The Enduring Tradition of Home Remedies in Indian Households
Article co-authored by Viditabhagat
Is it just me, or were you also handed honey and ginger for every cough, or a cup of cinnamon tea for that persistent sore throat?
For many of us, these familiar concoctions were our first line of defense against illness, passed down through generations. While it may seem like a walk down memory lane, the truth is that these ‘desi hacks’ are still very much prominent in our households today.
During a recent field visit for a healthcare study, we had the chance to speak with people about their lived experiences with hypertension and how they managed their health.
What struck us most was the prevalence of home remedies intertwined with modern medicine. In nearly every household, there was a sense that ‘trying something natural’ was just a part of their health routine.
Take, for example, a schoolteacher we met who is the primary caregiver for her elderly mother-in-law. “Her sugar level was increasing,” she explained. “She’s not diabetic, but her levels were going up. I started giving her neem karela juice, and now her sugar is stable. My mother has been diabetic for 26 years, and I’ve seen her manage her condition with home remedies. She takes kaali jeeri once a week, drinks neem karela juice.. it helps keep her sugar in check. So, I adopted the same for my mother-in-law.”
This story is not uncommon. In India, the origin of ancient healing sciences like Ayurveda has laid the groundwork for a culture of natural remedies that still persist today. While some may view these practices as quaint, they are often deeply ingrained in family life, offering a perceived sense of control and connection to traditional wisdom.
In another home, we met a woman who filled with a sense of pride and accomplishment informed us that she reversed her husband’s diabetes simply by adjusting his diet and incorporating home remedies. “I give him fenugreek water every morning. It’s good for the health, and I take it too.”
It’s fascinating how these practices coexist with modern medicine, offering a complementary approach to managing conditions like hypertension and diabetes.
However, the effectiveness of these remedies can vary. One woman we spoke to had followed a home remedy for her blood pressure, as recommended by her father-in-law: soaking and progressively increasing raisins over 20 days, then decreasing the dose over the next 20 days.
Despite her diligence, she eventually stopped the practice, unsure if it was really working. This shows the balancing act between belief in tradition and the need for more effective, measurable solutions.
While home remedies remain prevalent, they are often used in tandem with professional medical advice, or at times, people return to conventional treatments after seeing limited results. Yet the persistence of these practices speaks to a larger behavioral and cultural pattern — one where people are willing to experiment with what is accessible, familiar, and perceived as less invasive.
Bridging Tradition with Modern Healthcare Solutions
As researchers, this presents a unique opportunity to understand the deeper behavioral insights behind such practices.
Why do people turn to home remedies? Is it a matter of trust, convenience, or perhaps even a sense of cultural identity?
In observing these patterns, we can design solutions that blend the best of both worlds — helping individuals maintain their connection to traditional practices while ensuring that their healthcare needs are met effectively.
One way forward could be creating educational programs that respect these age-old practices while introducing more scientifically-backed methods to support them.
By integrating tradition with modern healthcare, we not only honor cultural heritage but also guide users toward solutions that truly make their lives easier.
