Mother nature has gifted us with so many wonder food to cure ourselves. But many of us are not aware of it. One sneeze or a slight cold, we find many rushing to the doctor and popping up antibiotics. Taking drugs and antibiotics often suppresses and weakens our immune system. Try Mother Nature’s own medicine cabinet before heading to the drug store. Spices and herbs like cinnamon, ginger, cloves, turmeric, pepper, cumin, garlic, mint, basil, coriander etc all have anti-inflammatory, anti bacterial and disease fighting properties. You can also include these herbs and spices in your regular diet. Grandma’s remedies or natural remedies are safe and natural way to cure minor ailments. Grandma’s home remedies combined with our body’s natural immune system can cure most of the minor ailments (illness). The grandma remedies, I have given below can be easily followed as they use common ingredients regularly used in our kitchen.
Before going to the Grandma’s remedy-
Check my Indian Spices Glossary (I have given English, Tamil and Hindi name of Spices, in case if you have any doubts).
I suggest that you use only Organic Ingredients.
Also keep in mind that every person’ s body is different. What works for one may not work for another.
1# FEVER
1.Kasayam for Fever
You need
Whole black pepper – 1 tsp
Cumin seeds – 1 tsp
Holy basil leaves (tulsi)- 4-5
Dry roast cumin and pepper on medium heat until it splutters. Add a cup of water and tulsi leaves. Let it boil on medium heat until it reduces to half. Drink it hot (bearable) 2 times a day until symptom subsides.
2# DIARRHEA
1.Unsweetened Black Tea for Diarrhea
You needed
Tea leaves – 1 tsp
Fresh Lemon juice to taste
Boil 3/4 cup of water, add a tsp of tea leaves (any brand) and boil on medium heat until it reduces to 1/2 cup. Strain the decoction, add 1-2 tsp of fresh lemon juice and drink it warm.
2. Cumin for Diarrhea – Dry roast a tbsp of cumin seeds and powder it finely once it cools. Add 1/2 tsp of cumin powder to diluted thin buttermilk and drink it 2 or 3 times a day.
3# CONSTIPATION
1. Soak 10-12 raisins overnight in a cup of water. Drink that water in the morning on an empty stomach and eat the raisins.
2. Wash 3 dry figs well and soak it in a cup of water overnight. Drink the water the first thing in the morning and also eat the figs.
3. Eat a bowl of ripe papaya or one ripe guava before meals.
4. Squeeze juice of half a fresh lemon in a glass of water, add a tsp of palm jaggery and 2 or 3 drops of pure organic castor oil and drink it.
5. Constipation can also be due to body heat – Persons whose job require sitting for long hours (eg -computer professionals) are prone to constipation. In that case, saute 4 chopped shallots (pearl onions) in a little ghee (clarified butter) or pure extra virgin organic coconut oil and eat it. Continue this treatment for a week. You will find improvement.
6. Soak a tsp of fenugreek seeds in water overnight. Next morning, drink that water and chew the fenugreek seeds to prevent constipation.
4# ACIDITY
1. Add 1/2 tsp of roasted cumin seed powder to diluted buttermilk and drink it.
2. Suck a small piece of jaggery every few hours until symptom subsides. Keep it in the mouth and suck it slowly.
3. Include tender coconut water, cucumber, watermelon and ash gourd in your diet. The cooling properties in these fruits and vegetables will help alleviate your sufferings.
5# INDIGESTION
If you have symptoms related to indigestion like stomach ache, bloating or cramps, having a cup of hot ginger tea helps.
1.Ginger Tea: Wash, peel the skin and chop ginger into fine pieces. Take a cup of water and add 1 tsp chopped ginger pieces. Boil on medium heat until it reduces to half. Strain, add one teaspoon of honey and drink it slightly hot.
2. Mix 1/2 -3/4 tsp of roasted cumin powder (jeera powder) in a glass of warm water and drink it.
3. Mix a tsp of roasted cumin powder with 1-2 tbsp of hot cooked rice, top it with a tsp of ghee and have it 10-15 minutes before your meals. This is a very effective remedy for indigestion, bloating, lack of appetite etc.
4. Dry roast fennel seeds (sombu in Tamil, saunf in Hindi), powder it, sieve it and store it in a bottle. Take 1/2 tsp of fennel powder mixed with a cup of warm water twice a day. Pregnant women should avoid fennel.
5. Alternatively, you can drink fennel tea, made by steeping a teaspoons of crushed fennel seeds in a cup of hot water. Strain it and drink it warm. If needed, add a little honey to sweeten the tea.
6. Take a glass of water, squeeze juice of half a fresh lemon juice, add a tsp of honey and drink it 15-20 minutes after meals.
7. Sukku Malli Coffee is good for digestion.
8. Cumin seeds water/Jeera Water – Bring 1 liter (5 cups) of water to boil. Add 1 tsp of cumin seeds and boil on medium heat for 5-6 minutes. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes. Filter it and drink that water whenever needed. Use the jeera water within that day. Have it warm. It cures all digestive problems like stomach ache, gastric problem, acidity etc. Cumin seeds are loaded with antioxidants, that they even prevent cancer. Use only organic cumin seeds. You can have this water even on a regular basis (everyday). For medicinal purpose – boil 1 tsp cumin seeds in 3 cups of water.
6# THROAT INFECTION – SORE THROAT
Dissolve 1/4 -1/2 tsp of salt in warm water and gargle with that water. You can do this salt water gargling 3 or even 4 times a day and continue it until you get relief. You can also add a pinch of organic turmeric powder to the water.
7# MENSTRUAL CRAMPS
1. Many do not know that ginger is a natural pain killer. Having a cup of hot ginger (adrak) tea lessens your sufferings. Recipe given above.
2. Soak few raisins in a cup of warm water for 1/2 an hour and drink that water and eat the raisins on an empty stomach.
3. Soak a tsp of fenugreek seeds overnight in a cup of diluted thin buttermilk. In the morning drink that few days before and after periods.
4. Hot compress helps to lessen pain. Place a hot water bag or hot water bottle (do not use boiling water in hot water bottle) on your stomach or lower back where you experience pain. Alternatively, you can soak a towel in hot water, squeeze out excess water and place it on your abdomen or back to get relief.
8# COUGH, COLD, CHEST CONGESTION DUE TO PHLEGM
1. Turmeric Milk
You need
Turmeric powder – 1/4 tsp (use only organic turmeric powder)
Pepper powder – 1/8 tsp
Honey -1 tsp or palm jaggery
Heat 3 tbsp of water, add turmeric powder and pepper powder. When it starts to boil, stir in a cup of milk and boil it. Remove from heat, add a tsp of honey and drink it a little hot. It can be had 2 times a day and can be continued till you get relief.
2. Dry roast 1/2 tsp of cumin seeds and 1/4 tsp of whole black peppercorns slightly. Grind it to a fine powder. Mix it with a little hot rice. Add a tsp of ghee, a pinch of salt to it and have it hot before food. You will find a significant reduction in the phlegm and cough.
3. Have a cup of piping hot rasam like a soup or rasam rice also helps. Garlic rasam, kandanthipili rasam, milagu rasam, kollu rasam helps a lot in alleviating the sufferings.
4. Ginger is very effective natural cure for cold and cough. Having a cup of ginger tea (recipe above) also helps.
5. Sukku Malli Coffee can be taken piping hot twice everyday until cold subsides.
9 # NASAL CONGESTION/BLOCKED NOSE
1. Steam Inhalation – Bring water to boil in a pot. Add a few mint leaves and inhale the steam for a few minutes to relieve nasal congestion.
2. Tie 2-3 tsp of slightly crushed carom seeds/bishop weeds (ajwain in Hindi ) in a soft cotton cloth and use it for inhalation to relieve nasal congestion/blocked nose. This is very effective.
10 # GASTRIC PROBLEM
1. Chew 1/4 tsp of fennel seeds to get quick relief from bloating and gastric problem.
2. Fennel tea is very effective for bloating and gas. It helps relieve gas instantly. Add 3/4 -1 tsp of fennel seeds to a cup of boiling water. Let is sit for 5 minutes. Strain and drink it warm.
3. Add a pinch of asafoedita/ hing powder (perungayam) to a glass of diluted butter milk to get relief from gastric problem and bloating.
4. Caraway seeds (shahjeera in Hindi) Tea – Bring a cup of water to boil. Add a tsp of caraway seeds. Let it steep for 5 minutes. Strain and drink this tea 15 minutes before meals. You can drink this tea 3 times a day.
5. Roast caraway seeds slightly. Chew some roasted caraway seeds with a pinch of rock salt. It gives relief from gastric problem.
6. Sipping hot Sukku Malli coffee gives relive from stomach pain, back pain due to gastric problem.
7. Mix a tsp of roasted cumin seeds powder, a pinch of salt with diluted buttermilk and drink it to give relief from acidity.
8. When making ginger tea, along with fresh ginger, add 2 pods of cardamom seeds, a teaspoon of fennel seeds and boil the water until it reduces a little. Filter it and drink the tea hot (bearable) 2 or 3 times a day to get relief from gastric problem.
11 # MOUTH ULCERS
1.Chew a bit of matured coconut in such a way that the coconut milk touches the affected area.
2. Heal mouth sores with honey. Apply honey on the sores.
3. If you can get black nightshade (manathakkali keerai in Tamil), chew 3-4 leaves of the keerai. It is a sure remedy for mouth ulcers. Have a look at the picture of black nightshade here.
4. Include mint in your diet in the form of mint thuvaiyal, mint rice, mint chutney etc.
12 # FOR A GOOD SLEEP
1. Drink a glass of warm milk with a tsp of honey before going to bed.
13 # LOSS OF APPETITE
1. Roast cumin seeds, powder it, add a little salt and mix it well. Mix a tsp of roasted cumin powder with a little hot rice (around 1-2 tbsp), a tsp of ghee and have it 10-15 minutes before your meals.
2. Take equal quantities of cumin seeds, fennel seeds and carom seeds. Powder it, add a little dry ginger powder, little salt and mix it well. Mix a tsp of this powder with a little cooked rice, top it with a tsp of ghee and have it hot 20 minutes before meals.
3. Include curry leaves in your diet often in the from of thuvaiyal, chutney, karuveppilai sadam, curry leaves podi etc. You can mix a little curry leaves podi in a little hot rice, top it with ghee and have it 10-15 minutes before food.
14 # MINOR BURNS
14 # MINOR BURNS
1. Mix turmeric powder with few drops of honey and apply on the affected area. Even plain honey is good for treating minor burns.
2. Applying coconut oil 3 or 4 times a day also helps.
3. Applying calamine lotion also gives relief.
15 # HEADACHE
1. Have a cup of hot herbal tea.
Having a cup of hot ginger tea (recipe above) helps in relieving headache.
2.Cinnamon (ceylon cinnamon) tea also helps in relieving headaches.
Cinnamon Tea
You need
Water – 1 1/2 cup
Ceylon cinnamon stick – 2 or 3 inch piece
Bring water to a slow boil adding cinnamon, once it starts boiling, remove from heat and let it steep for 15 minutes. Strain, reheat it and drink it hot (bearable).
Ceylon Cinnamon Image source – here
3. Cinnamon Milk
Have a cup of hot milk mixed with 1/4 tsp of Ceylon cinnamon powder and a tsp of honey.
Headache due to cold
4. Steaming gives relief in case of headache due to cold. Boil a pot of water, add a few drops of eucalyptus oil and inhale the steam.
5. Peppermint Oil – Add a few drops of peppermint oil to hot water and inhale the steam.
Headache due to heat/ going out in the sun
6. Bring a cup of water to boil, add 1/2 inch crushed ginger piece (skin peeled). Let it simmer for 5 minutes. Strain, squeeze juice of half a fresh lemon, add a tsp of honey and drink it warm.
7. Take a clean small towel, dip it in cold water, squeeze out the water slightly and place it on your forehead for a few minutes and relax.
Headache due to eye strain
8. Splash cold water on your eyes. Close your eyes and relax for 10-15 minutes
16 # COUGH
1. Honey is a natural expectorant. Mix 2 tsp of honey in a cup of hot water and sip it slowly. You can also add juice of half a fresh lemon to it. A glass of warm water with juice of fresh lemon and a teaspoon of honey is very good for cough.
2. Mix equal quantities (around 1 tsp) of honey and ginger juice and have it. It is a good expectorant and alleviates symptoms of cough and sore throat.
3. Herbal tea soothes and helps treat chest congestion and cough.
4. Chew cumin seeds with a sugar candy (kalkandu).
5. Cinnamon tea – Bring 1 cup of water to boil, add 2 inch Ceylon cinnamon stick and boil on low heat. Filter it and use that cinnamon water to steep your favorite herbal tea or green tea.
6. Cinnamon Milk – Before going to bed, have a cup of hot milk mixed with 1/4 tsp of Ceylon cinnamon powder and a tsp of honey.
7. Dry cough – Mix 1 tsp of onion juice with 1 tsp of honey and have it to control cough.
17 # INSECT BITE AND STINGS (FIRST AID)
Rubbing a sliced onion can minimize infection and swelling. Remove the sting carefully, if any and seek medical help immediately.
Ice packs or cold compress helps. Do not keep ice directly on the skin. Use a towel to wrap the ice and then place it on the affected area for a few minutes. Seek medical help immediately.
18 # SOOTHE FOOT PAIN
Soak feet in warm salted water for 10 minutes.
19 # BAD BREATH
Chew one clove after meals.
Get rid of raw onion and garlic smell from the mouth – Chew a small bit on ginger (washed and skin peeled) with a little jaggery.
Bad breath due to bleeding gums – Gargle with warm water mixed with 1/4 tsp of salt.
Chew fresh organic coriander leaves to get rid of bad breath. It also helps in case of gum swelling temporarily.
20 # BEAUTY REMEDIES
For home remedies/grandma’s remedies related to beauty like hair fall, dandruff, dry skin, body odour etc, refer my Health Beauty Tips
NOTE
All Herbal teas using spices should be prepared on low or medium low heat to get maximum benefits.
Why should you use Ceylon Cinnamon ? Unlike ordinary Cassia Cinnamon you find in the stores, Ceylon Cinnamon has low Coumarin levels, so it won’t damage your liver, especially if you are a regular Cinnamon tea drinker. Besides Ceylon Cinnamon is mild, yet slightly sweeter. It’s not spicy like store bought Cassia Cinnamon, but has hints of cloves and citrus with a wonderful subtle aroma –Source. According to WHfoods Ceylon cinnamon has been shown to contain far lower amounts of a naturally occurring substance called coumarin, which can pose toxicity risks if consumed in an excessive amount. Some studies have found one teaspoon of cassia-type cinnamon to contain between 5-12 milligrams of coumarin.
DISCLAIMER
These remedies are provided for informational purposes only and not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease nor a substitute for medical treatment. Kindly seek professional help if symptom persist or if pain is severe. The statements made here have not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration.
Excellent work. Good information to everyone
Awesome mam .Wonderful compilation… Doing a great job.l.. Very useful tips with handy items… May God bless you..
Awesome..Grt work,keep up the good work padhu 🙂
Excellent and very useful compilation of home remedies. Keep up the good work
Excellent compilation of home remedies. Keep up the good work
Very useful and easy remedies…
Wonderful and useful tips .Bless you for all your good work,including the tasty recipes.
Loved your home remedies which are easy to prepare.
Excellent Padhu…Will keep this handy..Thank you so much
nice padhu ..aweosme tips
Very useful article padhu. ..hats off to your effort in compiling this…will bookmark for all my future references…keep up the great job..
Madam fennal seeds and perum seeragam and sombu is same right?
Yes, fennel, perum seeragam, sombu are all the same.
Great effort.. Thanks.. It could be useful if you post same kind of recipes for infants and kids..
Superb very useful tips,
Excellent padhu sankar. Send some home remedies for cholesterol & B.P
u r simply superb..
Thanks..
Awesome compilation! You are truly awesome 😉
Fennel is perumseerakam aka sombhu and cumin is seerakam.. isn't it?
I could see caraway is different from Fennel. You have mentioned caraway as perumserakam.
Please clarify.
Thanks a lot for pointing out the mistake.The correct Tamil word for caraway seeds is "Shimai shombu" according to Spice Board India.
Reference – http://www.indianspices.com/html/s0625caraway.htm
Very useful .. thank u 🙂
Great effort.. Great collections…It reminds me of my Mum who used to make use of some of these tips… Thanks.
Excellent work mam
Mam,
I ve hair fall issues…. after seeing ur home remedy tips i was about to open the beauty tips page …. bt ur Natural Beauty Tips page leaves a msg as Forbidden….is there any other way I can find it…. plz help me mam…. would b happy on seeing ur reply…
There was a problem. Now it works. Sorry for the inconvenience caused. Glad you liked the grandma's remedies. Thank you
THQ mam:) i ve a doubt…. wat does COLD PRESS COCONUT OIL mean?…. wanna give this oil a try…. as the place i stay has hard water ,my hair sheds so badly…. waiting for ur reply mam…..
And mam i ve wheezing prob….. Ll this herbal oil induce it…. sorry for so many doubts…. THQ….
If you have wheezing, it is better to avoid it or consult your physician before doing anything. Cold press is in which the oil from the coconut meat is mechanically pressed at temperatures not exceeding 120 degrees F. Pure cold-pressed virgin coconut oil is not refined or processed.
Oh THQ mam:)
Useful information..thanks a lot
Very very useful dear..thanks a lot…
Please do also advice foods to be avoided during pregnency..
Very informative and helpful! Thank you.
Dear padhu
Thanks a lot for the useful information..
Could you please tell me how do we call 'chitharathae' in English and Hindi.. Since I live in UAE, I couldn't query out in herbal stores without knowing it's English name/Hindi name..
I came to know from my mother that, for cough/cold it gives a complete relief if we boil an inch piece of chitharathae(called in Tamil) in a litre of water and drink that water in place of regular water…
This water can be consumed on a regular basis also..
Regards
Chitharathai(Tamil) is known as alpinia galangal/Lesser Galangal in English
Hi Padhu mam,
I keep following your blog and your recipes are too simple and healthy. Just came across this home remedies and liked them a lot. I will keep them in handy. I am looking for remedies related to irregular menstrual cycle. Can you please suggest any, if you know?
I am looking for remedies related to irregular menstrual cycle. Can you please suggest any, if you know?
Can you give me the legiyam recipe for new mothers
Hi padhu,
I live abroad am following all your recipes, ailments, herbal oil… everything is great and very beneficial…thanks ….pls give some tips for regular menstrual cycle…. really your work is awesome