In todays time and age medicines have become so common that the desi hikmat totka’s have totally taken a back seat .. but there was a time when people would hardly use medicines and would get treated or at least were able to control illness from getting worse …
What are some of the health totka’s that you are aware of or heard/seen elders do to control health via food …
Re: Food and health Totka's
The two highly regarded totka's in my family :
Turmeric ... its a natural antibiotic .. it was used heavily as a medicinal paste to clean and heal serious wounds ... in my home my mother often mixed quarter tsp of haldi in boiled milk , with a tsp of honey added in ... this cured our flu, fever and many other general illnesses ...
It still works brilliantly on us every winter season why try to have it at least once a week in general routine ...
since Diabetes runs in the family, my mother and father used to often juice up karela's and would have quarter cup juice of it twice a week ... mom even used to give us kinds some tsps of it ... its said that bitterguard juice is really good and helpful in containing diabetes.
Re: Food and health Totka's
I use the milk, haldi and honey recipe whenever we're down with a sore throat and it works great!
I also like using saunf [fennel], or saunf water for indigestion.
Ginger is great for inflammation, so ginger tea during colds, flu, sore throat, even body aches works great.
Re: Food and health Totka’s
**i used all kinds of Hakeemii adviyaat but when i grew up i really and honestly HATE this kinda treatment…especially, considering that i am a Plant Pathologist lolzzz 
i hate to such extent that i would rather die than do the elaborate Hakeemii adviyaat preparations. i hate their preparations.
i’m a diabetic patient and i’m always told to try desi ToTke like drinking Karela Juice etc. i simply HATE it!!!**
**
ek Hakeemii gaanaa suniye:**
Re: Food and health Totka's
I use the milk, haldi and honey recipe whenever we're down with a sore throat and it works great!
I also like using saunf [fennel], or saunf water for indigestion.
Ginger is great for inflammation, so ginger tea during colds, flu, sore throat, even body aches works great.
Nikki , how do you prepare the ginger tea? I have heard alot about this stuff ... havnt tried it but will do inshallah ..
Re: Food and health Totka's
Ajwain is another brilliant thing to control day to day acidity issues and indigestion ... specially when you are eating foods that can cause possible indigestion like for example gobi , some daals , its quite helpful to add a pinch of ajwain in the salan ...
Re: Food and health Totka's
the one thing that is your best bet against diabetes is eating responsibly and respecting your body. it is a lifestyle disease in most cases.
Re: Food and health Totka's
the one thing that is your best bet against diabetes is eating responsibly and respecting your body. it is a lifestyle disease in most cases.
yeah, i do keep it under control thru sensible eating, regular exercise including walking, and medication. :) alHamdolillah, it's FINE! :)
Re: Food and health Totka's
Recently I started using Flaxseed .. and I have seen immense benefit in it specially on the hormone balance front ... just add a heaped teaspoon full into your morning breakfast , you can add it in the egg and make an omelette ... or in the paratha ... or in the cereal ...
Its really good for those who experience stiff joints due to cold mausam ... and also helps with blood circulation in the body ...
Re: Food and health Totka's
any totka for throat inflammation due to some injury?
Re: Food and health Totka’s
i make the BEST adrak waali chai…i make it for the whole family at least 2-3 times a week during long N harsh Canadian winter 
**
it’s best made with guR [jaggery] NOT sugar served in kullhaR [clay cup]
here, Ex-Indian Railways Minister, Mr. Laaloo Prasad, is sipping adrak wali chai from the kullhaR…he was a great Railway Minister who re-introduced kullhaRs on Indian Railways which is cheap, hygienic and helps tea taste better with the fresh clay flavour
**
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Re: Food and health Totka's
We love desi totkay in my home:
For a cold, I mix 1/2 glass of water with a big of ginger, honey, salt and black pepper. Nuke it for about 30 seconds and it works amazingly well to calm a bad cough. It also helps if you add a bit of turmeric to it...tastes disgusting but works.
In cold weather, my mom makes methi ki khichri and we eat it for breakfast with butter. She says its good for a cold.
And let's not forget Joshanda! Although I do miss the older packets of herbs...the newer ones have the dissolving beads...kinda like instant coffee.
For asthma sufferers...my mom started to force me to stand over a tawa with dry turmeric burning on it and inhale the smoke. I was so impatient with it earlier this summer but later I was the one who asked her to please start it for me because it really works!
For an upset tummy, my grandmother would feed us baRi elaichi ke danay...or boil them and make us drink the water of it.
For ear infections and pain, I was given olive oil that had been infused with garlic.
For diarrhea...bananas.
For constipation my grandmother gave us something called isabghol ki boosi or something.
Re: Food and health Totka's
Isabghol ki bhoosi, or Psyillium husk, is great for settling you stomach. Its what a lot of fibre drinks are made of.
We use a lot of the totkay mentionted above:
I'm sure I'm missing a few - I'll post them when I remember.
Re: Food and health Totka’s
This is amazing information … mashallah … thanks so much for sharing Reha and Tiger 
I believe lemon is used excessively for times when one is feeling fatigued too often … to reduce the tiredness in the muscles , one is asked to either have 2-3 glasses of fresh squeezed lemonade or a mix or lemon and orange juice .. i have heard it really aids the muscles …
also honey is perfect for many things .. one of them being sleeplessness … just a few drops of it in hot boiling water and enjoy it like tea … In china it is considered a sleep inducing remedy …
Re: Food and health Totka's
This also reminds me .. Arabic herbs ..
Zaatar .. helps tremendously in day to day digestion issues .. and makes a brilliant breakfast as well.
Camomile tea also helps relax tensed muscles and helps people suffering from insomnia.
Re: Food and health Totka’s
We also have honey in warm milk before bed as a sleeping aid. Never tried it in boiling water.
Re: Food and health Totka's
This also reminds me .. Arabic herbs ..
Zaatar .. helps tremendously in day to day digestion issues .. and makes a brilliant breakfast as well.
Camomile tea also helps relax tensed muscles and helps people suffering from insomnia.
Zaatar - that's a herb right? When you say for breakfast what do you mean?
Re: Food and health Totka's
yeah thats a herb Tiger .. normally in Arab Shops you get Zaatar in a little pot ...
so mix a tsp of butter and tsp of zatar powder ... it already contains salt , but if you like to add more then feel free to add a bit ... now toast a slice of bread and add this on the toast , and enjoy with a glass of milk , the tastiest thing ever ...
Re: Food and health Totka's
CB, about Ginger tea
This is how I make it:
- In a sauce pan, boil some water
- Add Cinnemon
- Add ginger
- In a cup, add a spoon of honey
- Strain the water into the cup
Mix it well & drink it.
Re: Food and health Totka's
I saw the formula of home made mosquito repellent on TV .......Take 1 tbsp of lemon juice mix with 2-3 tbsp of water and apply on exposed body parts mosquitoes won't bite you :)
