Kai marundhu / Home Medicine
- Kaimarundhu (also called Patti Vaidhyam) is one of the old fashioned south indian Home medicine especially for babies and these medicines are trustworthy.
- In every south indian homes they usually have all the home medicinal value items like Beetal leaves, Tulsi, sukku (dry ginger), milagu (peppercorns), tippili (long pepper), panam kalkandu (palm sugar/ jaggery), omam (carom seeds), seeragam (cumin seeds), vellai poondu (garlic).
- We usually trust home medicines than English medicines, as these home medicines do not have side or adverse effects.
- We usually give this medicine when the baby is not feeling well due to flu / common cold / indigestion or any stomach upset or even whenever we give head bath to the baby.
- We will give this medicine once every 2 weeks mostly on Sunday morning. You can start giving this home medicine after your baby is 8 months old or so. It is advisable to start with 2.5 ml and later you can increase the level based on your baby’s height and weight; too much excess amount may cause loose motion.
Ingredient
- Fresh/dried Beetal leaves – 1 tblsp
- Fresh basil/tulsi – 1 tblsp (3-5 leaves)
- Garlic – 1 small pod
- Carom seeds/ omam – 1 tsp
- Pepper corns – 3 nos
- Panam kalkandu/palm sugar – 1 tsp
- Water – ½ cup
Procedure
- Step 1: In a small pestle/ammikal place all the ingredients, except panam kalkandu, and crush it lightly
- Step 2: In a medium sauce pan, add all the crushed ingredients along with half a cup of water, bring it to boil and add about a tsp of panam kalkandu. Let it simmer for about 8-10 mins or until the kashayam reduces well (to approx. 2-3 tblsp)
- Step 3: Now turn off the flame and filter the kashayam through cloth filter and feed to your baby when it becomes warm.
- * This is purely from my family custom passed on from my Grandmother – to my mother – to my sister and to me. You can consult with your elders and follow accordingly.
NOTE/TIP
- Just a custom passed on from my grandmom and my mom – it is usually advised to have the baby face east, when giving any home medicine; and when giving this medicine for the first time, choose a day during valar pirai (new moon) and feed your baby.
