| | | Fenugreek, Turmeric and Radish Answered by: Susan Eagles Question from: Shyam Posted on: September 24, 1998
What are the medicinal and cardio-vascular qualities of eating raw Fenugreek, raw Radish and raw (boiled with milk) Turmeric? Any side effects?
Fenugreek is known to reduce total cholesterol, while increasing HDL (good cholesterol) levels. Other properties are: regulating blood sugar levels, anti-oxidant and digestive, creating a soothing protective coating on the intestinal tract. With these properties, it is used in diabetes, inflammatory bowel conditions, peptic ulcer, digestive problems, bronchitis and coughs. It is contraindicated in pregnancy, as it may cause abortion.
Cardiovascular effects of Turmeric are stimulating the circulation, decreasing cholesterol and preventing blood clotting. Other medicinal qualities of turmeric are: anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, pain reliever, digestive and liver stimulant (it creates and increases the flow of bile). With these properties, it is useful in many health problems including liver disease, gastritis, digestive disturbances, eczema, nausea, AIDS, gall bladder problems and arthritis. Taken internally, a side effect can be sensitivity to sunlight. Externally, a paste is used to remove skin tumors such as warts. Used externally, it may cause skin rashes.
Both Fenugreek and Turmeric are used to provide nourishment in convalescence from debilitating disease.
John Lust, in The Herb Book (available at Richters) states that radish is "antispasmodic, astringent, cholagogue, diuretic" used in coughs, rheumatism, gall bladder problems, chronic bronchitis, flatulence, diarrhea, headache and insomnia. Radish is used in Russia to balance thyroid hormones in both hyper- and hypothyroid, and in Chinese medicine to reduce excess phlegm by nourishing and toning the lung in a "Hot Lung" condition, and to reduce excess fluid in a condition of Dampness where the spleen does not efficiently process fluids. Radish should not be used when there is inflammation of the stomach or intestinal tract. It would be best taken with or after a meal to reduce the risk of irritation.
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