Woods have their own benefits. While some woods are great for furniture, there are others which are great for arts and crafts. Some woods are important for their medicinal benefits too. While crafting a chopping board, you need to consider a lot of features like the hardness of the wood, the construction of the cutting board, and its durability. We all have our own needs, but did you know that there are woods that have medicinal properties? One of the most common woods with medicinal properties that we all know is neem. But it’s not just neem that has medicinal properties. A lot of woods are known to have a set of their own benefits.
This article explores some of the most common woods available in India with medicinal properties. While some woods are great for constructing a cutting board, others may be weak yet beneficial for your health.
Neem wood chopping boards
Everyone knows neem is one of the most common ingredients in Ayurveda for skin disease, detox, and oral care. Neem is also a great wood for chopping boards as it is antibacterial and contains a compound called azadirachtin. Neem helps with various other health problems. While the use of a neem chopping board is not going to cure your problems, it is a small lifestyle change for a healthier you. Widely available in India, neem is used for anything including brushing teeth to the construction of utensils. Neem is known as a detoxifier and purifier in Ayurveda. Neem is also one of the best materials to create pest-resistant storage boxes.
Teak wood chopping boards:
While teak wood is prized for its beauty and durability, teak has its own set of benefits. The bark and wood oil have antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, and antifungal properties. In Ayurvedic medicine, Teak wood and plant extracts are used for bronchitis, ulcers, and headaches. The wood contains tectoquinone known for its antibacterial effects. The rich oil content prevents mold and fungus, making it one of the best materials for wooden chopping boards. Teak wood cutting boards are expensive, but their benefits go beyond durability and beauty. They are also naturally healthy.
Arjun wood chopping boards:
The Arjun tree is grown throughout India. They are used for Ayurvedic formulations of arjunarishta, natural tonics, and bark powders. The wood is used for handles, agricultural tools, and small crafts. Not widely used, the wood is hard to work with. They are dense and can weigh 800–850 kg per cubic meter. It is a strong and dense wood. The bark and wood extracts are rich in arjunolic acid, flavonoids, and tannins. It is also known for its cardioprotective, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. Very effective for heart diseases, high blood pressure patients, and people with chest pain issues.
Jamun wood chopping boards:
Known for its fruit, Jamun or the Indian plum is available in most parts of India but is more common in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, and West Bengal. The heartwood is reddish-brown, dense, and dark. The wood is hard, tough, and moisture resistant. The wood contains jamboline, tannins, and ellagic acid and is known to be antidiabetic, antibacterial, and antioxidant. They are used for blood sugar control, skin health, and digestive wellness. Jamun wood chopping boards, especially if constructed from a single block of wood, are worth a buy because they are rare.
Amla wood cutting boards:
Amla wood is not widely used for chopping boards because it is relatively soft, porous, and has a lower density compared to most other woods. But Amla has its own set of benefits. Its antioxidant features with emblicanin can help with immunity and skin diseases. Amla wood is traditionally used in wells to ensure clean drinking water and enhance taste. Well bottoms were lined with Amla wood and it would stay there for years, fully submerged, helping with cleansing the water. Though not as tough as other woods, the Amla wood is worth considering for cutting boards.
Related Topics
Reasons Why Wooden Chopping Boards Are Better Than Plastic
Plastic has been the preferred choice for chopping vegetables and meat in the past decade. Many users have had complaints about plastic chopping boards, yet they go back to plastic boards time and again. Understanding why wooden boards are better than chopping boards and where they excel will give you a clear perspective on both…
What to look for when purchasing a teak wood cutting board and how to identify teak wood
Most people are not experts in wood. They believe the wood they purchase is genuine, but this may not be the case. Even with genuine teak, the origin of the wood is important. Apart from the origin, the quality or the grade plays a major role in the life of a teak wood cutting board.This…
Wooden chopping boards that naturally resist fungus/mold growth
Purchasing a wooden chopping board goes beyond aesthetics and durability. When considering a chopping board, most of us overlook common factors including toxicity, food safety, and performance. As a home cook, we understand the importance of a chopping board, but when it comes to purchase decisions we end up buying something based on our budget.…
The worst material for Vegetable Cutting boards
There are a lot of recommendations for Vegetable cutting boards but do you know what materials you shouldn’t choose for vegetable cutting boards? Over the years we have seen a lot of material in the chopping board industry. We have moved from traditional wooden chopping boards to mostly plastic. But other materials have evolved over…
Hinoki chopping boards in India
The new trend in wooden chopping boards are the hinoki chopping boards, imported from Japan. The Japanese cypress valued for its straight fine grains and light color, the hinoki boards are light and prized in Japanese cooking for tradition and practicality. The subtle citrusy aroma is unique to the Japanese cypress wood. Hinoki wood is…
Wooden Vegetable Cutting Boards: The Ultimate Guide to Eco-Friendly & Durable Chopping
Over the years, people have experimented with various materials for cutting boards including bamboo, plastic, steel and even stone. But wood has been the timeless companion for chefs and cooks worldwide for cutting vegetables. Its durability, sustainability and eco-friendliness contribute to the affinity to wooden cutting boards but the features of wood are unlimited, making…
Best material for Cutting boards – top 5 materials compared
The perfect material for chopping boards is a choice of conscience and preference. There is a touch of style, Tradition, sustainability and durability involved when choosing a cutting board. People choose a board based on various factors. It’s always not necessarily just price that is involved. A good chopping board is a preference based on…
Are Steel Chopping Boards Becoming Popular in Commercial Kitchens?
Commercial kitchen equipment is chosen for its food safety and operational efficiency, but when it comes to chopping boards, they are required to have a few more factors which affect the choice. For instance, knife maintenance, easy to clean, sanitary benefits, and more. Steel chopping boards in professional kitchens have their own set of advantages,…
Salmonella on Your Cutting Board? What Science Says About Plastic and Wooden Chopping Boards
Have you ever stopped to think about what germs grow on your chopping board? If you are preparing meat and vegetables on the same board, your boards could be contaminated with bacteria like Salmonella without your knowledge. A study by Catherine Fugaban Hizon from Cagayan State University, Philippines uncovered eye-opening data on bacterial contamination on…
Shop Teak Wood Cutting Boards
Luxury cutting boards in Authentic Malabar Teak wood
