Curry Favour

Last updated: 15/08/2007 - 11:52

Fancy a little 'kormatherapy'? Find out more about the power of Indian spices.

The most popular food in the UK - curry - is also among the the most popular take away and home delivery foods - and it's good for you too! A study carried out by the University of California shows that the turmeric contained in many curries may play a role in treating Alzheimer's disease. But what few people realise is that nearly all the spices found in Indian food have medicinal benefits.

Research has shown that when spices are cooked they release essential oils, which, according to practitioners of alternative medicine, have special effects.

Indian Spices

Whether you're in need of a circulation boost after too many days curled up indoors, your nose is streaming or your joints are aching from the cold, frosty weather, Indian food containing the right spice fix, can help combat all those niggling winter ailments.

Meena Pathak OBE - who created the Patak's family Indian food brand - believes Indian spices hold unique medicinal properties. "An ancient Hindu teaching called Ayurveda (ayur meaning 'life' and veda translating as 'knowledge') shows that eating the right food is fundamental in maintaining a state of well-being. It is believed that the harmonious blend of herbs and spices combined with the right balance of foods that heat and cool our bodies is the key to good health. In India, the instinctive knowledge of these teachings is passed from generation to generation and has enabled mothers to use these skills to care for their children's health with natural remedies," says Meena.

Kormatherapy

Although we are more familiar with the benefits of the essences commonly available in aromatherapy treatments, less is known about the positive effects from the essential oils found in Indian food.

Ginger, for example, was once believed to be a home remedy for the plague and was also thought to improve a poor disposition. In recent years it has been proven to work as a treatment for nausea

Back in the days of Greece and Rome, fennel was believed to have numerous healing properties and was even used to treat scorpion stings and snakebites. It is now understood that fennel has a calmative effect and can therefore be used as a mild relaxant

Hot chilli peppers were once used to cure cholera, jaundice and ringworm. We now know that they have a great effect on the relief of nasal congestion noses and provide three times more Vitamin C than oranges weight for weight

Cumin was, at one time, added to bread to prevent its theft by evil spirits. It can help to soothe indigestion by working on the enzymes in the stomach

Coriander seeds were, in the past, prescribed for general well being and used to flavour repulsive medicines. They are now known to help stimulate the digestive system

Cloves were traditionally thought to help paralysis and assorted problems of the brain. A particularly good healer, today cloves are used to help clear up cold sores and sore throats

Cardamom was hugely popular in ancient Rome as a perfume and used as an old trick to sweeten the breath after a hard night of drinking. Nowadays it's known as a great detoxer after a big weekend, as it flushes out the kidneys and helps settle the stomach

For more curry information and recipe ideas, the following links may be useful:

www.curryhouse.co.uk

www.rusholmecurry.co.uk - your guide to Manchester's world-famous 'curry mile'

www.indianspices.com

Food Standards Agency

Seasoning and Spice Association

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