Tamarind

Other Names of Tamarind: Tamarindus indica, Imli, Ambli, tamar indie and so on

Useful Parts of the Plant: The parts of the tamarind plant that are typically used are the seeds, pulp of the fruit, flowers, bark as well as the leaves

Tamarind is a fruit that has been found majorly in the tropical areas of Africa. It is a green fruit when young and gets a brown color as it matures. The fruit is sour by nature, however the pulp slowly gets sweeter. The word tamarind refers to an Arabic word tamar which means dry date fruit. The pulp is covered by a hard brown cover in the outside.

Nutritional Information and Properties: Tamarind nutrition facts and properties state that this herb is rich in various minerals, volatile chemical compounds, vitamins as well as dietary fiber.

Health Benefits and Therapeutic Uses

One of the health benefits of tamarind is that the dietary fiber obtained from this herb is beneficial to naturally treat digestive problems such as loose motions and also for the prevention of constipation as the fiber tends to add bulk and which is required for healthy bowel movements. This fiber also helps in binding together any toxins that may be present in the food and thus protects the mucus membrane of the colon from chemicals that cause cancer.

The nutritional value of the tamarind herb is also tremendous as the dietary fiber obtained from tamarind bind the bile salts that are produced from cholesterol and thus minimize their re-absorption into the colon. The tamarind herb is therefore beneficial in lowering the levels of bad cholesterol in the body.

The health benefits of tamarind also include it being effective on regulating the blood pressure and the heart rate on account of the presence of potassium in tamarind. Tamarind is also rich in other minerals such as calcium, iron, copper, zinc and magnesium. The iron present in tamarind helps in the production of red blood cells.

Another one of the health benefits of tamarind is that it is used as a digestive, laxative and also as a natural treatment for bile disorders and biliousness.

The medicinal uses of tamarind also include preparing a poultice of the pulp, flowers and leaves and then applying this poultice on the joints in case of swelling.

Health benefits and therapeutic uses of tamarind also include the juice of the tamarind herb flowers being used in the natural treatment of bleeding piles.

For those who are prone to suffering from dry eye syndrome, one of the medicinal uses of tamarind is to use eye drops that are prepared from the extracts of the tamarind seeds.

Tamarind health benefits also include it being used to naturally treat medical ailments such as constipation and fever. In fact the tamarind herb is also proven to be very effective in dealing with sunstrokes, intoxication and Datura poisoning.

One of the tamarind leaves uses is that it is used as a poultice for treating boils, swollen joints and sprains.

On account of the numerous health benefits of tamarind, it is also used in various lotions and extracts that are used in the treatment of jaundice. The bark of the tamarind tree is also used to treat open sores whereas the seeds of this plant are used in the form of a paste to draw out boils.

Other Uses:

Besides the medicinal uses, tamarind is also used as an emulsifying agent in different pharmaceutical products such as decoctions and syrups. Tamarind also has a variety of culinary uses in jams, chutneys, and pickles. In fact tamarind is also an ingredient in the preparation of barbecue and Worcestershire sauce and is used in many meat preparations. Similarly the leaves of the tamarind plant are used to feed silkworms and as fodder for livestock. The pulp of the fruit of tamarind is also used to coagulate rubber latex and as a dyeing fixative. The tamarind pulp when mixed with butter and some other key ingredients results in the preparation of an ointment which is then used on pets and livestock to get rid of parasites such as fleas.

Precautions/ Side effects/ Warnings:

While tamarind has no known major side effects, it is important that pregnant women avoid too much consumption of tamarind. Also if the woman is breast feeding, tamarind is not advisable. Tamarind should be used and consumed in foods, too much consumption should be avoided.