Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Kashayam/Home Remedy Drink For Cold,Cough & SoreThroat

           Kashayam/Home Remedy Drink For Cold,Cough & Sore Throat



Its th time of the year my daughter gets her regular bout of cold .I am a hesitant mom,to administrate antibiotics for cold unless its an ear/viral infection.First hand I would try home remedies and  most of the time I have seen results in a day or two with this simple today's recipe ,Kashayam.It can be prepared by just with few ingredients that are available in our pantry.The container which holds the kashayam in my picture is called "Paladai" in tamil.The highlight of the paladai is the narrow opening mouth which will not make the liquid in it to side flow ,it makes the liquid flow directly in to the throat .It is used for small babies to give milk or any form of liquid.I used it for my daughter to give this medicinal liquid during cold.It used to be a struggle initially and now the idea of Kashayam and taking it during cold has gotten in to my DD's system .Now if she sneezes or coughs she immediately asks for "Amma Kashayam".

Ingredients

1.Cinnamon Stick  1/2Inch
(Cinnamon is beleived to have cold controlling anti microbial properties and contains potential antioxidants.It also has medicianal value in cure of diabetics)

2.Black Pepper  1 TSp
Beleived to Cure Illness like Diarrehea,Indigestion,Fights against Cold causing bacterias

3.Ginger 1/2 Inch
Good for congestion and sore throat.

4.Cumin seeds/Jeera -1Tsp
Good For Indigestion/Cold Fighting effects.

5.Dania /Coriander seeds 1Tsp
 Helps releiving congestion,diarrehea,Indigestion

6.Ajwain/Omam /Nigella Sativa  1Tsp

7.Athimathuram/Liquorice is the root of Glycyrrhiza glabra  1/2 inch
 Helps relieving Sore Throat,Fights against cold causing bacterias.


8.Water 1cup

9.Honey - 1Tsp


10.Palm sugar Candy/Panagrkandu  1Tsp(optional)

Method

1.Pound all the dry ingredients in a Mortar and pestle  or run a rolling pin on the ingredients , on a clean countertop.




2.In a vessel add the water and let it boil,when it comes to a rolling boil,add the pounded mixture of ingredients and let it boil until the water reduces to half.

3.Now add the honey.The more you boil,the more you get the essence of the herbal spices.

4.You can see the results of releif from cold,sore throat and congestion in a day or two.

Declaration: I am not a doctor or physician.This is a recipe that works for my family for relieving cold symptoms.