“Gul” means rose and “kand” means sweet.
Thus, Gulkand is a sweet preserve made of rose petals. It can be called Rose Petals Jam, as well. Gulkand is native to India and Pakistan. An Ayurvedic tonic, it is a delicious and healthy food that can easily be prepared at home.
Gulkand is an ayurvedic medicine and Indian traditional recipe used for skin, constipation in pregnancy & kids, acidity, gastritis, ulcer, Indigestion, dysmenorrhea, acne, foul body odor, palpitation, hypertension, nosebleed, stress, etc.
Gulkand is prepared from fresh rose petals and sugar. Other ayurvedic ingredients such as Praval Pishti and Mukta Pishti can also be added to boosts its action in hot season and diseases that occur due to excess heat.
Other Names
- Rose petal jam
- Rose petal jelly
- Rose jam
How to make Gulkand
However, Gulkand can be prepared from any of rose variety or species. Almost all have similar medicinal value and uses. Rosa Centifolia and Rosa Damascena is considerably best for making Gulkand. For making Gulkand, you need following ingredients.
Ingredients
Fresh Rose Petals 200 grams
Sugar 100 grams to 200 grams
Method – 1
- Take 200 grams fresh rose petals and 100 grams sugar.
- Crush rose petals with hands. Grind the sugar crystals to make powder.
- Mix crushed rose petals and sugar together.
- Preserve the mixture in glass jar and keep under sunlight.
- You may need keeping under sunlight for a few days.
In India, generally, people do not grind the sugar and crush rose petals. They just mix these two ingredients and keep it in a glass jar under direct sunlight. After a few days, sugar dissolves and mixes with rose petals. They start consuming the Gulkand. This method is without heating the rose petals. This method helps to preserve nutrients present in the rose petals.
Method – 2 (Rose petal jelly)
- Take 200 grams of rose petals and 100 grams sugar.
- Crush the rose petals and grind the sugar crystals.
- Mix both ingredients in stainless steel pan.
- Heat the mixture until sugar and rose petals dissolves well. It will take 5 to 10 minutes.
- Now, let it cool down and then preserve the rose petal jelly in a glass jar.
Method – 3 (Gulkand with honey or rose jam)
Gulkand preparation with honey with refined sugar
- Take 100 grams rose petals and 5 teaspoons honey.
- Crush the rose petals and mix it with honey.
- Keep the mixture in glass jar under the direct sunlight.
- After 3 to 5 days, you Gulkand with honey will be ready to consume.
If you prefer gulkand with honey, then do not heat the rose petal or honey. Ayurveda does not suggest heating the honey at high temperature, but you can keep the honey under sunlight.
Note: Some people also use jaggery for making Gulkand.
Medicinal Properties of Gulkand
All healing properties of Gulkand are attributed to Rose Petals. Almost all varieties of Roses used for making Gulkand have similar therapeutic actions. Rose flowers have following therapeutic properties.
- Mild laxative
- Antibacterial
- Antioxidant
- Antitussive
- Mild hypnotic (in larger doses, the property appears more in Rosa Damascena)
- Demulcent
- Anti-inflammatory
- Cardio-tonic
- Carminative
- Digestive Stimulant (appears more in patients with heartburn, dyspepsia etc.)
- Anti-ulcerogenic
Therapeutic Indications
Gulkand is beneficial in following health conditions:
- Mild to Moderate Constipation
- Heartburn
- Acid Reflux
- GERD
- Dyspepsia
- Intestinal Gas
- Peptic Ulcer
- Mouth Ulcer
- Bleeding disorders like nosebleed
- Tachycardia (along with Mukta Pishti)
- Excessive Sweating
- Hot Flashes in Menopause
- Generalized Burning sensation
- Burning pain of any specific organ
- Headache with burning pain and when pain increases after pressure on head or head massage
- High Fever with burning sensation all over the body (to reduce burning sensation)
Benefits of Gulkand
Health benefits of gulkand include its uses in various diseases that occur due to excess heat in the body or hot temperature outside. Diseases that occur due to excess heat are known as PITTA diseases in ayurveda. Gulkand is a best remedy for these diseases.
Constipation
Gulkand is best for mild to moderate constipation.
Constipation in Pregnancy
Women can take gulkand during pregnancy because ayurveda consider it safe in pregnancy. In India, it is widely used for treating constipation that occurs in pregnancy.
Gulkand softens the stool and its sugar content helps drawing liquids in the intestines, which ultimately helps to get rid of constipation in the pregnancy.
Constipation in Kids
Gulkand is natural remedy for kid’s constipation. It is also delicious and favorite among children. You may need giving Gulkand for several days to get a cure of constipation. In addition to Gulkand, include fiber rich foods such as fruits and vegetables in your kid’s diet.
Sunburn
The regular intake of Gulkand prevents sunburn or sun poisoning that commonly occurs in summer season. It reduces the impact of excess heat on the body.
Nosebleed
Nosebleed in summer is a common issue in kids. Gulkand is a natural remedy that helps get rid of nosebleed. Give 1 teaspoon of gulkand to your children to prevent and treat nosebleed.
Heartburn & Gastritis
Acidity is a common problem worldwide and many people have to take antacid drugs on empty stomach every day. Some feel burning sensation in throat, heartburn, sour mouth or throat, indigestion and stomach ache.
You can get rid of all these problems using Gulkand in your daily life. You can eat Gulkand every day at night just before sleep.
Ayurvedic physicians prefer giving Gulkand in between meal for treatment of gastritis and ulcers.
Mouth Ulcers
Gulkand is a cool herbal preparation, which has cooling effects in the body. It reduces the occurrence of mouth ulcers and helps reducing burning sensation and pain in the mouth due to mouth ulcers.
Anal Problems
Burning Sensation after a Bowel Movement
Some patients suffer with burning sensation after a bowel movement. Gulkand can help in this condition. It reduces acidity in the body, which a main cause of burning sensation. Other causes include spicy food and peppers. Gulkand helps in all conditions that cause burning sensation except intestinal worms.
Hemorrhoids (Piles)
The most common cause of Hemorrhoids/Piles is chronic constipation and low fiber diet. However, other causes including pregnancy or chronic diarrhea may also play role in hemorrhoids development.
Gulkand help reduce swelling of the hemorrhoids by providing mild laxative action in constipation. It also reduces the pressure in the lower section of the large intestine and lets the easier passage of the stools. It also provides strength to the veins, which helps restoring natural elasticity of the veins. The important thing is that Gulkand has little effects if disease progresses. It is only effective in mild causes of hemorrhoid (first-degree hemorrhoids), but it is highly effective in bleeding piles. It reduces habit of constipation and stops bleeding. In mild cases, the results appear within a week, but in severe cases, it may not alone effective solution and other remedies may also require.
How to Take Gulkand for Bleeding Piles
In bleeding piles or first-degree hemorrhoids, Gulkand can be taken in dosage of 2 teaspoons 2 hours after food two times a day with milk or water.
General tonic
Gulkand is a general tonic, which helps to reduce fatigue, muscle pain, burning, lethargies and mental stress.
Many students in India using Gulkand for improving memory and reducing exam related stress.
Gulkand in Cancer
Cancer patients undergoing radiations therapy or chemotherapy are advised to take rose petal jam to reduce the side effects of these therapies.
Spasmodic Dysmenorrhea
In spasmodic dysmenorrhea, sharp abdominal cramps occur at the start of menstrual flow. However, a mild pain on first day of menstrual period is normal, but when it starts causing troubles with daily life activities, then women need medication.
Gulkand is a natural solution for this problem. It reduces abdominal cramps and pain during periods. Women suffering from this type of dysmenorrhea should take Gulkand on regular basis for at least 3 months.
Foul smelly yellow discharge in women
Gulkand helps to reduce foul smell and yellow discharge that occurs due to chronic infections, vaginitis or leucorrhea in women.
Other benefits & Uses of Gulkand
- Gulkand helps to get rid of burning sensation in soles and palms.
- It helps to reduces pain in heels.
- It reduces serum uric acid level, so it is beneficial for patients with Gout.
- It relieves mental stress and calms the mind.
- Gulkand is a mild laxative, so if you suffer with constipation, you should use this remedy first than trying strong laxatives.
- Gulkand also helps to reduce the side effects of antibiotics, painkillers and other strong drugs that cause nausea, burning sensation and ulcers.
Dosage & Administration
The appropriate dosage of Gulkand is as follows: | |
Infants | 500 mg to 1 gram * |
Children | 2 to 3 grams * |
Adults | 5 to 10 grams * or 20 grams ** |
Pregnancy | 2 to 5 grams * |
Geriatric (Old age) | 5 grams * |
Maximum Possible Dosage | 20 grams per day (in divided doses) |
* Twice a day with milk or water ** once a day |
When to Take Gulkand
In mild constipation | Before Sleep (once a day) |
In moderate constipation | Morning an hour after meal and at night before sleep (twice daily) |
Heartburn or gastric problems | In between food (when you have eaten half food) (twice daily) |
Other conditions | An hour after meal (twice daily) |
How to Take Gulkand
However, one can eat Gulkand without any adjuvant or with water, but cow’s milk is a best adjuvant for Gulkand in most of diseases especially in constipation. Water is good adjuvant for Gulkand in gastric problems.
Safety Profile
Gulkand is LIKELY SAFE for healthy individuals, pregnant women and lactating mothers. There are no side effects observed with the regular use of Gulkand for a period of six months.
Disadvantages of Gulkand
The only disadvantage of Gulkand is for diabetic patients. It is rich in sugar content, so it can increase your blood sugar level. Therefore, Gulkand is contraindicated in diabetes mellitus.
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