*'ayyo yende devane!.yende kuttikku chali pidichitinda?'said ammachi(that's malayalam for grandma)
translation:'oh my god!.has my child caught a cold?'.Then my granny felt my forehead n neck with the back of her hand n quickly asked my mom to make me a concoction of hotmilk+turmeric+butter.Not only did my fever come down, this home remedy had cleared my cold n cough in a jiffy.well.this kinda thing is not new to'us' indians.*
the indian kitchen is replete with home remedies.our grandmas never believed in using allopathic medicines for every little ailment that attacked the family.n they were wise enough to realize the potential of environment friendly kitchen remedies, which had no side effects. not only that these remedies were low costing, accessible at all odd hrs n effective.
so.lets run through the items on our kitchen shelf to see the benefits they provide, shall we?
1) SALT: one of the cheapest n most accessible items in the kitchen.
>tired feet- will find immediate relief if u soak them in a tubful of tepid water to which a spoonful of salt has been added.
>similarly, bathing with saline water brings instant relief to the tired n exhausted body .
>if an insect has entered the ears n causes discomfort, pouring saline water into the ears will kill the insect.it will come out with the saline water when the head is tilted to the side.
>as u must already know, gargling with warm saline water is highly beneficial for sore throat.
>but I bet u did'nt know that, when bitten by a scorpion or a poisonous insect, applying a paste of basil leaves+salt, weakened the effect of the poison.
>also, if u get burnt in the kitchen do not despair.to soothe the burnt area wash it immediately with a solution of cold water n salt.
2)TURMERIC:an excellent remedy for fever+cold
>dissolve a tsp. of it along with black pepper powder in hot milk n watch the fever come down in a jiffy.
>since, turmeric powder is known for its antiseptic properties, grandmothers always recommended drinking a little turmeric+hot milk to cure the wounds+check any infection.
>to check bleeding+pus formation-freshly ground turmeric powder would be applied.
3)MUSTARD SEEDS: an important element from the spice box.
>intake of mustard seeds eliminates flatulence+ cough+ stomach ache+ body aches.
>mustard oil has been used to massage infants as it brings warmth n builds up muscles while relieving body ache.
>its application on the scalp encourages hair growth.
>injuries n wounds heal faster by applying a paste of turmeric powder n mustard oil on the area
>to cure dry cough, suckin on a paste of mustard oil n jaggery is recommended.
4)CUMIN SEEDS:highly potent medicine for stomach disorders+indigestion.
>it promotes appetit+ controls stomach ache+ is a very good cure for acidity+ heart burn+flatulence.
>roast 2 tsp. of cumin seeds+grind them+add a pinch of salt.this powder can be taken in a glass of hot water/ milk /rice /vegetables.
>cumin seed powder + 1 gm of jaggery-brings dowm long standing fever.
>in Kerala, jeera vellum(cumin seed water) is taken regularly to aid digestion+ward off other ailments.
5) CARAWAY SEEDS:(ajwain)
has long been known to indians as a cure for indigestion.
>this package of tiny seeds is a gr8 remedy for all kinds of stomach .liver n intestinal ailments.
>a regular intake of caraway seed powder thrice a day, can cure obstinate fevers+colds.
>to cure joint pain+body aches-massage the affected parts with a concoction of caraway seeds+oil.
6)ASAFOETIDA:commonly used by the homemaker in most of her vegetarian preparations.
>apart from lending a distinctive flavour to the dish, it is very effective cure for many digestive disorders(when consumed regularly).
>for relief from stomach ache, dissolve half a tsp. of asafoetida+250 ml water+boil it till it reduces to about 25 ml.drink this potion while it is lukewarm.
>fir infants who suffer from colic pains, a little asafoetida paste applied on the belly button, brings instant relief.
7)ANISEEDS:-an integral part of the indian kitchen.
>this is always served to ppl after meals, as an aid to digestion+purification of the mouth.
>when aniseeds r boiled in water+is taken in with little sugar-it cures acidity, nausea+restlessness.
8)CORAINDER SEEDS: highly flavoured+tasty condiment.
>an excellent remedy for fever+stomach ache+ burning during urinaton+indigestion.
>roast+grind 1 tsp.of coriander seeds+boil in a glassful of water till it reduces tohalf the quantity.this is a single dose+shold be taken thrice a day.
>if the same is taken with half cup of milk+a tsp. of sugar, it improves digestion.
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