The thing I find funny about so many of the wellness trends that are so popular nowadays, is that many of them were part of my childhood without the ‘wellness’ label. Born and raised in London and of Punjabi Indian descent, my siblings and I were all well versed in the benefits of certain spices. The medicine cupboards were stocked with ground turmeric, cumin, castor oil and amla oil, for fear of running out. These were bought in bulk from the local Indian greengrocer’s, along with basmati rice and chapatti flour.
If there was ever a sniff of a cough or cold, my grandfather would immediately sift through his little box of Ayurvedic medicinal treasures (kept in a basket on the top shelf of the kitchen cupboard above the hi-fi) for the right remedy. Or we’d be ‘prescribed’ a quick pantry cupboard solution that always seemed to do the trick. Even now, with my own children, they know if they’ve got a little cough or sore throat, it’s straight to the pantry.
![The Telegraph Beauty Director Sonia Haria grew up using Ayurvedic remedies](/https/www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/beauty/2024/07/12/TELEMMGLPICT000372040468_17208047568960_trans_NvBQzQNjv4BqpVlberWd9EgFPZtcLiMQf0Rf_Wk3V23H2268P_XkPxc.jpeg?imwidth=350)
Against the backdrop of over-consumption, and the uphill battle to be a more conscious beauty buyer, simple and inexpensive ways of adding certain rituals to my everyday life are increasingly appealing. And the science often stacks up, too. Leading consultant dermatologist Dr Thivi Maruthappu is mindful of both Eastern and Western remedies: ‘When I was growing up, I would use Ayurvedic remedies,’ she tells me. ‘My mum’s a doctor too and she never thought it weird to prescribe medication and embrace natural products. So I feel the same way.’
For a brightening face mask, I mix half a tub of yoghurt with a pinch of turmeric, a tablespoon of honey and two tablespoons of gram (chickpea) flour – the turmeric is a powerful antioxidant, the honey has antibacterial properties, the gram flour absorbs excess oil and the yoghurt contains lactic acid, which helps to give a gentle exfoliation and brightening effect. Pop the mixture in the fridge for half an hour to chill – and to assist with a little depuffing action – then slather it on your face for 20 minutes. Wash off with warm water and your skin will look refreshed.
In the winter months, I make my speedy immunity-boosting turmeric milk for my kids most nights, simply by warming a cup of milk mixed with half a teaspoon of good organic turmeric powder, a pinch of cinnamon and a turn of coarsely ground black pepper. The polyphenol curcumin found in turmeric has an anti-inflammatory effect on the gut, and black pepper helps the body’s absorption of curcumin. The cinnamon – well, it’s just lovely, isn’t it? You can make this in a saucepan or, something I find even easier, chuck everything into a coffee milk frother if you have one (as long as you don’t mind the yellow turmeric stain).
![turmeric latte](/https/www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/beauty/2024/07/12/TELEMMGLPICT000385372333_17208041955280_trans_NvBQzQNjv4BqZgEkZX3M936N5BQK4Va8RWtT0gK_6EfZT336f62EI5U.jpeg?imwidth=350)
It’s much easier and tastier to make it yourself, even though these days turmeric lattes are very trendy. My great-grandparents would be shocked at the fact that haldi doodh, which translates to turmeric milk, an anti-inflammatory remedy that’s been used for thousands of years in Ayurveda, sells for about £5 a cup in London.
Whenever I feel as though I need to nip a cold in the bud, I make another warming drink. You’ll need one teaspoon of high-MGO manuka honey (meaning it has more methylglyoxal, a compound believed to have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects), half a teaspoon of organic turmeric, two turns of coarsely ground black pepper and a generous squeeze of fresh lemon, also rich in antioxidants. Add all the ingredients to a cup of freshly boiled water and stir. Let it cool and drink. It works better than any over-the-counter cough syrup, in my opinion.
At the end of the night, if you need help sleeping, you can mix a pinch of warming spices such as ground nutmeg, ground cinnamon and ground turmeric, and a teaspoon of the anxiety-easing Ayurvedic herb ashwagandha (which you can buy as a powder in health stores), into a cup of warm milk. Studies have shown ashwagandha to have a beneficial effect on cortisol levels.
It’s proof that there is real power in reaching for ‘roots and fruits’ when the situation calls for it – and you can find more of these remedies in my upcoming book, South Asian Beauty (HQ, £25, out 1 August).