Thoothuvalai Kashayam for cold and cough - Paati Vaithiyam
Most people may be aware of the herb thoothuvalai, but not many youngsters in city. Thoothuvalai is a herb found in southern India which have leaves with thorns and the plant flowers beautifully in purple. It is a creeper and is aneffective herb used in curing cold and cough. This herb can be used for children and adults. My mother used to remove the thorns from the leaves and saute it with some oil and eat it to cure cold. But for children and other fussy adults,thoothuvalai kashayam can be prepared and given.
Toothuvalai Kashyam
Thoothuvalai leaves - 10 leaves
Sukku (dry ginger) Powder - 1 teaspoon
Cumin Powder - 1 teaspoon
Coriander seed Powder - 1 teaspoon
Jaggery - 1 teaspoon
Water - 2 cups
- The leaves of thoothuvalai must be washed and the thorns must be removed.
- In a vessel, all the ingredients are added except jaggery and boiled until the content reduces to half.
- The vessel is removed from heat.
- When the kashayam is in tolerable heat, the jaggery is added to the kashayam.
- Filter the kashyam before consuming.
- This kashayam can be given to persons affected with cold or cough.
- For children under 12 years, 1 or 2 teaspoons of this kashyam can be given.
- For adults, 2 tablespoon of the kashayam are given.
- This is an excellent home made cough syrup. Do not refrigerate.
- This must be made fresh to have good medicinal values.
Thoothuvalai vadakkal
- About 10 leaves can be washed and thorns removed.
- In a pan, add a teaspoon of gingelly oil.
- Add mustard and ulundu(urad dhal) .
- Add a pinch of turmeric powder, add 2 dry red chillies or half a teaspoon of black pepper powder.
- Add the leaves and saute it for few minutes.
- Keep it in heat for minimum period to avoid loss of nutrients.
- Switch off the stove. Add required amount of salt.
- This can be mixed with white rice and consumed. This method of taking thoothuvali is also helps in relieving cold and cough.