This homemade kadha recipe is my ‘secret formula’ for strong immunity

If there’s one thing that we’ve been fed since childhood, it is that building immunity is the best defence mechanism against diseases! Your immune system needs to be strengthened over time; it (sadly) can’t happen in a day! 

I realised this first-hand after being diagnosed with chickenpox, in my adult years. Although I recovered from it, I would fall sick often. My visits to the doctor became directly proportional to the number of medicines I was ingesting.  Needless to say, my family was concerned about these frequent relapses.

Last winter, a chest infection drained me of all my energy. That’s when my dad revealed a secret – a family kadha recipe that was passed on to him by his mother. He was sure that it wouldn’t just help me battle this infection but will go a long way in boosting my immunity. And that’s what it did!

I consumed a cup of this herbal potion every day, and in no time, my chest was all clear and I didn’t fall sick all winter! Although I stopped consuming it after winter, I keep going back to it every time I fall sick.

Making this kadha is simple and will require only a few ingredients. Here’s all you need:

• Clove
• Black Pepper
• Black Cardamom
• Cinnamon
• Tulsi leaves
• Ginger
• Honey or jaggery

1. The preparation for this kadha begins a night before. Soak five tulsi leaves overnight in a few cups of water.
2. When you’re ready to make the kadha, take a saucepan and start adding clove, black pepper, black cardamom, ginger and tulsi along with the water it was soaked in. Now, add another cup of water to this mix.
3. Boil all these ingredients, until you have enough for one glass of water..
4. You can add honey or jaggery to sweeten the drink, before you start sipping on it.

A little more about the ingredients
Most Indian households swear by the trusted adrak or ginger for various ailments. There’s research that backs its goodness – according to a study published in the Journal of Nutrition & Intermediary Medicine, ginger has anti-inflammatory properties that can help to strengthen the immune system, when consumed regularly. 

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The two kitchen staples – black pepper and cardamom – are much more than their taste and flavour! Not many know that they boast immunity-boosting properties, so you know what to turn to when you fall sick. Research published on PubMed Central states, “Our findings strongly suggest that black pepper and cardamom exert immunomodulatory roles and antitumor activities, and hence they manifest themselves as natural agents that can promote the maintenance of a healthy immune system.”

Tulsi is another ingredient we’ve been familiar with since childhood. After all, a steaming hot cup of tulsi chai was all that we needed to drive away cold and flu! Multiple studies speak of its therapeutic benefits and how it boosts health. 

There are some other powerful ingredients like clove and cinnamon that not just add flavour to your meals, but also protect you against multiple diseases.

So, what are you waiting for? Get all these ingredients together and drink your way to good immunity!