Self-care, taking precautions, and monitoring during Covid-19 have become essential. We all need to take precautions such as wearing a good mask, maintaining social distancing, sanitization, and keeping our immunity level high. Immunity helps our body fight several diseases. You can attain a healthy immune system with a balanced diet, proper sleep, and exercise. Kadha or herbal teas have numerous benefits and can help us improve immunity. Based on the ingredients used in a kadha, the benefits vary. Let us find out all the benefits of kadha or herbal tea to protect ourselves from the coronavirus.
What Is Kadha?
Kadha or ‘Karha’ is an Ayurvedic drink. It is made with several herbs and spices. The mixture of herbs and spices is boiled usually in water to extract their benefits. Ancient Ayurveda has a lot of ingredients and herbal medicines to keep our body fit. Kadha or herbal tea is one such drink that has immense benefits. Kadha is a traditional and homemade drink. It has a natural aroma with numerous healing properties. Various medicinal ingredients used to make kadha impart a natural aroma and beautiful colour to the drink. Kadha is an age-old remedy to treat cough and cold and to boost up the immunity level. However, this natural drink came into the limelight due to the corona pandemic. Apart from boosting your immunity, the kadha has the properties to relax your body and maintain the average body temperature. Kadha or herbal tea also improves skin texture, strengthens the digestive system, and does much more. Kadha has zero side effects as it is made with 100% natural ingredients and herbs.
The Indian Ministry of Ayurveda, Yoga, and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy (AYUSH) has recommended the daily consumption of Kadha and herbal tea in this pandemic situation.
Ingredients Usually Used In Kadha
You can use a combination of any of these ingredients of kadha and make it at home easily. However, based on the result you want out of it, you can choose the kadha ingredients. There are pre-decided recipes as well which you can find below.
- Basil: Indian basil or commonly called Tulsi, has vitamin C and zinc in abundant quantities. Both these ingredients enhance the functioning and maintenance of the immune system. The plant has anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties that keep the body free from infections. Tulsi leaves can also be consumed raw every day to avoid cough and cold.
- Cinnamon: Dalchini, commonly known in Indian homes is a spice with immense benefits. It has immense antioxidant properties due to which helps to kill internal infection and boosts immunity. It also helps to reduce the risk of chronic diseases.
- Black pepper: This wonderful spice is bliss to keep the infection at bay. It is rich in vitamin C and naturally boosts immunity. It works as an antibiotic and relieves you from discomfort. It also reduces the risk of diseases such as arthritis, cancer, and diabetes.
- Cloves: Cloves not only enhance the taste of your food but also fight against infections. Cloves also improve digestion and are very effective against many harmful bacteria, fungus, and viruses. Cloves decrease the toxicity in the blood. It increases resistance against diseases by stimulating white blood cells.
- Turmeric: This is the most sought-after spice used in every Indian kitchen. It contains curcumin that has anti-inflammatory properties. It helps to reduce infection and inflammation and keeps you healthy. The Public Library of Science has researched and found that turmeric has excellent anti-inflammatory properties. It also increases the immunomodulation capacity of the body.
- Ginger: We all cherish ginger tea. It not only tastes excellent but is also filled with various nutrients. Drinking fresh ginger tea every day improves immunity.
- Honey or jaggery: Honey is a natural sweetener and has immense benefits. It is rich in vitamin B, vitamin C, and potassium that enhances immunity. Jaggery is rich in micronutrients essential to fight several diseases.
Lemongrass: This is full of antioxidants and treats cough and cold, fever and regulates blood pressure.
Kadha Benefits
Boosts the immune system:
Kadha or herbal tea is full of antioxidants and vitamins that enhance your immune system. Antioxidants reduce the chances of internal infection by destroying free radicals. With a better immune system, you will be able to fight the COVID-19 virus.
Detoxification
The antioxidant properties of herbal tea detox your body, especially to prevent COVID and eliminate wastes post-treatment. Turmeric, ginger, black pepper helps to cleanse the body and makes it healthy.
Fights against respiratory diseases
Herbal tea plays a vital role to get rid of cough and cold. Basil leaves and lemongrass works excellently to fight against any respiratory disease. It also gives relief from asthma. In this pandemic, having a strong respiratory system is mandatory.
Aids digestion
A cup of herbal tea after your meal will boost up metabolism. It also prevents indigestion, nausea, vomiting, etc.
Weight loss
Herbal tea is made with natural ingredients to help burn extra calories.
Anti-ageing properties
The antioxidants in herbal tea reverse the process of ageing. It also makes your skin and hair look healthy and glowing.
Reduce inflammation
Herbal tea made with ginger, turmeric, and eucalyptus mixture is excellent to reduce the inflammatory condition. Inflammation in the body increases rapidly when the COVID-19 virus attacks and your body fights it continuously. So, this increases the necessity of the kadha.
Lowers the blood pressure
Herbal teas such as hibiscus tea can easily reduce high blood pressure, bringing it under control. It has no side effects also. Blood pressure also increases in COVID, hence it is essential to keep it under control during treatment.
Herbal booster benefits
There are some fantastic benefits of herbal boosters.
- Anti-inflammatory power- The intake of immunity boosters reduces inflammation and prevents the production of inflammation-causing agents in the body.
- Depression treatment- The soothing herbs play a vital role to help you overcome stress, anxiety, and depression. It also boosts your mental health as herbal supplements boost the cognitive abilities of the brain.
- Skincare- Herbs have anti-inflammatory properties that help to prevent acne. It also reduces blemishes and keeps the skin healthy.
- Improves immunity- Herbal boosters are no doubt the best thing to strengthen your immune system. It also prepares the body to fight against cold, flu, and other problems.
You can buy immunity booster drinks from various e-commerce sites such as Amazon.in, Flipkart.in, Indiamart.in, Snapdeal.in and other sites. Some of the immunity drinks commonly consumed are:
- Tulsi Giloy Juice
- Amla Juice
- Giloy, Aloe Vera, Tulsi, Amla Juice
- Giloy, Neem, Tulsi juice
- Neem Juice
Homemade Ayurvedic Kadha For Immunity
Include this immunity booster kadha in your regular consumption and stay fit and healthy. The ongoing pandemic has made lives stressful and fearful. Stress and fear destructively affect the immune system. To stay fit and active, Ayurvedic kadha is bliss. You can prepare this at home at a meagre cost and quickly.
Ingredients
- One tablespoon fresh basil leaves
- One tablespoon cardamom powder
- One tablespoon cinnamon/whole
- ½ inch fresh ginger/dry ginger powder
- One tablespoon Fresh turmeric/turmeric powder
- One tablespoon peppercorns
- Some raisin
- 2-3 cups water
- Honey or jaggery (optional for taste purpose)
- Fresh lemon juice
Method To Prepare
- Take a clean pot and fill it up with filtered water.
- Crush fresh ginger and turmeric, and add to the water and start boiling.
- After a boil, add all the other spices.
- Boil this mixture for 15-20 minutes.
- Add a few raisins after some time.
- Boil this concoction until the mixture reduces to half.
- Add some honey or jaggery and some fresh lemon juice as per your taste.
- Your homemade kadha drink is now ready to be consumed while hot.
The benefits of this kadha for immunity are:
- Cinnamon in this kadha has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, while cardamom relieves you from sore throat and maintains body temperature.
- Cloves boost up the functioning of the immune system.
- Black peppercorns act as antioxidants. They help in combating respiratory conditions and rejuvenating the lungs.
Special Kadha Recipe for Corona
This homemade corona kadha recipe will help you fight the infection in your lungs due to the COVID-19 virus of any strain.
Ingredients
- 5-6 Tulsi leaves
- 1 Black or two green cardamoms
- ½ cup sliced raw turmeric
- One tablespoon cloves
- One tablespoon black peppercorns
- One stick cinnamon
- 5-6 tablespoon sliced ginger
- One tablespoon munakka
Method
- Coarsely grind the raw turmeric and ginger in a mortar and pestle.
- Add 4 cups of water and boil it for 5-6 minutes on medium heat until the colour turns yellow.
- Then add the rest of the ingredients in it and let it boil on low flame for at least 15-20 minutes.
- Put one tablespoon honey in a cup and strain the prepared kadha.
- Sip when warm.
Covid 19 has taught us many things. We have become more conscious and alert. The pandemic has also taught us a lesson on the importance of immunity and the need to increase our immunity level beforehand to become strong. This article aims to help you benefit from natural Ayurveda to keep your body firm without any side effects. Stay fit and healthy and help the people in need. Follow all COVID norms to avoid any problem.
