This is why you must consume Saunth daily in winter
Dry ginger or commonly known as Saunth or Sonth, is one of the most popular spices used in the Indian kitchen. It’s a kind of special spice that’s often used for treating digestion, joint aches, diabetes, congestion, cold & cough and dull skin. This is a special spice that’s often added to food to increase the flavour of a dish or drink such as Chutney, Laddoo and Chai. Sonth has been used for thousands of years and finds mention in ancient Ayurveda texts as well. In this article, we will share with you some of the interesting facts about this spice. (Images courtesy: Canva)
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Importance of Saunth
It’s nothing but the dried & powdered version of ginger, which is known to be extremely healthy. Often, it is used with dry fruits to make Laddoos in winter, which helps to keep you warm. Sonth is also used to make Hareera/Harira for new moms, as it is believed that it helps them in the healing process while keeping the body warm and making them feel energetic. According to Celebrity Nutritionist Rujuta Diwekar, one should have this dry spice every day to soothe their troubles. It’s high in bioactive molecules and contains a high antioxidant value, which helps the action of trypsin and lipase (the enzymes required to break down protein and fat) and acts as an analgesic.
How to use it in everyday recipes?
You might be surprised to hear this, but sonth can add a unique flavour to the dishes. Be it a gravy, tandoori starter, soups & stews, candies & cookies or tea; this spice can make your everyday food delicious. But, make sure that you use it in small quantity, as it is known to have a warm potency. It is also used by chefs to marinate various veg and non-veg foods.
History of Saunth
It is often said that this spice has a rich history and originated in India and China. It is believed that the spice is more than 5 thousand years old, but its authentic information is available only in the year 1000 BC. One can find the mention of Sonth in the 'Haritvarga' chapter of the Ayurvedic text 'Charak Samhita', which was written in India in the seventh-eighth century BC, the first verse itself has given information about ginger (Vishvabheshjam) and in the chapter 'Athaharayogivarga' about dry ginger. Buddhist monk Fahiyan (337-422 AD), who came to India from China, gave information about its cultivation in China and India while describing ginger in his book. From these two countries, ginger spread slowly all over the world.
The Saunth Mandi
Today, India is the leader in the production of ginger and dry ginger and it exports most of it to America and Saudi Arabia. Saunth got great importance in the Mughal period and a Saunth Mandi was opened in Agra during the reign of Emperor Akbar. Here, dry ginger was sold from nearby areas and transported to Lahore. It is said that during that time there used to be a dry ginger market in Lahore as well. Now, dry ginger is not traded on such a large scale in the country, but its use in cooking and Ayurveda is important even today.
The Ayurveda connection
The use and properties of dry ginger are considered more than ginger. Apart from normal food, it has been given the status of special medicine in Ayurveda. Dry ginger is being used in Ayurveda for years in medicine powder, decoction, gutika (tablet) and avaleh etc. According to the Ayurvedic book 'Charak Samhita', dry ginger is astringent, deepan, vrushya, hot, anti-carcinogenic, sweet in Vipak, beneficial for the heart and creates interest in food.
Home remedies of Saunth
This spice has a warming effect and plays an important role in anti-toxin in the body. Here are some of the easy home remedies that you can use…
1. If you have a burning sensation in the stomach, it is the easiest home remedy to get instant relief.
2. For treating throat pain or headache, you can directly apply its paste to relieve the pain.
3. To get relief from cold & flu, it should be mixed with jaggery and then eaten after the food.
4. Also, since dry ginger powder contains thermogenic agents (heat-increasing substances), this spice can help you in burning fat and treat obesity.
5. For flatulence, make a decoction of dry ginger, a little asafoetida and black salt with warm water. Drink this up and you will get instant relief from flatulence.
The side effects
It is one of the healthiest spices that can be used in daily life. However, make sure that it is consumed in normal amounts else it can cause a burning sensation in the stomach and chest. Its excessive consumption can cause blisters in the mouth and some rashes can also appear on the skin.
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