By: Nandi Hinamanjolo
Chilli is a plant of the tropical countries. The fruit is green and red and it varies in size. The more tropical the climate, the more sharp the smell is and taste of the fruit. Most of the indian curries have at least a pinch of the powdered chilli to give it the right taste. Foreigners who taste the indian curries state that they ” have had a foretaste of hell”.
Chilli is also medicinal, the leaves and fruit are used to treat sicknesses such as;
- Indigestion, if used in small quantities.
- Stimulates appetite.
- Purifies blood.
- Reduces or eliminates fever.
- Extremely used to give relief from arthritis and chest pains
- Also a relief from toothaches, tonsils and early stages of throat diseases in children.
- Reduces risks of cancer.
Chilli is very high in vitamin C. This powerful antioxidant is important for wound healing and immune function.
Vitamin B6, a family of B vitamins, B6 plays a role in energy metabolism. Chilli is primarily used as a spice and can be cooked or dried and powdered.
INDIGESTION- spicy foods may calm your gut and keep it healthy. That same receptor is found in your digestive tract and attaches to the receptor, it creates a chemical called anandamide.
APPETITE- by triggering the pathway in the stomach and intestines, chilli helps us feel fuller sooner and suppresses the appetite. For these reasons, many nutrition experts think that chilli can help in efforts to lose weight.
REDUCES FEVER- adding some chilli to your food really helps during a fever. Moreover a recent study proves hot chillies (capsaicin), which is an active ingredient in chilli gives them their kick, and shows a significant anti- bacterial activity.
HOW TO USE CHILLI
- Consumption of small quantities of fresh fruit, will stimulate appetite.
- The decoction of the leaves is good for gargling.
- For toothache, extract the juice from the fruit, dip a cotton ball in it, and after cleaning the cavity introduce the juice.
- In early stages of certain throat diseases and tonsils, the application of the fruit juice is helpful. Wet a cloth with the infusion on the fruit, and place it around the neck. At the same time a small amount of it can be taken internally.
CAUTION
Prolonged application to the skin may cause inflammation. Excessive internal use can also cause inflammation of both the stomach and the intestines and also cause kidney problems. As it is a strong stimulant, it should not be used regularly.
