Native to Indonesia and easily available in Pakistan, the small red brown cubeb seeds (with its fruit and oil) have long being used as essential ingredients in homeopathic, Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine. Thanks to its Peppery taste and tantalising aroma, you can use cubeb for garnishing curries, soups and salads and benefit from the following health benefits.
1. Eases respiratory distress. Ingesting a few drops of cubeb essential oil, extracted from cubeb seeds, in tea or warm water, eases symptoms of asthma, chronic bronchitis, hay fever, laryngitis and sinus – respiratory conditions that become aggravated in dry, winter months. In case you are suffering from dry cough and flu, throw in a few cubeb seeds in a pot of boiling water, drape a towel over your head an inhale the steam for a few minutes for instant relief.
2. Aids in digestion. Loaded with hydrocarbons, regular intake of cubeb berries promotes digestion by increasing gastro-intestinal enzyme secretions, thereby helping to stimulate appetite. Due to its carminative properties, the seeds are also used for treating dysentery and flatulence.
3. Acts as a diuretic. Cubeb brewed tea is a potent diuretic that regulates kidney function, prevents water retention as well as urinary tract infections. This is particularly helpful for people suffering from diabetes, high blood pressure and chronic ailments that impair kidney function.
4. Boosts immunity. Packed with vitamin C, cubeb strengthens the body’s defence mechanism against viral diseases and infections. Moreover, the presence of calcium and magnesium helps in treating oral diseases. If you add grounded cubeb powder to your toothpaste or mix two teaspoons of it in water and use it as a mouth wast, it will help prevent cavities and eliminate bad breath.
By Dr Beenish Israr. The writer is Lecturer of Food and Nutrition at University of Agriculture Faisalabad.