5 Traditional Remedies for When the Weather Changes (And You Catch That Seasonal Cold)

There's a particular kind of sickness that comes with the changing season not quite the flu, not quite a cold, just that heavy, blocked-up, tired feeling that hits when the weather shifts from hot to cool, or when the first monsoon showers catch you off guard. Every Indian household has its own version of what to make when this happens, usually passed down rather than looked up.

Long before symptoms had names, kitchens already had responses. Here are five, built around spices most homes already have.

A quick note: these are traditional home remedies passed down through generations not medical treatments. If symptoms are severe or don't improve, please see a doctor.

 1. Golden Milk (Turmeric Milk)

The most universal of all  warm milk with a pinch of turmeric, sometimes with a crack of black pepper to help it work better. Traditionally taken at night, largely because the warmth itself helps with a scratchy throat and restlessness, and turmeric has long been associated with soothing inflammation in Ayurvedic practice.

How to make it: Warm 1 cup milk, stir in ¼ tsp VARA turmeric and a pinch of black pepper. Sip slowly before bed.

2. Jeera-Ajwain Kadha

A stronger, more medicinal-tasting option for when congestion sets in. Cumin and ajwain (carom seeds) together are traditionally used for a heavy chest and blocked nose the warmth of both is meant to help clear things rather than mask them.

How to make it: Boil 1 tsp VARA cumin seeds and ½ tsp ajwain in 2 cups water for 10 minutes till reduced by half. Add a small piece of crushed ginger. Strain and sip warm.

3. Dhaniya-Tulsi Kadha

For a sore, scratchy throat specifically. Coriander seeds are cooling and gentle, which balances well against the sharper, more stimulating tulsi (holy basil)  a combination many households turn to right when a sore throat is starting, before it becomes a full cold.

How to make it: Boil 1 tsp whole coriander seeds with 5–6 tulsi leaves in 2 cups water for 8–10 minutes. Add honey once slightly cooled (not while boiling hot, as heat can affect honey's properties). Sip slowly.

 4. Masala Chai with Extra Ginger and Cumin

The everyday version  chai most households already make, but with a slight adjustment during sick season: a little extra grated ginger and a pinch of cumin powder stirred in. Warming, familiar, and easy to have multiple times a day without it feeling like "medicine."

How to make it: Make chai as usual, adding an extra ½ inch of crushed ginger and a pinch of VARA cumin powder to the boiling water before adding tea leaves.

 5. Turmeric-Pepper Steam Inhalation

Not a drink, but worth including for a blocked nose, a bowl of hot water with a pinch of turmeric and crushed pepper, inhaled under a towel for a few minutes, is a common household approach to clearing sinuses when breathing feels heavy.

How to make it: Add ¼ tsp turmeric and a few crushed peppercorns to a bowl of hot (not boiling) water. Lean over with a towel covering your head, breathe deeply for 5 minutes with eyes closed.

 Why These Specific Spices

Turmeric and black pepper bring warmth and are traditionally linked to easing inflammation. Cumin and ajwain are believed to help clear congestion. Coriander is gentle and cooling, useful when a throat is already irritated rather than just blocked. None of these are a substitute for medical care when something is serious  but for the ordinary, seasonal, "I just feel off" kind of sick, they're what most Indian homes have reached for long before pharmacies were the first stop.