To improve memory

In the old days, a mother would give her child five blanched almonds soaked overnight and crushed with a tsp sugar crystals and ½ tsp butter, 2-3 weeks before school examinations. It is supposed to improve one’s memory.

For prickly heat

Mix sesame seed oil, multani mitti and rosewater to a paste. Apply and leave for about half an hour. Pour the water into a bucket of hot water and bathe.

Turmeric powder (Harad / Haldar)

Turmeric powder has remarkable healing powers. If put on small cuts it helps to curb bleeding. One tsp of pure turmeric powder mixed with half a cup of milk and 1-2tsp large crystals of sugar, if drunk by any person suspected of having sustained internal injuries, will help to stop any hemorrhage that may have started. Nutritionally turmeric and curcumin are powerhouses of benefits see more curcumin at monicashealthmag.com.

Hot compress of ajwain – ajma no sek

This is excellent for colds and coughs.

Heat some ajwain (ajma) on a tava and put it into a piece of mulmul cloth or a large folded handkerchief. Apply it on the chest, temples, forehead and back for a few minutes, lightly pressing these areas. Then apply any balm or paste of nutmeg ( made by mixing powdered nutmeg with warm water).

Excellent face pack

Make a paste with 2 tbsp Fuller’s earth or kaolin powder, two drops of savlon antiseptic lotion, ¼ tsp lacto calamine, one tsp milk of magnesia, 3 drops of light cologne. Add 4tsp skin tonic and 2 tsp almond oil or fresh cream and rosewater. Apple onto a clean skin and allow it to dry. Wash off. The result is stunning even on a 72 year old!

Rock salt

Coarsely powdered rock salt, heated on a tava, wrapped in a cloth and applied to rheumatic joints helps to relieve rheumatic pains.

Hot compress of paan -paan no sek

If an infant develops colic, one should run castor oil on a paan leaf and heat it over an oil lamp. Then place it on the baby’s navel and tie it down with a bandage to keep it in place. It is a remarkable cure. Just make sure it is not too hot for the baby! We don’t want any accidents here, so be careful.

Sandalwood paste

Sandalwood rubbed on a clean dry stone or pure sandalwood powdered and made to a paste with rosewater when applied to pimples will help them to disappear.

Mango ginger – amba harad

This is a type of turmeric with has a flavor of raw mango. It makes a delicious pickle mixed with lime juice salt and slit green chilies.

When dried, it has excellent medicine value. If ground in water, heated and then applied on bruises, swellings, sprains or twisted ankle, it helps in faster healing.

Fresh Lime Water (Limboo pani)

Limboo pani drunk at the height of summer with a pinch of salt before going out will reduce exhaustion and help to prevent sunstroke.

To keep sun stroke at bay

Boil or dry roast on the fire two raw mangoes. Peel and extract the pulp. Sieve. Add chopped mint, sugar, and salt, roasted crushed cumin seeds to taste. Serve as chutney or as a drink by adding one tbsp to a glass of cold water. It is a very cooling drink.

Sago kanji- sabudana kanji

Soak the sabudana in water for fifteen minutes. Cook with water and sugar. Sprinkle with a little nutmeg and cardamom powder. This helps to soothe an upset stomach as well as bind it.

Kavo

Very useful in curing colds and coughs.  In one cup of water boil 3-4 cloves, a small piece of cinnamon, 4-5 black peppercorns, a blade of lemon grass, half tsp ajwain and a small piece of fresh ginger. Simmer and reduce to half. Strain and add half tsp honey with  a squeeze of lime and a dash of brandy. This should be sipped as hot as possible the last thing at night. It helps in relieving colds and coughs and gives a really good night’s sleep. One can have it two three times in the daytime as well. If you have it with an extra dash of brandy, it is great too.

Rice paste

This is very good for small burns. Apply a paste made with rice flour and cold water immediately to the burn.

Doodh soda

This is a refreshing light drink to give someone who has fever. It is not too heavy on the stomach and is very soothing. Mix half a cup of milk with half a cup of chilled soda water.

Add sugar to taste and a drop of vanilla.

Eye wash

Rinse out in running water one tsp whole harar, one tsp whole bhera and one tsp whole amla. Soak it overnight in one water. The next day strain and use it as an eye wash. It can bring down the number of your glasses

For broken bones and sprains

Cook 25gms of dried ama harad, 15 gms chotseji, 20 gms durd maida, 25 gms haad jor in 50 gms of mustard oil and store. When required heat and apply. Wrap with arand ka putta or cotton wool and a bandage . it helps in the healing process. All these ingredients are available at herbal medical shops.

For excellent complexion

For young children, apply fresh milk or cream on the face, leave till dry and wash off. During the bath rub her body with bread soaked in milk and then wash off with soap. If this is done till age of 6 or seven, they will have a beautiful complexion and skin.

Courtesy :  Diana Buhariwalla