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Herbs & Cultures

Unani medicine →

Joshanda, a decoction for colds

A warm herbal decoction from Unani medicine, the household remedy for coughs and colds in Pakistan and India.

Traditional use

Time
15 minutes
Makes
1 large cup
Jujube (red date)

Joshanda means 'decoction'. In Pakistani and Indian homes it is the drink made as soon as someone has a cold: a mix of jujube (unnab), liquorice (mulethi), violet flowers (banafsha), sebesten fruits (sapistan), gaozaban, mallow and marshmallow seeds and mint, boiled together in water. Ready-made sachets from the Unani company Hamdard are sold in every shop in those countries, and in Europe in Pakistani and Indian grocers.

Ingredients

  • 1 sachet of ready-made joshanda
  • 360 ml water
  • To taste: a little honey

Step by step

  1. Put the contents of the sachet in a small pan with the water.
  2. Bring to the boil and simmer gently for 5–10 minutes.
  3. Strain and drink warm, with a little honey if you like. In the Unani tradition you drink it twice a day for as long as the cold lasts.

Tips

  • Check the sachet for the herbs it contains: the mix differs slightly between brands.

Registry

Herbs in this recipe

Read more about effects and safety on each herb’s page.

  • Caution

    Asia · Food · № 636

    Jujube (red date)

    Ziziphus jujuba

    Traditionally attributed effects: sweet and strengthening in fatigue, anaemia and low energy; builds strength and blood and softens herbal dishes.

    Chinese medical traditions+2
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 18

    Licorice root

    Glycyrrhiza glabra

    A root with long use in several traditions; high-quality evidence does not support most health claims.

    Ayurveda+9Folklore
  • Caution

    Europe · Herb · № 211

    Sweet violet

    Viola odorata

    Traditionally attributed effects: V. odorata anti-inflammatory, expectorant, diuretic, antitumour; V. tricolor expectorant, anti-inflammatory, diuretic, antirheumatic, laxative, strengthens capillaries.

    Western herbal medicine+3Folklore
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 470

    Sebesten plum

    Cordia myxa

    Traditionally attributed effects: fruit soothing, expectorant, diuretic, mildly laxative; bark mildly astringent and tonic; for cough and chest diseases, bile complaints, abdominal cramps, indigestion, fever, ulcers, snake bites.

    Ayurveda+1
  • Caution

    Europe · Herb · № 59

    Marshmallow

    Althaea officinalis

    Root and leaf are rich in mucilage that forms a soothing layer; used for dry coughs, throat irritation and an irritated stomach. Evidence is modest.

    Greco-Roman medicine+3Folklore

Cultures and traditions

Where the herbs come from

The herbs in this recipe also appear in these traditions.