Ancient African Dawa Drink Benefits: Fever & Cold Remedies

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Dawa

My trip to Kenya was a memorable and long-awaited one. It was beautiful spending time with the Masai tribal community. One of the most fascinating takeaways was a powerful drink for cough and cold that almost every household uses regularly. It was a journey of following signs, interacting with the tribal doctors and healers, and exploring their lifestyle, health, immunity, nutrition habits, and happiness quotients.These healers draw upon generations of African traditional medicines that blend herbs, roots, and instinct. I ventured into the wilderness and soaked in the culture, sunsets, and sunrises during these days of deep learning. I had the opportunity to connect with some beautiful friends and meet my patients. It changed me in many ways. I hope what I have learned from them can impact you as well. Over the next few weeks, I will share some life lessons, lifestyle tips, and tribal wisdom through my videos and blogs. If you’re someone who struggles with seasonal changes, this drink for cough and cold is something you may want to bookmark.

A Kenyan Tribal Doctor Shares Ancient African Drink for Cold, Cough, Fever and Stomach Ache Dawa

With the Masai kids

During my time in Kenya, I was exposed to a local African drink that I want to share with you. Called ‘Dawa’ which translates to medicine in both Swahili and Hindi, this is a concoction that even the tribal doctors and healers recommend and use extensively to cure colds, coughs, stomach aches, and fever. The name is not the only thing that has a connection to our own culture. Read on to find out how.

Dawa – The African Drink for colds, coughs, fever, stomach aches, and more.

A local Masai told me how they make it. It serves as a gentle natural remedy for fever and related symptoms. I am sharing the recipe with you too. Let’s explore the Dawa drink benefits and why it has been trusted for generations.

Representational image only. Photo credit: Freepik/8photo

For cold and cough

Take ginger, chop it into fine pieces, or grate it.
Squeeze the juice of a lemon.
Add these to 2 cups of water and bring it to a boil on low flame.
Once the concoction is ready, pour it out in a cup/mug. When it cools a little, you can sweeten it with some raw honey.

One of the core Dawa drink benefits is how quickly it helps open up the sinuses and ease a sore throat. It’s important to sip this drink for cough and cold slowly to allow its warmth and potency to do the work.

For stomach ache

Follow the same recipe, but also add a pinch of turmeric and a dash of black pepper to the concoction while boiling.

For fever

If you’re looking for a natural remedy for fever, just add a little bit of grated onion to the same concoction while boiling. Sip on it warm. Many tribal healers consider this a trusted natural remedy for fever, especially in children and elders.Like many African traditional medicines, this remedy also focuses on prevention over cure. Make an informed choice always. Do it if it suits you, avoid it if it doesn’t. If your symptoms worsen, seek medical help.

Disclaimer: If you have an infant under the age of one, DO NOT give them raw honey.

In the Masai Mara, Dawa is consumed by the tribe when the weather changes – especially when it rains, get too hot, or there are allergens in the air. Both adults and children benefit from this.

Pointers to keep in mind while sweetening Dawa:

If you wish to sweeten Dawa, do it with raw honey. Not with any kind of commercially available honey but raw unpasteurized honey. When combined with raw honey, it also acts as a soothing natural remedy for fever during weather shifts. Processed honey is nothing but sugar.
Why raw honey? Because it has been used as medicine for a long time across India, Australia, New Zealand, and South America, among others. Do not be scared of honey. When paired with raw honey, the drink for cough and cold becomes even more effective due to honey’s anti-inflammatory nature. When used the right way in the right quantity and quality, it is excellent.
Many people claim that honey has sugar and sugar makes them fat. No. Your poor lifestyle, indiscipline, and inconsistency make you fat.
Honey is a powerful antiseptic, anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and antiviral ingredient. Know more about the benefits of raw honey here.
Of course, DO NOT give honey in its raw form to babies below the age of one.
Shop for quality raw honey here.

Did you know?

Modern Kenya has also transformed the traditional Dawa into a popular cocktail that is served in most clubs. It uses honey, lime, sugar, ice, and vodka. But what we are making is a traditional remedy.

Understanding the Dawa Drink Benefits: FAQs

1. What is the Dawa drink and where does it come from?

The Dawa drink is a powerful natural remedy for fever, cold, cough, and stomach issues used by the Masai tribe in Kenya. It’s part of the rich legacy of African traditional medicines and translates to ‘medicine’ in Swahili and Hindi.

2. How is the Dawa drink used as a drink for cough and cold?

The drink for cough and cold is made by boiling ginger and lemon in water and sweetening it with raw honey. It’s consumed warm to soothe the throat and clear congestion.

3. Can the Dawa drink help with fever?

Yes, the Dawa drink is a natural remedy for fever when onion is added to the basic recipe. Many tribes use it to manage mild fevers and body aches caused by weather changes.

4. What are some Dawa drink benefits beyond cough and fever?

Besides being a trusted natural cough drink and fever soother, the Dawa drink supports digestion, aids immunity, and helps manage allergic reactions during seasonal shifts.

5. Is the Dawa drink part of African traditional medicines?

Absolutely. The Dawa drink is one of the most well-known African traditional medicines, passed down through generations for its ability to heal using natural ingredients.

6. Can I give this natural cough drink to children?

Yes, but avoid giving raw honey to children under the age of one. This natural cough drink is generally safe for older kids and is often used by the Masai community for both adults and children. Note: Always check with your pediatrician first. Avoid or skip any ingredients that your child may be allergic to. This is not a replacement for medication if the case is severe.

7. How often can I consume this drink for cough and cold?

You can safely consume this drink for cough and cold 1–2 times a day when you’re experiencing symptoms. Even when you’re not sick, it can be taken occasionally for prevention.

8. How is this different from typical home remedies?

Unlike generic remedies, this drink is part of a time-tested lineage of African traditional medicine that emphasize simplicity and synergy of ingredients like ginger, turmeric, and raw honey.

9. Can this be a replacement for antibiotics or fever medication?

No. While the Dawa is a helpful natural remedy for fever and infections, it should not replace prescribed medication in serious cases. It works best as supportive care. Always speak to your healthcare expert before making any changes to your routine if you are already undergoing treatment or are on medications.

10. Are there side effects of this natural cough drink?

There are rarely any side effects when taken in moderation. However, as with any natural cough drink, ensure you are not allergic to any of the ingredients like ginger or honey.

The bottom line

There is immense wisdom in cultures across the world. For civilizations, people have used the power of nature to help themselves recover and heal.

It is where science ends and common sense begins. These ancient practices, especially their natural remedy for fever, rely not just on ingredients but also timing and intention. People over here in the Masai Mara and tribes across the world use all their senses to decide what’s poisonous, what works for the body, and what could be dangerous for the body. Using common sense, wisdom, and the power of nature they’ve learned to survive despite cutting away from the modern-day world without access to hospitals or all the amenities we live with.

Of course, Dawa is not a replacement for your medication when you have a serious illness or are sick. It is not about nature vs allopathy. It’s about using the best of nature in your life when you can rather than hopping from one pill to another and only being of the mindset that allopathy alone can solve all your problems. Allopathy is needed and can save lives. But simple remedies like this that exist even in our own country can help.

I am not asking you to make a choice. All I am saying is to take simplicity as a new luxury. It costs you very little money and time to make this concoction. This is the power of lifestyle. Instead of waiting for sickness to hit, African traditional medicines believe in keeping the body in balance daily. Little things work. Now if you think Dawa alone is going to take away all your health issues, you are mistaken. The problem is with your thinking. Don’t blame it on nature. You need to put in the work to eat clean, move more, sleep deep, and handle your emotional health too.

Make that cup of hot Dawa. Let that simple drink for cough and cold remind you that healing can come from everyday ingredients. Tell me how it worked for you. Do you have your own natural remedy for fever? I’d love to know. Drop the recipes in the comments.

ALSO WATCH: A Kenyan Tribal Doctor Reveals An Ancient African Remedy!

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Tried This Dawa Yet? Discover the Tribal African Natural Remedy for Fever, Cough & Stomach Ache

Tried This Dawa Yet? Discover the Tribal African Natural Remedy for Fever, Cough & Stomach Ache