Sonth or Shunthi is also called vishvabhejhaj (universal medicine) due its many uses. It is a natural pain killer, used in Ayurveda to relieve all types of pain including abdominal colicky pain, joint pain, headaches and menstrual pain as it balances vata dosha in body.
What is the difference between fresh ginger and sonth?
- Fresh ginger is dry and hot in nature, it should not be used for a long time. On the other hand, dry ginger is hotter but snigdha (oily) in nature it can be used for long time.
- Fresh ginger is useful in constipation while dry ginger is absorbent and useful in IBS (Irritable bowel syndrome) and diarrhoea. Excess of fresh ginger causes dryness and throat irritation.
- Dry ginger acts deep on tissue level.
What are the uses of dry ginger powder?
- It improves digestion, used in bloating, colic pain, acidity - add it in vegetables, in buttermilk or have it with amla powder.
- Relives swelling, pain in joints, stiffness, rheumatoid arthritis - consume it, massage with til oil + shunthi.
- It is good for your heart.
- Good for liver.
- Useful in anemia, jaundice - have shunthi with jaggery.
- Helps in relieving pain during periods- take it with ajwain and jaggery.
- Piles- shunthi with jaggery
- Toothache - apply paste of shunthi.
- Obesity - boil Jeera, shunthi in one glass of water till it remains 1/4, have it in morning
- It is useful in respiratory disorders.
- Headaches -apply its paste on forehead.
What should be its dose?
Ideally you should consume sonth between 250 mg - 1gm, depending on the severity of the health issue (or) Consume as directed by the physician.