The other day I had a feverish feeling after an exhausting afternoon at work. I wanted to be horizontal as soon as I got back home. But then, hitting the sack before sunset makes me feel even more miserable; it has been ingrained in me that “Lethargy embraces those who sleep until after dawn or go to sleep when the sun’s still up.” I didn’t want to be more miserable than I already was. So, I avoided lying down, instead did a thing, which relieves me of such physical condition, always. I called my mother (nearing 90). Speaking with her is ever so refreshing.
“Charan Sparsh, Bai,” I said. “How are you doing? How’s your joint pain?”
“I am doing well. How about you? You don’t sound alright,” she said with concern.
“Nothing at all, just a bit feverish and exhausted. Will be fine soon.”
“Why don’t you try Peepli. It’ll relieve you.”
“Peepli?”
“It is in that small plastic box of home remedies I gave you. Chew one every three to four hours. Should do you good.”
I popped one Peepli and chewed it for a while until it became very soft, and then swallowed it. By next morning, I felt much better. I popped and chewed one after breakfast, and my fever was gone. I took another one later in the day and that feverish feeling was forgotten.
I was fit as a fiddle when my mother called later in the evening. I took the recipe of the home remedy from her in case I needed it again. Here it goes:
Step 1. Soak some Peepli (Long Pepper) overnight in buttermilk, or curds diluted with water.
Step 2. Next morning roll the Long Pepper in table salt.
Step 3. Roast the (salted) Peepli on a hot plate (Tawa) until it is dry and crisp.
Disage: Chew one salted (and roasted) pepper three to four times a day to get over that feeling of exhaustion and fever. It works for most people. This home remedy for feverishness and exhaustion has no known side effects. (Note: Long Pepper (or Peepli/ Lendi Peepal) is available at shops (Sattar) selling Indian herbs.
Road Much Travelled 