Cold & cough10 min
Warm Betel Leaf with Honey for a Chesty Cough
A plain betel leaf warmed on a tawa, its juice mixed with honey, taken for a day or two for a chesty cough in adults. No supari, lime or tobacco.
Why betel leaf is used this way
Plain betel (paan) leaf is warming and aromatic. Ayurveda used it warmed on the chest and with honey for cough, without supari, lime or tobacco.
Paan leaf is a traditional cough remedy in Bengal and South India. Warming the leaf softens it so its juice can be pressed out. Use only a plain leaf; additives in paan are harmful.
Ingredients
- 1 fresh betel leaf
- 1 tsp honey
How to prepare
- Warm the leaf on a dry tawa for a few seconds on each side.
- Crush and squeeze out the juice; mix with honey.
How to use
- Take the mixture slowly, once or twice a day, for one to two days.
Helpful habits
- Choose fresh, shiny, unblemished leaves.
Precautions
- See a doctor for breathlessness, chest pain or fever over three days.
- Never add supari, tobacco or gutka; they cause cancer.
- A home remedy, not a treatment. See a doctor if symptoms last more than a few days or get worse.
Frequently asked questions
Can I place the warm leaf on the chest?
- Yes, some families lay a warm leaf brushed with mustard oil on the chest; check it is not too hot.
Is it suitable for children?
- Ask a paediatrician first.
Is plain paan leaf safe?
- Plain leaf in small amounts is a traditional food; it is the additives that harm.
