Recipes for colds and sore throats

1. Dr. Jay's Gujarati cold remedy

1 teaspoon ajwain seeds
1 teaspoon cumin seeds or powder
1 teaspoon tumeric
1/8 teaspoon salt

Add to 2 cups of water and boil down to 1 cup. Drink 3 times per day. If there is a lot of congestion or weak digestion, add a few slices of fresh ginger root.

2. Throat irritation

Mix licorice powder and sitopladi powder in equal parts and combine with ghee to make a thick paste. Lick this off a spoon in small quantities three times per day. (To order: 1-800-261-SOMA -- Bazaar of India) Also, try chewing fennel seeds. Keep the seeds in your cheek and swallow their juice.

3. Ginger Tea -- for congestion associated with sluggish digestion

1 quart water
1/2-2 tsp. fresh ginger (less for sensitive stomachs). Or 1/2 tsp. ginger powder.
Boil for 5 minutes.
Keep hot in a thermos and sip throughout the day. Good for digesting ama, increasing the digestive fire, and reducing congestion.

4. Diet during a cold

In general, during a cold, follow a Kapha pacifying diet.
Take more hot liquids and less solid food. Avoid rice, yogurt, lassi and other dairy products.
Favor soups. Add more turmeric, black pepper and ginger root to the cooking.
Use honey as a sweetener.
If digestion is sluggish, don't take herbal remedies prescribed for other conditions.
Stay warm, avoid drafts and exercise.

5. Ginger Paste (for any cold -- also for sluggish digestion)

Grate 5 teaspoons fresh ginger root and fry it with a teaspoon of ghee. When brown, add some natural brown sugar such as jagari (from Indian grocery), Succanat or date sugar. Take it first thing in the morning with a little hot water for up to 8 days. Wait one hour before taking any food or water. If you are prescribed herbs first thing in the morning, take the herbs first and wait one hour before taking the ginger paste.

6. Turmeric/Ginger Tea for congestion

1/4 tsp. turmeric
1 tsp. fresh grated ginger root
4 cups water
Simmer to reduce to 3 cups
Let cool to lukewarm then add
1 tsp. honey.
Sip during the day, preferably warm.

7. Sitopladi -- for congestion

Mix sitopladi powder with honey to form a paste.
Lick off spoon 1 tsp. 3 times a day. (To order: 1-800-261-SOMA Bazaar of India)
Can be taken with ginger tea, Kapha tea (from MAPI - 800-255-8332) or warm water.

Turmeric, cumin, and fennel can be purchased at any grocery. Ajwain and sitopladi can be purchased at an Indian grocery or ordered from Bazaar of India: 800-261-SOMA

Licorice powder can be purchased at a health food store or ordered from Frontier Herbs: 319-227-7991.

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