KULTHI DAL (Horse gram)

Description

Twining annual or perennial forming dense growth 30-60 cm high. Trifoliate leaves 3-7 cm long and 2-4 cm wide. Yellow flowers with violet blot on the standard. Pods 6-8 cm long and 4-8 mm wide with 6-7 seeds.

Chemical constituent:
Kulthi seeds contain 21% of crude protein, 11% of pentosan and about 3% of water soluble gum. They also contain traces of urease and phosphorus. The other chemical constituents present in the seeds are Genistein, Dalberioidin, Phasw and Collidin.

Properties:
Rasa-kashaya(astringent).
Veerya-ushna(hot).
Guna –laghu(light to digest),rooksha(dry in nature ),teekshna(pungent).
Prabhava-ashmari bhedana (breakdown the renal stones ).
Pharmacological action -Kulthi dal has a low glycaemic index, making it a useful dietary supplement for diabetic patients. It has an alpha-amylase inhibitor, which may help manage diabetes by decreasing serum glucose levels. The kulthi dal seeds may help in carbohydrate metabolism and thereby delay their digestion and absorption.

Benefit:

1. Kidney Stone
   A kidney stone is an accumulation of hard, stony mass in the bladder and urinary tract. In Ayurveda, it is known as Mutrashmari. Mutrashmari (renal calculi) is a condition of Vata-Kapha origin which causes Sanga (obstruction) in the Mutravaha Srotas (urinary system). Mutral (diuretic) property of Kulthi increases urine flow which promotes fast removal of kidney stones. Kulthi or Horse gram also helps balance the Kapha dosha, which further prevents the formation of stones.
2. Diabetes Mellitus
   Diabetes, also known as Madhumeha, is caused due to an imbalance of Vata-Kapha dosha and impaired digestion. Impaired digestion leads to an accumulation of Ama (toxic remains in the body due to improper digestion) in the pancreatic cells and impairs the function of insulin. Consuming Kulthi seeds helps manage diabetes due to its Vata-Kapha balancing, Pachan (digestive) properties. It helps to improve digestion, maintains normal functions of insulin, and reduces symptoms of diabetes.
3. High Cholesterol
   High cholesterol is caused due to an imbalance of Pachak Agni (digestive fire). Impaired digestion at the tissue level produces excess waste products or Ama (toxic remains in the body due to improper digestion). This causes the accumulation of bad cholesterol and blockage in the blood vessels. Including Kulthi Dal in your diet helps to promote Agni (digestive) due to its Ushna (hot) potency. It also reduces Ama and helps in controlling high cholesterol levels.
4. Obesity
   Obesity is a condition that occurs either due to bad eating habits or lack of physical activity. It is a condition in which indigestion leads to the accumulation of Ama (toxic remains in the body due to improper digestion) in the form of excessive fat. This leads to an imbalance of Meda Dhatu, resulting in obesity. Consuming Kulthi water helps in the management of obesity by digesting Ama due to its Deepan (appetizer) and Pachan (digestion) properties. It also helps to improve metabolism which further prevents obesity.

Contraindication:
If taken in large quantities, kulthi dal may have an adverse effect when used as a medication. Also, unsupervised and unmonitored kulthi dal consumption by people with health conditions (like diabetes and liver diseases) may complicate or worsen some conditions.