Fresh Mint & Ajwain Bloating Relief Kaḍha

📝 Ingredients & Quantities

Base Ingredients

• Fresh Mint Leaves – ½ cup, lightly crushed

  • Substitute: 2 teaspoons dried mint leaves

• Ajwain (Carom) Seeds – 1 teaspoon

  • Substitute: ½ teaspoon thyme seeds (mild, not identical but acceptable)

• Fresh Ginger – 1 inch piece, sliced or crushed

  • Substitute: ½ teaspoon dry ginger powder (śuṇṭhi)

• Black Peppercorns – 4–5, lightly crushed

  • Substitute: A small pinch of black pepper powder

• Cumin Seeds – ½ teaspoon

• Fennel Seeds – ½ teaspoon

• Water – 2½ to 3 cups

• Rock Salt – a tiny pinch (optional)

Optional Enhancers

• Lime juice – a few drops added after cooling (Pitta-friendly)

• Jaggery – ½ teaspoon (Vata only; avoid if Kapha is high)

• Coriander leaves – a few for garnish

• A pinch of turmeric – if bloating is due to inflammation

• Hing (Asafoetida) – 1 pinch for severe gas or IBS-type symptoms

🔥 Method of Preparation

1. Bring water to a gentle boil in a small pot.
   Ayurveda recommends gentle heating so the volatile digestive oils do not dissipate too quickly.

2. Add the ajwain, cumin, fennel seeds, black pepper, and ginger.
   Simmer for 8–10 minutes.
   This step extracts the active digestive principles and activates the Agni-enhancing properties.

3. Add the fresh mint leaves, crushing them lightly between your fingers before adding to release aromatic cooling oils.

4. Simmer for 2–3 more minutes only.
   (Mint should never be over-boiled; it becomes bitter and loses its prabhāva.)

5. Turn off heat and let the kaḍha rest for 2 minutes to deepen infusion.

6. Strain into a cup.
   Add rock salt or lime juice only after cooling slightly.

7. Drink warm, in slow sips.
   Best taken after meals, during bloating, gas, stomach tightness, or feeling “overfull.”

⚖️ Dosha Effects

🌿 Vata

• Highly relieving and balancing

• Ginger, fennel, cumin, and ajwain collectively reduce gas, bloating, spasms, and constipation-related distension.

• Add a tiny amount of jaggery if Vata is high.

• Avoid lime if Vata is elevated.

🔥 Pitta

• Soothing when prepared mildly

• Mint and fennel cool and relax an overheated GI tract.

• Reduce ginger and pepper to a smaller amount.

• Add a few drops of lime for additional Pitta soothing.

• Avoid hing if Pitta is aggravated.

🌱 Kapha

• Strongly reducing and decongesting

• Ajwain, ginger, cumin, and black pepper melt sluggish digestion, excessive mucus, and heaviness.

• Avoid jaggery.

• Add a pinch of turmeric or hing for deeper Kapha clearing.