Ayurveda has grouped many herbs for their collective health benefit. The effect of these combinations is more than the sum of each. Trikatu is a combination of three Katu - Fieries: Black pepper, Long pepper, and Dry ginger.
Benefits of consuming Trikatu (Evidence-based):
Trikatu exerts positive health benefits on,
1) Metabolism and digestion
4) Kapha- Vata diseases like Hypothyroidism
5) Obesity
6) Reduces Body Fat (Cholesterol), Beneficial to the heart
7) Rhinitis: Frequent allergies, Cough, and cold.
Individual Benefits (Ref. Bhavaprakash) :
Shunthi (Dry Ginger):
Helpful in rheumatic pains, kindles metabolism, and digestion. Removes obstruction in the body due to Kapha Vata dosha, Improves sexual prowess, improves voice, cures vomiting breathlessness, pain, and disorders of the heart. Beneficial in hemorrhoids (Piles), flatulence, and disorders of Vata.
Removes obstruction yet is grahi: improves digestion and absorption of nutrients from the gut.
Pippali (Long Pepper) :
Kindles metabolism and digestion, Improves sexual vigor. It is a Rasayana, meaning it slows down aging and degradation of the body. It is not very hot in potency. It lubricates the body and pacifies Vata-Kapha dosha. It eases bowel movement and is useful in breathing disorders, cough fever, and skin diseases. It helps relieve hemorrhoids, pains, and rheumatism
Maricha (Black Pepper) :
Improves digestion and metabolism, and pacifies Kapha-Vata dosha. It is useful in breathing disorders, pains, and intestinal worms.
How to make Trikatu:
Procure fresh, high-quality ingredients. Powder each herb separately and then mix in equal quantities.
Shelf life: According to Ayurveda churnas (Powdered herbs) retain their efficacy for at least 4 months.
Storage: Store in a clean and airtight stainless steel, ceramic, or glass container.
Dosage:
Adults: 2-3 gm/day
Children: 1-2 gm/day
How to use Trikatu:
1) With Food: Trikatu can be added to the first morsel of rice or roti, with a little ghee. This balances the digestive fire and improves metabolism. You can sprinkle it over Dal, Soups, Salads, Raita, etc. It is appetizing and enhances the flavor, especially if you like your food spicy.
2) Before food: Trikatu can be taken 30 minutes before food, with warm water. it helps prevent heaviness, dullness, and sluggishness of the meal that you are about to consume.
3) After food: With buttermilk, or honey and lemon. This can help improve cholesterol levels.
4) With honey and warm water: Trikatu when taken with honey can rapidly aid weight loss. Caution: avoid honey if you suffer from Type 2 diabetes. Also, do not add honey to hot water. This can be an excellent drink to start your day, instead of tea or coffee.
5) With milk and turmeric: Trikatu is an excellent combination with turmeric to relieve cough, cold, allergies, and other respiratory troubles. This combination also helps allay inflammations and pains.
6) With Curds/Yogurt: Curds can be heavy and congestive. Especially for individuals who have frequent cough and colds, or put on weight easily. Adding trikatu and honey to curds can prevent the heaviness and congestion that curds cause.
7) With Buttermilk: For relieving hyperacidity, dyspepsia, and digestive troubles. Buttermilk spiced with trikatu, jeera (cumin) powder, and a pinch of hing (asafoetida), can greatly improve digestion.
8) On Raw Salads: Trikatu makes a tasty spicy mix to sprinkle over raw salads. Ayurveda believes that salads are hard to digest on certain occasions. Especially when you are suffering from indigestion. Trikatu can help digest raw vegetables and fruits better.
9) As a Tea: Trikatu can be boiled with water. Milk of any choice can be added to this to make tea. Trikatu tea is an excellent alternative to Caffeine ( Tea and coffee), with similar benefits of giving you an energy boost.
11) With Honey: Trikatu when licked with honey, can greatly improve cold and cough symptoms, and help heal faster. This mixture can be safely given to children above 1 year of age. Regular use of Trikatu and sitopaladi is a formidable force to strengthen immunity.
12) With Aloe vera pulp: this study says that consuming 2 gms of trikatu with 20 gm of fresh aloe vera pulp significantly reduces blood cholesterol levels, reduces centripetal fat, Improves waist to hip ratio, and aids weight loss.
If you are averse to its flavor of it, you can simply pop a trikatu tablet before or after food for its health benefits.
Although I highly recommend making this fresh after choosing the best available herbs.
Who should not use Trikatu?
Trikatu is a hot spice.
Individuals who have high pitta dosha, disorders should take trikatu in moderation. Your pitta dosha is high when you feel the heat radiating from your palms and soles of your feet, Sweat excessively, have disturbed sleep, and feel dehydrated, tired, and dizzy.
In hot seasons: Resort to half dose of trikatu during peak summer and autumn (shared ritu).
Use trikatu only after consulting a physician if you are pregnant.
Strictly avoid it if you are diagnosed with Hyperthyroidism.
Comments