MEDICINAL RICE: AN INDIAN PERSPECTIVE

Abstract

Rice is rich in genetic diversity, with thousands of rice varieties grown throughout the world. Rice has potential in a wide range of food categories. Besides having nutritional and medicinal benefits, the by-products of rice are equally important and beneficial. Rice balls can be applied to boils, sores, swellings and skin blemishes. Sticky glutinous rice is often taken to treat stomach upsets, heart-burn and indigestion. Extracts from brown rice have been used to treat breast and stomach cancer indigestion, nausea and diarrhoea. Medicinal rice varieties have defensive and therapeutic properties against many human disorders. The functionality of the food is attributed to its nutritional richness, mineral (micro and macro) content, vitamins, bio active compounds and also its functional, antioxidant and other physiologically active therapeutic properties. Indian traditional rice is not a mere source of food for diabetics. It is a complete solution for sustainable health.