Solanum Trilobatum commonly called "Thoothuvalai" in Tamil, "Purple fruited pea egg plant" in English is a very important herb in traditional home remedies and has amazing health benefits and medicinal uses. Almost everyone in Tamil Nadu would have heard or used it for treating cough and cold. Thoothuvalai is a creeper with plenty of thorns, purple flowers, red colored fruits and it grows easily every where. After the rains last month, many thoothuvalai plants have propped up all over the farm. My husband's grandmother who was an authority in traditional home remedies used to make a rasam (soup) out of it by grinding the leaves along with other ingredients, whenever a family member got a cold. But there is an even more simple and delicious way of consuming thoothuvalai. It is a decoction made out of boiling thoothuvalai, peppercorns, garlic pods and turmeric. This decoction is very effective for chest congestion, cough, blocked nose and even for people who suffer from sinus infection. When you are trying to pluck the leaves from the plant, be careful not to get hurt, as the whole plant including the leaves have thorns in them. To make the decoction, first remove the thorns completely from the leaves and wash them. Pound the pepper corns, garlic, cumin seeds in a mortar and pestle and then add the leaves and pound everything together well. Boil water in a pan along with little bit organic turmeric powder. Add the pounded mixture and boil till the leaves are cooked. Strain and your effective home remedy for cough and cold is ready! Usually we don't add salt and this decoction tastes really nice and is very comforting, especially when we have a cold or cough and gives very good relief.
METHOD:
1. Take the fresh leaves and remove the thorns completely using a kitchen knife and wash them thoroughly.
2. Pound the peppercorns, cumin seeds and garlic in a mortar and pestle.
3. Add the washed leaves and pound everything together well.
4. Boil water in a pan along with a pinch of organic turmeric powder till the raw smell goes.
5. Add the pounded spices, close with a lid and let it boil till the leaves are cooked.
6. Strain and your homemade delicious, comforting homemade cough & cold medicine is ready.
NOTES:
- You can give this decoction to children too, but reduce the amount of pepper for them.
- Make and drink it fresh for best results.
- Try to use fresh leaves for making this medicine.
- Don't use more than a pod of garlic.
- This decoction also will also give good relief for stomach pain due to indigestion.
