The succulent can strengthen bones, while keeping cold and cough at bay
.jpg "Photo: Harsha R P")
I remember my mother eagerly waiting for the rainy season to begin and for the tender shoots and fresh leaves of narale to sneak out from the trees in our courtyard in a central Karnataka village. Narale (Cissus quadrangularis) or devil’s backbone, as the succulent plant is known, remains dormant the whole year and starts regenerating soon after it receives the first shower of rain in June. Till October, my mother would regularly collect its angular shoots and leaves for making chutney and serve it with an advice: the zigzagged stems can fight kidney stones.
I was reminded of her words while working with the Soliga and Lingayat communities in the M M Hills. The Soliga women of Gorasane village would often tell me different recipes and medicinal uses of narale. Elderly people in the communities believe narale chutney should be consumed at least once a year as it prevents cough and stomach infection and strengthens muscles and bones. They prepare a paste of old narale stems and turmeric and use it as a compress to heal fractures and joint pain.
This healing property of narale is well established in Ayurveda, where narale is referred to as asthisamharaka, or bone mender. Clinical studies have also proven its role in repairing tendons and ligaments, relieving joint pain and inflammation, strengthening bones, promoting weight loss and preventing osteoporosis.
My father had discovered another therapeutic property of narale. He would boil its old stems along with pepper seeds, garlic, red chilies and a pinch of asafoetida, and grind them into a paste. He would then mix the paste with water in 1:2 ratio and feed the concoction to the cattle to cure leptospirosis disease.
With changing lifestyle, food habit and increasing urbanisation, very few people are aware of narale’s health benefits. But the plant is making a comeback because of its ability to survive extremely dry months when other herbs that cure cough and joint pain are hard to come by. It has also become a favourite of terrace gardeners.
Harisha R P is research associate with ATREE, Bengaluru
Narale chutney
Method Heat oil in a pan and add pepper. When it starts to crackle, add the shoots and leaves of narale. Fry until they turn soft and light brown. Add garlic, onion and red chilies (do not use the entire portion of onion). Fry till golden yellow. Take out the mixture and grind it into a paste. Again heat oil in a pan. Add mustard seeds, curry leaves and the remaining onion and saute. Pour the paste and stir well. After seasoning add salt and tamarind. Boil for one minute. Chutney is ready to be served with rice, ragi balls or roti. |
We are a voice to you; you have been a support to us. Together we build journalism that is independent, credible and fearless. You can further help us by making a donation. This will mean a lot for our ability to bring you news, perspectives and analysis from the ground so that we can make change together.
.png)
Comments are moderated and will be published only after the site moderator’s approval. Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name. Selected comments may also be used in the ‘Letters’ section of the Down To Earth print edition.