Monsoon is all about chai and pakoras until you wake up with a sore throat and blocked nose. Like clockwork, this monsoon doesn’t just bring pretty skies but also rolls out the red carpet for colds, coughs, and everything in between. So, during this time, popping an antibiotic is not enough; you need to boost your immunity. And nothing’s better than age-old kadhas that do the job quite well. So, save these kadha recipes for cold, cough, and to boost your immunity.

How much and how often should you consume kadha?

This is very important to know before you start. It’s suggested not to have kadha more than 1-2 times a day. Even then, don’t consume more than 50 ml of it in a single serving. While kadha is an elixir when it comes to fighting seasonal cold and cough, consuming too much of it will make you sick.

Side effects of consuming too much kadha

Anything that’s not done in moderation will cost you in some way. The same is the case with kadha. Having too much of it can have these side effects:

• Nose bleeding
• Mouth ulcers
• Indigestion
• Acidity
• Problem in urinating

Kadha recipes for cold and cough

1. Giloy kadha recipe

Ingredients:

5 giloy sticks

2 giloy leaves

2 glasses of water

5 cloves

5 black peppercorns

Small piece of ginger

Method:

Cut the giloy sticks into small pieces. In a pan, pour two glasses of water and let it warm for a few seconds. Meanwhile, take ginger, black pepper, giloy sticks, and cloves, and crush them a little in a mortar and pestle. Then add all the ingredients, including giloy leaves, to the pan. Let it come to a boil. Filter the water using a cotton cloth or strainer and consume it.

2. Tulsi and ajwain kadha recipe

Ingredients:

5–6 fresh tulsi (holy basil) leaves

1 tsp turmeric powder (or a slice of raw turmeric)

1-inch ginger, grated

1 tbsp ajwain

4-5 black peppercorns

1 tsp honey (optional)

2 cups water

Method:

In a pan, boil all the ingredients (except honey) until the water has reduced to about 1 cup. Add honey once it’s slightly cooled. Sip warm. It’s brilliant for boosting respiratory health and calming inflammation.

3. Lemon and turmeric kadha recipe

Ingredients:

2 tsp turmeric powder

1 tbsp lemon juice

1 tbsp honey

4 cups of water

Method:

In a pan, take 4 cups of water and add turmeric. Let it boil until the water has reduced to 1 cup. Strain the concoction and add lemon juice and honey after it’s cooled a bit. Drink it warm.

4. Ginger and cinnamon kadha recipe

Ingredients:

1 cinnamon stick

10-12 cloves

1 tsp dry ginger powder

8-10 black peppercorns

5-6 green cardamom pods

Small garlic piece, crushed

2 tsp honey (optional)

1.5 cups water

Method:

In a saucepan, add water, cinnamon, cloves, dry ginger powder, black pepper, cardamom, and garlic. Let it boil for 5-7 minutes and then take it off the heat. Filter the solution and add honey for a sweet taste.

5. Kadha chai recipe

Ingredients:

2 tsp black tea leaves

2 cups water

1-2 bay leaves

1/2 tbsp carom seeds

2-3 cloves

1 tbsp ginger, grated

3-4 black peppercorns

1 inch turmeric root

1 tsp lemon juice

2-3 green cardamom pods

1 tbsp honey (optional)

Method:

In a pan, add water and heat it on high flame. When the water starts to boil, add all the ingredients except lemon juice and honey. Cover the pan with a lid for a minute, then take it off the stove. Don’t remove the lid immediately. After a couple of minutes, remove the lid and strain the tea and add lemon juice and honey.

6. Mint leaves kadha recipe

Ingredients:

10-12 neem leaves

5-6 mint leaves

1 inch raw turmeric

1 tsp cumin powder

2 tsp jaggery powder (optional)

2 cups of water

Method:

In a pan, add water, neem leaves, mint leaves, turmeric, and cumin powder. Let it cook for about 10 minutes on medium flame. Turn off the stove and let it cool down for a while. Strain it and add jaggery powder, and it’s ready to drink.

7. All spices kadha recipe

Ingredients:

1 tsp turmeric powder

4-5 green elaichi

1 tsp cinnamon powder

1 tsp ginger powder

4-5 black peppercorns

3-4 tulsi leaves

1 star anise

2 cloves

1 tsp lemon juice (optional)

Jaggery (optional)

Water

Method:

In a pan, add water and all the ingredients except jaggery and lemon juice. Let it simmer for about 15 minutes. Let it cool down a bit, and then add lemon juice and jaggery. Consume warm.

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