On an Ayurveda trail in Mumbai

Walking down the lane opposite Dockyard Road station Chef Bhairav Singh who heads the Indian kitchens at Novotel Hotel in Mumbai stops right in front of a nondescript dentistrsquos clinic in Byculla He points to a flowering plant plucks out one of its large green leaves and hands it to me to tasteThe deliciously sour leaf he proclaims has the ability to keep diabetes in check ldquoThat is why in India it is also called the insulin plantrdquo he addsScientifically known as Costus igneus the plant with its yellow flowers is not likely to catch your eye and the chef isnrsquot sure how common it is in the city ldquoI was pleasantly surprised to spot it one fine day while I was walking to a friendrsquos bakery down the lanerdquo reveals the chefThe Erandi tree or castor oil plant PicsSayyed Sameer AbediBorn in a tiny village near Nathdwara Rajasthan Singh grew up learning about Ayurveda from his grandfather who was the village vaid physician In Mumbai now for the past 14 years his enthusiasm or the alternative healing therapy has only grown Old habits die hard and the chef still keeps an eye out for plants that might offer a cure for ailments wherever he goesThe insulin plantThe tree walkThis is the beginning of our citywide Ayurvedic plant hunt and the streets of Byculla alone are a treasure trove Pointing toa banyan tree he talks of the many uses of its fruits leaves and even the roots ldquoIts red fruit dried and powdered can help reduce stammering while the fresh leaves ground with mishri rock sugar can curejaundice The fresh root of thebanyan can help cure male infertility Irsquove talked about this in my upcoming untitled book and have also given a recipe onhow to use itrdquo says the 38yearold who hopes to gradually introduce Ayurvedic recipes to his menu at Novotel tooThe Jamun plant that can cure as many as 84 diseasesDrumsticks are also wonderful for male fertility he adds when he spots a tree just outside Byculla station ldquoTheyare said to increase sperm count But theyrsquore good for women too especially for joint pains Just lightly boil the vegetableor sauteacute it in coconut oil with curry leaves jaggery mustard seeds imli tamarind and methi fenugreek leavesrdquo he saysWhen we pass a jamun tree he talks of the fruitrsquos ability to control blood sugar ldquoEach plant has the ability to cure 84diseases I am telling you just onerdquo he says with a laughThe drumstick tree believed to help tackle male infertilityOur next stop is across the city in Kanjurmarg where Singh lives After showing us the rare Himalayan Neem which helps get rid of boils on the scalp and heals old wounds he walks us through a shortcut to find the Umbar or Goolar tree also known as the Cluster Fig tree ldquoIts leaves help cure pitta ndash the hyperacidity in your stomach that causes sour belching Take five fresh leaves mix them with honey and create a paste Have this on an empty stomach and you will get instant reliefrdquo says the chefThe Himalayan Neem which helps get rid of boils on the scalp and heals old woundsAs old leaves are often infected by worms he recommends one should always eat fresh leaves ldquoIt is better to have fresh leaves for a longer duration rather than consume old infected leaves and get another diseaserdquo he addsThe Gullar tree whose leaves help cure hyperacidityLeading us to his favourite hangout a deserted plot of land taken over by wild shrubs plants and trees of all kinds he offers us a taste of the Chirota leaves also known as the King of Bitters ldquoThe bitter taste is enhanced as you keep chewing itrdquo he says watching mescrunch my face in disgustldquoThat is why you need to mix them with mishri and milk before you serve them Itrsquos a wonderful ailment for high fever Diabetics should have this on any empty stomachrdquo he explainsAs he hasnrsquot seen these shrubs anywhere else in the city Singh plans to take the seeds to grow them at home ldquoIf you canrsquot find these leaves fresh you can always dry them and store them Theyrsquod have the same effectrdquo he addsChef Singh with the Arjun tree whose bark has medicinal valuesFinding ArjunHe also points out the dark crumbly Jaswand flower hibiscus found very commonly in Maharashtra the Erandi castor oil plant and the Siris Albizia tree But our journey wouldnrsquot be complete without a look at the elusive Arjun treeldquoI was thrilled when I spotted one in Juhurdquo says the chef as we drive across to the western suburb Nestled away in one of Juhu Vile Parlersquos many lanes the tree remains a stranger to most residents ldquoThis is a wonderful tree and has so many benefits If people realise this itrsquos not going to live very longrdquo rues SinghIt is the bark of the tree thatrsquos most useful ldquoCut about two inches and place it in water overnight Yoursquoll see thewater turn blood red in the morning Add a bit of sugar or salt to it and this drink is the best cure for heart disease Boil the bark in water and this concoction is a wonderful cure for diarrhoeardquo reveals the chefA few months ago he spent a week in Patalkot in Madhya Pradesh The remote village is known for its abundance of Ayurvedic herbs and Singh returned loaded with medicinal booty ldquoMumbai has quite a collection of Ayurvedic plants too We just have to know what to use whenrdquo he signs off