9 Jaggery Home Remedies For Liver, Sinusitis, Painful Periods

By Dr MS Krishnamurthy MD(Ayu), PhD
Jaggery (gur) is one among the earliest known natural sweetening agent. It is appreciated due to its nutritional value as well as taste benefits. Further, several medicinal/health benefits also found which surely makes one to use it daily. 

Jaggery or gud is unrefined sugar, obtained from raw, concentrated sugarcane juice, by the process of boiling it.

Vernacular names

Hindi-Gud
Telugu-Bellam
Tamil-Vellam
Malayalam-Sharkara
Kannada-Bella
Marathi-Gul

According to jaggery facilitates ease bowel movement (vatanulomana),tonic (balya), rejuvinative (rasayana),cardiac tonic(hridya) and acts as diuretic(mutrala).
Excess intake may increase kapha and helps to gain weight.
Read related: Jaggery Health Benefits, Usage, Side Effects – Full Ayurveda Details

In Ayurveda several formulations are found containing jaggery as a main ingredient. More over separate dosage form is also observed in the name Guda kalpana.This remains as the evidence for the potent medicinal and adaptogenic properties of jaggery.

Ayurvedic medicines

Ayurvedic medicines with jaggery as base: 
Shatavari guda – indicated in female menstrual disorders,general debility,anemia etc
Bahushala guda – Haemorroids,fistula in ano, indigestion, distention of abdomen, debility etc
Bhargi guda – referred in cough, cold, breathlessness etc
Goudarishta – indicated in anemia, general debility, systemic oedema etc
Guda hareetaki – indicated in inflammatory conditions,cough,cold,piles etc have taken unique position and prescription in Ayurvedic system of medicine.

As per the nutrition and dietetics jaggery is rich in several important vitamins and minerals like potassium, magnesium, iron, zinc, selenium, calcium and phosphorus and antioxidants.

Jaggery home remedies

For indigestion, flatulence

1. Jaggery with cumin seeds in indigestion and flatulence:
Equal quantity of jaggery and cumin seeds are taken and pounded well. This is stored in air tight containers (or else it is liquefied in due course of time). According to the necessity, in the conditions like indigestion, flatulence, burping etc this can be taken in a dose of 3 – 5 grams, once or twice a day, with lukewarm water, before food.

For cough, cold

2. Ginger juice and jaggery in chronic cough and cold:
5 ml of ginger fresh juice is mixed with jaggery. This is licked twice or thrice a day. This relieves chronic cough and cold effectively.

For strength improvement

3. Jaggery and ghee as tonic:
These two ingredients are mixed together and taken especially along with the breakfast like Chapati, Dosa, Idly etc. This serves as a good tonic and it gives good strength and stamina.
In earlier days people used to take jaggery, ghee and coconut/ tender coconut so as to improve the sexual virility too.

For fatigue

4. Jaggery water containing pepper and salt in fatigue and general debility:
5-10 gram of jaggery is dissolved in warm/ hot water. To this, powdered pepper is added and mixed thoroughly. This is called Panaka in traditional system and it relieves fatigue especially caused during summer and winter seasons.

For sinusitis

5. Ginger juice and jaggery as nose drops in sinusitis – headache:
Fresh ginger juice is miuxed with jaggery and filtered through a cloth. This is instilled to the nostrils in cases of headache associated with sinusitis.

For jaundice

6. Katukarohini powder with jaggery in jaundice:
2-3 gram of powdered Katukarohini (Picrorrhiza kurroa) is taken along with jaggery in cases like obstructive jaundice.

For respiratory disorders

7. Jaggery and mustard oil in respiratory disorders:
Equal amount of jaggery and mustard oil are taken and mixed well. In cases of asthmatic attack (breathlessness) this is taken. This gives instant benefit in this condition.

For belching

8. Rock salt and jaggery in sour burping:
1-2 pinch of powdered salt is taken along with 10 grams of jaggery and mixed well. This is taken whenever the individual gets burping/distension of abdomen.

For dysmenorrhea

9. Sesame seed or seed powder along with jaggery in dysmenorrhoea:
Equal amount (say 10 gram each) of black sesame seeds and jaggery are taken and swallowed twice daily, preferably early in the morning and late evening. This is very effective in dysmenorrhoea conditions. This also helps to regularize the menstruation as well as to relive anemia.

Jaggery if enlisted one can point out hundreds together health benefits. If we use jaggery in one or other form surely multiple health benefits can be en-cashed.
Click to consult Dr MS Krishnamurthy MD (Ayu), PhD