Furnaces 270

R€search InBtitut€, Phaltin, Maharashtre, India.

L6
MEDICINAL USES OF GUR
Varma, N.C. and M.G. CarE (lca7). Re(cnt advan(es in the olen oan
sulphitarion pror ees of (rne sugar manufacture. tn: Bharatiya Sig* India is the major sugarcane Producing country in the world
Directory, pp, 25A-268. and approximately M per cent of the produce is utilised for
Upadhiaya, U.C. (1991). Batase€ as a fuet. Ihte7r1. S4gdr
l, g3(111-t): t32_:x,a. the manufacture of 3rrr, the age old nutritive sweetener known
to mankind. In Uttar Pradesh (the major sugarcane producing
state), 58 per cent (Anon., (Shahjahanpur, India), 1983) and in
Andhra Pradesh 50 per cent (Chiranjeevi, 1987) of the sugarcane
produced is ufilised for 3rtr manufacture' Gur is also prepaled
from the sugary saP obtained by tapping either the stalk or
the inflorescence of certain palms, or by crushing sweet sorghum
stalks. Gur is an oPen-Pan nutritive sweetener which is easily
available to every one in the country.
Medicinal value of sugarcane and 3lrr, and products derived
from them, have been recognised by our ancestors and rredicine
men ftom times irtmemorial. They have advocated their use
in maintainin2; a heathy society. Regarding chewing of
sugirrcane/ Charak, a well-known ancient Indian Ay"urvedic
medicine man, oPines that:

9q: Yfrt: ft"rr'. fs+ri

Tt"n ,r.Jl rg, t

rM qffid
qitriqq
Mr r

t(s-.r ({.*+rm, 3i" 27' Ydls 234))

(the juice of chewed cane is hearry, but gives soothing and

cooling effect besides increasing semen. It also induces
cough (phelgml formation. The crusher exkacted iuice is
oidahil.

Shushruta, another great Indian medicirre marr, opines that:

 Gur
Medicinal Uses of Z7z PtNuclion Technolory ol LumP Sugar
3Tffi ;t,,Erti qrdfrf, fiERur. I and bowels; invigorates. tones and improves digestive power;
Tfi YGT(i g*li << fqqr|sal rs: rr and cures iaching arrd prfrffiehn- the diseases in which sperms
{EZa ({r-rem 3r 4s, Ed|fi 1s7))
and other vital fluids of the body Pass out through urine'
As per Shushruta Samhita
(that chewed iu\ce is aaitfuthi,
eliminares uatn (air) and pilt F-tri rr$: {-d ffi dsg+.rsr<l t

pleasing effect and concomitan { 5{IEnsk+. Tg, cczkfrl: FT(: ll

The Ashtang Stngrah, an authoritative Ayurvedic GTd dfrdr, ql r"Jn, 3lsqrl 4s)
boo!
explains several good qualities of sugarcane juice as mentioned
(pure g r etminales aflta a\d. pitta, purifies the blood Old
below:
gur is' particulady 'beneficial, when given to a lactating'
mother after child birth).
E{rd ts, fF"{rd frq s,str E( I

yer: yftd: T{r fq-i fri qm nd+r:

{+iI: fTdI yvFrr: EIrS_ qFfi, Ts. Ir{. I

dsn {-f+q (d dtst: vr+"s sq, 11

(oTeirt drr6 (Er-r€Tr< rq Eq ffie qqrc 6.
v-dr+ sr, sr )l

heaty, cortgh (phelpr) inducing,

Eex-poten(y, cools semen, and
when taken after meals, it makes tt-c-{r, liclrd-i-f,,
oaqu aggressive. It pacifies blood atd pitta).
i)-trm, 3ncrA-+d,
Grr as Medicine lsr{{-Et, rrd-fr S,
iFm rlFI {$ ur$ trr: r

61fil6 -Tm, drr6{-rrrs{,

{rqlEr-s't t{ t n-d,
qrErqrs Efigi-sq grc,
$FJ;I rd+ {liT {EFI ll
(€t 7t: fr qftre am fisrR-{, rTq-EIt{, simfi, 3. 9.)

(It indicates that the use of gur in kuar (in October) is

beneficial for health.'Gur is generally consurred during
winter in eeveral preparations made in combination with
til (Linun sP.), and SEound nut kemel' These preparations
are sold in ihe market in the name of reani, guzak chikki,
etc.l
 Medicinal Uses of Gur 274 275 Productpn Technology ol Lump Sugar
Gur in Curing Diseases mixed with milk. The 5 g ot ghee (preferably made from cow-
milk) is mixed with it and the material is heated. This
Use of gur has been known to cure certain diseases. Some of preparation (lukewarm) is applied externally on the forehead
the uses of sugarcane and, gur tot the treatment of human and sides to cure headache.
diseases advocated by Ayurveda have been mentioned by Gaur
(1974) and Lakshman (1988). Relevant information is collated Rh rnatisn
and presented below:
Administering orally a preparation of grr arrd cumin is
Coryza beneficial in curing rheumatic diseases' Mixing gt / with fresh
milk of buffalo (to sweetness) and taking it while standing is
Use of small quantity of the decoction of soaffi (dried ginger), beneficial. Besides, remaining standing for 2-3 hr (do not sit)
furmeric and 3ur provides an effective prophylactic measure is beneficial it nala-l)ata. For rheumatic pain in knee ioints
against coryza (Soni. 1991). adnrinistering pellets of finely mixed guggul (lo 8) and 8ur
Coryza can also be cured by taking the Iollowing: (20 g) with some gftee in the moming arrd evening is beneficia].

(a) A pellet of &tr, containing powdered asafoetida and 2- Cqrtliac Diseases

4 black peppers (placed
in the cenke of the pellet), in
the moming ard evening is quite usef ul in controlling
coryza (Soni, 1991).
(b) Chewing 1-2 pellets ofpea size, thrice a day containing
equal quantity of sonth, gur and mulhethi (Glycerrhiza)
provides an effective control of coryza.
(c) For curing spoiled coryza, LO g gur, rlt) g curd and 2.S
g of powdered black pepper should be taken daily in
the moming for 3 days. Besides, this preparation also
cures foul smell emanating from mouth as well
hoarseness in the throat.
Respirstory Ailments
Taking 2.5 to 10 g g. / with equal quantity of pwe mustatd oil
daily for a period of 21 days cures respiratory ailments. To stop
hiccup, a few drops of gzr solution in water having ground
sonflr should be dropped in the nostrils.
Pahn gur is also used in curing coryza and pulmonary
ailments.
Taking equa.t quantity of gur and pare ghrita regularly is
beneficial in curing cardiac diseases. Eating anything nade up
of gur bas its own beneficial effect in such cases.
Disorders of Digestioe SY stelrt
Taking gnr with sweet bel powd,er is beneficial in almosl all
the stomach disorders. For diarrhoea, mix ginger or soflfh (the
as dried ginger) or hnrr or peepal Powderi sta-rt with 10 g of this
preparation daity and increase uP to 120 or 150 g daily' Besides,
diarrhoea, this preParation also cutes coryza, hoarseness,
respiratory troubles, sickness of stomach (anorexia), chronic
fever and piles. Taking mixture of 30 g pulp of uniPe bel,
5 g sonth (the dried ginger) and 10 I84r, twice or thrice daily
is also beneficial in diarrhoea.
In case of loss of aPPetit€, taking 5 g sol,tl with 15 B of
g, r twice or thrice overcomes the ailment.
In raktatisu (diarrhoea with bleeding) taking cooked pulp
of unripe bel with gvr is beneficial.

Headache Piles

Ten gram 3zr is ground well with 5 g of black til (linseed) and Administering gur and han powder, orally, cures piles. As per
 Medbinal Uses of Gur 276
another prescription, administering choti han grinded in cow
urine with 8'[/ in the moming also cures it.
Inflanmafion or Burning Seflstltiofl in the Body
Dissolve gzr in water, filter it 25 times through a clean cloth,
Drinking this for many times a day cures body inflammation.
Kidney Pain
Ten gram of guris mixed well with 0.5 g slacked lime to make
two lobules. To relieve kidney pairy lobule should be taken
with Iuke wa.rm water and if the pain does not subside, the
other lobule can also taken.
For relieving pain after the stones in kidney or ureter have
come out, patient should sit in warm water (tolerable) and
should drink warm milk with gur.
For Wonns
For conholling womr infection, make pellets having 3 g ajautain,
39 byoedang, O,7 g kapoor and 5 g gur. These pellets should
be taken orally 2 to 3 times a day to kill worms. It has also
been observed that tablets having only O.5 g ajauain and 0.5
8 8'rr when taken thrice in a day also kills the wonns.
Leutonhoea
Taking daily 5 g of the ash prepared by burning gunny bag
in which gur was stored at least for 3 years has been found
to effectively cure leucorrhoea. This preparation is also
beneficial in excessive bleeding in menstrual cycle.
Ptoduction of Relatiztely Less Semen afld llnpotetcy
Regular consumption of Srr with tonla (Phycus ambelica)
powder increases the quantity of semen. This preparation also
csres raktr-pitta. Besides, it is also beneficial in mutru-kicht.
Powder of tulsi (Ocinum sp.) seeds or the roots with some
277 Production Technolory ol Lump Sugar
quantity of old gur when taken 1.5 to 3 g d,rily with cow milk
for 5 to 6 weeks a.lso helps in overcoming impotcncy.
Family Planning
Il a lady, after the menstrual cvcle, takes 40 g
grr with warm
water daily for a period of 15 days, pregnarcy can be avoiclcd.
As per Kuchimartantrd, this prescription is helpful in planning
the family.
A preparation con tatfing Chirchitta lCenchrus b iflorus Roxb.
(Poaceae)l seed powder mixed with onion juice and three-year
old gur is quite effective for inducing abortion in ladies (Sharma,
199'tl.
Thom, Glass and Stofle lhiury
Application of melted 6zrr (tolerably wann) on wounds caused
by thoms, glass or pointed stone (which has pierced through
flesh), relieves the pain and quickly heals the wound.
If a thorn, pierced deeper in the flesh, is not coming out
easily. then a warm poultice of gzr and aj autdn is placed over
the infured place. After a few hours thorn coures out
automatically qnn, D92).
Hair Care
Appllng the paste made up of ovemight soaked Trigonella
(,rel,ri) seeds and 8?r to hair on the scaJp and washing the hair
after one hour increases the lushe of hair. At the same time
with intermittent stirring. When the solution hrms dark brown
it is removed from flame and cooled, Half teaspoon of glycerine
is mixed for waxing.
Administering juice of Cuctrttrber pelo (kaddu) mixed with
g,rr is useful in bringing a dmnkard person to senses (Arl()n,,
1991\.
 Medicinal Uses of Gur 278
Besides being used as a medicine,3zr is a.lso used as carrier
of nedicines.
These rrredicinal uses of gur have been compiled from
various demi-scientific sources and popular magazines and
news papers. It is advised that, these preparations, though t7
unharmful, should be administered only under medical
supervision. RESEARCH NEEDS IN GUR
Gur in Veterinary Medicine
Gtr or non-centrifugal sugar is rrade in different forms in
Preparations involving gur also find their use in veterinary
medicine. Boiled leaves ol gomt .(Leucas urticaefoliu.s
(Laminaceae) mixed with grn are gjven to cows and buffaloes
for expelling placenta after delivery (Shafma, 1991).

REFERENCES

Anonymoqs (1983). Shahiahanput India.

Anonymous (19911. Kumha. Altotyn vatdhini, p.37. Mechanism of Clarification
Bhatadwaj, V. ('1993). Batcn kam ki. Rash*iya Sahnn lHindi Daity): Feb., 17.
Caur, G.P. (1974). Doctn C&nna, Tei Kumar Book Depot. (pvt.) Ltd,, Lucknow,
p- 64.
.lJn, A. (1ee2). Kwh charelu N,lskhe. Ra.htrira Sahara (Hindi Daityt, Juty E,
p.14.
hkshmart, H. (1988) Use o( sutarcane, sugar and iaggey in rhe rr€atment of
human dieeases in Ayurveda. Pl/1t1flum lutJilee Soflrer;, RARS,
Anakapalle, Andhra Pradesh, pp. 139-142.
Shanna, M.P. (1991). Less-known mpdtcinal uses of planrs from Mewat (District
Curgaon), Haryana, lndia, Econ, Bot., 45: 43!435. Claribility of Juice
Soni, L. (1991). Ayrogys Vanlhini, p. 86.

optimil cultural conditions so as to derive maximum benefiis