Fenugreek or Methi as it is known in India is a spice used for flavoring food. It is a strongly scented herb. Over the years, methi has been used in Ayurveda as an effective treatment for treating diabetes, hair fall and joint pains. Since ancient times, methi has been used both as a food as well as medicine by the people of the Mediterranean and Asia.
The properties of Methi have been the subject of scientific research in modern times and an extract of methi has been successful in treating Diabetes Type 2. Methi contains minerals, vitamins and other beneficial ingredients.
Some health benefits of Methi are discussed below
1. Controls Cholesterol: Methi contains flavonoids which help in reducing the bad cholesterol in the body. Two spoons of meth seeds soaked overnight and chewed on empty stomach control cholesterol.
2. Controls hair fall: Methi seeds when soaked and ground make a very good conditioner and add luster and shine to hair. Methi seeds when ground with curd and applied to the scalp help control hair fall and promote hair growth.
3. Aid digestion: a cupful of Methi leaves should be lightly steamed and consumed every alternate day as an effective cure for constipation. Methi seeds when added to food not only add flavor to food, but also eliminate toxins from the body. Methi seeds contain mucilage which speeds digestion and slows down weight gain. It improves liver function and fights flatulence.
4. Methi seeds taken with a glass of milk promote milk production in lactating mothers.
5. Methi seeds are an effective cure for dandruff. A paste of soaked methi seeds, sour curd and lemon juice should be applied at the hair roots to control dandruff and excess oiliness of the scalp
6. A soup made of methi and spinach leaves is useful to cure anemia.
7. A decoction of methi seeds in water has a cooling effect and helps cure fevers.
8. Methi paste with lemon juice is used to cure biliousness and a weak liver.
9. A paste of methi seeds should be applied on mouth ulcers for immediate relief.
10. Methi seeds are boiled in water for half an hour till the volume of liquid reduces to half. The cooled liquid is used as a mouth gargle to soothe inflamed throats.
11. In the Ayurvedic system of medicine, body odor has underlying causes viz sluggish digestive system, constipation, accumulation of toxins in the body etc. Methi tea is prescribed to be taken over a period of a month to flush out the accumulated toxins, to speed digestion and to eliminate body odor.
12. A poultice of methi seed paste can be applied on swellings and insect bites to provide pain relief.
13. Methi provides effective remedy against diabetes. It is also available in tablet form.