Sarsaparilla: The Ultimate Ayurvedic Coolant for Summer – SOGADE BERINA SHARABATTU

In times like these, when our world flips upside down with unfavorable circumstances circling the mind, we all try to find comfort in pleasant pieces of the past. Sarsaparilla is one such sherbet that takes me down memory lane. My friend used to tell me, Sarsaparilla is one of The Best Ayurvedic coolants!

Flashback 90s

Way back in the early ’90s, my classmate and a dear friend, Dr. Prabhakar once brought a can of Sarsaparilla to Belagavi, where we were studying. He poured it into a glass and blended the syrup with water. The syrup turned into sparkling golden juice. 

We watched him work as a pro cautiously making the drink. Everyone was waiting to taste the tempting juice. And take my word, we were not disappointed! It was a hot summer day, we were dipping with exam pressure and this was the perfect refresher.

Sarsaparilla is indeed The Best Ayurvedic Coolant and we got addicted to its goodness. It’s an instant energizer, an amazing coolant, and a great blood purifier.

We instantly fell in love with Sarsaparilla. But then in our busy walks of life, we got drifted from our amazing tradition of drinking Sarsaparilla every summer. 

Also Read: 10 Ayurvedic ways to survive summer fatigue

Fast forward to the 20^th century.

I had the fortune of meeting the Late Dr. Yoga Narasimha Pandit, proprietor of S N Pandit, and sons, Mysore. We sat together for lunch in Priyadarshini veg restaurant in majestic.

He narrated to me the amazing stories of how his ancestors sold this sherbet in Mysore in the very beginning. They had a shop in the Lansdown building where they offered this elixir for just one ana. 

Also Read: Ayurvedic ways for Preventing Urinary Tract Infection

About Ancient history

He explained how they procured saffron from Kashmir and that they would go miles even in those times to get the best quality Sareeva. It grows in cool places. The original root has a pleasant odor with an astringent taste.

Sarsaparilla Syrup is prepared from this root by means of steam distillation. It is mixed with sugar, water, and citric acid proportionately to evolve `sarsaparilla’ concentrate.

Even in those early days, Sarsaparilla saw great demand among the Mysoreans. Over a period of time, its popularity grew across towns and cities. Soon, S. N. Pandit’s Sarsaparilla became a known name in Bangalore and across other parts of Karnataka.Thanks to Dr.Sathyanarayana of Gururaja Pharmacy.

I remember telling him that there are good reasons for this drink to gain the kind of popularity it did. Sarsaparilla is a great natural coolant that has many medicinal qualities apart from relieving the summer heat. 

Words from Dr. Brahma

He took out a rough piece of paper and started scribbling some words. Body coolant, blood purifier, renal alkaliser,  diuretic, sweet welcome drink, sleep promoter, and digestion booster. 20 ml of syrup added to 100 ml cold water once a day, usually before breakfast.

Not many know but it is also a marvelous immune booster. It helps in preventing fluid retention and fighting infections. Sarsaparilla has an endless list of health benefits.

He handed me the piece of paper and said, remember these amazing wonders about Sarsaparilla. It’s often forgotten in the chaotic run for life. Recommend this to your patients in summer, it will bring them relief from all the nasty summer problems. And use it yourself to get the energy you will need to survive the scorching heat.

Lesson for life

There are no says that Sarsaparilla is one of The Best Ayurvedic Coolants!

Today, there are so many brands in the market selling Sarsaparilla. But most of them contain artificial flavors. And many don’t know that sarsaparilla does not give the same benefits as authentic Sarsaparilla. S.N. Pandit is a brand that still sticks to its age-old legacy of quality.

And that my friend has the point I want you all to drive home today. People may leave but their legacy lives long! And that’s all that matters at the end of this life.  The legacy we create. I don’t remember the clothes he wore, what watch he flashed, or even the car he drove. I don’t remember any of it. Because none of those things really matters. 

All I remember is his wise words, the curiosity in his eyes, and the calmness in his demeanor. That’s what we all carry forward. So, be kind, be loving, and create a legacy that people would love to carry in their hearts!

And all this gush of emotions brought back by a glass of Sarsaparilla. 

Cheers!

Sareeva: The Traditional Indian Plant with Surprising Cooling Properties

Hemidesmus indices, also known as Indian sarsaparilla, is a plant that is commonly used in traditional Indian medicine for its cooling and soothing properties. While there is limited scientific research available on the cooling effects of Hemidesmus indicus, here are five studies that have investigated its potential benefits:

1. A study published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology found that Hemidesmus indicus root extract has antipyretic (fever-reducing) properties, suggesting that it may have a cooling effect on the body.
   
2. A study published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology found that Hemidesmus indicus has both analgesic (pain-relieving) and anti-inflammatory properties, which could contribute to its cooling effects.
   
3. A study published in the Journal of Environmental Biology found that Hemidesmus indicus has antioxidant properties, which could help protect against damage to cells and tissues and have a cooling effect on the body.
   
4. A study published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology found that Hemidesmus indicus has anti-inflammatory properties, which could help reduce inflammation in the body and have a cooling effect.
   
5. A study published in the Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences found that Hemidesmus indicus has both anti-inflammatory and antipyretic properties, suggesting that it may have both a cooling and fever-reducing effect on the body.