The Daily Tiffin: Grandma's Home Remedies

Photo copyright Meeta Albrecht

Our contributor today is Rakhi Kurup. She wrote to us a while ago sharing a few wonderful remedies for various aches, pains, fever or colds. These remedies come straight from her mum and grandmother and she says "Grandma's medicines do work!"

Tulasi Kashayam

2 Handfuls of tulasi - wash and shred with hands
1 inch ginger - crushed
5 garlic cloves - crushed
little less than 1/2 tsp fenugreek seeds - lightly crush
1/2 tsp cumin seeds - lightly crush
one pinch turmeric
10 to 12 whole peppercorns - crushed
2 coffee mugs of water - must be around 2 and a half cups of water

Boil all these preferably in an earthen vessel (we call it mankalam or manchatti) till the 2 glasses of water reduces to 1 glass. Boiling needs to be done at a low temperature. Filter the above and also extract the juice from the left over (i.e. the tulasi, ginger etc. mix the remains once the concoction is filtered). Just squeeze the left overs with your hand. You can have this 3 times in a day (one glass divided into 3 parts) before meals. To sweeten it( if it is difficult to drink otherwise) you can add a piece of jaggery (sharkara in malayalam).

The above mix works when you have a fever and is also good for cold.

Tea

I never drink tea. The only time I drink it is when I have cold and a bad throat.

1 tea bag
ginger half inch - crushed
pepper powder . half teaspoon
water - 1 cup

Boil the water with ginger and pepper powder (at medium or low flame). Remove from stove. Strain it and put in the tea bag, add sugar and drink hot. Having this 3 or 4 times a day, makes the throat feel better.

For colds
I prepare this when I see my kids with a cold. This recipe was given to me by a friend whose husband is a doctor.

Carom seeds - 1 tbsp
garlic - 3 or 4 cloves

Roast carom seeds in an iron pan, make sure you don't burn it. Once the seeds are done, roast the garlic. Allow it to slightly cool. Now take a clean cloth and put the roasted carom seeds and garlic in it. Tie it up. Crush the tied carom seeds and garlic with your hand. Make the child sniff it. My kids hate the smell. I usually make them inhale it when they are sleeping. Don't inhale continuously.

I am sure every one must have a few tips like these not just for sickness but also for acne and face masks. So, share your home remedies with us. A special face mask, a soothing cream for strained muscles. Whatever it is let us know.

Thank you, Rakhi for these wonderful remedies.

Reminder!
Our first event on the Daily Tiffin this month is Show Us Your Lunchbox. Hope you will join us and allow us to peak into your lunch. Deadline April 20th.

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