For Cough & sore throat
Tulsi–ginger decoction
- 1Simmer 8–10 tulsi leaves and a thumb of crushed ginger in 2 cups water.
- 2Reduce by half, strain, add ½ tsp honey once warm (not hot).
- 3Sip twice a day.
Grandmother's cabinet
Home remedies for everyday complaints
Simple, kitchen-first remedies from the home and Ayurvedic traditions. Use them alongside — not instead of — advice from your practitioner.
Not sure where to start?
Answer five short questions and we'll match safe, traditional options — and tell you when a remedy isn't the right answer.
42 remedies
Home remedy — kitchen traditionHome remedySafety level: Gentle household or food-level use
Ajwain & Fennel Water
Carom and fennel seeds steeped in warm water and sipped slowly.
- Occasional gas
- Mild bloating
- Occasional indigestion
Home remedy — kitchen traditionHome remedySafety level: Gentle household or food-level use
Ajwain & Jaggery Sip
Carom seeds boiled briefly with a little jaggery and sipped warm.
- Occasional indigestion
- Occasional gas
Ayurvedic traditionAyurvedic remedySafety level: Gentle household or food-level use
Almond & Milk Ubtan
A traditional paste of almond flour, turmeric and milk used as a gentle cleanser.
- Dull or uneven-looking skin
- Dry skin
Home remedy — kitchen traditionHome remedySafety level: Gentle household or food-level use
Aloe Vera & Honey Mask
Fresh aloe gel blended with honey and smoothed over the face.
- Dry skin
- Mild acne
Home remedy — kitchen traditionHome remedySafety level: Gentle household or food-level use
Aloe Vera & Tulsi Scalp Gel
Fresh aloe gel blended with crushed tulsi leaves and smoothed over the scalp.
- Itchy scalp
- Dry scalp
Home remedy — kitchen traditionAyurvedic traditionHome & Ayurvedic remedySafety level: Gentle household or food-level use
Amla & Ginger Shot
A small measure of fresh amla juice with a little ginger, taken in the morning.
- Seasonal resilience
- Low energy and fatigue
Home remedy — kitchen traditionHome remedySafety level: Use with caution
Apple Cider Vinegar Scalp Rinse
Well-diluted apple cider vinegar poured over the scalp as a final rinse.
- Dandruff
- Oily scalp
Ayurvedic traditionAyurvedic remedySafety level: Gentle household or food-level use
Brahmi Oil Scalp Massage
Warmed brahmi oil massaged slowly into the scalp and temples.
- Hair fall
- Tension headache
- Occasional sleep difficulty
Home remedy — kitchen traditionAyurvedic traditionHome & Ayurvedic remedySafety level: Gentle household or food-level use
CCF Tea
Equal parts cumin, coriander and fennel seeds simmered into a light daily tea.
- Mild bloating
- Sluggish digestion
- Occasional gas
Home remedy — kitchen traditionHome remedySafety level: Gentle household or food-level use
Coconut Oil Scalp Treatment
Warm coconut oil massaged into the scalp and left before washing.
- Dry scalp
- Dry hair
Home remedy — kitchen traditionHome remedySafety level: Gentle household or food-level use
Cool Mint & Coriander Leaf Infusion
Fresh mint and coriander leaves steeped and cooled into a light drink.
- Occasional nausea
- Occasional indigestion
Home remedy — kitchen traditionHome remedySafety level: Gentle household or food-level use
Cooling Fennel & Coriander Water
Fennel and coriander seeds steeped and cooled, sipped through the day.
- Acidity and heartburn
- Mild bloating
Home remedy — kitchen traditionHome remedySafety level: Gentle household or food-level use
Cumin Buttermilk
Thin, cool buttermilk seasoned with roasted cumin powder and a pinch of salt.
- Occasional indigestion
- Mild bloating
Ayurvedic traditionAyurvedic remedySafety level: Use with caution
Daily Chyawanprash
A teaspoon of the classical amla-based preparation taken in the morning.
- General nourishment
- Seasonal resilience
Home remedy — kitchen traditionHome remedySafety level: Gentle household or food-level use
Fennel Seed Tea
A warm infusion of lightly crushed fennel seeds, sipped after meals.
- Mild bloating
- Occasional indigestion
Home remedy — kitchen traditionHome remedySafety level: Use with caution
Fenugreek & Lemon Anti-Dandruff Mask
Fenugreek paste sharpened with a little lemon juice for a flaky scalp.
- Dandruff
- Itchy scalp
Home remedy — kitchen traditionHome remedySafety level: Gentle household or food-level use
Fenugreek Hair Strengthening Mask
Soaked fenugreek seeds ground to a paste and applied to the scalp and lengths.
- Hair fall
- Dry hair
Home remedy — kitchen traditionAyurvedic traditionHome & Ayurvedic remedySafety level: Use with caution
Fenugreek Seed Soak
Fenugreek seeds soaked overnight and taken with their water in the morning.
- Sluggish digestion
- General nourishment
Home remedy — kitchen traditionHome remedySafety level: Gentle household or food-level use
Fresh Ash Gourd Juice
Freshly pressed ash gourd juice taken on an empty stomach.
- Acidity and heartburn
- Seasonal resilience
Home remedy — kitchen traditionHome remedySafety level: Gentle household or food-level use
Gentle Cardamom Sip
One or two crushed cardamom pods steeped in warm water and sipped slowly.
- Occasional nausea
- Occasional indigestion
Home remedy — kitchen traditionHome remedySafety level: Gentle household or food-level use
Ginger & Honey Sip
Freshly grated ginger juice stirred into a spoon of honey.
- Cough
- Throat discomfort
Home remedy — kitchen traditionAyurvedic traditionHome & Ayurvedic remedySafety level: Gentle household or food-level use
Ginger-Tulsi Decoction
Fresh ginger and tulsi leaves simmered into a warm sipping decoction.
- Common cold
- Cough
Home remedy — kitchen traditionHome remedySafety level: Gentle household or food-level use
Ginger, Lemon & Honey Throat Sip
Warm water with ginger, a squeeze of lemon and honey stirred in once cooled.
- Throat discomfort
- Hoarse voice
Home remedy — kitchen traditionAyurvedic traditionHome & Ayurvedic remedySafety level: Gentle household or food-level use
Golden Milk
Warm milk simmered with turmeric and a pinch of black pepper, sipped in the evening.
- Seasonal resilience
- Occasional sleep difficulty
- Muscle soreness and cramps
Home remedy — kitchen traditionAyurvedic traditionHome & Ayurvedic remedySafety level: Use with caution
Golden Milk with Nutmeg
Evening turmeric milk with a small pinch of nutmeg and cardamom, taken before bed.
- Occasional sleep difficulty
- Seasonal resilience
Home remedy — kitchen traditionHome remedySafety level: Use with caution
Honey & Black Pepper
A pinch of freshly ground black pepper stirred into a teaspoon of honey.
- Cough
- Throat discomfort
Home remedy — kitchen traditionHome remedySafety level: Gentle household or food-level use
Jeera Water
Cumin seeds steeped or boiled in water and sipped warm or cool.
- Mild bloating
- Sluggish digestion
Home remedy — kitchen traditionAyurvedic traditionHome & Ayurvedic remedySafety level: Gentle household or food-level use
Multani Mitti Pack
Fuller's earth mixed with rose water into a light pack for oily skin.
- Oily skin
- Mild acne
Home remedy — kitchen traditionAyurvedic traditionHome & Ayurvedic remedySafety level: Use with caution
Neem & Curry Leaf Hair Oil
Coconut oil infused with neem and curry leaves, massaged into the scalp.
- Dandruff
- Hair fall
Home remedy — kitchen traditionAyurvedic traditionHome & Ayurvedic remedySafety level: Use with caution
Neem & Honey Face Pack
A mild face pack of neem powder or paste blended with raw honey.
- Mild acne
- Oily skin
Home remedy — kitchen traditionAyurvedic traditionHome & Ayurvedic remedySafety level: Use with caution
Neem & Turmeric Face Paste
A thin paste of neem and turmeric applied briefly to blemish-prone skin.
- Mild acne
- Itchy or red skin
Home remedy — kitchen traditionHome remedySafety level: Gentle household or food-level use
Overnight Soaked Raisins
A small handful of raisins soaked overnight in water and eaten in the morning.
- Occasional constipation
- General nourishment
Home remedy — kitchen traditionHome remedySafety level: Gentle household or food-level use
Plain Steam Inhalation
Simple steam from hot water, breathed to ease a stuffy nose.
- Nasal and sinus congestion
- Common cold
Home remedy — kitchen traditionHome remedySafety level: Gentle household or food-level use
Rose & Cucumber Cooling Splash
Chilled cucumber juice blended with rose water and patted onto warm, tired skin.
- Dull or uneven-looking skin
- Eye strain
Home remedy — kitchen traditionHome remedySafety level: Gentle household or food-level use
Rose Water Toner
Pure rose water patted onto clean skin as a light refresher.
- Dull or uneven-looking skin
- Oily skin
Home remedy — kitchen traditionAyurvedic traditionHome & Ayurvedic remedySafety level: Gentle household or food-level use
Sesame Oil Foot Massage
Warm sesame oil rubbed into the soles and ankles before sleep.
- Occasional sleep difficulty
- Dry skin
Ayurvedic traditionAyurvedic remedySafety level: Use with caution
Sesame Oil Pulling
A spoon of sesame oil swished around the mouth and then spat out.
- Oral and dental care
Home remedy — kitchen traditionHome remedySafety level: Use with caution
Steam Inhalation with Ajwain
Steam breathed from hot water in which carom seeds have been added.
- Nasal and sinus congestion
- Common cold
Home remedy — kitchen traditionAyurvedic traditionHome & Ayurvedic remedySafety level: Gentle household or food-level use
Turmeric & Ginger Decoction
Turmeric and fresh ginger simmered in water and sipped warm.
- Seasonal resilience
- Muscle soreness and cramps
- Joint stiffness and discomfort
Home remedy — kitchen traditionHome remedySafety level: Gentle household or food-level use
Warm Cumin & Cardamom Milk
Milk warmed with a pinch of cumin and cardamom, taken before bed.
- Occasional sleep difficulty
- Occasional indigestion
Home remedy — kitchen traditionHome remedySafety level: Gentle household or food-level use
Warm Salt-Water Gargle
Half a teaspoon of salt dissolved in warm water and gargled.
- Throat discomfort
- Hoarse voice
Ayurvedic traditionAyurvedic remedySafety level: Gentle household or food-level use
Warm Sesame Oil Self-Massage
A full-body self-massage with gently warmed sesame oil before bathing.
- Muscle soreness and cramps
- Dry skin
- Joint stiffness and discomfort
Everyday kitchen recipes
For Indigestion & bloating
CCF tea (cumin, coriander, fennel)
- 1½ tsp each of cumin, coriander and fennel seeds in 2 cups water.
- 2Simmer 5 minutes, strain, sip warm after meals.
For Restless sleep
Golden milk with nutmeg
- 1Warm 1 cup milk with ¼ tsp turmeric, a pinch of nutmeg and cardamom.
- 2Sweeten lightly with jaggery or honey.
- 3Drink 30 minutes before bed.
For Tension headache
Brahmi oil scalp massage
- 1Warm a tablespoon of brahmi or coconut oil.
- 2Massage into scalp and temples for 5 minutes.
- 3Rest in a dim room; wash out after an hour.
For Low immunity
Daily chyawanprash
- 11 tsp of chyawanprash on an empty stomach.
- 2Follow with warm water or milk.
- 3Especially helpful through seasonal changes.
For Dry skin
Almond–milk ubtan
- 1Mix 1 tbsp almond flour, ½ tsp turmeric, milk to a paste.
- 2Apply, leave 10 minutes, rinse with cool water.