Decoction Syrup (Kadha) – Out of Grandma’s books

It’s been pouring cats and dogs for the last few days thus giving us relief from the scorching heat of the sun. With the full fledged rains on, most rush to open their doors and windows of their house to let the cool breeze enter. One’s hands automatically get out of the window to feel the water droplets on their hands and face. The smell of the mud, the pleasant environment, the children happy and wanting to dance in the rain every time it rains, making paper boats makes us all feel rejuvenated. These are the little pleasures that the monsoon brings with it and there is no denying.

With all this pleasure, fun, greenery and cool climate, the rains also brings with it a bunch of illnesses like fever, cough, cold, infections, stomach disorders etc. Everyone from kids, adults and old gets trapped in it.

The quick fix which most choose in these conditions is to visit a doctor who prescribes us an antibiotic for quick relief. The medicines will definitely give you relief but, the relief is just temporary. Medicine suppresses our immunity and gives us temporary relief. In most cases the illness relapses.

I have a simple solution on to this ongoing monsoon illness. I try to keep myself and my family away from medicines as much as possible. My grandma has passed on her home remedial diary or more popularly known as “Dadiji ka batva” or ‘Grandma’s Home Remedy Tips’. It consists of natural remedies for many such illnesses.

Let me share one of those home-made natural herbs medicine for cough, cold, fever, stomach pain.

This special medicine is known as decoction syrup or KADHA (Decoction of Herbs) . Check out this recipe. It’s simple to prepare, tasty and kids too will like it. So you can avoid running behind them for medicines.

INGREDIENTS:

• Garlic:

Amount: 1 clove of garlic. Crush it or slice it.

Properties: It contains sulfur compound known as Allicin which is anti-viral, antibiotic, and antiseptic.

• Ginger:

Amount: 1 inch. Wash it properly, remove the skin and crush it a bit before adding.

Properties: Ginger is an excellent anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory herb known for suppressing nausea and vomiting, reducing fever and coughing, treating inflammation, congestion, cold, diarrhea, indigestion, and flatulence.

• Cardamom:

Amount: 2 to 3 cardamoms

Properties: It stimulates digestion. It also helps to reduce body temperature and congestion of lunges.

• Black Pepper :

Amount: 3 black pepper whole or crushed

Properties: It is loaded with antioxidants and relieves many pains including headaches

• Jeshtimadh/ jyeshtamadhu (Liquorice Root)

Amount: 1 small stick

Properties: It is an excellent herb for getting relief from cough.

• Cloves:

Amount: 2 Cloves

Properties: contains an anti-inflammatory chemical called Eugenol. The combination of anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties spells heaps of health benefits.

• Black Tulsi ( Basil)

Amount: 4 to 5 leaves

Properties: Black Tulsi or Basil leaves is an excellent anti-fungicidal, anti-bacterial and anti-biotic properties to fight fever. It is also know you reduce your fever.

• Raw Honey/ Jaggery:

Amount: 1 teaspoon

Properties: Honey is antibacterial, antimicrobial, and antiseptic.

• Lemon:

Amount: Half lemon

Properties: high in vitamin C, lemon may help decrease the strength of the cold and flu virus in the body and reduce phlegm.

METHOD:

• Take 2 cups of water in a vessel
• Add all the above ingredients (except honey/jaggery and lemon) into the water
• Let the mixture boil, till the amount of water reduces to half
• Switch off the gas and now add honey/jaggery and squeeze lemon
• Strain it
• Sip it hot

Try it and let us know if you did get relief from this simple Grandma’s home Remedy

Pls Note: Do visit a doctor in case of severe illness but, if you feel things are under control, try managing them with natural sources. Your body is designed to heal by itself.