Want to explore Paris in winter but scared of winter infections? This post will give you practical tips on improving your immunity with Ayurveda and coping with the freezing winter in Paris.
Winter In Paris
Paris is a magical city, a dream destination for people visiting Europe. Be it summer or winter; it never skips a chance to attract tourists with its magnificence & charm. Maybe you won’t find more greenery and cherry blossom trees like in summer, but winter has a different appeal and mysticism for the visitors. With the onset of Christmas preparations, this city dwells in fairy lights, which seems mesmerizing. The city appears more peaceful without battling hoards of people. From visiting different “Marche de Noël” to warming up with “Chocolat Chaud” and getting glimpses of snow showers, all together make this city more alluring. It’s not an exaggeration to say winter is astonishingly magnificent in Paris.
With the onset of winter, the city demands to squeeze out all your Blankets, duvets, quilts, and warm clothes from the storage for that required warmth and coziness. During this period, spending time with family seems more splendid, especially with rounds of hot tea & coffee. But as we say, every beautiful experience demands a price. With all these captivating moments, winter also brings cold, cough, and illness carried by bacteria & viruses. We can witness that No one was left spared, from kids to adults; these seasonal infections and illnesses clinch us all. It lasts 1-3 days with symptoms like mild to high fever, cough, congested/running nose, headaches, body cramps, etc., differing from person to person.
Home remedies for seasonal ailment with Ayurveda
Apart from Modern medication like Allopathy, people also seek remedies for seasonal illness in Homeopathy, Unani, and Ayurveda. For centuries, Ayurveda has been used as the traditional way of healing diseases through nature and natural elements. We have grown up watching our mothers and grandmothers following ayurvedic treatment in all their home remedies for mild coughs and colds. And to our surprise, that works well every time. And in today’s post, we will see how to use Ayurvedic home remedies to combat winter illness. But we strongly advise that home remedies are to boost your immunity & only for milder symptoms. It is highly recommended to visit your nearest Physician in case of severe illness or symptoms.
Do you know that our kitchen cabinets are packed with numerous healthy & beneficial herbs & spices commonly used in home remedies? So, let’s find all Ayurveda treasures hiding in our kitchen closet to combat seasonal illnesses like coughs, colds, mild fever, and headaches.
Ayurveda treasure lying in our kitchen
- Honey
- Cloves
- Ginger
- Cinnamon
- Lemons
- Black pepper
- Basil leaves/Tulsi leaves
- Saffron
- Turmeric/Raw turmeric
- Nutmeg
- Garlic
- Mustard oil
Honey
Honey is a magical gift from nature as it possesses different anti-microbial, antibacterial and antioxidant properties. It has all superpowers, from healing wounds and suppressing cough & cold to aiding digestion and weight loss.
How to consume honey to ease your cough & cold
- For wet coughs, Mix 2 tsp honey with 1/4 tsp ginger juice and take it before bedtime. It relieves chest congestion by helping in dilating the mucus and coughing it out.
2. For a dry cough,1 tsp honey with a pinch of turmeric, pepper powder, and salt works best.
3. Warm water with a tsp of honey, sometimes with Lemon, too, can aid in getting relief from sore throat.
Cloves
Cloves contain anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. So instead of popping pills each time for a cough & cold, one can take cloves as It is available quickly and handy during a cough, cold & sinusitis.
How to take cloves
- One can chew 3-4 cloves and swallow the juice slowly for sore throat
- Suck cloves dipped in honey. It also works wonders for sore throat
- For congestion in the chest, clove tea is also beneficial. To prepare it, boil one glass of water with 4-5 cloves, 4-5 peppercorns, green tea, and cinnamon. Add a tsp of Honey to enhance the taste and add benefits.
Ginger
Ginger is a powerhouse edible root enriched with antibacterial, anti-viral, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties, and It also increases our body’s immunity. So, we can say that in case of cough & cold, it works like a miracle when consumed. And being a spicy, pungent herb, it also generates heat that our body requires at this juncture. So, boosting our immunity also keeps all those infections at bay.
How to take it
- Make ginger tea for sore throat. To make ginger tea boil 1 cup water with 1-inch grated ginger, & cloves. And consume it warm in sips.
- Ginger and lemon water- Boil 1 cup water with ginger slices and add 1 tsp lemon juice.
- Ginger & Honey- In 1 cup of warm water, add 1 tsp ginger juice and 1 tsp of honey.
Cinnamon
Cinnamon, a prominent spice used internationally, is harvested from tree bark. It holds a tremendous amount of essential oils. And is known for its multiple medicinal properties like controlling blood sugar, lowering cholesterol, protecting against heart diseases, and anti-clogging and anti-microbial properties. It is rich in antioxidants like “polyphenols” and “proanthocyanidins” that naturally boost our immunity. And also loaded with anti-viral, antibacterial, and anti-fungal properties. It is said that taking cinnamon stick-infused warm water, with a few drops of honey, twice a day will help clear sore throat and cold.
How to reap the benefits of cinnamon in winter
- It can be infused in water and taken as Kadas or cinnamon tea.
- One can also take the cinnamon powder with honey before bedtime to relieve sore throat and headache.
Lemon
Lemon, a citrus fruit rich in Vitamin C, can be easily traced in all kitchens. This whole fruit is used both for culinary and nonculinary purposes from its juice, pulp, rind, and zest; everything is considered beneficial for the human body, either consumed orally or applied externally in its oil form. And with its high vitamin C concentration, its boosts our immunity and fight against colds. It also helps maintain our body’s electrolyte balance, preventing dehydration from sweating, fever, or runny nose. So, drinking sips of warm lemon water is advisable to get relief in these conditions. Apart from winter illness, Lemon also improves insulin activity & prevents diabetes. And last but not least, for ladies, it helps your skin glow, so isn’t it a superfruit?
Black pepper
This pungent spice is used in many ayurvedic kadas that have antibacterial & anti-microbial properties, fight cold and cough, and revamp your immunity. It is also known to alleviate chest congestion and declogging of the nose.
How to take it
- Crush 5-6 black pepper mixed in 1 tsp of honey and take it for cough and congestion.
2. Make Kada by boiling 1 cup water with 6-8 black pepper, tulsi leaves, and ginger slices. Strain it. Add 1 tsp of honey and drink for sore throat.
Basil leaves
Basil leaves are full of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties, which makes them one of the most used ingredients in different ayurvedic treatments for health and skin.
How to take it
- Chew them directly on an empty stomach.
- Crush and consume it with 1 tsp of honey for cough and congestion in the chest.
- Make tulsi tea by boiling 1 cup water, 1 tsp tea, a few tulsi leaves, and grated ginger. Strain it and add 1 tsp honey; it will enhance the taste and help loosen the phlegm.
Saffron
Saffron, also known as Kesar, is one of the most expensive spices in the world. Apart from adding aroma and flavor to the food, it has many health benefits. Due to its warming effect on the body, it helps to endure the harsh winter weather in colder places like Paris. Moreover, it is also rich in carotenoids, believed to boost immunity and keep all illnesses at bay.
How to consume it
- The most authentic way is to put a few strands in 1 glass of milk and boil it.
- Make Kesar kahwa, a traditional Kesar tea from Kashmir. Kashmir is also known for harvesting about one-tenth of the world’s saffron consumption. Kesar kahwa is prepared by infusing water with saffron, cloves, cinnamon, tea, and cardamom. Sometimes milk is also added as per preferences.
Turmeric
Indians have a special connection with Haldi or turmeric. It brings a vibrant yellow tinge to our dal and curries and adds an extra flavor. In Ayurveda, turmeric is used because of its antioxidant, anti-viral, antibacterial, anti-fungal, anti-carcinogenic, and anti-inflammatory properties. Apart from being the star of our kitchen ingredients, it’s also a ready-to-go for most home remedies. From antiseptic and pain soother, it aids digestion and other stomach-related issues to curing coughs & colds.
Curcumin, an active ingredient found in turmeric, has been proven to have potent anti-inflammatory & antiseptic effects and is also a strong antioxidant. It helps reduce inflammation in the body caused due to excessive cough & cold and also helps in increasing the body’s immunity to fight against diseases.
How to use turmeric as a natural remedy for cough & cold
Drink a glass of turmeric milk, also known as a golden latte worldwide.
How to prepare Golden latte
In a pan, boil one glass of milk with 1/4 tsp of turmeric powder or 1/2 inch grated raw turmeric(raw turmeric has a high concentration of curcumin, so it works best in cough & cold), 1/2 inch grated ginger, 4-5 strands of saffron (optional) and pinch of black pepper. Boil and let it simmer on low flame for 1-2 minutes. Strain and add 1 tsp of honey. Your golden latte is ready.
Nutmeg
Nutmeg is found to have multiple health benefits, like pain reliever, pain soother, body detoxifier, reduces insomnia, boosts immunity, and improves blood circulation. It also has heat potency, generating warmth in the body and helping you get a good sleep.
How to take it in the winter season
- Grate a pinch of nutmeg and add to a glass of warm milk
- As per granny’s medication, it can be used for external use and help treat cough & cold. To make it, heat 1/2 cup oil and add 1/4 tsp of grated nutmeg. This lukewarm oil can be applied to the chest, feet, and neck. It helps in the congested chest and dilutes phlegm.
Garlic
Garlic is a staple ingredient in Indian cooking and has been used in meal preparations and as a medication for centuries. Research & studies have proved that Garlic has anti-microbial and anti-viral properties that aid in relieving the common cold & cough, among other beneficial effects. It is also beneficial in suppressing fever and relaxing body aches. And due to its warming properties, it helps your body warm up when you have chills. It also helps in relieving congestion, whether in the lungs or the sinuses.
How to get rid of cough & cold from Garlic
- Use in your meal preparation. For that, crush a few garlic pods and let it stand for at least 10 minutes. This will increase the potency of Garlic as the waiting period allows the enzyme “alliinase” to convert “alliin” into “allicin,” which is responsible for the aroma and activity of fresh Garlic. Then use it to prepare your food or desired remedy.
- Make garlic-infused oil for body massage. It will generate heat in the body and help you cope with chills, fever, and cough.
How to make Garlic- infused massage oil
In a pan, heat 1/2 cup mustard oil and add chopped Garlic. One can also add 1/4 tsp nutmeg powder to increase its efficiency. Let the garlic simmer for a few minutes till it turns brown and all its potency is infused well in the oil. Let it come to room temperature and strain it in a clean glass jar with a lid. Use this oil to massage the body, especially the chest, back, feet, and palms, at night.
Mustard Oil
Mustard Oil Holds a warming effect that can help clear chest and nasal congestion. This helps in relaxing the respiratory system and loosens the mucus. Mustard oil is very beneficial, especially during winter, due to its many benefits, which can help in soothing many cold-related illnesses and allergies.
How to use mustard oil in winter
1. Use garlic-infused mustard oil for massaging.
2. In boiling water, add a few drops of mustard oil and inhale the steam to get relief from nasal congestion
Here’s a list of the top Online Indian Stores in Paris
If you want to buy Indian spices, you can visit any of these Indian stores in Paris
- Eattravel Services available: Home Delivery
- Velan, located at 87 Pass. Brady, 75010 Paris. Services available: Pick up in-store only
- VT Cash & Carry is located at 11 – 13 Rue Cail, 75010, Paris. Services available: Pick up in-store & Home Delivery
- Annachi is located at 20 Boulevard de la Muette 95140 Garges Lès Gonesse. Services available: Pick up in-store & Home Delivery
- New Shamina Supermarket, located at 184 Rue Du Fbg St Denis, Gare du Nord/La Chapelle, 10ème, 75010 Paris 10 France
- SKR Exotique located at 44 Rue Pierre Brossolette, 92700 Colombes. Services available: Pick up in-store & Home Delivery
- Indian supermarket located at 184 Rue du Faubourg Saint-Denis, 75010 Paris. Services available: Pick up in-store only.
- The Grande Epicerie of Paris located at 38 Rue de Sevres, 75007 Paris. Services available: Pick up in-store & Home Delivery
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