Spices That Heal Us Summary and Explanation

CBSE Class 6 English Unit 3 – Nurturing Nature Chapter 3 – Spices That Heal Us Summary, Explanation along with Difficult Word Meanings from Poorvi Book

 

Spices That Heal Us Summary  – Are you looking for the summary, theme and lesson explanation for CBSE Class 6 English Unit 3 – Nurturing Nature Chapter 3 – Spices That Heal Us from English Poorvi Book. Get Lesson summary, theme, explanation along with difficult word meanings

 

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CBSE Class 6 English Unit 3 – Nurturing Nature Chapter 3  – Spices That Heal Us

 

Spices That Heal Us Introduction

The lesson gives a detailed description of the various herbs and their uses in curing ailments. These herbs form home remedies that help cure weather-related issues like cough, cold, body pains, and also problems related to digestion, toothache, and blood sugar can be addressed with their help.

Spices That Heal Us Summary

Vikram and Vaibhavi are siblings. Their grandmother writes a letter to them after receiving their message that her home remedy for curing cough and cold has helped them. She asks the duo to share these remedies with their friends also. She informs the siblings that she had learnt these home remedies as a child, from her grandmother. Her grandmother had taught her home remedies for various health issues that occured due to changes in weather. Then she shares details about various other spices which are easily found in our kitchens. 

The first herb on her list is haldi, also known as turmeric. It  makes the body energetic, improves digestion and relieves body pains. The next on the list is methi or fenugreek seeds. She soaks the seeds overnight and drinks the water the next morning. It hels control blood sugar level and body weight. Another spice which is popular in the kitchen is Jeera or cumin seeds. The water of the seeds soaked overnight improves digestions and cures sleeplessness. Heeng or asafoetida water is rubbed on the tummy of babies to remove gas. It also cures cold and cough. In case of toothache, herbs like clove or laung and dalchini or cinnamon can be used. Adrak or ginger is a popular ingredient of Indian food for more than 4000 years. It is the top remedy for cough and cold. Ginger also cures body pains. Then we have balck pepper or kali mirch which is useful in digestion and body pains. Another spice is saunf and ajwain which=ch help in digesting food and are popular after meal fresheners. Elaichi or cardamom help improve digestion, cures breathing problems and bad breath.

Then she asks the kids to go to the kitchen and identify the herbs and spices in the kitchen. However, she warns them to use these cures after consulting an elder. 

Summary  of the Lesson Spices That Heal Us in Hindi

विक्रम और वैभवी भाई-बहन हैं। उनकी दादी ने उनका संदेश प्राप्त करने के बाद उन्हें एक पत्र लिखा कि खांसी और जुकाम को ठीक करने के उनके घरेलू उपाय ने उनकी मदद की है। वह दोनों से इन उपायों को अपने दोस्तों के साथ भी साँझा करने के लिए कहती है। वह भाई-बहन को बताती है कि उसने ये घरेलू उपाय बचपन में अपनी दादी से सीखे थे। उसकी दादी ने उसे मौसम में बदलाव के कारण होने वाली विभिन्न स्वास्थ्य समस्याओं के लिए घरेलू उपाय सिखाए थे। फिर वह विभिन्न अन्य मसालों के बारे में जानकारी साँझा करती है जो हमारी रसोई में आसानी से मिल जाते हैं। उनकी सूची में पहली जड़ी-बूटी हल्दी है, जिसे टरमरिक के नाम से भी जाना जाता है। यह शरीर को ऊर्जावान बनाती है, पाचन में सुधार करती है और शरीर के दर्द से राहत दिलाती है। सूची में अगला है मेथी के बीज। वह बीजों को रात भर भिगोती हैं और अगली सुबह पानी पीती हैं। यह रक्त शर्करा के स्तर और शरीर के वजन को नियंत्रित करने में मदद करता है। रसोई में एक और लोकप्रिय मसाला जीरा है यह सर्दी-खांसी को भी ठीक करता है। दांत दर्द के मामले में, लौंग और दालचीनी जैसी जड़ी-बूटियों का इस्तेमाल किया जा सकता है। अदरक 4000 से अधिक वर्षों से भारतीय भोजन का एक लोकप्रिय घटक है। यह खांसी और सर्दी के लिए सबसे अच्छा उपाय है। अदरक शरीर के दर्द को भी ठीक करता है। फिर हमारे पास काली मिर्च है जो पाचन और शरीर के दर्द में उपयोगी है। एक अन्य मसाला सौंफ और अजवाइन है जो भोजन को पचाने में मदद करते हैं और भोजन के बाद फ्रेशनर के रूप में लोकप्रिय है। इलायची पाचन में सुधार करने, सांस लेने की समस्याओं और सांसों की बदबू को ठीक करने में मदद करती है। फिर वह बच्चों को रसोई में जाने और रसोई में जड़ी-बूटियों और मसालों को पहचानने के लिए कहती है। हालांकि, वह उन्हें चेतावनी देती है कि किसी बड़े से सलाह लेने के बाद ही इन इलाजों का इस्तेमाल करें।

Theme of the Lesson: Spices That Heal Us

 

Benefits of home remedies and effectiveness of traditional medicine

The grandmother’s letter is full of knowledge about the various home remedies and how traditional medicine prepared with kitchen ingredients was an effective cure for health issues.

Inter-generational wisdom and passing of knowledge

The grandmother had learnt about the home remedies from her grandmother when she was a child. Now she was passing on that knowledge to her grandchildren. Thus, we see how this wisdom is travelling from one generation to the next. 

Praise of health benefits of common kitchen ingredients

The grandmother highlights the importance of all the spices used in our kitchens. This sensitizes us about their importance and immense benefits. 

Importance of guidance of elders

The grandmother warns Vikram and Vaibhavi to use the home remedies only after consulting an elder. This is because elders can first understand their ailment and its cause. Then accordingly, they can suggest the ideal treatment to cure the problem.

Spices That Heal Us Lesson Explanation

 

Passage:
Dear Vikram and Vaibhavi,
Namaste! I just got your message that you are better now.
I am happy that the natural cures that I had shared, helped you. You should try to remember these cures and may share them with your friends. When I was a child, I learnt them from my grandmother. She used to find home remedies for most of the weather-related common illnesses. Let me share some of the benefits of the spices that most of us have in our kitchen.

Word meanings:
Cure: treatment for an illness
Spices: a substance from a plant that adds flavour to food

Explanation of the above passage –  The letter is addressed to Vikram and Vaibhavi. Their grandmother is happy to know that their health is improving. She guides them to share these treatments with their friends as well. She had learnt these from her grandmother when she was a child which means that this is a traditional recipe. The grandmother adds that her grandmother used to give them treatments made at home for all illnesses caused due to the weather. Then she shares with them certain benefits of items found in our kitchens.

 

Passage:
Let me start with haldi, which is called turmeric in English. It helps in improving our energy level and digestion. It helps in reducing body pain too.
Next, let us take methi, which is called fenugreek in English. You will be surprised to know that it helps me in keeping my sugar level and my body weight in control. I need to soak the methi seeds overnight and drink the water in the morning.

Word meanings:
Haldi: turmeric, a yellow-coloured spice

Explanation of the above passage – The grandmother starts by telling about the benefits of haldi, also known as turmeric. It helps in improving one’s digestive system and energy levels of the body. Haldi removes swelling and helps reduce pains in the body. Then she talks of methi seeds which are also known as fenugreek. This spice helps her control the level of sugar in the blood and also removes excess fat from the body. She soaks a teaspoon full of methi seeds at night and drinks that water in the morning.

 

Passage:

  • Jeera (cumin) seeds soaked in water overnight can also improve digestion and help cure sleeplessness.
  • You know, when you were babies and had gas in your tummy, I used to put heeng (asafoetida) water on your tummy to give you some relief. Heeng can also help in controlling cough and cold.
  • Dalchini (cinnamon) and laung (clove) give relief when we have toothache till we can consult a dentist.
  • Adrak (ginger) is another herb that can help us when we have cough and cold. It also gives relief from pain. Do you know, ginger has been used for cooking for more than 4000 years? Even today, it is extensively used in cooking Indian food.
  • Kali mirch (black pepper) is also helpful in digestion and can give us relief from body pain. 
  • You may have seen that at the end of a meal, saunf (fennel seeds) and ajwain (carom seeds) are served. It is because they help in the digestion of food.
  • Elaichi (cardamom) also helps us with digestion and respiratory troubles in addition to curing bad breath. 

Now, go into the kitchen and try to identify these herbs and spices. And remember, you must consult an elder before you use them.
My love and aashirwaad to both of you!
Yours affectionately,
Daadi

Word meanings:
Tummy: stomach
Respiratory: related to breathing

Explanation of the above passage – The grandmother mentions a few more spices and their benefits. The water in which cumin seeds are soaked all through the night, if consumed in the morning, improves digestion and sleep. Heeng or asafoetida water is rubbed on the tummy of young babies to get rid of gas. It also helps in treating cough and cold problems. Dalchini and laung provide relief in case of a toothache till one gets to a dentist. Adrak helps us when we are affected by cold or cough. It helps reduce pains. Ginger is the most important ingredient of Indian cuisine and is in use for the last four hundred years. Black pepper also helps reduce pain in the body and helps in improving digestion. Fennel and carom seeds help in digesting food and thus, are served after meals. Cardamom or elaichi also helps in improving digestion, treating respiratory problems and treating bad breath. Then grandmother instructs the siblings to go to the kitchen and identify the spices. However, she cautions them to consult an elder who has better knowledge about the spices, before using them. She ends the letter by blessing the siblings.

 

Conclusion

The lesson ‘Spices that heal us’ reminds us of the benefits of home remedies. This post provides a summary and explanation of the lesson. With its help, students can easily understand the lesson and recollect it in the exams.