Methi is used in many forms such as fresh leaves, dried vegetable, an aromatic spice and a medicine. Ayurvedic seers of olden days gave no reference of it in their work and it was only the treatises of later origin which mentioned about methi’s curative and healing properties. Methi has been used both as food and medicine by almost all ancient civilizations.

Methi is used in many forms such as fresh leaves, dried vegetable, an aromatic spice and a medicine. Ayurvedic seers of olden days gave no reference of it in their work and it was only the treatises of later origin which mentioned about methi’s curative and healing properties. Methi has been used both as food and medicine by almost all ancient civilizations.

Called methika in sanskrit, fenugreek in English and Trigonella foenum-graceum scientifically, it is bitter in taste and unctuous and hot in effect. It aggravates pitta but pacifies vata and kapha. It is cultivated as a quick cash crop but its other variety grows wild in planes of India. Leaves of methi contain various nutrients like protein, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals while many alkaloids and oils have been separated from its seeds.

Methi has very good medicinal properties. Its green leaves are mainly digestive, appetizer, anti-flatulant, mildly laxative and anti-inflammatory. The methi seeds are more hot in effect and are nervine tonic. Methi is considered to be very effective in post delivery period as it promotes lactation and controls body aches.

Pandit Bhavprakash has written that methi relieves indigestion, colic and distention and also checks nausea and vomiting. The seeds are quite useful in treating a number of other disorders like arthritis, low backache, sciatica and muscular pains. Methi seeds possess good anti diabetic properties and  many pharmaceutical companies are coming up with many new herbo-mineral combinations which contain methi in suitable forms. 
 

COMMON USES OF METHI
Digestive Disorders
As a home remedy, methi seeds are very useful in combating indigestion, flatulence and sluggishness of the liver. Simple decoction of the seeds also helps alleviate colic problems due to the retention of gas.
Sciatica  and Low Backache
Ayurvedic physicians advise patients to use methi seeds in sciatica and lumbago and also in early stage of rheumatoid arthritis. For this purpose, one gm of the powder of methi and sonth each is given with little jaggery and warm water two or three times a day.
Post Delivery 
Take 250 gm of crushed methi seeds and fry these in ghee with one kg of wheat flour and then add same amount of sugar in to it. One or two teaspoonful of this combination, if given daily with warm milk in post delivery cases, help in quick normalization besides promoting sufficient lactation in nursing mothers.
Diabetes 
As an adjunct, one teaspoonful of powdered methi seeds can be taken daily by diabetics. The same amount of seeds can also be soaked in a cup of water at night and this water should be taken in the morning. This regime also lowers the serum lipid level besides helping in the weight reduction.
In most of the Indian homes, methi seeds are an indispensable part of the spice shelf whereas its green leaves are cooked and consumed as a vegetable. Since methi seeds are hot in effect, patients suffering from high blood pressure and hemorrhagic disorders are advised not to take it in high doses and for a long period.

Dr. R. Vatsayan
Sanjivani Ayurvedic Centre
Ludhiana.