Kashaya ( for severe cold )

                        Here is a Kashaya for cold,cough,severe kapha and is  also very useful for body pain.This is a Sanjeevini type of Kashaya good for people of all ages  – be it elders or small children . The ingredients too all are very simple and will be found at all homes . So when someone in your family is showing signs of getting a cough or cold  or even having body ache  – you can quickly make this &  give relief  to them .  This recipe is courtesy my good friend – Padmini Kamath

Ingredients :- 

1. Shallots  – 3/4th  of a big one / half a onion
2. Garlic  pod  – 3/4th of a large one
3. Ginger  ( fresh ) – 1 inch piece( if using dry ginger – one small piece )
4. Tulsi leaves  – 7 to 8 nos
5. Pepper corns – 1 tsp
6. Jeera – 1 tsp
7. Coriander seeds  – 1 tsp
8. Turmeric powder – 1/2 tsp
9. Jaggery  – a lemon size
10. Water – 2 glasses

Method :-

• Peel the shallots/ onion  , garlic ,  ginger  and crush them  .( Slice d onion & crush )
• Similarly lightly powder the pepper , jeera & Coriander seeds .
• Crush slightly the tulsi leaves too.
• In a vessel  boil about 2 glasses of water . add  the shallots , ginger ,garlic & tulsi leaves  along with jaggery in it.
• When the water has changed colour – add the powdered ingredients  & turmeric .
• Let simmer for some time  until the kashayu has reduced  a little in quantity.
• Remove from flame , strain & consume when it is still hot .

Notes :-

1. You may use onion but shallots are preferable .
2. This works best when consumed hot ! so take care to have it as hot as possible .
3. Adding a little milk is  also good .
4. This is good for lactating mothers too as the baby too is prone to catch a cold if the mother has . By drinking this – the baby remains immune – as elders say – ‘ Dhoodh hun varta ‘!