Home remedies have been the best treatment for many problems in India since ancient times. Your grandparents or parents must often ask you to use one or more kitchen ingredients in case of stomach ache, acidity, cold, cough, headache, nausea, vomiting, etc. Especially this year, in 2020, when the world was under lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the cure that came handy were these home remedies, that are quite common in every Indian household.
Common Ingredients
Ginger (Adrak)
Ginger has always been an important ingredient in the Indian kitchen, due to its antiviral and antibacterial properties. Ginger helps in increasing the immunity of the body and reducing various types of infections.
- Take one pinch of Dry Ginger powder with a glass of hot water. It increases the digestive power and decreases bloating.
- Grate ginger and boil it in water. Now add honey to the concoction and drink it. It provides relief in fever and cold. You can also add a little lemon juice to it, to make it even more effective.
- Ginger juice with jaggery is helpful with skin allergies.
- Pour 4 cups of water in a vessel and add 2tbsps freshly grated Ginger to it and boil it till the water reduces to half. Strain the liquid in a cup and add 1tbsp Honey to it. Allow it to cool down to normal room temperature and then drink it. It can help relieve back pains.
- Honey mixed with ginger juice is helpful for dry cough
Tulsi (Basil)
People usually compare tulsi to sanjeevani herb because of its abundant medicinal properties. Basil leaves are also considered equivalent to antibiotics.
- For the relief of seasonal fever, boil a spoonful of ginger in a handful of basil leaves with water until the water is reduced to half. You can also add honey to the decoction if required, as per your taste.
- For relieving back pain, pour one cup of water in a pan and add 8-10 fresh basil leaves in it. Allow it to boil till the water reduces to half and strain the liquid. Allow it to cool down to room temperature. Now add a pinch of salt to taste and consume it.
- Chewing 5 to 8 leaves in the morning everyday also provides relief in dry coughing.
Garlic (Lahsun)
The antibacterial and antiviral properties present in garlic naturally alleviate many symptoms and diseases.- For dry cough, Boil 2-3 cloves of garlic in a cup of water, then add honey to it when the water is lukewarm and consume it.
- When it comes to seasonal fever, the diallyl sulfide present in garlic reduces body temperature. Add one crushed garlic to hot water and drink it after 10 minutes.
- For back pain massage, in a pan, add 4-5 tbsps of Coconut oil and add 6 cloves of peeled garlic to it. Let the garlic, fry till it becomes dark brown in colour. Now let it cool down and the massage it on the affected area.
Apart from this, people also explored the uses of:
- Fenugreek seeds for good gut, diabetes, beauty, blood pressure and weight loss
- Asafoetida or hing for nervous system, respiratory system, circulatory system, digestive system, urinary system and reproductive system
- Apple cider vinegar for diabetes, obesity, heart health, deep vein thrombosis (dvt), diarrhoea , sinus problems, skin, hair and nail care.
- Curry leaves for digestive disorders, morning sickness and nausea, diabetes, eyes, obesity, wound healing, burns and hair loss
Some Common Conditions
COVID-19 and Immunity Boosting
Both medical and government authorities stressed on immunity boosting, especially for people suffering from comorbid diseases and those who were immuno-compromised, in order to prevent severe effects of COVID-19. There were many herbs and spices from the kitchen that were considered highly beneficial for the same.
- Consumption of warm water throughout the day
- AYUSH recommended Kadha (herbal tea) made from Tulsi (Basil), Dalchini (Cinnamon), Kalimirch (Black pepper), Shunthi (Dry Ginger) and Munakka (Raisin), to be consumed once or twice a day. Add jaggery (natural sugar) and / or fresh lemon juice to your taste, if needed.
- 'Allicin' is the main active ingredient of garlic which improves the body's internal defense system. Consumption of raw garlic increases immunity in the body.
- Turmeric or Golden Milk is best for immunity boosting. Add ½ tsp turmeric powder in 150 ml hot milk and consume it once or twice a day.
Indigestion and Bloating
With a lot of unhealthy eating habits that people indulged in while being at home for a longer duration led to problems like abdominal pain, bloating and indigestion. Therefore, here are some home remedies that people tried:
- Take 2 Tbsp. of Methi early in the morning. It helps reducing the abdominal discomfort
- Take 1 Tbsp. Black Salt + 1 Tbsp. Jeera and powder it. Mix it in a glass of water and drink it after having your meal.
- Take Cloves 5 gm + Fennel Seeds 10 gm + Ajwain 10gm + Jeera 10 gm + Black Salt 5 gm and make a powder out of it. Take ½ Tbsp., half an hour after consuming food. It helps reduce gas problems.
- Take a glass of hot water and mix 1 Tbsp. Ginger juice. Add 2 or 3 Tbsp. honey as per your taste and drink it.
Therefore, people tried to deal with minor health problems at home this year and avoided the consumption of chemically produced drugs and medicines, especially when they were not available due to lockdown. Most chemically produced medicines have some or the other side effects, but the majority of home remedies have no or almost negligible side effects, which is why it has become a popular way to treat many minor health related issues. However, it is always recommended to consult a doctor if the symptoms of the conditions are prolonged or you are suffering from certain underlying medical conditions, in which a particular diet is to be followed or consumption of some foods or spices is restricted.
