Many people find themselves getting affected by cough, cold, mild fever, and flu-like symptoms during the change of seasons. In today’s times when everyone is feeling threatened by the pandemic of coronavirus even running nose, little coughing is making people panic. It is necessary for you, to learn to treat these minor conditions at home because for most of you even approaching a doctor for non-emergency cases would be difficult. However, it should never mean to not stay vigilant and careful. Immediately consult your doctor if you get corona like symptoms.
This homemade kadha is going to be a great help you fight against cough, cold, fever, sore throat, stomach infection and indigestion etc. This is a purely ayurvedic remedy that can be made at home from the ingredients easily available in your kitchen. It is inexpensive and effective!
Even if you are not feeling any symptoms, make the kadha regularly at home and enjoy it hot. It will help boost your immunity and digestion. The kadha can be a little spicy for some so you may add honey to it while drinking. If you are OK, you may put lemon juice in it to add flavour. You can enjoy it even without adding honey or lemon.
There are two categories of ingredients in it – essential and optional. Besides those herbs and spices that are clearly marked and mentioned in this recipe, you can also add other herbs and spices such as fennel seeds, lemongrass, Bay leaf (tez patta), curry leaves, cloves, a small piece of nutmeg etc. If you like you can use different combinations of herbs and spices for different flavors however remember turmeric (freshly ground or powder), ginger (freshly ground or dried powder) and black-pepper are essential.
It is always better to make your preparations in the night so that you can make kadha in the morning to be had after breakfast. Place the ingredients in a non-metallic pot add some water, then cover it with lid for 1 hour so that the flavors of the spices and herbs are nicely infused. You can have it twice a day i.e. in the morning after breakfast and after dinner.
Decoction (Kadha) Ingredients
(For the final preparation of 2 Normal-sized Tea Cups)
- Turmeric Powder – 1 Teaspoon*
- Ginger Powder – 1/4 Teaspoon*
- Black Pepper Powder – 2 pinches*
- Azawon – 4 pinches*
- Cloves (crushed) – 2
- Cardamom (crushed) – 1
- Rock Salt – 2 pinches*
- Honey – 1 Teaspoon
- Tulsi Leaves (if available) – 4
- Amrita or Giloy crushed bark (if available) – 3 inches long
- Saffron (if available) – 2 strands
- Lemon juice -1/8 part of a lemon in one cup
How to prepare
Soak all the spices (powder or freshly ground), and saffron in 3 cups of water for 40 – 60 mins. Pour these herbs along with the water (in which these spices were soaked) in a boiling pan. Keep boiling it till it’s quantity is reduced to almost 2 cups.
Add fresh Tulsi leaves, Rock-Salt and boil it for another 1 minute.
Keep two empty cups ready in which you have already added 1 teaspoon of honey (if you are diabetic and want to avoid honey then don’t add honey). Strain/Pour the boiling hot kadha in the cup. If you don’t want to chew leaves you may use the filter but it is better if don’t. Stir with a spoon to mix, if you have added honey or else add fresh lemon juice to taste. Sip it hot!
Drinking the kadha on regular basis will help beat the seasonal change and increase body immunity. It will help you get rid of seasonal fever, cough, cold, flu and indigestion as well.
Stay aware, Stay safe!
-Ma Shakti Devpriya