How to brew Egyptian yellow tea. The benefits and harms of yellow tea from Egypt. For the treatment of bronchitis

Egypt is famous not only for sunny beaches and ancient pyramids. Here they produce one of the most aromatic drinks with a unique composition, properties and taste - yellow Egyptian tea. Locals love to enjoy the taste of the drink every day and consider it a popular and healthy treat for visitors.

What is "yellow tea from Egypt"

In fact, yellow Egyptian tea has almost nothing in common with the classic tea drink, since it is not made from the tea bush.

For the preparation of yellow tea, an annual plant of the legume family is used - fenugreek hay, which also bears such names as shambhala, abish, helba, camel grass and others. The most amazing thing is that not even the herbaceous part of the plant is used for brewing, but its seeds.

Fenugreek is a very useful plant. Its healing power was mentioned in ancient manuscripts and medical treatises of the famous Hippocrates. Today, fenugreek is grown not only in Egypt, but also in southeastern Europe, China, India, France and South America.

It is worth noting that Chinese tea is also called yellow, but despite this, Egyptian tea is completely different both in composition and in usefulness.

Compound

The fruits of fenugreek, from which health-improving yellow tea is made, are a real storehouse of useful substances. In its composition it contains:

• vitamins A, C, B1, B2, B3, B4 (choline), B9 and PP (nicotinic acid);
• mucous substances (no more than 30%);
• tannins;
• nitrogenous substances;
• vegetable protein (20–23%);
• flavonoids (rutin, hesperidin, etc.);
• amino acids (lysine, isoleucine, tryptophan, etc.);
• essential oil (0.25%);
• fat and polyunsaturated fatty acid (4-7%);
• polysaccharides (starch, cellulose, etc.);
• calcium;
• iron;
• sodium;
• zinc;
• phosphorus;
• magnesium;
• selenium;
• potassium.

When brewing seeds, almost all chemical elements remain in the drink, which is also important for a general strengthening effect on the body.

Beneficial features

The English scientist Kleber assures that Egyptian yellow tea can be put on the same scale with all the medicines in the world.

The drink can be used both for preventive purposes and for complex treatment:

1. Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. An infusion of fenugreek seeds coats the mucous membrane of the esophagus with mucus, which protects it from the aggressive effects of alcoholic beverages, as well as spicy and acidic foods. Regular consumption of tea blocks increased acidity, which stops inflammation and ulcerative processes in the stomach. In Egypt, yellow tea always helps European tourists to adapt to the reception of national dishes.
2. Diabetes and obesity. The trace elements contained in the drink reduce blood glucose levels and also improve lipid metabolism.
3. Diseases of the urinary system. Egyptian tea prevents the occurrence of infectious and inflammatory diseases of the genitourinary system, and also helps to remove stones from the bladder and kidneys.
4. atherosclerosis and hypertension. The beneficial substances that make up yellow tea lower blood cholesterol levels, as well as blood pressure in hypertension.
5. Diseases of the respiratory system. Shambhala tea is a fairly effective home remedy that has an expectorant and antipyretic effect in case of colds.
6. Diseases of the female genital organs. Fenugreek fruits contain substances similar in properties to Dioscorea extract. They are similar in structure and action to female hormones, so tea helps restore the hormonal background of a woman, as well as cure female infertility, uterine fibroids, genital tumors, etc.
7. Skin diseases. Yellow tea normalizes the functioning of the liver and gallbladder, the activity of which determines the general condition of the skin.

• unbalanced diet, loss of appetite;
• severe recovery after surgery or a long illness;
• decrease in sexual desire and impotence;
• great physical or mental stress;
• depressive state;
• the accumulation of toxins in the body and the appearance of an unpleasant body odor;
• decrease in mental abilities, concentration of attention, memory impairment;
• decrease in lactation in women during breastfeeding;
• menstrual disorders, pain during menstruation, early menopause;
• premature skin aging (if it is associated with an age-related lack of female sex hormones).

Boiled seeds are also suitable for cosmetic skin and hair care.

Recipes for treatment, weight loss, increased lactation and other purposes

For medical purposes, yellow tea from Egypt is recommended to be used in combination with other ingredients that can enhance its effect. Below are the most common, effective recipes for treating diseases and other purposes.

Table: How to use Shambhala infusion

A good result can be achieved only if the procedures are carried out regularly. The healing properties of yellow Egyptian tea are observed after a few days.

How to brew an Egyptian drink + video

Since not the leaves, but the fruits of the plant are used to make this tea, it is not recommended to brew it in the usual way for us. The taste of the drink will be fully revealed only if the hard seeds are cooked.

1-2 days before making tea, the fruits should be thoroughly washed and laid out on paper or a towel in a dry place. In order for tea to reveal its aroma, dried seeds can be roasted and ground. Brew the drink in a small saucepan. For 1 teaspoon of "brewing" use 200-250 ml of water. If you prefer a stronger tea, use 2 teaspoons for the same amount of water. You need to boil yellow tea over low heat for 7-9 minutes, then you can pour it into mugs and enjoy its exquisite taste.

You can see the process in more detail on the video.

How to drink helba

You can drink tea both warm and cool - it perfectly warms and quenches thirst.

Egyptian tea has a pleasant yellow color and a peculiar nutty flavor, which each person perceives differently: for some it is just a bitter and unpleasant drink, but for someone a whole fountain of emotions!

To remove bitterness, immediately before cooking, soak the grains for several hours in cold water.

You can diversify the taste of tea with raspberries, lemons, honey, mint, dates, ginger or figs. Yellow tea goes well with other tea infusions: regular black or green. It is also useful to replace water with milk when brewing tea.

Remembering Egypt, the majestic pyramids, the bright sun and the sea immediately appear. And not everyone knows that Egypt is famous for its unique yellow tea. The Egyptians are very fond of this drink, they drink it daily. And for Europeans, such a drink can become unusual. What is the Egyptian What properties does it have?

Helba yellow tea has nothing to do with yellow Chinese teas. It got its name from its yellow color. The drink is prepared from an annual plant, which in Egypt is called helba, in our country hay fenugreek, the names fenugreek and shamballa are also known. It grows in Iran, Egypt, Tibet is the birthplace of Helba.

The plant grows up to 70 centimeters in height, blooms with multiple yellow flowers. Shambhala fruits are similar to flat cylindrical beans. The fruits have a pleasant nutty flavor. All the beneficial properties of the plant are contained in the fruits. They are used to make tea, as a spice, and also for medicinal purposes. Let's talk about Helba yellow tea, the properties that the plant has.

Helba composition

• flavonoids;
• polysaccharides;
• vegetable protein;
• mucous substances;
• vitamins of all groups;
• nitrogenous substances;
• essential oil;
• magnesium;
• potassium;
• selenium;
• zinc;
• calcium;
• iron.

Useful properties of yellow tea

Due to its rich composition, it has a number of useful properties. Studies have been conducted that have proven that Helba is really effective in the treatment of various diseases. Egyptian Helba yellow tea improves the general condition of a person, helps with many ailments.

• Helps fight urinary tract infections. Shambhala relieves inflammation, removes sand and stones from the kidneys.
• Restores the work of the digestive tract. One cup of infusion coats the stomach lining, protecting against spicy foods and alcohol. Regular consumption of such a drink will help get rid of stomach ulcers, restore acidity.
• Treats diabetes. The composition of tea contains components that reduce blood sugar levels.
• Helps with colds. At the first symptoms of the disease, experts recommend starting drinking fenugreek tea. It will lower the temperature, will contribute to the removal of sputum.
• Effective in women's diseases. The substances contained in the plant are similar to female hormones. Tea is able to restore hormonal levels, helps in the treatment of infertility.
• Normalizes pressure. Tea with fenugreek lowers cholesterol, recommended for hypertension, in the postoperative period.
• Increases potency.
• Increases concentration, performance.
• Relieves stress and relieves depression.

How to brew yellow tea

How to brew Egyptian tea? The classical method of making tea is not suitable, since it is not the leaves that are used here, but the fruits, and they need to be boiled so that they fully open and give up their beneficial properties. To brew, you need to follow some rules.

The beans must be washed and dried. Then fry the fruits and chop. Pour a glass of water into an enameled container and add a teaspoon of ground fruit. Put on a slow fire, boil for 10 minutes. Then the tea needs to be filtered. The brewed drink can be improved by adding ginger, cinnamon or honey. Many people compare the aroma of tea with the aroma of cheese or mushrooms, some associate the aroma with spices. Sometimes tea is brewed with milk.

Healing drink recipes

For bowel cleansing

2 teaspoons of ground fruit mixed with a glass of water. The mixture is kept on fire for five minutes. To remove toxins from the body, you need to drink before eating. You can add figs and honey to tea.

For the treatment of angina

Pour 2 tbsp. spoons of fenugreek 500 ml of boiling water. Boil on the lowest heat for 30 minutes. The resulting decoction should be rinsed with a sore throat. After a few procedures, you can feel that the pain and perspiration have disappeared.

For kidney treatment

Pour 5 teaspoons of the fruits of the plant into a refractory dish, add three dates, pour 200 ml of water. On low heat, the mixture should be kept for seven minutes. Regular consumption of 100 ml three times a day helps to remove sand from the kidneys, crushing small stones.

To improve lactation

Fenugreek beans are effective in increasing breast milk. Pour a glass of water into the container, pour 1 tbsp. a spoonful of fruit After 10 minutes of simmering, strain the drink, add 30 ml of milk. You should drink no more than three glasses per day.

For the treatment of bronchitis

Fenugreek fruits - 1 teaspoon

Elderberry - 1 teaspoon

Fennel seeds - 1 teaspoon

Violet tricolor - 2 tsp

Linden blossom - 2 teaspoons

Water - 200 ml

Pour a tablespoon of the mixture of herbs with a glass of cold water. Let the herbs brew for two hours, then boil for five minutes. Strained warm drink should be drunk throughout the day. The use of yellow tea helps to get rid of even chronic bronchitis.

Infusion for douching

Use an infusion of helba and for douching. It is prepared from 2 teaspoons of beans and a glass of boiling water. It is necessary to infuse the mixture for 20 minutes. Douching helps to restore the microflora of the vagina and intestines.

Helba for hair health

The infusion prepared according to the above recipe can be used as a hair rinse. Helba yellow tea is used as a skin cleanser and acne treatment. On the basis of helba, face masks are prepared by mixing ground fruits with olive oil. This mixture improves the condition of the hair, if rubbed into the scalp with massage movements. This mask helps to strengthen hair and get rid of dandruff.

Helba tea contraindications

It is forbidden to drink Egyptian tea in the first months of pregnancy. This is very dangerous, it can lead to miscarriage, bleeding. It is not recommended to use tea for women suffering from diseases such as hyperplasia, endometriosis, fibroids.

Moderation is important in everything, you should not abuse such tea. An overdose of tea can lead to an allergic reaction, provoke an upset stomach.

If any unpleasant symptoms appear, it is necessary to stop taking tea. It is necessary to consult a doctor when taking anticoagulants, drugs for the treatment of diabetes, thyroid gland.

How to drink yellow tea

Egyptian tea is good both cool and warm. It quenches thirst well, so the Egyptians drink it in the very heat. In cool weather, tea can warm. A properly prepared drink has a bright yellow color, a nutty flavor that not everyone perceives. Some people think that tea is bitter. True connoisseurs of tea drinks will feel an explosion of emotions in their taste.

Experts advise: before cooking, it is necessary to soak the fruits in cold water, hold for several hours. Those who do not like the taste of tea at all can add lemon, raspberries, dates, mint, figs, ginger. Yellow tea can be added to classic green or black tea. It is useful to prepare a drink with milk.

Chaman, methi, helba, fenugreek, fungerek - all these are the names of the same annual plant of the legume family, which has a pronounced nutty aroma. The stem is 50 - 70 cm long, with leaves branching at the top, which are shaped like clover leaves 2 - 4 cm long. The white-lilac flowers blooming in early summer can also be yellow or blue. It is the helba fruits, which look like flat beans, that have healing properties for which this amazing plant is valued.

Tibet is considered the birthplace of Helba, from where it was brought to the southern hemisphere and Asia. Today, helba is grown in all corners of the world.

Interesting to know! In the found ancient Egyptian papyri, which are dated 1500 BC, the hilba was used to heal various ailments. She cured burns and stimulated labor activity, and was also used to embalm mummies.

Chemical composition

• minerals - zinc, calcium, phosphorus, as well as selenium, magnesium, potassium, iron, sodium;
• vegetable proteins;
• flavonoids;
• fats, incl. polyunsaturated fatty acids;
• vitamins (groups B, A, PP, C);
• amino acids;
• polysaccharides;
• phytoestrogen diosgenin (analogous to progesterone).

In addition to the listed components, helba grains are a source of phenolic acids, enzymes, tannins, phytostyrenes, glycosides, and essential oils.

"Heal yourself with a helba!" Prophet Muhammad said

Beneficial features

According to the English scientist Kleber: “If you put all the medicines on one scale and on the other helba, then the scales will balance.” Among the main useful properties of the plant are the following:

• regeneration of cells and tissues;
• normalization of the functions of the nervous system and a calming effect;
• reduction of inflammation processes;
• anthelmintic agent;
• improvement of brain activity and concentration of attention;
• expectorant and cleansing bronchi and lungs plant;
• reduction in cholesterol and blood sugar;
• cleansing the gastrointestinal tract and reducing the manifestations of flatulence;
• tonic and restorative effect on the body;
• normalization of the genitourinary system;
• improvement of the cardiovascular system;
• nutrition and saturation with useful substances of tissues and cells of the body.

Interesting to know! Until the beginning of the 20th century, yellow tea, which was grown in China, was forbidden to be exported from the country, for which the punishment was the death penalty.

Helba helps to successfully cope with a number of different diseases: from problems with the nervous system to gynecological pathologies. The plant has found wide application not only in traditional medicine recipes, but also in cosmetology, cooking (it is used as a spice, drinks and decoctions are prepared from it).

Depending on how it is taken, it can promote both weight loss and weight gain. Many people think that this is impossible, but in fact it is. It all depends on the recipe for the preparation of the product.

Interesting to know! Just one cup of helba in the morning - and all day long you are guaranteed a good mood and increased efficiency.

For weight loss

Helba seed tea is popular and effective in the presence of excess weight. Its action in this case is aimed at cleansing the body of toxins, toxins and harmful substances. As a result of the activation of metabolic processes, the metabolism is restored, which contributes to natural weight loss. The drink helps to reduce the feeling of hunger, which prevents overeating. But to get the expected result, it is necessary to know the rules for brewing and using helba.

To prepare a drink, mix 2 teaspoons of seeds (previously crushed) with a glass of water and boil over low heat for 5-7 minutes. Let the infusion stand for 10-12 hours and take it on an empty stomach before eating.

Contraindications

The use of helba may not always be beneficial. Therefore, before using the plant for treatment, you should definitely consult a doctor. Among the contraindications that this plant has, it should be highlighted:

• pregnancy, since helba helps to reduce the walls of the uterus, and this can provoke a miscarriage or premature birth;
• gynecological bleeding, fibroids, endometriosis;
• gastritis and stomach ulcers.

With caution, you should use helba for diabetes. And with intolerance to any of the components of the plant, taking fenugreek is contraindicated.

Rules for the preparation and use of the drink

Sophistication and uniqueness lies in the fact that you can feel its special velvety soft taste only while drinking a drink. Unlike other teas, it does not leave an aftertaste in the mouth, and you want to try again the unique aroma and relish again and again. But for this, you should carefully approach the process of preparing the drink, as well as follow the rules for brewing Helba tea.

Before the direct preparation of the drink, the seeds should be prepared: they should be thoroughly washed and, laid out on drying paper, placed in a dry place for 2 days. Tea preparation:

1. 1 teaspoon of seeds pour a glass of boiling water;
2. boil over low heat for about 8-10 minutes, stirring constantly;
3. pour into cups and add honey or sugar to taste if desired.

To improve the taste of Egyptian yellow tea, you can add ginger, turmeric, zest, cumin to it. Gourmets will appreciate the combination of yellow tea with honey, milk and lemon.

Their Helba tea is effective for colds and can be used as an expectorant and immunostimulant. To prepare a decoction, mix 1.5 tablespoons of seeds with dates and figs (100-150 grams each) and pour about 0.5 liters of water. The drink is prepared on a steam bath, about 15-20 minutes. The use of such a warm drink before going to bed will have a positive effect of recovery: the swelling of the stuffy nose will decrease, the cough will subside, and the pleasant warmth from the drunk tea will spread throughout the body and will promote a restful sleep.

Helba is a plant whose healing properties are known to many women. It helps in the treatment of infertility, improving blood circulation in the pelvis, as well as providing a tonic and antiseptic effect.

A drink made from fenugreek seeds is also useful for men. It helps to get rid of congestive inflammatory processes, increase potency and improves sexual life.

Fenugreek in cosmetology

Helba is widely applicable in cosmetology. The oil found in fenugreek seeds has long been known for its regenerative and anti-inflammatory properties. It helps cleanse the skin, strengthen hair, prevent hair loss and promote hair growth.

To prepare a hair mask, you need to mix ground helba seeds with chopped cumin and olive oil. The resulting mixture should be rubbed into the hair roots and, warming the head with a towel, hold for about 15 minutes. Rinse afterwards with warm water. This procedure will help strengthen the hair and prevent the development of dandruff, and will also help cure dermatitis.

To cleanse the skin of the face using helba, you can prepare such a mask: ground fenugreek seeds are mixed with honey, caraway and olive oil. In this case, the proportions of all ingredients should be the same - one teaspoon each. After that, one yolk should be added to the mixture. Apply this mask on the skin for 15 minutes. It has an amazing nutritional effect.

Interesting to know! Helba is also popular as a spice, it is added to many seasonings, which gives them an original nutty taste.

Fenugreek is an indispensable storehouse of vitamins and nutrients, the effectiveness of which mankind has known since the time of the Ancient World. Using it in your diet, you can improve the general condition of the body, as well as cure various diseases. But at the same time, do not forget about contraindications and it is not recommended to abuse the drink.

History of appearance

From this article you will learn:

Egypt is one of the oldest countries in the world. Here there was a place for magnificent sunny beaches, monumental pyramids and unusual yellow tea - helba. From time immemorial, the local population not only knew about its existence, but also highly appreciated its positive properties.

Hippocrates used the drink to treat most gynecological diseases. It has been established that fenugreek (the basis of tea) is able to relieve discomfort during the menstrual cycle.

Helba tea leaves were used as tinctures, tea leaves, medicines, ground powder and food additives. The drink was also known under other names - abish, helba, fenugreek, chaman, shamballa, camel grass. The recipe for its brewing has not actually changed, despite the fact that several centuries have passed since then.

Where are they collected?

Delving into the features of the production of Helba yellow tea, it should be noted that this is not tea in its classical sense. It is not extracted from the leaves of tea bushes. The basis of the drink is the seeds of a plant known as "fenugreek hay", related to legumes. Traditionally, they are used in cooking, medical purposes, in South America, Ethiopia, India and China, as well as in a number of other regions.

Many Egyptian tourists are offered to enjoy the great taste of yellow tea. Believe me, you should not refuse such an opportunity. Visually, the drink may seem very strange - in a glass you can see small grains, and not traditional leaves.

Taste features

The taste of the yellow tea drink is quite specific, rich in all sorts of shades. Not every European can appreciate it or even understand it. The dominant role is occupied by taste, but if necessary, it can be slightly diluted with additives, which will be discussed below.

Beneficial features

Helba tea contains a huge amount of trace elements and nutrients. They have a positive effect on the human body. If we talk about the drink, then it is an expectorant, immunostimulating, tonic, antispasmodic and anti-inflammatory agent. It is great for cases where complex treatment is needed. A tea drink is also suitable as a prophylactic.

One of the most unusual teas in the world - yellow egyptian tea. At the same time, it has nothing in common with yellow Chinese tea, since it is not made from a tea bush, and not even the herbaceous part of the plant, but its seeds, is used for brewing. In Egypt, yellow tea is extremely popular and is a local attraction. In any case, tourists are sure to be treated to this amazing drink.

Egyptian yellow tea and its properties

Produced, rapidly gaining popularity, yellow tea from Egypt, from the seeds of a legume plant called fenugreek hay. However, this is not its only name, such names are also known: shamballa, helba, fenugreek, chaman, abish, camel grass, etc.

The fenugreek plant is truly unique. A detailed description of its medicinal properties is found in the manuscripts of Avicenna, Hippocrates, in the treatises of Chinese healers. It is quite well known and studied at the present time.

It is grown as a food, medicinal and fodder crop in India, China, South and Central Europe, Ethiopia, Egypt, South America, South Transcaucasia.

It is an annual plant 40-70 cm tall. The presence of coumarin in the chemical composition gives a strong characteristic smell to flowers, fruits and leaves. Fruits (beans) are used to make tea. The pods are rather large, up to 10 cm long, the seeds are up to 5 mm in diameter.

Medicinal properties of Egyptian yellow tea

The healing effect of yellow tea is due to the value of its fruits, a real storehouse of trace elements, vitamins, amino acids, etc.

Fenugreek fruits contain:

• mucous (up to 30%) and bitter substances,
• routine,
• coumarin,
• steroidal saponins and phytosterols,
• nicotinic acid (vitamin PP) - 3.5-18 mg%,
• flavonoids,
• trigonelline alkaloid (0.3%),
• essential oil (0.3%),
• fatty oil (5-8%),
• proteins (up to 25%),
• tannins,
• vitamins A, C and B1, B2, B9 (folic acid) and enzymes,
• essential amino acids,
• nitrogen substances,
• iron,
• potassium,
• phosphorus,
• sodium,
• magnesium,
• zinc,
• arsenic,
• starch.

As you can see, the chemical composition of the plant is very rich, and when brewed, all components almost completely pass into the drink, having a beneficial effect on the human body.

Regular consumption of Egyptian yellow tea will avoid many problems and it is recommended:

1. With diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Fenugreek tea cleanses the intestines of mucus and toxins, has a healing effect on duodenal and stomach ulcers.
2. To lower the level of "bad" cholesterol in the blood.
3. For skin diseases. Egyptian yellow tea contributes to the normalization of the liver and gallbladder. And as you know, it is the failures in the work of these organs that manifest themselves in the condition of the skin.
4. For the prevention and treatment of diabetes mellitus (in combination).
5. With heavy loads, unbalanced nutrition, fenugreek decoction will help to avoid anemia.
6. Tea cleanses the kidneys well, and in combination with date decoction, it dissolves and removes stones from the bladder and kidneys.
7. With various types of arthritis in complex treatment.
8. For colds, it is a powerful antipyretic.
9. For the treatment of female diseases and impotence.
10. To improve lactation during breastfeeding.
11. With respiratory diseases (bronchitis, sinusitis, bronchial asthma, pneumonia, etc.).

This is one of the most effective home remedies with a strong expectorant effect.

In addition, you can safely use boiled seeds for cosmetic skin and hair care.

Due to the fact that not the leaves are used, but the seeds of the plant, the usual method of brewing is not suitable in this case. Just pour boiling water over fenugreek beans and let it brew, of course, you can. But we must remember that seeds do not reveal their properties so easily. Yellow tea from Egypt is prepared according to a special recipe. It must be cooked. Therefore, the name "tea" is somewhat arbitrary, it is, in essence, a decoction and a porcelain teapot is not needed.

Seeds must be washed and dried for several days.

To fully reveal the aroma of tea, the seeds are roasted and then ground.

Pour the right amount of water into a small saucepan and pour in the "tea leaves" at the rate of 200-250 ml - one teaspoon. The more tea leaves, the stronger the tea will be.

Boil over low heat for 8-10 minutes and then pour into cups.

How to drink yellow tea

100 g of fenugreek seeds contains:

• Fat - 6.4g
• Proteins - 23g
• Carbs - 58.4g
• Fiber - 10g.

The energy value of 1 teaspoon of seeds is 12 kcal.

The taste of yellow tea is peculiar and rich in shades. A nutty flavor prevails in the overall flavor range.

Tea should be drunk slightly cold. Sugar is better to replace with a spoonful of honey.

It will be very tasty and useful to add ginger, lemon.

Brewing water can be replaced with milk.

Since fenugreek seeds have a pronounced medicinal effect, there are many recipes for special teas. For instance:

Yellow Egyptian tea with dates for anemia.

A thick decoction of dates with fenugreek cleanses the kidneys well, dissolves stones.

If you add stevia leaves to brewed yellow tea and leave for 5 minutes, you get a wonderful remedy for arthritis.

In some cases, if fenugreek is used for medicinal purposes, it is better not to brew it, but to insist for 12 hours, and drink the infusion.

In a word, fenugreek yellow tea improves health and the nervous system. Is yellow Egyptian tea used for weight loss? Controversial question. After all, excess weight is often a psychological problem, and the causes of obesity must be sought and eradicated in their behavioral reactions. And yellow tea is just an aid.