'Navara Rice'- The medicinal rice is called the mother of all cures!
The 'Navara Rice' is an indigenous medicinal Rice variety of Kerala. There are two varieties of Navara-the black colour glumed and golden yellow color glumed. But the rice is purple in color in both cases. Navara is used effectively in certain ayurvedic treatments in Kerala like in Panchakarma treatment from very olden times. It is also used as a health food especially in rainy seasons. The rice is known as 'Shashtika Rice' for its unique and peculiar characteristic requirement of only sixty days to grow and mature. Navara Rice is valued for its curative properties in circulatory, digestive and rheumatic complaints.
Two varieties are there, one black colour glumed and the other golden yellow color glumed. But the processed rice is purple in color in both the cases. Navara is grown in nine districts of Kerala-Palakkad, Malappuram, Calicut, Wayanad, Kannur, Trichur, Ernakulam, Kottayam and Alleppey.
Navara rice bran oil is used for a wide range of aches and painful conditions like the cervical spondylosis, low back ache, paralysis, rheumatoid arthritis. Ayurvedic doctors effectively use Navara rice paste, lepanam, to treat psoriasis. The paste is also an excellent remedy for skin lesions. Rice gruel made of Navara is considered beneficial in preventing various diseases and is also considered a safe food for diabetics.
Navara is used in Navarakizhi, a specialty treatment from Keralas traditional medicine used for curing neuromuscular disorders. The rice cooked in a decoction of the herb, Sida (Sida rectusa. Lin), to which milk has been added, makes the body supple, removes stiffness of joints, cleanses the body channels, and improves blood circulation. It is traditionally consumed as a replenishing drink, called karkidakakanji, and is effective in curing fatigue.
In todays health conscious world market, Navara rice can play a dominant role if marketing channels open up to farmers who have preserved Navara rice against all adversity. To ensure that farmers benefit, it is imperative that cultivation is promoted only after assessing market demands and prospects of sustainability.