Yes, the weather out there is frightful.  And you may not be feeling so delightful.  You’ve tried everything at your local drug store to cure the sniffles, but you’re still not feeling great?  With fears that the flu and H1N1 are spreading quickly, you need to take all the precautions you can.   Time to arm yourself with Grandma’s home remedies.  Some of these South Asian cures for the cold have been around for centuries and worked for the generations before us. 

CitySaheli has asked Nanis, Dadi Maas, and Amamas for their home remedies and here’s what we found to help our Sahelis  beat a cold.

Home Remedies for a Runny Nose

Before going to bed chew 7 peppercorns (sabot kali mirch) and 1 teaspoon sugar candy (mishri).

Tulsi tea – When making tea, add 2 cloves (laung), 1 green cardamom (chhoti elaichi), 1.2 teaspoon dried ginger powder (saunth) and 6 tulsi leaves, when boiling the water.

To get relief from a blocked nose, dip one of a piece of dry turmeric (sabot haldi) in sesame (til) oil and ignite it.  When it begins to emit smoke, carefully inhale the smoke slowly, but deeply through the nose.  Repeat several times.

For a stuffed nose, eat raw onions (kacche pyaaz) twice a day.

Home Remedies for a Sore Throat

Gargle 3 times a day with a glass of hot water to which 1 tsp of salt has been added.

Boil 1 glass of milk with ½ teaspoon tumeric powder (haldi) and give 2-3 boils.  Strain.  Add sugar to taste.  Drink at night for 2-3 days before going to bed. May sound gross, but its CitySaheli tested and approved.

Boil 2 teaspoons carom seeds (ajwain) and 2 ½ cups of water for 15 minutes.  Strain and add ½ teaspoon salt.  Gargle twice a day – early morning and bed time.

A solution of 2 teaspoons of glycerin and 1 teaspoon of borax powder (suhaaga) will give you quick relief from a sore throat.  Swirl this mixture in your mouth for a little while with a cotton swab and let it slide slowly.

For an effective home remedy for the sore throat, cough and cold, boil 1 cup of water with a few mint (pudina) until it is reduced to half the quantity.  Strain the boiled water and add 1 teaspoon honey to it.

Boil 1 glass of milk with a small pinch of ground turmeric (haldi), pepper (kali mirch), power and sugar candy (mishri).  Strain it and have it as hot as possible.  Relieves throat pain and lung congestion.