PHYTOCEAUTICALS – EVEN OUR GRANDMOTHERS KNEW ABOUT THEM!

 “Finish your carrots, they are good for your eyes” she would say; the oil in “the orange peel will make you’re your skin glow” she would tell my mother. My grandma was an unsuspecting carrier of a bounty of knowledge, which has today acquired a fancy name ‘Phytoceauticals’!

Phytoceauticals are biological actives obtained from plants and have been known to those practicing Ayurveda since ages. Their use from wound healing to cosmetology and from anti inflammatory to anti cancer therapy are today the ‘in thing’ in medicine, but the fact that they are a part of our glorious heritage and find documentation in ancient books like Susruta Samhita and Charak Samhita cannot be denied.

Today we aesthetic surgeons have formulated a classification for these phytoceauticals as our ready reckon-er:

–        Anti inflammatory – naturally occurring COX-2 mediators to reduce inflammation

•         Turmeric, ginger, papaya

•         Pineapple, Blueberry, sweet potato

•         Kelp, Brown algae

–        Topical bleaching agents –

•         Hydroquinone, Kojic acid, Glycolic acid

•         Lemon / Orange peel – Ascorbyl palmitate

•         Licorice extract

–        Topical anti bacterial agents –

•         Apple stem cells

•         Salicylic acid powder

•         Pumpkin oil

Let us now appreciate how we have used the phytoceauticals all these years:

Cosmetics:

Different Lepās (Masks or applications) were recommended for different seasons for body beautification. The ingredients used during the cold seasons were quite different from those used in warm seasons. In fact Ashtānga Hridaya (a 1500 year old book of Ayurveda) offers six different formulations to be used for the six seasons of the year. Similarly special cosmetic Tailams (Oils) and Ghritas (Clarified butter or ghee) were used for facial beautification. Superfluous hair was considered to be a stigma and a large number of depilatory agents were recommended to get rid of it. Special ingredients were used for hair washes. Many remedies have been indicated for hair growth, prevention of falling hair and premature graying. Hair dyes, fragrant hair rinses and fumigants were also in use. Fragrant bath powders and body deodorants also find frequent mention. Oral hygiene in the form of care of teeth, mouth deodorants and coloring of lips were daily chores to be religiously pursued. Today we are re-discovering them in our tooth pastes in the form of Neem, turmeric, cinnamon, licorice, almond, clove, peppermint and eucalyptus oils.  It appears that the whole range of modern cosmetic usage was conceived by the ancient Indians and was practiced with the help of natural resources then available.

Anti inflammatory:

Turmeric or Haldi is a commonly used spice in our kitchen but its use as a medicine too is not new as it has been used both topically as well as orally. It is a natural remedy for several ailments and is greatly notable for its strong anti-inflammatory and anti-carcinogenic properties, and for its ability to kill bacteria and boost the body's immune system. It's no surprise that it's so widely sought after, given all these benefits and the entire world is keen to patent its goodness when we have known about it since ages! What is most exiting is that mixing it with just one other natural ingredient can turn it into something even more potent?  And that is Honey!

Anti bacterial:

Of all the natural antibiotics nature has to offer, golden honey has been found to be one of the strongest ones ever known. When combined with turmeric, these two ingredients can make a powerful natural remedy, which acts as a medicine for colds in particular, with benefits that may outweigh those of the synthetic antibiotics you're accustomed to.

Unlike other medicines, golden honey has no negative effects on the intestinal tract. But, rather, it improves digestion and increases the activity of beneficial flora in the gut thus acting as a probiotic. It also acting as a wonderful healer in the following cases:

• colds and flu
• respiratory diseases
• weight problems
• arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis

So, when you feel like you're coming down with a nasty cold, golden honey is the first thing you should reach out for. Here are the directions of how to make it:

Ingredients
• 3.5 oz. (100 grams) of raw organic honey
• 1 tbsp. of turmeric powder

Directions
Combine the turmeric and honey, mix well, and place in a glass container.

Dosage instructions
To fight cold and flu symptoms:
• Day 1 – Take ½ tsp. every hour during the day.
• Day 2 – Take ½ tsp. every two hours during the day.
• Day 3 – Take ½ tsp. three times a day.

To fight respiratory diseases:
• Take ½ tsp. three times a day during the week.

How to take it
When ingested, the mixture should be kept in the mouth until completely dissolved. You may even add golden honey to milk or tea if desired.

Do not consume turmeric if you suffer from hypertension, hemophilia, bile disease or other gallbladder problems, since it could cause muscle contractions in the gallbladder.

According to Indo-Tibetan medicine, if you use turmeric before meals - it acts on the throat and lungs, if you use it during meals - it acts on the digestive system, and if you use it after meals - it acts on the colon and kidneys.

Phytonutrients

Plant foods contain thousands of natural chemicals. These are called phytonutrients or phytochemicals. Phytonutrients aren't essential for keeping us alive, unlike the vitamins and minerals that plant foods contain but improve our wellness and health. More than 25,000 phytonutrients are found in plant foods but the six important ones are Carotenoids, Ellagic acid, Flavonoids, Resveratrol, Glucosinolates and Phytoestrogens. More than 600 carotenoids provide yellow, orange, and red colors in fruits and vegetables. They are antioxidants and they tackle harmful free radicals that damage tissues. Alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, and beta-cryptoxanthin are all converted to Vitamin A and are useful for our eyes. Yellow and orange foods like pumpkins and carrots are good sources of alpha- and beta-carotene.

Lycopene give red or pink colour to tomato, watermelon and pink grapefruit and prevent us from prostate cancer. Lutein and zeaxanthin protect us from cataract and age related macular degeneration and are found in green vegetables like spinach, kale and collards. Ellagic acid is found in a number of berries and other plant foods, especially Strawberries, Raspberries and Pomegranates. These protect us from cancers by enabling the liver to neutralize carcinogens. Flavonoids include catechins found in green tea, hesperidin found in citrus fruits, flavonols in apples berries and onions and Resveratrol is found in Grapes, Purple grape juice and Red wine.

Fruits and vegetables are concentrated sources of phytonutrients; other plant foods like whole grains, legumes/beans, nuts and seeds, and herbs and spices also contain phytonutrients. Since many phytonutrients also serve as the pigment that gives foods their deep hues, you can identify many phytonutrient-rich foods by looking for colorful foods; for example, look for foods that are blue or purple like blueberries, blackberries and red cabbage (rich in flavonoids); yellow-orange foods like carrots, winter squash, papaya, and melon (rich in beta-carotene); red or pink foods like tomatoes, guava, and watermelon (rich in lycopene); and green foods like kale, spinach, and collard greens (rich in chlorophyll). Yet, since not all phytonutrients give color, it's important to not overlook some off-white foods as well—for example, garlic, onions, and leeks are rich in powerful sulfur-containing phytonutrients.

Phytonutrients are rich source of antioxidants and are found in whole grains, legumes/beans, nuts and seeds, green vegitables, citrus fruits and herbs. They promote good health and are gifts for us from the plant kingdom.