There are so many countries, where summer season is so hot. So in this article, we’re discussing about Summer heat that can lead to excess skin irritation, acne, rashes, sweating, and even heat stroke. To keep the body cool during the summer months, ancient Indian medicine (Ayurveda) recommends to consume spices that promote cooling, while eating healthy diet, means healthy lifestyle is also important at the same time

Spices are one of the most potent plant foods in terms of antioxidants and bioactive compounds. Here are the top 10 cooling herbs and spices, which I found after a long search to include in your diet to feel fresh and comfortable in hot summer days.

Staying outside in the heat for a longer periods makes our body temperature to rise and causing us to sweat.

The increase in body heat, triggers Pitta Dosha in our bodies.

Whether our body composition is made of excess pitta or not, we need to pay attention and control the pitta in our body during hot summer months to avoid getting overheated!!

Body heat during hot days can be regulated by carefully choosing cooling foods for summer.

The list of cooling herbs and spices are what Ayurvedic studies recommends to include in our diet. These herbs and spices are explained in detail below:-

1. Fresh Mint

Mint is perennial herb and it is an excellent cooling spice to use in summer, but it can be used all year due to it’s so many health benefits. Picked fresh, mint makes an excellent heat-busting addition to a summer lemonade or fresh fruit salad. You can grow mint in the backyard garden and it is so easy to grow. You can use mint in Green Juices; such as Spinach Juice, Coriander Juice, Carrot Juice or any other Green Juice. You can Make Mint Chutney and use mint for making Missi Roti. You can use mint to sprinkle in Soups or Sugar Cane Juice also.

So this way we can take the benefit of this valuable mint herb to keep ourselves cool in really hot summer days. I will recommend to eat light and fresh healthy home cooked food in all seasons, especially in summer we should avoid Junk and fry food. Also avoid to have too much caffeine; such Coffee, Masala Chai and Energy Drinks.

How to Make Mint Tea?

1. In a saucepan pour one and half cup of water
2. Add fresh mint leaves
3. Add ginger after peeling or washing(chop it in small)
4. Add Saunf by crushing in the mortar
5. Let it boil for 5-7 minutes on medium flame and then switch off the stove
6. Cover the lid and let it rest for couple of minutes
7. Strain into a cup and if you want, you can also add freshly squeezed lemon juice
8. You can also add, if you want, jaggery powder or Unpasteurized honey
9. You can drink this herbal tea once or twice a day

2. Fennel Seed

Fennel is a tall herb with hollow stems and yellow flowers.  it grows all over the world and has been used for centuries as a medicinal plant. 

Fennel Seeds is highly cooling for those hot summer months if you use them properly. Fennel seeds also have the added benefit of promoting proper digestion, and reducing acid reflux. To get benefit from this spice, you should incorporate this valuable spice in your daily diet.

Native to the Mediterranean region, fennel is now found all over the world, and its uses are as numerous as the places in which it grows. Fennel is a tall herb with hollow stems and yellow flowers.

Fennel tea has long been enjoyed for its flavor and it grows all over the world and has been used for centuries as a medicinal plant.

You can Make fennel tea from dry fennel seeds(Saunf) or from fresh fennel leaves.

 Try chewing a teaspoon of fennel seeds before and after your next main meal. These cooling seeds also keep the breath fresh and promote good oral hygiene.

How to make fennel tea?

There are many ways to use fennel in our daily diet. You can make fennel tea with dried fennel seeds and second way is to make with fresh fennel leaves.

You can buy fennel tea online or in stores in the form of tea bags, loose tea, or powder.

Dried fennel seeds are a fairly common spice, like any other spice; such as-Cumin Seeds, Black Pepper, Oregano leaves etc.

1. From a Tea Bag: Pour boiling water over the fennel tea bag in a Tea Cup and let it steep for about couple of minutes
2. From Dried Fennel Seeds: To make one cup of fennel tea, pour 1 and half cup of water into the saucepan and now add these crushed fennel seeds and let it boil for some time. Then strain this tea with tea strainer direct into the cup and if you want, you can add honey also, which is optional

Health Benefits of Fennel Tea

Fennel seeds provide important nutrients, such as vitamin C, calcium, magnesium, potassium, and manganese. It means it is very beneficial for our health and the benefits are written below:-

1. Relief in Pain: Fennel is also considered helpful for pain relief.
2. Fennel tea help fight Infections: If you feel a cold, drinking some fennel tea can help your body fight back against the pathogens attacking your immune system
3. Relieves upset Stomach: Fennel tea contains antioxidants, which your body needs to fight the harmful things in your environment that you are regularly exposed to. When you drink fennel tea, the antioxidants will attach to molecules in your blood that are fighting oxidative damage
4. Freshen your Breath: Fennel tea is one of the old and best ways to relieve bad breath. You can chew fennel seeds with Mishri(sugar candy)
5. Relieves Constipation: If you’re struggling with regular bowel movements, then drinking some fennel tea will help to cleanse your body and move toxins through your system
6. Fennel tea may aid healthy digestion, and treat bloating, gas, or cramps
7. Painful periods: Painful periods are a common problem for many women. 2012 study suggested that fennel can be helpful in this regard. Researchers speculate that fennel helps keep the uterus from contracting, which is what prompts the pain reported by women with dysmenorrhea
8. Helps in Hydration: Staying well hydrated is important for overall health, so one of the more direct benefits of fennel tea is that it provides individuals with a tasty, caffeine-free beverage. So you can replace your caffeine drink with fennel tea.
9. Fennel tea helps in reducing the formation of blood clots.

3. Green Cardamom

Active compounds present in Green cardamom(Choti Elachi) have the ability to detoxify unwanted chemicals and toxins from the body. This tones down the body heat from within. It also aids in digestion, fights nausea and heartburn, which further helps the body to relax and cool down in summer hot days. Cardamom tea helps in flushing out all the toxins.

Actually Cardamom is Tridoshic,  which means that Cardamom helps in balancing all the three doshas – Vatta, Pitta and Kapha in our body. It has significant warming properties that are soothing for our body. It is also believed in Ayurveda that the excess build-up of ‘ama’, a sticky substance that blocks normal circulation and lowers energy levels, leads to various diseases. Cardamom helps in preventing its accumulation and thus, reduces its negative impact on our body.

So we must include Cardamom in our daily diet and there are many ways to use this spice and we’re talking here about Green Cardamom.

After eating your food, you can chew one to two Cardamom with Mishri, which is not only tasty, but also makes your breath so fresh. I eat this way after my dinner.

First Green Cardamom Tea Recipe

Serving is one person

1. Pour little over than a cup of regular water into the saucepan
2. When it is little hot, put 3-4 crushed green cardamom
3. Let it boil for two minutes
4. Strain it to a cup
5. If you want, you can add 1/2 lemon juice squeezed at home
6. Honey is optional, if you want your tea tastes sweet, then you can add one spoon of unpasteurized honey
7. Drink it slowly and little warm
8. Do not eat anything else at least for an hour or two
9. You can drink this tea 2-3 times a day, because this tea has no side effects like Best Bold Black Tea Brands

Second Cardamom Mint tea Recipe

Serving is one person

1. Pour little over than a cup of regular water into the saucepan
2. When it is little hot, put 3-4 crushed green cardamom
3. Add few fresh mint leaves
4. Let it boil for two minutes
5. Strain it to a cup
6. Honey is optional, if you want your tea tastes sweet, then you can add one spoon of unpasteurized honey
7. Drink it slowly and little warm
8. Do not eat anything else at least for an hour or two
9. You can drink Cardamom tea 2-3 times a day, because this tea has no side effects like black tea

4. Fresh Ginger

Many of us, we think that ginger is not the right spice for summers, but this is not true. Having fresh ginger tea during summer has a cooling effect on our body. Essential oils present in ginger improve the antioxidant status as well as reduce the body temperature. Gingerol the active constituent of ginger interferes with the mechanism underlying body temperature regulation and causes a drop in the body temperature.

1-First Masala Ginger Tea Recipe

Serving One Person

1. Pour one and 1/2 cup of water in the saucepan and let it become hot
2. Now add very thin small amount of ginger(fresh ginger washed and cut)
3. Add 1/2 spoon of Saunf(fennel seeds)
4. Add 1/2 spoon of ajwain(carom seeds)
5. Add one pinch of home grounded choti elachi(green cardamom) and let them boil for two minutes
6. Drink it hot(not too hot) and don’t eat and drink anything else at least for an hour to get the benefits of all these spices in this tasty herbal tea.

2-Second Ginger Herbal Tea Recipe

Serving is One Person

1. Pour Little over than a Cup of water into the saucepan and let it become little hot
2. Now add washed and chopped one inch ginger and let it boil for 2-3 minutes
3. Strain it with tea strainer into the cup and you can add one spoon of Unpasteurized honey, which is optional
4. Drink it hot to get the benefits of it and please don’t eat and drink anything else for sometime

Health Benefits of Ginger tea

Ginger tea is really good for health, but not for all people. Some people love Ginger Tea and it has benefits for them. I love ginger tea too, because it is not only tasty, but it is really good to cure sore throat and Cold. Especially when it is really Cold, like here in Canada, then you can drink this tea to get benefits of ginger.

1. Relieves Nausea
2. Reduce inflammation
3. Useful in improving digestion and increasing absorption of food
4. Ginger tea can help to relieve congestion associated with the common cold.👉👉 Besan Da Sheera is the best remedy for Cold and Cough to cure.
5. Relieve menstrual discomfort.

5. Fresh Coriander Leaves / Coriander Seeds

Belonging to the herb family, fresh coriander is a powerhouse of vitamin C and has many antioxidant properties.

Coriander is commonly used in many cuisines. You can add fresh coriander leaves to salsas, salads or even drink Coriander Juice in empty stomach.
This herb is extensively used around the world as a Condiment, Garnish, or Decoration on Culinary dishes. Coriander commonly known as ‘dhaniya’ in the Indian Subcontinent and Cilantro in America.

Coriander is a seed spice that’s been cultivated since Ancient times. Coriander is an Annual herb.
The dried seeds are what we know as Coriander, and they’ve been used as a Culinary spice.

Coriander seeds and essential oil both have blood sugar-lowering effects on the human body.

The health benefits of coriander include its use in the treatment of skin inflammation, high cholesterol levels, diarrhea, anemia, and indigestion.

Coriander Tea Recipe

Serving one person

1. In a saucepan, pour one and half cup of water
2. When the water is hot, add some fresh coriander leaves (you can chop if you want)
3. Let it boil for 3-4 minutes
4. Strain it to the cup and
5. Enjoy little warm Coriander tea made from fresh coriander
6. This tea is very tasty and soothing
7. Coriander tea is really good for sore throat
8. I love this tea and the color this tea is gorgeous
9. Enjoy this tea frequently and don’ t eat and drink anything else for an hour or so

How to Make Coriander Water?

It is believed that Coriander is considered both, a warming and cooling herb, depending on the, how you use it? Means the leaves are said to be cooling and can be used into juice and to garnish all types of raw salads and soups. Fresh coriander helps to ease mild skin irritation, while the seeds are said to be warming, which may help to gently stimulate appetite, assimilate nutrients, and aid in the elimination of toxins.

Fresh and Dry Coriander Seeds can be used to make our Kada, herbal water or Coriander herbal tea. Coriander helps the body to get rid of excess heat and toxins.

It detoxifies the body and keeps the body cool and fresh. It soothes the digestive tract, and fights inflammation. Coriander also relieves fever or high body temperature via its diaphoretic properties, which induces perspiration and reduces the inner body temperature. Both fresh coriander leaves and coriander seeds are commonly added to Indian food preparations.

Health Benefits of Coriander Water for Health

Coriander has many health benefits. It is known for building the stomach and promoting digestion.

1. Boosts immunity: Coriander is known to boost immunity, as the antioxidants present in coriander help in reducing free radical activity in the body
2. Helps in digestion and boosts weight loss: Coriander has certain digestive properties, which have also made it a popular seed to be used in Iranian medicine for digestive troubles. Drinking coriander water in the morning can help to improve digestion throughout the day, and boost metabolism. Both these properties can help aid the weight loss process.
3. Strengthens the hair: Coriander is known to be rich in vitamins like Vitamin K, C, and A. All these are very vital for hair strength and growth. Drinking coriander water in the morning can help to reduce hair fall and hair breakage. Additionally, you can also apply coriander oil or hair masks.
4. Reduces acne, pigmentation and scars: Coriander is rich in iron, and has anti-fungal, anti-bacterial properties. Drinking coriander water in the morning can help you achieve a radiant glowing, and give you clear, smooth skin.
5. Helps to flush out toxins: Coriander is a diuretic, and can therefore help you flush out the toxins from your body. Drinking coriander water in the morning can help you detox your system and start fresh.

Question: 1. Does Coriander Water helps to Reduce Body heat?

Answer: 1. Coriander leaves are considered an effective natural remedy to treat and alleviate symptoms of heat stroke. Ayurveda believes that coriander leaves have a cooling effect on the body. Hence, drinking coriander water(made from fresh coriander) can help to bring down the body heat.

Question: 2. Is coriander good for Pitta Dosha?

Answer: 2. Coriander seed is a digestive aid and diuretic. Coriander Leaves are cooling, but the seeds are slightly warming. Its bitterness reduces pitta dosha while its pungency improves digestion.

1. How to Make Coriander Juice in Blender?

Serving one person

1. Take some fresh coriander washed or soaked in water for sometime before use it
2. Put soaked or washed coriander in the blender
3. Pour little over than a half glass of water
4. Blend it and strain to the glass
5. Add Pink salt and 1/2 fresh lemon juice squeezed at home( lemon juice and pink salt is optional) to enhance the taste, but better to drink without both. Means you can drink as it is
6. Drink right away and do not drink anything else for an hour
7. You can drink it continuously for couple of days.

 2. How to Make Coriander Chutney?

Coriander Chutney is very tasty that you can make it at Home very easily with few Ingredients; such as Amla, Onion, Green Chili, Coriander leaves and few Spices; such as Salt, Coriander Powder, Black pepper and Oregano leaves.

1. Peel and wash medium size onion or you can use green onions instead
2. Take fresh coriander leaves
3. One to two green chilies
4. If available, you can put some fresh mint leaves or oregano leaves
5. 1/2 fresh lemon juice squeezed at home
6. Put everything in the blender
7. Add Pink Salt, Oregano dry leaves and all above ingredients and blend to make the paste
8. Enjoy this chutney with Rice, Paratha and Chapati.
9. This Chutney is very tasty, refreshing and good for the the health.

6.  Cumin Seeds

Cumin seeds have a lot of health benefits. One of the benefits is that it helps your body to detoxify and get rid of the problems of acidity and gas. Cumin seeds can be consumed directly, can be added to your meals, or you can add ground cumin powder to your summer coolers such as lassi, Plain Yogurt, because they help you stay hydrated and prevent you from having a heatstroke. It helps you to feel comfortable and at ease in case of indigestion or bloating.

How to Make Cumin/Jeera Tea?

Serving is one person

1. In the saucepan pour one and half cup of water
2. Put one spoon of whole Jeera
3. Let it boil 3-4 minutes
4. Strain this tea into the cup
5. Drink Jeera tea little hot everyday once or twice to get health benefits
6. Jeera tea is very tasty and very beneficial for our health
7. My husband drink it twice a day for last 3 months and he love it. I drink once a while Jeera tea
8. Don’t drink and eat anything else for an hour or so

How to Use Cumin Seeds? You can make Jeera Rice, Jeera Paratha, Jeera Lassi. Also you can add Jeera in all your Soups, Dals and Sabji.

7. Chamomile

Chamomile tea is well known traditionally for its ability to soothe digestion, calm the nerves, and encourage sound sleep. This gentle herb packs a surprising health benefits.

Chamomile tea may offer relief for an extensive number of maladies that are written below:-

1. Wounds, skin irritations, eczema, bruises, burns, and rashes
2. Nerve conditions like neuralgia and sciatica
3. Rheumatic pain and gout
4. Ulcers, canker sores, and hemorrhoids
5. Headache and migraine
6. Eye infections, blocked tear ducts, and conjunctivitis

How to Make Chamomile Tea?

You can drink Chamomile tea 2-3 times a day and there is a trick to make two cups of chamomile tea from one chamomile tea bag.

1. In any kettle whether it is electric or simple kettle. I use simple kettle, to make my herbal tea, which takes only 4-5 minutes.
2. To make two cups of this chamomile tea bag, pour 2 and half cups of water in the kettle.
3. Now take one bag of chamomile tea and I open it to put the leaves only in the kettle not the bag
4. Then let it brew for couple of minutes and let it stay.
5. After sometime, when you want, drink one cup by straining it and let the other tea stay in the kettle, which will become more dark, when you’ll drink it after couple of hours
6. This way, we can make two cups from one bag and Save Money.

Health Benefits of Chamomile Tea

Chamomile is good for you, both soothing and relaxing. Chamomile tea is a popular beverage that has a variety of health benefits, which are written below.

• Let the stresses of the day float away as you sip a cup of chamomile tea
• Chamomile has been used for centuries, even by ancient Greek and Egyptians, as a relaxing and soothing herb
• Try this flavorful tea to help relax during a stressful day or to ease into a restful night
• Herbal Teas help to quit Coffee or Black tea
• Chamomile tea helps to reduce severity of menstrual cramps.
• Drinking a cup of chamomile tea everyday has been shown to improve overall sleep quality.
• Due to its anti-inflammatory effects, Chamomile tea may protect against diarrhea, stomach ulcers, nausea and gas
• One of the best benefits of chamomile tea is, when someone suffering from a terrible Cold, can drink a hot cup of chamomile tea and let it work its magic
• Chamomile tea is packed with antioxidants that helps boost your skin health. It lightens the complexion and also gives you glow

8. Hibiscus Tea

Hibiscus trees produce beautiful ornamental flowers that can be used to make a variety of remedies.

How to use it? Hibiscus flowers make a lovely red-colored tea and can also be used in relishes, jams, or salads.

Hibiscus Tea Recipe

Serving is one person

1. In a saucepan, pour one and half cup of water
2. When the water is boiled, pour into the cup
3. Add hibiscus tea bag and let it stay for 2 minutes
4. Take out the bag and enjoy your red colored hibiscus tea
5. Don’t drink and eat anything else for an hour to get the real benefits of this tea.

9. Lemongrass

Lemongrass is another powerhouse herb that makes a cooling treat. A 2017 study Trusted Source showed that lemongrass had beneficial effects on skin inflammation in human trials.

Fresh Lemongrass tea Recipe

Serving is one person

Ingredients

• One and 1/2 cup of water
• Some roughly chopped lemongrass stalks
• One spoon of jaggery Powder

Instructions to Make Lemongrass Fresh tea

1. Bring the water to a boil in a saucepan.
2. Add the lemongrass and boil rapidly for 5 minutes.
3. Reduce the heat to low and simmer the tea for an additional 5 minutes.
4. Strain the stalks from the liquid. Stir in the jaggery powder until dissolved.
5. Serve warm, or chill and pour over ice.

10. Rosehip Tea

Rosehip tea is an herbal tea made from the pseudo-fruits of the rose plant. Rose hips have been known for numerous benefits, including improved immunity, heart health, weight loss, and skin aging.

How to Make Rosehip tea?

A tart and slightly fruity tea made with foraged wild rose hips. This drink is excellent for use in combating colds and flue due to it’s high Vitamin C content.

This tea is amazing and has many health benefits. In winter you can drink it hot, it is a perfect cold drink in summer. 

Needed Ingredients

• ¼ cup fresh rose hips
• 1 heaping tablespoon dried crushed rose hips
• 4 fresh mint leaves optional
• 1 teaspoon honey optional

Instructions to Make Rosehip tea

1. Pour water into the saucepan and boil it
2. Pour the hot water over the fresh or dried rose hips (and herbs if using).
3. Let the wild rose hip tea steep for 15 minutes covered.
4. Strain the tea through a fine mesh filter to remove the seeds and any pulp present.
5. Sweeten the tea with some honey if desired.

Health Benefits of Rose Hip Tea

Rose Hips are the fruits of the wild rose plant and they are edible! They have been traditionally used for their medicinal properties. The reason that rose hips are so popular is because they are extremely effective in treating a wide variety of health conditions.

• Frontier Co-op Rosehips (Rosa canina), are also called rose haw or rose hep. These seeds are commonly used in syrups, jellies, jams, beverages, teas, and bread. They’re widely available in various forms such as whole and powdered.
• Rosehips are utilized in different ways and have been used in cooking for thousands of years. They act as a flavoring or condiment, as they are commonly mixed into tea, jellies, jams, syrups, marmalades, pies, bread
• They also serve as great décor for a range of DIY crafts and projects!
• LORAL – Frontier Co-op Rosehips are berry-like fruits with a tangy taste. They are not like roses at all; they are almost the same as hibiscus flowers when it comes to aroma and scent. They offer a distinct flavor combination of fruits and spices.
• Rose hips can be cooked to extract the juice for jams and jellies. The juice can be strained and used immediately
• Rose hips are rich in antioxidants that can help protect against cell damage from free radicals
• Boost Immune System: Rose hips have an impressive amount of vitamin C, which is one of the best components to boost the immune system. Vitamin C stimulates white blood cells and is also essential for the prevention of asthma and the general health of the respiratory system.
• Skin Care: Who don’t want good blemish-free, and youthful skin? We all want. right? To get glowing skin, we should eat healthy food, do some exercises and we can use good quality cream. The astringent quality of rose hips keeps the skin elastic, so it doesn’t develop wrinkles. It eliminates the flaws easily, heals the burns and scars, and makes the skin look younger and vibrant at the same time.