Last Updated on August 20, 2024
The piece shares the nostalgic and healthful tradition of making Tulsi Kashaya, a remedy passed down through generations. It talks about the many advantages of this ancient brew and how it is still used today to strengthen the immune system.
Since childhood, many of us have been familiar with the sacred Tulsi (Holy Basil) plants that surround our homes, revered in Indian culture as embodiments of the goddess. Not only is this plant the emblem of loyalty, but it is also the base for many home remedies, and is praised for its medicinal wonders.
The Tradition of Tulsi
We worship the Tulsi plant everyday and have a festival for it once a year in Karthika. Apart from these traditions, the Tulsi plant has long been our friend in fending off the usual illnesses. My first memories are of my grandmother and mother forcing me to drink hot water with Tulsi leaves and pepper in it to cure a cold and fever. This Tulsi Kashaya was a staple during the rainy season, believed to boost our immunity—a concept our elders referred to as “Shakti.
As children, my siblings, cousins, and I would drink this Tulsi Kashaya without understanding its full benefits. We simply followed our grandmother’s advice, enjoying its warm, slightly spicy flavor and the soothing relief it provided. The steam from the hot mixture would open up our noses, immediate relief from the cold and cough.
The Healing Power of Tulsi
And now that I am a mom myself I make this same Tulsi Kashaya for my kids, I make it the most when it’s raining. They have come to accept it as part of their routine, much like I did at their age. This drink is kind of hot, but good, has a unique flavor, a feeling of comfort as it runs down. The smell and heat of it are very soothing, it is always a good cure in my house.
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Scientific research has validated what our ancestors intuitively knew. Research from such places as the National Center for Biotechnology Information shows Tulsi’s antioxidant nature which supports everything from.
Preparing Tulsi Kashaya
Making Tulsi Kashaya is simple yet effective. Bring one liter of water to a boil with fresh Tulsi leaves, a couple of raw peppers, cumin seeds, and coriander seeds. Let it simmer until the water reduces to half a liter. After soaking the water with these ingredients, put the jaggery because it has lots of iron in it and it tastes sweet. Even my kids will sometimes ask for sugar but I know that jaggery is much better for you. This isn’t just medicine, it’s a ritual, a connection to our heritage, and the elixir is what it is.
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A Beautiful Circle of Tradition
My 13-year-old daughter recently caught a severe cold. Remembering the comfort from her childhood, she asked, “Amma, give me Tulsi Kashaya. This moment was a beautiful reminder of how time turns full circle. The same way I used to ask my mom for this remedy, my daughter does now for me. It is nice to know that she may one day make this same potion for her own children.
Though times change, some things remain constant. Those home remedies handed down from generation to generation are a mark of our continuous link with nature and tradition. After all, it is a time where unknown new viruses are constantly popping up, but it is also a time when ancient traditions like that of the Tulsi Kashaya still exist.
In doing so we keep these remedies alive so that our children, and their children will be blessed with the ancient knowledge of our forefathers. It is more than just the health benefits of making Tulsi Kashaya, it is about tradition, it is about strength, it is about that continuous thread that connects generation to generation.
(This article, written by former Diet Counselor, Homemaker and Mother of two, Madhura Menasi, fondly recalls her childhood memories of Tulsi Kashaya, a remedy taught by her grandmother and mother. She now carries on the treatment by giving the same mixture to her own kids.)
Pictures Credit: Madhura Menasi