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Haldi Doodh the Age Old Indian Cold Remedy
I made Haldi Doodh today as I have a very bad cold and my nose is blocked.
One cup of Turmeric Milk and a few fond memories of Amma I was good to sleep.
My mom doled out a teaspoon of turmeric and gave us hot sweetened milk to down the turmeric. I always coughed, thanks to the haldi powder, so I think the method of boiling the haldi/turmeric is better.
Every time the season changes we are sure to have a runny nose and cough. The runny nose turns into a cold in no time and you are all drained. Now, is the time when all the age-old home remedies for cold and cough come out and I play Doctor.
Home remedies are known as “Dadi ke Nukse” in Hindi. In an Indian joint family, these old ladies used to be an encyclopaedia of traditional medicine, not all of them were palatable but were effective. With the spoon sugar to blank out the taste and oodles of hugs and kisses and fake shouting at the mother, she was spot on in treating the sick grandchild. Right from babies to teenagers no one missed granny’s medicine.
Like I said I have a very bad cold, blocked nose and a hacking cough. Now, this is getting worse as I keep going to my flat as it is getting renovated. So that seals the fate of all the other medicines I want to write about. We are sticking to cough and cold.
The best part of most of the age-old cures is that they are tested and are effective. You can use these on your baby too, I have tried and they work.
These were everyday remedies I followed for my younger one Akanksha. For Apeksha the elder one coughed I ran to the doctors. By the time my second daughter was born my elder one was 7 and the paediatrician told me to treat Apeksha with the age-old treatment for cold.
Here are some of the remedies I have tried sometime or other.
- Teezan, a ragi flour porridge rich in calcium, iron and helps to raise the immunity in kids.
- One of my neighbours used to give her kid a bottle/feeder of rava/suji made in a fine liquid porridge. She used to swear by it.
- The one remedy we use even today on a regular basis is Honey Lemon Hot Water. In fact, this is what Apeksha is living n right now in Bangalore.
- When the child is very small say about 1- ½ to 2 years give them what in Marathi is called “Chatan” what you do is you burn 1-2 cloves till they can powder it with your fingers. Mix honey and let your child lick it. The runny and blocked nose will clear out.
- Whenever the younger one had a cold my maid used to cut onions rings and put them in a plate that had an edge. On this, she sprinkled a teaspoon or 2 of sugar this plate she kept inclined so that all the onion and sugar syrup ran down to the edge. The liquid she fed her in a small spoonfuls. 2-3 times.
- My maid did the impossible she had taught the girl to gargle so every day when she bathed the kiddo gargled this was at the age of about 1 year.
- If you get dry cough hold a clove in your mouth is a common remedy but try holding the skin of a pomegranate. I will definitely vouch for these remedies. I have tried both during my pregnancy.
- Another great pick me ups are Hot Chocolate Bombs Recipe, Spicy Hot Chocolate with Cinnamon. Try them.
- The other age-old method is, of course, today's turmeric milk hailed now in the West as the Golden Milk, Turmeric Latte.
- If you are suffering from upset tummy try this Home Remedy for Upset Stomach-Jeera Pani.
Haldi Doodh or Turmeric Milk is something that soothes you and you can sleep better.
To make this Haldi Milk you will need
To make this Haldi Milk you will need Haldi/turmeric: Use good turmeric powder good quality organic Haldi/turmeric is what I buy and store every year.
Milk: I use 6% fat milk, use your everyday milk.
Pepper: It is only recently I have heard that you should be using pepper with turmeric to make Turmeric Milk. Apparently the absorption is better if included in the milk.
Ginger: Since ginger has anti-inflammatory properties, helps in drying up the mucous.
Sweetener: You can use sugar, honey, the sugar candy called kallu Sakare/ Khadi Sakhar. I rather not use jaggery as jaggery will use the milk to split.
How to make Haldi Doodh
- If you are using honey add it to the cup.
- Mix the rest of the ingredients in a small pan and simmer for 10 minutes.
- Strain and serve.
Haldi Doodh
Make this effective Golden Milk at home the moment you feel the beginning of a cold. This is what we grew up on.
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Servings: 1 cup
Calories:
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Equipment
- Small pan
- Strainer
Ingredients
- 1 cup milk
- 1 teaspoon haldi/turmeric
- ½ teaspoon ginger grated, see notes 1
- 5-6 peppercorns ground
- Sugar candy small piece see notes 2
Instructions
- In a small but thick bottomed pan add the milk, turmeric, ginger, pepper and bring to boil.
- Simmer for about 5-10 minutes.
- Add the sugar candy and let it dissolve.
- Strain and serve.
Notes
1. Use ¼ teaspoon of ginger powder if you do not have ginger.
2. Use any other sweetener of your choice.
2. Use any other sweetener of your choice.
Other Home remedies like Golden Milk you may like:
- Home remedy for Lowering Cholesterol
- Home Remedy for Upset Stomach
- Home Remedies for Cough and Cold Honey and Lemon
When to visit your doctor:
- Please call on your doctor if you find it difficult to breathe, coughing up blood,
- Have a fever, weakness, shivers.
- Your phlegm is green or yellow.
Pin for Later:
This week at the FoodieMondayBlogHop Narmadha themed us to use#225 Grandma Remedies.
Narmadha blogs at Nams Corner and she has some amazing recipes you need to try. Her latest
Eggless Sugar Cookies Recipe is what I am eying right now.
The Girl Next Door says
When I was growing up, haldi Doodh meant some turmeric powder mixed into a glass of hot milk. I love the idea of adding ginger and pepper to it. It must taste so beautiful!
ArchanaPotdar says
Thanks.
Mayuri Patel says
Archana you're so right each family has its own home remedy for so many illnesses. My mum would give us haldi doodh with salt in it claiming that it helps a chesty cough. I use to hate it. Nowadays is a common for us to sip on haldi doodh without salt every evening to feel warm and to ward off colds and coughs. I love the idea of adding grated ginger.
ArchanaPotdar says
I think I will continue doing this Mayuri. I love the warm feeling it gives me.
Sujata Roy says
Haldi dudh is a age old remedy. And you made it more healthy by adding pepper and ginger. Most useful recipe for this season.
ArchanaPotdar says
Thanks, Sujata.
Poonam Bachhav says
We are having haldi doodh daily post our accident and believe me it is so therauptic. It has helped us healed much faster and ensuring we get a good night sleep. We use fresh turmeric root though.
ArchanaPotdar says
The fresh root is great Poonam. I will try it too. Thanks.
Renu says
We take one in the night where we do a phodni with ghee and turmeric. It helps a. Lot. I remember me giving this to my dad and like a child he use to close his mouth. I would try your version soon
ArchanaPotdar says
I like your version too Renu. Will try it out.
NARMADHA says
We have so many variations of turmeric milk. Would love to try your version with ginger. Perfect remedy for cold and cough.
ArchanaPotdar says
Thanks, Narmadha.
Preethi Prasad says
Archana we make haldi doodh without ginger. Addition of ginger sounds interesting. Will try your version too.Loved the detailed remedies you have shared.
ArchanaPotdar says
Thanks, Preethi.
Lata Lala says
This is the best remedy when having cough and cold. My grandmother used to make this for all of us. Loved the idea of adding peppercorns to this.
ArchanaPotdar says
thanks.
Seema Sriram says
What a lovely collection of tested home recipes here Archana. I remember amma used to cajole me into this as i hated to have milk. Somehow I fell for this. Now this is comfort for us in this cold weather.
ArchanaPotdar says
😀
Pavani says
Sometimes all our bodies need is some effective home remedy and a hug 🙂 They are so much better than taking medicines. This humble turmeric milk is one such. Thanks for sharing your other tips. I remember my mom using quite of few of them while growing up.
ArchanaPotdar says
True, Pavani the hugs plays a more vital role.
Mayuri Patel says
I still have to come across an Indian household whether in India or abroad that doesn't use haldi doodh as a remedy for mostly all ailments. Growing up I use to hate it as my mum use to add salt so that it helps to loosen up the chesty cough. However, when my kids were growing up I would add honey to make it more palatable. Love your other remedies too. I definitely can vouch that clove helps to suppress a dry cough. I had to keep one in my mouth when I took a flight during the beginning stages of the cover pandemic, and I had a dry cough... so kept clove in my mouth throughout the flight and didn't even cough once!
ArchanaPotdar says
Thanks.
Vandana says
Haldi wala doodh- something that almost every Indian grew up drinking. A dadi ka nuskha that cures so many ailments. We still drink it every night before sleeping. Thanks for sharing it on your blog.
ArchanaPotdar says
Thanks.
Jayashree T.Rao says
I remember my childhood days, often used to drink this one. Healthy immune drink , good to take it regularly.
ArchanaPotdar says
Thanks.
Sandhya Ramakrishnan says
Haldi doodh is indeed a very soothing drink for cold and cough. I use this for my kids when they have a sore throat. I don't use ginger when I make mine. I will try adding it next time.
ArchanaPotdar says
Thnaks, Sandhya.
Padma Veeranki says
This is one of the healthiest drink ever , definitely better than taking any medicines ...Especially for cold and cough!! Thanks for sharing some very informative tips!!
ArchanaPotdar says
Thanks,Padma.
Sapna says
This is my favorite drink to make on those days when I have cold . Every family have their own home remedies and I guess this haldi doodh is the popular one.
ArchanaPotdar says
True Sapana.
Sasmita says
Haldi dudh I used to take when I was kid. You have made it more healthy by adding pepper and ginger into it. Surely it is an useful recipe for cold season.
ArchanaPotdar says
thanks
Jagruti's Cooking Odyssey says
In India, we have so many version of Haldi wall Doodh, the fact is that all works. Thanks for sharing your version of the haldi milk.
ArchanaPotdar says
Thanks
Priya Srinivasan says
Lovely post arch, those tips you have shared are so handy. We love haldi doodh, have conquered many colds while growing up with this golden latte, Sadly both my kids run a mile when i say milk, but i still enjoy this once in a while
ArchanaPotdar says
Thanks.