Bitter makes Better

Indian households have been well influenced by the adages of the old and the instructions of the elderly in concocting home remedies for any illnesses they face. Due to the history of ayurveda in India and the easy availability of medicinal plants, there has been a tough competition that homeopathy puts up to allopathy.

Currently in the phenomena of the COVID-19 pandemic where millions are relying on medicinal and health supplements to create better immunity against a yet incurable contagion, home remedies and homeopathy supplements have proved beneficial for many as a cheaper and efficient alternative.

This post is fuelled by the personal experiences with bitter, homemade homeopathy and health supplements during my recovery period from the said virus in October 2020. Aside from practicing the safety elements during the home quarantine period, it was highly essential to regain my health and strength back during the recovery tenure. I recollect how my mother used to give me four liquid based supplements in the morning right after waking up. After freshening up, I consumed a glass of lukewarm to hot water, 1 glass of homemade kadha made of tulsi, cloves, nutmeg and ginger boiled in water, 1 glass of giloy juice and 1 cup of traditional south Indian kadha. Apart from the plain glass of water, the other three components were bitter to the core, as I realized later.

Fig 1: Homemade kadha, traditional south Indian kadha and giloy juice. Source - Self.

Before getting infected, I used to consume giloy juice on a somewhat daily basis. The pungent smell and bitter taste were certain factors that made me despise it completely but parental pressure and the added benefit the bitter stem juice would work for my immunity pushed me to consume it. During the quarantine period, I had briefly lost my sense of taste and smell. Call it the pros of being infected but that is what made me consume these acrid supplements without any rebut.

Fig 2: Dabur Chyawanprash and concentrated Tulsi juice. Source - Self

Aside from the above mentioned supplements, I consumed Dabur Chyawanprash, a black gooey mixture of many ayurvedic and traditional medicinal plants and herbs, on a daily basis. I have been addicted to it in a sense as my mother has made us consume this immunity and health booster since our childhood. The homemade kadha has been made and consumed in our family from eons as its recipe has proved efficient against the common cold and seasonal flu. Guess we can say it proves efficient as a substantial cure to the virus too! The traditional south Indian kadha is a ground, well blended powder of varied roots, herbs, medicinal spices boiled and reduced in water and served as a concoction. I consumed this along with the ginger and tulsi tea my mother prepared for me. Apart from these, mother also used to give me burnt whole lemon and instructed me to consume the baked flesh inside with black salt in order to provide vitamin C supplements as well as work as a catalyst to regain the lost sense of taste.

Upon observation, these homemade elements have proved helpful as I recovered completely in a span of ten days with the added bonus of regaining my sensorial aspects completely too, as many who've recovered still have not regained their sense of smell and taste after months. I did consume the allopathic tablets and supplements as advised but these home made remedies proved to be the base of my recovery too. Bitter sure has made me better as I still continue to consume the aforementioned supplements on a regular basis to keep a constant level of immunity against the various pathogens that wander in this environment.