Let’s Know the Science (Native) — Sesbania grandiflora / August tree leaves or vegetable hummingbird (In Tamil: Agathi Keerai, English regular usage: Spinach)

As per Siddha medicines, there are 63 types of nutrients in spinach. There are two types of spinach, one of them have white flowers and another has a rectangle with red flowers. Our forefathers have passed down the science of health-preserving spinach to us in beautiful proverbs.

Spinach is said to cleanse the internal organs. It is the leaf from the Agathi tree. Many parts of this tree are used as medicinal herbs. In specific, Tamil Nadu and other South Indian cuisine is cooked with Spinach and its flowers. This tree is not so thick and strong and can grow from about 6 to10 meters. Its leaves are 15 to 30 cm long and it does not branch as much as other trees. India is the origin of this tree.

As per research it is identified that Agathi Keerai has 73% water, 8.4% protein, 1.4% fat, 3.1% mineral salts, 2.2% fiber and 11.8% starch. It also contains starch, iron, calcium, and vitamin A. It is considered that Spinach has the best protein. Spinach is rich in nutrients. Also, it contains 100gm of vitamin A and 9000 calories.

Medicinal Benefits of Spinach/Agathi Keerai:

• All parts of Spinach such as leaves, flowers, pods, bark, and roots are used medicinally. It reduces fever and helps to balance the body heat.

• Consuming Spinach cures ulcers and skin diseases like itching and rashes.

• By chewing and swallowing the juice relieves sore throat and throat pain.

• Blood bile and blood boils are cured by eating spinach. It is used as fodder for livestock such as chicken and cattle.

• Medicinal balm can be prepared from Spinach.

• Helps to increase the milk secretion for the mothers with less lactating problem.

• Eating spinach will help female to strengthen bones and prevent bone disease.

• Calcium is essential for healthy bones and teeth. Spinach contains essential calcium nutrients.

• It is also rich in vitamin ‘A’ which is necessary for the vision of the eyes.

• If the leaves are fried in coconut oil and rubbed as a paste over body, the rashes will disappear completely. By applying the leaves juice along with sea conchs on the warts will help us to make it dry up and fall off.

• Mixed with pure cow ghee and small onions and make this recipe and eat regularly to have a good and healthy body.

• As Spinach has high level of calcium, it helps in the development of teeth and bones.

• It also cures rheumatism as this is highly laxative and kills bad worms in the stomach. Also, helps to balance the bile.

• It is better to avoid spinach while taking the medicine.

• Protects heart health: Spinach is rich in vitamin C. It keeps the heart healthy. Spinach contains 16.22% vitamin C. It prevents blood vessels from thickening. Also, dissolves fats; removes anemia.

• It is a good remedy for dull skin and dark circles on the face. If we eat spinach along with pepper, ajwain, cumin, onion and garlic, it will help to reduce Heart palpitations.

• If you grind the leaves and keep it on the scalp for 1 hour before taking bath, the body heat will reduce. It also prevents acne.

• Grinding the leaves and applying it on unhealed sores will help us to heal them quickly.

• If you take the juice of leaves and mix it with the same amount of honey, stomachache will be relieved.

• By adding coconut in equal quantity with spinach, grind it and extract juice and add a little turmeric powder to it. If this mixture is applied to blackheads, sores, scabies, it will cure completely.

• It helps in proper digestion. Diseases related to bile will be cured. Body heat subsides and eyes could feel the chill. Prevents constipation and helps to cure Stomach ulcer. Stomach ulcers can be cured if you eat it in a soup with cleaned spinach and onion, pepper and cumin.

Just like Spinach, its flowers also have complete medicinal properties. If the flower is fried and eaten, problems like eye irritation, dizziness, yellow pigments in urine will be cured.

Spinach has the power to break the poison hence consume it periodically to have a healthy life.