Tackling acidity and gas trouble
Two types of tablets can be prepared according to Ayurveda for this malady.
» Equal amounts of long pepper, gall nut shells, dried ginger and garlic should be crushed with pomegranate extract. This substance has to be spread evenly and dried under the sun. After drying, powder it. Grind again along with crushed ginger extract. When the color turns black, roll into tablet shape and dry in the shade. Store for use when needed.
» Take cardamom seeds and cumin seeds in equal amounts, dry the mixture and powder. Store properly. When gas trouble occurs, mix this powder in tender coconut water or warm water and consume.
Combating cough
Take dried ginger, gall nut and long pepper in equal amounts, powder after drying. Dissolve a spoon of this powder in honey and consume three times a day to check cough.
Dried ginger-coffee powder
This can be prepared with 50 grams of dried ginger, 50 grams of cumin seeds, 25 grams of pepper, 15 grams of cardamom and 100 grams of basil leaves. Dry all these ingredients and turn into fine powder together. Take exactly half amount of coffee powder and mix both. When you feel like having a cup of coffee, take a spoonful of this powder and add to sweetened water which has been boiled. Mix well.
Medicine for cuts and wounds
Take leaves of madder plant, phyllanthus (keezharnelli), mukkutti and grind. Add to pure coconut oil and heat. This is a good remedy to heal cuts and wounds.
Pain balm
Crush equal amounts of Ruta (aratha), pepper and dried ginger and half amount of nux vomica bark. Make a concoction and heat it till the extract is reduced to one-fourth of its original volume. Heat this residue with pure mustard oil. Sift and separate the oil. Add this oil to 100 grams of camphor and 500 grams of bee wax and heat till it becomes balmy. This can be stored in small containers and used as a pain balm.
(The author is chief physician, Appavu Vaidyan Ayurvedic Medicals, Kottayam)
