Drinking water boiled with dry black pepper can cure common cold, and fever. Make a cup of coffee with basil leaf boiled water, pepper powder, coffee powder and jaggery. It will alleviate fever.
Cumin drink is quite popular in Kerala. It is a good thirst quencher. Regularly drinking cumin water is good for people with gastritis.
Wash fenugreek well and keep them dipped in drinking water. Strain water the following morning. Regular intake of fenugreek water is shown to have reduced diabetes. However this shouldn’t be treated as medicine.
This drink is flavoursome and is a good thirst quencher.
Roast and grind fenugreek seeds like coffee, and mix it with coriander powder and jaggery for taste. It is called ‘jaappi’ in some areas. It is good replacement for people who don’t drink coffee and tea.
Sarvasugandhi or all spice is a spice that has the flavours of clove, cinnamon. The water boiled with its leaves has the same flavour. This is a good thirst quencher. Moreover it energizes the body.
Process the nutmeg shell and remove the stain. They can be used to make squash and wine. Many production facilities for wine and squash now operate in many parts of Kerala.
Remove the stalk of 4-5 native hibiscus flowers- the 5 petal bright red variety-and drop them in a glass of boiled water. Allow the water to absorb the colour of the flower. Strain the water and add sugar or honey for taste and drink. The native hibiscus plant has a pigment called anthocyanin. This can be used as a thirst quencher. It also has medicinal properties.
The roots of this spice is aromatic and has medicinal values. This is a medicinal plant and belongs to grass family.
Wash the root thoroughly and cut them up into small pieces. Tie them up in cloth and keep the dipped in water. Drink the water once the medicinal properties of the roots have been absorbed. It keeps the body cool, and energised. It is also an excellent thirst quencher with the flavour of Vetiver.
Mix 2gms of roasted and ground carom in warm water. This is an excellent cure for influenza, stomach pain and various stomach ailments.
Drinking water boiled with curry leaves is a good cure for stomach pain and ailments. It removes up to an extent the effect of food poisoning.
Including medicinal plants and spices found in nature and even our households in our food will prevent diseases, and offer relief from diseases. They also increase immunity of the body.
