Health Benefits and Home Remedies of Tamarind (Imli)

The Tamarind (Imli) fruit or pulp of is very popular all over India as condiment and as a souring substance. It plays an important role in numerous culinary preparations in the country. Specially southern India where it constitutes an essential ingredient of sambars, rasams, chutney and curries.

The fruit is a legume measuring from 2 to 10 inches long having a shape of a cresecent. It is covered with a brown colour.

Nutritional Value

Amount Per 1 fruit (3" x 1") (2 g) 100 grams 1 cup, pulp (120 g) 100 grams
Calories	239
Total Fat	0.6g
Saturated fat	0.3g
Polyunsaturated fat	0.1g
Monounsaturated fat	0.2g
Cholesterol	0mg
Sodium	28mg
Potassium	628mg
Total Carbohydrate	63g
Dietary fiber	5g
Sugar	57g
Protein	2.8g
Vitamin A
Calcium
Vitamin D
Vitamin B-12
Vitamin C
Iron
Vitamin B-6
Magnesium

Health Benefits and Home Remedies of Tamarind

• Curative Properties

The pulp of the fruit is digestive, antiflatulent, cooling, laxative and antiseptic. The seeds are astringent.

• Digestive Disorders

The pulp of the ripe fruit is beneficial in the treatment of billions vomiting, flatulence and indigestion. It is also useful in constipation. An infusion of the pulp prepared by macerating it in water is particularly useful for the loss of appetite disinclination of food. For better results, black pepper, cloves, cardamoms and camphor to taste may be added to this infusion after straining.

• Scurry

Tamarind pulp, being rich in Vitamin C, is valuable in preventing and curing scurry. It is significant that tamarind does not lose its anti scorbutic property on drying as do other fruits and vegetables.

• Cold

Taramind pepper 'rasam' is considered an effective home remedies for cold in south India. It is prepared by boiling for a few minutes a very dilute tamarind water in a teaspoon of hot ghee and a 1/2 teaspoon of black pepper powder. This steaming hot rasam has flushing effect. 

• Fever 

The pulp of tamarind fruit is useful in febrile disorders. It is generally given in 15 gms doses. A sherbat made by boiling 30grams of the pulp in half a litre of milk with addition of few dates, cloves sugar and cardamoms and a little camphor is an efficacious drink in fevers.

• Dysentry

The tamarind milk drink is very helpful in dysentry. The pulverished seeds are also considered useful in dysentry. They should be given in doses of 6.25 deci grama with an equal quantity of Cummin and sugar.

• Burns

The tender leaves of tamarind tree are a useful remedy for treating burns. The leaves are put into a pot covered and warmed over the fire. The burnt leaves are finely powered and then sieved to remove gritty particulars. This fine powdered is mixed in gingerly oil applied over the burnt part. The wound is healed within a few days. The leaves prevent oedema formation and bring about the growth of healthy normal skin.

• Skin disorders

An infusion of the leaves can be used for washing foul smelling ulcers. The paste of these leaves can also be applied over scabies with beneficial results. The powder of the dry leaves is dusted for treating leg ulcers and boils.

• Inflammation of joints

Crushed with water and made into a poultice. The leaves are applied in inflammation of joints and ankies. It reduces swelling and pain.

• Sore throat

Tamarind water as a gargle is beneficial in the treatment of sore throat. A powder of the dry leaves can also be beneficially used as a gargle for sore throat. An infusion of the bark is equally useful for this purpose.