Herbal Water.

Herbal water is a remedy using three most commonly used herbs in an Indian household.

Jeera/Cumin
Cumin is stomachic, diuretic(increase in urine production), carminative(gas-relieving and gastrointestinal tract cramp-relieving agent)., stimulant, astringent, emmenagogic and antispasmodic. It is valuable in dyspepsia, diarrhoea and hoarseness, and relieves flatulence and colic, Cumin stimulates the appetite.

Saunf/ Fennel
Saunf is a carminative, diuretic and mild stimulant. Fennel is also thought to possess diuretic choleretic (increase in production of bile), pain-reducing, fever-reducing, and anti-microbial actions. The seeds are used as a flavoring agent in many herbal medicines, and to help disperse flatulence. The seeds, and roots, also help to open obstructions of the liver, spleen & gall bladder, and to ease painful swellings, in addition to helping with yellow jaundice, the gout and occasional cramps.

Ajwain/Ommum
Ajwain seeds contain an essential oil which is about 50% thymol which is a strong germicide, anti-spasmodic and fungicide.
It is used in a steeped liquid form against diarrhea and flatulence. In India the seeds are used as a household remedy for indigestion and colic.

Uses of herbal water-
You can use herbal water when your child has:

• colic
• Indigestion
• Poor apetite
• Flatulence
• Diarrhea
• Worms
  

You can introduce your baby to herbal water when he/she is 6months old. This is when we begin to introduce semi-solids. Since prevention is always better than cure, you can avoid many of the above symptoms that are normally seen at this stage. Giving herbal water on a regular basis as your child grows will certainly reduce your trips to the doctor and dependency on pills.

Here’s how you prepare it-

Ingredients

5 glasses of water
1tsp jeera/ cumin seeds
1tsp of saunf/ fennel seeds
1tsp of ajwain/ ommum seeds

Preparation-

• Take a deep bottomed dish
• Pour in the water and add all the herbs.
• Boil this water down to 4 glasses. The seeds will settle at the bottom.
• Strain and give your child at least 3 times a day.
• Best taken slightly warm.

Tip:
An oft heard complain of parents is “my child does not drink sufficient water”. At times like these, prepare the herbal water using Fennel only. This gives a sweetish taste to the water along with the mentioned properties. The taste motivates the child to drink more. Try it out!