The chembarathi (hibiscus) has great medicinal properties. Studies say it has the potential to act on blood pressure, fever, bad tummy, and bacterial infections.
People make teas and juices out of the flowers and leaves of the hibiscus. Recent research also says it has excellent cancer-fighting properties.
Women swear by its potential for toning and shampooing the hair. One natural hibiscus remedy for hair fall is to add hibiscus flowers to coconut oil and leave it under the sun for a while. This natural heating plus the flower’s herbal properties help prevent hair fall. The oil thus treated gives the hair a natural black sheen. The flower, when fried in ghee and consumed, prevents excessive menstrual bleeding.
Hibiscus leaves, flowers and roots are used in the manufacture of herbal medicines. The floral remedies are effective in treating colds, cough, body ache, inflammation and respiratory diseases. The pulp extracted from the flower is a balm for burns.
While the flower extract is a good laxative, the roots of the plant are used for treating sexual ailments.
Here’s how to make a delicious and healthy hibiscus squash:
Ingredients
250 gm hibiscus flowers
Water as required
750 gm sugar
10 gm powdered nannari or naruneendi (sarasaparilla)
Preparation
Wash the hibiscus flowers, remove the stem and boil them in a litre of water
Remove the flower bits from the solution
Add sugar and boil for at least four times
Add powdered nannari or naruneendi and boil again
Cool the squash and bottle it.
Notes
How to drink: Mix two teaspoons of squash in a glass of water. This can be had by people of all ages. The drink is touted to be an energy-booster. The residual flowers can be mixed with vegetables and cooked.