Dear Reader,
In my days, all of us lived together - father, mother, sons, daughters, daughters-in-law, son-in-law, grandchildren. We were one big family, in one big house. Naturally, with so many of us around, there wasn't a day when someone wasn't feeling too well.
Little, irritating things - colds, stomachaches, headaches, wasp bites - oh, so many small ailments.
Of course, being the grand old matriarch of the house, I was the natural choice to play Florence Nightingale - spreading balm and calm, taking care of old and young alike.
Over the years, I compiled quite a few tried and tested home remedies. Some of which sound like old wives' tales and nothing more.
Well, they may not be scientifically proven, but one thing I can tell you is that, as far as I know, they work!
Now, isn't that what really matters?
PS: -This collection of home remedies is mainly cardamom based. I've quite a few more, using other spices like pepper, ginger etc., which also work wonders.
Take a few pods of cardamom and crush it whole - husk and seed. And water and jaggery to make a decoction. One ounce of this decoction taken three times a day can stop giddiness.
Ingredients: - Seeds of cardamom Kernels of muskmelon - 1 Part. Melon Seeds - 2 Parts.
Grind together finely to make about 3 Gms of power. Give orally with water to ease pressure on bladder and stimulate flow of urine.
Take cardamom seeds and the root of long pepper. Grind together to make a fine powder and mix well with ghee. This mixture, taken orally, is sure to bring relief in most cases of stomachache.
Make a decoction out of the root and leaves of Ela (cardamom plant) with boiling water. Cool it down to drinkable temperature before administering it orally.
There are two effective methods. Burn whole cardamom seeds and
power Mix this with honey and take orally.
Or, crush half to one gram of cardamom seeds and mix well in one
glass of tender coconut water, and take orally.
Power cardamom seeds with a little ginger, clove and caraway. Mix this powder with honey and administer orally. (Children love this mixture and it does wonder to their appetite).
Powder cardamom seeds. Take a bit of cinnamon. Boil both species in water. And salt when water comes to the boil. Filter this well, and use it for gargling. Brings instant relief to sore throat and prevents further infection.
For the past 65 years I've been eating cardamom mixed with honey at least once daily. They say it improves eyesight, strengthens the nervous system and keeps one healthy. I'm eighty now, read without glasses, walk without a stick and am disgustingly healthy. - Smt. Dudala Kanakadurgamba. (Expired on 24th September 2000 at around 08-30 AM, in Her Own House, at Seethamma Dhara, Visakhapatnam).
Like all those other home remedies I think this one also works.