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Tuesday, January 15, 2008

COMMON HERBS THAT ARE A MUST IN A JANAM / BAL GHUTTI / ORAI MARUNDHU

JANAM GHUTTI / ORAKYARA MARUNDHU /HOME REMEDIES (NAATU VAIDYAM / PAATI VAIDYAM & AYURVEDA)
Please read my earlier post on Janam ghutti / Orakyara marundhu by clicking on the link below.


In India all new born babies are given some herbs (These herbs refer to Naatu Vaidyam , Ayurveda or common herbs/spices easily found in the kitchen)
Most of these home remedies are safe and harmless but it's always best to consult your doctor if you are in doubt.

Common Herbs that "must" form a part of the JANAM GHUTTI (FOR BABIES /TODDLERS) are :-

CHEBULIC MYROBALAN (TERMINALIA CHEBULA) - also known as harda or pilehar in Hindi, kadukka in Malayalam, Kadukkai in Tamil, kadukar or karakaya in Telugu, harithaki, pathya, sudha or poothana in Sanskrit.
Terminalia-chebula-Haritaki
- It helps in improving appetite, preventing constipation.It is used as a precaution for common cold.



NUTMEG (JAIPHAL / JADIKKAI)
- It aids in digestions and improves appetite.
- It induces sleep


SUKKU (DRY GINGER)
- It prevents flatulence, bloating of stomach, indigestion and vomiting. Many infants suffer from    Gastric Pain (colic). A small dosage of Sukku will relieve the babies from pain.
- Pain in the chest due to Cough
-  It helps improve Apetite.

MASIKAI 
Gall -Oak or Nut-gall

- Solves gas problem and helps the baby get good sleep.


VASAMBU 
Acorus Calamus or Sweet Flag
Sanskrit- Vachha, Hindi -Vasaka


- It aids in digestion and prevents vomiting.
- It prevents all kinds of infections .It is also a natural insecticide, so place it near your baby to avoid insects.


ATHIMADHURAM (INDIAN LIQUORICE)
Latin name:Glycyrrhiza glabra, Telugu:Athimadhuramu, Hindi:Mulethi/Muleti
Sanskrit:Yashtimadhu,Yashtimadhuka


- It helps in  Cough, cold, congestion, thirst, sore-throat, throat irritation & body heat


THIPPILI
Piper longum
- It helps in Cough, Cold, Dry Cough, Gastric Problem, Tuberculosis, Aasthma


CHITHARATHAI
Alpinia officinarum . Also known as "Kulanjan" in Hindi.
This belongs to the ginger family and it is called "Lesser Galangal"

 

- Cough, Cold, Congestion in the Chest, Fever, Gastric & Wind. 




WHEN'S THE BEST TIME TO ADMINISTER THE GHUTTI

I used to give Janam ghutti to my babies immediately after they have their bath followed by some warm water.  If it’s very warm due to summers, you can use normal water at room temperature. Babies usually feel thirsty after a hot/warm bath. They happily take the ghutti and water followed by some breast milk and they have a peaceful post-bath sleep.

An Exception of Nutmeg: – An exception will be Nutmeg which can be given at night again if your baby does not have a proper sleep. Rub pure nutmeg on a stone with some water and give your baby a 1/4 tsp of the paste followed by some warm bottled milk /breast milk. Nutmeg has sedative properties and works as a natural sleep aid. Do this about half an hour before bed time. Nutmeg is totally harmless. Good sleep promotes healthy growth in babies. The night dose of Nutmeg is preferably given only if your baby has a disturbed sleep or doesn’t like to sleep at night.

How to give
Rub whole herbs/sticks on a stone with a little water and administer them.
Rub a little of all the above herbs. It will sum to a tablespoon of herbal paste. This can be given directly to the baby or you can add a bit of honey if the baby doesn’t like the taste.

*** With regards to honey, kindly consult your doctor before you give honey. Also if you are giving honey, please buy a good quality honey for your babies. Store it safely. One of the readers did warn me about botulism with regards to honey. 
Honey has been given to babies in my family since ages and it's tried and tested on my babies too...It's safe but every baby may have a different constitution, some may have a weak immune system....so, better consult your doctor, if your baby is below 1 year old. 


How to Store the herbs
Always buy your herbs fresh. But in case you can't source them in the place where you live then you store them in airtight glass jars or in airtight plastic bags.
Once in a way dry them in the sun and once they are back to room temperature, store them back.
In case there is no much sun in the place where you live either lightly dry roast it in a wok on a small flame or heat it in the microwave for a minute or 2 and once they are back to room temperature, store them back. Don't store them when they are hot as they will sweat and get fungus. Keep checking your herbs once in a way in case of storage so you can save them and have a longer shelf life. Herbs can last for a long time and can be used safely unless they get bugs in them.



DISCLAIMER : "HOME REMEDIES ARE JUST SUPPLEMENTARY APPROACHES. ALWAYS SEEK A QUALIFIED PHYSICIAN'S ADVICE FOR ANY ILLNESSES."

5 comments:

  1. Honey is a big no no for babies under 1 year coz of risk of botulism disease. Pls revise the post .

    ReplyDelete
  2. Sharing query & my response on email for everyone's benefit (with respect to confidentiality)

    On Wed, Jul 13, 2016 at 2:13 PM, Leena Tibdewal <@gmail.com> wrote:
    Mam first of all thanks fr ur reply last tym it helped me a lot. .n sorry to u...dat cudnt acknowledged u...

    Mam

    My sis in law son is 11.5 months old...n from last week he z so cranky in nite n nt sleeping from 3-6am n crying to its last breath..
    He have cold from last 2 days..

    Mam please give me some remedy dat he sleep properly...

    Thanking u in advance

    Leena Tibdewal



    My response

    Sukanya 12:17 PM (7 minutes ago)
    to Leena

    Dear Leena,
    Thank you for your understanding. Ask your sister in law to rub fresh nutmeg on a stone with little bit water and give the paste 1/2 tsp to her son. (The paste should be made just like how we make sandalwood paste) followed by warm milk. He will have a good sleep, he may be unable to sleep because of the blocked nose and crying because he is irritated.
    If no cold, You can give him a nicve warm bath at night followed by nutmeg and warm milk, he will sleep peacefully. Sleeping is very important for the baby and his mom.

    Hope these remedies help your sister's baby and he gets better soon.
    Hope your sister's baby gets well soon.
    God bless!!!
    Thanks and Regards
    Sukanya

    ReplyDelete
  3. Can Bal guti be given for a 4yr old

    ReplyDelete
  4. Can Bal guti be given for a 4yr old

    ReplyDelete
  5. Wht to gv babues with acidic reflux?

    ReplyDelete

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