any one's view in anyway, do not use this information to diagnose or treat your problem without consulting your physician. Remedies here mentioned are used for ages may not be clinically proven.
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