10 Natural Remedies for Common Ailments

When you’re feeling under the weather, what do you usually reach for? A soothing herbal tea or prescription medicine?

If you grew up in an Indian household, chances are you’ve tried some home remedies handed down by your family. India’s tradition of natural medicine has been around for nearly 3,000 years!

Today, many of the plants and herbs used in these traditional remedies have had their healing properties confirmed by science. So, not only do these old-school remedies carry historical wisdom, but they’re also backed by modern research.

1. For excess body heat

When your body gets too hot, it can lead to problems like trouble sleeping, digestive issues, and even ulcers. According to ancient Ayurvedic texts, Indian gooseberry (or amla) has cooling properties that can help with this. Here’s a simple remedy to try:

Mix 25 grams of Indian gooseberry powder with 200 ml of water. Boil it on low heat, stirring constantly, until it reduces to about 50 ml. Strain the mixture and let it cool. Then, stir in 5 grams of jaggery powder. Drink 20 ml of this mixture before a meal, once or twice a day, for the best results.

2. For flatulence

Sometimes, our diet or underlying health issues can lead to indigestion, gas, and burping. Cumin (jeera), fennel (saunf), and carom (ajwain) seeds are great for easing these problems. They help boost digestive enzymes like amylase (for carbs), lipase (for fats), and protease (for proteins), which can help reduce gas and bloating.

To use these seeds, mix equal parts of roasted cumin, fennel, and carom seeds. After each meal, take about one teaspoon of this mixture with half a cup of warm water.

3. For stomach ache

Stomach aches can come from various issues like acidity, indigestion, constipation, poor eating habits, or liver problems. Asafoetida (hing) is great because it not only boosts digestive enzymes but also has a soothing effect that can help relieve stomach pain.

Just mix a third of a teaspoon of cumin powder with a pinch of asafoetida and a pinch of rock salt. Chew it well and then drink some warm water.

4. For nausea

Nausea and vomiting can be caused by things like acidity, motion sickness, pregnancy, or food poisoning, and too much vomiting can lead to dehydration. Cardamom (elaichi) is great for easing nausea because it has soothing, anti-inflammatory, and digestive properties.

You can chew on 1 or 2 cardamom pods to help with nausea. Another option is to mix half a teaspoon of honey and 2 pinches of cardamom powder into half a cup of plain yogurt.

5. For healthy teeth

If you don’t take care of your teeth, you might end up with damaged teeth and bad breath. While brushing regularly is important, using sesame oil can also help keep your teeth healthier. Sesame oil has strong antibacterial properties that can reduce plaque and help you maintain a bright smile.

Just take a tablespoon of sesame oil and swish it around your gums for 15–20 minutes. Make sure not to swallow it. After you spit it out, gently massage your gums with your finger. This simple routine can help prevent tooth infections, cavities, and bad breath, while also reducing gum inflammation.

6. For common cold

Cold weather and pollution can often lead to a stuffy nose and other breathing problems. Ginger is great for easing these issues because it helps relax your respiratory muscles and clears mucus from your airways. Plus, recent studies show that ginger and black pepper can boost your body’s resistance to infections.

For relief from a cold and to make breathing easier, try adding jaggery and black pepper to your ginger tea. Even if you’re not dealing with respiratory problems right now, drinking this tea can help strengthen your immune system against illnesses caused by pollution and seasonal bugs.

7. For-persistent dry/wet cough

Ginger is packed with natural compounds like pyrogallol, p-Hydroxybenzoic acid, and gallic acid that have anti-inflammatory effects. This makes ginger a great antioxidant, helping protect your tissues from damage caused by free radicals.

For relief from a chronic cough, mix 5 ml of fresh ginger juice with jaggery and drink it two to three times a day.

Honey is another excellent remedy for a cough because it has antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. To make a soothing herbal tea, mix ginger, cinnamon, and lemongrass in a 1:1:2 ratio. Soak a teaspoon of this blend in a cup of hot water for about 10 minutes, then strain it. Stir in a teaspoon of honey and drink up. This tea can also help clear up nasal congestion.

8. For sinusitis

Sinuses are small spaces between your eyes, nose, and forehead. When these spaces become inflamed, it’s called sinusitis. This can be quite painful and might give you symptoms like headaches, a runny nose, pain around your eyes, and swelling. Ginger can help with sinusitis because it has pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory properties.

To ease sinusitis symptoms, mix fresh ginger juice with jaggery and strain it through a cloth. Then, apply this mixture to your nostrils if you’re dealing with a sinus headache.

Also Read: Stress Management Tips for Better Mental Health

9. For joint pain

Joint pain can come from many things like aging, your lifestyle, or not getting enough nutrients. Minerals like calcium, magnesium, and potassium, found in both jaggery and milk, are great for your bones.

Try drinking a glass of milk with jaggery every day. It can help strengthen your bones and ease joint pain.

10. For Dysmenorrhoea

Dysmenorrhea is the term for menstrual pain. To help with this, you might try a mix of black sesame seeds and jaggery. Black sesame seeds have plant-based compounds called phytoestrogens, which act like estrogen in your body and can help regulate your menstrual cycle.

Just mix 10 grams of black sesame seed powder with an equal amount of jaggery and take it twice a day—once in the morning and once in the evening.

While these traditional remedies have some scientific backing, make sure to see a healthcare professional if your pain is severe.