If you ask any person in my village for a home remedy for sinus infection and headache, they will immediately answer “Nochi Steam”. Nochi plant is called “Nirgundi” in Hindi and it’s botanical name is Vitex Negundo. The leaves of this plant are very famous for it’s use in treating sinus infection and In my family, everyone uses this home remedy for sinus with good results. Even, one of my cousins who suffers from migraine finds good relief only, from using this nochi steam. This tree can be identified with it’s beautiful purple flowers which I was lucky enough to picture in my farm, as picturing the plants with the flowers makes identifying easier. Traditionally for making this steam, we heat 3 smooth stones called vengachangkal in the open fire till they are really hot. These stones retain the heat very well. We boil water in a huge vessel along with the nochi leaves, when it comes to full boil, it is switched off. The person is made to bend over the vessel and is usually covered over with a blanket to prevent the heat from going out and is made to inhale the steam. When the water loses it’s heat, one of the hot stone is dropped inside using a tong and the water comes to the boiling temperature again. Like this way, the person is made to steam and as far as I know, this is the best home remedy for sinus. You get immediate relief and the pain in the cheeks due to sinus and the headache also reduces immediately. Since many of you won’t be able to go through this elaborate process, I did it with a steamer. The steamer makes things easier, but the only thing I don’t like about my steamer, is it is made with plastic, but it does a good job. To steam, boil the water along with the nochi leaves in the steamer, once it comes to full boil, switch off and then steam. Please be very very careful when doing a steam with electric steamers, especially for children. A person should do this steam once everyday for three days continuously, for best results.
METHOD:
1. Collect fresh nochi leaves, the leaves have to be fresh.
2. Add water to the steamer.
3. Add the nochi leaves and make sure to insert it well.
4. Put the lid on and switch on the steamer. When it reaches a full boiling point, switch off and steam. When the water looses it’s heat, switch on again and then repeat the process.
NOTES:
- This can be used for young children too.
- Make sure to use only fresh nochi leaves.
- Be very careful when using the steam on the children, as they might accidentally touch the hot water.
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