Gulkand: Lesser known health benefits of this sweet rose recipe

We all know that gulkand is amazingly wonderful as the rose itself, which despite being covered with thorns is appreciated for its beauty and aroma. Just like rose, gulkand’s aroma is breathtaking and so is its impact on our health. Gulkand has been in use since time immemorial. It is mostly used in tea, or in the paan (betel leaves). People also drink it with milk or plain water.

One can either prepare gulkand at home or else can buy those available in stores. Gulkand is basically a mixture of rose petals and sugar. The consistency of gulkand is not as smooth as jam or as pulpy and chunky as marmalade. It's a recipe that is sun dried with precision and care and has a distinct consistency.

Though a very specific kind of rose is used for gulkand, it can also be used from other varieties of the flower.

You have to collect and clean the petals of the rose flower. Take equal proportion of sugar or misri. Put everything in a jar. The jar should be a glass one so that the sunlight penetrates within it and it is dried properly. Keep this jar under the sun for 12-15 days.

The ingredients should be layered inside the jar. One layer of rose petal should be sitting below a layer of sugar or misri and so on. For additional taste, you can add elaichi powder to it.

Gulkand is known to beat heat related problems like fatigue, aches, muscle pain and stomach heat. If you are experiencing a burning sensation in your palm and sole, it is advisable to have gulkand.

These are used in coolants and sherbets widely during the summer season.

The other health benefits of gulkand are:

• It treats mouth ulcers, which mostly happens to people who have more body heat.
• It is rich in iron and hence gives women relief from menstrual problems like heavy bleeding, white discharge, and even period cramps.
• It helps in digestion and relieves one from constipation. It is therefore used in a pan and is consumed after a meal.
• It treats acidity and heartburn. Since it helps in proper digestion, it relieves the person from all sorts of indigestion issues.
• It is useful to treat haemorrhoids or bleeding piles which are mostly caused due to chronic constipation.
• It is rich in antioxidants which helps in removing toxins from the body.
• It prevents nose bleeding that mostly occurs during the summer season.
• It lessens body odour. Many experts say the cooling effect of gulkand has an impact on the body's sweat too.
• It induces sleep. Ayurvedic experts recommend gulkand to those who have a disturbed sleep cycle.

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