Uses of banana

MEDICINAL USES OF BANANA
Plantain tree itself is a mine of medicinal properties. Each part of this such as the leaves, inflorescence and the core of the stem enriched with medicinal powers. the underground bulb of a plantain tree (Rhizome, "Vazha Kalla"). green plantain fruit. In our country, we use the leaves of plantain tree for serving food , as plates, especially the rice on special occasions. And we have a concept that, if we take the food from the leaves, it will boost our appetite and taste. Moreover, it is good for our eye sight and enhance the beauty.
The core of the stem is used as curry (dish ) after removing the fibrous part. It is considered to be good for stomach troubles. Besides, we use the the juice of the stem core ideal medicine for diabetes , very good for dissolving the stones in the Kidneys and urinary bladder and for reducing the weight( one glass of the juice should be taken early morning before taking the break- fast for six months continuously).
The inflorescence is also used as a nice dish with meals. It is sliced in to very small pieces, and then after adding chilly & other spices with coconut oil, it is very good for the purification of urinary bladder and the removal of the urinary blocks.
In addition to these, we traditionally use banana as a balanced and supplementary diet for babies of 4 to 10 months .The fully matured banana is chosen for this preparation. After peeling the banana,( Nendran & Kunnan)) it is cut into thin ,very fine pieces and dried under the sun, then ground well into fine powder. This powder is thickened by boiling with milk and one pinch of sugar, and fed to the babies. This is a wonderful nutritious diet for easy digestion, and prevents diahorrea and worm trouble in babies.
Generally , all the banana are good for the purification of Blood, good digestion and for developing immunity.
GENERAL USES OF BANANA
Banana Leaves ) , in our place, banana leaves are being used for variety purposes. The first and fore most use of these leaves is as plates for serving food on all special occasions . This is the traditional way of serving food ,and we started using these as disposable ones, much long before the modern culture of disposables. In connection with this, the leaves are in high demand in vegetable markets. This also very nice food for live stocks in our houses.
Banana leaves are also used for packing food, especially for the packing of rice. For this purpose we have to cut the required size of the leaf ,and it is then warmed over a flame to make it soft. After that, the food is put in the middle and packed nicely. The pieces of banana leaves are also used to bake a variety of food items in steam. The food item is simply wrapped with the leaves and put in to the steam. Example-"Adda". The same method is also used to to cook the fish, '' Karimeen " ( Etroplus).
In rainy season, village people use these leaves as umbrella to avoid wetting. Moreover, it is also used to reduce the heat of electric irons by just pressing on the banana leaf at the time of overheating.
(Banana Stem), it is also used for various purposes including medicinal use . The core of the stem is used to make a dish with peas. The stem is also used for decorative purposes at the time of festivals in Hindu Temples and in Christian Churches . The children in the villages tie the banana stems together by coir and make raft and use to play in small rivers. The fibers are used to make different types handy crafts and also used to tie up the flowers together in the flower shops.
(Banana ), Banana is generally used as a food item in our place. The ripened ones are used as raw food and some other varieties used as cooked food. The ripened Nendran cut transversely in to two pieces and put in to steam, it is called "Pazham puzhungiath" We also prepare banana Jam and banana wine . And banana is one of the component of fruits salad along with pine apple, mango and other tropical fruits. The ripened banana is also used to make snacks -Pazham Pori and Pazham Roast. ( the ripened banana is sliced longitudinally and fried in coconut oil, it is called Pazham Pori and in the ripened banana is longitudinally splited and filled with sugar and coconut scrapes , fried in oil is called Pazham Roast.). The Monthan variety is used to make" Baji" , a special type of snack very common in our place
Banana also has very good medicinal value and been used as good nutritious diet for babies. Moreover, the banana is sliced and fried in Coconut oil and used as Banana chips, which is a very tasty snack in general. In Hindu temples, there is a ritual 'Thulabharam', ( thanks giving ceremony to Hindu Gods) where a devotee sits on one side( left Pan) of a big weighing balance and the equal weight of banana bunches are put in the other side ( right Pan) of the balance , then the same bunches are offered to Gods in Temples. These bananas are being used to make " Pazham Payasam"( Banana pudding) and given back to devotees as offering of God.