September 16, 2020 • shrey jain

Kadha For Immunity: Good For Boosting Immunity This Monsoon

With the onset of the coronavirus, there has been a rise in the consumption of Ayurvedic remedies and herbal immunity boosters in India. Homemade kadhas with common kitchen spices and ingredients is a safe way to combat seasonal cases of flu and infections like cold and cough. With the change in weather, these warm kadhas may be a good option to build your body's defense by improving your immunity.

HOW TO MAKE KADHA:

For making this kadha, you need 5-6 Tulsi leaves, 1 Black or 2 green cardamom, ½ cup sliced raw turmeric, 1 tbsp cloves, 1 tbsp black peppercorns, 1 stick cinnamon, 5-6 tbsp sliced ginger and 1 tbsp munakka.

Wash, peel and coarsely pound the raw turmeric and ginger in a mortar and pestle. Then boil it in 4 cups of water until the color turns yellow and you start getting a whiff of ginger. This should take 5-6 minutes on medium heat. Then add the rest of the ingredients in the turmeric-ginger water and let it boil on simmer for at least 15-20 minutes. The water will reduce, so adjust the quantity according to how many cups you want to make. Put 1 tsp honey in a cup and strain the kadha. Sip when warm.

The Ayush Ministry of India recently suggested the consumption of kadha as a protective measure against coronavirus. But how exactly does it protect us? Kadha is a concoction made using wonderful herbs and spices such as Tulsi leaves, cinnamon, ginger, turmeric, giloy, liquorice root, black pepper etc., which are boiled in water until it releases its essence into it. The combined goodness of these herbs acts to strengthen the immune system and thus protect against many other infections including coronavirus. There are many kadha recipes that involve a different combination of herbs. However, it is important not to simply rely on kadha but also practice social distancing guidelines and wear a mask to protect from coronavirus.